Don E. FauntLeRoy

Don E. FauntLeRoy was accepted into the American Society of Cinematographers, with only 7 years experience as a Director of Photography. His rise has been swift, and his reputation as one of the most talented young cinematographers, rapid. Don’s major break came in 1994, when he was given the opportunity of shooting David L. Wolper’ epic mini-series, North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell (1994), which culminated with the ASC honoring him with a nomination. His most recent films have been Today You Die (2005), Mercenary for Justice (2006), Stan Lee’s Lightspeed (2006) and Once Upon a Time in the Hood (2004) for Sony Pictures”, all of them directed and photographed by Don. Don’s technical knowledge is formidable and his experience virtually unsurpassed. Starting as an assistant cameraman in 1972, he has worked with some of the finest directors and cinematographers in the business: Harry Stradling Sr., Peter Hyams, Michael Chapman, Martin Scorsese, Robert Surtees, Herbert Ross, Haskell Wexler, James Cameron, Adam Greenberg, Richard Donner, Sam Peckinpah, Billy Wilder, Steven Spielberg and Blake Edwards, to name a few. His style, speed, and exuberance reflect this intense professional background. He has since gone on to direct and photograph some of the screen’s most interesting talents: Sam Shepard, Dean Stockwell, Diane Keaton, Stockard Channing, Diane Lane, Mimi Rogers, Elizabeth Pena, Rutger Hauer, Jacqueline Bisset, Linda Hamilton and, of course, his gorgeous wife, Lesley-Anne Down. Don’s grandfather was a still cameraman and his father was an optical cameraman, from them came Don’s interest, then passion for this wonderful industry, his grandfather’s collection of antique cameras and photographic equipment was handed down to Don, and he has continued to build upon that collection, now possessing a large, rare, and virtually irreplaceable array of film cameras and paraphernalia, which will be inherited by his eldest daughter, Season FauntLeRoy, who already is an accomplished young assistant camera-person, herself. When Don works, he insists on two things. Panavision equipment, both film and digital, along with Eastman Kodak stock, “they are the best”, he says, and coming from one of the best, you know he is right.