CES: DP Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki Filmed Endangered Whales to Test New Sony Camera

Cinematographer Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki, known for winning three consecutive Oscars for Gravity, Birdman and The Revenant, got to know some special subjects for his latest project.

Lubezki teamed with conservation photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen to helped Sony launch its soon-to-be-released Burano digital cinema camera, billed as a new tool with the image quality of the Sony Venice camera but with a smaller and lighter body.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

• Framing the Horrors of the Holocaust Through a 21st Century Lens: Making of 'The Zone of Interest'

• Idris Elba Urges U.K. Politicians to Fight "Nightmare" of Knife Crime "Epidemic"

• U.K.'s Channel 4 Eyeing up to 200 Layoffs Amid Ad Malaise (Report)

To do this, the group made a short, titled The Knowing, about endangered Southern Right Whales. The short will be featured Monday during Sony’s CES press conference.

To put the new camera through its paces Lubezki and the SeaLegacy co-founders traveled to Western Australia with a crew to lens the short, which incorporated underwater cinematography and drone footage. Lubezki served as director of photography.

“Our planet is in real trouble, but we still have time. We must work together to prevent the loss of amazing species, like the Southern Right Whale,” says Mittermeier, a marine biologist and National Geographic explorer, in a statement. “Conservation requires that we all participate, that we all do what we can to ensure that our planet and all of its creatures thrive.”

“As part of Sony’s Road to Zero global environmental plan, we partner with content creators, non-profit organizations, and communities to raise awareness about the importance of conservation,” added Neal Manowitz, president and COO of Sony Electronics. “We are very thankful to be able to support incredible creative talents like Paul, Cristina and Chivo to tell vital stories about our planet and raise awareness for these critical issues.”

The Venice camera has been used on movies including Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick. The Consumer Electronics Show is getting underway in Las Vegas and runs through Friday.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

• Most Anticipated Movie Releases of 2024

• ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy Cast, Then and Now

• Eight Actors Who Have Played Willy Wonka in Films and on Broadway