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John A. Alonzo

January 10, 2023

John A. Alonzo, ASC (June 12, 1934 – March 13, 2001) was an American cinematographer, television director, and actor[1][2][3][4] known for his diverse body of work in both film and television.

John A. Alonzo
Born(1934-06-12)June 12, 1934
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 13, 2001(2001-03-13) (aged 66)
Brentwood, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Cinematographer, actor, director
Years active1967–2001
SpouseSuzanne Heltzel (1954–1966) Jan Murray (?–2001; his death)
ChildrenGorgiana Alonzo, Angela Argenzia, Cristiana Murray

Alonzo pioneered handheld work, lighting techniques and high-definition video development during his career. He is remembered mainly for Chinatown (1974) and Scarface (1983), the former for which he was nominated for both a BAFTA and an Academy Award. In addition, he was the recipient of a Primetime Emmy for his work on the 2000 CBS television adaptation of Fail Safe.

Alonzo was the first American cinematographer of Mexican-American and Latino heritage to become a member of the Cinematographer's Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first to be inducted into the ASC.[1]

Career

Alonzo's career began as part of the clean-up crew at television station WFAA in Dallas. However, within a short time, he had made himself indispensable, not only building sets, hanging lights and moving cameras, but also directing cooking and children's shows. Eventually, he and actor Hank Williamson created a popular comedy duo: Alonzo became the voice and puppeteer of the irreverent “Señor Turtle,” who with Williamson as his sidekick, introduced movies and cartoons. In 1956, the show was picked up by station KHJ in Hollywood, where it lasted only 26 weeks. So Alonzo worked for a time as a still photographer, and as an actor, with appearances in several well-known shows such as Twilight Zone (Season 2 – Episode 12 in "Dust" as Luis Gallegos), Combat!, 77 Sunset Strip, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

A seminal moment came during the shooting of The Magnificent Seven, in which Alonzo had a small role, when he met the cinematographer Charles Lang. This inspiring encounter, as well as the chance to briefly collaborate with James Wong Howe a few years later, finally gave Alonzo the impetus to devote his life to cinematography. By the mid-1960s, he was photographing many documentaries for National Geographic and the David L. Wolper Company, and greatly influencing the innovative "Look" of the New Hollywood that became so powerful in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

His uncomplicated and minimalistic style, combined with his first-hand knowledge of acting, made him one of the most in-demand directors of photography in Hollywood. In addition, he was not only one of the best "hand-held cameramen in Hollywood, but also a pioneer of high-def digital cinematography. In 1993/94 he shot (for NBC) the first HD movie in the history of American television, World War II: When Lions Roared.

Alonzo died in 2001 after a long illness, at home in Brentwood, California. Perhaps his best known student is two-time Oscar winner John Toll, who began his career as Alonzo's assistant on films like Black Sunday, Norma Rae, Tom Horn and Scarface.

In 2007, director Axel Schill helmed a feature documentary about Alonzo, The Man Who Shot Chinatown – The Life & Work of John A. Alonzo.

Filmography (Cinematographer)

Films

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Year Title Notes
2000 The Prime Gig
2002 Deuces Wild Posthumous release

Television

Year Title Notes
1964 Nightmare in Chicago Television film
1967–1969 National Geographic Specials 4 episodes
1968 The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau 1 episode
1971 Cannon Pilot episode
1973 Guess Who's Sleeping in My Bed? Television film
1976 Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby Television film
1979 Champions: A Love Story Television film
1979 Portrait of a Stripper Television film
1980 Blinded by the Light Television film
1982 The Kid From Nowhere Television film
1988 Knightwatch 1 episode
1988 Roots: The Gift Television film
1994 World War II: When Lions Roared Miniseries;

2 episodes

1999 Lansky Television film
2000 Fail Safe Television film

Filmography (Actor)

Year Title Role Notes
1958 The Gun Runners Soldier in Car Uncredited
1960 The Crowded Sky Young Repairman Uncredited
1960 The Magnificent Seven Miguel
1961 The Twilight Zone Luis Gallegos Episode "Dust"
1961 The Long Rope Manuel Alvarez
1961 Susan Slade Engineer Uncredited
1962 Hand of Death Carlos, lab assistant
1962 Terror at Black Falls Carlos Avila
1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter Manuel

Documentaries

  • Visions of Light (1992)
  • The Making of Scarface (1998)
  • Guns For Hire: The Making of the Magnificent Seven (2000)
  • The Man Who Shot Chinatown – The Life & Work of John A. Alonzo (2007)

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

References

  1. ^ a b "John A. Alonzo; Cinematographer, 66". The New York Times. March 29, 2001.
  2. ^ Variety
  3. ^ Schnitt.de
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2009.

External links

  • John A. Alonzo at IMDb

January 10, 2023
john, alonzo, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John A Alonzo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message John A Alonzo ASC June 12 1934 March 13 2001 was an American cinematographer television director and actor 1 2 3 4 known for his diverse body of work in both film and television John A AlonzoBorn 1934 06 12 June 12 1934Dallas Texas U S DiedMarch 13 2001 2001 03 13 aged 66 Brentwood California U S Occupation s Cinematographer actor directorYears active1967 2001SpouseSuzanne Heltzel 1954 1966 Jan Murray 2001 his death ChildrenGorgiana Alonzo Angela Argenzia Cristiana MurrayAlonzo pioneered handheld work lighting techniques and high definition video development during his career He is remembered mainly for Chinatown 1974 and Scarface 1983 the former for which he was nominated for both a BAFTA and an Academy Award In addition he was the recipient of a Primetime Emmy for his work on the 2000 CBS television adaptation of Fail Safe Alonzo was the first American cinematographer of Mexican American and Latino heritage to become a member of the Cinematographer s Union in Los Angeles as well as the first to be inducted into the ASC 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Filmography Cinematographer 2 1 Films 2 1 1 1970s 2 1 2 1980s 2 1 3 1990s 2 1 4 2000s 2 2 Television 3 Filmography Actor 4 Documentaries 5 Awards and nominations 5 1 Primetime Emmy Awards 5 2 Academy Awards 5 3 BAFTA Awards 6 References 7 External linksCareer EditAlonzo s career began as part of the clean up crew at television station WFAA in Dallas However within a short time he had made himself indispensable not only building sets hanging lights and moving cameras but also directing cooking and children s shows Eventually he and actor Hank Williamson created a popular comedy duo Alonzo became the voice and puppeteer of the irreverent Senor Turtle who with Williamson as his sidekick introduced movies and cartoons In 1956 the show was picked up by station KHJ in Hollywood where it lasted only 26 weeks So Alonzo worked for a time as a still photographer and as an actor with appearances in several well known shows such as Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 12 in Dust as Luis Gallegos Combat 77 Sunset Strip and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour A seminal moment came during the shooting of The Magnificent Seven in which Alonzo had a small role when he met the cinematographer Charles Lang This inspiring encounter as well as the chance to briefly collaborate with James Wong Howe a few years later finally gave Alonzo the impetus to devote his life to cinematography By the mid 1960s he was photographing many documentaries for National Geographic and the David L Wolper Company and greatly influencing the innovative Look of the New Hollywood that became so powerful in the late 1960s and early 1970s His uncomplicated and minimalistic style combined with his first hand knowledge of acting made him one of the most in demand directors of photography in Hollywood In addition he was not only one of the best hand held cameramen in Hollywood but also a pioneer of high def digital cinematography In 1993 94 he shot for NBC the first HD movie in the history of American television World War II When Lions Roared Alonzo died in 2001 after a long illness at home in Brentwood California Perhaps his best known student is two time Oscar winner John Toll who began his career as Alonzo s assistant on films like Black Sunday Norma Rae Tom Horn and Scarface In 2007 director Axel Schill helmed a feature documentary about Alonzo The Man Who Shot Chinatown The Life amp Work of John A Alonzo Filmography Cinematographer EditFilms Edit 1970s Edit Year Title Notes1970 Bloody Mama1971 Vanishing PointHarold and Maude1972 Get to Know Your RabbitSounderLady Sings the BluesPete n Tillie1973 WattstaxThe Naked ApeHit 1974 Chinatown Replaced Stanley CortezNominated for Academy Award for Best CinematographyNominated for BAFTA Award for Best CinematographyConrack1975 Once Is Not EnoughThe FortuneFarewell My Lovely1976 I Will I Will for NowThe Bad News Bears1977 Black SundayBeyond ReasonWhich Way Is Up Close Encounters of the Third Kind Additional PhotographyWith Vilmos Zsigmond1978 Casey s ShadowThe Cheap DetectiveFM film director only1979 Norma Rae1980s Edit Year Title Notes1980 Tom Horn1981 Back RoadsZorro The Gay Blade1983 Blue ThunderScarfaceCross Creek1984 Terror in the Aisles DocumentaryRunaway1985 Out of Control1986 Nothing in CommonJo Jo Dancer Your Life Is Calling1987 Real MenOverboard1989 Steel MagnoliasPhysical Evidence1990s Edit Year Title Notes1990 Internal AffairsThe GuardianNavy SEALs1992 HousesitterCool World1993 The Meteor Man1994 CliffordStar Trek Generations1995 The Grass Harp1998 Letters from a Killer2000s Edit Year Title Notes2000 The Prime Gig2002 Deuces Wild Posthumous releaseTelevision Edit Year Title Notes1964 Nightmare in Chicago Television film1967 1969 National Geographic Specials 4 episodes1968 The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau 1 episode1971 Cannon Pilot episode1973 Guess Who s Sleeping in My Bed Television film1976 Look What s Happened to Rosemary s Baby Television film1979 Champions A Love Story Television film1979 Portrait of a Stripper Television film1980 Blinded by the Light Television film1982 The Kid From Nowhere Television film1988 Knightwatch 1 episode1988 Roots The Gift Television film1994 World War II When Lions Roared Miniseries 2 episodes1999 Lansky Television film2000 Fail Safe Television filmFilmography Actor EditYear Title Role Notes1958 The Gun Runners Soldier in Car Uncredited1960 The Crowded Sky Young Repairman Uncredited1960 The Magnificent Seven Miguel1961 The Twilight Zone Luis Gallegos Episode Dust 1961 The Long Rope Manuel Alvarez1961 Susan Slade Engineer Uncredited1962 Hand of Death Carlos lab assistant1962 Terror at Black Falls Carlos Avila1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter ManuelDocumentaries EditVisions of Light 1992 The Making of Scarface 1998 Guns For Hire The Making of the Magnificent Seven 2000 The Man Who Shot Chinatown The Life amp Work of John A Alonzo 2007 Awards and nominations EditPrimetime Emmy Awards Edit Won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Light Direction Fail Safe 2000 Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie World War When Lions Roared 1994 Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie Lansky 1999 Academy Awards Edit Nominated Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film The Legend of Jimmy Blue Eyes 1964 Nominated Academy Award for Best Cinematography Chinatown 1975 BAFTA Awards Edit Nominated BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography Chinatown 1975 References Edit a b John A Alonzo Cinematographer 66 The New York Times March 29 2001 Variety Schnitt de Art tv ch Archived from the original on April 10 2010 Retrieved December 27 2009 External links EditJohn A Alonzo at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John A Alonzo amp oldid 1131299968, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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