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James Laxton is an American cinematographer who is best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Barry Jenkins, specifically his work on Jenkins' 2016 film Moonlight, for which he won an Independent Spirit Award and received an Academy Award nomination. Laxton began his career at Florida State University, where he met Jenkins. They ...
James Laxton was born on 3 February 1981 in San Francisco, California, USA. He is a cinematographer, known for The Underground Railroad (2021), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and Moonlight (2016). He is married to Bex Crofton-Atkins.
- January 1, 1
- 2 min
- San Francisco, California, USA
David Bornfriend/A24 Cinematographer James Laxton and director Barry Jenkins on location in Miami. “I think we all have gazes,” says Laxton about his take on photography.
The cinematographer of Moonlight, James Laxton, breaks down four of the film’s most mesmerizing scenes. Moonlight’s Cinematographer on Filming the Most Exquisite Movie of the Year.
- Lighting
- Camera Placement and Eyeline
- Breaking The Fourth Wall
- What's Next? Explore Some of Our Other Moonlight Coverage
From the opening of the scene, as Chiron approaches the diner, lighting is at play. Laxton placed lights within a tree to cast dappled shadows on the character as he walked beneath, creating entirely new visual interest from the very first second. Outside the diner, the bulbs were changed to give a more blue hue. Inside, much of the lighting is pra...
Laxton says he often put the camera as close to the actors as possible, basically touching them and getting the lens near their eyeline. This was a conscious choice in order to bring the viewer into the conversation, so it feels as though the character is speaking to the audience as well as their counterpart. "Because, you know, if you're further o...
Some of Moonlight's most impactful moments are when characters look directly into the lens, confronting the audience in emotional moments. According to Laxton, this was an idea that took shape in pre-production. "I think for all of us around there, and especially for Barry because this is so personal to him, that just had such a deep, deep emotiona...
Examine the film's visual motifs, get some directing advice from Barry Jenkins, or dive into some deep analysis of the movie. Learn about Jenkins' struggles on the film, too. Then take a look at some of 2016's most stunning cinematography. Source: TIFF Originals
- Jo Light
James Laxton ASC - Cinematographer. Features Commercials Music Videos/Shorts Contact Back To Top ...
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Once Laxton began shooting, maintaining this sense of intimacy and subjectivity was key. Unlike many films (large-budget ones, anyway) which have separate cinematographers and camera operators, James Laxton shot “98% of the film” himself. This involvement was essential for bringing the audience fully into the film’s world.
