Behind the Scenes: Jonathan Chekroune Shoots F1 Cast + Talks Mein Schatz
Kismet Director/DP Jonathan Chekroune captured the official F1 roundtable for a behind-the-scenes featurette published by Entertainment Weekly.
This behind-the-scenes piece by Entertainment Weekly, captures an intimate roundtable with stars Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon discussing the physical and emotional challenges of filming. Seated together, the cast shares candid stories about the physical and emotional challenges of working on a film embedded inside real Formula 1 events.
Filmed on location at real Formula 1 events including the British Grand Prix, F1 brings an unprecedented level of realism to a fictional narrative. With Brad Pitt portraying a former driver returning to the grid and Javier Bardem playing a powerful team figure, the film anchors its high-speed energy in character-driven stakes. To support the film’s launch, Director/DP Jonathan Chekroune was brought on to shoot a featurette that goes beyond standard press footage. The result gives audiences a more personal look at the film’s process.
Rather than relying on press-friendly soundbites, the conversation unfolds naturally. Pitt opens up about navigating high-speed corners at 180 miles per hour, Bardem jokes about wanting to stay far from the driver’s seat, and Condon praises Kosinski’s calm under pressure. The camera holds steady, letting the moments speak for themselves without distraction. Lighting and pacing were kept simple and intentional, shaped more by the space and dynamic of the group than by any pre-designed aesthetic.
The ability to bridge cinematic aesthetics and promotional storytelling is a signature of Chekroune’s work.
Outside of major studio campaigns, Director/DP Jonathan Chekroune continues to push his creative voice in independent work. His latest narrative short, Mein Schatz, explores themes of isolation, memory, and identity through a haunting visual lens. The story follows a reclusive, bandaged woman who begins to piece together a hidden truth about her past. Set entirely inside a dim Brooklyn apartment, the film uses space and atmosphere to mirror her unraveling state of mind.
The idea for Mein Schatz began with a recurring image Chekroune could not shake, which led him to collaborator and performance artist Inga Khurieva. After a series of visual tests, the team built the story from that central image outward. The finished short is minimal yet emotionally rich, offering a complete tonal contrast to the kinetic energy of F1 while remaining grounded in Chekroune’s sharp visual instincts.
Whether working on roundtables with Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem or inside intimate interiors on independent sets, Director/DP Jonathan Chekroune brings a focused and cinematic approach that prioritizes emotion, clarity, and visual storytelling. His work never distracts from the narrative but rather deepens the audience’s connection to it.
As Chekroune’s career continues to grow, his ability to move between high-profile productions and personal narrative work makes him one of the most versatile and thoughtful visual storytellers working today. With F1 reaching global audiences and Mein Schatz preparing for its festival run, Jonathan Chekroune has become a name to watch in both commercial and independent film.
