Headgum // That Was Us: Yasu Tanida and Us

Yasu Tanida and Us | Cinematographer

7/21/2026

This week on That Was Us, we’re beyond excited to welcome cinematographer Yasu Tanida, the visionary behind the distinctive look of This Is Us. Yasu takes us behind the camera to reveal how he helped create the show's signature visual language, from its soft and nostalgic aesthetic to the intimate handheld style that made viewers feel like they were living alongside the Pearson family.

In this episode, Yasu chats about:

* How he developed the iconic visual style of This Is Us and why the show was designed to feel like a memory

* The handheld camerawork and lens choices that helped create intimacy with the Pearson family

* Working to “detune” lenses and create the soft, dreamy glow seen throughout the series

* The role color palette, framing, and composition play in creating the show's nostalgic tone

* Why the camera often sits outside rooms, quietly observing the characters

* Collaborating with the lighting team to create beautiful images

* The technical considerations of lighting different skin tones

* His philosophy that actors and story always come first

* Creating efficient lighting setups that allow scenes to flow naturally

* Spending time in the editing room with Dan Fogelman to learn the visual “language” of the show and refine his storytelling instincts

* How he pushed the signature This Is Us look even further on Paradise and other projects

And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual!

That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.

-------------------------

Support Our Sponsors:

- Thanks to Article for sponsoring this podcast! Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit https://www.article.com/discount/twu and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

- Get a $49 annual membership with promo code podcast at https://www.shipt.com/offer. Terms apply.

- Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://baskandlatherco.com and use code TWU for 20% off.

-------------------------

🍋 About the Show:

The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it.

Together, they dig in and dig deep, have the tough conversations, bring in very special and familiar guests, share never-before-heard behind-the-scenes moments, and feature listeners in highly anticipated fan segments.

Join your favorite family back in the living room to examine our past, cherish our present, and look to the future with new episodes of That Was Us every Tuesday.

Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz

Creative Producer: Sam Skelton

Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley

Video Editor: Todd Hughlett

Mix & Master: Jason Richards

About Headgum:

Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.