Rachel Morrison facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rachel Morrison
Morrison at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1978-04-27) April 27, 1978 (age 47) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Concord Academy
Alma mater	New York University AFI Conservatory
Occupation	Cinematographer
Years active	2002–present
Notable credit(s)	Fruitvale Station Mudbound Black Panther
Spouse(s)	Rachel Garza ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	2

Rachel Morrison (born April 27, 1978) is an American cinematographer and director. A cinematographer is like the head photographer on a movie set. They are in charge of how the movie looks, choosing the cameras, lighting, and camera angles. Rachel Morrison is famous for her amazing work behind the camera.

She made history for her work on the movie Mudbound (2017). She became the first woman ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. This is a huge achievement in the film world! She has also worked with director Ryan Coogler on popular films like Fruitvale Station (2013) and the superhero blockbuster Black Panther (2018). Rachel Morrison also directs movies and TV shows. Her first feature film as a director is the sports drama The Fire Inside (2024).

Growing Up and Learning About Film

Rachel Morrison loved photography from a young age. She grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and finished high school at Concord Academy in 1996.

She then went to New York University. There, she studied both film and photography because she loved them equally. By the time she finished her degree, she knew she wanted to focus on cinematography. After that, she went to the AFI Conservatory to get her master's degree in cinematography, graduating in 2006.

Starting Her Film Career

Rachel Morrison began her career working on TV shows and movies made for television. Her camera work on a 2005 TV documentary called Rikers High was even nominated for an Emmy Award. This documentary was about high school education inside the Rikers Island prison.

She worked on the TV series The Hills for two years. Then, she filmed Sound of My Voice, which was shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Over the next two years, she was the cinematographer for movies like Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie and Fruitvale Station. Both of these films also premiered at the Sundance Festival.

In 2013, Rachel Morrison received the Kodak Vision Award at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards. This award recognized her great work in cinematography and her teamwork with other women filmmakers. That same year, Variety magazine named her one of the "Up Next" talents in the film industry. Indiewire also listed her as one of the "Cinematographers To Watch."

Big Achievements in Film

In 2014, Rachel Morrison got her first chance to direct. She directed an episode of the TV series American Crime, which aired in 2015. In 2017, she became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers. This is a very respected group for cinematographers.

Morrison was the cinematographer for Dee Rees's 2017 film Mudbound. Her work on this movie was truly groundbreaking.

• She was the first woman to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematographer.
• She was the first woman nominated for the American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement Awards in the feature film category.
• Most importantly, she became the first woman ever nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

After Mudbound, Rachel Morrison worked as the cinematographer for Marvel's huge hit movie Black Panther (2018).

On June 19, 2019, it was announced that Morrison would direct her first feature film, Flint Strong. This movie was later renamed The Fire Inside and was released in 2024. In March 2023, Morrison also directed an episode of the popular Star Wars streaming series The Mandalorian season 3.

Her Family Life

Rachel Morrison married Rachel Garza in December 2011. They have two children: a son born in 2014 and a daughter born in 2018.

Awards and Nominations

Rachel Morrison has been recognized with many awards and nominations for her excellent work:

See also

In Spanish: Rachel Morrison para niños