I was born in Culver City California, and I am a third generation filmmaker. I grew up wandering around, playing in the old back-lots and studio sound stages. It was there I learned camera, lighting, and grip. At an early age I worked for my grandfather and father on the weekends, and summertime; during that time I worked on Stage 4 at Producers Studios (Later Raleigh Studios). There I learned lighting and grip equipment, and how to repair everything. After a few summers, I started working on commercials and movies. Upon graduating high school, I felt that it was the perfect time to fulfill my military responsibility that I knew I wanted to fit into my life’s experience; so I enlisted in the Navy as a “Sea Bee” heavy equipment mechanic. After the completion of my enlistment, I took a few odd jobs, but quickly jumped back into film-making. I started back as a grip and worked my way up to key grip. I did jump departments, and worked my way up from lamp operator to gaffer over time. While gaffing I was given the opportunity to step up and DP 2nd units and insert shots. In between jobs, I camera assisted and shot many music videos as a DP. I have been fortunate to work with so many talented, kind people who have taken the time and shared so much of their experience and secrets with me over the years. I was recommended to DP a short film, Mutual Love Life, in 1998 that made it to the top five for the Academy Awards (but the academy decided that year to only except the top three), I continued to concentrate on my gaffing until I was given the opportunity to shoot my first full length feature in 2005. I have accumulated a variety of feature films, commercials and music videos. In-between projects I attend trade shows, rental house openings, camera training classes and seminars to stay up to date on the rapidly changing film industry.
When I started in the film industry, foot-candles, arc’s and mole Richardson lamps where the norm. I saw and used some of the first HMI’s, the first Stedi cam, and watched the music video industry explode onto the market. Now we have the web, techno cranes, drones, and digital cameras to tell the story in new ways, and bring the audience new experiences. I am excited to see what's around the corner, and what new tools will come about to help tell the story. Having worked in this industry on many, many different projects in many different positions has allowed me to bring a dynamic resource of experience as a Director of Photography!