About me
Steven Poster ASC has always been fascinated with the art and science of capturing
images. Beginning with still photography, Poster knew he wanted to make movies by the time he
was fourteen. Poster's fascination with a neighbor, a news cameraman who later became his
mentor, sparked an unwavering desire to make movies, and instilled a permanent preoccupation
with the cinematic beauty of still images.
A Chicago native, Poster began his college education at Southern Illinois University as a
member of a special program conceived by the S.I.U.Design Department with Buckminster Fuller
as Artist in Residence. Transferring to the Los Angeles Art Center College of Design, where he is
now teaching, Poster learned how to 'see light' and was taught a true professional discipline.
Returning to Chicago, he graduated from the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of
Technology, where he was greatly influenced by the philosophy of Bauhaus design: Form should
fit function.
Steven Poster launched his cinematography career in Chicago, at age twenty-one, and began
with filming television commercials, Cinéma Vérité documentaries, and industrial films. He soon
moved on to feature films, working as Second Unit Director of Photography on "Close Encounters
of the Third Kind", and did significant additional photography on "Blade Runner".
As Director of Photography, Poster has filmed a variety of motion pictures including "Stuart Little
2", "Daddy Day Care", "Rocky V", "The Cemetery Club", "Life Stinks", "Opportunity Knocks",
"Next of Kin", "Big Top Pee-wee", and "Testament", as well as the controversial, award-winning
music video for Madonna, "Like a Prayer". He received an ASC nomination for Best
Cinematography for Ridley Scott's "Someone To Watch Over Me" and has the distinction of
being the first American cinematographer to shoot a French language film in France, "Une
Chance sur Deux", for director Patrice Leconte.
Steven Poster began collaborating with, innovative writer/director, Richard Kelly, in 2001, with the
ingenious cult-favorite "Donnie Darko", and continued with "Southland Tales", in 2006, which was
chosen for full competition at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. In 2008, Poster and Kelly completed
"The Box", starring Cameron Diaz, Frank Langella and James Marsden. In 2009 Poster filmed
"Spread", Director David Mackenzie's first American movie starring Ashton Kutcher. Poster also
photographed “Amityville Awakenings.” for Blumhouse Films.
In addition, Poster has done work on numerous television pilots and filmed the critically acclaimed
television movies "Roswell", "Mrs. Harris", "The Color of Justice" and "Courage", as well as
several episodes of “Master’s of Sex”. In 2012 Poster completed the pilot for the Netflix series
"Hemlock Grove", by Director Eli Roth.
Steven Poster is Past President of the International Cinematographers Guild, a ten thousand-
member trade union representing camera workers for movies and T.V. and publicists across the
United States. In that position, he spearheaded the transition from film to digital. Poster is a
former President of the American Society of Cinematographers and a current member of the
board of governors at the ICG. He was also an Executive Board member of the International
Documentary Association.
Poster has also served on the finalist judging committee for the Nicholl Fellowship of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and on the Board of Directors for the PBS
Series Craft in America.
Steven Poster has a passion for mentoring young filmmakers, students of Cinematography, and
even high school students around the world who are interested in the motion picture industry.
Steven was an advisor to the Sundance Institute Directors Laboratory. He has taught master
classes and mentoring at USC, UCLA, Art Center College of Design, Brandeis University,
Southern Illinois University, Baylor University, University of Oklahoma, University of Wisconsin,
and Southeastern Missouri University. Steven has personally mentored dozens of young artists
and cinematographers. Many of who have gone on to have successful careers in the motion
picture industry. Poster is currently teaching Cinematography at Art Center College of Design.
Poster has also been a fierce advocate for the development and transition to digital imaging in the
motion picture industry. During his tenure as President of the American Society of
Cinematographers, Poster was responsible for re-forming its Technology committee (now
referred to as Motion Imaging Technology Council or MITEC). This committee is at the forefront in
standard-setting recommendations for the paradigm-changing use of digital tools for
cinematography, and the post-production control of images. Poster has also spoken on the
subject of cinematography and digital technology internationally at events in England, France,
Amsterdam, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Australia, India, Canada and Mexico.
Steven Poster has been engaged as a consultant for major motion picture related corporations
that supply technology and services to the industry for many years. Poster is currently engaged
as a board member on 6P Color Inc., a for-profit technology company developing new and
innovative ways to see and experience color. His invaluable insights on current practices and
future trends have been integral in guiding the productive decisions of these institutions. This
work is in adjunct to the extensive writing Poster frequently publishes. During his thirteen-year
Presidency at the ICG, Poster wrote a monthly editorial for International Cinematographer
magazine. He is currently a columnist for British Cinematographer Magazine. He has also
contributed to American Cinematographer magazine and his insights have been featured in many
technology related publications and podcasts.
When asked what inspires him, Steven Poster said: "Telling worthwhile stories with images,
moving or still, is what ultimately inspires me. I am energized when those images elicit a
palpable response from an audience. That is the magic of sharing my work with others.
The spark that occurs when I am engaged with others in imparting ideas, the action of exploring
what it takes to tell visual stories, hashing out what it takes to enter, and have a successful life in,
the world of show business…These moments of understanding are the foundation of my
enthusiasm for this business.”
