Zhao Fei (, ; born 1961) is a Chinese

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

and frequent collaborator to many directors of China's so-called "fifth generation" film movement. Zhao also served as

Woody Allen Heywood Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades. Allen has received many List of awards and nominations received by Woody Allen, accolade ...

's director of photography for three films between 1998 and 2001.

Biography

Born in 1961 in

Xi'an Xi'an is the list of capitals in China, capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the third-most populous city in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populou ...

Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...

province, Zhao was the son of an

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

. Growing up during the turbulent years of the

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a Social movement, sociopolitical movement in the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). It was launched by Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his de ...

, Zhao began his career in film when he applied to the newly reopened Beijing Film Academy in 1978. Zhao would study cinematography and graduate in 1982 with others of the so-called "fifth generation" including directors Chen Kaige,

Zhang Yimou Zhang Yimou (; born 14 November 1950) is a Chinese filmmaker.Tasker, Yvonne (2002). "Zhang Yimou" i''Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers'' Routledge Publishing, p. 412. . Google Book Search. Retrieved 21 August 2008. A leading figure of China's Cinem ...

, and Tian Zhuangzhuang. Working throughout the 1980s, Zhao would act as the director of photography ("DOP") for Tian Zhuangzhuang's '' The Horse Thief'', Huang Jianxin's '' Samsara'', and others. In 1991, Zhao worked with director Zhang Yimou on his magnum opus, '' Raise the Red Lantern''. For Zhao, the production of ''Raise the Red Lantern'' was a crucial turning point, allowing him to synthesize his previous experiences with painting and art and his current responsibilities as a cinematographer. By the late 1990s, Zhao had built up an impressive resume, but little would prepare him for the working with Chen Kaige on his historical epic '' The Emperor and the Assassin''. Chen specifically asked for Zhao to work as the DOP for the project, realizing that the ambitious scope of the film would need someone who was disciplined but resourceful. Zhao's work on ''The Emperor and the Assassin'' would take up months and then years, and required Zhao to research historical castles, fortifications, and the minutiae of China's

Warring States period The Warring States period in history of China, Chinese history (221 BC) comprises the final two and a half centuries of the Zhou dynasty (256 BC), which were characterized by frequent warfare, bureaucratic and military reforms, and ...

. The actual production was equally intense, as Zhao would often have to create makeshift dollies and other contraptions to capture shots. By this point, Zhao's work in China had caught the eye of international filmmakers, and Zhao would serve as the DOP for three of American director

's films, beginning with '' Sweet and Lowdown''. Allen had first noticed Zhao's work from ''Raise the Red Lantern'', though Zhao claims that he is unsure why Allen selected him. The production on ''Sweet and Lowdown'' was difficult at times, given Zhao's lack of English-speaking abilities and the difficulties of keeping a translator on set at all times. But both Zhao and Allen walked away from the experience pleased with the collaboration, and Zhao would work with Allen on two more films. Allen, himself, praised the Chinese cinematographer, comparing Zhao favorably with Allen's past DOPs, including Carlo Di Palma, Gordon Willis, and

Sven Nykvist Sven Vilhem Nykvist (; 3 December 1922 – 20 September 2006) was a Swedish cinematographer and filmmaker, best known for his collaboration with directors Ingmar Bergman and Woody Allen. Often considered to be one of the greatest cinematographers ...

Filmography

References

External links

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Zhao Fei
at the Chinese Movie Database {{DEFAULTSORT:Zhao, Fei Chinese cinematographers Beijing Film Academy alumni Artists from Xi'an 1961 births Living people Date of birth missing (living people)