Stefan Czapsky
Stefan Czapsky | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 December 1950 |
| Alma mater | Case Western Reserve Columbia University |
| Years active | 1976–2023 |
Stefan Czapsky, A.S.C. (born 15 December 1950) is an American cinematographer,[1][2] best known for his collaborations with director Tim Burton on films like Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, and Ed Wood.[3]
Early life and education
Born in Oldenburg, West Germany to Ukrainian parents, his family emigrated to the United States while he was still an infant and settled in Cleveland.
Career
Early career
Graduating from Case Western Reserve University with a BFA in the humanities and an emphasis on film history and criticism, Czapsky moved to New York City, where he attended a film studies graduate program at Columbia University[2] and began working in the film production business in positions such as assistant cameraman, gaffer, and key grip, for productions such as After Hours, Matewan, and Q.
His first feature film, On the Edge, was praised by Roger Ebert, who noted, "The movie creates a real sense of place: These aren’t Hollywood locations but rooms where human voices sound at home."[4]
Feature films
The independent success of On the Edge secured Czapsky a cinematographer role alongside Robert Chappell for Erroll Morris’ The Thin Blue Line and Robert Bierman’s Vampire’s Kiss. [5]
With Tim Burton
Czapsky's more notable work is has been with expressionist director Tim Burton, starting with Edward Scissorhands, a film praised for its ethereal atmosphere.[6]
In 1992 the duo would return to shoot Batman Returns on a Panavision Panaflex Gold II in 35mm.[7]
Their third and final project, Ed Wood, would prove to be their most critically successful.[8]
Later career and television
Czapsky worked with Batman Returns star Danny DeVito on the 1996 film Matilda.[9]
From 2016, Czapsky shifted his work towards television, shooting episodes of Shades of Blue, Quantico, and God Friended Me.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | On the Edge | Rob Nilsson |
| 1988 | Vampire's Kiss | Robert Bierman |
| 1989 | Last Exit to Brooklyn | Uli Edel |
| Fear, Anxiety & Depression | Todd Solondz | |
| Sons | Alexandre Rockwell | |
| 1990 | Flashback | Franco Amurri |
| Child's Play 2 | John Lafia | |
| Edward Scissorhands | Tim Burton | |
| 1991 | The Dark Wind | Errol Morris |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Tim Burton |
| Prelude to a Kiss | Norman René | |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Tim Burton |
| 1996 | Matilda | Danny DeVito |
| 2003 | Bulletproof Monk | Paul Hunter |
| 2007 | Blades of Glory | Will Speck Josh Gordon |
| 2009 | Fighting | Dito Montiel |
| 2012 | Safe | Boaz Yakin |
| 2015 | Max | |
| 2022 | Christmas with You | Gabriela Tagliavini |
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Thin Blue Line | Errol Morris | With Robert Chappell |
| 1991 | A Brief History of Time | With John Bailey |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Drew | James Strong | TV movie |
| 2016-2017 | Shades of Blue | All 36 episodes | |
| 2018 | Quantico | 10 episodes | |
| 2018-2020 | God Friended Me | 20 episodes | |
| 2021 | Stargirl | Andi Armaganian | 2 episodes |
| 2022-2023 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | 11 episodes |
References
- ^ "STEFAN CZAPSKY". www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ a b "BIO". Stefan Czapsky. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ Davis, Clayton. "ACCA 1994". AwardsCircuit.com - By Clayton Davis. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "On The Edge movie review & film summary (1986) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ "The Thin Blue Line". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ Arabian, Alex (2017-12-27). "EDWARD SCISSORHANDS: Tim Burton's Timeless Masterpiece". Film Inquiry. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ Batman Returns (1992), retrieved 2020-05-01
- ^ "'Ed Wood': Tim Burton's Beautiful Ode to a Fascinating Filmmaker, From One Outsider to Another • Cinephilia & Beyond". Cinephilia & Beyond. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (1996-08-05). "Matilda". Variety. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
External links
- Official website
- Stefan Czapsky at IMDb
- Stefan Czapsky profile at the Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers