James Laxton

 ( American Cinematographers ) 

James Laxton is an American cinematographer who is best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Barry Jenkins, with his work on Moonlight earning him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

---

Career Laxton began at Florida State University, where he met Jenkins. They collaborated on numerous films, including the critically acclaimed 2016 film Moonlight. After graduating, Laxton entered the industry by assisting the camera department on features and shorts, including projects from directors such as David Nordstrom, David Parker, and Cole Schreiber.

In childhood, Laxton accompanied his mother, a noted costume designer, to film sets. He reported being inspired by the rhythm of chaos and calm on the movie set, which played a significant role in his decision to enter the industry.Friedman, Illya. "James Laxton, ASC on Best Picture winner Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk: working with Barry Jenkins and Kevin Smith, his early career and influences." The Cinematography Podcast, Hot Rod Cameras/Spotify, 01-08-2020, /ref>

Laxton's most critically acclaimed credit is the 2016 film Moonlight، directed by Barry Jenkins. The film explores themes of sexuality in a harsh urban environment. A relatively low budget of 1.5 million dollars forced Laxton to forgo equipment such as underwater camera gear and search for innovative cinematographic solutions.

If Beale Street Could Talk was also a Jenkins collaboration. The film features a tragic love story set in 1970s New York City, between Clementine "Tish" Rivers (played by KiKi Layne) and wood artist Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt (played by Stephan James). The two struggle against racism, sexual harassment and assault, and a false rape accusation. The film is based on a novel by James Baldwin, and uses a non-linear structure.

In discussing the success of the movie, which has been described as "trading docu-realism for crafted visual poetry of the highest level," Laxton and Jenkins accredited their years-long process of conversation and collaboration.

---

Filmography

---

Feature film

2008	Medicine for Melancholy	Barry Jenkins
2010	The Violent Kind	The Butcher Brothers
	The Myth of the American Sleepover	David Robert Mitchell
	Karma	Adivi Sesh
2010	Sawdust City	David Nordstrom
2012	California Solo	Marshall Lewy
	For a Good Time, Call...	Jamie Travis
	Leave Me Like You Found Me	Adele Romanski	With Jay Keitel
	The Murder of Hi Good	Lee Lynch
2013	Bad Milo	Jacob Vaughan
	The Moment	Jane Weinstock
	Dealin' with Idiots	Jeff Garlin
	Adult World	Scott Coffey
2014	Camp X-Ray	Peter Sattler
	Tusk	Kevin Smith
2016	Yoga Hosers
	Moonlight	Barry Jenkins
2017	Anything	Timothy McNeil
2018	If Beale Street Could Talk	Barry Jenkins
2024
TBA	Los Valientes	Aurora Guerrero	Filming

---

Television

	2018	Here and Now	Alan Ball	Episode "Eleven Eleven"
2019	Black Monday	Seth Rogen Evan Goldberg	Episode "365"
2021	The Underground Railroad	Barry Jenkins	Miniseries

---

Awards and nominations

2008	Medicine for Melancholy	Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
2016	Moonlight	Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – Academy Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography
2018	If Beale Street Could Talk	Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography

---

External links

Post Comment