Shane Hurlbut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shane Hurlbut
Hurlbut in 2025
Born	(1964-02-18) February 18, 1964 (age 61) Ithaca, New York, United States
Other names	L. Shane Hurlbut
Alma mater	Emerson College Herkimer County Community College Southern Cayuga High School
Occupation	Cinematographer
Spouse(s)	Lydia Kunkler
Children	2

Shane Hurlbut (born February 18, 1964) 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 the film is shot.

Shane grew up near Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, New York. He studied film at Emerson College. Early in his career, he worked on music videos for famous artists. He also worked on the 1996 movie Daylight. Shane was nominated for an award from the American Society of Cinematographers for his work on the 1998 TV movie The Rat Pack. He was the youngest cinematographer ever nominated for this award for a first film.

Early Life and Education

Shane Hurlbut grew up on a 250-acre farm in Aurora, New York. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked at Cornell University. He graduated from Southern Cayuga High School in 1982. He later married Lydia Kunkler, who also went to Southern Cayuga.

Shane attended Herkimer County Community College. He earned a degree in radio and television broadcasting in 1984. In 2008, he was honored by the college. He then went to Emerson College and got a bachelor's degree in film and television in 1986.

Shane Hurlbut's Career in Film

Starting Out in Hollywood (1987–2004)

In 1987, Shane moved to Los Angeles to work in movies. He started as a driver and helped with equipment. Soon, he became a cinematographer. He worked on music videos for Gloria Estefan and Smashing Pumpkins. He also did photo shoots for Vogue magazine.

Shane met director Rob Cohen while working on a music video for the movie Daylight. They worked together again on the TV show pilot The Guardian. In 1997, Shane focused on lighting for films. He even owned a lighting business.

Rob Cohen chose Shane to be the cinematographer for the 1998 TV movie The Rat Pack. This was Shane's first big movie. His lighting style for the film was inspired by old Hollywood glamour photos. He was nominated for a special award for this work. Shane worked with Cohen again on the 2000 movie The Skulls.

He received good reviews for his work on the 2002 film Drumline. One critic said Shane made you feel "right inside the brassy band." Another noted the beauty of watching drummers' hands. Shane also worked on advertisements for American Express with director Barry Levinson.

In 2004, Shane worked with director Charles Stone III again on Mr. 3000. Critics praised his "heart-stopping photography" in the film.

Recent Work and Achievements (2005–Present)

Shane's cinematography for the 2005 film Into the Blue was well-liked. Film critic Roger Ebert gave it a positive review. Another critic said his underwater shots were "exquisite."

He also worked on the 2005 film The Greatest Game Ever Played. Critics said he made golf look "cinematic" and the movie "extraordinarily handsome."

In 2005, Shane was the first cinematographer to use a new film process called InDI. In 2006, he joined the American Society of Cinematographers. His work on the 2006 romantic comedy Something New was also praised. He found "interesting angles" and photographed a dance scene with "panache."

Shane worked on the 2006 film Waist Deep. He also worked on the 2008 film Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell. He teamed up with director McG for the 2006 film We Are Marshall. For this movie, they used old lenses and film to make it feel like the 1970s.

In 2008, Shane helped director Charles Stone III make a video for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The video, called "Wassup 2008," became very popular online.

Shane and his wife, Lydia, also started the Hurlbut Academy. This was an online learning platform for filmmakers. In 2022, it was rebranded as the Filmmakers Academy. This academy offers courses on cinematography and other film skills.

On Set Experiences

In 2008, Shane worked with director McG again on the film Terminator Salvation. During filming, there was a heated discussion between Shane and actor Christian Bale. Shane remained calm and apologized. They continued filming for many hours afterward. Christian Bale later said that he and Shane talked and resolved the issue. Bale also praised Shane's work on the movie, saying it looked "fantastic."

Filmography

Film Projects

Television Projects

TV Movies

TV Series