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IMDbPro

Spencer Gillis

  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Director
  • Cinematographer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Spencer Gillis
Spencer Gillis is a writer/director, camera operator, and member of the Society of Camera Operators.

With his 2013 short film, GUN, Spencer marked his directorial debut by premiering in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. GUN screened at over fifteen festivals world-wide earning the Grand Jury Prize at the Atlanta Film Festival along with Best Actor and Best Narrative at Hollyshorts Film Festival. The film is available on iTunes and is being distributed by SHORTS INTERNATIONAL, LTD. His latest short film SWEEP (2015) premiered at the prestigious Aspen Shortsfest and went on to play at twelve festivals, winning the Audience Choice Award for Best Short at FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival.

As a co-founder of 2.35, Spencer has produced award winning narrative and documentary short films as well as directed work for VICE media. He has also screened his work and lectured to film students at colleges around the country like Cornell, Denison, and Florida Atlantic University. In 2014, Spencer was invited to serve as a short film juror for the Milwaukee Film Festival.

Spencer's professional background includes experience as a camera assistant spanning more than twenty feature films - including SHAME, BLUE VALENTINE, ARBITRAGE and OUR IDIOT BROTHER - in addition to work in documentary, episodic television, commercials and web content. Spencer credits his philosophy and style of direction to years spent on set observing the process up close - particularly his work with directors Derek Cianfrance and Steve McQueen.

In 2012, Spencer transitioned professionally into camera operating. His work illustrates a wide range of shooting styles: reality television shows for DISCOVERY, TLC, and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, webisodes for 30 ROCK, as well as films and scripted television like ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, CHICAGO PD, and EMPIRE.

Gillis, a Kansas native, previously studied at the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Master of Arts in Film Studies.
BornDecember 16
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 16
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 23 nominations total

    Known for

    Gun (2013)
    Gun
    7.5
    Short
    • Director
    • 2013
    Hubert Point-Du Jour in Sweep (2015)
    Sweep
    6.7
    Short
    • Director
    • 2015
    Angelina Jolie in Salt (2010)
    Salt
    6.5
    • Camera and Electrical Department
    • 2010
    Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, and Eva Mendes in The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
    The Place Beyond the Pines
    7.3
    • Camera and Electrical Department
    • 2012

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Camera and Electrical Department



    • Neagley
      • camera operator: "b" camera - Chicago Unit
      • Completed
      • TV Series
      • 2026
    • Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story
      • 'b' camera operator
      • Post-production
      • TV Movie
      • 2026
    • Dark Matter
      • additional camera operator
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2026
    • The Land
      • a camera operator: Indianapolis unit
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2026
    • Structure
      • camera operator
      • Completed
      • Short
      • 2026
    • Enemies
      • additional camera operator
      • Post-production
    • American Blue
      • camera operator: 'c' camera
      • In Development
      • TV Series



    • Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton in Dark Matter (2024)
      Dark Matter
      7.6
      TV Series
      • additional camera operator
      • 2026
    • Fred Armisen, Poorna Jagannathan, Asif Ali, and Saagar Shaikh in Deli Boys (2025)
      Deli Boys
      7.2
      TV Series
      • director of photography: second unit
      • additional camera operator
      • 2026
    • Dermot Mulroney, David Eigenberg, Christian Stolte, Hanako Greensmith, Taylor Kinney, Joe Minoso, Miranda Rae Mayo, and Jocelyn Hudon in Chicago Fire (2012)
      Chicago Fire
      8.0
      TV Series
      • steadicam operator: b-camera
      • additional steadicam operator
      • 2026
    • Oliver Platt, Steven Weber, and S. Epatha Merkerson in Chicago Med (2015)
      Chicago Med
      7.6
      TV Series
      • additional camera operator
      • camera operator
      • 2022–2026
    • Chicago P.D. (2014)
      Chicago P.D.
      8.1
      TV Series
      • additional camera operator
      • additional steadicam operator
      • camera operator ...
      • 2014–2026
    • Chris Fleming: Live at the Palace (2026)
      Chris Fleming: Live at the Palace
      6.7
      TV Special
      • camera operator
      • 2026
    • Joseph Sikora in Power Book IV: Force (2022)
      Power Book IV: Force
      8.1
      TV Series
      • additional camera operator
      • camera operator
      • 2022–2025
    • David Letterman in My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (2018)
      My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
      7.8
      TV Series
      • camera operator 'a' camera
      • 2024–2025
    • Jeff Hiller and Bridget Everett in Somebody Somewhere (2022)
      Somebody Somewhere
      8.3
      TV Series
      • director of photography: Kansas Unit
      • camera operator 'b' camera
      • 'b' camera operator ...
      • 2023–2024
    • Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All (2024)
      Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All
      7.4
      TV Special
      • camera operator
      • 2024
    • Seth Meyers in Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking (2024)
      Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking
      6.8
      TV Special
      • camera operator
      • 2024
    • Sal Vulcano in Sal Vulcano: Terrified (2024)
      Sal Vulcano: Terrified
      6.5
      • camera operator
      • 2024
    • The Chi (2018)
      The Chi
      7.5
      TV Series
      • camera operator
      • director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
      • 2021–2023
    • Timothy Olyphant in Justified: City Primeval (2023)
      Justified: City Primeval
      7.3
      TV Mini Series
      • camera operator
      • 2023
    • South Side (2019)
      South Side
      8.2
      TV Series
      • camera operator
      • 2022

    Director



    • Hubert Point-Du Jour in Sweep (2015)
      Sweep
      6.7
      Short
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Gun (2013)
      Gun
      7.5
      Short
      • Director
      • 2013
    • 30 Rock: Livin' XL with Grizz & Dotcom
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Monogram
      Short
      • Director
      • 2006

    Cinematographer



    • The Water Is My Sky (2021)
      The Water Is My Sky
      • Cinematographer
      • 2021
    • In the Hollow (2015)
      In the Hollow
      7.2
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2015
    • ReGift Demon
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2011
    • Live
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2010
    • Saaremaa Valss
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2010
    • Pond Hockey (2008)
      Pond Hockey
      7.9
      • Cinematographer
      • 2008
    • Monogram
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2006

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Personal details

    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Alternative names
      • W. Spencer Gillis
    • Height
      • 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
    • Born
      • December 16
      • Coffeyville, Kansas, USA

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