Phedon Papamichael,
ASC ( el, Φαίδων Παπαμιχαήλ, ''Faidon Papamihail''; born 10 February 1962) is a Greek
cinematographer and
film director, known for his collaborations with directors
James Mangold
James Allen Mangold (born December 16, 1963) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for the films ''Cop Land'' (1997), ''Girl, Interrupted'' (1999), ''Walk the Line'' (2005), '' 3:10 to Yuma'' (2007), '' The Wolverine'' (2013) and ''Logan'' ( ...
,
Alexander Payne and
Wim Wenders. He has twice been nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work on one particular motion picture.
History
In its first film season, 1927–28, this award (like others such as the acting awards) w ...
and twice also for the
BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
This is a list of winners and nominees for the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography, which is presented to cinematographers, given out by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 1963.
Winners and nominees 1960s
; Best Cinematography ...
. He has been a member of the
American Society of Cinematographers
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), founded in Hollywood in 1919, is a cultural, educational, and professional organization that is neither a labor union nor a guild. The society was organized to advance the science and art of cinem ...
since 2000.
Early life and education
He was born in Athens, Greece in 1962 to a Greek father and a German mother. When Papamichael was six years old, his family relocated to the United States, as his father, a well-known artist and set designer, was offered a job as a production designer for
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and direc ...
. From an early age, he was involved in cinema. He studied photography and art at the
University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (simply University of Munich or LMU; german: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) is a public research university in Munich, Germany. It is Germany's sixth-oldest university in continuous operatio ...
and received his Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1982.
Career
Papamichael's first job as a cinematographer was in the 1988 film ''
Dance of the Damned
''Dance of the Damned'' is a 1989 American film directed by Katt Shea and executive produced by Roger Corman.
Cast
* Starr Andreeff as Jodi Hurtz
* Cyril O'Reilly as The Vampire
* Debbie Nassar as La Donna
* Maria Ford as Teacher
* Athena Wor ...
'', directed by
Katt Shea
Kathleen Ann Shea (born October 9, 1959) is an American actress, film director, and acting teacher. She is best known for directing the erotic thriller '' Poison Ivy'', which was nominated for the 1992 Sundance Grand Jury Prize.
Early life
Shea ...
.
He would go on to make several future collaborations with director Shea and producer
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...
, making him a member of the so-called "Corman Film School", much like his contemporary
Janusz Kamiński
Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński (; born June 27, 1959) is a Polish cinematographer and director of film and television. He has established a partnership with Steven Spielberg, working as a cinematographer on his films since 1993. He won the Academy Aw ...
.
As a cinematographer, he has shot nearly fifty films, including ''
Phenomenon
A phenomenon ( : phenomena) is an observable event. The term came into its modern philosophical usage through Immanuel Kant, who contrasted it with the noumenon, which ''cannot'' be directly observed. Kant was heavily influenced by Gottfried ...
'', ''
America's Sweethearts
''America's Sweethearts'' is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Joe Roth and written by Billy Crystal and Peter Tolan. It stars Julia Roberts, Crystal, John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones, with Hank Azaria, Stanley Tucci, Seth ...
'', ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...
'', ''
Walk the Line
''Walk the Line'' is a 2005 American biographical musical romantic drama film directed by James Mangold. The screenplay, written by Mangold and Gill Dennis, is based on two autobiographies authored by singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, 1975's '' M ...
'', ''
The Weather Man
''The Weather Man'' is a 2005 American dark comedy-drama film directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Steve Conrad, and starring Nicolas Cage in the lead role, Michael Caine and Hope Davis. It tells the story of a weatherman in the midst of a m ...
'', ''
The Monuments Men
''The Monuments Men'' is a 2014 war film directed by George Clooney and written and produced by Clooney and Grant Heslov. The film stars an ensemble cast including Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hug ...
'', and ''
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
'', for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He has worked with directors
James Mangold
James Allen Mangold (born December 16, 1963) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for the films ''Cop Land'' (1997), ''Girl, Interrupted'' (1999), ''Walk the Line'' (2005), '' 3:10 to Yuma'' (2007), '' The Wolverine'' (2013) and ''Logan'' ( ...
,
Alexander Payne,
Wim Wenders,
Oliver Stone and
George Clooney, and many others, and has also directed films, such as Sketch Artist, Dark Side of Genius, ''
From Within'', ''
Arcadia Lost
''Arcadia Lost'' is a 2010 American drama film directed by Phedon Papamichael Jr. and starring Haley Bennett, Carter Jenkins, and Nick Nolte. The film both takes place and was filmed in Greece. Specifically it was filmed in the village Poulithra, ...
''. He has worked with Hollywood stars
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale (born 30 January 1974) is an English actor. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for his roles, he has been a leading man in films of several genres. He has received various accolades, including ...
,
Will Smith
Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom '' The Fresh ...
,
John Travolta,
George Clooney,
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962), known professionally as Tom Cruise, is an American actor and producer. One of the world's highest-paid actors, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Go ...
,
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Kim Coppola (born January 7, 1964), known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and film producer. Born into the Coppola family, he is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Gui ...
,
Russell Crowe,
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Michelle Diaz (born August 30, 1972) is an American actress. With a variety of works in film, she is widely recognised for her work in romantic comedies and animation. Diaz has received various accolades, including nominations for ...
and others, and maintains a long-term friendship with
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix (; né Bottom; born October 28, 1974) is an American actor. He is known for playing dark and unconventional characters in independent films. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academ ...
and
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. He is ...
.
He later made his debut as a director in the film Showtime’s ''Sketch Artist'' in 1992 and two years later he directed ''Dark Side of Genius''.
In 2000, he was awarded the Prix Vision of the
Avignon Film Festival
The Avignon Film Festival (created 1984), also known as the Avignon/New York Film Festival or Rencontres Cinématographiques Franco-Américain d'Avignon, took place every year in Avignon, France along with a twin film festival organised in New Yo ...
for his cinematography in ''
27 Missing Kisses
''27 Missing Kisses'' ( ka, 27 დაკარგული კოცნა, ), also known as ''Summer''. is a 2000 Georgian film directed by Nana Djordjadze that contains elements of fantasy or magical realism. It was featured during the Directo ...
''.
Personal life
He spends his time between Los Angeles and
Leonidio
Leonidio ( el, Λεωνίδιο, Katharevousa: Λεωνίδιον, Tsakonian: Αγιελήδι) is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kyn ...
, Greece.
In an interview with
Greek Reporter
Greek Reporter is a news organization for Greek people around the world. It functions as a news agency and online portal consisting of a collection of internet news web sites for Greek people and people of Greek descent who live and work in and ...
, Papamichael said, ”I want to spend more time in Greece from next year. My parents live there and my home is also there. I visit Los Angeles regularly just for my job. Obviously, I will move permanently to Leonidio some time in the future. It’s unlikely to live the twilight of my life in the United States.”
He also has a wife and two children.
Filmography
Film
Television
Short films
Directorial works
References
External links
*
Phedon Papamichael at the Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers* Phedon Papamichael at th
Ellines.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Papamichael, Phedon
Greek emigrants to the United States
Film people from Athens
1962 births
Living people
Greek cinematographers
American cinematographers
Greek film directors
American film directors