Profile:Bradford Young/Cinematographer/Selma/A story of Life

Originally from Louisville, KY Bradford Young is a cinematographer who studied under the tutelage of filmmaker Haile Gerima. As a cinematographer Bradford is most concerned with finding the sublime in the ordinary. His works ambition is to explore and celebrate small local things, photographically. His recent film contributions include: Ava DuVernay’s SELMA, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and won for best Original Song.  JC Chandor’s A MOST VIOLENT YEAR, for which Bradford was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography in a Motion Picture.  Ed Zwick’s PAWN SACRIFICE. David Lowrey’s AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS and Andrew Dosunmu’s MOTHER OF GEORGE for which he was awarded the 2013 Sundance US Dramatic Competition Excellence in Cinematography Award for both films. Other films include Dee Rees’ PARIAH, for which he won the 2011 Sundance US Dramatic Competition Excellence in Cinematography Award, Ava DuVernay’s MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, Tina Mabry’s, MISSISSIPPI DAMNED, Paola Mendoza’s ENTRE NOS and Andrew Dosunmu’s, RESTLESS CITY. Bradford just completed production on Denis Villeneuve’s A STORY OF YOUR LIFE, starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Bradford was named “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine in 2009 and Variety Magazine’s “Up Next 25 Masters of Their Craft” that same year.  Bradford was also profiled in Variety Magazine’s prestigious “10 Cinematographers to Watch 2015” Bradford is a 2014 inductee into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as a 2015 inductee into the American Society of Cinematographers. You can email your questions to 123filmeasy@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter @123Film