Jean Lepine


Director Of Photography

About

Birth Place
Quebec, Ontario, CA

Biography

A graduate of the prestigious National Film Board of Canada's documentary school, Lepine established himself as a cinematographer via his lengthy collaboration with idiosyncratic American auteur Robert Altman. His first film credit was as camera assistant for Altman's "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" (1982) and he worked in the same capacity, or as camera operator, on A...

Biography

A graduate of the prestigious National Film Board of Canada's documentary school, Lepine established himself as a cinematographer via his lengthy collaboration with idiosyncratic American auteur Robert Altman. His first film credit was as camera assistant for Altman's "Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" (1982) and he worked in the same capacity, or as camera operator, on Altman's "Streamers" (1983), "Fool for Love" (1985) and "O.C. and Stiggs" (1987). Regardless of the widely held critical impression that these and other 1980s films comprised a "low" period for Altman, Lepine gained valuable experience working with a meticulous craftsman, getting himself in synch with Altman's signature mix of cynical, documentary realism and satirical, absurdist hyperbole. Lepine also worked on a number of non-Altman Canadian films such as "Mario" (1984), "Exit" (1986) and "Speed Zone" (1989).

Lepine first made the transition to director of photography on episodes of Altman's acclaimed political comedy series for HBO, "Tanner '88" (1988). He would later work without Altman on a handful of TV projects, such as the miniseries "JFK: Reckless Youth" (1993), but Lepine was ready to shoot feature films as well. His first credit as director of photography was Altman's somber and intimate "Vincent & Theo" (1990), a study of the relationship between Vincent Van Gogh (Tim Roth) and his brother (Paul Rhys) distinguished by lush visuals evocative of the Dutch master's work. Lepine would later reteam with Altman for the snazzy glitz of the fashion world farrago "Ready to Wear/Pret-a-Porter" (1994), and director-star Tim Robbins would put Lepine's experience on "Tanner" to fine use on his irreverent cinema verite-style political satire, "Bob Roberts" (1992). Lepine's most virtuoso work, though, came with Altman's dark tale of Hollywood, "The Player" (1992), including an already-famous, extremely lengthy tracking shot at the film's start, done as a reflexive homage to Orson Welles' opening of "Touch of Evil" (1958).

Filmography

 

Cinematography (Feature Film)

Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness (2007)
Director Of Photography
Ambulance Girl (2005)
Director Of Photography
Coast to Coast (2004)
Director Of Photography
Charms For the Easy Life (2002)
Director Of Photography
Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story (2002)
Director Of Photography
The 6th Day (2000)
Director Of Photography
The Intruder (1999)
Director Of Photography
A Cool Dry Place (1999)
Director Of Photography
To Walk With Lions (1999)
Director Of Photography
Woo (1998)
Director Of Photography
Habitat (1997)
Director Of Photography
Hysteria (1997)
Director Of Photography
Hysteria (1996)
Director Of Photography
Beyond the Call (1996)
Director Of Photography
Ready to Wear (1994)
Director Of Photography
A Home of Our Own (1993)
Director Of Photography
Bob Roberts (1992)
Director Of Photography
The Player (1992)
Director Of Photography
Black Robe (1991)
Camera 2nd Unit (2nd Unit)
Montreal Vu Par... (1991)
Director Of Photography ("La Derniere Partie")
Vincent & Theo (1990)
Director Of Photography
The Ivory Hunters (1990)
Camera Operator
Speed Zone (1989)
Camera Operator
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988)
Camera Operator
O.C. And Stiggs (1987)
Camera Operator
Nowhere to Hide (1987)
Camera Operator
Beyond Therapy (1987)
Camera Operator
Anne Trister (1986)
Camera Operator
Exit (1986)
Camera Operator
The Boy in Blue (1986)
Camera Assistant
Fool For Love (1985)
Camera Operator
Mario (1984)
1st Assistant Camera
Streamers (1983)
Camera Assistant
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982)
Camera Assistant

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

The 6th Day (2000)
Dp/Cinematographer
To Walk With Lions (1999)
Dp/Cinematographer
Woo (1998)
Other
Beyond the Call (1996)
Dp/Cinematographer
Ready to Wear (1994)
Other
A Home of Our Own (1993)
Dp/Cinematographer
The Player (1992)
Other

Cinematography (Special)

Talking With (1995)
Director Of Photography
Tanner '88: For Real (1988)
Director Of Photography
The Dumb Waiter (1987)
Camera Operator

Film Production - Main (Special)

Tanner '88: The Dark Horse (1988)
Photography

Cinematography (TV Mini-Series)

JFK: Reckless Youth (1993)
Director Of Photography

Misc. Crew (TV Mini-Series)

JFK: Reckless Youth (1993)
Dp/Cinematographer

Life Events

1982

First feature credit, and first collaboration with Robert Altman, as camera assistant on Altman's "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"

1987

First US TV credit, working with Altman as a camera operator for the ABC drama special, "The Dumb Waiter", directed by Altman

1988

First credit for "photography" and as "director of photography", working on installments of the limited-run series, "Tanner '88", directed by Altman for HBO

1990

First feature credit as director of cinematography, "Vincent & Theo", directed by Altman

1991

First credit as cinematographer in a non-Altman project: shot one of the six vignette comprising the Canadian-made anthology film, "Montreal Vu Par...", the "La Derniere Partie" segment directed by Michel Brault

1991

First feature credit as director of cinematography for a non-Altman film, "Bob Roberts", directed by Tim Robbins

1993

First non-Altman TV credit as director of photography, "JFK: Reckless Youth", an ABC miniseries directed by Harry Winer

Bibliography