Roger Antony Deakins British cinematographer Date of Birth: 24.05.1949 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Roger Anthony Deakins
2. Early Life and Education
3. Documentary Career
4. Hollywood Career and Recognition
5. Personal Life and Hobbies

Biography of Roger Anthony Deakins

Roger Anthony Deakins, a British cinematographer, is renowned for his work in the films of the Coen brothers. Deakins is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and the British Society of Cinematographers.

Early Life and Education

Roger Deakins, son of actress Josephine Messum and builder William Albert Deakins, was born on May 24, 1949, in Torquay, Devon, England. He studied at the local boys' grammar school. As a teenager, Deakins dedicated a lot of time to painting, which became his main interest for several years.

A few years later, Deakins enrolled at the Bath School of Art and Design, where he studied graphic design. During his time at Bath, Deakins discovered his love for photography. He proved to be exceptionally talented and soon created a photographic chronicle of his hometown, Torquay.

Approximately a year later, Deakins transferred to the National Film and Television School. Shortly after completing his studies, Deakins found work as a cinematographer for documentary films and spent around seven years working abroad.

Documentary Career

Deakins' first project was a nine-month-long circumnavigation race documentary called "Around the World With Ridgeway." He showcased the lives of the crew members and the growing tension among the men confined on a tiny boat. This work received rave reviews, and immediately after its completion, Deakins was hired to create several documentaries about Africa.

His first film, which focused on the genocide resulting from the civil war in Zimbabwe, created a significant impact. The second film, titled "Eritrea – Behind Enemy Lines," explored the armed conflict along the borders of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.

Over time, Deakins continued his cinematographic and directorial work in the documentary genre, as well as shooting music videos. In the mid-1980s, Deakins transitioned into feature films.

Hollywood Career and Recognition

Deakins' first Hollywood feature film as a cinematographer, "Mountains Of The Moon," was released in 1990. The following year, his collaboration with the Coen brothers began with the thriller "Barton Fink." Over the next 20 years, Deakins became the primary cinematographer for the creative duo.

Deakins received his first significant award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for his contribution to the critically acclaimed and internationally recognized film "The Shawshank Redemption" in 1994. He was also nominated for the ASC award for films such as "Fargo," "Kundun," "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," and "The Man Who Wasn't There," for which he won his second ASC award.

In 2008, Deakins worked on the films "No Country for Old Men" and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Despite being nominated for an Oscar eight times, Deakins has yet to win the coveted statuette.

Personal Life and Hobbies

On December 11, 1991, Deakins married Isabella James Purefoy Ellis, who also works in the film industry, ensuring the adherence of the filming process to the screenplay. Photography remains his main hobby.

Prior to starting his education at the National Film and Television School, Deakins spent a year in North Devon, England, photographing the lifestyle on farms and in villages. This only strengthened his passion for photography, which continues to this day.

In his rare days off, when Deakins is not traveling on a boat in Devon, he enjoys taking trips to different places and photographing. His latest work, the western film "True Grit" by the Coen brothers, is set to release on December 25, 2010.