| Years active | 2003–present |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Florida State University (BFA) |
| Relatives | Aggie Guerard Rodgers[1] (mother) |
James Laxton is an American cinematographer, best known for his collaboration with Barry Jenkins, with his work on Moonlight earning him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.[2][3]
Career
Laxton began at Florida State University, where he met Barry Jenkins. 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.[4]
Laxton's most critically acclaimed credit is the 2016 film Moonlight، directed by Jenkins. A relatively low budget of 1.5 million dollars[5] forced Laxton to forgo equipment such as underwater camera gear and search for innovative cinematographic solutions.[6]
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.
In discussing the success of the movie, which has been described as "trading docu-realism for crafted visual poetry of the highest level,"[7] Laxton and Jenkins accredited their years-long process of conversation and collaboration.
Filmography
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mufasa: The Lion King |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026 | Beef | Jake Schreier Lee Sung Jin Kitao Sakurai | Season 2 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Title | Awards/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[8] 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 |
References
- ^ "Producer's Corner: Adele Romanski — The Myth of the American Sleepover by Serena Donadoni". Women and Hollywood. July 25, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "A One-Camera Show: DP James Laxton on Moonlight". filmmakermagazine.com. 18 November 2016.
- ^ Pressberg, Matt (24 January 2017). "Oscar Nominee Reactions: Meryl Streep Sends GIF, Jeff Bridges Says 'Woo Hoo!'". www.thewrap.com. The Wrap. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ 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, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IM2SrtOAFpblygqBx6Kke.
- ^ "Moonlight", retrieved 2020-04-12
- ^ "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". Google Podcasts. The Cinematography Podcast. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ O'Falt, Chris (2019-01-09). "If James Baldwin Made Films: How DP James Laxton Translated the Bold Imagery of 'Beale Street'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "Huppert, 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land' Honored by NYFCC and LAFCA". Backstage.com. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
External links
- James Laxton at IMDb