Exclusive Interview: A Conversation with Cinematographer Adolpho Veloso for “Jockey”

In Jockey, Clifton Collins Jr. plays Jackson Silva, an aging jockey who was at the top of his game. Now, his body is failing him after breaking so many bones throughout his career. The film highlights the true physical nature of the fast-paced sport and dangerous sport. The average weight for a jockey is reportedly 108 to 118 pounds (the Kentucky Derby lists the limit at 126 pounds). They must maintain that at all times.

Now, at the twilight of his career, Jackson gets the chance jockeys dream about, to ride a potentially prizewinning horse: A horse called Dido’s Lament, owned by horse trainer Ruth (Molly Parker), who Jackson’s spent much of his career alongside. Meanwhile, a young rider named Gabriel (Moises Arias) joins the circuit and informs Jackson that he’s his son.

After playing last year in 2021 at Sundance and TIFF, Jockey released in a few L.A. and New York theatres before the end of 2021, looking at a larger release in 2022. The film features a great score and great performances by the three actors, as well as the others in the film, played largely by real-life people involved in the jockeying business at the racetrack in Arizona. These real people help make some of the film’s most memorable scenes.

The interview

The film also features some gorgeous cinematography. When I saw the film online as part of last year’s TIFF, I fell in love with it from the start. We see Clifton Collins Jr. as Jackson and real-life jockey Logan Cormier as Leo illuminated by an early morning, Arizona sunset.

Myself and staff writer had the chance to speak with the film’s cinematographer, Adolpho Veloso. In the conversation, we touched on aspects of filming during the golden hour and a video that helped inspire that. Adolpho also talks about the metaphor of sunrises and sunsets of an end of a career.

We also talk about his use of low-light situations, seeing a scene and using creative ways to light the scenes (using bonfires or headlights), and he also talks about what inspired him to be a cinematographer and working with non-actors and how they worked with Clifton Collins Jr.  We were also able to ask about how he shot the racing scenes and how they intimately shot that scene.

You can watch our interview on YouTube at the link right above.

Jockey is currently playing in select theatres in New York and Los Angeles, and was recently released in Ireland. More viewing options will be updated at a later date. As well, if you want to read a full review of “Jockey” out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, go here.