Phil Abraham


Biography

Cinematographer Phil Abraham was responsible for the stylish and distinctive look of "The Sopranos," one of the most visually appealing shows of its era, despite its often grim and violent subject matter. Abraham studied film at Wesleyan University and spent several years apprenticed to older cinematographers to further learn the craft. By the early 1990s, he was getting work as a camera...

Biography

Cinematographer Phil Abraham was responsible for the stylish and distinctive look of "The Sopranos," one of the most visually appealing shows of its era, despite its often grim and violent subject matter. Abraham studied film at Wesleyan University and spent several years apprenticed to older cinematographers to further learn the craft. By the early 1990s, he was getting work as a camera operator, with credits ranging from the fine Paul Newman-led small-town character study "Nobody's Fool" to "The Jerky Boys," a low-budget comedy starring a pair of briefly popular comedians who specialized in prank phone calls. He graduated to cinematographer after a few years, working on documentaries and small features, before beginning work on a new HBO crime series called "The Sopranos" in '99. After serving as a camera operator for the show's first four episodes, Abraham was promoted to cinematographer, the position he held for the rest of the program's run; his debut as a director came in the show's final season. Most of his subsequent television work has been as a director, although when "The Sopranos" writer/producer Matthew Weiner began his own series about advertising executives in the early '60s, Abraham--as the primary cinematographer for its first season--established "Mad Men"'s elegant style; he has since returned to the series to direct several episodes per season. In 2009, Abraham returned to feature film as director of photography on the high-school-set romantic comedy "I Love You, Beth Cooper."

Filmography

 

Cinematography (Feature Film)

I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Director Of Photography
Annapolis (2006)
Director Of Photography
The Out of Towners (1999)
Camera Operator
The Corruptor (1999)
Camera Operator
Cherry (1999)
Director Of Photography
For Love of the Game (1999)
Director Of Photography
Living out Loud (1998)
Camera Operator
Scratch the Surface (1997)
Cinematographer
Trouble on the Corner (1997)
Director Of Photography
Extreme Measures (1996)
Assistant Camera Operator
Diabolique (1996)
Assistant Camera Operator
It Takes Two (1995)
Camera Assistant
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Assistant Camera Operator
Love Affair (1994)
Assistant Camera Operator
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Assistant Camera Operator
Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
Camera Assistant
In Search of Our Fathers (1992)
Cinematographer
The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
Assistant Camera Operator
McBain (1991)
Steadicam Assistant (New York)
Dice Rules (1991)
Camera Assistant
Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (1991)
Assistant Camera Operator
The Ten Count (1989)
Cinematographer
Monkey Shines (1988)
Assistant Camera Operator
The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
2nd Assistant Camera
Muschimaus Mag's Grad Heraus (1974)
Cinematographer

Producer (Feature Film)

The Ten Count (1989)
Producer

Film Production - Main (Feature Film)

Nobody's Fool (1994)
Photography

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Other
Godzilla (1998)
Assistant
Scratch the Surface (1997)
Other
Heaven's Prisoners (1996)
Assistant

Cinematography (Special)

Our Town (2003)
Director Of Photography
Empire State Building (1999)
Camera

Film Production - Main (Special)

Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War (1999)
Additional Photography

Life Events

Bibliography