Stefan Czapsky
Stefan Czapsky, A.S.C. is an American cinematographer, best known for his collaborations with director Tim Burton on films like Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, and Ed Wood.
Early life and education
Born in Oldenburg in West Germany to Ukrainian parents, his family emigrated to the United States while he was still an infant, and then settled in Cleveland. After studying at Case Western Reserve, he enrolled in a film studies graduate program at Columbia University, and permanently relocated to New York City.Career
Early career
Renowned for his "broad range of styles" working alongside directors such as Tim Burton and Boaz Yakin, Czapsky has cemented himself as a chameleon of the cinematography profession.Graduating from Case Western Reserve with a BFA in the humanities and an emphasis on film history and criticism, Czapsky moved to New York where he attended a graduate program at the University of Columbia.
There he transitioned into the film production business working positions such as assistant cameraman, gaffer, and key grip, for productions such as After Hours, Matewan, and Q.
In his first feature film, On the Edge, Czapsky was able to create the sense that these were not "Hollywood locations but rooms where human voices were heard."
Feature films
The independent success of On the Edge prompted Czapsky to get a cinematographer role alongside Robert Chappell for Erroll Morris’ The Thin Blue Line.In the same year, Czapsky quickly transitioned his style for Robert Bierman’s Vampire’s Kiss. Though a box office flop, the dark New York atmosphere captured by Czapsky provided the perfect backdrop for Nicolas Cage’s "outrageously unbridled performance", and helped the film garner a cult following.
Some of Czapsky's most notable work is derived from his projects alongside expressionist director Tim Burton, starting with Edward Scissorhands. Czapsky's fluidity behind the lens helped to differentiate the surrealistic suburbs from the darkness of Edwards isolation giving the film an “ethereal,” atmosphere.
In 1992 the duo would return to shoot Batman Returns, on a Panavision Panaflex Gold II in 35mm.
Their third and final project, Ed Wood, would serve to be their most critically successful.
Czapsky's then worked with Batman Returns star Danny DeVito, on the 1996 film, Matilda.
From 2016, Czapsky shifted his work towards television, shooting episodes of Shades of Blue, Quantico, and God Friended Me.
Filmography
Film| Year | Title | Director |
| 1985 | On the Edge | Rob Nilsson |
| 1988 | Vampire's Kiss | Robert Bierman |
| 1989 | Last Exit to Brooklyn | Uli Edel |
| 1989 | Fear, Anxiety & Depression | Todd Solondz |
| 1989 | Sons | Alexandre Rockwell |
| 1990 | Flashback | Franco Amurri |
| 1990 | Child's Play 2 | John Lafia |
| 1990 | Edward Scissorhands | Tim Burton |
| 1991 | The Dark Wind | Errol Morris |
| 1992 | Batman Returns | Tim Burton |
| 1992 | Prelude to a Kiss | Norman René |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Tim Burton |
| 1996 | Matilda | Danny DeVito |
| 2003 | Bulletproof Monk | Paul Hunter |
| 2007 | Blades of Glory | Will Speck Josh Gordon |
| 2009 | Fighting | Dito Montiel |
| 2012 | Safe | Boaz Yakin |
| 2015 | Max | Boaz Yakin |
| 2022 | Christmas with You | Gabriela Tagliavini |
Documentary film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
| 1988 | The Thin Blue Line | Errol Morris | With Robert Chappell |
| 1991 | A Brief History of Time | Errol Morris | With John Bailey |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
| 2016 | Drew | James Strong | TV movie |
| 2016-2017 | Shades of Blue | All 36 episodes | |
| 2018 | Quantico | 10 episodes | |
| 2018-2020 | God Friended Me | 20 episodes | |
| 2021 | Stargirl | Andi Armaganian | 2 episodes |
| 2022-2023 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | 11 episodes |