Not nearly enough people appreciate the work of Harris Savides. For my money, he’s one of the very best American DP’s in the business, but sadly his upcoming work on Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Bling Ring’ will be the last time we get to see his cinematography. Savides has passed away at the far too young age of 55. Our thoughts are obviously with his family at this time. After the jump you can see an obituary for the man, but definitely watch a Harris Savides shot film as soon as you can. The options are varied and all represent some great cinematography. Read on below for a tribute to Savides…
Here’s what the Associated Press put out:
Harris Savides, the acclaimed cinematographer who worked frequently with Gus Van Sant and David Fincher, has died at 55.
Savides died Wednesday night, his representatives at The Skouras Agency confirmed Thursday. They did not release a cause of death. He died in New York, where he’d spent most of his life, the American Society of Cinematographers said.
Savides was known for vividly recreating the hazy hues of 1970s cinema in films like Fincher’s “Zodiac,” Ridley Scott’s “American Gangster” and Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere,” and for mesmerizingly fluid, long takes with Van Sant in movies including “Last Days,” ”Elephant” and “Gerry.” He was also the director of photography on Van Sant’s more mainstream movies, “Finding Forrester” and “Milk.”
The last film he shot was Coppola’s “The Bling Ring,” based on the true story of Los Angeles teens who burglarized celebrities’ homes, which is due out next year.
Savides, who’d initially intended to be a fashion photographer, also shot several influential music videos in the mid-1990s. He often worked with director Mark Romanek on clips including Michael and Janet Jackson’s famously expensive, black-and-white “Scream,” Nine Inch Nails’ intentionally damaged, distorted “Closer” and Madonna’s radiant “Rain.”
Many in the film world reacted with sadness and appreciation, both people Savides had worked with and those who admired him.
“A beautiful and incredibly amusing man, Harris taught me so much about the meaning of real beauty and the power of simplicity,” said Romanek, director of “One Hour Photo” and “Never Let Me Go” who’d known Savides for 22 years. “He expressed these essential notions in his life and in his work. I was blessed to know him. Today, I feel a great emptiness.”
Coppola said: “Like everyone who met him, I loved Harris. I learned so much about filmmaking from him and we have his beautiful work to remember him by. He was a great artist and a great man. He will always inspire those of us who worked with him to do our best.”
“Donnie Darko” director Richard Kelly wrote on Twitter: “Watching Criterion of THE GAME. So sad to hear about the passing of Harris Savides, one of the truly great cinematographers of all time.”
-Rest in peace…
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5 Comments
His work on Zodiac was phenomenal. He will certainly be missed…
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
A sad, sad loss. He was a pioneer in his field.
Colin Biggs(Quote) (Reply)
Agreed…
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)
He was a good one.
Jessie Makowski(Quote) (Reply)
He sure was…
Joey Magidson(Quote) (Reply)