Matthew Libatique
{{short description|American cinematographer (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Matthew Libatique
| image = File:Matthew Libatique 2011.jpg
| caption = Libatique in 2011
| alt =
| birth_name = Matthew José Libatique
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|19}}
| birth_place = Elmhurst, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| other_names = Matty Libatique
| education =
| alma_mater = California State University, Fullerton
AFI Conservatory
| occupation = Cinematographer
| years_active = 1993–present
| title =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| boards =
| spouse =
Mary-Ellen Libatique
| children =
| parents =
| relations =
| awards = Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
2001 Requiem for a Dream
2011 Black Swan
| footnotes =
}}
Matthew Libatique (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his collaborations with director Darren Aronofsky on the films Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), Black Swan (2010), Noah (2014), and Mother! (2017). Libatique has received three Academy Award for Best Cinematography nominations for his work on Black Swan (2010), A Star Is Born (2018), and Maestro (2023).
Early life and education
Matthew Libatique was born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City,{{cite news |last1=Neumaier |first1=Joe |title=Oscars 2011: 'Black Swan' cinematographer Matthew Libatique gave Natalie Portman film feminine feel |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/oscars-2011-black-swan-cinematographer-matthew-libatique-gave-natalie-portman-film-feminine-feel-article-1.137512 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=New York Daily News |date=February 21, 2011}} to Filipino immigrant parents Georgina (née José) and Justiniáno Libatique. His father was from Dagupan, and his mother was from Lucena.{{cite news |last=Medina |first=Jun |date=February 4, 2011 |title=Pinoy on Best Cinematographer list
|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2011/02/04/news/top-stories/pinoy-on-best-cinematographer-list/299523 |work=Manila Times |location= |access-date=August 6, 2021}}
Libatique studied sociology and communications at California State University, Fullerton, before earning an MFA in cinematography at AFI Conservatory.{{Cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/Conservatory/ |title=American Film Institute - AFI Conservatory |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829223105/http://www.afi.com/conservatory/ |url-status=dead }}
Career
Libatique served as director of photography for music videos and teamed with fellow AFI alumnus Aronofsky for the short film Protozoa. The two collaborated on the first three of Aronofsky's feature films. Other frequent collaborators are Julie Dash (music videos including Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason"), Spike Lee (She Hate Me, Inside Man and Miracle at St. Anna), Joel Schumacher (Tigerland, Phone Booth and The Number 23), and Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Cowboys & Aliens).
Libatique's notable films include blockbusters such as Iron Man and Iron Man 2. In 2010, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Black Swan, for which he won his second Independent Spirit award. He has also won best cinematography awards at the LA Film Critics Association, NY Film Critics Online, SF Film Critics, among many others.
Libatique discussed the importance of working closely with a director on a Cinematographer Roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing: “The main thing is that you (both cinematographer and director) have the same goal and are telling the same story. Going into preparation you really need to be on the same page. Conflicts may arise when there’s a miscommunication about what’s important in a scene. So, it’s really important to listen...The director can (understandably) get pulled in a lot of different directions in prep. We, cinematographers are sort of guarding the gate of filmmaking, amongst all the other things that are happening.”[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MMPGGQMD5c “Cinematographer Roundtable: Short Cuts With Linus Sandgren, Matthew Libatique & Chayse Irvin | THR”] The Hollywood Reporter, 7 January 2019
In addition to guarding the filmmaking gate, he also says of his process: “I’d like to think each film is custom made. The director obviously dictates the approach that I have because everybody has a different working style. Some people want to talk intensely and visually about shots. Some don’t talk much at all. They concentrate more on the performances and they give you a broad idea of what they want the film to look like. So my first approach is to evaluate them, which may start in the interview process. But you also learn in preparation, as much as you can about the director. And that informs how I prepare in pre-production. If I’m lucky I can shape a visual language off some kind of inspiration. But the director definitely dictates how I do it.”[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbeuVllyVpw “The cinematography of A Star is Born: Matthew Libatique Case Study”] CookeOpticsTV, 14 February 2019
2018 arrest
On November 14, 2018, Libatique was arrested on suspicion of assault for allegedly attacking paramedics and police at a hotel in Bydgoszcz, Poland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/216763-fil-am-cinematographer-matthew-libatique-charged-with-assault|title=Fil-Am cinematographer Matthew Libatique charged with assault|last=Rappler.com|website=Rappler|date=November 15, 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}} Libatique was attending Camerimage at the time. He was released without a fine or charges.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a-star-is-born-cinematographer-matthew-libatique-released-jail-poland-assault-1203030680/|title = 'Star is Born' Cinematographer Matthew Libatique Released Without Charge in Poland|date = November 16, 2018}} In November 2020, a trial for Libatique was set to begin in February 2021. Libatique admitted to drinking but claimed to have been unknowingly drugged, with no memory of the alleged encounter.{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Cara |last2=Magdziarz |first2=Anatol |title=A Film Festival in Poland Feted His Work. Now He May Face Prison There. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/movies/matty-libatique-cinematographer-arrest.html |date=November 23, 2020 |work=The New York Times }}
Filmography
=Feature film=
| class="wikitable"
|+Key |style="background:#ffc;"|{{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} |Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes |
|---|
| 1998
| Pi |rowspan=2|Darren Aronofsky | First collaboration with Aronofsky |
| rowspan=2|2000
| |
| Tigerland
| |
| 2001
| |
| rowspan=2|2002
| Abandon | |
| Phone Booth
| Joel Schumacher | |
| 2003
| Gothika | |
| rowspan=2|2004
| First collaboration with Lee |
| Never Die Alone
| |
| 2005
| |
| rowspan=2|2006
| Spike Lee | |
| The Fountain
| Darren Aronofsky | |
| 2007
| Joel Schumacher | |
| rowspan=2|2008
| Iron Man | |
| Miracle at St. Anna
| Spike Lee | |
| rowspan=3|2010
| Darren Aronofsky | |
| Iron Man 2
| Jon Favreau | |
| My Own Love Song
| |
| 2011
| Jon Favreau | |
| 2012
| Jonathan Dayton | |
| 2014
| Noah | Darren Aronofsky | |
| rowspan=2|2015
| |
| Chi-Raq
| Spike Lee | |
| rowspan=2|2016
| |
| Pelé: Birth of a Legend
| Jeff Zimbalist | |
| rowspan=2|2017
| |
| Mother!
| Darren Aronofsky | |
| rowspan=2|2018
| Venom | |
| A Star Is Born
| First collaboration with Cooper |
| 2019
| |
| rowspan=2|2020
| |
| The Prom
| |
| rowspan=2|2022
| |
| The Whale
| Darren Aronofsky | |
| 2023
| Maestro | Bradley Cooper | |
| rowspan=2|2025
| Spike Lee | |
| {{Pending film|Caught Stealing}}
| Darren Aronofsky | Post-production |
| TBA
| {{Pending film|Is This Thing On?}} | Bradley Cooper | Post-production |
=Music video=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist ! Director |
|---|
| rowspan=2|1996
|rowspan=2|Julie Dash |
| "More Than One Way Home"
| Keb' Mo' |
| rowspan=6|1997
| "In My Bed" | Dru Hill |
| "Otherside of the Game"
| Erykah Badu |
| "Rapper's Delight" |
| "Luv 2 Luv U"
|rowspan=2|Darren Grant |
| "Anytime" |
| "All a Dream"
| Big Mike | Daniel Zirilli |
| rowspan=7|1998
| "Was It Something I Didn't Say" | Darren Grant |
| "Clock Strikes"
| Steve Carr |
| "No Worries"
| Hepcat | Piper Ferguson |
| "Second Round K.O."
| Canibus |
| "Westside"
| TQ | Darren Grant |
| "The City Is Mine"
| Jay-Z | Steve Carr & Jay-Z |
| "What U See Is What U Get"
| Xzibit |
| rowspan=9|1999
| "Can I Get A..." | Jay-Z |rowspan=2|Steve Carr |
| "My Favorite Girl" |
| "Just My Imagination" |
| "Aisha" |
| "Bodyrock"
| Moby | Steve Carr |
| "Get in Line"
| Phil Harder |
| "Ooh La La"
| Scott Bibo |
| "Lobster & Shrimp"
| Steve Carr |
| "Apollo Kids"
| Chris Robinson & Ghostface Killah |
| rowspan=7|2000
| "Anything" | Jay-Z | Chris Robinson |
| "Dance Tonight"
| Darren Grant |
| "Got Beef"
| Chris Robinson |
| "Boyz-n-the-Hood" |
| "Whatever"
| Ideal | Darren Grant |
| "Stellar"
| Incubus | Phil Harder |
| "New America"
| Evan Bernard |
| rowspan=6|2001
| "Fool" | Mansun |rowspan=4|Phil Harder |
| "Mad Season" |
| "The Trees"
| Pulp |
| "Save Me" |
| "Goodbye" |
| "Hate in Yo Eyes"
| Mack 10 |
| rowspan=4|2002
| "Cold" | Static-X | Nathan Cox & Joe Hahn |
| "Symphony in X Major"
| Xzibit | Joe Hahn |
| "Pitiful"
|rowspan=2|Nathan Cox |
| "Dem Girlz" |
| 2003
| "The Golden Path" | The Chemical Brothers featuring The Flaming Lips |
| rowspan=2|2004
| "alt.end" | The Cure |rowspan=2|The Saline Project |
| "Taking Off"
| The Cure |
| 2008
| "The Lake" | Muscles | Jaron Albertin |
| 2011
| "The View" |
| rowspan=2|2013
| "Suit & Tie" | Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z |
| "Mirrors" |
| 2016
| "Needed Me" | Rihanna |
| 2021 |
Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Black Swan |rowspan=3| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| A Star Is Born | {{nom}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{nom}} |
BAFTA Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Black Swan |rowspan=2|Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{nom}} |
American Society of Cinematographers
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Black Swan |rowspan=3|Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| A Star Is Born | {{nom}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{nom}} |
Independent Spirit Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 1998
| Pi |rowspan=3| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2000
| Requiem for a Dream | {{won}} |
| 2010
| Black Swan | {{won}} |
Online Film Critics Society
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2000
| Requiem for a Dream |rowspan=3|Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2006
| The Fountain | {{nom}} |
| 2010
| Black Swan | {{nom}} |
Boston Society of Film Critics
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2000
| Requiem for a Dream |rowspan=2| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2010
| Black Swan | {{nom}} |
Chicago Film Critics Association
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2006
| The Fountain |rowspan=2| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2010
| Black Swan | {{nom}} |
Satellite Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2006
| The Fountain |rowspan=3| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| A Star Is Born | {{won}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{won}} |
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Black Swan |rowspan=3| Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| A Star Is Born | {{nom}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{nom}} |
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Category ! Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Black Swan |rowspan=3|Best Cinematography | {{nom}} |
| 2018
| A Star Is Born | {{nom}} |
| 2023
| Maestro | {{nom}} |
Other awards
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Award/Nomination |
|---|
| 2010
|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography |
| 2018
|Nominated– St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography |
References
External links
- {{IMDb name|508732}}
- [http://www.cinematographers.nl/PaginasDoPh/libatique.htm Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers]
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Matthew Libatique
|list =
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematographer}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography}}
{{Satellite Award Best Cinematography}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libatique, Matthew}}
Category:AFI Conservatory alumni
Category:American cinematographers
Category:French diaspora in the United States
Category:California State University, Fullerton alumni