Caleb Deschanel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caleb Deschanel
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Caleb Deschanel in San Diego, 2009
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Joseph Caleb Deschanel
September 21, 1944 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Occupation | Cinematographer, film director |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Jo Weir
(m. 1972) |
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Joseph Caleb Deschanel (born September 21, 1944) is a famous American cinematographer and director for movies and TV shows. A cinematographer, also called a director of photography, is the person in charge of how a movie looks, including the lighting, camera angles, and shots.
Deschanel is highly respected for his work and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography six times. He is also a member of the National Film Preservation Board, which helps protect important American films for the future.
He has been married to actress Mary Jo Deschanel since 1972. They have two daughters who are also famous actresses: Emily Deschanel and Zooey Deschanel.
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Early Life and Education
Caleb Deschanel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Paul, was from France, and his mother, Ann, was American. He was raised in his mother's Quaker faith.
After high school, he went to Johns Hopkins University. There, he met his friend Walter Murch, and together they put on artistic performances called "happenings." In one famous happening, Murch simply sat in front of an audience and ate an apple.
Murch encouraged Deschanel to study filmmaking at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts. At USC, Deschanel was part of a group of talented film students called "The Dirty Dozen," who gained attention from Hollywood. After graduating from USC in 1968, he attended the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory and was part of its very first graduating class in 1969.
Career in Filmmaking
Deschanel has had a long and successful career, working on many well-known movies. He is known for creating beautiful and memorable images on screen.
What Does a Cinematographer Do?
As a cinematographer, Deschanel works closely with the director to create the visual style of a film. He decides which cameras and lenses to use, how to light each scene, and how to frame the shots. His job is to use images to help tell the story and create a specific mood, whether it's exciting, sad, or magical.
Famous Movies He Worked On
Deschanel has been the cinematographer for many popular films. Here are some of them:
- The Black Stallion (1979)
- The Right Stuff (1983)
- The Natural (1984)
- Fly Away Home (1996)
- The Patriot (2000)
- The Passion of the Christ (2004)
- National Treasure (2004)
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
- Jack Reacher (2012)
- The Lion King (2019)
Directing Movies and TV
Besides his work as a cinematographer, Deschanel has also directed movies and television episodes. He directed the films The Escape Artist (1982) and Crusoe (1988).
He also directed episodes for popular TV shows, including:
- Twin Peaks
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury
- Bones (His daughter, Emily Deschanel, was the star of this show.)
Awards and Recognition
Caleb Deschanel's talent has earned him many awards and nominations throughout his career. Being nominated for an award means that experts have recognized your work as one of the best of the year.
- Academy Awards: He has been nominated six times for Best Cinematography for the films The Right Stuff, The Natural, Fly Away Home, The Patriot, The Passion of the Christ, and Never Look Away.
- American Society of Cinematographers: He won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for The Patriot. He was also nominated for Fly Away Home and The Passion of the Christ.
- National Society of Film Critics: He won the Best Cinematography award for two films in the same year, Being There and The Black Stallion.
See also
In Spanish: Caleb Deschanel para niños
