Russell Carpenter

Russell Carpenter, A.S.C.
Born Russell Paul Carpenter
(1950-12-09) December 9, 1950
California, U.S.
Other names Russ Carpenter
Occupation Cinematographer
Photographer
Title ASC
Awards

Russell Paul Carpenter, A.S.C. (born December 9, 1950) is an American cinematographer[1][2] and photographer.[3] He shot the 1997 Best Picture-winning film Titanic,[4] for which he won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.[5] Much of his work has been in independent and genre cinema, with films like Critters 2: The Main Course, The Lawnmower Man, and Hard Target.

Early life

The grandson of a film sound engineer, Carpenter was born in Van Nuys, California in 1950 to a family of six.[6] After his parents divorced in 1960, he moved with his mother and 4 siblings to Orange County, where he took up Super 8 films as a hobby.[6] He enrolled in San Diego State University to study television directing, but later changed his major to English. To pay for school, he worked at a local public broadcasting, where he learned the ropes of documentary filmmaking. After graduating, he moved back to Orange County, where he shot educational films and documentaries.[6]

Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Carpenter worked as a director of photography on numerous low-budget horror films like Sole Survivor and Cameron's Closet. In 1983, he shot The Wizard of Speed and Time, a special effects-laden experimental film directed by animator Mike Jittlov. Due to difficulties arising in financing and distribution, the film was not released until 1989.[7] His first major studio film was Critters 2: The Main Course, written and directed by Mick Garris. The Los Angeles Times criticized the film but praised Carpenter's cinematography.[8] Two years later, he shot his first science fiction film, Solar Crisis, and his first action film with Death Warrant starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. After shooting several episodes of the television series The Wonder Years, he worked on The Lawnmower Man.

During the production of the John Woo-directed action film Hard Target, Carpenter was contacted by director James Cameron, leading to the two collaborating on the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger action comedy True Lies,[6] Carpenter replaced Cameron's previous director of photography Adam Greenberg. Their following collaboration, Titanic, earned Carpenter both an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and an ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases.

Career

Carpenter is most widely known for his early work in horror and genre cinema and for his collaborations with directors James Cameron, McG, and Robert Luketic. His first major project as Director of Photography was the 1988 horror-comedy Critters 2: The Main Course.

His work on the 1997 film Titanic earned him an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, an ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases, a nomination for a BAFTA Award, as well as numerous other accolades.

Personal life

Carpenter is alumnus of Van Nuys High School and San Diego State University. He is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

Filmography

Cinematographer
Year Film Genre Dir. Other notes
1983 The Wizard of Speed and Time Experimental film Mike Jittlov Not released until 1989
Sole Survivor Horror film Thom Eberhardt
1988 Lady in White Frank LaLoggia
Cameron's Closet Armand Mastroianni
CBS Schoolbreak Special Television special Jeffrey Auerbach 1 episode
Lucky Stiff Horror comedy Anthony Perkins Additional photography;
with Jacques Haitkin
Critters 2: The Main Course Mick Garris
1989 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child Horror film Stephen Hopkins 2nd unit director of photography;
with Peter Levy
Puppet Master David Schmoeller Additional photography;
with Sergio Salvati
1990 Solar Crisis Science fiction film Richard C. Sarafian
Death Warrant Action film Deran Sarafian
Redlands Short film Joan Taylor Student film for the AFI
1991 The Perfect Weapon Action film Mark DiSalle
The Wonder Years Television series Lyndall Hobbs
Ken Topolsky
Nick Marck
Daniel Stern		 4 episodes
1992 The Lawnmower Man Science fiction film Brett Leonard
Pet Sematary Two Horror film Mary Lambert
1993 Hard Target Action film John Woo
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman Television film Christopher Guest
1994 True Lies Action comedy James Cameron First collaboration with James Cameron
1995 The Indian in the Cupboard Fantasy film Frank Oz
1996 T2 3-D: Battle Across Time Theme park attraction James Cameron
1997 Money Talks Action comedy Brett Ratner
Michael Jackson's Ghosts Short film Stan Winston
Titanic Romantic drama James Cameron Won:

Nominated:

1998 The Negotiator Action thriller F. Gary Gray
2000 Charlie's Angels Action comedy McG First collaboration with McG
2001 Shallow Hal Comedy The Farrelly Brothers
2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Action comedy McG
The Human Stain Drama film Robert Benton Additional photography;
with Jean-Yves Escoffier
2004 Noel drama film Chazz Palminteri
2005 Monster-in-Law Romantic comedy Robert Luketic First collaboration with Robert Luketic
2006 Awake Conspiracy thriller Joby Harold
2008 21 Heist film Robert Luketic
2009 Locker 13 Anthology film Matthew Mebane 1 segment
The Ugly Truth Romantic comedy Robert Luketic
2010 Killers Action comedy
2011 A Little Bit of Heaven Romantic comedy Nicole Kassell
2012 This Means War Action comedy McG
2013 Jobs Biographical drama Joshua Michael Stern
2014 Return to Sender Independent thriller Fouad Mikati
Beyond the Reach Adventure thriller Jean-Baptiste Léonetti
2015 Parched Drama film Leena Yadav Indian film
Ant-Man Superhero film Peyton Reed
2017 XXX: Return of Xander Cage Action film D. J. Caruso
2019 Nicole Fantasy film Marc Lawrence Filming[9]
2020 Avatar 2 Science fiction film James Cameron Filming[9]
2021 Avatar 3 Filming[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Russell Carpenter, ASC – Features Montage". Worldwide Production Agency | WPA. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  2. ↑ Staff, Hollywood.com (2015-02-06). "Russell Carpenter | Biography and Filmography | 1950". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  3. ↑ "C.Q. | The Photography of Russell Carpenter | Roni Keller". Cultural Weekly. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  4. ↑ "Titanic's Cinematographer Russell Carpenter - MovieMaker Magazine". MovieMaker Magazine. 1998-07-02. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  5. ↑ "True Luminaries: Russell Carpenter - page 3". theasc.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Canon DLC: Bio: Russell Carpenter, ASC". www.learn.usa.canon.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  7. ↑ "Mike Jittlov's "The Wizard of Speed and Time": His Life's A Special Effect!". nightflight.com. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  8. ↑ WILMINGTON, MICHAEL (1988-04-29). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Critters 2": Once More With Even Less Taste". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  9. 1 2 3 "Russell Carpenter To Receive ASC Lifetime Achievement Award". Shoot. October 5, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
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