Donald M. Morgan, ASC
The 2007 Lake Arrowhead Film Festival’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film and Television Cinematography

The last thing that Donald M. Morgan wanted to be was a cameraman.  His father was a cameraman on some of the most beloved Walt Disney films of all time.  But Don watched his father hunched over the animation stand for hours at a time and knew that that wasn’t for him.  He craved excitement – which led to short careers in both auto racing and rodeo riding.

Fortunately for filmgoers, neither of those careers panned out.  Mr. Morgan returned to Southern California to work briefly in animation, but, always the thrillseeker, he later moved on to aerial camera work – riding in helicopters for Tyler Camera Systems.  (One of his first projects was a Buick commercial that he shot from the skies above Big Bear.)

Gradually, Morgan moved into shooting on the ground and made quite a name for himself while shooting the TV pilot for Serpico.  Television lighting at the time was, according to Morgan, “bright and shiny.  But if the script didn’t call for it, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” That caused some discomfort with his network bosses, but his moody style caught the attention of directors ranging from Joe Sargent (who hired him without ever meeting him) to a young Robert Zemeckis (who worked with Morgan on his first two films, Used Cars and I Want to Hold Your Hand). 

To date, Morgan has compiled over 60 screen credits, and has earned four Outstanding Achievement Awards in the annual American Society of Cinematographers competition.  He has received nine Emmy nominations for Outstanding Cinematography and has won five times.  Far from retired, Morgan promises to keep on working “until I drop.”  “It’s never been a job to me,” he says.  “I enjoyed my first project and I enjoyed my last.  And when people ask me about my best work, I say I haven’t done it yet.” 

Mr. Morgan’s award will be presented by five-time Academy Award nominee Owen Roizman. ASC at Friday night’s Gala Awards Dinner.  Don will also participate in the LAFF seminar, ““The Evolution of the Independent Feature” on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm .