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Masterwork: Industry Conversations is a new series of interviews with long established and award-winning filmmakers to learn in-depth details about their journey in the filmmaking world, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

With more than sixty cinematography credits to his name, cinematographer Steven Poster, ASC has been not only a world famous Director of Photography but he has also been a champion for worker’s rights, advocating for more inclusivity within the field. 

Poster created a look that has become his trademark. Poster’s creamy images emerge out of dense black. It’s no surprise that it’s a look directors of the horror genre find appealing. In 2001, Poster shot the cult classic DONNIE DARKO.

The technique also created an alluring atmosphere for Madonna’s controversial music video “Like a Prayer” and seared flaming crosses, nuns and saints into the audience’s subconscious.

A native Chicagoan, Steven Poster began his career as a creative assistant at The Film Group, a commercial film production company based in Chicago. His skill at seeing and reproducing light saw him quickly promoted to director of photography. Poster founded a production company with director Michael Mann and served as the cinematographer on numerous industrial and educational films. 

Building his career, Poster worked 2nd unit on historic films such as BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and BLADE RUNNER. Ridley Scott would later hire Poster as director of photography on the film SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME. The film ultimately earned Poster an American Society of Cinematographers nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Releases in 1987.

Poster served as the President of the ASC between 2002-2003, encouraging marginalized cinematographers to become members. In 2006, he received an Emmy nomination for MRS. HARRIS. That same year, he was elected as the National President of the International Cinematographers Guild, a position he held until 2019.

Chicago Filmmakers is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.