American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 88

Christopher Chomyn, ASC

When you were a child, what film
made the strongest impression on
you?
Edwin S. Porter's The Great Train Robbery
inspired me to make my own Double 8mm
films. Later, The Godfather introduced me
to the power of cinematography.

What has been your most satisfying
moment on a project?
There are too many to count.

Which cinematographers, past or
present, do you most admire?
Each for a different reason: Freddie Young
[BSC], Gordon Willis [ASC], Owen Roizman
[ASC], Sven Nykvist [ASC], Vittorio Storaro [ASC, AIC], Conrad Hall
[ASC], Roger Deakins [ASC, BSC], Woody Omens [ASC], Ping Bin
Lee. My list goes on...
What sparked your interest in photography?
I understood from an early age that photography is not about copying reality; rather, it is about sharing a feeling that comes from the
photographer, and not from the instrument. In seventh grade I had
a teacher who taught me to develop and print film - I was hooked.
I lived in the darkroom through college.
Where did you train and/or study?
I majored in history at Fairfield University and took my first photography class there. I received my Master of Fine Arts in film production
from UCLA.
Who were your early teachers or mentors?
My father taught me the importance of preparation. Sondra Steinman, Alison Wachstein and Kevin Wolfthal were my still-photography mentors. Miles Anderson trained me to be a set-lighting technician. Bill McDonald, Frank Valert and Owen Roizman were my cinematography teachers at UCLA. AC magazine continues to inform
and educate me.

Have you made any memorable
blunders?
Who hasn't? The key is to own one's
mistakes and to turn them into
successes.
What is the best professional advice
you've ever received?
Share the credit for success and accept responsibility for mistakes.
What recent books, films or artworks have inspired you?
I loved reading The Shadow of the Wind, and more recently have
been hooked on Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series of noir detective
novels set in Nazi Germany. Michael Haneke's films inspire me; I was
captivated by Caché and was moved to tears by Amour. James
Turrell's exhibit at LACMA was remarkable. I loved shooting the
documentary Levitated Mass about Michael Heizer's monolithic
sculpture.
Do you have any favorite genres, or genres you would like to
try?
My favorite films are intimate stories set against epic backdrops.
David Lean and Akira Kurosawa were masters at this. My work
spans several genres - I can't say that I have a favorite. I look for
projects that interest and challenge me while offering the opportunity to work with inspiring and creative collaborators. Noir would be
fun.
If you weren't a cinematographer, what might you be doing
instead?
Naval architect. I think I'd enjoy designing sailing-yachts.

What are some of your key artistic influences?
Everyday life experiences. Johannes Vermeer, Claude Monet, Andrew
Wyeth, Edward Hopper and Maxfield Parrish. Jerry Uelsmann,
Edward Weston and Diane Arbus, to name a few.

Which ASC cinematographers recommended you for
membership?
I was honored to be recommended by Woody Omens, Owen
Roizman and Hiro Narita.

How did you get your first break in the business?
I don't think anyone's path is a straight line. I have been given many
'first breaks' and had many false starts. My father was a television
director; he helped me get my first job as a production assistant. Of
course, I worked long hours for no pay to prove myself - but I made
enough of an impression that I was able to keep working and learning. Years later, Roberto Quezada offered me a second-unit cinematographer opportunity.

How has ASC membership impacted your life and career?
To be invited by one's heroes to join their ranks as a colleague is a
great honor and obligation, but never a burden. As members we
build on the legacy of those who preceded us. I enjoy my relationships with my peers and I am honored to mentor the next generation of cinematographers. Each time I pass through the doors of our
Clubhouse, I feel a rush of excitement, and recognize how fortunate
I am to be living my dream.
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March 2017

American Cinematographer

Photo by You-Wei Chen.

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American Cinematographer - March 2017

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