Thomas Del Ruth

Director of Photography

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his over two-hour interview, Thomas Del Ruth talks about growing up as the son of parents in the entertainment industry (his father, Roy Del Ruth was a director, and his mother a singer) and his early interest in cinematography. He discusses his first jobs as an assistant on series including Batman and Peyton Place. He details his climb up the production ladder, which culminated in becoming a bona fide director of photography on the series Mrs. Columbo. He discusses his other work in television, including the pilots for Simon & Simon, The X-Files, and ER. Finally, he details his work on the series The West Wing, in particular, setting the tone for the series and his liberal use of the Steadicam. Throughout the interview, Del Ruth discusses the art of cinematography and the technical aspects of the profession. Karen Herman conducted the interview on January 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Cinematography and still photography is nothing more than an extension of painting, except with the addition of motion. You are essentially paralleling what people do with brushstrokes. If you can understand the Old Masters and Vermeer and other aspects of the world of fine art, then it's easier for you to visualize a particular set of circumstances for a show that you're about to do."

People Talking About ...

Thomas Del Ruth

Highlights

Thomas Del Ruth on developing the look of The West Wing

04:54

Thomas Del Ruth on his visual style

02:32

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for the pilot of ER and the use of the steadicam

04:56

Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for The X-Files and working with show creator Chris Carter

06:29

Thomas Del Ruth on his advice to an aspiring cinematographer

02:26

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on going to film sets with his father, director Roy Del Ruth; on growing up around movie stars and realizing he wanted to be a cinematographer

On his education and making connections in the industry; on working as an assistant cameraman at 20th Century Fox and learning his way around a camera; on becoming involved with Conrad Hall and working his way up to be a camera operator

On his early days as a camera operator; on his style of communication and his early projects as a cameraman; on becoming director of photography for Mrs. Columbo

Chapter 2

On working as assistant cameraman on Batman; on what a director of photography does and working with directors; on acting as director of photography on various made-for-television movies and on the technical aspects of the job

On his visual style; on being director of photography for Simon & Simon; on being director of photography for The X-Files and working with show creator Chris Carter

Chapter 3

On acting as director of photography for The X-Files and establishing the "look" for a series in the pilot; on acting as director of photography for the pilot of ER and the use of the steadicam; on working with executive producer John Wells on the ER pilot

On acting as director of photography for ER episodes subsequent to the pilot; on acting as director of photography for Barbarians at the Gate; on acting as director of photography for JAG

On directing some episodes of JAG and his feelings about directing; on acting as director of photography for Charmed and the look of Aaron Spelling shows; on how he became involved with Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing and on being hired by The West Wing director Thomas Schlamme

Chapter 4

On developing the look of The West Wing; on a typical production week for The West Wing and on the arduous rehearsal process, colors, and location of the show; on how the set of The West Wing compared with the real-life Oval Office and the lighting of the show

On the kinds of cameras that were used for The West Wing; on the on-location shooting of The West Wing; on working with Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme on The West Wing

On using light to identify characters on The West Wing; on winning Emmy Awards for The West Wing; on the biggest challenge of the cinematography of The West Wing

Chapter 5

On the appeal of The West Wing and his contribution to the show; on acting as director of photography for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip; on acting as director of photography on the feature films "The Breakfast Club" and "Stand By Me"

On the most important developments in television cinematography; on the key to his success and longevity in the business and career highlights and regrets; on his advice to an aspiring cinematographer, the future of cinematography, and how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Barbarians at the Gate

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Barbarians at the Gate

00:56

Batman

Thomas Del Ruth on working as assistant cameraman on Batman

07:10

Charmed

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Charmed and the look of Aaron Spelling shows

03:30

ER

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for the pilot of ER and the use of the steadicam

04:57

Thomas Del Ruth on working with executive producer John Wells on the ER pilot

03:28

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for ER episodes subsequent to the pilot

03:28

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Thomas Del Ruth on winning Emmys for The West Wing

02:46

JAG

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for JAG

02:21

Thomas Del Ruth on directing some episodes of JAG and his feelings about directing

03:47

Mrs. Columbo

Thomas Del Ruth on becoming director of photography for Mrs. Columbo

03:58

Simon & Simon

Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for Simon & Simon

05:21

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

06:56

West Wing, The

Thomas Del Ruth on how he became involved with Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing and on being hired by The West Wing director Thomas Schlamme

02:37

Thomas Del Ruth on developing the look of The West Wing

04:54

Thomas Del Ruth on a typical production week for The West Wing and on the arduous rehearsal process, colors, and location of the show

05:05

Thomas Del Ruth on how the set of The West Wing compared with the real-life Oval Office and the lighting of the show

02:07

Thomas Del Ruth on the logistics of shooting The West Wing and on his crew for the show

03:09

Thomas Del Ruth on the kinds of cameras that were used for The West Wing

01:33

Thomas Del Ruth on the on-location shooting of The West Wing

02:35

Thomas Del Ruth on working with Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme on The West Wing

01:30

Thomas Del Ruth on using light to identify characters on The West Wing

01:26

Thomas Del Ruth on winning Emmy Awards for The West Wing

02:46

Thomas Del Ruth on the biggest challenge of the cinematography of The West Wing

02:41

Thomas Del Ruth on the appeal of The West Wing and his contribution to the show

02:06

X-Files, The

Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for The X-Files and working with show creator Chris Carter

06:29

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for The X-Files and establishing the "look" for a series in the pilot

02:57

Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Thomas Del Ruth on becoming involved with Conrad Hall and working his way up to be a camera operator

04:14

Emmy Awards

Thomas Del Ruth on winning Emmys for The West Wing

02:46

First Big Break

Thomas Del Ruth on his working as an assistant cameraman at 20th Century Fox and learning his way around a camera

02:18

Pivotal Career Moments

Thomas Del Ruth on his working as an assistant cameraman at 20th Century Fox and learning his way around a camera

02:18

Technological Innovation

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for the pilot of ER and the use of the steadicam

04:57

Television Industry

Thomas Del Ruth on the key to his success and longevity in the business and career highlights and regrets

04:24

Professions

Cinematographer

View Profession

Thomas Del Ruth on his style of communication and his early projects as a cameraman

01:50

Thomas Del Ruth on what a director of photography does and working with directors

04:41

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography on various made-for-television movies and on the technical aspects of the job

03:54

Thomas Del Ruth on his visual style

02:32

Thomas Del Ruth on the most important developments in television cinematography

01:40

Thomas Del Ruth on his advice to an aspiring cinematographer

02:26

Production Professionals

View Profession

Thomas Del Ruth on his style of communication and his early projects as a cameraman

01:50

Thomas Del Ruth on what a director of photography does and working with directors

04:41

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography on various made-for-television movies and on the technical aspects of the job

03:54

Thomas Del Ruth on his visual style

02:32

Thomas Del Ruth on the most important developments in television cinematography

01:40

Thomas Del Ruth on his advice to an aspiring cinematographer

02:26

Genres

Comedy Series

Thomas Del Ruth on working as assistant cameraman on Batman

07:10

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Thomas Del Ruth on becoming director of photography for Mrs. Columbo

03:58

Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for Simon & Simon

05:21

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for JAG

06:09

Drama Series

Thomas Del Ruth on how he became involved with Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing

02:37

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography on The West Wing

27:56

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography on The West Wing

02:06

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

06:57

Medical Dramas

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for ER

11:55

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for The X-Files and working with show creator Chris Carter

06:29

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for The X-Files

02:57

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Charmed

03:30

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Barbarians at the Gate

00:57

People

Aaron Sorkin

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Thomas Del Ruth on how he became involved with Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing and on being hired by The West Wing director Thomas Schlamme

02:37

Thomas Del Ruth on working with Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme on The West Wing

01:30

Aaron Spelling

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Thomas Del Ruth on acting as director of photography for Charmed and the look of Aaron Spelling shows

03:30

Chris Carter

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Thomas Del Ruth on being director of photography for The X-Files and working with show creator Chris Carter

06:29

Conrad Hall

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Thomas Del Ruth on becoming involved with Conrad Hall and working his way up to be a camera operator

04:16

John Wells

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Thomas Del Ruth on working with executive producer John Wells on the ER pilot

03:28

Thomas Schlamme

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Thomas Del Ruth on how he became involved with Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing and on being hired by The West Wing director Thomas Schlamme

02:37

Thomas Del Ruth on working with Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme on The West Wing

01:30