Biography

Michael Ferris Cinematography

Michael Ferris . Biography . Camera Operator . Director of Photography

Born in San Diego, Michael Ferris spent his formative years in California and New York. After earning a BA in Psychology and Literature he served four years active duty in the United States Air Force. Honorably discharged as Captain after remote duty overseas he joined the firm of Bache and Co. on Wall Street. In 1970 he left the East Coast for Los Angeles to pursue a career in the motion picture industry.

Within three months he was working with Orson Welles on The Other Side of the Wind in 1971. In 1972 he met and became closely involved with John Cassavetes as his cameraman on A Woman Under the Influence, Mikey and Nicky, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night. During this time he entered the Masters Program in Film at UCLA on the G.I. Bill and pursued this goal between film projects.

After several years as an assistant cameraman he joined John A. Alonzo, ASC as his operator. During a long collaboration they teamed to photograph Blue Thunder, Cross Creek, Scarface, Internal Affairs, Jo Jo Dancer, Navy Seals and many others.

Other operating credits include: Colors, Rambo III, Diehard, Back to the Future II and III, My Life, Speed, Forrest Gump, Waterworld, The Crow-City of Angels, A Very Brady Sequel, She's De Lovely, George of the Jungle, The Conspiracy Theory, Twilight, The Truman Show, Paulie: A Parrot's Tale, The Faculty, The Wood, End of Days, Me, Myself and Irene, Blow, Baby Boy, Jurassic Park III, Scary Movie 2, The Majestic, Men in Black II, Blood Work, Constantine, S.W.A.T., Hollywood Homicide, Behind the Smile, Supercross, Seraphim Falls, Fast and Furious 3, Snakes on a Plane, Little Man, The Soloist, The Runaways, Justified, X-Men: First Class, Hawaii Five-O and CSI:Miami

He has worked with directors Orson Welles, John Cassavetes, Martin Ritt, Tony Richardson, Richard Donner, Robert Zemeckis, Bruce Beresford, Bruce Joel Rubin, Paul Verhoeven, Mike Figgis, Irvin Kershner, Ricou Browning, Brian DePalma, John Badham, Charles Jarrott, Haskell Wexler, John McTiernan, Philip Noyce, Joan Tewksbury, Jerry Zucker, Peter Hyams, Jan De Bont, David Fincher, Robert Benton, Nick Cassavetes, Dean Semler, Frank Darabont, Barry Sonnenfeld, Pat O'Conner, Robert Rodriguez, Ted Demme, Jean Pierre Jeunet, Bobby and Peter Farrelly, Michael Flatley, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Clint Eastwood, Steve Boyum, Terry Leonard, David Ellis, Damon Wayans, David S. Goyer, Joe Wright, Roman Coppola, Matthew Vaughn, Julian Whatley, Steven Bernstein, Peter Berg.

His specialty in underwater cinematography along with extensive credits in commercials, documentaries, industrial and educational films have taken him to locations all over the world.

Michael Ferris is the 2011 recipient of the Society of Operating Cameramen's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Feature articles in the May 2011 issue of the International Cinematographers Guild magazine and his hometown Malibu Times in June 2011 detail his career origins and highlights. His interview discussing career and work values can be seen on the ONE Hollywood media website for industry notables. His full resume can be viewed on IMDB.
- IMDb mini biography by: Michael Ferris Cinematography