Frederick Elmes
American cinematographer
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Frederick Elmes, ASC (born November 4, 1946) is an American cinematographer, known for his association with the independent film movement,[1][2] having worked mostly with directors David Lynch and Jim Jarmusch.[3][4][5]
American Film Institute (MFA)
New York University (MFA)
Frederick Elmes | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1946 |
| Education | Rochester Institute of Technology (BFA) American Film Institute (MFA) New York University (MFA) |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Website | fredelmes |
Life and career
Born in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Elmes studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology, then attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, graduating in 1972. He enrolled in the Graduate Film Program at New York University's Department of Film and Television and graduated in 1975.[6]
At the American Film Institute, Elmes met aspiring film director David Lynch, who hired him for Eraserhead (1977). Since then the two have collaborated on Blue Velvet (1986) and Wild at Heart (1990).[7][8]
Elmes has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 1993.
Filmography
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Street Scenes 1970 | Martin Scorsese | |
| 1983 | Citizen: The Political Life of Allard K. Lowenstein | Julie M. Thompson | |
| 1985 | Broken Rainbow | Maria Florio Victoria Mudd |
With Baird Bryant, Victoria Mudd, Tony St. John and Joan Weidman |
| 1987 | Heaven | Diane Keaton | With Joseph J. Kelly |
| 1990 | Hollywood Mavericks | Florence Dauman Dale Ann Stieber |
|
| 2025 | I Know Catherine, the Log Lady | Richard Green |
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Amputee | David Lynch | |
| 1976 | Number One | Dyan Cannon | |
| 1987 | Liebestod | Franc Roddam | Segment of Aria |
| 1988 | Speed Demon | Jerry Kramer Colin Chilvers |
Segments of Moonwalker |
| Smooth Criminal | |||
| Come Together | |||
| 2001 | Chosen | Ang Lee | Segment of The Hire |
| 2002 | Int. Trailer Night | Jim Jarmusch | Segment of Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet |
| 2003 | Somewhere in California | Segment of Coffee and Cigarettes | |
| 2010 | House Keeping | Johan Renck | |
| 2017 | Hair | John Turturro | |
| 2021 | French Water | Jim Jarmusch | |
Feature film
Television
TV movies
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 | Jeremy Kagan |
| 1988 | Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Closed Set | Mollie Miller |
| 1997 | In the Gloaming | Christopher Reeve |
| 2009 | A Dog Year | George LaVoo |
Miniseries
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The French as Seen by... | Werner Herzog David Lynch |
2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Wedding | Charles Burnett | |
| 2014 | Olive Kitteridge | Lisa Cholodenko | |
| 2016 | The Night Of | Steven Zaillian | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | The Looming Tower | Michael Slovis Craig Zisk |
4 episodes |
| 2019 | The Family | Jesse Moss | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | The Girl from Plainville | Lisa Cholodenko Daniel Minahan |
3 episodes |
TV series
| Year | Title | Director | Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hunters | Alfonso Gomez-Rejon | "In the Belly of the Whale" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Boston Society of Film Critics | Best Cinematography | Blue Velvet | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics | Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| Sitges Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle | Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| 1990 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Cinematography | Wild at Heart | Won |
| 1991 | Night on Earth | Won | ||
| 1996 | Fantasporto | Directors' Week Award for Best Cinematography | The Empty Mirror | Won |
| WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival | Gold Special Jury Award for Best Cinematography | Won | ||
| 1997 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Cinematography | The Ice Storm | Nominated |
| Chlotrudis Award | Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography | In the Gloaming | Nominated | |
| 2016 | The Night Of (For episode "Ordinary Death") |
Won |