For our series What’s in Your Kit, we ask a range of working cinematographers to share the gear they can’t live without.

Joe Passarelli was the director of photography on Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s Anomalisa, the stop-motion marvel that’s in the running for Best Animated Feature at this weekend’s Academy Awards. Before that feature, Passarelli had previously collaborated with Johnson on the latter’s Cartoon Network series Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole and assorted short films.

Here, Passarelli reveals what’s in his kit.

The Kit

1. My Gel Crate
Always changing but good to have, so that I can use color to add to the story.

2. LiteGear VHO Pro LED LiteRibbon
Balanced at 3200K, with a dimmer, this is a great tool for hiding lights in small places.

3. Needle-Nose Pliers

4. Laser Pointer
Extremely helpful when planning out where lights are going with the gaffer and key grip.

5. Photo-Booth Photo of My Wife, Kids and Me
We try to take one at every opportunity. The hardest thing about shooting out of town is not seeing them.

Joe Passarelli

Joe Passarelli

6. Norms Pins and 5/8″ Variable Rigging Locks

I purchase most of these items, as well as (7) and (9), at Modern Studio Equipment. They’re great to have in order to rig any cameras or lights in places.

7. Camera Plates

8. Suunto Compass and Clinometer

Good to know where and when the sun is going to be.

9. Hot Shoe Adapters

10. A Couple of Low-Watt Light Bulbs
For lamps or any practices that end up in the shot.

11. Sekonic 508 Light Meter

The light meter never lies. With so many camera choices with extreme latitude now, and the ease of color grading in post, it’s good to know the lighting ratio you shot at.

12. 4-in-1 Screwdriver

13. Blue Ring Gaffer’s Glass MM

For more cinematographers sharing their annotated kits, click here.

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