Jonathan Sela, ASC (born April 29, 1978) is a French-born Israeli cinematographer, known for his work in action films, especially with his collaboration with director David Leitch.
Life and career Sela was born in Paris, France.
At the age of 10, his Polish grandfather took him to the set of Schindler's List in Kraków, which inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking. Four years later, he began working in Israel as a cameraman and lighting technician on numerous television films and shows, first as lighting technician, then as gaffer.
He emigrated to the United States at age 19, enrolling in the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He served as assistant to cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond for two films before making his debut as director of photography with the music video for Cypress Hill's Lowrider.
After shooting several shorts, he made his feature film debut with the 2004 comedy film Soul Plane. In 2006, he shot the remake of The Omen, the first of several collaborations with director John Moore. In 2008 he shot both the Clive Barker adaptation The Midnight Meat Train and Max Payne; a neo-noir action film based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name.
Some of Sela's more recent projects include the F. Gary Gray-directed crime drama Law Abiding Citizen, the fifth entry of the Die Hard film series A Good Day to Die Hard, and the action thriller John Wick. Sela was director of photography on 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight, the fifth entry in the science fiction action franchise.
He has also worked on commercials for companies like Verizon Wireless, KFC, Gillette, and Mary Kay, and has shot music videos for artists like Rihanna and Green Day.
Sela was invited into the American Society of Cinematographers in December 2022.
Personal life Sela lives in Venice, California with his wife, photographer Megan Schoenbachler, and their two sons.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Notes 2004 Soul Plane Jessy Terrero2006 Dreamland Jason Matzner Grimm Love Martin Weisz The Omen John Moore 2007 Randy and the Mob Ray McKinnon2008 The Midnight Meat Train Ryuhei Kitamura Powder Blue Timothy Linh Bui Max Payne John Moore 2009 Law Abiding Citizen F. Gary Gray 2013 A Good Day to Die Hard John Moore 2014 John Wick Chad StahelskiDavid Leitch2017 Transformers: The Last Knight Michael Bay Atomic BlondeDavid Leitch 2018 Deadpool 2 2019 Hobbs & Shaw2022 The Lost City Aaron and Adam Nee Bullet Train David Leitch2024 I Was a Stranger Brandt Andersen The Fall GuyDavid Leitch2026 Post-production Adam Shankman Post-production2027 David Leitch Post-production James Ponsoldt Post-production
Television Year Title Director Episode2015 LimitlessMarc Webb "Pilot" Crazy Ex-Girlfriend "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!"
Music video Year Title Artist Director2001"The Motivation Proclamation"Good CharlotteMarc Webb"Waiting"Green Day"Simple Creed"Live"Sunny Hours"Long Beach Dub Allstars featuring will.i.amFrancis Lawrence"Lowrider"Cypress HillSmith n' Borin2002"Anything"Jaheim featuring NextDarren Grant"I'm Just a Kid"Simple PlanSmith n' Borin"Walking Away"Craig DavidLenny Bass"American Girls"Counting CrowsMarc Webb"I Don't Wanna"Keke WyattErik White"Dilemma"Nelly featuring Kelly RowlandBenny Boom"Luv U Better"LL Cool J"Hot Wheels"Jim CrowFat Cats"Bigger Business"Swizz Beatz featuring P. Diddy, Baby,Jadakiss, Cassidy and Snoop DoggBenny Boom"Crush Tonight"Fat Joe featuring Ginuwine"Paradise"LL Cool J2003"Pussycat"Wyclef JeanDirector X"Rock Your Body"Justin TimberlakeFrancis Lawrence"Many Men (Wish Death)"50 CentJessy Terrero"Fallen"MýaDarren Grant"The First Cut Is the Deepest"Sheryl CrowWayne Isham"Milkshake"KelisJake Nava"Clap Back"Ja RuleBenny Boom"You Don't Know My Name"Alicia KeysChris Robinson"Sick and Tired"Nappy RootsThe Saline Project2004"The Unnamed Feeling"MetallicaThe Malloys"100 Years"Five for FightingTrey Fanjoy"U Should've Known Better"MonicaBenny Boom"Lola Stars and Stripes"The StillsOlivier Gondry"Love Will Come Through"TravisArni & Kinski"A Million Days"PrinceSanaa Hamri"Slither"Velvet RevolverKevin Kerslake"Who Is She 2 U"BrandyJake Nava"My Boo"Usher featuring Alicia KeysChris Robinson"Rumors"Lindsay LohanJake Nava"Sand in My Shoes"DidoAlex De Rakoff2005"Get Right"Jennifer LopezDiane Martel"Over"Lindsay LohanJake Nava"Shiver"Natalie Imbruglia"The Clincher"ChevelleNathan Cox"Cater 2 U"Destiny's ChildJake Nava"First"Lindsay Lohan"Make a Move"IncubusMarc Webb"No Daddy"Teairra MaríJessy Terrero"Everlasting Love"Jamie CullumToby Tremlett"Let It Slide"JoannaHoney"Get Your Number"Mariah Carey featuring Jermaine DupriJake Nava2006"Pump It"The Black Eyed PeasFrancis Lawrence"Coming Undone"KornDirector X"Rough Landing, Holly"YellowcardMarc Webb"Ain't No Other Man"Christina AguileraBryan Barber"Morris Brown"Outkast"Dark Blue"Jack's MannequinBrett Simon"Save Room"John LegendBryan Barber"We Ride"RihannaAnthony Mandler"Love Like Winter"AFIMarc Webb"Irreplaceable"BeyoncéAnthony Mandler"Hurt"Christina AguileraFloria Sigismondi & Christina Aguilera2007"Just Fine"Mary J. BligeChris Applebaum2008"Love Lockdown"Kanye WestSimon Henwood"Sex on Fire"Kings of LeonSophie Muller2009"Russian Roulette"RihannaAnthony Mandler"A Dustland Fairytale"The Killers"Kings and Queens"Thirty Seconds to MarsBartholomew Cubbins"New Divide"Linkin ParkJoe Hahn"21 Guns"Green DayMarc Webb"Run This Town"Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye WestAnthony Mandler"Stronger"Mary J. Blige"It Kills Me"Melanie FionaArmen Djerrahian"(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To"WeezerMarc Webb2010"Last of the American Girls"Green Day"Pop Goes the World"GossipPhilip Andelman"Fistful of Tears"Maxwell"Over"DrakeAnthony Mandler"The Time (Dirty Bit)"The Black Eyed PeasRich Lee2011"What the Hell"Avril LavigneMarcus Raboy"E.T."Katy Perry featuring Kanye WestFloria Sigismondi"Till the World Ends"Britney SpearsRay Kay"Right There"Nicole ScherzingerPaul Hunter"Dance for You"BeyoncéAlan Ferguson & Beyoncé2012"This Kiss"Carly Rae JepsenJustin Francis2013"Give It 2 U"Robin Thicke featuring Kendrick Lamar and 2 ChainzDiane Martel"Wrecking Ball"Miley CyrusTerry Richardson"Danse"Mia MartinaMichael Maxxis2014"Love Never Felt So Good"Justin Timberlake and Michael JacksonRich Lee & Justin Timberlake2015"Can't Feel My Face"The WeekndGrant Singer"Finna Get Loose"Puff Daddy featuring Pharrell WilliamsHype Williams2018"Ashes"Céline DionDavid Leitch"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"PinkSasha Samsonova"In My Blood"Shawn MendesJay Martin2023"I Can See You"Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift
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