”’John A. Alonzo”’, [[American Society of Cinematographers|ASC]] (June 12, 1934 – March 13, 2001) was an American [[cinematographer]], television director, and actor<ref name=”NYT” /><ref>[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934159.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Variety]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.schnitt.de/202,3069,01.html |title=Schnitt.de |access-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127174530/http://schnitt.de/202,3069,01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.art-tv.ch/4617-0-Kino-the-man-who-shot-chinatown.html |title=Art-tv.ch |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410012438/http://www.art-tv.ch/4617-0-Kino-the-man-who-shot-chinatown.html |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> known for his diverse body of work in both film and television.
”’John A. Alonzo”’, [[American Society of Cinematographers|ASC]] (June 12, 1934 – March 13, 2001) was an American [[cinematographer]], television director, and actor<ref name=”NYT” /><ref>[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934159.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Variety]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.schnitt.de/202,3069,01.html |title=Schnitt.de |access-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-date=November 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127174530/http://schnitt.de/202,3069,01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.art-tv.ch/4617-0-Kino-the-man-who-shot-chinatown.html |title=Art-tv.ch |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410012438/http://www.art-tv.ch/4617-0-Kino-the-man-who-shot-chinatown.html |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> known for his diverse body of work in both film and television.
Alonzo pioneered handheld work, lighting techniques and [[high-definition video]] development during his career. He is remembered mainly for ”[[Chinatown (1974 film)|Chinatown]]” (1974) and ”[[Scarface (1983 film)|Scarface]]” (1983), the former for which he was nominated for both a [[BAFTA Award|BAFTA]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Academy Award]]. In addition, he was the recipient of a [[Primetime Emmy Award|Primetime Emmy]] for his work on the 2000 [[CBS]] television adaptation of [[Fail Safe (2000 film)|”Fail Safe”]].
Alonzo pioneered handheld work, lighting techniques and [[high-definition video]] development during his career. He is for ”[[Chinatown (1974 film)|Chinatown]]” (1974) and ”[[Scarface (1983 film)|Scarface]]” (1983), the former for which he was nominated for both a [[BAFTA Award|BAFTA]] and an [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Academy Award]]. In addition, he was the recipient of a [[Primetime Emmy Award|Primetime Emmy]] for his work on the 2000 [[CBS]] television adaptation of [[Fail Safe (2000 film)|”Fail Safe”]].
Alonzo was the first American cinematographer of Mexican-American descent to become a member of the Cinematographer’s Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first to be inducted into the [[American Society of Cinematographers|ASC]].<ref name=NYT>{{cite web|title=John A. Alonzo; Cinematographer, 66|date=March 29, 2001|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/29/arts/john-a-alonzo-cinematographer-66.html|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Alonzo was the first American cinematographer of Mexican-American descent to become a member of the Cinematographer’s Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first to be inducted into the [[American Society of Cinematographers|ASC]].<ref name=NYT>{{cite web|title=John A. Alonzo; Cinematographer, 66|date=March 29, 2001|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/29/arts/john-a-alonzo-cinematographer-66.html|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
American cinematographer (1934–2001)
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John A. Alonzo |
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| Born | (1934-06-12)June 12, 1934 |
| Died | March 13, 2001(2001-03-13) (aged 66) |
| Occupation(s) | Cinematographer, actor, director |
| Years active | 1967–2001 |
| Spouse | Suzanne Heltzel (1954–1966) Jan Murray (?–2001; his death) |
| Children | Gorgiana Alonzo, Angela Argenzia, Cristiana Murray |
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.
Alonzo pioneered handheld work, lighting techniques and high-definition video development during his career. He is best known 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 descent 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
Short film
Feature film
Director
Cinematographer
* Posthumous release
Acting roles
Television
TV movies
TV series
Acting credits
Documentary works
Film
Short film
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | San Sebastian 1746 in 1968 | Floyd L. Peterson |
| 1969 | The Moviemakers | Jay Anson |
TV movies
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The World of Animals: It’s a Dog’s World | Alan Landsburg Joseph L. Scanlan |
With Vilis Lapenieks |
| 1967 | Do Blonds Have More Fun? | Mel Ferber | With Vilis Lapenieks, Stan Lazan and Kenneth Van Sickle |
| A Nation of Immigrants | Robert Abel Aram Boyajian Mel Stuart |
With Les Blank, Adam Giffard and Vilis Lapenieks | |
| The Big Land | David H. Vowell | With Vilis Lapenieks and Stan Lazan | |
| 1968 | The World of Animals: The World of Horses | Joseph L. Scanlan | With David Blewitt and Dieter Perschke |
| Sophia: A Self-Portrait | Robert Abel Mel Stuart |
With Roberto Gerardi | |
| The World of Animals: Big Cats, Little Cats | Bud Wiser | With David Blewitt, Robert Grant, J. Barry Herron, Fred Kaplan and Vilmos Zsigmond |
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| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory | With Jim Wilson |
TV series
