Rick Bota


Biography

Cinematographer Rick Bota must have a strong stomach. Over the course of his two-plus decade career, he's lensed all matter of spine-tingling and stomach-churning horror fare, beginning in the '80s with the small screen lycanthropic thriller "Werewolf." HBO's "Tales from the Crypt" proved a perfect fit for Bota, who shot 23 episodes of the darkly comedic cable series and worked in tandem...

Biography

Cinematographer Rick Bota must have a strong stomach. Over the course of his two-plus decade career, he's lensed all matter of spine-tingling and stomach-churning horror fare, beginning in the '80s with the small screen lycanthropic thriller "Werewolf." HBO's "Tales from the Crypt" proved a perfect fit for Bota, who shot 23 episodes of the darkly comedic cable series and worked in tandem with guest director Robert Zemeckis for the sixth season closer, "You, Murderer." Bota also photographed the series' stand-alone installment, "Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight." In 1996, Bota turned his lens on "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson for "Barb Wire," a B-movie remake of "Casablanca" set in a futuristic strip club. Anderson received the dubious distinction of Worst New Star at the subsequent Razzie Awards for her performance. Bota shot another shameless remake in 1999: the Geoffrey Rush and Famke Janssen-led update of "House on Haunted Hill." Reviled by critics, the film was nonetheless a modest box office success among horror-starved Halloween weekend crowds. Bota put on his director's beret in 2002, helming a trio of straight-to-video sequels to Clive Barker's "Hellraiser." "Hellraiser: Hellseeker," the first of the three, received recognition for Best Visual Effects at the 2003 DVD Exclusive Awards. In 2010, Bota directed an episode of the CW's paranormal drama "Supernatural."

Filmography

 

Director (Feature Film)

Damaged (2015)
Director
Happy Face Killer (2014)
Director
Love You to Death (2013)
Director
Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
Director
Impostor (2002)
Director
Mimic (1997)
Director

Cinematography (Feature Film)

The Killing Game (2011)
Director Of Photography
Impostor (2002)
Director Of Photography
Valentine (2001)
Director Of Photography
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Director Of Photography
Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999)
Director Of Photography
Balloon Farm (1999)
Director Of Photography
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
Director Of Photography
Most Wanted (1997)
Director Of Photography
Kiss the Girls (1997)
Director Of Photography
The Glimmer Man (1996)
Director Of Photography
Barb Wire (1996)
Director Of Photography
The Babysitter (1995)
Director Of Photography
Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight (1995)
Director Of Photography
The Companion (1994)
Director Of Photography
Desperate Rescue: The Cathy Mahone Story (1993)
Director Of Photography
Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back (1993)
Director Of Photography
Jack Reed: Badge of Honor (1993)
Director Of Photography
Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight (1992)
Director Of Photography
Final Embrace (1992)
Director Of Photography
Lucky Day (1991)
Camera Operator
Two Fisted Tales (1991)
Director Of Photography
Deadly Medicine (1991)
Director Of Photography
Tap (1989)
Camera Operator
Weekend at Bernie's (1989)
Camera Operator

Film Production - Main (Feature Film)

Most Wanted (1997)
Photography
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)
Photography

Film Production - Unit (Feature Film)

Wes Craven Presents: They (2002)
Unit Director

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Impostor (2002)
Dp/Cinematographer
Impostor (2002)
Other
House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Dp/Cinematographer
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
Dp/Cinematographer
Kiss the Girls (1997)
Dp/Cinematographer
Barb Wire (1996)
Dp/Cinematographer

Director (Special)

Doctor of Horror (1995)
Segment Director

Cinematography (Special)

Doctor of Horror (1995)
Director Of Photography
You, Murderer (1995)
Director Of Photography
Well-Cooked Hams (1993)
Director Of Photography
Came the Dawn (1993)
Director Of Photography
Forever Ambergris (1993)
Director Of Photography
This'll Kill Ya (1992)
Director Of Photography
Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories (1992)
Director Of Photography
Werewolf Concerto (1992)
Director Of Photography
On a Dead Man's Chest (1992)
Director Of Photography
Split Second (1991)
Director Of Photography

Misc. Crew (Special)

This'll Kill Ya (1992)
Dp/Cinematographer
On a Dead Man's Chest (1992)
Dp/Cinematographer

Cinematography (TV Mini-Series)

Something Is Out There (1988)
Camera Operator

Life Events

Bibliography