Steven Poster

Steven Barry Poster, A.S.C, I.C.G. (born 1 March 1944) is an American cinematographer and photographer who is the former President of the International Cinematographers Guild. He is best known for his collaborations with Richard Kelly, including the director’s 2001 cult classic Donnie Darko.

Poster began his career as a creative assistant at ‘The Film Group,’ a commercial film production company based in Chicago, Illinois. After being promoted to director of photography due to his skill at lighting, he met Herschell Gordon Lewis and worked with him in various crew positions on a total of three films. Poster founded a production company with director Michael Mann and served as the cinematographer on numerous industrial and education films. He served as the second-unit director of photography on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Poster joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 1987, relocating to Hollywood in the process. He shot the iconic music video to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”, as well as commercials directed by Ridley Scott and Kinka Usher. In 1988, he was nominated for the ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Releases for his work on Someone to Watch Over Me. Poster served as the President of the ASC between 2002-2003. In 2006, he received an Emmy nomination for Mrs. Harris. That same year, he was elected as the National President of the International Cinematographers Guild, a position he held until 2019.

Source: Article “Steven Poster” from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos Not in library

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos

2009

Deus ex Machina: The Philosophy of 'Donnie Darko' Not in library

Deus ex Machina: The Philosophy of 'Donnie Darko'

2016

Who Is Bill Rebane? Not in library

Who Is Bill Rebane?

2021

USIDent TV: Surveilling the Southland Not in library

USIDent TV: Surveilling the Southland

2008

It's a Madcap World: The Making of an Unfinished Film Not in library

It's a Madcap World: The Making of an Unfinished Film

2021

Acting

2021 It's a Madcap World: The Making of an Unfinished Film as Himself
2021 Who Is Bill Rebane? as Self
2016 Deus ex Machina: The Philosophy of 'Donnie Darko' as Self
2009 No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos as Self
2008 USIDent TV: Surveilling the Southland as Self (as Steven B. Poster)
2007 The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth as Self

Production

2026 Scared to Death Executive Producer In Library

Camera

2026 Scared to Death Director of Photography In Library
2022 'Round Miles: A Miles Davis Documentary Director of Photography
2020 For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close Director of Photography
2017 Amityville: The Awakening Director of Photography
2013 Hemlock Grove Director of Photography
2011 Flypaper Director of Photography
2010 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Director of Photography
2009 Spread Director of Photography
2009 The Box Director of Photography
2007 Southland Tales Director of Photography
2003 Daddy Day Care Director of Photography
2002 Stuart Little 2 Director of Photography
2001 Donnie Darko Director of Photography
2000 Mission to Mars Second Unit Director of Photography
1999 The Rage: Carrie 2 Second Unit Director of Photography
1998 A Midwife's Tale Director of Photography
1998 Half a Chance Director of Photography
1997 Color of Justice Director of Photography
1997 RocketMan Director of Photography
1996 Once You Meet a Stranger Director of Photography
1994 Nunzio's Second Cousin Director of Photography
1994 Roswell Director of Photography
1993 The Cemetery Club Director of Photography
1991 Life Stinks Director of Photography
1990 Rocky V Director of Photography
1990 Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Special Director of Photography
1990 Madonna: The Immaculate Collection Director of Photography
1990 Shangri-La Plaza Director of Photography
1989 Next of Kin Director of Photography
1988 Aloha Summer Director of Photography
1988 Big Top Pee-wee Director of Photography
1987 Someone to Watch Over Me Director of Photography
1987 I'll Take Manhattan Director of Photography
1986 The Boy Who Could Fly Director of Photography
1986 Blue City Director of Photography
1985 The New Kids Director of Photography
1985 The Heavenly Kid Director of Photography
1984 The River Second Unit Director of Photography
1984 Starman Second Unit Director of Photography
1983 The Cradle Will Fall Director of Photography
1983 Spring Break Director of Photography
1983 Testament Director of Photography
1983 Strange Brew Director of Photography
1982 Blade Runner Additional Photography
1982 Mysterious Two Director of Photography
1981 Dead & Buried Director of Photography
1981 Coward of the County Director of Photography
1980 Gallagher: An Uncensored Evening Camera Operator
1980 Blood Beach Director of Photography
1979 The Night Rider Director of Photography
1979 Beggarman, Thief Camera Operator
1978 The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank Director of Photography
1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Second Unit Director of Photography
1965 Monster a Go-Go! Additional Photography

Crew

2014 Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet 3D Cinematography
1997 Eye of God Thanks
1990 Opportunity Knocks Cinematography
1986 Courage Cinematography
1979 Beggarman, Thief Cinematography