- Michael Chapman (cinematographer)
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Michael Chapman Born Michael Chapman
November 21, 1935
New York, N.Y., USAOther names Mike Chapman Occupation Cinematographer
Actor
& DirectorMichael Chapman, A.S.C. (born November 21, 1935) is an American cinematographer whose prominence owes most to his innovative work of the 1970s and 1980s.
He began his career as a camera operator, distinguishing himself on Steven Spielberg's Jaws. As a cinematographer, he became famous for his two collaborations with Martin Scorsese, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Chapman was also cinematographer for the 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Chapman's style tends towards high contrasts and aggressive use of strong colors. He is also extremely adept at setting up complex camera movements quickly and improvising on the set. This style is epitomized in the boxing sequences in Raging Bull, during which the camera was often strapped to the actors through improvised rigs. Chapman was also the principal cinematographer on Scorsese's documentary The Last Waltz.
Besides his work with Scorsese, Chapman has worked as Director of Photography for directors Hal Ashby, Philip Kaufman, Martin Ritt, Robert Towne, Michael Caton-Jones, Andrew Davis, and Ivan Reitman. He occasionally makes cameos in films he shoots. He has directed several films, the best known being All the Right Moves (1983), starring Tom Cruise in one of that actor's breakthrough roles.
His most recent film was Bridge to Terabithia. According to the DVD commentary, Chapman was planning to retire after the film was finished, saying he would have the last film he shot be a good one.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1968 Frontier Producer 1970 The Landlord Camera Operator 1972 The Godfather Camera Operator 1973 The Last Detail Cinematographer / Actor 1974 The White Dawn Cinematographer 1975 Jaws Camera Operator Death Be Not Proud (TV) Cinematographer 1976 The Next Man The Arab Conspiracy Cinematographer The Front Cinematographer Taxi Driver Cinematographer 1978 The Last Waltz (Doc) Cinematographer King: The Martin Luther King Story (TV) Cinematographer Invasion of the Body Snatchers Cinematographer Fingers Cinematographer 1979 The Wanderers Cinematographer Hardcore Cinematographer 1980 Raging Bull Cinematographer 1982 Personal Best Cinematographer Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid Cinematographer 1983 The Man with Two Brains Cinematographer All the Right Moves Director / Cinematographer 1986 The Clan of the Cave Bear Director The Annihilator (TV) Director Legal Eagles Songwriter 1987 The Lost Boys Cinematographer Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery (TV Series) Producer 1988 Shoot to Kill Cinematographer / Actor Scrooged Cinematographer Gotham: The Dead Can't Lie Cinematographer 1989 Third Degree Burn (TV) Actor (Starring) Ghostbusters 2 Cinematographer 1990 Quick Change Cinematographer / Actor Kindergarten Cop Cinematographer / Actor 1991 Doc Hollywood Cinematographer / Actor 1992 Whipsers in the Dark Cinematographer 1993 Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography (Doc) Interviewee The Fugitive Cinematographer Rising Sun Cinematographer / Actor 1995 The Viking Sagas Director 1996 Space Jam Cinematographer Raven Hawk Actor Primal Fear Cinematographer 1998 Six Days, Seven Nights Cinematographer 1999 The Story of Us Cinematographer 2000 The Watcher Cinematographer 2001 Evolution Cinematographer 2004 Suspect Zero Cinematographer / Actor House of D Cinematographer / Actor Eulogy Cinematographer / Actor 2006 Hoot Cinematographer 2007 Bridge to Terabithia Cinematographer External links
- Michael Chapman at the Internet Movie Database
- Michael Chapman tells his life story at Web of Stories (video)
Categories:- 1935 births
- American cinematographers
- Living people
- American cinematographer stubs
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