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Ernest R. Dickerson

Highest Rated: 95% Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography (1993)

Lowest Rated: 8% Bulletproof (1996)

Birthday: Jun 25, 1951

Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, USA

Gifted African American cinematographer who established himself on financially modest but artistically ambitious independent features before shifting to major motion pictures as a d.p. and genre films as a director. Dickerson became known as the ace director of photography for fellow NYU alumnus Spike Lee. His vibrant painterly camerawork enhanced Lee's student film "Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads" (1980) and his subsequent first six features. His first feature credit was John Sayles' "The Brother From Another Planet" (1984), an engaging social parable about a mute alien stranded in Harlem, which benefited greatly from Dickerson's soulful portraits of the faces and places of Black folks. He has achieved great success in conveying the full spectrum of African American coloring by utilizing various tinted lights and colored backdrops. Dickerson has also shot films by Michael Schultz ("Krush Groove" 1985), Robert Townsend ("Eddie Murphy Raw" 1987) and John McNaughton ("Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll" 1991).

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Highest rated movies

95% 85% Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography
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94% 72% She's Gotta Have It
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92% 89% Do the Right Thing
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92% 58% Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll
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89% 75% The Brother From Another Planet
Watchlist
89% 91% Malcolm X
Watchlist
81% 90% Juice Watchlist
80% 67% Jungle Fever
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79% 85% Eddie Murphy Raw
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75% 40% Def by Temptation
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 78% Double Play Director - 2017
No Score Yet 64% For One Night Director - 2006
26% 61% Never Die Alone Director $5.6M 2004
No Score Yet 62% Good Fences Director - 2003
67% 74% Monday Night Mayhem Director - 2002
No Score Yet 35% Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie Director - 2002
No Score Yet 61% Our America Director,
Cinematographer
- 2002
27% 40% Bones Director $7.3M 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Strange Justice Director - 1999
No Score Yet 86% Ambushed Director - 1998
No Score Yet 23% Futuresport Director - 1998
No Score Yet 81% Blind Faith Director - 1998
8% 44% Bulletproof Director $21.3M 1996
42% 65% Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight Director $20.9M 1995
35% 48% Surviving the Game Director $7.7M 1994
95% 85% Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography Unknown (Character) - 1993
81% 90% Juice Director,
Writer
$18.6M 1992
89% 91% Malcolm X Cinematographer $47.1M 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cousin Bobby Cinematographer - 1992
80% 67% Jungle Fever Cinematographer $31.7M 1991
92% 58% Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll Cinematographer - 1991
75% 40% Def by Temptation Cinematographer - 1990
71% 75% Mo' Better Blues Cinematographer $15.9M 1990
92% 89% Do the Right Thing Cinematographer $26.0M 1989
58% 79% School Daze Cinematographer $11.7M 1988
No Score Yet 71% Enemy Territory Cinematographer - 1987
79% 85% Eddie Murphy Raw Cinematographer $48.8M 1987
94% 72% She's Gotta Have It Cinematographer $5.0M 1986
43% 81% Krush Groove Cinematographer $11.1M 1985
89% 75% The Brother From Another Planet Cinematographer - 1984
No Score Yet 71% Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads Cinematographer - 1983

TV

Credit
47% 74% The Irrational Director 2023-2024
33% 76% Parish Director 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Walking Dead: Best of Michonne Director 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Walking Dead: Best of Rick Director 2024
100% 86% Bosch: Legacy Director 2022-2023
52% 43% DMZ Executive Producer,
Director
2022
97% 94% Bosch Director 2015 2017-2020
57% 83% Interrogation Executive Producer 2020
No Score Yet 100% Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. Director 2018
93% 86% The Deuce Director 2017
60% 78% Tyrant Director 2015
79% 78% The Walking Dead Director 2010-2014
68% 45% Under the Dome Director 2014
78% 78% Once Upon a Time Director 2014
97% 87% Treme Director 2010-2013
71% 81% Dexter Director 2008-2013
70% 75% Stargate Universe Director 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet In Plain Sight Director 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fear Itself Director 2009
94% 96% The Wire Director 2003-2004 2006 2008
70% 80% Weeds Director 2007
63% 79% Masters of Horror Director 2006
45% No Score Yet The Evidence Director 2006
No Score Yet 65% CSI: Miami Director 2006
80% 82% Invasion Director 2005
No Score Yet 83% Criminal Minds Director 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Miracle's Boys Director 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night Visions Director 2001