Dean Cundey

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Dean Raymond Cundey, A.S.C.[1] (born 12 March 1946) is a American cinematographer.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Cundey was born in Alhambra, California, United States. As a child, he used to build model sets, suggesting an interest in films from an early age.

[edit] Early Work

Cundey already had several low-budget films under his belt when he met Debra Hill, who in 1978 recruited him to work on Halloween, a film she co-wrote with director John Carpenter.

Having Cundey work on a film brought considerable advantages. In addition to his considerable skill as a cinematographer and director of photography, he also had the advantage of owning most of his own equipment packed in a large van, referred to by Debra Hill as the "movie van".[2]

[edit] Contributions to Film

Cundey's work on Halloween is cited by many fans as being among his best as director of photography. In addition to his lighting skills, particularly in the famous hallway scene where the hidden face of Michael Myers is slowly revealed by way of a blue light next to the mask, he was among the first cinematographers to make use of a recent invention called the steadicam, or panaglide.

The panaglide allowed the camera operator to "wear" the camera and obtain shots that were previously deemed too difficult or even impossible. In Halloween, the panaglide was used as a point of view reference for Michael Myers, allowing the audience to see what he sees.[3]

[edit] Other Noteworthy Films

Cundey would go on to work with Carpenter and Hill again on the films The Fog, Escape From New York, The Thing, Halloween II, and Halloween III. He would also return to work with Carpenter for the last time on the 1986 big budget science fiction/comedy adventure Big Trouble in Little China. Cundey also served as Director of Photography on the 3D movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" which currently runs in five Walt Disney theme parks around the world.

[edit] Later Work

In addition to his work with Carpenter, Cundey would go on to lend his talents for the films Psycho II, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future trilogy, What Women Want, Apollo 13, Jurassic Park, Romancing the Stone, Roadhouse, and Garfield to name a few. In 1997, he made his directorial debut with the direct-to-video sequel Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. He is currently working in Canada on a project soon to be released. [4]

[edit] Awards and Recognition

Cundey is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers. His work on "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" earned him an Academy award nomination.

[edit] Filmography

  • Beware! The Blob (1972)
  • Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
  • That Girl from Boston (1975)
  • The No Mercy Man (1975)
  • The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976)
  • Black Shampoo (1976)
  • Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976)
  • Creature from Black Lake (1976)
  • Satan's Cheerleaders (1977)
  • Bare Knuckles (1977)
  • Hi-Riders (1978)
  • Halloween (1978)
  • The Charge of the Model Ts (1979)
  • Angels' Brigade (1979)
  • Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)
  • Roller Boogie (1979)
  • The Fog (1980)
  • Galaxina (1980)
  • Without Warning (1980)
  • Jaws of Satan (1981)
  • Separate Ways (1981)
  • Escape from New York (1981)
  • Halloween II (1981)
  • The Thing (1982)
  • Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) (director of photography)
  • The Invisible Woman (1983) (TV)
  • M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (1983) (TV)
  • Psycho II (1983)
  • D.C. Cab (1983)
  • Amazons (1984) (TV)
  • Romancing the Stone (1984)
  • Invitation to Hell (1984) (TV)
  • It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984) (TV)
  • Back to the Future (1985)
  • Warning Sign (1985)
  • Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
  • Project X (1987)
  • Big Business (1988)
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
  • Road House (1989)
  • Tales from the Crypt - And All Through the House (1989) TV Episode
  • Back to the Future Part II (1989)
  • Back to the Future Part III (1990)
  • Nothing But Trouble (1991)
  • Hook (1991)
  • Death Becomes Her (1992) (director of photography)
  • Jurassic Park (1993)
  • The Flintstones (1994)
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994) (uncredited)
  • Michael & Mickey (1995)
  • Casper (1995) (director of photography)
  • Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience (1995)
  • Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair (1996)
  • Flubber (1997)
  • Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997) (director)
  • Krippendorf's Tribe (1998)
  • The Parent Trap (1998)
  • Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming (1999)
  • Partners (1999) (TV)
  • The West Wing (1999) TV Series
  • Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
  • Garfield (2004)
  • Whisper (2007)
  • Sakura: Blue-Eyed Samurai (2006) (post-production)
  • The Holiday (2006)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dean Cundey Biography (1946?-)
  2. ^ The Fog feature length commentary with Debra Hill and John Carpenter
  3. ^ Interview with Dean Cundey on the DVD documentary Halloween, A Cut Above The Rest
  4. ^ Author interview with Cundey via e-mail, 2007

[edit] External links

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