Michael Goi
Michael K. Goi, ASC, ISC is an American cinematographer, director, producer, and writer of television and film. He is best known for his work for Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk on the television series Glee, Scream Queens and American Horror Story. He is a four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee for his cinematography.
His directorial work includes the 2011 horror film Megan Is Missing, and episodes of series like The Rookie and its spinoff The Rookie: Feds, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Goi served as the 49th President of the American Society of Cinematographers, from 2009 to 2012.
Early life
Of Japanese descent, Goi was born and raised in Chicago, and was educated at Columbia College Chicago. He cites Mario Bava's giallo film Blood and Black Lace and Mike Nichols' The Graduate as key early influences.Career
He began his career as director of photography on a short horror film directed by John Strysik, The Music of Erich Zann, in 1980; and then on the comedy The Blues Brothers, as a production assistant.He went on to serve as cinematographer on film and television series, such as: Moonstalker, How U Like Me Now, What Matters Most, Call Waiting, Funky Monkey, Cloud 9, Witness Protection, My Name is Earl, The Nine Lives of Chloe King, Mr. Sunshine, Salem and The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
Goi has written and directed three feature films during his career; Voyeur, an action drama about a reluctant porn star and her biggest fan; Megan Is Missing, about internet predators and the disappearance of Megan Stewart ; and Mary, starring Gary Oldman and Emily Mortimer, on which he also served as the cinematographer.
''Web Therapy''
Goi served as the exclusive cinematographer on Lisa Kudrows Web Therapy throughout the entirety of its 87-episode run.Work with Ryan Murphy
As director of photography, Goi first worked with prolific writer/producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk on their FOX musical comedy Glee, in 2011, with the episode "Asian F". That same year he also began work on the duo's new FX series American Horror Story. His first episode on the series was the Murder House installment "Rubber Man". He went on to work on Murphy's short-lived NBC comedy The New Normal; and the trio's 2015 horror/comedy Scream Queens. During the fourth season of American Horror Story, Goi made his series directorial debut with "Magical Thinking". He served as the series' exclusive cinematographer from the premiere of Asylum, until the end of the fifth season. He was succeeded in the capacity by Breaking Bads Nelson Cragg, with the commencement of the sixth year.American Society of Cinematographers
Goi joined the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) in 2003. Goi was the 49th President of the ASC, from 2009 to 2012.In 2025, he received the ASC's Career Achievement in Television Award. The same year, he was appointed to its Artificial Intelligence Committee.
Filmography
Television
Cinematographer
TV moviesThe Fixer Who Killed Atlanta's Children? Christmas Rush Red Water Judas Katie Sullivan Life on Mars The Untitled Michael Jacobs Pilot How to Be a Better American Bloodline The Death of Eva Sofia ValdezTV series
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1999 | The Pleasure Zone | 13 episodes |
| 1999-2000 | Nightcap | 11 episodes |
| 2001 | Lady Chatterley's Stories | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Invasion | Episode "The Last Wave Goodbye" |
| 2007 | The Wedding Bells | 7 episodes |
| 2007-08 | My Name Is Earl | 23 episodes |
| 2008-13 | Web Therapy | 64 episodes |
| 2009 | In the Motherhood | 4 episodes |
| 2009-10 | The Mentalist | 7 episodes |
| 2011 | The Nine Lives of Chloe King | 9 episodes |
| 2011 | Mr. Sunshine | 12 episodes |
| 2011-12 | Glee | 7 episodes |
| 2011-13 | Web Therapy | 23 episodes |
| 2011-16 | American Horror Story | 52 episodes |
| 2012 | The New Normal | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2014 | Salem | 12 episodes |
| 2015 | Scream Queens | Episodes "Pilot", "Hell Week" |
| 2024 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Episodes "Aang", "Warriors" |