Michael Chapman is an American cinematographer. He is best known for Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), The Fugitive (1993), and Primal Fear (1996).Chapman began his film career as a camera operator before making the leap to cinematographer. As a cinematographer, he became famous for his two collaborations with Martin Scorsese.He was also cinematographer for the hit remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978).In 1987, Chapman collaborated again with Martin Scorsese on the 18-minute short film that served as the music video for Michael Jackson: Bad (1987).
Michael Chapman
Movies
Criminal
Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) is a CIA agent on a mission in London tracking down a shadowy hacker nicknamed “The Dutchman” (Michael Pitt). When he gets mysteriously ambushed and killed, an experimental procedure is used to transfer his memories into dangerous convict Jerico Stewart (Kevin Costner). When he wakes up…
Fun Facts
Member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) since 1995.
Often made small appearances in some of the movies he shot, as well as ones he didn't, such as The Howling (1981) and The Abyss (1989).
Quotes
The thing that really touches me is acting. I believe cinematography is much closer to acting than most people realize. I used to think of actors as the people who never hit the mark, or were late, or angry. Later, I became more appreciative and empathetic.
The unique thing about acting on film is that you simply can't fake it. You have to become whomever you are portraying. Otherwise, the camera sees it every time. The other thing is that it's on film. If an actor in a live theater has a bad night, there's always tomorrow. That's not true with film. All of this is also true for the director of photography. You can't fake it. And once you've rolled the camera, the film is there for everyone to see.
Everybody should direct one movie, because no matter what the subject, you're so excited that you're going to direct a movie that you do actually get emotionally involved with it. I was lucky enough in All the Right Moves (1983) to be emotionally involved in the story. It was kind of a valentine to my two older sons because I had been divorced when they were kids. The film is partly about fathers and sons, and that meant something to me.