David A. Armstrong

Last updated
David A. Armstrong
Born
David A. Armstrong

1962
Alma mater California Institute of the Arts and American Film Institute
Occupation(s) Cinematographer, producer, Film director
Years active1986–present
Website davidaarmstrong.com

David A. Armstrong is an American cinematographer, film producer and director, who was involved in a number of short films and low budget horror films. Although best known for his work on the first six installments of the Saw franchise, Armstrong has also directed two films, the crime thrillers Pawn and The Assassin's Code .

Contents

Life and career

Having a Master of Fine Arts in cinematography from the American Film Institute, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts, [1] [2] Armstrong began his career as the cinematographer of an unreleased 1986 film, Norman and God. Shortly after, he shot a series of independent B-movies and short films. [3] In 2004, Armstrong was hired by James Wan and Leigh Whannell to film the first installment of the Saw franchise. He also served as cinematographer for the next five films, namely Saw II , Saw III , Saw IV , Saw V , and Saw VI . [4] Armstrong went on to shoot other low budget independent horror films including Sam's Lake , Skinwalkers , and The Gravedancers (all 2006). In 2009, Armstrong served as director of photography for the crime thrillers The Lodger and 2:13 , as well the action-comedy Next Day Air . Armstrong's latest efforts as cinematographer are Dead Awake (2010), Hellraiser: Revelations , and On the Inside (both 2011).

Armstrong made his directorial debut with the action film Pawn (2013), starring Michael Chiklis, Ray Liotta, Common, Stephen Lang and Forest Whitaker. [5] The independent film was shot in only 15 days and was released straight-to-DVD. [6] [7]

Armstrong directed his second feature, the crime thriller The Assassin's Code (2018), starring Justin Chatwin, Peter Stormare, and Mark Thompson. [8] Having its world premiere at the 42nd Cleveland International Film Festival, [9] the film was released through video on demand platforms by Gravitas Ventures. [10]

Filmography

As cinematographer

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1986Norman and GodUnknownUnreleased
1987Significant OtherUnknownUnreleased
1995Friday Night BluesUnknownUnreleased
1997Two in the MorningMichelle RemsenShort film
My Dinner with Andre the GiantTim RyanShort film
Burningman: Inside the KaleidoscopeUnknownUnreleased
1998The Way to Santiago Jack Swanstrom Short film
JohnMarni BanackShort film
2000New SuitsRegina DonShort film
2002 P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! Steve Guttenberg
Ritual Avi Nesher Crypt Keeper sequences
FootprintsE. MarshallUnreleased
Judge is GodJames AllenShort film
sIDneyMalik VitthalShort film
Lyric CafeUnknownUnknown episodes
2003Fear of FeathersChad McCordShort film
Seventh VeilAmin Q. Chaudhri
2004 Saw James Wan
Ride with Funkmaster Flex Unknown2 episodes
2005Cotillion '65Judy ChaikinShort film
Saw II Darren Lynn Bousman
2006JamMark WoollenDocumentary
Saw III Darren Lynn Bousman
Sam's Lake Andrew C. Erin
Skinwalkers James Isaac
The Gravedancers Mike Mendez
2007Sibling RivalryJoanne Rubino
Liza Seneca
Short film
Saw IV Darren Lynn Bousman
2008 Saw V David Hackl
2008-

2009

Heroes: The Recruit Rob Hardy 5 episodes
2009 Kill Theory Chris Moore
The Lodger David Ondaatje
2:13 Charles Adelman
Next Day Air Benny Boom
Saw VI Kevin Greutert
Two SpiritsLydia NibleyDocumentary
2010 Dead Awake Omar Naim
2011 Hellraiser: Revelations Víctor Garcia
On the Inside D.W. Brown
Independent Lens Lydia Nibley1 episode
2014It's Worth More Than You ThinkMohammed MamdouhShort film

As producer

YearTitleNotes
2017New SuitsShort film; associate producer
2002sIDneyShort film; associate producer
2009 2:13
2017Midnight ClearShort film; executive producer
2018 The Assassin's Code

As director

YearTitleNotes
2013 Pawn Directorial debut
2018 The Assassin's Code

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References

  1. "The Assassin's Code". Clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. "Cinematography Department". Nyfa.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  3. London Williams, Mark (July 1, 2004). "DP David Armstrong Shoots Saw". Btlnews.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  4. King, Danny (January 10, 2012). "'Saw' Cinematographer David A. Armstrong to Direct Adaptation of Comic Book Series 'Crawl to Me'". The Film Stage. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  5. Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 28, 2011). "'Shield' Cohorts Michael Chiklis And Forest Whitaker Team For Indie Feature 'Pawn'". Deadline. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. Modell, Josh (September 16, 2013). "Not even Michael Chiklis' accent and Forest Whitaker's growl can save Pawn". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  7. Sharkey, Betsy (April 18, 2013). "Movie review: 'Pawn's' cops and robbers game is a mild thrill". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  8. Ford, Rebecca (October 20, 2016). "'Shameless,' 'Fargo' Actors to Star in Indie 'Legacy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  9. "Cleveland International Film Festival: Inside "Assassin's Code," a Cleveland-centric crime thriller". Cleveland.com. April 12, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  10. Murray, Noel (May 9, 2018). "Review: Crime drama 'The Assassin's Code' is strictly by the book". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2021.