James Laxton

James Laxton

Birth : 1981-02-03, San Francisco, California, USA

Profile

James Laxton

Movies

Mufasa: The Lion King
Director of Photography
A prequel to Disney's 2019 film, "The Lion King".
Another Young Couple
Director of Photography
Another Young Couple — borne out of a camera test for If Beale Street Could Talk, James and I asked my friends Essence and Jihaari, newly transplanted to LA to allow us into their home for an afternoon tea about their lives and loves, apart and together. We were migrating to the Alexa 65 for Beale Street and wanted to see for ourselves how that large-format sensor would affect intimate portraiture within lived spaces… in particular the faces and spaces of Black folk.
Los Valientes
Director of Photography
The life of a gay, undocumented immigrant is drastically altered when circumstances take him to a conservative town in Pennsylvania.
Reconnect
Cinematography
Timed with the start of the fall/winter 2021 season, Reebok unveils the first look at its refreshed brand creative direction led by Vice President of Creative Direction at Reebok, Kerby Jean-Raymond and Artistic Marketing Director, Jide Osifeso through the “Reconnect” film. Inspired by Osifeso’s own relationship to sports growing up, the film explores forward movement – literally and figuratively – and examines the relationships between ourselves, sports and our communities.
The Gaze
Director of Photography
In all my years of doing press, I've been repeatedly asked about the white gaze. Rarely have I been set upon about the Black gaze; or the gaze distilled. This is an answer to a question rarely asked.
Walrus Yes: The Making of Tusk
Himself
5 years ago Kevin Smith tried to end his career with the movie Tusk. Enjoy this documentary on the making of Tusk 'Walrus Yes'.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Director of Photography
After her fiance is falsely imprisoned, a pregnant African-American woman sets out to clear his name and prove his innocence.
Anything
Director of Photography
After the death of his wife, a man moves from Mississippi to a run-down Hollywood apartment, where he meets someone new.
Moonlight
Director of Photography
The tender, heartbreaking story of a young man’s struggle to find himself, told across three defining chapters in his life as he experiences the ecstasy, pain, and beauty of falling in love, while grappling with his own sexuality.
Yoga Hosers
Director of Photography
Two teenage yoga enthusiasts team up with a legendary man-hunter to battle with an ancient evil presence that is threatening their major party plans.
Holidays
Director of Photography
An anthology feature film that puts a uniquely dark and original spin on some of the most iconic and beloved holidays of all time by challenging our folklore, traditions and assumptions.
Rubberhead
Cinematography
Sarah Silverman hosts the first episode of Rubberhead - a night of comedy shorts featuring some of her favorite performers. With comedy from Nathan Barnatt, Jade Catta-Preta, Michael Cassidy, Shelby Fero, Nathan Fielder, David Dineen-Porter, Kyle Dunnigan, Brett Gelman, Todd Glass, Lauren Lapkus, Natasha Leggero, Emily Maya Mills, Tig Notaro, John C Reilly, Seth Rogen, Nick Rutherford, Rob Schrab, Paul Rust, Laura Silverman, Stoney Sharp, Armen Weitzman, Kulap Vilaysack, Eric Wareheim, Harris Wittels, Charlyne Yi and more!
Camp X-Ray
Director of Photography
A young woman joins the military to be part of something bigger than herself and her small-town roots. Instead, she ends up as a new guard at Guantanamo Bay, where her mission is far from black and white. Surrounded by hostile jihadists and aggressive squadmates, she strikes up an unusual friendship with one of the detainees.
Tusk
Director of Photography
When his best friend and podcast co-host goes missing in the backwoods of Canada, a young guy joins forces with his friend's girlfriend to search for him.
Bad Milo!
Director of Photography
A horror comedy centered on a guy who learns that his unusual stomach problems are being caused by a demon living in his intestines.
The Moment
Director of Photography
Fearing she may be responsible, a mental patient (Jennifer Jason Leigh) tries to unravel the mystery behind her ex-lover's (Martin Henderson) disappearance.
Adult World
Director of Photography
Amy, a naive college graduate who believes she's destined to be a great poet, begrudgingly accepts a job at a sex shop while she pursues a mentorship with reclusive writer Rat Billings.
California Solo
Director of Photography
Lachlan MacAldonich is a self-described “lazy Scotsman” and former guitar player for a once-popular 1990s rock band. No longer famous, he now lives a comfortably numb existence working on an organic farm outside Los Angeles. He drinks himself into a stupor every night and retires to his shabby apartment to record his podcast, recounting the tragic deaths of great musicians. After a particularly heavy night of drowning his sorrows at a local watering hole, he is arrested for driving under the influence. This snag, coupled with a long-ago conviction for a drug offense, means Lachlan faces possible deportation. His only hope of remaining stateside is proving that his absence would cause extreme hardship for a spouse or relative – forcing him to confront relationships he thought were buried forever.
For a Good Time, Call...
Director of Photography
College "frenemies" Lauren and Katie move in together after losing a relationship and rent control, respectively. Sharing Katie's late grandmother's apartment in New York City, the girls bicker with each other until one fateful night, when Katie's noisy bedroom activities make Lauren barge in and discover a dirty little secret. This revelation brings them closer together, and Lauren (the brains) and Katie (the talent) concoct a wildly successful business venture. As profits swell, the girls reevaluate their hopes and dreams and realize that just because someone pees in your hair in college doesn't mean she won't be your best friend 10 years later.
The Murder of Hi Good
Director of Photography
The Murder of Hi Good is a true-crime revisionist western set in Northern California, 1870. It details the eventual murder of California’s most notorious Indian hunter; Hiram Good. Most historians believe that his indentured servant “Indian Ned” killed him, a native boy whom he’d raised as a son. It’s suspected that Ned was influenced by the nearby Mill Creek Indians or “diggers”, who were struggling to eke out an existence on their ancestral lands.
Leave Me Like You Found Me
Director of Photography
After a year of heartbreak and loneliness, Erin and Cal have forgotten enough of each other's flaws to get back together. They take what they hope will be a romantic camping trip in Sequoia National Park. Alone in the majestic landscape, they begin to revisit their past relationship. As cracks start to show each is left wondering whether the other has changed enough to make it work this time.
The Myth of the American Sleepover
Director of Photography
Four young people navigate the suburban wonderland of metro-Detroit looking for love and adventure on the last weekend of summer.
Remigration
Cinematography
Upon returning to their countryside cabin one day, Kaya, his wife Helen, and their daughter Naomi are confronted by two suited men: representatives of the San Francisco Remigration Program. The men explain that San Francisco is now occupied entirely by the wealthy class. But stoplights still burn out and trains occasionally jump their rails. Blue-collar labor isn't obsolete, but it's scarce. The city has created a program to "remigrate" long-gone working class families from their inland homes back to the city that once pushed them out. Kaya, Helen, and Naomi return to San Francisco and join a handful of other potential remigrants for a tour of what can be expected in their new lives. But can they learn to trust their old home once again?
The Violent Kind
Director of Photography
One night at a secluded farmhouse deep in the Northern California woods, a small group of hardened young bikers and their girlfriends are tormented when one of the girls becomes savagely possessed and a gang of "Rockabillies" seemingly from the 1950's descends upon them to collect what is growing inside her.
A Young Couple
Director of Photography
A couple discuss their relationship.
Pig Hunt
Camera Loader
When John takes his San Francisco friends to his deceased uncle's remote ranch to hunt wild pigs, it seems like a typical guys weekend with guns - despite the presence of John's sexy girlfriend Brooks. But as John and his crew trek deeper into the forest, they begin tracking the awful truth about his uncle's demise and the legend of The Ripper -- a murderous three-thousand-pound black boar!
Medicine for Melancholy
Director of Photography
Waking from a one-night stand that neither remembers, Micah and Joanne find themselves wandering the streets of San Francisco, sharing coffee and conversation and searching for a deeper connection.
Little Brown Boy
Cinematography
A little brown boy gets caught up in a violent shooting and must come to terms with the incident and the part he has played.
My Josephine
Director of Photography
Aadid tells us his life in seven minutes. He's an Arabic-speaking young man working the night shift at a laundromat and dry cleaners somewhere in the United States. In the aftermath of 9/11, they wash U.S. flags for free. He says they get six or seven per day. He tells us about Napoleon's two wives: Marie Louise for an heir, Josephine for love. Aadid likes Adela, his co-worker. She's his Josephine. We watch Aadid and Adela hand wash the flags and put them in dryers. They fold them. They dance. They stand side by side outside the door of the laundromat looking at the dawn. Will this companionship become something more?