Rodrigo Prieto

Early life and education

Rodrigo Prieto was born in Mexico City, Mexico. His grandfather, Jorge Prieto Laurens, was the mayor of Mexico City and leader of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, but was later persecuted by the country's ruler because of political differences. Prieto's grandfather escaped with his family to Texas and then to Los Angeles, where Prieto's father would spend most of his childhood. Prieto's father studied aeronautical engineering at New York University, where he met and married Prieto's mother, an artist. Rodrigo Prieto graduated from Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica in Mexico City.

Career

Prieto is noted for his unconventional use of the camera often combined with strong moody lighting. In 25th Hour, Prieto utilized overexposure and other techniques to create original dream-like images to signify that the events shown on screen are memories or visions. Similarly innovative photography could be spotted in Frida, featuring strong colors and sharp imagery blended with atmospheric yellows and browns, as well as his experimental use of infrared during a battle scene in Alexander. Prieto also is interested in evoking naturalism, most evident in The Homesman and Brokeback Mountain. Prieto not only shot Brokeback Mountain, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, but appeared in a cameo role within the film as a Mexican gigolo whom Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack Twist, meets.

Prieto has formed an artistic collaboration with Martin Scorsese on his films The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon. He garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography for the latter three. He served as cinematographer for the music videos for the three Taylor Swift 2020 singles, "The Man", which references one of his previous films The Wolf of Wall Street, "Cardigan" and "Willow".

Prieto is the recipient of the 2021 Vilcek Prize in Filmmaking, awarded by the Vilcek Foundation.

In October 2023, Prieto served as a juror at the Morelia International Film Festival in Michoacán, Mexico.

Personal life

Prieto resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife Monica and they have two daughters.

Filmography

Short film

Feature film

Television

Documentary series

TV series

Music video

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

American Society of Cinematographers Awards

Camerimage

Other awards

References

References

1. Paula Bernstein. (2014-10-24). "'The Homesman' DP Rodrigo Prieto on Working with Tommy Lee Jones and Reinventing The Western". IndieWire.
2. "American Cinematographer: Alexander". Theasc.com.
3. (2014-11-09). "Rodrigo Prieto: Master Cinematographer".
4. (2013-12-27). "'Wolf Of Wall Street' Cinematographer Talks Filming Tricks for Buzzy Quaaludes Scenes". Hollywood Reporter.
5. Sharf, Zack. (2019-12-02). "Scorsese, DiCaprio's 'Flower Moon' Eyes March 2020 Start, Tone Still Being Worked Out".
6. Rosen, Christopher. (July 31, 2020). "How Taylor Swift Directed a Music Video During the Coronavirus Pandemic".
7. "Vilcek Foundation Awards $250,000 in Prizes to Immigrant Filmmakers".
8. "Rodrigo Prieto".
9. Fuente, Anna Marie de la. (2023-10-30). "'Totem' by Lila Aviles and 'The Echo' by Tatiana Huezo Triumph at Mexico's Morelia Film Festival".
10. (January 21, 2008). "Prieto ya filma con Russell Crowe". [[Vanguardia (Mexico).
11. Gubecka, Zanda. (2025-12-20). "Rodrigo Prieto Joins Martin Scorsese's 'What Happens At Night' As Cinematographer".