Matthew Libatique facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Libatique
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Libatique in 2011
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Matthew José Libatique
July 19, 1968 |
| Other names | Matty Libatique |
| Alma mater | California State University, Fullerton AFI Conservatory |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse(s) | Mary-Ellen Libatique |
| Awards | Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography 2001 Requiem for a Dream 2011 Black Swan |
Matthew José Libatique (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer. A cinematographer is like the chief photographer for a movie. They decide how the film looks, including the lighting, camera angles, and colors. Matthew Libatique is famous for working with director Darren Aronofsky on many films. These include Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), Black Swan (2010), Noah (2014), and Mother! (2017). He has been nominated three times for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. These nominations were for his work on Black Swan (2010), A Star Is Born (2018), and Maestro (2023).
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Early Life and Education
Matthew Libatique was born in Elmhurst, Queens, a part of New York City. His parents, Georgina and Justiniáno Libatique, came from the Philippines. His father was from Dagupan, and his mother was from Lucena.
Before becoming a cinematographer, Matthew studied at California State University, Fullerton. He focused on sociology and communications there. Later, he earned a special degree called an MFA in cinematography. He got this degree from the AFI Conservatory, which is a famous film school.
Matthew Libatique's Career in Film
Libatique started his career by working on music videos. He often teamed up with Darren Aronofsky, who was also a student at AFI. They first worked together on a short film called Protozoa. After that, they continued to collaborate on Aronofsky's first three feature films.
Libatique has also worked with other well-known directors. These include Spike Lee on films like Inside Man. He also worked with Jon Favreau on big movies such as Iron Man and Iron Man 2.
In 2010, he received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Black Swan. He also won his second Independent Spirit award for this film. He has won many other awards for his cinematography. These include awards from the LA Film Critics Association and the NY Film Critics Online.
Working with Directors
Matthew Libatique believes it's very important to work closely with the director. He once explained that the cinematographer and director must have the same goal. They need to tell the same story together. Before filming starts, they must agree on everything. This helps avoid problems if they disagree on what's important in a scene. He says it's crucial for cinematographers to listen carefully to the director.
Libatique also shared how he approaches each film. He tries to make every film unique. The director's style guides his work. Some directors like to talk a lot about how shots will look. Others focus more on the actors' performances. They might give a general idea of the film's visual style. Libatique learns about the director's working style early on. This helps him prepare for the movie. If he's lucky, he can create a special visual style inspired by the project.
Filmography Highlights
Matthew Libatique has worked on many different types of films. Here are some of his notable feature films:
- 1998: Pi (First film with Darren Aronofsky)
- 2000: Requiem for a Dream
- 2008: Iron Man
- 2010: Black Swan
- 2014: Noah
- 2018: A Star Is Born
- 2022: The Whale
- 2023: Maestro
He has also worked on many music videos for popular artists. These include Tracy Chapman, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift.
Awards and Nominations
Matthew Libatique has been recognized with many awards for his cinematography.
Academy Awards
He has been nominated for the prestigious Academy Award for Best Cinematography three times:
- 2010: Black Swan (Nominated)
- 2018: A Star Is Born (Nominated)
- 2023: Maestro (Nominated)
Independent Spirit Awards
He has won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography twice:
- 2000: Requiem for a Dream (Won)
- 2010: Black Swan (Won)
Other Recognitions
Libatique has also received nominations and awards from many other groups. These include the BAFTA Awards, the American Society of Cinematographers, and the Satellite Awards. He won the Satellite Award for Best Cinematography for A Star Is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023).
