Jonathan Sela


Jonathan Sela is a French-born Israeli cinematographer. He has shot numerous commercials, music videos and feature films, including John Wick, The Midnight Meat Train, , and Deadpool 2, as well as numerous collaborations with directors John Moore and 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 , the fifth entry in the science fiction action franchise. Sela 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.

Personal life

Sela lives in Venice, California with his wife, photographer Megan Schoenbachler, and their two sons.

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1999Yana's FriendsArik KaplunBest boy
2001Life as a HouseIrwin WinklerCamera intern
2004Soul PlaneJessy Terrero
2004The Girl Next DoorLuke GreenfieldAdditional photography
2005Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom
Dancing and Charm School
Randall Miller
2006DreamlandJason Matzner
2006Grimm LoveMartin Weisz
2006The OmenJohn Moore
2007Randy and the MobRay McKinnon
2007Martian ChildMenno MeyjesAdditional photography
2008The Midnight Meat TrainRyuhei Kitamura
2008Powder BlueTimothy Linh Bui
2008Max PayneJohn Moore
2009Law Abiding CitizenF. Gary Gray
2013A Good Day to Die HardJohn Moore
2014John WickChad Stahelski
David Leitch
2017Michael Bay
2017Atomic BlondeDavid Leitch
2018Deadpool 2David Leitch
2019Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & ShawDavid Leitch

Television

Music videos

YearTitleArtistDirector
2001"The Motivation Proclamation"Good CharlotteMarc Webb
2001"Waiting"Green DayMarc Webb
2001"Simple Creed"LiveMarc Webb
2001"Sunny Hours"Long Beach Dub Allstars featuring will.i.amFrancis Lawrence
2001"Lowrider"Cypress HillSmith n' Borin
2002"Anything"Jaheim featuring NextDarren Grant
2002"I'm Just a Kid"Simple PlanSmith n' Borin
2002"Walking Away"Craig DavidLenny Bass
2002"American Girls"Counting CrowsMarc Webb
2002"I Don't Wanna"Keke WyattErik White
2002"Dilemma"Nelly featuring Kelly RowlandBenny Boom
2002"Luv U Better"LL Cool JBenny Boom
2002"Hot Wheels"Jim CrowFat Cats
2002"Bigger Business"Swizz Beatz featuring P. Diddy, Baby, Jadakiss, Cassidy and Snoop DoggBenny Boom
2002"Crush Tonight"Fat Joe featuring GinuwineBenny Boom
2002"Paradise"LL Cool JBenny Boom
2003"Pussycat"Wyclef JeanDirector X
2003"Rock Your Body"Justin TimberlakeFrancis Lawrence
2003"Many Men "50 CentJessy Terrero
2003"Fallen"MýaDarren Grant
2003"The First Cut Is the Deepest"Sheryl CrowWayne Isham
2003"Milkshake"KelisJake Nava
2003"Clap Back"Ja RuleBenny Boom
2003"You Don't Know My Name"Alicia KeysChris Robinson
2003"Sick and Tired"Nappy RootsThe Saline Project
2004"The Unnamed Feeling"MetallicaThe Malloys
2004"100 Years"Five for FightingTrey Fanjoy
2004"U Should've Known Better"MonicaBenny Boom
2004"Lola Stars and Stripes"The StillsOlivier Gondry
2004"Love Will Come Through"TravisArni & Kinski
2004"A Million Days"PrinceSanaa Hamri
2004"Slither"Velvet RevolverKevin Kerslake
2004"Who Is She 2 U"BrandyJake Nava
2004"My Boo"Usher featuring Alicia KeysChris Robinson
2004"Rumors"Lindsay LohanJake Nava
2004"Sand in My Shoes"DidoAlex De Rakoff
2005"Get Right"Jennifer LopezFrancis Lawrence
2005"Over"Lindsay LohanJake Nava
2005"Shiver"Natalie ImbrugliaJake Nava
2005"The Clincher"ChevelleNathan Cox
2005"Cater 2 U"Destiny's ChildJake Nava
2005"First"Lindsay LohanJake Nava
2005"Make a Move"IncubusMarc Webb
2005"No Daddy"Teairra MaríJessy Terrero
2005"Everlasting Love"Jamie CullumToby Tremlett
2005"Let It Slide"JoannaHoney
2005"Get Your Number"Mariah Carey featuring Jermaine DupriJake Nava
2006"Pump It"The Black Eyed PeasFrancis Lawrence
2006"Coming Undone"KornDirector X
2006"Rough Landing, Holly"YellowcardMarc Webb
2006"Ain't No Other Man"Christina AguileraBryan Barber
2006"Morris Brown"OutkastBryan Barber
2006"Dark Blue"Jack's MannequinBrett Simon
2006"Save Room"John LegendBryan Barber
2006"We Ride"RihannaAnthony Mandler
2006"Love Like Winter"AFIMarc Webb
2006"Irreplaceable"BeyoncéAnthony Mandler
2006"Hurt"Christina AguileraFloria Sigismondi & Christina Aguilera
2007"Just Fine"Mary J. BligeChris Applebaum
2008"Love Lockdown"Kanye WestSimon Henwood
2008"Sex on Fire"Kings of LeonSophie Muller
2009"Russian Roulette"RihannaAnthony Mandler
2009"A Dustland Fairytale"The KillersAnthony Mandler
2009"Kings and Queens"Thirty Seconds to MarsBartholomew Cubbins
2009"New Divide"Linkin ParkJoe Hahn
2009"21 Guns"Green DayMarc Webb
2009"Run This Town"Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye WestAnthony Mandler
2009"Stronger"Mary J. BligeAnthony Mandler
2009"It Kills Me"Melanie FionaArmen Djerrahian
2009" I Want You To"WeezerMarc Webb
2010"Last of the American Girls"Green DayMarc Webb
2010"Pop Goes the World"GossipPhilip Andelman
2010"Fistful of Tears"MaxwellPhilip Andelman
2010"Over"DrakeAnthony Mandler
2010"The Time "The Black Eyed PeasRich Lee
2011"What the Hell"Avril LavigneMarcus Raboy
2011"E.T."Katy Perry featuring Kanye WestFloria Sigismondi
2011"Till the World Ends"Britney SpearsRay Kay
2011"Right There"Nicole ScherzingerPaul Hunter
2011"Dance for You"BeyoncéAlan Ferguson & Beyoncé
2012"This Kiss"Carly Rae JepsenJustin Francis
2013"Give It 2 U"Robin Thicke featuring Kendrick Lamar and 2 ChainzDiane Martel
2013"Wrecking Ball"Miley CyrusTerry Richardson
2013"Danse"Mia MartinaMichael Maxxis
2014"Love Never Felt So Good"Justin Timberlake and Michael JacksonRich Lee & Justin Timberlake
2015"Can't Feel My Face"The WeekndGrant Singer
2015"Finna Get Loose"Puff Daddy featuring Pharrell WilliamsHype Williams
2018"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"PinkSasha Samsonova
2018"In My Blood"Shawn MendesJay Martin