David Landau

Goddard College, Montpelier, VT                                  2005

MFA Creative Writing/Screenwriting

Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY                                            1978 

BS Cinema Studies & Photography

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park, NJ

• Professor (tenured)   2015–present
• Associate Professor (tenure-rack)  2008 - 2015
• Assistant Professor (tenure-track)    2004 – 2008
• Lecturer 2002 – 2004

New York University, NYC, NY  —  Graduate Film Program

• Visiting Assistant Professor, co-taught 2nd Year Cinematography class w Peter Stein   2003–2013

My specialty is lighting for cinematography. Lighting is an international cross culture language that can be used very effectively as a storytelling tool. It is more than just painting pretty pictures with light. It focuses the viewer’s attention to where we want them to look, creates drama, sets a mood, helps with suspension of disbelief and adds modeling and depth to the image. When used to its full potential, it subliminally supports the story and the dramatic moment of a scene. Sharing my love of lighting and awakening others to how it can be creatively utilized is my passion. 

Books

• “Lighting for Cinematography: a practical guide to the art and craft of lighting for the moving image” Bloomsbury Press , 2026 2nd Edition (1st edition 2014)      Over 300 5-Star reviews on Amazon, Highly reviewed in International     Cinematographer’s Guild Magazine, British Cinematographer Magazine
• “Multi-Camera Cinematography”, primary author with Bruce Finn, Bloomsbury Press 2024
• “Next Level Screenwriting”, co-auhtor with David Carren, Routledge/Focal Press 2019
• “Film Noir Production: the whodunit of the classic American mystery films”, Routledge/Focal Press 2017

Articles

• “Shooting Film Style with Two Cameras” Student Filmmakers Mag vol.19, no1 2024
• “Don’t waste your money making a film, just go to film school”, Student Filmmakers Mag vol.15, no1 2020
• “Creating More Cinematic Images”, Student Filmmakers magazine, vol. 15, no 2, 2020
• “The Working Relationship Between the Director and the DP” HDProGuide Magazine, 2017 Vol 5, #1, p8 2018
• ”How to Use Camera Framing as a Storytelling Tool”, Student Filmmakers magazine, V12, #2 p10   2017
• “Artistic Lighting is Even More Important Than Ever Before”, HD ProGuide Magazine, V3,#1 p.6  2015
• “LED Lighting Versus Tungsten”, HD ProGuide Magazine, V3,#1, p.18   20

Book Chapters

• “Working with your DP”, essay in “Directing for the Screen”, edited by Anna Weinstein, Routledge/Focal Press - p.35-39 2017

Encyclopedia Entries / Other

• “Heroism in Film Noir”, entry in “Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies”, Spinger 2023

Feature Films, Director of Photography

• “5 Must Die”, dir Ryan Kelly, Arkayco Productions (in post) 2026
• “From the Shadows”, dir Michael Sargent, Althouse Productions  2022
• “Stray”, dir Nena Eskridge, Mead Street productions 2015
• “Dark Tarot”, dir James Cocoliato & David Landau, DGW Productions 2014

Episodic, Director of Photography

• Paranormal Intervention (Pilot), dir Bruce Figeri, Lifesize Entertainment  2018
• The Other F Word (episodes 1 & 2), dir Caytha Jenkins, Fox Meadow Films 2016

Festival Shorts, Director of Photography

• “The Exchange”, dir Michael Mantoufe 2025
• “Great American Chicken”, dir Fred Lehne   2019
• “Stable” dir Paul Williams 2012
• “The Last Duel” dir David Landau (shot in 16mm film)  2009
• “Nine Years Old”, dir Chris Messineo 2008

Lighting Director

• Sky News 72 hour US election coverage (live from NYC)
• Project Runway Allstars season 3 & 5 (Locations), Lifetime
• “Love is a Dream” Saturday Night Live segment, NBC
• “Milkman” parody commercials, Nickelodeon
•  Warner Lambert Corp Video Dept. (3 years)
•  Exxon Corp Video Dept. (5 years)
• others

Freelance Cinematographer

• Novartis
• Verizon
• Bank of America
• Linked-In
• Weather Channel
• others

Grants & Fellowships

Technology Improvement Grant  —  NJ State, Dept of Education 2014                                   .5 Mill grant to build and fully outfit a new state-of-the-art film sound stage at FDU

Awards & Honors

• Bronze Telly Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: “The Other F Word”  2017
• Cindy Award, Tech/Art Crafts: Cinematography “Dark Tarot”  2016
• Teacher of the Year, University Film & Video Association 2016
• Bronze Telly Award, Outstanding Achievement in Lighting, “Stray”2012
• Bronze Telly Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: “Stray”2012
• Bronze Telly Award, Outstanding Achievement in Lighting: “Video Psychic”2009
• Bronze Telly Award, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: “Video Psychic” 2009

       I came to teaching after working professionally for 25 years in the film/video production industry. I wanted to share what I had learned from my years on set as well as inspire and prepare the next generation of filmmakers, especially those interested in the camera, lighting and grip areas. To that end, I created an undergraduate cinematography concentration program, the only one like it in the country. Besides teaching I have also served as the Cinema Technical Director, researching and recommending new equipment and getting donations of equipment through my professional connections from companies and individuals. What I am most proud of is that numerous of my students have built successful professional careers for themselves as cinematographers, camera operators, camera assistants, gaffers and grips - many becoming IATSE union members. I have even had the pleasure of working with many of them professionally, hiring several on productions I have been director of photography on.

        I am most proud of creating the Professional Practices course, preparing students for life after film school by teaching them such things as set behavior, walkie etiquette, invoicing, freelancer tax preparation, how to look for work, etc. and bringing in working professionals to share career advice.

• * Advanced Cinematography
• * Advanced Screenwriting
• *Cinematography: Camerawork
• *Cinematography: Lighting
• *Client Video Production
• Cinematic Storytelling
• * Film Noir
• Filmmaking II
• * Hollywood looks in the Mirror
• * Intro to Studio TV Production
• * Professional Practices
• * Reality TV Production
• Screenwriting I
• *Screenwriting II
• *Stage Lighting
• *16mm Motion Picture Production

Conference Presentations

• “Why & How to teach Multi-Camera Cinematography” - workshop, University Film & Video Association conference, Tx 2025
• “Lighting isn't for exposure – it’s for communication
• “Lighting isn't for exposure – it’s for communication
• “Why Bother Teaching Lighting” – works  2019
• “Lighting as a storytelling tool” – presentation/workshop, Eastern Video Expo, NJ 2019
•  “The Right Light for the Right Class” – UFVA conference, NM2018
• “The Femmes of Noir: They Aren’t Always Fatale” – paper, UFVA conference, NM 2018
•  “Lighting Interviews” workshop, Eastern Regional Communications and Technology Conference, NJ 2017
• “Lighting & Framing that makes a statement” UFVA conference,  Las Vegas 2016
•  “Lighting for Impact”  – UFVA conference, American University,  Wash DC 2015
•  “Shooting Exteriors” workshop, Eastern Regional Communications and Technology Conference, NJ 2015
•  “Lighting for Reality: Doing as much as you can with as little as you can” CCW Conference, NYC 2014
• “Lighting Every Film Student Needs to Know and How to Teach It” – UFVA conference, MT 2014
• “The Right Light for the Right job” workshop, Eastern Regional Communications and Technology Conference, NJ2013
• “Ever Read the Credits; Structuring Academic Programs to Better Reflect and Prepare Students for the Industry” paper, UFVA Conference, Chicago   2012
• “New Era in Teaching Cinematography: Everything Old is New Again” paper, UFVA Conference, Chicago 2012
• “They Don’t All Have to be Directors” paper, UFVA Conference, Boston.  2011
• “Sony Super 35 Digital Cinematography Workshop”, workshop, UFVA Conference, Boston.  2011

Professional Workshops & training seminars

• Professional Lighting 1-Day Seminar, sponsored by Triode Studios, Lancaster, Pa  2021
• Professional Lighting 1-Day Seminar for Konica/Minolta Corporate Video dept, NJ   2019
• “Shooting Interviews” workshop, NJ Videographers Association, NJ  2017
• Professional Lighting 1-Day Seminar, for Best Buy corporate video department, MN  2016
• “Lighting Interviews” workshop, Shadowstone Lighting Grand Opening Event, Washington, DC  2015
• “Lighting for Cinematography” NJ Videographer’s Association, NJ 2014
• “Lighting for Cinematography”, public seminar hosted by Adorama Camera, NYC 2014
• “Lighting Tricks and Techniques”  NJ Videographer’s Association, NJ 2013
• “Put’em in their Best Light”, Media Communicators Association International, NJ 2012
• “Shooting Big on the Down Low” panelist/moderator, Media Communicators Association International, NJ 2011
• “The Reality of Reality TV”, Media Communicators Association International, NJ  2010                    
• “Making Them Look Their Best with Lighting & Make-up” co-presenter, Media Communicators Association International, NJ 2010
•  

LINKS TO FILMS (I was the Director of Photography on)

• Watch From the Shadows (2022) - Free Movies | Tubi
• Watch Paranormal Intervention (2018) - Free Movies | Tubi
• Watch Stray (2015) - Free Movies | Tubi
• Watch Dark Tarot (2014) - Free Movies | Tubi
  • NOTE on “The Other F Word” - This was originally a web series for which I was the DP on episodes 2-5. The director combined the first season of 6 short episodes into two longer episodes and added some pick-up scenes to fill out the time.
• Watch The Other F Word S01:E01 - Marriage Gap Year - Free TV Shows | Tubi (starting 6 minutes in. Someone else shot the 5 minute prelude funeral scene & flashbacks, and the last scene in central park)
• Watch The Other F Word S01:E02 - Tail of Two Maxes - Free TV Shows | Tubi (someone else did the pick-up scene in the apartment kitchen right after the opening credits)
• The Last Duel (2009)

• University Film & Video Association (UFVA) 2003– present
• Media Communicators Association International, (president for 6 years) 2009 – 2021
• IATSE Local 52 Motion Picture Studio Mechanics, gaffer/electric dept.1990–2020 retired
• NABET 15 Associated Film Craftsmen, camera & electric dept. 1979-1989