Faculty
Michael Mayers is a Cinematographer with over 30 years behind the camera. Best known for his work on The West Wing, Mayers photographed much of their location work in New York and Washington DC. He joined the main unit in Los Angeles and went on to shoot 37 episodes of that beloved series.
Mayers’ feature work has brought him to Sundance many times. He shot David O. Russell’s first feature film “Spanking The Monkey” And with director Raymond De Felita he shot Festival favorites “Cafe Society” and “Two Family House”. To Mayers, being a filmmaker is all about storytelling. Using the tools of the modern filmmaker there are almost no limits on the stories that can be told.
Mayers has taught at SUNY Purchase and spoken at USC, and UCLA. He has been nominated for ASC awards for his work on “The Pentagon Papers” with James Spader and “The Lyon’s Den” with Rob Lowe. He was Emmy nominated as a producer on the “Malcom X” episode of “Great Books”. Prior to his filmmaking career, Mayers was an instructor for Colorado Outward Bound. Which he claims was great preparation for leading film crews.
Like many New Yorkers he now lives in Los Angeles.