About
Zachary Alsen is a Chicago based cinematographer, focused on telling narrative stories through visual emotion. He grew up in Woodridge, IL, and graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Arts + Sciences, focused on cinematography. He has served as the Director of Photography on numerous short films, shot digitally, on 16mm, and on 35mm film. Collaboration with directors who have a strong vision, both visually and thematically, is the core of Zachary's work and passion for visual storytelling.
Filmography
Kitty Kat Milk Candy (2020) - Gaffer
Student Short Film
Director: Maggie Zhu
Producer: Yunlu Li
Director of Photography: John Jadkowski
She Watches From The Woods (2019) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Beau Ballinger
Producer: Kerry Prior
Director of Photography: Carlo Mendoza
There’s Something About Harry (2019) - Grip
Union Feature Film
Director: Peter Paige
Producer: Angi Bones
Director of Photography: Jayson Crothers
Chicago Med (2019 - Present) - Grip / Lamp Operator
Union Television Show
Utopia (2019) - Lamp Operator
Union Television Show
Empire (2018 - Present) - Lamp Operator
Union Television Show
The Chi (2018 - Present) - Grip / Lamp Operator
Union Television Show
Otherwise A Woman (2019) - Director of Photography
Independent Short Film
Director: Ayesha Abouelazm
Producer: Myriam Raymond
There’s An App For That (2019) - Gaffer
Independent Web Series
Director: Ed Toolis
Producer: Charles Leslie
Director of Photography: Alex Halstead
35 (2019) - Gaffer
Short Student Film
Director: Maggie Zhu
Producer: Eseoghene Obrimah
Director of Photography: John Jadkowski
Yellowbrick (2018) - Gaffer
Music Video
Director of Photography: Paige Hochstatter
BALDWIN (2018) - Grip Swing
Music Video
Director: Vincent Martell
Producer: Ramone Hulet
Director of Photography: Hannah Welever
EARTHA (2018) - Grip Swing
Music Video
Director: Fatimah Asghar
Producer: Ramone Hulet
Director of Photography: Hannah Welever
Can’t Help But Notice (2018) - Gaffer
Music Video
Director: Aliya Haq
Producer: Saro Melero Bonnin
Director of Photography: Paige Hochstatter
Another Cinema Snob Movie (2018) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Ryan Mitchell
Producer: Brad Jones
Director of Photography: AJ Young
Chicago Marathon 2018 - Cinematographer
Promo Video
Empire (2018) - Lamp Operator
Union Television Show
Hell is Empty (2018) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Joe Shaffer
Producer: Adam DeSantes
Director of Photography: Alex Halstead
Cecily & Lydia at the Waypoint (2018) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Juliette Strangio
Producer: Christina Shaver
Director of Photography: Amy Limpinyakul
Home - Episode 3 (2018) - Grip Swing
Documentary Series
Director: Jessica Dimmock
Producer: Alexa Conway
Director of Photography: Kira Kelly
Eyes of the Panther (2018) - Key Grip
Independent Short Film
Director: Frank Victor Weinert
Producer: Frank Victor Weinert
Director of Photography: Stephen Wester
Splash (2018) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Tony Santiago
Producers: Tony Santiago, Emily Barber
Director of Photography: Adam Jones
Come As You Are (2018) - Grip Swing
Independent Feature Film
Director: Rich Wong
Producers: Grant Rosenmeyer, Barrett Stuart, JJ Ingram
Director of Photography: Rich Wong
Rendezvous in Chicago (2018) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Michael Glover Smith
Producer: Layne Marie Williams
Director of Photography: Alex Halstead
Working Man (2018) - Best Boy Electric
Independent Feature Film
Director: Bob Jury
Producers: Clark Peterson, Lovell Holder, Maya Emelle
Director of Photography: Piero Basso
Hunting God (2018) - Grip Swing
Independent Feature Film
Director: Justin Jackola
Producer: Jacquelyn Jamjoom
Director of Photography: Brendan Babinski
Marked (2018) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Chelsea Rowan
Producer: Courtney LeFlore
30 Miles From Nowhere (2017) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Caitlin Koller
Producer: Kelly Demaret & Seana Kofoed
Director of Photography: Ben McBurnett
Among The Hidden (2017) - Director of Photography
Independent Short Film
Director: Abbie Helm & Mitchy McGahn
Producer: Jazmin Bryant
When Jeff Tried To Save The World (2017) - Key Grip
Independent Feature Film
Director: Kendall Goldberg
Producer: Shane Simmons
Director of Photography: Nico Aguilar
Shameless S8 (2017) - Lamp Operator
Television Show
The World Without You (2017) - Grip Swing
Independent Feature Film
Director: Damon Shalit
Producer: Bradley LaRocco & Suzanne Johnson
Director of Photography: Kris Belcheveski
Roberta's Living Room (2017) - Key Grip
Independent Short Film
Director: Judy Suh
Producer: Grace Hahn & Judy Suh
Director of Photography: Herman Asph
Code Switched (2017) - Key Grip
Web Series Pilot
Director: Karan Sunil
Producer: Heston Charres
Director of Photography: Darius Dawson
Vendors (2017) - Key Grip
Independent Television Pilot
Director: Joel Murray
Producer: DeAnna Cooper, Christopher Brewer
Director of Photography: Ross Heran
Brave Enough To Listen, Safe Enough To Hear (2017) - Key Grip
Independent Experimental Art Film
Director: Leigh Ledare
Producer: Mindy Goldberg
Director of Photography: Corey Walter
Here's The Thing (Episode 5) (2017) - Director of Photography
Web Series
Director: Adele Franck
Producer: Ryan Colgrave & Isabelle Davis
Darknet (2017) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Chris Vukasin
Producer: Whitney Williams & Blake Loughran
Toyota Financial Services (2017) - Key Grip
Commercial
Director: Cody Packer
Producer: Noiemi Lobont
Director of Photography: Ryan Kerr
Piece of Me (2017) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Sandeep Ravindranath
Producer: Courtney LeFlore
Big City Bad Blood (2017) - Gaffer
Independent Television Pilot
Director: Mike Leber
Producer: Angie Gaffney
Director of Photography: David Hughes, Jr.
Not On My Shoulders (2017) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Ayesha Abouelazm
Producer: Luwen Shao
Bring A Friend (2017) - Key Grip
Music Video
Director: Macy Freeman
Producer: Macy Freeman
Director of Photography: Dae Hyun Kim
Jean Genie (2017) - Gaffer
Music Video
Director: Luke Zintak
Producer: Luke Zintak
Director of Photography: Stephen Wester
Wallbangers (2016) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Adele Franck
Producer: David Janakiev
Jesus, Bro! (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Ryan Mitchelle
Producer: Ryan Mitchelle
Director of Photography: AJ Young
Proform BodyBlitz Video (2016) - Gaffer
Commercial
Director: Mike Leber
Producer: Heston Charres
Director of Photography: David Hughes
Limerance (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Dan Pedersen
Producer: John Klein
Director of Photography: Amy Limpinyakul
The Girl With The Blue Bra (2016) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Ayesha Abouelazm
Producer: Luwen Shao
Patriot S1 (2016) - Grip
Television Show
Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast II (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Art Film
Director: Melika Bass
Producer: Melika Bass
Director of Photography: Melika Bass
Mercury In Retrograde (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Feature Film
Director: Michael Glover Smith
Producer: Kevin Wright & Shane Simmons
Director of Photography: Jason Chiu
What You Want (2016) - Gaffer
Music Video
Director: Mike Leber
Producer: Heston Charres
Director of Photography: Taylor Frontier
The Cellar (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Tom Fraterrigo
Producer: Kevin Cooper
Director of Photography: Adam Jones
The Forest (2016) - Gaffer
Music Video
Director: Eden Ames
Producer: Eden Ames
Director of Photography: Stephen Wester
One-Handed Wonders [Slim-Jim] (2016) - Gaffer
Commercial
Director: Paul Kreuter
Producer: Katie Walker
Director of Photography: Jason Chiu
Pizza Night (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Aaron Fronk & Brian King
Producer: Cooper Johnson & Vinvent DeGaetano
Director of Photography: Taylor Russ
This Is Cindy (2016) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Terry Miller
Producer: Carolina Posse
Director of Photography: Pete Biagi
Thy Kingdom Come (2016) - Gaffer
Short Student Film
Director: Adam Kunselman
Producer: Jack Dorst
Director of Photography: Chris Polmanski
Hollow (2016) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Chris Vukasin
Producer: Whitney Williams
New Moon (2016) - Gaffer
Short Student Film
Director: Melissa Flores
Producer: Lia Miller
Director of Photography: Ryan Kerr
Stardust Motel (2015) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Zachary Matson
Producer: Jack Dorst
Divina Nina (2015) - Gaffer
Short Stiudent Film
Director: Carlos Prias
Producer: Diego Sardi
Director of Photography: Alex Halstead
Happy Snow Day, Franny! (2015) - Gaffer
Independent Short Film
Director: Kevin Cooper
Producer: Dee Cooper
Director of Photography: Adam Jones
The Kick (2015) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Alex Perez
Producer: Alex Perez, Nathan Oelker
Bedroom Suites (I, II, III) (2015) - Grip, Gaffer
Music Video
Director: Alex Thompson
Director of Photography: Zoe Lubeck
Graybeard (2014) - Alternate Gaffer, Alternate Key Grip
Independent Feature Film
Director: Kaveh Ryndak
Producer: Michael Peterson & Han Yan
Director of Photography: Amy Limpinyakul
My Baby, My Baby! (2014) - Director of Photography
Short Student Film
Director: Alex Perez
Producer: Alex Perez
Self-Deportation (2014) - Production Assistant
Independent Short Film
Director: Eugene Park
Producer: Lance Adams
Anguish (2013) - Production Assistant
Independent Feature Film
Director: Sonny Mallhi
Producer: Sonny Mallhi