Dante Spinotti ASC, AIC (born 24 August 1943) is an Italian cinematographer, known for his collaborations with directors Michael Mann and Brett Ratner.
He received Academy Award nominations for L.A. Confidential (1997) and The Insider (1999), and won a BAFTA Award for The Last of the Mohicans (1992).
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Life and career
Dante Spinotti was born in the commune of Tolmezzo, in Northern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, near the Austrian border. At the age of 11, he began experimenting with still photography, using a camera inherited from his uncle (a cinematographer and director who specialized in documentaries and newsreels). Spinotti left high school early to work in the film industry in Kenya, driven by his skills in freehand drawing.
Spinotti's first work as cinematographer was the 1972 television drama I Nicotera. His early work included collaborations with noted Italian directors like Lina Wertmüller and Liliana Cavani.
In 1986, Spinotti moved to the United States, forming collaborations with established American directors like Brett Ratner and Michael Mann.
Spinotti has gone on record discussing the preparation and collaborative spirit essential to his work, particularly with director Michael Mann. He also discussed the process of remastering classics like Heat and adapting to new technologies, like digital cameras and even iPhones for certain shots to enhance storytelling.
Dante Spinotti is a member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He won the Golden Camera 300 award at the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in North Macedonia for lifetime achievement. In 2012, he received the American Society of Cinematographers's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Filmography
Film
Documentary film
Television
Miniseries
TV movies
TV series