Emmanuel Lubezki

Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern, ASC, AMC (born 1964), better known as Emmanuel Lubezki, is a Mexican cinematographer, known for his groundbreaking techniques and characteristic style. His nickname is "Chivo".^[1][2]

Early life and career

Lubezki was born in Mexico City, Mexico to a Jewish family[1][2]. His father is actor Muni Lubezki.^[3] He began his career in Mexican film and television productions in the late 1980s, such as the horror-oriented cult series La Hora Marcada (1986). His first American production was the 1993 independent film Twenty Bucks, which followed the journey of a single twenty-dollar bill.

He has worked with fellow Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón in five motion pictures: Sólo con tu Pareja (1991), A Little Princess (1995), Great Expectations (1998), Y tu mamá también (2001), and Children of Men (2006). Lubezki and Cuarón have been friends since they were teenagers and attended the same film school^[4] at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.^[1]

Lubezki has also worked with a variety of major directors, including Mike Nichols (The Birdcage, 1996), Tim Burton (Sleepy Hollow, 1999), Michael Mann (Ali, 2001), Terrence Malick (The New World, 2005), Martin Scorsese (Shine a Light, 2007, as camera operator under supervision of cinematographer Robert Richardson) and The Coen Brothers (Burn After Reading, 2008). As of 2007, he has been nominated for four Academy Awards.

Lubezki's most recent collaboration with Cuarón, Children of Men (2006), has received universal acclaim.^[5] The film utilized a number of new technology and distinctive techniques. The "roadside ambush" scene was shot in one extended take utilizing a special camera rig invented by Doggicam systems, developed from the company's Power Slide system.^[6] For the scene, a vehicle was modified to enable seats to tilt and lower actors out of the way of the camera. The windshield of the car was designed to tilt out of the way to allow camera movement in and out through the front windscreen. A crew of four, including Lubezki, rode on the roof. Children of Men also features a seven and a half minute battle sequence composed of roughly five seamless edits, a rarely used technique first utilized in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope.

Lubeski is currently filming A Boy and his Shoe, another collaboration with Cuarón with a projected release date in 2010. He has also completed work on the upcoming film, The Tree of Life, directed by Terrence Malick, which is also set for release in 2010.

Filmography (partial)

As Cinematographer

• The Tree of Life (2010)
• Burn After Reading (2008)
• Children of Men (2006)
• The New World (2005)
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
• The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)
• The Cat in the Hat (2003)
• De Mesmer, con amor o Te para dos, (International title: From Mesmer, With Love or Tea for Two (2002))
• Ali (2001)
• Y tu mamá también (2001)
• Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her (2000)
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Meet Joe Black (1998)
• Great Expectations (1998)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• A Walk in the Clouds (1995)
• A Little Princess (1995)
• Ambar a.k.a. Amber (1994)
• Reality Bites (1994)
• The Harvest (1993)
• Fallen Angels (Two Episodes, 1993)
• Miroslava (1993)
• Twenty Bucks (1993)
• Como agua para chocolate a.k.a. Like Water for Chocolate (1992)
• Sólo con tu pareja (1991)
• Bandidos a.k.a Bandits (1991)

References

External links

• Emmanuel Lubezki at the Internet Movie Database
• Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers
• International Cinematographers Guild interview