Bradford Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bradford Young
Young in 2013
Born	Bradford Marcel Young (1977-07-06) July 6, 1977 (age 47) Louisville, Kentucky
Education	Howard University (BA, MFA)
Occupation	Cinematographer
Years active	2004–present

Bradford Marcel Young (born July 6, 1977) is an American cinematographer. A cinematographer is the person in charge of how a movie looks. They decide on the lighting, camera angles, and how scenes are filmed. Young is famous for his work on movies like Selma (2014), Arrival (2016), and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).

His work on Arrival earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He also worked on the Netflix miniseries When They See Us (2019).

Becoming a Cinematographer

Young grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He went to The Brown School and Central High School. At age 15, he moved to Chicago to live with his father.

He found early artistic inspiration from artists like Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence. Even though he first wanted to study writing, he chose to study film at Howard University. There, a teacher named Haile Gerima greatly influenced him.

His first film project at Howard was a group effort. It was a black and white silent film. Working on film sets with friends at college was his first real introduction to filmmaking. Before college, he just liked watching movies like most people. As a kid, he often went to the theater with his family to see Spike Lee films.

Bradford Young's Film Career

Young has worked on many feature films as a cinematographer. Some of his early movies include Mississippi Damned (2009) and Pariah (2011). He also worked on Middle of Nowhere (2012) and Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013).

He has won the Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival twice. He won in 2011 for Pariah. Two years later, he won again for Mother of George and Ain't Them Bodies Saints.

Young was the cinematographer for Selma (2014). This movie won the BET Award for Best Movie in 2015. In the same year, Young joined the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). This is a group of top cinematographers.

In January 2017, Young made history. He became the first African-American cinematographer to be nominated for an Academy Award. This was for his amazing work on Arrival. His work on Arrival also earned him other nominations and awards.

Young was also the cinematographer for Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). This movie is about the space smuggler Han Solo.

In 2019, Young worked again with director Ava DuVernay. They made the Netflix miniseries When They See Us. This series was based on a real-life case from 1989. It received great reviews from critics.

Besides movies, Young has worked on short films and commercials. He has filmed music videos for artists like Beck and Norah Jones. He has also created video art for museums around the world.

Bradford Young's Visual Style

Young likes to use natural light when filming. For example, in Pariah, he filmed a nighttime bedroom scene using only Christmas lights. He also used an IKEA lamp with a red lampshade.

A writer named Amanda Petrusich said in 2012 that Young "favors raw light." She noted that he often shoots into the light. But she added that he mostly focuses on letting the scene speak for itself.

Hans Charles, who often worked with Young, said he has a unique style. He described it as "poetic" and "versatile."

Young has said that older black cinematographers inspired him. He mentioned Ernest Dickerson (who filmed Malcolm X) and Arthur Jafa (who filmed Daughters of the Dust). Young wants to make sure that the great work of African-American cinematographers is recognized.

He also gets ideas from his childhood memories. When he faces a challenge while filming, he thinks back to growing up in Louisville. He remembers the light in his grandmother's house or his Aunt Marie's kitchen. These memories help him find the right way to light a scene. Young also likes telling stories in a non-linear way. He enjoys switching between different camera shots.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognition

• Won Cinematography Award at Sundance Film Festival for Pariah (2011)
• Won Cinematography Award at Sundance Film Festival for Mother of George and Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)
• Nominated for Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Arrival (2016)
• Nominated for British Academy Film Award for Best Cinematography for Arrival (2016)
• Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for When They See Us (2019)

Personal Life

Bradford Young is married to Stephanie Etienne. They live in Baltimore, Maryland, with their two sons.