James_Laxton
James Laxton
American cinematographer
James Laxton is an American cinematographer who is best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Barry Jenkins, specifically his work on Jenkins' 2016 film Moonlight, for which he won an Independent Spirit Award and received an Academy Award nomination.[2][3]
James Laxton | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Florida State University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Parent | Aggie Guerard Rodgers (mother)[1] |
Laxton began his career at Florida State University, where he met Jenkins. They collaborated on numerous films, including the critically acclaimed 2016 film Moonlight. After graduating, Laxton entered the industry by assisting the camera department on features and shorts, including projects from directors such as David Nordstrom, David Parker, and Cole Schreiber.
In childhood, Laxton accompanied his mother, a noted costume designer, to film sets. He reported being inspired by the rhythm of chaos and calm on the movie set, which played a significant role in his decision to enter the industry.[4]
Moonlight
Laxton's most critically acclaimed credit is the 2016 film Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins. The film explores themes of sexuality in a harsh urban environment. A relatively low budget of 1.5 million dollars[5] forced Laxton to forgo equipment such as underwater camera gear and search for innovative cinematographic solutions.[6]
If Beale Street Could Talk
This 2018 film was also a Jenkins collaboration. The film features a tragic love story set in 1970s New York City, between Clementine "Tish" Rivers (played by KiKi Layne) and wood artist Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt (played by Stephan James). The two struggle against racism, sexual harassment and assault, and a false rape accusation. The film is based on a novel by James Baldwin, and uses a non-linear structure.
In discussing the success of the movie, which has been described as "trading docu-realism for crafted visual poetry of the highest level,"[7] Laxton and Jenkins accredited their years-long process of conversation and collaboration.
Short film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | My Josephine | Barry Jenkins |
| Little Brown Boy | ||
| 2005 | The Unseen Kind-Hearted Beast | Amy Seimetz |
| 2009 | A Young Couple | Barry Jenkins |
| 2010 | Eggshells for Soil | Megan Boone |
| 2012 | Rest | Cole Schreiber |
| Mission Chinese | David Parker Cole Schreiber | |
| 2013 | Fête des Pets | Nicholas Jasenovec |
| Sarah Silverman's Perfect Night | Liam Lynch | |
| 2014 | Lemonade War | Ramin Bahrani |
| 2015 | Welcome to the Last Bookstore | Chad Howitt |
| 2016 | Bernie Sanders Is the One for Me | Andrew Deyoung |
| 2019 | Squarespace: Dream It | Spike Jonze |
| 2021 | Reebok's Reconnect | Jonas Lindstroem |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Medicine for Melancholy | Barry Jenkins | |
| 2010 | The Violent Kind | The Butcher Brothers | |
| The Myth of the American Sleepover | David Robert Mitchell | ||
| Karma | Adivi Sesh | ||
| 2010 | The Last Buffalo Hunt | Lee Anne Schmitt | |
| Sawdust City | David Nordstrom | ||
| 2012 | California Solo | Marshall Lewy | |
| For a Good Time, Call... | Jamie Travis | ||
| Leave Me Like You Found Me | Adele Romanski | ||
| The Murder of Hi Good | Lee Lynch | ||
| 2013 | Bad Milo | Jacob Vaughan | |
| The Moment | Jane Weinstock | ||
| Dealin' with Idiots | Jeff Garlin | ||
| Adult World | Scott Coffey | ||
| Tradition Is a Temple: The Modern Masters of New Orleans |
Darren Hoffman | ||
| 2014 | Camp X-Ray | Peter Sattler | |
| Tusk | Kevin Smith | ||
| 2016 | Yoga Hosers | ||
| Holidays | Nicholas McCarthy | Segment – "Easter", also with Bridger Nielson and Shaheen Seth | |
| The Black Jacket | Ryan Simon | ||
| Moonlight | Barry Jenkins | ||
| Youth | Brett Marty | ||
| 2017 | Anything | Timothy McNeil | |
| 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Barry Jenkins | |
| 2024 | Mufasa: The Lion King | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Futurestates | Barry Jenkins | 1 episode – Remigration |
| 2013 | You and Your Fucking Coffee | Henry Phillips | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Rubberhead | Dean Fleischer-Camp | TV movie (segment – "Knickers") |
| 2016 | Garfunkel and Oates: Trying to Be Special |
Jeremy Konner Riki Lindhome |
TV movie |
| 2018 | Here and Now | Alan Ball | Episode: "Eleven Eleven" |
| 2019 | Black Monday | Evan Goldberg Seth Rogen |
Episode: "365" |
| 2021 | The Underground Railroad | Barry Jenkins | Miniseries |
| Year | Title | Awards/Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Medicine for Melancholy | Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography |
| 2016 | Moonlight | Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography[8] Nominated – Academy Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography |
| 2018 | If Beale Street Could Talk | Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography |
- "Producer's Corner: Adele Romanski — The Myth of the American Sleepover by Serena Donadoni". Women and Hollywood. July 25, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- "A One-Camera Show: DP James Laxton on Moonlight". filmmakermagazine.com. 18 November 2016.
- Pressberg, Matt (24 January 2017). "Oscar Nominee Reactions: Meryl Streep Sends GIF, Jeff Bridges Says 'Woo Hoo!'". www.thewrap.com. The Wrap. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- Friedman, Illya. "James Laxton, ASC on Best Picture winner Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk: working with Barry Jenkins and Kevin Smith, his early career and influences." The Cinematography Podcast, Hot Rod Cameras/Spotify, 01-08-2020, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4IM2SrtOAFpblygqBx6Kke.
- "James Laxton, ASC on Best Picture winner Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk: working with Barry Jenkins and Kevin Smith, his early career and influences". Google Podcasts. The Cinematography Podcast. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- O'Falt, Chris (2019-01-09). "If James Baldwin Made Films: How DP James Laxton Translated the Bold Imagery of 'Beale Street'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- "Huppert, 'Moonlight,' 'La La Land' Honored by NYFCC and LAFCA". Backstage.com. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- James Laxton at IMDb