James Hawkinson is an American cinematographer known for his work in television, music videos, and film. He is best known for his critically acclaimed work on the Hannibal and The Man in the High Castle television series', for which he has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award and a nomination for an ASC Award.
Life and career Hawkinson began his career as an electrician, lighting technician, and gaffer at Boss Film Studios, a prominent visual effects company. He worked on numerous big-budget, effects-heavy films like Alien 3, Species, and Air Force One, and lower-budget genre films like Intruder and Fist of the North Star. Starting in 1997, he became a highly prolific DP for music videos, with over 200 credits to his name.
Hawkinson served as director of photography on the sitcom Arrested Development for which he experimented with different 16 mm film cameras and HD camcorders in order to achieve the look and visual styles desired by the series' creators Joe and Anthony Russo. He worked on several subsequent television projects with the Russos, including Carpoolers, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and Community. He shot the horror film The Unborn and the 2007 remake of The Hitcher, both of which were produced by Platinum Dunes.
Starting in 2013, Hawkinson served as the series DP on Hannibal, a psychological thriller -drama series based on the novels by Thomas Harris. His photography heavily utilizing angular lighting and shallow focus to create a distinct, unnerving atmosphere. His work was a point of near-universal acclaim, many praising its dark, brooding, art-house style and disturbing atmosphere, with many calling it the best-looking show on television.
His work on the first season of the dystopian science fiction series The Man in the High Castle earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series and a nomination for an ASC Award.
In 2025, Hawkinson was appointed as a member of the jury at the 78th Locarno Film Festival for First Feature Competition.
Filmography Television Year Title Notes2003–04Arrested Development11 episodes2007–08Carpoolers11 episodes2009Secret Girlfriend2 episodes2009–10Community26 episodes2010Running WildePilot episode2011Happy EndingsPilot episode2013–15Hannibal35 episodes2015–19The Man in the High Castle19 episodes Nominated for: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography in a Television Movie/Mini-series/Pilot Won: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series2019The Enemy WithinPilot episode2020Barkskins2 episodes2021Billions2 episodes2022Bel-Air5 episodes2023Gotham KnightsPilot episode
Film Year TitleDir. Notes1989IntruderScott SpiegelElectrician1992Alien 3David FincherElectrician: Boss Film Studios1995Fist of the North StarTony Randel2nd unit electricianSpeciesRoger DonaldsonElectrician: Boss Film Studios1997TurbulenceRobert ButlerElectrician: Boss Film Studios SelenaGregory NavaCamera operatorAir Force OneWolfgang PetersenCamera operator1998ProgenyBrian Yuzna2006Lonely HeartsTodd RobinsonAdditional photography with Peter Levy2007The HitcherDave MeyersAliens vs. Predator: RequiemThe Brothers StrauseAdditional photography with Daniel C. Pearl2009The UnbornDavid S. Goyer
Music videos Song title Artist Dir."Ænema"ToolAdam Jones"All for You"Sister HazelThomas Mignone"Sock It 2 Me"Missy ElliottHype Williams"Pride"RachidRocky Schenck"I'm Losing You"John Lennon and Cheap TrickDean Karr"Windowlicker"Aphex TwinChris Cunningham"Kryptonite"3 Doors DownDean Karr"X"XzibitDave Meyers"With Arms Wide Open"CreedDave Meyers"Want You Bad"The OffspringSpencer Susser"Get Ur Freak On"Missy ElliottDave Meyers"Hey Baby"No DoubtDave Meyers"Defy You"The OffspringDave Meyers"My Sacrifice"CreedDave Meyers"Up All Night"Unwritten LawHoney"Molly's Chambers"Kings of LeonHoney"Drain the Blood"The DistillersDean Karr"Ambulance vs. Ambulance"The Blood BrothersLaurent Briet"Used to Love U"John LegendBen Mor"Numb"Linkin ParkJoe Hahn"Naughty Girl"BeyoncéJake Nava"Ain't Coming Home"SilvertideHoney"Over and Over"Nelly featuring Tim McGrawErik White"Southside"LloydIrv Gotti"Breaking the Habit"Linkin ParkJoe Hahn"From Yesterday"Thirty Seconds to MarsBartholomew Cubbins"Everyman Everywoman"Yoko OnoHoney"Teary Eyed"Missy ElliottAntti Jokinen"Lonely Day"System of a DownJosh & Xander"I Feel It All"FeistPatrick Daughters"Fly on the Wall"Miley CyrusPhilip Andelman"Beat of My Drum"Nicola RobertsWendy Morgan"(It) Feels So Good"Steven TylerRay Kay"Our Perfect Disease"The WombatsMark Staubach"Up All Night"Blink-182Isaac Rentz"We Are Young"fun. ft. Janelle MonáeMarc Klasfeld
Video album Year Title Artist Dir. 2003 Live in Texas Linkin Park Kimo Proudfoot
Awards and nominations Nominated: 2001 MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography – Get Ur Freak On 2016 ASC Award Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Television Movie/Mini-Series/Pilot – The Man in the High Castle 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series – The Man in the High Castle Won: 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series – The Man in the High Castle
References