Michael Bauman (cinematographer)

Last updated
Michael Bauman
Born
Wisconsin, U.S. [1]
Education American Film Institute (MFA)
OccupationCinematographer
Years active2017–present

Michael Bauman is an American cinematographer. He is best known for the films Licorice Pizza (2021) and One Battle After Another (2025).

Contents

Early career

Bauman graduated from the American Film Institute's cinematography program in 1992. [2] He began his career in the film industry working as a lighting technician on music videos and films. He took over as gaffer near the end of filming for Stuart Little (1999). [3] Bauman worked as the gaffer on more than 45 films in the 2000s and 2010s. [4] Bauman also co-founded LiteGear, a manufacturer of lighting products. [3]

Cinematography

Bauman met director Paul Thomas Anderson while working as the gaffer on Anderson's films The Master (2012) and Inherent Vice (2014). Anderson declined to hire his longtime cinematographer Robert Elswit for his next film, 2017's Phantom Thread. According to Anderson, Phantom Thread did not have a traditional cinematographer during production, and the duty was shared among him and several crew members including Bauman (credited as the "lighting cameraman"), and no cinematography credit is given in the final film. [5] [6] Bauman worked with Anderson on his next two films, as co-cinematographer on 2021's Licorice Pizza and sole cinematographer on One Battle After Another (2025). [7] [8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2017 Phantom Thread Paul Thomas Anderson Credited as "lighting cameraman"
2021 Licorice Pizza Paul Thomas AndersonCo-cinematographer with Anderson
2025 One Battle After Another Paul Thomas Anderson

Television

YearTitleNotes
2023 American Horror Stories 3 episodes
2024 Feud 2 episodes
2024 Monster: The Ed Gein Story 6 episodes

References

  1. ↑ Warner, Kara (2025-11-12). "'Monster: The Ed Gein Story' cinematographer Michael Bauman talks creepy camera work and his surprising connection to this story". Gold Derby. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  2. ↑ "AFI Alumni Projects at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival". American Film Institute. 2025-12-01. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  3. 1 2 "Mike Bauman, Gaffer | PLSN". 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  4. ↑ "Michael Bauman on Lighting Licorice Pizza and Bringing Paul Thomas Anderson's Vision to Life". 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  5. ↑ "Paul Thomas Anderson opens up about the mysterious 'Phantom Thread' for the first time". EW.com. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  6. ↑ Sharf, Zack (October 21, 2020). "Paul Thomas Anderson's Former DP Robert Elswit Doesn't Like the Way 'Phantom Thread' Looked". IndieWire . Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ Willis, David Alexander (2022-06-06). "Michael Bauman & Paul Thomas Anderson / Licorice Pizza". British Cinematographer. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  8. ↑ Zilko, Christian (2025-11-13). "'One Battle After Another' Cinematographer Michael Bauman Says Watching Dailies with Paul Thomas Anderson Is 'Like a Live DJ Session'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
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