Oliver David Whiteside Stapleton (born 12 April 1948), is an English cinematographer, known for collaborations with directors Julien Temple, Stephen Frears and Michael Hoffman.
Life and career He graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1970 with a degree in psychology and from the National Film and Television School (NFTS) UK while working in South Africa (from 1966 to 1974) and England.
One of his first efforts was the student film Shadowplay, a film about South African immigrants trying to adjust to life in London, which he wrote, directed, and edited. He progressed to filming music videos and commercials. He worked with many famous bands in the early-to-mid 80s, including a-ha, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Eddy Grant and The Human League.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Notes1982 The Secret Policeman's Other Ball Julien Temple Oral History Peter Chappell 1983 Mantrap Julien Temple1985 Restless Natives Michael Hoffman My Beautiful Laundrette Stephen Frears 1985 Running Out of LuckJulien Temple 1986 Absolute Beginners1987 Prick Up Your EarsStephen Frears Sammy and Rosie Get Laid 1987 Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock'n’Roll Taylor Hackford Documentary film 1988 Earth Girls Are Easy Julien Temple1989 CookieSusan Seidelman She-Devil 1990 The Grifters Stephen Frears 1991 Let Him Have It Peter Medak 1992 Hero Stephen Frears 1993 Look Who's Talking Now Tom Ropelewski 1995 Restoration Michael Hoffman1996 The Van Stephen Frears Kansas City Robert Altman One Fine Day Michael Hoffman 1997 The Designated Mourner David Hare1998 The Object of My Affection Nicholas Hytner The Hi-Lo Country Stephen Frears1999 A Midsummer Night's Dream Michael Hoffman The Cider House Rules Lasse Hallström2000 State and Main David Mamet Pay It Forward Mimi Leder2001 Birthday Girl Jez Butterworth Buffalo Soldiers Gregor Jordan The Shipping News Lasse Hallström2003 Ned Kelly Gregor Jordan Also camera operator Cheeky David Thewlis2005 CasanovaLasse Hallström An Unfinished Life 2006 The Hoax 2007 The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep Jay Russell 2008 How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Robert B. Weide 2009 The Proposal Anne Fletcher2010 Unthinkable Gregor Jordan Don't Be Afraid of the Dark Troy Nixey 2011 Will Ellen Perry 2012 The Guilt Trip Anne Fletcher 2014 The Best of Me Michael Hoffman2015 Unfinished Business Ken Scott Hot Pursuit Anne Fletcher 2016 The Comedian Taylor Hackford 2018 Gore Michael Hoffman Unreleased 2022 The People We Hate at the Wedding Claire Scanlon
Television TV movies Year Title Director 1989 Danny, the Champion of the World Gavin Millar
TV series Year Title Director Notes 1983-1988 The Comic Strip Sandy JohnsonStephen FrearsAdrian Edmondson 6 episodes 1984 Billy Rankin: Baby Come Back Pete Cornish TV special 1991-1993 Screen Two David HareStephen Frears Segments Heading Home and The Snapper 1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Gavin Millar Episode "Peking, March 1910" 1995 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Deepa MehtaGavin Millar Segment "Journey of Radiance" 1996 Great Performances Robert Altman Episode "Jazz '34"
Awards 1986 – won MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography for "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." by a-ha. nominated for ACE Award for Danny, the Champion of the World. 1990 – nominated for Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for Earth Girls Are Easy. 2001 – nominated for Camerimage Golden Frog for Buffalo Soldiers. 2003 – nominated for AFI Award for Ned Kelly.
References
External links Official website
Stapleton's page on the Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers