The Handmaid’s Tale
Filming a Revolution

A Conversation with Brett Hurd, SOC & Sarah Mulholland, SOC​
Hosted by David Daut

Nearly a decade after it began production, the television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale has reached its conclusion with a sixth season that is—true to form—morally murky and bubbling over with righteous anger.

Camera Operator had the opportunity to talk with camera operators Brett Hurd, SOC, and Sarah Mulholland, SOC, about seeing this series, which has been so impactful and influential, through to its final moments—. from honoring and evolving the series’ cinematic language to shooting slow burn tension as well as the moments where that tension gives way to explosive action.

As Season 6 opens, revolutionary and former Handmaid June Osborne finds herself escaping Gilead with an unlikely companion—her former tormentor, Serena Joy Waterford. After a riot breaks out on the train and the two of them are separated, June joins up with the growing revolutionary movement in Alaska to plan for a final attack against Gilead’s leadership. Meanwhile, Serena finds herself recruited to be the public face of New Bethlehem, Gilead’s supposedly liberalized new settlement, aimed to diffuse international outcry against Gilead’s history of abuses. The Handmaid’s Tale is created by Bruce Miller and stars Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Ever Carradine, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Sam Jaeger, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley, and Bradley Whitford.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES

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Brett Hurd, SOC

Brett Hurd is a camera operator and cinematographer based out of Toronto, Canada. He began his career in the industry in the mid-2010s working as a camera operator for television. His credits as operator include Mrs. America, Painkiller, Possessor, and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. In his time as A camera operator, he’s worked on projects including The Handmaid’s Tale, the Toronto unit of The Invisible Man, Luckiest Girl Alive, Novocaine, American Primeval, and Dream Scenario, where he also served as cinematographer for the film’s Montreal unit. He is currently working on The Mosquito Bowl, his third project with director Peter Berg.

In addition to his work on film and television, Hurd is also a published photographer with his work featured in two books and multiple magazines.

Sarah Mulholland, SOC

Sarah Mulholland is a Toronto-based Steadicam operator working in film and narrative television. A proud member of IATSE 667, she has built her career from the ground up, starting in camera rental houses before transitioning into the camera department on set. After years of experience as a camera assistant, Sarah found her passion in operating, with a particular focus on Steadicam.

David Daut

A writer and critic for more than a decade, David Daut specializes in analysis of genre cinema and immersive media. In addition to his work for Camera Operator and other publications, David is also the co-creator of Hollow Medium, a “recovered audio” ghost story podcast. David studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and works as a freelance writer based out of Long Beach, California.

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