Dante Spinotti
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2013) |
Dante Spinotti | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1943 |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Years active | 1972-present |
Dante Spinotti, A.S.C., A.I.C. (born 22 August 1943) is an Italian cinematographer and a member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[1] He is known for his collaborations with directors Michael Mann, Michael Apted, Deon Taylor, and Brett Ratner, and is frequently credited with helping to pioneer the use of high-definition digital video in cinematography.[2][3] He is a BAFTA Award recipient and two-time Academy Award nominee (for L.A. Confidential and The Insider).
Biography[edit]
Spinotti was born in Tolmezzo, near the Austrian border. He began experimenting with still photography at the age of 11 with a camera given to him by his uncle, a cinematographer and director specializing in documentaries and newsreels. He worked as a camera operator on documentaries for much of his early career.
Among the more notable films he has worked on are The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, and L.A. Confidential. Spinotti also was the cinematographer for Brett Ratner's films, such as Red Dragon (2002), After the Sunset (2004), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
Spinotti was the cinematographer on both adaptations of the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris: Michael Mann's 1986 adaptation (titled Manhunter), and Brett Ratner's 2002 adaptation.[4] He won the Golden Camera 300 award at the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in North Macedonia for lifetime achievement.
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Die tote Stadt | Bruce Beresford | Segment of Aria |
| 2002 | Mercedes 'Lucky Star' | Michael Mann |
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman | Eric Bricker | With Aiken Weiss |
| 2023 | Posso entrare? An ode to Naples | Trudie Styler |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Frankie and Johnny | Man on bus | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Deception | Herr Kleiner/Mr. Moretti | [5] |
| 2011 | Good Vs. Evil: Battle on the Sea | Direct-to-video |
Television[edit]
Miniseries
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | I Nicotera | Salvatore Nocita |
| 1979 | Paura sul mondo | Domenico Campan |
| 1982 | Colomba | Giacomo Battiato |
TV movies
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Tracce sulla neve | Alessandro Cane |
| 1980 | La signorina Else | Enzo Muzii |
| 1981 | Fosca | |
| 1983 | Le ambizioni sbagliate | Fabio Carpi |
| 2008 | Blue Blood | Brett Ratner |
| 2012 | Rogue | |
| 2015 | Edge | Shane Black |
TV series
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | La pietra di Marco Polo | Aldo Lado | |
| 2005 | Prison Break | Brett Ratner | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2007 | Women's Murder Club | ||
| 2011 | CHAOS | Brett Ratner | Episode "Pilot" |
Awards and nominations[edit]
Academy Awards
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 1999 | The Insider | Nominated |
BAFTA Awards
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Last of the Mohicans | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Nominated |
American Society of Cinematographers
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Last of the Mohicans | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | Nominated |
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Nominated | |
| 1999 | The Insider | Nominated |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 1999 | The Insider | Won |
Satellite Awards
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Public Enemies | Nominated |
Chicago Film Critics Association
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Heat | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
National Society of Film Critics
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^ "Dante Spinotti". IMDb. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "Dante Spinotti - British Cinematographer". British Cinematographer. 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ Caranicas, Peter (2016-11-18). "Dante Spinotti on Technology, New Workflow, Directors' Personalities". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
- ^ French, Philip (2002-10-12). "Film of the week: Red Dragon". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (April 25, 2008). "A Sliver of Thrills". New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
External links[edit]
- Dante Spinotti at IMDb
- Quality screengrabs of Dante Spinotti's fine cinematography on Manhunter (1986) Archived 2007-06-09 at the Wayback Machine
- Profile at New York Times
- Profile at American Cinematographer
- Interview for International Cinematographers Guild
- Interview for LightTools
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