Biography

After working in almost all fields of production and being a camera assistant to the director of photography Tomas Pladevall, Joan-Lluís Arruga started as a cinematographer in 1982. He started as a free-lance in Filmacción, production company of MMLB directed by Arcadi Sagala, in Vector Albi and Group Films. In 1986 he decided to create his own production company with Miquel Navarro and Joana Rosselló, with Toni Fernandez as the manager. The company was named ARRUGA STUDIO. With this new company he began to be the cinematographer and director of international campaigns, specializing in beauty, cars, and soft drinks commercials. Among his his advertising words are the campaigns of Kas Naranja-Limón "Day and Night" shot in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and Barcelona; the campaigns of Woman Magazine with Claudia Shiffer, Linda Evangelista, Nacho Duato, and Marcus Schenkenberg; the European campaign of Peugeot 306 shot in Madrid, Santander, Barcelona, and Menorca; the campaigns of Crema Caballero with Azúcar Moreno, Raimundo Amador and Rafa Sánchez; and starring Paulina Rubio, the announcement of Duca-2 Music made in Ibiza, Sevilla, La Habana, and New York, which also served as the launch of the group Jarabe de Palo and their song "La Flaca". He is one of the Spanish pioneers in making music videos, working with the best national singers such as Miguel Bosé, Los Rebeldes, Mecano, Presuntos Implicados, Alejandro Sanz, Rosana, Marta Sanchez, etc. In 2004 he directed a music video with Penélope Cruz singing "Penélope" by Joan-Manuel Serrat with arrangements by Nacho Cano. In 1998 he was the cinematographer and director of the tv program "El Séptimo de Caballería", co-directed and presented by Miguel Bosé. The show featured performances by Alejandro Sanz, Serrat, R.E.M., Madonna, Alanis Morrisette, Raphael, Chavela Vargas, Alaska, and almost two hundred other artists. The show won all the awards that can be given to a music tv show, including the Ondas. In 2004 he closed his production company ARRUGA STUDIO but kept making video clips with stars such as Miguel Bosé, Marta Sánchez, and Eduardo Cruz. He also did the cinematography of the opening titles of the "BAZAR" program for Canal+ (together with Jordi Carreras) and the cinematography of a new campaign of "Brillante" Caballero Cream and Canal+ "Ordenamos". In 2006 he was commissioned with the "BOOK OF STYLE" of Canal+, making a profound change in the aesthetic of the sports programs of this chain and its different channels. He is also responsible for the realization of the documentary-program for Canal+, "El Mundo de Millás", the peculiar opinions of Juan José Millás on daily issues. In the world of photography he has done different reports for El País Semanal and Women Magazine, and different exhibitions including: "FACES", portraits of famous and non-famous people; "WALL", portraits of habaneros on the boardwalk; "SAND", portraits of Bedouins in the desert of Jordan; and "PERSONAL", photographs made in the backstage of shoots with celebrities. Also exhibited in the digital magazine "aaaaaarte.com" is his vision of China with the title "BY THE STREET". He did the photographs of the promotion campaign, as well as the poster, for the tour "DOS PÁJAROS DE UN TIRO" by Joan-Manuel Serrat and Joaquín Sabina as well.

In recent years, he has shared a project with Anna Frago in Enriqueta Films with which he has done commercials and documentaries. With Elena F. Arruga they created the ARRUGA production company dedicated to advertising and content for film and television.

He's been awarded with many awards, including: Spot GOLIA-ACTIV "Cadillac": LEÓN DE BRONCE, Cannes Video-Clip MECANO "El 7 de Septiembre": MEJOR VIDEO COCA-COLA Video-Clip MIGUEL BOSÉ "Si tú no vuelves": PREMIO ONDAS 94, MTV LATINO 94 Video-Clip MIGUEL BOSÉ "Auto-radio canta": PREMIO ONDAS 96 Video-Clip MARTA SÁNCHEZ "Soy yo": PREMIO ONDAS 02
- IMDb mini biography by: Uma Arruga López