Don Michael Burgess, (born May 28, 1956) is an American cinematographer, best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis.
He was nominated for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for Zemeckis' Forrest Gump (1994). In 2024, he received the American Society of Cinematographers' Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early life and education
Burgess comes from a family of builders, and initially wanted to be an architect in his youth.
His introduction to photography came through his father building a dark room for his sister since she was in a high school photography class at the time. When in high school he made ski movies and motorcycle movies.
He attended the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and cited nature documentarian Mike Hoover as an influence. While attending, he worked as a film loader on William Friedkin's Sorcerer (1977).
Career
Burgess spent the first decade of his career shooting various independent and low-budget films, as well as nature documentaries for the National Geographic Channel. In 1987, he shot the full motion video game Night Trap, which was eventually released in 1992.
He was also a second unit cinematographer on Runaway Train (1985), Cherry 2000 (1986), and Back to the Future Part II (1989) & and Part III (1990), which brought him into contact with Robert Zemeckis.
In 1994, Zemeckis was the main cinematographer on Zemeckis' Forrest Gump, earning Oscar and BAFTA Award nominations for his work. He has subsequently worked with Zemeckis on 10 films, including Contact (1997), Cast Away (2000), and The Polar Express (2004). His work with other directors includes Spider-Man (2002), Enchanted (2007), The Book of Eli (2010), Source Code (2011), The Muppets (2011), 42 (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Aquaman (2018), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).
On March 3, 2024, Burgess received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.
Filmography
Film
Short film
Video game
Television
TV movies
TV series
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Don Burgess at IMDb
- Contender: Cinematographer Don Burgess – Wonder
- Immersed in Movies: Cinematographer Don Burgess Talks ‘Flight’ Indie Wire
- What to Stream: Where will ‘The Nun II’ rank in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe?
- Director Robert Zemeckis and cinematographer Don Burgess, ASC propose an answer to one of humanity's most profound queries.
- Aquaman‘s DP on the Challenge of People Talking & Fighting Underwater Motion Picture Association
- Pinocchio Review: A Perfunctory Remake with Only a Scant Touch of Zemeckis Magic
- ‘Allied’ Review: Brad Pitt & Marion Cotillard Turn Up Movie Star Wattage In Terrific WWII Espionage Thriller Deadline
- The Christmas Chronicles - 2018
- Don Burgess reteams with Zemeckis to adapt The Witches
