#1: From the doc "Cinematographer Style"

 

   


LEVIE ISAACKS   ASC

 

Born: 14 August 1946, Houston, Texas, USA, as Levie Cruse Isaacks. [Both his parents were deaf and he used sign language to say his first words.]

Education: University of Texas [BA in 1972]; Maine Photographic Workshops.

Career: Served in the Army as a commissioned officer and as a platoon leader in Vietnam and was decorated with a Bronze Star for heroism and an Army commendation for valor. His cinema life began while working part-time at a local television station in Austin, Texas, while attending the University of Texas. There he was handed a newsreel camera and that is when the love affair with film and telling stories began. After graduation, he continued to work in broadcast journalism and later in commercials and documentary films in his home state of Texas. There, he was also able to garner experience as a camera operator on films shooting on location in Texas. When the time came to move to Los Angeles to try his hand at being a Director of Photography of movies and television, he got his first feature film at Roger Corman's Concord Studios in Venice, California. [From his website.]

Member of the ASC since 2004.

Appeared in the doc 'Cinematographer Style' [2005, Jon Fauer; ph: J. Fauer, Jeff Laszlo, Brian Heller & David Morgan].

Awards: ASC TV Award nom [2011] for 'Man Up!' [ep #5 'Acceptance' dir by Eyal Gordin].

Website: Levie Isaacks


 FILMS

1982

Hooked on Houston [Frank Q. Dobbs] 16mm/c; comm doc/5m; + ed; for Texas Instruments Inc. (Depicts the city of Houston and its freewheeling life-style)

1983

Lions, Parakeets and Other Prisoners [Frank Q. Dobbs] 16mm/c; doc/29m; cph: F. Dobbs; + ed

198?

Expectations/Together We Can [Diana Vela] c; comm doc/15m; + co-prod; prod for U.S. Department of Education

1987

This Is Our Home, It Is Not for Sale [Jon Schwartz] b&w-c; doc/190m

1987

Maniac Cop [William Lustig] c; co-2uc; ph: Vincent J. Rabe; aph: Al Cerullo

1988

Hit List [William Lustig] c; 2uc; ph: James Lemmo

1988

Saturday the 14th Strikes Back [Howard R. Cohen] c; 2uc: Stephen R. Sharp

1988

One Man Force [Dale Trevillion] c; co-addph; ph: Constantine Makris

1988

For All Mankind [Al Reinert] 16mm-35bu/b&w-c; doc/86m; addph; + archive footage

1988

Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat [Anthony Hickox] p/c; 2uc: Chris Squires

1989

Spontaneous Combustion [Tobe Hooper] c

1989

City Life [seg '[Houston -] Unheavenly City' dir by Eagle Pennell] c; 2-part (110m & 141m) comp of shorts (12 seg)

1989

Rich Girl [Joel Bender] c; 2uc: George Mooradian

1990

Black Magic Woman [Deryn Warren] c

1990

The Guyver/Mutronics [Screaming Mad George & Steve Wang] c; 2uc: Bert Guthrie; addph: Richard Hutchings & Doyle Smith; vfx ph: Ted Rae

1991

Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice/Children of the Corn: Deadly Harvest [David F. Price] c

1991

Leprechaun [Mark Jones] c

1993

Dead on Sight [Reuben Preuss] c

1994

The Cage [Warren D. Wilensky] c; short/38m

1994

Nature of the Beast/The Hatchet Man/Bad Company [Victor Salva] c

1994

Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde [David F. Price] c; addph; ph: Tom Priestley Jr.

1994

The Expert/Brute Force [Rick Avery & William Lustig] c; 2uc: Philip Alan Waters

1994

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre [Kim Henkel] c; 102m; in 1997 re-edited/renamed 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation' (86m)

1995

The Dogfighters/The Zone [Barry Zetlin] c

1995

The Dentist [Brian Yuzna] c; addph: Denis Maloney; 2uc: Jürgen Baum, Eric Trageser & Feliks Parnell; 3uc: Daniel Yarussi

1996

Dead Men Can't Dance/Rangers [Stephen M. Anderson] c

1998

That Moment: Magnolia Diary [Mark Rance] c/V; doc/73m; filmed 1998-2000

2006

Grace [Camille Cellucci] HD-to-35mm/c; short/15m; prod AFI (USA)

2007

Bring It On: In It to Win It [Steve Rash] c/V

2008

O2 [Tim Hyten] RED (scope)/c; short/7m; 2uc: Matt Garrett

2008

Road Trip: Beer Pong [Steve Rash] c/V

2008

Punctured [Shari Hamrick] pre-production; status unknown

2009

Cubicle [Joseph Palmer] HD (Panavision HD-900F)/c; short/34m; a teaser short to pitch a feature length project

2011

Tooth Fairy 2 [Alex Zamm] HD (ARRI ALEXA)/c/V

2011

Crooked Arrows [Steve Rash] RED Epic-to-D-Cinema/c; (uncred) reshoots ph; ph: Dan Stoloff

2011

No Better Place to Die [Dale Dye] pre-production; scheduled to start filming in April; in August 2015 still searching for money

2012

An Unreal Dream - The Michael Morton Story [Al Reinert; co-dir: John Dean & Nellie Gonzalez] c; doc/90m; 2uc: Drew Xanthopoulos; addph: Allen Ho, John Aldrich, a.o.

2012

The Little Rascals Save the Day/The Little Rascals [Alex Zamm] c/V; 2uc: Keith J. Duggan

 

 TELEVISION

1990

The Science of Hope with Jonas Salk/The Science of Hope: Jonas Salk/A Conversation with Dr. Jonas Salk [presenter: Bill Moyers] b&w-c/28m; cph: Richard Hutchings; ep of series 'A World of Ideas [with Bill Moyers]'

1990

Patricia Smith Churchland: How the Human Mind Works [presenter: Bill Moyers] 28m; cph: Richard Hutchings; ep of series 'A World of Ideas [with Bill Moyers]'

1990

From the Barrel of a Gun [: The Rise of Asian Nationalism] [Steven Talley] doc/b&w-c/60m; ep #3 of 10-part doc series 'The Pacific Century' (1992); for NHK-tv (Japan), KCTS-tv (Seattle) & Teleac (Holland)

1990

I'm Dangerous Tonight [Tobe Hooper] tvm

1991

[HBO's] Tales from the Crypt [ep #28 'Abra Cadaver' dir by Stephen Hopkins, #29 'Top Billing' dir by Todd Holland, #30 'Dead Wait' dir by Tobe Hooper, #31 'The Reluctant Vampire' dir by Elliot Silverstein, #33 'Undertaking Palor' dir by Michael Thau & #37 'Spoiled' dir by Andy Wolk] 93-part series, 1989-96; 3rd season, 1991

1991

Haunted Lives - True Ghost Stories [Tobe Hooper] tvm/60m; 3 seg: 'Legend of Kate Morgan', 'Ghosts R Us' & 'School Spirit'; 2uc: Philip Hurn

1992

Scared Silent [: Exposing and Ending Child Abuse] [Melissa Jo Peltier] doc/60m

1992

Likely Suspects [various] 13-part series, 1992-93; other ph: Constantine Makris

1992

Fear in America: A Reverse Angle [prod: Kerry Neal] doc/60m; cph: Geoff Schaaf & Jeffrey Victor; addph: Bert Guthrie; for PBS-tv

1992

The Americans [prod/written by Peter Bull & Joseph Tovares] doc/57m; cph: Joan Churchill & Tom Hurwitz; ep #10 of 10-part doc series 'Americas' (1993); for WGBH-tv & Channel 4

1993

[HBO's] Tales from the Crypt [ep #58 'Two for the Show' dir by Kevin Hooks, #63 'Oil's Well That Ends Well' dir by Paul Abascal, #64 'Half-Way Horrible' dir by Gregory Widen & #65 'Till Death Do We Part' dir by Peter Iliff] 5th season, 1993; see 1991

1993

Kids Saving Kids [Wendy Robbins] doc/?m; ph Los Angeles; ph New York: Jeff Victor; seg of doc/60m 'Kids Killing Kids' (ph: Arnie Sirlin); for CBS-tv & Fox-tv

1993

Next Door [Tony Bill] tvm; 2uc; ph: Thomas Del Ruth

1994

[HBO's] Tales from the Crypt [ep #67 'Only Skin Deep' dir by William Malone, #69 'Operation Friendship' dir by Roland Mesa, #71 'The Bribe' dir by Ramón Menéndez, #73 'The Assassin' dir by Martin von Haselberg, #77 'Doctor of Horror' dir by Larry Wilson & #79 '99 and 44/100 Pure Horror' dir by Rodman Flender] 6th season, 1994-95; see 1991

1995

Blue Whales: Giants of the Deep [prod: Al Giddings & Rick Blue] doc/60m; co-addph; ph: Al Giddings; ep of ABC-tv series 'World of Discovery'

1995

W.E.I.R.D. World [William Malone] tvm

1995

The Wharf Rat [Jimmy Huston] tvm

1995

Real Ghosts [Michael Levine] tvm/60m (2 seg: 'The Brotherhood' & 'The Headless Ghost')

1995

Marshal Law/Block Party [Stephen Cornwell] tvm

1996

North Shore Fish [Steve Zuckerman] tvm

1997

Roar [various] 8-part series; other ph: John Stokes; 2uc: Ian Thorburn

1997

[National Lampoon's] The Don's Analyst [David Jablin] tvm

1997

Target Earth/Taken Away [Peter Markle] tvm

1998

Dawson's Creek [22 ep dir by various] 128-part series, 1998-2003; 2nd season, 1998-99

1999

The Force [Lou Antonio] pilot

1999

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #2 'Red Dress' dir by Arlene Sanford, #3 'Home Alone 4' dir by Todd Holland, #4 'Shame' dir by Nick Marck, #5 'Malcolm Babysits' dir by Jeff Melman, #6 'Sleepover' dir by Ken Kwapis, #7 'Francis Escapes' dir by Todd Holland, #8 'Krelboyne Picnic' dir by Todd Holland, #9 'Lois vs. Evil' dir by Todd Holland, #10 'Stock Car Races' dir by Todd Holland, #11 'Funeral' dir by Arlene Sanford, #12 'Cheerleader' dir by Todd Holland, #13 'Rollerskates' dir by Ken Kwapis, #14 'The Bots and the Bees' dir by Christopher Koch, #15 'Smunday' dir by Jeff Melman & #16 'Water Park' dir by Ken Kwapis] 151-part series/s16, 2000-06; 1st season, 2000; other ph: Victor Hammer (pilot), Mike Weaver & Rick Davidson

2000

The Huntress [various] 28-part series, 2000-01; other ph: Feliks Parnell & Stephen Lighthill

2000

Malcolm in the Middle [all ep (#17-41) dir by various] 2nd season, 2000-01; see 1999

2001

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #42-55 & #57-62 dir by various] 3rd season, 2001-02; see 1999

2002

Andy Richter Controls the Universe [pilot & ep #2 'Grief Counselor' dir by Andy Ackerman] 19-part (5 unaired) series, 2002-03; other ph (+ cph ep #2): Victor Hammer

2002

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #64 'Zoo' dir by Todd Holland (TH), #65 'Humilithon' dir by Jeff Melman (JM), #66 'Family Reunion' dir by Ken Kwapis (KK), #67 'Stupid Girl' dir by TH, #70 'Malcolm Holds His Tongue' dir by JM, #71 'Boys at the Ranch' dir by David D'Ovidio, #72 'Grandma Sues' dir by Jimmy Simons (JS), #73 'If Boys Were Girls' dir by KK, #75 'Kicked Out' dir by JM, #76 'Stereo Store' dir by Bryan Cranston, #79 'Academic Octathalon' dir by TH, #81 'Reese's Party' dir by Levie Isaacks (cph: Rick Davidson), #83 'Baby, Part I' dir by JS & #84 'Baby, Part II' dir by Jamie Babbit] 4th season, 2002-03; see 1999

2003

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #88 'Goodbye Kitty' dir by Jimmy Simons (JS), #91 'Malcolm's Job' dir by Steve Welch (SW), #94 'Dirty Magazine' dir by Bryan Cranston (BC), #95 'Hot Tub' dir by JS, #96 'Ida's Boyfriend' dir by Peter Lauer (PL), #97 'Softball' dir by Ken Kwapis, #98 'Lois' Sister' dir by David D'Ovidio (DD'O), #99 'Malcolm Dates a Family' dir by SW, #100 'Reese's Apartment' dir by David Grossman (DG), #101 'Malcolm Visits College' dir by PL, #102 'Polly in the Middle' dir by Steve Love (SL), #103 'Dewey's Special Class' dir by DD'O, #104 'Experiment' dir by BC, #105 'Victor's Other Family' dir by DG, #106 'Reese Joins the Army: Part 1' dir by SL & #107 'Reese Joins the Army, Part 2' dir by PL] 5th season, 2003-04; see 1999

2003

The O'Keefes [pilot dir by Andy Ackerman] 8-part (3 unaired) series/HD, 2003; other ph: Rick Gunter (4 ep)

 

[In front of monitor] with c.op Tim Bellen [left] and Todd Holland [script in hand]

"Reese Comes Home"

 

2004

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #108 'Reese Comes Home' dir by Todd Holland & #109 'Buseys Run Away' dir by Bryan Cranston] 6th season, 2004-05; see 1999

2005

Fertile Ground/Born & Bred [Patrick Norris] pilot/60m; for FOX-tv

2009

CSI: NY [ep #136 'Redemptio' dir by Steven DePaul, #137 'Tales from the Undercard' dir by Skipp Sudduth & #140 'Vacation Getaway' dir by Duane Clark] 197-part series, 2004-13; 6th season/HD (Sony F35), 2009-10

2010

CSI: NY [ep #144 'Sangre por Sangre' dir by Norberto Barba, #146 'Do Not Pass Go' dir by David Jackson, #148 'Scared Stiff' dir by Marshall Adams, #149 'Justified' dir by Jeff T. Thomas, #151 'To What End?' dir by Eric Laneuville, #153 'Party Down' dir by Skipp Sudduth & #154 'Smooth Criminal' dir by Scott White] 7th season/HD (Sony F35), 2010-11; 2uc (#144, 146, 148 & 149): Raymond Stella; see 2009

2010

Porkchop Playhouse [Stephen Pizzello] sketch comedy/variety pilot/30m

2010

Mean Girls 2 [Melanie Mayron] tvm

 

"Man Up!" - [from filmed interview]

 

2011

Man Up! [13 ep dir by various] 13-part (5 unaired) series, 2011

2011

CSI: NY [ep #168 'Get Me Out of Here!' dir by Scott White] 8th season/HD (Sony F35), 2011-12; 2uc: Raymond Stella; see 2009

2011

Breaking Bad [ep dir by Michelle MacLaren] 62-part series/s35-to-HD, 2008-13; 4th season, 2011; (uncred) addph; ph ?

2012

American Judy [Beth McCarthy-Miller] pilot/HD; for ABC-tv

2012

Breaking Bad [ep #55 'Blood Money' dir by Bryan Cranston] 5th season, 2012-13; (uncred) addph; ph: Michael Slovis; see 2011

2013

Glee [8 ep dir by various] 121-part series/s35-to-HD, 2009-15; 5th season, 2013-14 (20 ep); uncred addph; ph: Joaquin Sedillo

 

 MISCELLANEOUS

1980

Fast Money/Sybil Danning's Adventures Presents Fast Money [Douglas Holloway] c.asst; ph: Eagle Pennell

1985

Getting Even [Dwight Little] co-2nd c.op 2u; 2uc: Allen Facemire; ph: Peter L. Collister

1985

Uphill All the Way [Frank Q. Dobbs] c.op; ph: Roland Smith

1986

My Best Friend Is a Vampire/I Was a Teenage Vampire [Jimmy Huston] c.op; ph: James Bartle

1992

Maniac Cop 3 - Badge of Silence [William Lustig & (add  scenes) Joel Soisson] co-add c.op; ph: Jacques Haitkin

1992

Conflict of Interest [Gary Davis] co-c.op; ph: Bryan England

1993

Deadly Exposure/Lethal Exposure [Lawrence Mortorff] visual cons; ph: Russ Brandt

1995

Lucifer's Child [Tony Abetamarco] lighting des; drama presentation/120m; for A&E Stage

 

 FILMS & TELEVISION AS DIRECTOR

1986

The Ride [+ co-prod/story/co-scrpl] c; short/18m; ph: Brown Cooper & Wayne Forster; filmed in Houston, Texas

2001

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #56 'Hal's Birthday'] 151-part series/s16, 2000-06; 3rd season, 2001-02; ph: Mike Weaver

2002

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #68 'Forwards Backwards', #74 'Long Drive', #78 'Garage Sale', #80 'Clip Show 2' & #81 'Reese's Party' (+ cph)] 4th season, 2002-03; ph: Mike Weaver; see 2001

2003

Malcolm in the Middle [ep #87 'Watching the Baby', #90 'Malcolm Films Reese' & #93 'Block Party'] 5th season, 2003-04; ph: Mike Weaver; see 2001