Dan Mindel


Ivor Daniel Mindel,, is a South African-American cinematographer,.
Known for his preference for shooting on film and implementing the Panavision anamorphic format, Mindel's work is mostly based on blockbuster action films, and had a frequent collaboration with directors Tony Scott and J. J. Abrams.

Early life

Mindel was born in Johannesburg and received education in Australia and in Britain.

Career

He began his career as a camera loader before becoming a clapper loader and assistant cameraman on John Boorman's 1985 film, The Emerald Forest, under French cinematographer Philippe Rousselot. He soon after moved to the United States and began working on commercials for Ridley and Tony Scott, among several other directors.
Throughout the 1990s, Mindel worked as a camera operator or photographer on feature films directed by either Tony Scott or Ridley Scott, including Thelma & Louise and Crimson Tide. In 1997, Mindel was assigned as second unit director of photography on Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane. This opened the door for Mindel to become director of photography on Tony Scott's 1998 action-thriller, Enemy of the State.
Mindel went on to serve as director of photography for films such as Shanghai Noon, Stuck on You, The Skeleton Key, John Carter, and Tony Scott's Spy Game and Domino. He has also done additional photography for the films The Bourne Identity and Lions for Lambs.
Director J. J. Abrams selected Mindel to be director of photography on 2006's Mission: Impossible III. Mindel worked with Abrams again as the cinematographer of 2009's Star Trek and its follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness.
Mindel was the director of photography on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was released on December 18, 2015. He was later announced to return to the franchise with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, also directed by Abrams, which commenced filming on August 1, 2018, at Pinewood Studios.
Three years after the release of The Rise of Skywalker, Mindel worked on additional photography for the Marvel Studios films Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Personal life

Mindel is married to Lisa Fallon Mindel and has four children, Samuel, Eden, Molly and Lily.

Filmography

Television
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1992Red Shoe DiariesZalman King
Michael Kalbernikoff		3 episodes
1996Dangerous MindsJames HaymanEpisode "Pilot"

Short film
YearTitleDirector
1996ReconBreck Eisner
1996SnakelandJoëlle Bentolila
2000Killer PinkPatrick Cadell
2004Tooth FairyJake Scott
2007CutlassKate Hudson

Feature film
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1998Enemy of the StateTony Scott
2000Shanghai NoonTom Dey
2000SandMatt PalmieriWith John Skotchdopole
2001Spy GameTony Scott
2003Stuck on YouThe Farrelly brothers
2005DominoTony Scott
2005The Skeleton KeyIain Softley
2006Mission: Impossible IIIJ. J. AbramsAlso made a cameo as "Doctor"
2009Star TrekJ. J. Abrams
2012John CarterAndrew Stanton
2012SavagesOliver Stone
2013Star Trek Into DarknessJ. J. Abrams
2014The Amazing Spider-Man 2Marc Webb
2015Star Wars: The Force AwakensJ. J. Abrams
2016Zoolander No. 2Ben Stiller
2018The Cloverfield ParadoxJulius Onah
2018Pacific Rim: UprisingSteven S. DeKnight
2019Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerJ. J. Abrams
2024TwistersLee Isaac Chung
2024Red OneJake Kasdan
2027Godzilla x Kong: SupernovaGrant SputoreFilming