Bios Archive
Ben Wolf
Much of Ben’s recent work concentrates in the Dance and Art film world. These range from Nora Chipaumire’s “El Capitan” to Doug Elkins’ “A Hundred Indecisions” as well as Wendy Seyb’s award winning “How You Look At It”. In addition, he’s shot numerous pieces for the NY Times Instagram feed #speakingindance. Ben has shot and co-directed several music videos for cellist Maya Beiser, including “Air” and “Veil” , from her “TranceClassical” CD. Experimental work in- cludes Shoja Azari’s Venice Biennale entry “The King of Black” and Shirin Neshat’s ”Games of Desire”, filmed in Luang Prabang. Documentary films range from Emmy winner “Baring It
All” (Dir: Patricia Zagarella) to “Deceptive Practice” (Molly Bernstein & Alan Edelstein), a Kino Lorber release, as well as “Amsterdam Stories USA” (dirs: Rob Rombout & Rogier van Eck). In the Digital space, Ben recently co-produced and shot Arthur Vincie’s series “Three Trembling Cities” about immigrant life in NYC. Wolf shot the pilot episode and Season 2 of Caytha Jentis’ popular Amazon web series “The Other F Word”. He helped develop and shoot a web series for The Indian National Congress Party entitled “Billion And One Voices”, a collage of modern India. Feature film work covers everything from Art Jones’ “Lustre”, a tone poem about NYC, to the lo-fi sci-fi of Arthur Vincie’s “Found In Time”. Ben also teaches Cinematography at Montclair State University and at DocNomads in Brussels.
Jim Westenbrink, C.S.C.
Jim Westenbrink Resume
Jim Westenbrink has worked in the film business for nearly 30 years. His extensive list of credits includes Monk, Nikita, Degrassi, and Cougar Town, amongst many others. He has been nominated for Gemini and C.S.C. awards and has worked side by side with some of the best directors and producers in the industry. Jim is a member of the D.G.C. as a second unit director, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, IATSE 600 LA as a DP, IATSE 667 as a DP/Operator, and IATSE 873 as a lighting technician in Toronto.
Alex Walker
Alex is a cinematographer and colorist based in Austin, Texas, working across film, television, and commercial projects.
Alex recently completed work on House of Abraham, directed by Lisa Belcher and starring Natasha Henstridge, Lukas Hassel, and Lin Shaye, which is being released theatrically by Abramorama. He also served as cinematographer and colorist for Texas Cult House, directed by Julia Barnett and starring Ryan Cooper and Adrianne Palicki, which premiered at Austin Film Festival 2024 and will soon be available on streaming platforms. Among his other projects is A Christmas In New Hope, directed by Julia Barnett and starring Katrina Bowden, Ryan Cooper, and Adrianne Palicki, which also had a theatrical release and is now streaming.
Alex’s nonfiction work spans presidential campaigns, true crime stories, and cowboy life — all part of an ongoing effort to better understand our reality. He’s filmed across the U.S., Mexico, and South America, from nuclear reactors in Texas to ranches in Patagonia. His commercial work has also earned industry recognition.
In addition to shooting, he leads finishing and color work for a range of projects, collaborating closely with directors and distributors. Outside of production, Alex is an avid iPhone photographer. He also collects screen-used and replica props from sci-fi films — part personal obsession, part study of the worlds filmmakers build.
Rutger Storm, N.S.C.
Rutger was born in Amsterdam and is a graduate of the Film Academie Amsterdam with a degree in cinematography. He has primarily been shooting commercials, music videos and features since then, not just in the Netherlands. He has traveled all around the world as a director of photography, everywhere from Europe to the Middle East, to Asia and Africa, and of course the States.
In the Netherlands, he is one of the most successful DPs in commercial. He is multi-talented and a wonderful craftsman. He likes looking for the best way to excel at storytelling; that can either be a silhouetted dancing girl in the sunset, or a straight forward telecom commercial. He aims for the best and expects that from the people h works with. “But life is too short and we have to have fun as well”!
David-Jean Schweitzer, S.O.C.
At the age of 12, David was developing and printing his material.
Shooting with an 8mm movie camera, he created in-camera effects.
His first job in the industry was as a bicycle film delivery bicycle
messenger in New York City.
As his career path unfurled before him, he gained invaluable experience
at Warhol’s Factory, followed by an internship at David Bowie’s Main
Man Productions before becoming personal assistant to Donald Cammell.
He worked as a camera assistant on documentaries. As a documentary
cameraman he worked for CBS, ABC, PBS, and foreign networks. David was
encouraged by Nicholas Ray was mentored
by David Quaid, ASC and Mike Elliot of EUE/Screen Gems fame.
A music video pioneer having lensed the first contemporary video to
play on MTV, “You Better Run” by Pat Benatar. David has filmed over 40
Music videos and over numerous commercials. Moving on to features David has
worked for cinematographer masters, Gordon Willis ASC, Bruce Surtees,
ASC and Dariusz Wolski, ASC.
David attends to color and contour with adoring purpose. While he works
with all the latest digital technology, David’s lifelong passion is with
traditional film. His proficiency with large and small format film
cameras characterizes his consummate absorption with the craft.
Besides still and motion photography, David is a motion picture
producer, director, and animator. He speaks French and English, is also an
FAA certified commercial multi-engine instrument rated airplane pilot,
holds an FAA Part 107 UAS pilot certificate is an avid cook and outdoors-man.
Chris Scarafile
Chris Scarafile has been working professionally in film production since 1993. He shot the Sundance Jury Award-winning short Gowanus, Brooklyn and his camera operating credits include Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Blacklist, The Sinner, Good Fight, The Code, and many others. He lives in Brooklyn.
Fred Murphy, A.S.C.
Fred Murphy Resume
Fred Murphy is currently the Director of Photography for the Golden Globe-winning television series The Good Wife. His credits also include Secret Window, The Mothman Prophecies, October Sky, Stir of Echoes, Metro, Faithful, The Fantastics, Murder in The First, Jack the Bear, Scenes from a Mall, Enemies a Love Story, Fresh Horses, Full Moon in Blue Water, Best Seller, The Dead, Five Corners, Hoosiers, The Trip to Bountiful, Eddie and the Cruisers, and Heartland. Murphy was co-cinematographer with Henri Alekan on The State of Things, which won the Golden Lion at the 1983 Venice Film Festival. His television work also includes Witness Protection, The Final Days, Sessions, The Gardener’s Son, and the pilot for Nothing Sacred.
Murphy was born and raised in New York City, and attended Columbia University and The Rhode Island School of Design.
Tristan Milani, A.C.S.
TRISTAN MILANI, ACS, is an Australian-born cinematographer. Throughout his career, Mr. Milani has garnered accolades for not only his feature film work, but also his commercial cinematography.
Milani’s highly regarded work on MTV Networks’ “Welcome Snoop” Campaign in 2008 won a number of awards, including a Cannes Silver Lion, a Cannes Gold Lion, two Silver Clio Awards, a Bronze Clio Award, a New York Festival Silver Award and Finalist placement, and an ASTRA Subscription Television Award for “Best Short Form Program.”
In 2013 Tristan completed his first US TV series, “Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project” for VH1, which screened in the summer of 2014.
In January 2014 he also completed filming his latest feature film, PAPER PLANES, a kids’ film starring Sam Worthington. The film had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014. Paper Planes was chosen to open the prestigious Generation K section of the Berlin International Film festival in 2015. The film has won many domestic and international awards including the 2015 OZ Cinefest Award ($100,000 prize). Best Children’s Film award at the 32nd Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival. Stuttgart Kinderfilmtage Festival, Charly Award and the Mozes Award at the 11th Tel Aviv International Children’s Film Festival. The film also won the 2015 Audience award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California, USA.
Tristan has completed filming a primetime special for ABC (USA) network that documents the making of the hit Disney animated feature film FROZEN.
In July 2015 Tristan wrapped on Series 1 of NHK productions (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette) new series “Love @ First Kiss.” It’s screening on the VH1 network in 2016.
In 2019 Tristan Milani ACS completed production on the first series for 7 Studios Australia. The 6 x 1 hr drama series is titled Secret Bridesmaids Business starring Katie McGrath, Abbie Cornish, Georgina Haig and Alexander England. The show is slated for airing Sept 2019
Mr Milani has completed shooting 10 feature films including THE BOYS ( dir: Rowan Woods), THE BANK ( dir: Robert Connolly), THREE DOLLARS ( dir: Robert Connolly) , THE BOOK OF REVELATION (dir: Ana Kokkinos), BALIBO (dir: Robert Connolly) , PAPER PLANES ( dir: Robert Connolly) and a telemovie THE ROAD FROM COORAIN (dir: Brendan Maher) an IMAX film (SOLAMAX, dir, John Weiley), and over 40 short films. In 2001 Tristan was awarded with his ACS accreditation—something he desired all his professional career. He has been nominated for 7 Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards for Cinematography and won 11 Australian Cinematographers Society Awards (ACS) both state and national.
Koshi Kiyokawa
KIYO was born and raised in Japan. After graduating from Nihon University with a degree in Cinematography, he began building his career as a camera assistant in Vancouver, Canada. For the past fourteen years he has worked as a freelance cinematographer for major commercials TOYOTA, LEXUS, HONDA, NISSAN, SUBARU, Panasonic, SONY, Canon, Adidas Reebok, NIKE, P&G PANTENE, Maxfactor SK-2, Coca-Cola ,music videos and documentaries in Tokyo, Japan. He has established himself in the industry by shooting over 600 commercials and music videos. He relocated to NYC in 2013. His recent works include feature films ” The Garden Left Behind” (Won Audience award at SXSW in 2019, IFP in 2017), “Fair market Value” and a Netflix original series “Erased” 12 episodes (Available on Netflix Worldwide).
In addition, He owns Alexa XT and Alexa mini Camera Packages with Zeiss CP-2 Lenses, Slider, Gimbal equipment, Jib crane and light equipment.