Roger Deakins (born May 24, 1949 in Torquay, Devon, England) has established himself as a successful cinematographer in America and Britain. While growing up in Torquay as a young adolescent, Roger spent most of his time in and out of school focusing on his primary interest: painting. Several years later, Roger enrolled in the Bath School of Art and Design (in the city of Bath) – where he studied graphic design. While studying in Bath, Roger discovered his love of still photography. As it turned out, he was a very talented photographer, and this led him be hired to create a photographic documentary of his hometown, Torquay.
About a year or so later, Deakins transferred to the National Film and Television School in England. Graduating shortly after, Deakins found work as a cameraman, assisting in the production of documentaries in various locations abroad for approximately seven years.
During this seven year stint, Roger’s first project involved a nine month trip as one of the entrants of a ‘round-the-world yacht race called, “Around the World With Ridgeway.� This project captured the lives and growing tensions between several of the yacht’s crewmen. Roger received highly praise for his work out at sea showing the parallels between these teammates and shipmates.
After completing this project, Roger was immediately hired by television studios to film several documentaries in Africa. His first, “Zimbabwe,� was a powerful and informative depiction of the genocide that had been going on there, following Zimbabwe’s devastating civil war. His second African documentary was called, “Eritrea – Behind Enemy Lines,� which was another depiction of conflict, this time within the borders of Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
From the time of his work in Africa until the early 1980’s, Deakins continued his cinematographic and directorial work in documentaries as well as the burgeoning field of music videos. Some of his early work as both a director and cinematographer of music videos included Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes,� and the concert film, “Van Morrison in Ireland.�
Subsequently, Roger was productive and his work in England and France continued through the seventies and late eighties. Some of these works include, “Towers of Babel,� “Sid and Nancy,� “The Kitchen Toto,� and “Pacali’s Island.�
Roger Deakins’ first feature film in America as a cinematographer was “Mountains of the Moon (film)� (1990). He later began his first collaboration with the famous Coen Brothers (Joel and Ethan Coen) in 1991 on the film “Barton Fink.� Since then, Deakins has been the Brothers’ main cinematic collaborator and has been their principal cinematographer.
Roger finally received his first major award from the American Society of Cinematographers for his outstanding achievement in cinematography for the internationally praised major motion picture, “The Shawshank Redemption.� The ASC continued to honor Deakins with outstanding achievement nominations for his later works, including “Fargo (film),� “Kundun,� “O Brother Where Art Thou?� And finally his second win for “The Man Who Wasn't There.�
Roger Deakins has also received five Academy Award nominations for the previously mentioned films, in addition to high praise from critic associations in both America and Britain.
