Claudio Miranda, ASC Honored at Cine Gear Expo 2019

Renown for combining new technology with a unique creative vision, the cinematographer is known for his work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Life of Pi and TRON: Legacy.

The Cine Gear Expo 2019 Visionary Achievement Award in Cinematography will be presented to Claudio Miranda, ASC in recognition of the significant contributions he has made to advancing the art and craft of cinematography. The presentation will take place on Friday, May 31 at the VIP Industry Awards Reception at The Paramount Theater Paseo Grounds.

Born in Santiago, Chile, the Oscar-winning cinematographer got his big break in 1994, when Dariusz Wolski, ASC hired him to work as chief lighting technician on Alex Proyas’ The Crow. As a gaffer, Miranda worked on many powerful films, including David Fincher’s The Game and Fight Club, as well as Tony Scott’s Crimson Tide, The Fan and Enemy of the State. The 2005 Sundance Film Festival hit A Thousand Roads, from director Chris Eyre, marked one of Miranda’s first narrative cinematography credits.

Miranda would soon be drafted by Fincher — also a frequent collaborator on commercials — to shoot The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), a complex feature that was primarily shot digitally with Thomson GrassValley Viper FilmStream and Sony F23 cameras, which was pioneering at the time. And it was only Miranda’s second feature as a director of photography. “It is a big step, and you can almost panic yourself about taking on such a big movie,” Miranda told American Cinematographer. “But I had a reasonable amount of prep to work out the logistics, and I was surrounded by a great support system, a talented crew who had done huge jobs. I knew I could count on them, whether it was one space light or a hundred.”

Ahead of Benjamin Button’s release, Variety named Miranda one of its 2008 “10 Cinematographers to Watch.”

After its release, The Academy recognized Miranda for his work on Benjamin Button with a 2009 Best Cinematography nomination. The film also earned him nominations at the 2009 ASC Awards, the BAFTAs and the Satellite Awards, along with Best Cinematography awards from the North Texas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Houston Film Critics Societies. 

After shooting the stylish 2010 sci-fi sequel TRON: Legacy for director Joseph Kosinski, the cinematographer lent his eye to director Ang Lee’s imaginative adventure Life of Pi. For his expert efforts, Miranda earned the 2013 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, as well as a BAFTA award, a Satellite award, multiple Critics Society awards and a nomination from the ASC.

The cinematographer then re-teamed with Kosinski for the post-apocalyptic sci-fi action drama Oblivion, starring Tom Cruise, and director Brad Bird for the sci-fi fantasy Tomorrowland (2015). More recently, he photographed Only the Brave, also for Kosinski, based on the tragic real-life story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighters, and 100 Years, a mysterious feature project directed by Robert Rodriguez that is scheduled to be released in 2115.

Evidence of Miranda’s thriving television commercial career can be seen thanks to the multiple accolades he has received including: Best Cinematography AICP and Clio awards for the Pocari Tennis spot in 2002; a Clio for Xelibri in 2004; an MVPA for a Beyoncé (feat. Sean Paul) music video in 2004; as well as an AICP for Heineken in 2005.

Miranda recently turned his lenses to the skies to shoot Top Gun: Maverick for Kosinski. Tom Cruise reprises his role in this sequel to the hit 1986 film, along with co-stars Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly. The picture is slated for release on June 26, 2020. 

Miranda lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kelli and daughters Sofia and Lily. He is represented by DDA.  

The Cine Gear Expo Industry Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Awards will recognize individuals and manufacturers who have performed outstanding service and made significant contributions to advancing the art and craft of filmmaking.

The Film Competition Awards will also be announced at this event.