Gerald Perry Finnerman

Director of Photography

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his five-hour Archive interview, Director of Photography Gerald Finnerman (1931-2011) speaks in detail about his long and distinguished career. He describes working on such varied series as Star Trek, Rod Serling's Night Gallery and Moonlighting. He also recounts working with famed actor, Orson Welles on an episode of Moonlighting. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Studio City, CA on October 8, 2002.

"Directors of Photography create the mood of the show. They create the dimension. They tell a story with their lights."

Highlights

Gerald Finnerman on working with Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry and Robert Justman

06:37

Cinematographer Gerald Perry Finnerman on Orson Welles arriving on the set for the Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"

03:33

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early years

07:02

On the role of a Director of Photography; on his early career; on being hired on Star Trek

Chapter 2

On working on the first season of Star Trek

15:45

On moving to Mission: Impossible; on returning to Star Trek

07:16

On working with Star Trek's Gene Roddenberry and Robert Justman

06:56

Chapter 3

On working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on the series' special effects

28:29

Chapter 4

On specific episodes of Star Trek; on leaving Star Trek to do a feature film The Lost Man with Sidney Poitier

Chapter 5

On working in film with Sidney Poitier; on surviving a deadly plane crash and resolved not to fly; on Emergency; on Kojak

Chapter 6

On working on Planet of the Apes, Police Woman, and various made-for-television films

Chapter 7

On working on various movies of the week and other projects

23:21

On being hired as director of photography for Moonlighting

Chapter 8

On working on Moonlighting

Chapter 9

On his work on the series Moonlighting

Chapter 10

On Orson Welles' appearance on Moonlighting; on working on sitcoms; on how he chooses his crew; on how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Emergency!

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Gerald Finnerman on problems he had lighting the fire station exterior

03:08

Kojak

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Gerald Finnerman on his work on Kojak

Mission: Impossible

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Gerald Finnerman on becoming director of photography on Mission: Impossible

07:16

Moonlighting

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Gerald Finnerman on being hired as director of photography for Moonlighting

Gerald Finnerman on being director of photography on Moonlighting

Gerald Finnerman on Moonlighting

Moonlighting: "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"

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Cinematographer Gerald Perry Finnerman on filming the black and white Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" (Part 1 of 2)

04:23

Cinematographer Gerald Perry Finnerman on filming the black and white Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" (Part 2 of 2)

02:32

Cinematographer Gerald Perry Finnerman on Orson Welles arriving on the set for the Moonlighting episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"

03:33

Night Gallery

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Gerald Finnerman on lighting episodes of Night Gallery

03:02

Planet of the Apes

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Gerald Finnerman on being director of photography on the Planet of the Apes series

02:32

Star Trek

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Gerald Finnerman on being hired as cinematographer on Star Trek