Cinematographer Greig Fraser Reveals Lighting Challenges for 'Project Hail Mary' Tunnel Scene

Fraser used an innovative rig of tungsten lights to create a sun effect for the key sequence where Ryan Gosling's character first meets the alien Rocky.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cinematographer Greig Fraser, known for his work on films like 'The Batman' and 'Dune', faced significant challenges in lighting the key tunnel scene in 'Project Hail Mary'. The scene features Ryan Gosling's character Ryland Grace walking through a long, 70-foot tunnel to meet the alien Rocky for the first time. Fraser had to devise a way to make the entire tunnel appear illuminated by sunlight, despite the physical limitations of the set. He ended up building a rig of old tungsten lights that could be 'pixel-mapped' to create a dynamic sun effect. Fraser also had to contend with lighting the alien Rocky, who has no face or skin tone, only a rock-like appearance.

Why it matters

The tunnel scene is a pivotal moment in 'Project Hail Mary', as it marks the first encounter between the human protagonist and the alien character. Greig Fraser's innovative lighting approach helped bring this key sequence to life in a visually striking and immersive way, elevating the emotional impact of the scene. His work on the film showcases his versatility as a cinematographer in tackling complex technical challenges to serve the storytelling.

The details

To light the 70-foot tunnel, Fraser and his team built a rig using old tungsten lights that could be 'pixel-mapped' to create a dynamic sun effect moving through the space. This allowed them to bathe the entire tunnel in warm, natural-looking sunlight, rather than relying on a single moving light source. Fraser also used a special rainbow filter to create colorful lens flares that became a visual motif throughout the film. Additionally, he experimented with squeezing the Alexa 65 camera sensor vertically to create a taller aspect ratio, which caused the flares to appear vertically rather than horizontally. Collaborating closely with production designer Charlie Wood, Fraser had to find the right balance of reflective finish on the tunnel walls to allow enough light through without making the space look too transparent.

  • Fraser shot 'Project Hail Mary' in 2025.

The players

Greig Fraser

An acclaimed cinematographer known for his work on films like 'The Batman', 'Dune', and 'Rogue One'. He served as the director of photography on 'Project Hail Mary'.

Ryan Gosling

The lead actor in 'Project Hail Mary', playing the role of Ryland Grace, a science teacher recruited for an interstellar mission to save Earth.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller

The directors of 'Project Hail Mary', known for their innovative approach to filmmaking in movies like 'The Lego Movie' and 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'.

Charlie Wood

The production designer on 'Project Hail Mary', who worked closely with Fraser to design the look and materials of the tunnel set.

Andy Weir

The author of the novel 'Project Hail Mary', on which the film is based.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We physically couldn't get enough LEDs to do that. They're all old school tungsten lights, and we pixel-mapped them, so it meant that the sun can rotate around in any sort of configuration that we want.”

— Greig Fraser, Cinematographer

“I found this beautiful filter online, on Amazon. It's a rainbow filter, and it causes these beautiful rainbow streaks to the highlights, and that became a theme throughout the film.”

— Greig Fraser, Cinematographer

“We looked very carefully at the options of shooting with an Imax camera and shooting different formats. My visual references were films from the '70s and '80s. I kept using 'Solaris,' 'Alien,' '2001: A Space Odyssey' as a visual reference for how the film should look.”

— Greig Fraser, Cinematographer

What’s next

Fraser is currently working with director Sam Mendes on a biopic about The Beatles, continuing his collaboration with high-profile filmmakers.

The takeaway

Greig Fraser's innovative lighting approach for the key tunnel scene in 'Project Hail Mary' demonstrates his skill in overcoming complex technical challenges to serve the emotional storytelling. His use of vintage tungsten lights and creative camera techniques helped create a visually striking sequence that immerses the audience in the film's unique sci-fi world.