Newton Thomas Sigel, ASC (born August 1955; sometimes credited as Tom Sigel) is an American cinematographer[1] best known for his collaborations with director Bryan Singer on films like The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, and the X-Men film franchise. He has also worked with filmmakers like Haskell Wexler, Mike Newell, David O. Russell, Terry Gilliam, Alan Ball, Robert Redford, and Nicolas Winding Refn. He is a BAFTA Award, Independent Spirit Award, Critics' Choice Award, and Satellite Award nominee.

Newton Thomas Sigel
Sigel in 2023
BornAugust 1955 (age 69)
OccupationCinematography
Years active1972–present
Known for
SpouseLisa Chang

Life and career

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Sigel was born in Detroit, Michigan,[2] and studied painting in New York City,[1] becoming an artist-in-residence at the Whitney Museum of American Art.[1] He began his career working with experimental filmmaker Kenneth Anger as a camera operator.[1] Becoming a documentary filmmaker, he shot a number of projects filming, including El Salvador: Another Vietnam, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. His photography caught the attention of DP Haskell Wexler,[1] and the two spent several years developing what would become the 1985 film Latino, his first feature film as director of photography.[1]

Sigel worked mostly on television films and as a second unit DP throughout the 1980s before shooting the comedy film Rude Awakening. He regularly served under Robert Richardson on films like Platoon and The Doors. Starting with The Usual Suspects, he has become the regular cinematographer of director Bryan Singer.

Personal life

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Sigel is Jewish[3] and married to Lisa Chang.[1] His father, Irving Sigel, was a psychologist who worked for the Educational Testing Service. His mother, Roberta Sigel, was a professor at Rutgers who studied gender and politics.

Filmography

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Cinematographer

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Film

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Year Title Director
1985 Latino Haskell Wexler
1989 Rude Awakening David Greenwalt
Aaron Russo
1991 Salmonberries Percy Adlon
1992 Crossing the Bridge Mike Binder
Into the West Mike Newell
1993 Indian Summer Mike Binder
Money for Nothing Ramón Menéndez
1994 Blankman Mike Binder
1995 The Usual Suspects Bryan Singer
1996 Foxfire Annette Haywood-Carter
The Trigger Effect David Koepp
Blood and Wine Bob Rafelson
1998 Fallen Gregory Hoblit
Apt Pupil Bryan Singer
1999 Brokedown Palace Jonathan Kaplan
Three Kings David O. Russell
2000 X-Men Bryan Singer
2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind George Clooney
2003 X2: X-Men United Bryan Singer
2005 The Brothers Grimm Terry Gilliam
2006 Superman Returns Bryan Singer
2007 Towelhead Alan Ball
2008 Leatherheads George Clooney
Valkyrie Bryan Singer
2010 Leap Year Anand Tucker
Frankie & Alice Geoffrey Sax
The Conspirator Robert Redford
2011 Drive Nicolas Winding Refn
2013 Jack the Giant Slayer Bryan Singer
2014 Seventh Son Sergei Bodrov
X-Men: Days of Future Past Bryan Singer
2016 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Yuen Woo-ping
X-Men: Apocalypse Bryan Singer
2017 Marshall Reginald Hudlin
2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Bryan Singer
2020 Extraction Sam Hargrave
Da 5 Bloods Spike Lee
2021 Cherry Anthony and Joe Russo
2022 Dog Channing Tatum
Reid Carolin
2023 Candy Cane Lane Reginald Hudlin

Short film

Year Title Director Notes
1994 Suspicious David Koepp
2001 Ambush John Frankenheimer Segment of The Hire
2004 Keep Right Tim Godsall
2005 The Big Empty Himself
Lisa Chang
2013 Happy Birthday Brett Ratner Segment of Movie 43
2018 Arcade Fire: Money + Love David Wilson With Christophe Collette

Television

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TV movies

Year Title Director Notes
1987 Home Fires Michael Toshiyuki Uno With Rick F. Gunter
Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby Teamed with Genius Rob Thompson
Tales from the Hollywood Hills: A Table at Ciro's Leon Ichaso
1988 Perfect People Bruce Seth Green
1989 Roe vs. Wade Gregory Hoblit
1990 Rock Hudson John Nicolella
Challenger Glenn Jordan
Turner & Hooch Donald Petrie TV pilot
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter Percy Adlon Segment "So In Love"
A Promise to Keep Rod Holcomb
1991 Murder in High Places John Byrum
1993 Daybreak Stephen Tolkin
1994 A Time to Heal Michael Toshiyuki Uno

TV series

Year Title Director Notes
1987 Great Performances Paul Bogart Episode "Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Natica Jackson"
1988 The Wonder Years Steve Miner
Carol Black
Neal Marlens
Jeffrey D. Brown
3 episodes
1999 Cop Rock Gregory Hoblit Episode "Pilot"
2004 House Bryan Singer Episode "Pilot"
2015 Battle Creek Episode: "The Battle Creek Way"
2017 The Gifted Episode "eXposed"
2023 Citadel Himself
Jessica Yu
4 episodes

Documentary works

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Film

Year Title Director Notes
1980 We Are the Guinea Pigs Joan Harvey With Mark Benjamin, Tom Houghton, Tom Hurwitz and Peter Schnall
1981 El Salvador: Another Vietnam Glenn Sillber
Teté Vasconcellos
1983 When the Mountains Tremble Himself
Pamela Yates
1988 Inheritance William Donovan
1990 Teatro! Edward Burke
Ruth Shapiro
Pamela Yates

Short film

Year Title Director
1983 Atomic Artist Glenn Silber

TV movie

Year Title Director Notes
1992 Oliver Stone: Inside Out Steven Fischler
Joel Sucher
With Martin D. Toub

TV series

Year Title Director Notes
1999 American Masters Steven Fischler
Joel Sucher
Episode "Martin Scorsese Directs"

Director

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Documentary film

Year Title Notes
1981 Resurgence: The Movement for Equality vs. the Ku Klux Klan Co-directed with Pamela Yates
1983 When the Mountains Tremble

TV movie

TV series

Year Title Notes
2004-2006 House Episodes "Maternity" and "Lines in the Sand"
2023 Citadel 6 episodes (Co-directed 2 episodes with Jessica Yu)

Awards and nominations

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Year Title Awards/Nominations
1983 When the Mountains Tremble Sundance Special Jury Award for Best Documentary
1995 The Usual Suspects Nominated- Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
2011 Drive Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Gold Derby Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- IndieWire Critics Poll Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
Nominated- St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Virtual Cinematography
2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography
2020 Da 5 Bloods Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography
2021 Cherry Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NEWTON THOMAS SIGEL". www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  2. ^ Newton Thomas Sigel Biography) at radaris.com
  3. ^ "Valkyrie director faces Jewish past while filming in Berlin." Schleier, Curt. www.jweekly.com The Jewish News of Northern California.Published December 19, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2017.
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