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IMDbPro

John Samaras(I)

  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Cinematographer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Director of Photography John 'Yianni' Samaras
Suicide is Easy is a story about life. Rich's life. He is a student filmmaker who decides to make a documentary with the help from his good friend and sound girl, Samantha. Their subject of choice: Suicide. Samantha is hesitant at first, but Rich dives ri
Play trailer1:00
Suicide Is Easy (2009)
1 Video
15 Photos
Following in the footsteps of family members, Samaras started in the film business at the age of 15, working his way up through the camera department. In 1986, he moved to New York City where he began working for BBC, PBS, HBO, and Liberty Studios.

In preparation for Cinematography, Samaras studied Fine Art Photography by specializing in portraits and experimenting with cross processing and colorizing. From the late '80s to the early '90s, Samaras worked as a Lighting Designer in some of the best clubs in New York City and also designed lights for Off Broadway Theatre, Opera, Mime, and Dance. He also organized and presented visual multimedia shows involving lighting, slides, lasers, and live performers in the dynamic world of rave music.

In 1994 he moved to LA and enrolled in the American Film Institute where he graduated with a Master's degree. He currently works as a Cinematographer, residing in Los Angeles with his wife, Michelle and their daughter Elleni Zoe.
BornMarch 2, 1965
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 2, 1965
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos15

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    + 10
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    Known for

    Warren Beatty in Bulworth (1998)
    Bulworth
    6.8
    • Camera and Electrical Department(as Yiannis Samaras)
    • 1998
    Chronic Town (2008)
    Chronic Town
    6.8
    • Cinematographer
    • 2008
    Daddy Day Care (2003)
    Daddy Day Care
    5.7
    • Camera and Electrical Department(as Yiannis Samaras)
    • 2003
    Diane Gaidry and Erin Kelly in Loving Annabelle (2006)
    Loving Annabelle
    6.2
    • Camera and Electrical Department(as Yiannis Samaras)
    • 2006

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Camera and Electrical Department



    • Diane Gaidry and Erin Kelly in Loving Annabelle (2006)
      Loving Annabelle
      6.2
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2006
    • Wild Roomies (2004)
      Wild Roomies
      4.1
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2004
    • Gary Oldman and Ving Rhames in Sin (2003)
      Sin
      4.5
      • director of photography: second unit, Nevada (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2003
    • Flush
      Short
      • camera operator (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2003
    • Daddy Day Care (2003)
      Daddy Day Care
      5.7
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2003
    • Columbo Likes the Nightlife (2003)
      Columbo Likes the Nightlife
      7.1
      TV Movie
      • additional camera operator (uncredited)
      • 2003
    • Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul (2001)
      Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul
      6.8
      TV Movie
      • first assistant camera (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2001
    • Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song (2001)
      Walk on By: The Story of Popular Song
      8.5
      TV Series
      • first assistant camera (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2001
    • Winona Ryder and Ben Chaplin in Lost Souls (2000)
      Lost Souls
      4.8
      • director of photography: insert unit (uncredited)
      • 2000
    • Stanley's Gig (2000)
      Stanley's Gig
      6.3
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2000
    • Backyard Dogs (2000)
      Backyard Dogs
      2.0
      Video
      • camera operator
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras, as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2000
    • Kris Kristofferson, Martin Landau, Shawn Hatosy, Elisabeth Moss, and Heather McComb in The Joyriders (1999)
      The Joyriders
      5.9
      • director of photography: second unit (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1999
    • Mascara (1999)
      Mascara
      4.6
      • additional gaffer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1999
    • The Secret KGB JFK Assassination Files (1999)
      The Secret KGB JFK Assassination Files
      6.0
      TV Movie
      • camera operator (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1999
    • Angelmaker (1998)
      Angelmaker
      5.3
      Short
      • camera operator (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1998

    Cinematographer



    • Ahna Lipchik in Mirage (2022)
      Mirage
      Short
      • Cinematographer (as Yanni Samaras)
      • 2022
    • Self, E (2019)
      Self, E
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2019
    • Our Twenty Minutes (2013)
      Our Twenty Minutes
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2013
    • Plato's Symposium
      • Cinematographer
      • 2013
    • Alleged (2010)
      Alleged
      4.3
      • director of photography (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2010
    • Suicide Is Easy (2009)
      Suicide Is Easy
      • Cinematographer
      • 2009
    • Chronic Town (2008)
      Chronic Town
      6.8
      • Cinematographer
      • 2008
    • Cecilia Rose (2007)
      Cecilia Rose
      9.4
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2007
    • Le Shakedown
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2007
    • A Jewel in the Sand
      8.0
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2004
    • Flush
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2003
    • The Miracle of the First Christmas
      TV Movie
      • Cinematographer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2000
    • Crime Strike (1998)
      Crime Strike
      5.0
      TV Series
      • Cinematographer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 2000
    • Contact
      7.8
      TV Movie
      • Cinematographer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1998
    • The Secret KGB UFO Files (1998)
      The Secret KGB UFO Files
      6.3
      TV Movie
      • Cinematographer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1998

    Producer



    • Panos Vlahos: Laheio (2018)
      Panos Vlahos: Laheio
      Music Video
      • producer
      • 2018
    • Kai pali oraioi eimaste
      Short
      • associate producer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1985
    • Ios B-23
      Short
      • associate producer (as Yiannis Samaras)
      • 1985

    Videos1

    Suicide is Easy
    Trailer 1:00
    Suicide is Easy

    Personal details

    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • Giannis Samaras
    • Born
      • March 2, 1965
      • Pelion, Magnisia, Greece
    • Other works
      "A Leg to Stand on" by Johanna Cypis, at 'Hudson Avenue Theatre' 1997. Lighting Design by Yiannis Samaras.
    • Publicity listings
      • 5 Interviews
      • 21 Articles
      • 5 Pictorials

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      BA - 'Hellenic Cinema and Television School Stavrakos', Athens, Greece, 1984.
    • Quotes
      The right combination of light and music freguencies can play on the sensitive emotional cords of the audience.

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