Manuel Billeter

Manuel Billeter is a Swiss-born, New York-based cinematographer.[1][2] Billeter studied film at Freie Universität Berlin, and taught at the New York Film Academy.[3][4]

His television work includes Orange is the New Black,[5] Law and Order, Person of Interest,[6] Ozark, Marvel's Jessica Jones,[7][8][9][10] Luke Cage,[11] and Iron Fist,[12] Inventing Anna,[13][14] and The Gilded Age.[15][16] Many of these productions are notable for their use of multiple cinematographers, resulting in what some critics see as "inconsistent tone" but others see as "unique and intriguing".[17] Billeter, in particular, is known for employing "dark" imagery, especially when working with HDR.[18][19][20]

"When you go from SDR to HDR, you’re looking at a 600-800 per cent increase in the range of light that can be displayed. And that’s why Billeter believes the move towards HDR is going to be bigger and more significant than it was from HD to 4K."[21]

As Director of Photography for the highly-anticipated film Cat Person,[22][23] which premiered at Sundance in 2023,[24] Billeter's "visual language" has been recognized by critics.[25]

  1. ^ "10 Cinematographers to Watch". Variety.com. 20 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Time, Framed: DP goes for grit and noir in Marvel shows". Emmys.com.
  3. ^ "Manuel Billeter The Gilded Age Cinematographer". The New Current UK.
  4. ^ "NEW YORK FILM ACADEMY NOTABLE ALUMNI". New York Film Academy.
  5. ^ "Cinematographer Manuel Billeter on Shooting Netflix's Jessica Jones". Studio Daily. 28 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Manuel Billeter". IMDb.
  7. ^ "Meet the Man Who Helps Make 'Jessica Jones' Feel So Real". Backstage.com.
  8. ^ "Cinematographer Manuel Billeter on the Noir Atmosphere of Marvel's Jessica Jones Season 2". Studio Daily. 8 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Jessica Jones is a Stylish, Striking, Neo-Noir Drama for Adults". Vulture. 20 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Tough as Nails". International Cinematographers Guild Magazine. 12 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Jessica Jones and Luke Cage DP Manuel Billeter talks to the Go Creative Show". News Shooter. 24 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Why Netflix's Iron Fist will look different than anything else on TV". CNN. 7 December 2016.
  13. ^ "'Inventing Anna': Multiple DPs = Imagery Evolution". Y. M. Cinema Magazine. 14 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Creating Anna Delvey's World for 'Inventing Anna'". Shondaland.com. 18 February 2022.
  15. ^ "The Gilded Age". TV Spielfilm.
  16. ^ "DP Manuel Billeter on Capturing the Splendor of 1880s New York in 'The Gilded Age'". Awards Daily. 31 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Multiple DPs = Imagery Evolution". Y. M. Cinema Magazine. 14 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Shadowplay". Film Maker Magaz. 7 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Colorist Extols Virtues of Using HDR on Netflix's Marvel Shows". Variety.
  20. ^ "How Netflix Is Learning to Plan for HDR". Gadgets360. 7 December 2016.
  21. ^ "How Netflix Is Learning to Plan for HDR". Gadgets360. 7 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Sundance preview: 'Cat Person,' Brandon Cronenberg's 'Infinity Pool,' among buzzy films". Toronto Star.
  23. ^ "Here Are the 14 Movies We're Most Excited to See at this Year's Sundance Film Festival". Vogue. 19 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Cat Person". Sundance.
  25. ^ "'Cat Person' Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 January 2023.