John Bailey

John Ira Bailey (August 10, 1942 – November 10, 2023) was an American cinematographer, film director, and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Early life John Ira Bailey was born August 10, 1942, in Moberly, Missouri, and raised in Norwalk, California. He attended Pius X High School in Downey, California, He earned a graduate degree from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) in 1968.

Career Bailey spent 11 years apprenticing as a crew member with cinematographers such as Vilmos Zsigmond and Néstor Almendros, working on Two-Lane Blacktop, The Late Show, 3 Women, Winter Kills, and Days of Heaven. He earned his first credit as director of photography for Boulevard Nights, followed by Ordinary People and American Gigolo.

In 1985, Bailey shared the Cannes Film Festival Best Artistic Contribution Award with Eiko Ishioka and Philip Glass for Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for Tough Guys Don't Dance and the Camerimage Golden Frog Award for Best Cinematography for Forever Mine. He was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1987. He worked on numerous comedy films such as Groundhog Day, As Good as It Gets, and The Producers. He was a veteran documentary cameraman.

Bailey's credits as a director include The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, China Moon, Mariette in Ecstasy, and Via Dolorosa.

Personal life and death Bailey was married to film editor Carol Littleton from 1972. They resided in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Cinematographer Film

Short film Year Title Director Notes 1972 Open Window Richard Patterson 2002 The Fig RigShari RomanDocumentary short 2003 ADM: DOP (Anthony Dod Mantle - Director of Photography) 2009 Looking at Animals Marc Turtletaub

TV movies Year Title Director 1978 Battered Peter Werner 1980 City in Fear Jud Taylor 1989 Time Flies When You're Alive Roger Spottiswoode 1996 Passion James Lapine 1998 Always Outnumbered Michael Apted

Documentary film Year Title Director Notes 1987 Swimming to Cambodia Jonathan Demme Concert film 1990 Hollywood Mavericks Florence DaumanDale Ann Stieber With Steve Baum, Frederick Elmes, Marc Gérard, Mead Hunt,Todd McClelland, Peter S. Rosen and Steven Wacks 1991 A Brief History of Time Errol Morris With Stefan Czapsky 2000 Michael Jordan to the Max Don KempfJames D. Stern With Joe D'Alessandro, David Kessler, James Neihouse and Rodney Taylor 2001 NSync: Bigger Than Live Himself With Matthew Williams 2002 The Kid Stays in the Picture Nanette BursteinBrett Morgen 2003 Digital Babylon Shari Roman 2004 The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing Wendy Apple

Director The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1991) China Moon (1994) Via Dolorosa (2000) (stage play) NSync: Bigger Than Live (2001) (Documentary film) Mariette in Ecstasy (2019)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1985 Cannes Film Festival Best Artistic Contribution Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters 1988 Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography Tough Guys Don't Dance 1994 CableACE Award Television Special The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Directing in a Comedy Special 1999 Camerimage Golden Frog Award Forever Mine 2001 Society of Operating Cameramen President's Award 2015 American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 Society of Operating Cameramen Governor's Award 2019 Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Award