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2011 |
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MICHAEL D. O'SHEA ASC |
Born: ?, Los Angeles, California, USA, as Michael 'Mike' D. O'Shea. His father came from Ireland.
Education: Valley Junior College, Los Angeles.
Career: 'Henri Lehman, a family friend, was the assistant head of the camera department at Warner Bros. Henri got me a part-time job as a laborer on the Warner Bros. lot during the early 1960s. I was playing semi-pro baseball at the time. I asked him what were good departments to get into if I didn't make it in baseball. He mentioned makeup, grip and cinematography. I told him I didn't know anything about cinematography, but I would sure like to learn. He said cinematography was difficult, because there was a lot of nepotism. I told him I was willing to do whatever I had to do. He said come into the loading room after your shift on the labor crew ends and learn how to prepare camera equipment for the next day. Maybe if it gets busy, there will be a job for you. He also said, I can't promise you anything, because the next time there is an opening somebody's son will get first crack at it. That happened a couple of times, but I was persistent. I spent a year hanging around the camera department after work every night until there was a job for a loader and no sons were available. [He got into the union (ICG) as a camera loader in 1965.] […] I was an assistant on Monroe Askins' crew on the CBS series 'Gunsmoke' during the late 1960s. Production shut down in June for the summer and started again in September. The CBS camera department got a call saying that Howard Schwartz was looking for an assistant [for the tv-series 'Love Story', 1973-74]. After about a month, Howard said, if you don't go back to 'Gunsmoke' and stay with me, I'll make you an operator in three years. That was like an impossible dream. I was still in my 20s. Howard was a marvelous teacher and a hard task master. I stayed with him for three years, and then he kept his promise and made me an operator. I was on his crew for a few years after that. Howard gave me a great base to build on. He also taught me that part of the operator's job is to work with the cinematographer. Howard said you owe your loyalty to him. Howard told me to watch him setting up shots, because there was going to be a time when he would turn it over to me. […] I started working with Nick McLean in 1983 on 'Cannonball Run II' when he was a pretty new cameraman. I did 11 pictures as an operator on Nick's crews. We worked on a lot of Burt Reynolds movies. Nick was both hard working and easy going. He was also always pushing me to move up to cinematographer. Nick had a little trick for showing directors that I could light. At times, he had me pre-light our next set and shoot tests. When we reviewed them the next day, Nick would tell the director, this guy should be a cameraman. That's how I got a break with Mel Brooks. We were shooting 'Spaceballs' in 1986. We had big sets with space ships. When Nick didn't have time to pre-light scenes, he would tell me to do it for him and shoot some tests. I had been working with Nick for years, so I tried to make the lighting as close as I could to what he would have done. When we watched them with Mel Brooks, Nick never hesitated to tell him I shot those tests. I moved up to cinematographer on 'Doogie Howser, M.D.', a television series that was produced on the 20th Century-Fox lot. I shot that series for three years. […] When I saw Mel Brooks on the lot, he would say, I'm keeping an eye on you. One day, he said that he liked my work and that he remembered the tests I had shot for Nick McLean. He asked me if I was ready to shoot 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' with him. I asked if he was kidding. That was in 1993. It was my first feature and the first of my two films with Mel.' [From the ASC website.]
Ph commercials.
Member of the ASC since 1996.
His son Michael Jr. is a c.op; his son Sean is a c.asst.
Awards: 'Emmy' Award nom [1992] for 'Doogie Howser, M.D.' [ep #52 'The Summer of '91' dir by Stephen Cragg]; 'Emmy' Award nom [1997] for 'To Love, Honor and Deceive' & 'Relativity' [ep #15'Karen and Her Sisters' dir by Mark Piznarski]; 'Emmy' Award nom [1999] for 'The '60s' [part 'Night 2']; 'Emmy' Award [2003] for 'CSI: Miami' [ep 'Simple Man']; ASC Career Achievement in Television Award [2010].
Note: Not to be confused with his son Michael 'Mike' F. O'Shea Jr., Steadicam op/c.op 'a' & 'b' camera, who started his career in 1995 ['Rollerball' (2000), 'Play Dead' (2006), 'Sex and the City' (2007-08), etc.].
FILMS |
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1991 |
Necessary Roughness [Stan Dragoti] c; 2uc; ph: Peter Stein |
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1992 |
The Temp [Tom Holland] c; ph Berlin; ph: Steve Yaconelli |
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1993 |
Robin Hood: Men in Tights [Mel Brooks] c; addph: Lloyd Ahern II |
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1993 |
Geronimo - An American Legend [Walter Hill] p/c; 2uc; ph: Lloyd Ahern II |
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1993 |
Double Dragon [James Yukich] c; co-addph; ph: Gary Kibbe |
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1993 |
A Test of Will [Richard Zelmicker] c; cph: Donald M. Morgan |
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1994 |
The Specialist [Luis Llosa] c; 2uc; ph: Jeffrey Kimball |
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1995 |
Dracula - Dead and Loving It [Mel Brooks] c; addph: Gary B. Kibbe; vfx superv: Mike Shea |
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1999 |
Here on Earth [Mark Piznarski] p/c; 2uc: Donald M. McCuaig |
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2000 |
Big Momma’s House [Raja Gosnell] c; 2uc: Donald M. McCuaig |
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2000 |
The New Guy [Ed Decter] c |
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2001 |
Sorority Boys/Dog Catcher [Wallace Wolodarsky] c; aph: John Trapman |
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2004 |
Supercross [Steve Boyum] c; cph: William Wages |
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2005 |
Tilt-A-Whirl [Cameron Thor] c; short/12m |
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2008 |
Group Sex/The Group [Lawrence Trilling] c/V |
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TELEVISION |
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1990 |
Doogie Howser, M.D. [25 ep dir by various] 97-part series, 1989-93; 2nd season, 1990-91 |
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1991 |
Doogie Howser, M.D. [24 ep dir by various] 3rd season, 1991-92; see 1990 |
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1992 |
Doogie Howser, M.D. [19 ep dir by various] 4th season, 1992-93; see 1990 |
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1993 |
White Mile [Robert Butler] tvm; 2uc; ph: Lloyd Ahern II |
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1993 |
Weird Science [various] 88-part series, 1994-98; 1st season, 1994; other ph: Paul Maibaum |
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1994 |
Sweet Justice [various] 22-part series, 1994-95; other ph: Arthur Albert (pilot) |
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1994 |
Weird Science [various] 2nd season, 1995; other ph: Richard M. Rawlings Jr. & Ron Vargas; see 1993 |
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1995 |
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman [3 ep dir by various] 88-part series, 1993-97; 3rd season, 1995-96; other ph: James Bagdonas, Tom Connole & Lowell Peterson |
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1996 |
Chicago Hope [ep #64 'The Son Also Rises' dir by James Bagdonas & #69 'Lamb to the Slaughter' dir by Bill D'Elia] 141-part series, 1994-2000; 3rd season, 1996-97; other ph: James Bagdonas, Walt Lloyd & Richard M. Rawlings Jr. |
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1996 |
Relativity [various] 17-part series, 1996-97; other ph: Bruce Douglas Johnson & Paul Cameron |
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1996 |
To Love, Honor and Deceive/The Protected Wife [Michael Watkins] tvm |
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1997 |
The Rockford Files [: Murder and Misdemeanors] [: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda] [Tony Wharmby] tvm-ep of series |
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1997 |
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds… It Leads [Stuart Margolin] tvm-ep of series |
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1997 |
The Player [Mark Piznarski] tvm |
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1997 |
Nothing Sacred [various] 20-part (5 unaired) series, 1997-98; other ph: Frederick V. Murphy II |
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1998 |
The '60s [Mark Piznarski] 2-part tvm/16mm+35mm-to-35mm |
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1999 |
Once and Again [pilot 'Boy Meets Girl' dir by Edward Zwick] 63-part series, 1999-2002; 1st season, 1999-2000; other ph: Charlie Lieberman (21 ep) |
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1999 |
Ryan Caulfield: Year One [pilot dir by F. Gary Gray] 7-part (5 unaired) series, 1999; other ph: Lowell Peterson |
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2001 |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer [ep #108 'Tabula Rasa' dir by David Grossman] 144-part series, 1997-2003; 6th season, 2001-02; other ph: Raymond Stella (+ cph #108) |
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2001 |
Resurrection Blvd. [ep #35 'A puro dolor' dir by Camilo Vila, #36 'Saliendo' dir by Tony Plana & #37 'Bruja' dir by Michael DeLorenzo] 53-part series, 2000-02; 2nd season, 2001; other ph: Henner Hofmann & Joe Pennella |
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2002 |
Everwood [pilot dir by Mark Piznarski] 89-part series, 2002-05; 1st season, 2002-03; other ph: Charlie Lieberman |
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2002 |
Resurrection Blvd. [ep #45 'Nino del polvo' dir by Dennis Leoni, #46 'Las tristesas de Zeke' dir by John Behring, #47 'Justicia' dir by Elizabeth Peña, #48 'Pararse' dir by Sylvia Morales, #49 'El gato, el vato, la cena y el padre' dir by Michael DeLorenzo, #50 'Engano' dir by Sylvia Morales, #51 'Un amigo viejo' dir by Tony Plana, #52 'Verguenza' dir by Lou Diamond Phillips & #53 'Resureccion' dir by John Behring] 3rd season, 2002; other ph: João Fernandes (3 ep) & Henner Hofmann (1 ep); see 2001 |
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2002 |
CSI: Miami [ep #4 'Just One Kiss' dir by Scott Brazil, #5 'Ashes to Ashes' dir by Bryan Spicer, #7 'Breathless' dir by Charles Correll (CC), #9 'Kill Zone' dir by Daniel Attias, #11 'Camp Fear' dir by Deran Sarafian, #13 'Bunk' dir by CC, #15 'Dead Woman Walking' dir by Jeannot Szwarc & #17 'Simple Man' dir by Greg Yaitanes] series, 2002-present; 1st season, 2002-03; other ph: Charles Correll (cph #7), Dermott Downs, Walt Lloyd & Robert M. Stevens |
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2003 |
The Guardian [ep #55 'Swimming' dir by James Bagdonas] 67-part series, 2001-04; 3rd season, 2003-04; other ph: James Bagdonas (21 ep) |
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2004 |
Jack & Bobby [pilot dir by David Nutter & 13 ep dir by various] 22-part series/s35-to-HD, 2004-05; other ph: Dennis Hall |
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2005 |
Soccer Moms [Mark Piznarski] unaired pilot |
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2005 |
Bones [ep #3 'A Boy in a Tree' dir by Patrick Norris, #5 'A Boy in a Bush' dir by Jesús Treviño (JT), #7 'The Man on Death Row' dir by David Jones, #8 'The Girl in the Fridge' dir by Sanford Bookstaver (SB), #11 'The Woman in the Car' dir by Dwight Little, #13 'The Woman in the Garden' dir by SB, #15 'Two Bodies in the Lab' dir by Allan Kroeker, #16 'The Woman in the Tunnel' dir by Joe Napolitano, #20 'The Graft in the Girl' dir by SB & #22 'The Woman in Limbo' dir by JT] series, 2005-present; 1st season, 2005-06; other ph: Dermott Downs (pilot), Cort Fey & Dennis Hall |
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2007 |
Eli Stone [12 ep dir by various] 26-part series, 2008-09; 1st season, 2008; other ph: Michael Bonvillain (pilot) |
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2008 |
Eli Stone [8 ep dir by various] 2nd season, 2008-09; see 2007 |
FILMS & TELEVISION AS CAMERA OPERATOR |
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1967 |
Daktari [various; tv-series] 2nd c.asst; ph: Fritz (Fred) Mandl |
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1967 |
Gunsmoke [various; tv-series] 1st c.asst 'b' cam; ph: Richard Rawlings Sr. |
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196? |
Death Valley Days [various; tv-series] 2nd c.asst; ph: Emmett Bergholtz |
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1968 |
Daddy's Gone A-Hunting [Mark Robson] 2nd c.asst; ph: Ernest Laszlo |
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1969 |
To Rome with Love [various; tv-series] 1st c.asst; ph: ? |
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1970 |
Barefoot in the Park [various; tv-series] 1st c.asst; ph: Howard Schwartz |
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1970 |
Necromancy/The Witching/The Toy Factory/Rosemary's Disciples [Bert I. Gordon] uncred 2nd c.op; ph: Winton C. Hoch |
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1973 |
The Stone Killer [Michael Winner] uncred 1st c.asst; ph: Richard Moore |
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1973 |
Love Story [various; tv-series] ph: Howard Schwartz |
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1973 |
Ginger in the Morning [Gordon Wiles] co-c.asst; ph: William Jurgensen |
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1974 |
"M*A*S*H" [various; tv-series] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1977 |
How the West Was Won [various; tv-series] c.op; ph: ? |
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1978 |
Flying High [Peter H. Hunt; pilot/100m] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1978 |
Human Feelings/Miles the Angel [Ernest Pintoff; tvm] c.op; ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1978 |
[Louis L'Amour's] The Sacketts/The Daybreakers [Robert Totten; 2-part tvm] ph: Jack A. Whitman Jr. |
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1978 |
Blind Ambition [George Schaefer; 4-part tv-miniseries] ph: Edward R. Brown |
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1978 |
A Vacation in Hell [David Greene; tvm] ph: Harry May |
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1978 |
Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers [Robert Greenwald; tvm] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1979 |
Rendezvous Hotel [Peter H. Hunt; tvm] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1979 |
Sex and the Single Parent [Jackie Cooper; tvm] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1979 |
Marathon [Jackie Cooper; tvm] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1979 |
Bogie [Vincent Sherman; tvm] ph: Harry May |
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1979 |
Raise the Titanic [Jerry Jameson] co-c.op (didn't finish the film); ph: Matthew Leonetti; filmed 1979-80 |
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1980 |
Homeward Bound [Richard Michaels; tvm] ph: Edward R. Brown |
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1980 |
Father Damien: The Leper Priest [Steve Gethers; tvm] ph: William K. Jurgensen |
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1980 |
High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane [Jerry Jameson; tvm] ph: Harry May |
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1980 |
Miracle on Ice [Steven Hilliard Stern; tvm] co-c.op; ph: Howard Schwartz |
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1981 |
The Letter [John Erman; tvm] ph: James Crabe |
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1982 |
Blue Thunder [John Badham] add c.op; ph: John Alonzo |
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1982 |
White Water Rebels [Reza Badiyi; tvm] co-c.op; ph: William Gereghty |
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1983 |
Cannonball Run II [Hal Needham] co-c.op; ph: Nick McLean |
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1983 |
Something About Amelia [Randa Haines; tvm] ph: Edward R. Brown |
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1983 |
Stick [Burt Reynolds] ph: Nick McLean |
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1984 |
City Heat [Richard Benjamin (replaced Blake Edwards)] ph: Nick McLean |
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1984 |
Twice in a Lifetime [Bud Yorkin] ph: Nick McLean |
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1984 |
The Goonies [Richard Donner] co-c.op; ph: Nick McLean |
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1985 |
A Fine Mess [Blake Edwards] c.op 2u; ph: Harry Stradling Jr. |
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1985 |
Short Circuit [John Badham] co-c.op; ph: Nick McLean |
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1985 |
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling [Richard Pryor] co-add c.op; ph: John Alonzo |
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1986 |
Extreme Prejudice [Walter Hill] co-c.op; ph: Matthew Leonetti |
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1986 |
The Lost Boys [Joel Schumacher] co-c.op; ph: Michael Chapman |
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1986 |
Over the Top [Menahem Golan] co-c.op; ph: David Gurfinkel |
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1986 |
Spaceballs [Mel Brooks] co-c.op; ph: Nick McLean; filmed 1986-87 |
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1987 |
The Couch Trip [Michael Ritchie] co-c.op 2u; 2uc: Robert C. Thomas; ph: Donald Thorin |
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1987 |
Hooperman [various; tv-series] ph: Lloyd Ahern II |
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1987 |
Mac and Me [Stewart Raffill] ph: Nick McLean |
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1988 |
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! [David Zucker] co-c.op; ph: Robert Stevens |
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1988 |
The 'burbs' [Joe Dante] ph: Robert Stevens |
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1989 |
Fear [Rockne S. O'Bannon; tvm] ph: Robert Stevens |
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1989 |
Doogie Howser, M.D. [20 ep dir by various; tv-series; 1st season, 1989-90] ph: Frederick Moore |
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1990 |
Delirious [Tom Mankiewicz] co-c.op; ph: Robert Stevens |
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