IEC
#1: From the doc "Cinematographer Style"
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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 |