David Boyd (cinematographer)

Last updated

David Boyd
Born
David Russell Boyd

Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation(s) Cinematographer
film director
television director
Years active1979–present
Organization American Society of Cinematographers
Known for Firefly
Without a Trace
The Walking Dead
Spouse
​
(divorced)​

David Russell Boyd, A.S.C. is an American cinematographer and director of television and film known for his role as director of photography for the Fox television series Firefly and the AMC series The Walking Dead. [1] He also worked as cinematographer on the first three episodes of HBO's Deadwood . On the NBC television series Friday Night Lights [2] he served as director of photography on 18 of 22 episodes in the first season and moved up to direct two more. He also directed the film Home Run , which was released in 2013.

Contents

Early life

Boyd was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, to a military father, and spent his early childhood in Paris, France. He was inspired to become a cinematographer after stumbling onto the set of Is Paris Burning? , where he was spontaneously recruited by the crew to drag cables for camera and lighting equipment. [3] While attending the University of California, San Diego as physics major, he took an elective film-watching class called "Thursday Night at the Movies." The class was taught by Jean-Luc Garande, a veteran of the French New Wave and colleague of Jean-Luc Godard. Garande inspired Boyd to drop his physics major and attend the UCLA Film School to become a cinematographer and director. [4]

Career

Television

For the first ten years of his career, Boyd worked primarily as a documentary cameraman and camera operator. His big break came when he met actor-turned-director Charles Haid, who hired him as DP on the television series Buddy Faro . Boyd shot nine episodes between 1998 and 2000, and subsequently served as DP on the series Big Apple and the Syfy miniseries Firestarter: Rekindled .

Boyd served as director of photography on all 14 episodes of the cult series Firefly, imbuing the science fiction property with a Western-inspired aesthetic. [5] [6] Boyd got the job after quoting a line from The Searchers during an interview with creator Joss Whedon. [7] Whedon and Boyd developed a look for the series inspired by Golden Age Western films and the 1981 film Outland. [8] Boyd worked to incorporate lighting into the show's recurring sets, [9] much like Gilbert Taylor's work on Star Wars twenty years prior. [10] The series' interiors was shot almost entirely utilizing two handheld cameras on 35mm film, using wide-angle lens and wide focal lengths to create a sense of claustrophobia and confinement within the ship's interior. [11] Boyd's work on the series has become some of the most well-known and widely acclaimed of his career. [12]

Boyd carried over his Western aesthetic to the first three episodes of the HBO series Deadwood. He was series DP on Without a Trace , shooting a total of 42 episodes, and shot 21 episodes of Friday Night Lights in addition to directing 6 episodes. He shot 19 episodes of The Walking Dead and directed 7, using Super 16mm film to create a gritty, realistic visual aesthetic. [13] [14] Other television series he has worked on include Sons of Anarchy, Men of a Certain Age, Do No Harm, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Since 2014, Boyd has focused more on directing, and has served as both a regular and guest directors on shows including Once Upon a Time, Sleepy Hollow, The Night Shift, Shades of Blue, and The Mist.

Film

For much of his early career, Boyd worked as a camera operator on B-horror movies like Evilspeak, Ghoulies, From Beyond, Prison, Return of the Living Dead Part II, and DeepStar Six . Boyd had a cameo role in Puppet Master, a film on which he served as assistant camera operator, alongside his then-wife Barbara Crampton. [15] 

He worked frequently with producer Charles Band's production companies Empire Pictures and Full Moon Features, and served as 2nd unit director of photography on to To Die For, a vampire horror film directed by Deran Sarafian. He was also 2nd unit DP on high-profile films in the late 1990s and early 2000s like  Galaxy Quest, Cast Away, Bubble Boy, and Joy Ride. He replaced Don Burgess on  What Lies Beneath  after the cinematographer proved unavailable for reshoots.

Boyd's debut feature film as primary DP was Kit Kittredge: An American Girl . The following year, he shot the Renny Harlin-helmed action film 12 Rounds and the period drama Get Low starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray. He made his directorial debut in 2013 with Home Run, a religiously-themed sports drama on which he also served as director of photography. That same year, he shot the sci-fi horror film Dark Skies for producer Jason Blum.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleNotesNetwork
1998–2000 Buddy Faro 9 episodes CBS
2001 Big Apple 8 episodes
2002 Firestarter: Rekindled Miniseries

2 episodes

 Syfy
2002–2003 Firefly 14 episode Fox
2003 Threat Matrix Pilot episode ABC
2004 Deadwood 3 episode HBO
2003–05 Without a Trace 42 episodes CBS
2006–07 Friday Night Lights 21 episodes

Director – 6 episodes

 NBC

Audience

2007 Bionic Woman Director – 1 episode
2009 Sons of Anarchy 2 episodes FX
2009–10 Men of a Certain Age 5 episodes

Director – 7 episodes

 TNT
2010 No Ordinary Family 1 episode ABC
2010–21 The Walking Dead 9 episodes

Director – 13 episodes

 AMC
2013 Once Upon a Time Director – 1 episode ABC
Do No Harm 3 episodes NBC
2013–14 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 12 episodes ABC
2014 Once Upon a Time in Wonderland Director – 1 episode
Revolution NBC
Believe
Mind Games ABC
The Night Shift Pilot episode

Director – 4 episodes

 NBC
Gang Related Director – 1 episode Fox
Sleepy Hollow
2015 Backstrom
Constantine NBC
Murder in the First TNT
12 Monkeys Syfy
2015–16 Longmire Director – 3 episodes A&E

Netflix

2016–18 Shades of Blue Director – 4 episodes NBC
2016 Of Kings and Prophets Director – 1 episode ABC
Containment The CW
Aquarius NBC
2016–18 Queen of the South Director – 7 episodes USA Network
2017 The Mist Director – 1 episode Spike
2018 The Brave NBC
The Crossing ABC
2019 The Enemy Within NBC
2020 Away Netflix
2025 Daredevil: Born Again Director Disney+

Film

YearTitleDir.Notes
1999 Galaxy Quest Dean Parisot 2nd unit director of photography
2000 What Lies Beneath Robert Zemeckis Additional photography; uncredited

with Don Burgess

Cast Away 2nd unit director of photography
2001 Bubble Boy Blair Hayes
Joy Ride John Dahl
2008 Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Patricia Rozema
2009 12 Rounds Renny Harlin
2012 Get Low Aaron Schneider
Joyful Noise Todd Graff
2013 Home Run N/AAlso director
Dark Skies Scott Stewart

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinematographer</span> Creative head of a motion pictures camera and lighting decisions

The cinematographer or director of photography is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera and light crews working on such projects. They would normally be responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the image and for selecting the camera, film stock, lenses, filters, etc. The study and practice of this field are referred to as cinematography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Society of Cinematographers</span> Cinematography Organization

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 cinematography and gather a wide range of cinematographers to discuss techniques and ideas and to advocate for motion pictures as a type of art form. Currently, the president of the ASC is Shelly Johnson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip H. Lathrop</span> American cinematographer

Philip H. Lathrop, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer noted for his skills with wide screen technology and detailed approach to lighting and camera placement. He spent most of his life in movie studios. Lathrop was known for such films as Touch of Evil (1958), Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Americanization of Emily (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Point Blank (1967), Finian's Rainbow (1968), The Traveling Executioner (1970), Portnoy's Complaint (1972), Earthquake (1974), Swashbuckler (1976), The Driver (1978), Moment by Moment (1978), A Change of Seasons (1980), Foolin' Around (1980), Loving Couples (1980), and Deadly Friend (1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Sher</span> American cinematographer

Lawrence Sher, ASC is an American cinematographer and film director, best known for comedy films such as Garden State, The Dictator, and The Hangover series, frequently collaborating with directors Todd Phillips and Zach Braff. He made his directorial debut with Father Figures, which began a wide theatrical release on December 22, 2017, by Warner Bros. Pictures. He was nominated for an Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for the 2019 film Joker, directed by Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Suschitzky</span> British cinematographer and photographer

Peter Suschitzky, A.S.C. is a British cinematographer and photographer. Among his most known works as director of photography are The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Empire Strikes Back, and Mars Attacks! and the later films of David Cronenberg. Suschitzky succeeded Mark Irwin as Cronenberg's regular cinematographer when Irwin left during the pre-production of Dead Ringers (1988), and has been the cinematographer for all of Cronenberg's films since, with the exception of Crimes of the Future (2022). He has also collaborated with directors John Boorman, Ken Russell, Bernard Rose, and Tim Burton.

Walter C. Pfister is an American director and former cinematographer, who is best known for his work with filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Some of his collaborations with Nolan include Memento (2000), The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012), and Inception (2010). For his work on Inception, Pfister won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and received a BAFTA Award nomination.

Matthew Frank Leonetti A.S.C. is an American cinematographer. Accomplished and highly prolific, he has worked on dozens of well-known and acclaimed films spanning numerous genres, including Poltergeist, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Weird Science, Jagged Edge, Strange Days, and Star Trek: First Contact. He has collaborated with directors such as Tobe Hooper, Walter Hill, John Hughes, Kenneth Branagh, Kathryn Bigelow, Zack Snyder, and The Farrelly Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guillermo Navarro</span> Mexican cinematographer and director

Guillermo Jorge Navarro Solares, AMC, ASC is a Mexican cinematographer and television director. He has worked in Hollywood since 1994 and is a frequent collaborator of Guillermo del Toro and Robert Rodriguez. In 2007, he won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and the Goya Award for Best Cinematography for del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. His subsequent filmography runs the gamut from lower-budget arthouse and genre films to high-profile blockbusters like Hellboy, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Night at the Museum, and Pacific Rim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Dod Mantle</span> British cinematographer

Anthony Dod Mantle, DFF, BSC, ASC is a British cinematographer and still photographer. He won the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Other accolades include two Bodil Awards, two European Film Awards, and four Robert Awards.

John Niel GreenASC, is an American cinematographer and film director best known for his Oscar-nominated collaborations with actor/director Clint Eastwood, taking over from Eastwood's previous collaborator Bruce Surtees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton Thomas Sigel</span> American cinematographer

Newton Thomas Sigel, ASC is an American cinematographer best known for his collaborations with director Bryan Singer on films like The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, and the X-Men film franchise. He has also worked with filmmakers like Haskell Wexler, Mike Newell, David O. Russell, Terry Gilliam, Alan Ball, Robert Redford, and Nicolas Winding Refn. He is a BAFTA Award, Independent Spirit Award, Critics' Choice Award, and Satellite Award nominee.

Jeffrey Scott Cronenweth, ASC is an American cinematographer based in Los Angeles, California who is known for his role as the director of photography on the David Fincher films Fight Club, The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and was invited to join the cinematographers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2004. He is the son of Jordan Cronenweth, one of the most influential cinematographers in motion picture history.

Alexander Yellen is an American cinematographer who is best known for his work on the Syfy zombie series Z Nation, giant monster and disaster movies such as Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus and Titanic II. The former earned praise for Yellen's photography.

Christian Sebaldt is a German-born cinematographer best known for his work on the long-running CSI: Crime Scene Investigation television series, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series in 2010. In addition, he has worked on numerous major motion pictures, including Resident Evil: Apocalypse and FeardotCom, and commercials for companies like Toyota and Energizer.

Jonathan Freeman, ASC is a Canadian cinematographer. A multi-award-winning director of photography for motion pictures, television and commercials, he is known for his work on Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire. Freeman's motion picture credits include Remember Me, Fifty Dead Men Walking, The Edge of Love, Hollywoodland and The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. He frequently collaborates with directors Allen Coulter, Ernest Dickerson, David Nutter, and Russell Mulcahy.

James Hawkinson is an American cinematographer known for his work in television, music videos, and film. He is best known for his critically acclaimed work on the Hannibal and The Man in the High Castle television series', for which he has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award and a nomination for an ASC Award.

Michael Gioulakis is an American cinematographer, best known for his work with directors David Robert Mitchell, M. Night Shyamalan, and Jordan Peele.

Polly Morgan is a British cinematographer who has worked on the studio feature films Lucy in the Sky (2019), A Quiet Place Part II (2020), Where the Crawdads Sing (2022), and The Woman King (2022). She was also the cinematographer for multiple episodes of the TV series Legion (2017–2019). Morgan is accredited by the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) and the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). To date, she is the only woman to be a member of both, and she is the youngest member of ASC.

Anette Haellmigk is a German cinematographer who has been nominated for multiple Emmy and ASC Awards. She has been a cinematographer on Game of Thrones, The West Wing, and Insecure, amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Messerschmidt</span> American cinematographer

Erik Messerschmidt, ASC is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his collaborations with director David Fincher on the films Mank and The Killer and Gone Girl, and on the Netflix series Mindhunter. He has also shot episodes of the TV series Fargo, Legion, and Raised by Wolves. His work has been nominated for an Emmy. In April 2021, he won the top ASC Award and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Mank.

References

  1. ↑ Stephanie Argy, American Cinematographer magazine (February 2003). "Director of photography David Boyd brings an Old West aesthetic to Firefly, a Fox sci-fi series set in deep space" . Retrieved October 30, 2006.
  2. ↑ Staff Writer, Kodak InCamera magazine (January 2007). "Creating Compelling Friday Night Lights".
  3. ↑ "Interview With The Walking Dead DP and Director, David Boyd". Videomaker.com. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Interview With The Walking Dead DP and Director, David Boyd". Videomaker.com. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ "American Cinematographer: Firefly". theasc.com. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ Wilcox, Rhonda V.; Tanya, Cochran (July 30, 2008). Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Science Fiction on the Frontier. I.B.Tauris. ISBN   9780857713667.
  7. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  10. ↑ Hughes, James (August 29, 2013). "A Long Time Ago …". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Firefly: DP David Boyd ASC Recalls Shooting The Cult Classic : Cinematography". library.creativecow.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Interview With The Walking Dead DP and Director, David Boyd". Videomaker.com. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  15. ↑ Gingold, Michael (August 2, 2017). "Barbara Crampton Talks PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH". Birth.Movies.Death. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017. Barbara Crampton: "Well, my role in [ Puppet Master ] was a cameo; I was there for one day. I did it with my then-husband David Boyd, who played my boyfriend and is a director now. He was the 1st camera assistant on Re-Animator and From Beyond , and we got together on From Beyond".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.