Jonathan Sela, ASC (born April 29, 1978[1]) is a French-born Israeli cinematographer. He has shot numerous commercials, music videos and feature films, including John Wick, The Midnight Meat Train, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Deadpool 2, as well as numerous collaborations with directors John Moore and David Leitch.

Jonathan Sela
Born (1978-04-29) April 29, 1978 (age 46)
OccupationCinematographer
Years active1995–present

Life and career

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Sela was born in Paris, France. At the age of 10, his Polish grandfather took him to the set of Schindler's List in Kraków,[2] which inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking. Four years later, he began working in Israel as a cameraman and lighting technician on numerous television films and shows, first as lighting technician, then as gaffer. He emigrated to the United States at age 19, enrolling in the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.[2] He served as assistant to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond for two films[2] before making his debut as director of photography with the music video for Cypress Hill's Lowrider. After shooting several shorts, he made his feature film debut with the 2004 comedy film Soul Plane. In 2006, he shot the remake of The Omen, the first of several collaborations with director John Moore. In 2008 he shot both the Clive Barker adaptation The Midnight Meat Train and Max Payne; a neo-noir action film based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name. Some of Sela's more recent projects include the F. Gary Gray-directed crime drama Law Abiding Citizen, the fifth entry of the Die Hard film series A Good Day to Die Hard, and the action thriller John Wick.[3] Sela was director of photography on 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight, the fifth entry in the science fiction action franchise.[4] Sela has also worked on commercials for companies like Verizon Wireless, KFC, Gillette, and Mary Kay, and has shot music videos for artists like Rihanna and Green Day.

Sela was invited into the American Society of Cinematographers in December 2022.[5]

Personal life

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Sela lives in Venice, California with his wife, photographer Megan Schoenbachler, and their two sons.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Notes
2004 Soul Plane Jessy Terrero
2005 Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom
Dancing and Charm School
Randall Miller
2006 Dreamland Jason Matzner
Grimm Love Martin Weisz
The Omen John Moore
2007 Randy and the Mob Ray McKinnon
2008 The Midnight Meat Train Ryuhei Kitamura
Powder Blue Timothy Linh Bui
Max Payne John Moore
2009 Law Abiding Citizen F. Gary Gray
2013 A Good Day to Die Hard John Moore
2014 John Wick Chad Stahelski
David Leitch
2017 Transformers: The Last Knight Michael Bay
Atomic Blonde David Leitch
2018 Deadpool 2
2019 Hobbs & Shaw
2022 The Lost City Aaron and Adam Nee
Bullet Train David Leitch
2024 The Fall Guy

Television

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Year Title Director Episode
2015 Limitless Marc Webb "Pilot"
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!"

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Director
2001 "The Motivation Proclamation" Good Charlotte Marc Webb
"Waiting" Green Day
"Simple Creed" Live
"Sunny Hours" Long Beach Dub Allstars featuring will.i.am Francis Lawrence
"Lowrider" Cypress Hill Smith n' Borin
2002 "Anything" Jaheim featuring Next Darren Grant
"I'm Just a Kid" Simple Plan Smith n' Borin
"Walking Away" Craig David Lenny Bass
"American Girls" Counting Crows Marc Webb
"I Don't Wanna" Keke Wyatt Erik White
"Dilemma" Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland Benny Boom
"Luv U Better" LL Cool J
"Hot Wheels" Jim Crow Fat Cats
"Bigger Business" Swizz Beatz featuring P. Diddy, Baby,
Jadakiss, Cassidy and Snoop Dogg
Benny Boom
"Crush Tonight" Fat Joe featuring Ginuwine
"Paradise" LL Cool J
2003 "Pussycat" Wyclef Jean Director X
"Rock Your Body" Justin Timberlake Francis Lawrence
"Many Men (Wish Death)" 50 Cent Jessy Terrero
"Fallen" Mýa Darren Grant
"The First Cut Is the Deepest" Sheryl Crow Wayne Isham
"Milkshake" Kelis Jake Nava
"Clap Back" Ja Rule Benny Boom
"You Don't Know My Name" Alicia Keys Chris Robinson
"Sick and Tired" Nappy Roots The Saline Project
2004 "The Unnamed Feeling" Metallica The Malloys
"100 Years" Five for Fighting Trey Fanjoy
"U Should've Known Better" Monica Benny Boom
"Lola Stars and Stripes" The Stills Olivier Gondry
"Love Will Come Through" Travis Arni & Kinski
"A Million Days" Prince Sanaa Hamri
"Slither" Velvet Revolver Kevin Kerslake
"Who Is She 2 U" Brandy Jake Nava
"My Boo" Usher featuring Alicia Keys Chris Robinson
"Rumors" Lindsay Lohan Jake Nava
"Sand in My Shoes" Dido Alex De Rakoff
2005 "Get Right" Jennifer Lopez Francis Lawrence
"Over" Lindsay Lohan Jake Nava
"Shiver" Natalie Imbruglia
"The Clincher" Chevelle Nathan Cox
"Cater 2 U" Destiny's Child Jake Nava
"First" Lindsay Lohan
"Make a Move" Incubus Marc Webb
"No Daddy" Teairra Marí Jessy Terrero
"Everlasting Love" Jamie Cullum Toby Tremlett
"Let It Slide" Joanna Honey
"Get Your Number" Mariah Carey featuring Jermaine Dupri Jake Nava
2006 "Pump It" The Black Eyed Peas Francis Lawrence
"Coming Undone" Korn Director X
"Rough Landing, Holly" Yellowcard Marc Webb
"Ain't No Other Man" Christina Aguilera Bryan Barber
"Morris Brown" Outkast
"Dark Blue" Jack's Mannequin Brett Simon
"Save Room" John Legend Bryan Barber
"We Ride" Rihanna Anthony Mandler
"Love Like Winter" AFI Marc Webb
"Irreplaceable" Beyoncé Anthony Mandler
"Hurt" Christina Aguilera Floria Sigismondi & Christina Aguilera
2007 "Just Fine" Mary J. Blige Chris Applebaum
2008 "Love Lockdown" Kanye West Simon Henwood
"Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon Sophie Muller
2009 "Russian Roulette" Rihanna Anthony Mandler
"A Dustland Fairytale" The Killers
"Kings and Queens" Thirty Seconds to Mars Bartholomew Cubbins
"New Divide" Linkin Park Joe Hahn
"21 Guns" Green Day Marc Webb
"Run This Town" Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West Anthony Mandler
"Stronger" Mary J. Blige
"It Kills Me" Melanie Fiona Armen Djerrahian
"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" Weezer Marc Webb
2010 "Last of the American Girls" Green Day
"Pop Goes the World" Gossip Philip Andelman
"Fistful of Tears" Maxwell
"Over" Drake Anthony Mandler
"The Time (Dirty Bit)" The Black Eyed Peas Rich Lee
2011 "What the Hell" Avril Lavigne Marcus Raboy
"E.T." Katy Perry featuring Kanye West Floria Sigismondi
"Till the World Ends" Britney Spears Ray Kay
"Right There" Nicole Scherzinger Paul Hunter
"Dance for You" Beyoncé Alan Ferguson & Beyoncé
2012 "This Kiss" Carly Rae Jepsen Justin Francis
2013 "Give It 2 U" Robin Thicke featuring Kendrick Lamar and 2 Chainz Diane Martel
"Wrecking Ball" Miley Cyrus Terry Richardson
"Danse" Mia Martina Michael Maxxis
2014 "Love Never Felt So Good" Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson Rich Lee & Justin Timberlake
2015 "Can't Feel My Face" The Weeknd Grant Singer
"Finna Get Loose" Puff Daddy featuring Pharrell Williams Hype Williams
2018 "Ashes" Céline Dion David Leitch
"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" Pink Sasha Samsonova
"In My Blood" Shawn Mendes Jay Martin
2023 "I Can See You" Taylor Swift Taylor Swift

References

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  1. ^ "Jonathan Sela". AlloCiné. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "JONATHAN SELA". www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  3. ^ EnStars (22 April 2016). "'Transformers 5' Spoilers: Comedian Jerrod Carmichael Set To Join 'Age of Extinction' Sequel? [VIDEO]". Enstarz. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. ^ Caranicas, Peter (7 April 2016). "Agencies Book Artisans on 'Fast 8,' 'Transformers 5,' 'To the Bone,' 'MacGyver' and 'Altered Carbon'". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ^ Williams, David E. (23 December 2022). "Jonathan Sela Welcomed by ASC as New Member". American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Panorama: Megan Schoenbachler and Jonathan Sela's Venice home". Los Angeles Times. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
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