While Dan Mindel is a DP with years of experience, whose film credits include Enemy of the State, he isnt one to lecture on the finer points of cinematography. If anything, he is a humble craftsman who looks at every jobawhether it is a commercial or a movieaas a potential learning experience. Even a trip to the cinema to see another cinematographers film offers schooling. Every time I see a movie, I see something that I like, and I just keep learning. Its a lifelong process, says Mindel, who is represented by The Skouras Agency, Santa Monica.
Certainly, Mindel, a native Brit, has gotten quite an education by working with the talented Scottsathats Tony (who directed Enemy of the State) and Ridley. (Both directors helm spots through bicoastal RSA USA.) I dont think theres anyone that Ive learned more from than Tony, for sure, Mindel attests. Hes a dynamo, as you know.
In addition to DP-ing Tony Scotts Enemy of the State, Mindel shot additional photography for the directors The Fan and Crimson Tide. Mindels credits also include shooting additional photography for Ridley Scotts White Squall, and California portions of G. I. Jane.
As for spot work, Mindel recently DPd a series of spots that Tony Scott did for Barclays Bank, out of Leagas Delaney, London. The Scott brothers arent the only high-profile directors Mindel has worked with. Recently he collaborated with Oliver Stone (Any Given Sunday, Nixon) on commercial campaigns for Motorola, out of McCann-Erickson, Singapore, and for Heineken, through Bates China, Hong Kong.
The Motorola campaign features a particularly noteworthy spot called Wireless, which is composed of a series of beautiful images shot on location in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. The vistas show how Web-enabled wireless phones offer users unlimited freedom to roam, yet keep in touch. In one of the spots most dazzling visual sequences, the supporting cables of San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge disappear as a car drives by them. Stone, who does not have commercial representation, directed Wireless through Saville Productions, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, and also has offices in Bangkok and Singapore. The Heineken work was co-produced by Saville and Shooting Stars Productions, New York.
