Shane Hurlbut facts for kids

Shane Hurlbut (born February 18, 1964) is an American cinematographer. A cinematographer is like the main camera expert on a movie set. They work closely with the director to decide how each scene will look. This includes choosing the right cameras, lenses, and lighting.

Shane grew up in Ithaca, New York, near Cayuga Lake. He studied film at Emerson College and graduated in 1986. Early in his career, he worked on music videos for famous artists like Gloria Estefan and Smashing Pumpkins. He also worked on a music video for the 1996 movie Daylight, where he met director Rob Cohen.

Shane Hurlbut 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 to be nominated for this award for their first movie. Film critics have praised his camera work on many films. These include Drumline, Mr. 3000, and Into the Blue.

Shane Hurlbut's Early Life and Education

Shane Hurlbut grew up in Ithaca, New York. His mother was a sixth grade teacher. His father worked at Cornell University. Shane lived on a 250-acre farm in Aurora, New York, close to Cayuga Lake.

He went to Southern Cayuga High School and finished in 1982. Later, he married Lydia Kunkler, who also went to the same high school.

College Studies and Achievements

Shane first attended Herkimer County Community College. He earned a degree in radio and television broadcasting in 1984. In 2008, he was honored by the college and added to their Alumni Hall of Honor.

After that, Shane went to Emerson College. He studied film and television there. He earned his bachelor's degree from Emerson College in 1986.

Shane Hurlbut's Film Career Journey

Shane Hurlbut moved to Los Angeles in 1987. He started working in the film industry in different roles. He was a driver, a key grip (who handles equipment), and a gaffer (who sets up lights). Eventually, he became a cinematographer.

Early Work and First Big Projects (1987–2004)

In his early career, Shane worked on many projects. He helped with music videos for stars like Gloria Estefan. He also did photo shoots for famous photographers. One notable job was for a Nissan "Enjoy the Ride" commercial.

He met director Rob Cohen while working on a music video for the movie Daylight in 1996. They worked together again on the 1997 TV show pilot The Guardian. By 1997, Shane focused on lighting for photos and films. He even owned a lighting business in Pasadena, California.

Rob Cohen chose Shane to be the cinematographer for the 1998 TV movie The Rat Pack. This was Shane's first major movie. His lighting style for the film was inspired by old Hollywood glamour photos. He was nominated for an award from the American Society of Cinematographers for this work. He was the youngest person to get this nomination for a first film. Shane worked with Rob Cohen again on the 2000 movie The Skulls.

Shane received good reviews for his work on the 2002 movie Drumline. A critic from The Plain Dealer said Shane made you feel like you were "right inside the brassy band." Another critic from Salon noted the "beauty of watching a row of drummers' hands." Shane also worked with director Barry Levinson on commercials for American Express.

In 2004, Shane worked with director Charles Stone III again on Mr. 3000. Critics praised his camera work on this film. One critic called his photography "heart-stopping."

Recent Projects and Innovations (2005–Present)

Shane's cinematography for the 2005 movie Into the Blue was well-received. Famous film critic Roger Ebert liked his work. Another critic from the San Francisco Chronicle said Shane did "nice work in tight places." Even though the movie got mixed reviews, Shane's beautiful underwater shots were highlighted.

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

In 2005, Shane was the first cinematographer to use a new process called InDI. This was for the film Something New. In 2006, he became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers. His work on the 2006 romantic comedy Something New was praised for its "interesting angles" and "panache."

Shane worked on the 2006 film Waist Deep. A critic from The Seattle Times called some of his shots "close to breathtaking." He also worked on the 2008 film Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell.

Shane teamed up with director McG for the 2006 film We Are Marshall. They used old-style lenses and film to make the movie feel like the 1970s.

In 2008, Shane worked with director Charles Stone III again. They made a video called "Wassup 2008" to support Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The video became very popular online.

Shane and his wife, Lydia Hurlbut, also started the Hurlbut Academy. This was an online learning platform for filmmakers. In 2022, it changed its name to the Filmmakers Academy. This academy offers courses on many filmmaking topics.

The Christian Bale Incident

In 2008, Shane Hurlbut was the cinematographer for the movie Terminator Salvation. During filming, actor Christian Bale became upset with Shane for walking into a scene. Shane stayed calm and apologized. They continued filming for many hours after the incident.

Later, Christian Bale said that he and Shane talked about it and "resolved this completely." Bale also said Shane did a "wonderful job" on the movie.

Shane Hurlbut's Filmography

Movies

Short Films

Documentary Films

Television Work

TV Movies

TV Series