John Schmidt

John Schmidt is a highly accomplished cinematographer celebrated for dynamic visual storytelling and bringing diverse narratives to life with striking imagery. A member of the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600, he has built an impressive portfolio of acclaimed television series, feature films, and award-winning music videos. Based in Los Angeles and Italy, Schmidt lends his unique vision to productions around the world

Schmidt's artistry is defined by his remarkable adaptability across genres and cultures. His narrative work includes the Sundance 2020 Opening Night feature Summertime, celebrated for its "vibrant, poetic" and "exuberant magical realism". For the 10-episode series Bombay My Beloved, he designed a specific visual language to capture the "grit and grime" of gang wars, creating an "atmosphere of light and shadow" to reflect a multi-decade story.

Schmidt's technical innovation has received the highest industry accolades for his music video work. He was part of the team for Coldplay's iconic "Up & Up," a project celebrated for its groundbreaking visual effects. The video earned a Grammy nomination, won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects, and a Webby Award for Best Music video. Most significantly, Schmidt was personally nominated for Best Cinematography at the prestigious Camerimage International Film Festival. His innovative spirit extends to other complex projects like George Ezra's "Shotgun" and high-profile commercials for brands like Subaru, Doritos, and Star Wars.

Schmidt’s stunning visuals result from a methodical and technically rigorous process. He is known for meticulous pre-production, using tools like 3D pre-visualization and detailed look-books to solve creative problems before arriving on set. This architectural approach to filmmaking—engineering the technical workflow to serve an ambitious vision—is a hallmark of his craft, whether shooting on 35mm film or designing custom LED lighting grids.

John Schmidt's career is distinguished by a remarkable adaptability across genres and a consistent delivery of visually stunning results. His collaborative spirit and dedication to translating directorial vision into powerful on-screen experiences make him a true asset to any production. You can explore more of his work and connect with him via his website, johnschmidtdp.com, and his Instagram, @johnschmidtdp.