Oliver Wood
Camera

Oliver Wood

Born 21 February 1942 · London, England · Died 13 February 2023

Oliver Wood (February 21, 1942 – February 13, 2023) was a British cinematographer, best known for his work on blockbuster action and comedy films such as Die Hard 2, Face/Off, Freaky Friday, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and the Bourne franchise. He collaborated with directors like Paul Greengrass, John Woo, Renny Harlin, Ron Underwood, and Adam McKay and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for The Bourne Ultimatum. Wood was born in London on 21 February 1942. At the age of 19, he moved to New York City. His first break came for director Leonard Kastle on the cult crime film The Honeymoon Killers (1969), where he used available light to give the dark comedy a newsreel look. He shot numerous B-movies and independent films throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, frequently collaborating with cinematographers Joseph Mangine and Fred Murphy. He also worked as a camera operator on higher-profile projects, including Body Rock (1984) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), both of which were shot by Robby Müller. He also became a music video and commercial cinematographer, working for directors like Bob Giraldi and Rupert Wainwright.[9] His big break came when he was director of photography for 53 episodes of the stylish crime drama Miami Vice, serving as the series primary DP between 1987 and 1989. His work on the series caught the attention of producers, enabling him to work on big-budget Hollywood films including Die Hard 2 (1990), Face/Off (1997), U-571 (2000), Fantastic Four (2005), and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013). He was the original director of photography on the swashbuckling action film Cutthroat Island but suffered an on-set injury and was replaced by Peter Levy. He also shot the Bourne Trilogy, where he worked with director Paul Greengrass to produce a spontaneous, naturalistic effect, often using multiple cameras, frequently handheld, citing films such as The Battle of Algiers as an influence. He was nominated for a BAFTA for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Known for

The Bourne Identity
Fantastic Four
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Supremacy
Die Hard 2
The Equalizer 2
Face/Off
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Morbius
The Other Guys
2 Guns
Freaky Friday
Morbius
The Equalizer 2
Holmes & Watson
Grimsby
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Ben-Hur
Child 44
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
2 Guns
Safe House
The Other Guys
Surrogates
Step Brothers
The Bourne Ultimatum
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Fantastic Four
The Bourne Supremacy
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Freaky Friday
National Security
The Bourne Identity
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
I Spy
U-571
Mighty Joe Young
Face/Off
Switchback
2 Days in the Valley
Celtic Pride
Mr. Holland's Opus
Terminal Velocity
For Love or Money
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Rudy
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Mystery Date
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
Die Hard 2
Nasty Hero
Neon Maniacs
The Sex O'Clock News
Alphabet City
The Returning
Don't Go in the House
Danny
The Honeymoon Killers
The White Slave
Oliver Wood · Midrow