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Alexander Witt

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Alexander Witt
Witt in 2016
Born (1952-04-10) April 10, 1952 (age 72)
Occupation(s)Film director and cinematographer

Alexander B. Witt (born 1952) is a Chilean-American filmmaker and cinematographer mostly known for his work as a camera operator and second unit director, including regular collaborations with director Ridley Scott.

Life & career

From a 2004 interview on IGN, he says this about his history: "I was born in Chile, the third generation of Germans there. And, we moved to Mexico, from Mexico in '73 I moved to Europe, where I started working in film. I started with Arriflex, the company that makes the cameras. I was there for a year and I did kind of a trainee type of year where I was in the sound department, in the lab, in the studio working with the actual productions and also assembling cameras. And then I moved to Europe, where I lived three years, and then, back in '76, I did my first movie as a camera assistant, which was 21 Hours at Munich. And then, I kept on going, I moved up to focus puller or first AC, and then operating and then DP-ing. And then I was DP-ing commercials and then I started directing commercials in the late 80's and beginning of [the] 90's. I was working with Jan de Bont and doing his second unit as a DP while he was a DP. He is the one that really gave me the break on Speed to start directing second unit."[1]

Witt works mostly as a second unit director and cinematographer and has worked on a plethora of films ranging from Gladiator to Cinderella. He is a frequent collaborator of director Ridley Scott, and served as the director of photography on his 2007 film Body of Lies. He made his directorial debut in 2004 with the video game adaptation Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Witt also served as the second unit director on the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2020).

Filmography

As second unit director

Year Title Notes
1994 Speed
1995 Money Train Also second unit DP, New York
1996 Twister Also second unit DP
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control
The Postman
1998 The X-Files Also second unit DP, Creature unit
1999 Forces of Nature Also second unit DP
Inspector Gadget Also second unit DP (uncredited)
2000 Gladiator Also second unit DP
Remember the Titans
2001 Hannibal
Black Hawk Down
2002 The Bourne Identity Also second unit DP
XXX
2003 Daredevil
The Italian Job
Hollywood Homicide Also second unit DP
Additional photography
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Also second unit DP
2004 Hidalgo
2005 Æon Flux
2006 She's the Man
Casino Royale Also second unit DP
2007 American Gangster
2008 Fool's Gold
2009 The Taking of Pelham 123 Also second unit DP
2010 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Also second unit DP (uncredited)
Robin Hood Also second unit DP
The Town
2011 Fast Five
X-Men: First Class
2012 Safe House
Skyfall
Code Name Oracle
2014 Hercules Also second unit DP
2015 Cinderella
Terminator Genisys
Spectre
2018 Avengers: Infinity War
Bird Box
2021 No Time to Die
Jungle Cruise

Other roles

Year Title Notes
2004 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Directorial Debut
Umbrella Sniper (uncredited)
2008 Body of Lies Debut as Director of Photography
TBA Sayen

References

  1. ^ Otto, Jeff (August 23, 2004). "Interview: Alexander Witt". IGN. Retrieved 2009-02-10.