Newton Thomas Sigel
Sigel in 2023
BornAugust 1955 (age 68)
OccupationCinematography
Years active1972–present
Known for
SpouseLisa Chang

Newton Thomas Sigel, ASC (born August 1955; sometimes credited as Tom Sigel) is an American cinematographer[1] best known for his collaborations with director Bryan Singer on films like The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, and the X-Men film franchise. He has also worked with filmmakers like Haskell Wexler, Mike Newell, David O. Russell, Terry Gilliam, Alan Ball, Robert Redford, and Nicolas Winding Refn. He is a BAFTA Award, Independent Spirit Award, Critics' Choice Award, and Satellite Award nominee.

Life and career

Sigel was born in Detroit, Michigan,[2] and studied painting in New York City,[1] becoming an artist-in-residence at the Whitney Museum of American Art.[1] He began his career working with experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger as a camera operator.[1] Becoming a documentary filmmaker, he shot a number of projects filming, including El Salvador: Another Vietnam, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. His photography caught the attention of DP Haskell Wexler,[1] and the two spent several years developing what would become the 1985 film Latino, his first feature film as director of photography.[1]

Sigel worked mostly on television films and as a second unit DP throughout the 1980s before shooting the comedy film Rude Awakening. He regularly served under Robert Richardson on films like Platoon and The Doors. Starting with The Usual Suspects, he has become the regular cinematographer of director Bryan Singer.

Personal life

Sigel is Jewish[3] and married to Lisa Chang.[1] His father, Irving Sigel, was a psychologist who worked for the Educational Testing Service. His mother, Roberta Sigel, was a professor at Rutgers who studied gender and politics.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Notes
1985 Latino Haskell Wexler
1989 Rude Awakening David Greenwalt
Aaron Russo
1990 Pump Up the Volume Allan Moyle
1991 Salmonberries Percy Adlon
1992 Crossing the Bridge Mike Binder
Into the West Mike Newell
1993 Indian Summer Mike Binder
Daybreak Stephen Tolkin
Money for Nothing Ramón Menéndez
1994 Blankman Mike Binder
1995 The Usual Suspects Bryan Singer 1st collaboration with Singer
1996 Foxfire Annette Haywood-Carter
The Trigger Effect David Koepp
Blood and Wine Bob Rafelson
1998 Fallen Gregory Hoblit
Apt Pupil Bryan Singer
1999 Brokedown Palace Jonathan Kaplan
Three Kings David O. Russell
2000 X-Men Bryan Singer
2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind George Clooney
2003 X2: X-Men United Bryan Singer
2005 The Brothers Grimm Terry Gilliam
2006 Superman Returns Bryan Singer
2007 Towelhead Alan Ball
2008 Leatherheads George Clooney
Valkyrie Bryan Singer
2010 Leap Year Anand Tucker
Frankie & Alice Geoffrey Sax
The Conspirator Robert Redford
2011 Drive Nicolas Winding Refn
2013 Jack the Giant Slayer Bryan Singer
Movie 43 Brett Ratner Segment: "Happy Birthday"
2014 Seventh Son Sergei Bodrov
X-Men: Days of Future Past Bryan Singer
2016 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Yuen Woo-ping
X-Men: Apocalypse Bryan Singer
2017 Marshall Reginald Hudlin
2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Bryan Singer
2020 Extraction Sam Hargrave
Da 5 Bloods Spike Lee
2021 Cherry Anthony and Joe Russo
2022 Dog Channing Tatum
Reid Carolin
2023 Candy Cane Lane Reginald Hudlin

Camera operator

Year Title Director DoP
1972 Lucifer Rising[4] Kenneth Anger Chris O'Dell

2nd unit director of photography

Year Title Director DoP
1986 Platoon Oliver Stone Robert Richardson
1987 Dead of Winter Arthur Penn Jan Weincke
Matewan John Sayles Haskell Wexler
Wall Street Oliver Stone Robert Richardson
1991 The Doors
1995 Casino Martin Scorsese
2010 Eat Pray Love Ryan Murphy

Additional photography

Year Title Director DoP
1988 The Thin Blue Line Errol Morris Stefan Czapsky
Robert Chappell
1989 Heart of Dixie Martin Davidson Robert Elswit
Wild Orchid Zalman King Gale Tattersall
2013 World War Z Marc Forster Ben Seresin

Television

Year Title Director Notes
1988 The Wonder Years Steve Miner
Carol Black
Neal Marlens
Jeffrey D. Brown
3 episodes
1989 Roe vs. Wade Gregory Hoblit TV movie
1990 Challenger Glenn Jordan
American Masters Steven Fischler
Joel Sucher
Episode: "Martin Scorsese Directs"
Cop Rock Gregory Hoblit Episode: "Pilot"
1994 A Time to Heal Michael Toshiyuki Uno TV movie
2004 House Bryan Singer Episode: "Pilot"
2015 Battle Creek Episode: "The Battle Creek Way"
2017 The Gifted Episode: "eXposed"
2023 Citadel Himself
Jessica Yu
Directed along with Jessica Yu and shot all episodes

Documentary films

Year Title Director(s)
1981 El Salvador: Another Vietnam Glenn Sillber
Teté Vasconcellos
1983 When the Mountains Tremble Pamela Yates
1990 American Dream Barbara Kopple

Awards and nominations

Year Title Awards/Nominations
1983 When the Mountains Tremble Sundance Special Jury Award for Best Documentary
1995 The Usual Suspects Nominated- Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
2011 Drive Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Gold Derby Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- IndieWire Critics Poll Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Virtual Cinematography
2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
2020 Da 5 Bloods Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography
2021 Cherry Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NEWTON THOMAS SIGEL". www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  2. Newton Thomas Sigel Biography) at radaris.com
  3. "Valkyrie director faces Jewish past while filming in Berlin." Schleier, Curt. www.jweekly.com The Jewish News of Northern California.Published December 19, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2017.
  4. "The ASC – American Cinematographer: Road Warriors". theasc.com.
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