Steve Lantz
Filmmaker / Photographer / Designer

My personal and professional experience in the arts covers a broad spectrum, including video and film production, commercial photography, architectural design, graphic design, website design, writing and music scoring.

I have been a filmmaker/videographer since my senior year in high school. I have shot literally thousands of hours of footage in a wide variety of locations and formats. My thorough understanding of every aspect of filmmaking comes from direct experience, as I have worn just about every hat you could wear on a production. I especially enjoy working behind the camera as Director of Photography and I am very knowledgeable about most camera systems in use today, including Panavision, Arriflex, Sony and Panasonic SD/HD camera systems. I also have a background in aerial camera systems and I'm a skilled Steadicam operator. I enjoy playing with camera gadgets and I keep up-to-date on all of the latest technology developments.

My latest film, The Phoenix Lights Documentary, has won several international awards and nominations, including Best Director and Best Documentary and has been exhibited at numerous theaters, conferences and film festivals across the United States and several countries.

I first became interested in film production at age 11 when I discovered my dad’s old Bell & Howell and set up shop in the garage. It was then I first learned the importance of lighting the scene after my first batch of dailies came out very dark.

During my senior year in High School, I became interested in Super-8 and bought a complete package with every accessory imaginable, including a 'Superscope' anamorphic lens. I also invented a prototype similar to the PogoCam system currently in use today and began working as a Camera Operator for a production company in Phoenix, Arizona.

After completing two years of architectural design studies at Arizona State University (1980-1982), I moved from Phoenix to Santa Barbara, California where I began an intensive 3-year program at Brooks Institute of Photography, one of the oldest and most prestigious photography schools in the world.

While at Brooks, I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in large-format photography, multi-media and 16mm film production. I worked with many talented and creative people on countless projects in one of the most beautiful and inspirational settings one could imagine.

I graduated in 1985 with a BA degree in professional photography and motion picture production and was presented with a special 'Merit of Excellence' award for the highest achievement in my department when I produced a promotional video for the school. The video later won an award in a national competition and was used for many years by the school for promotional purposes.

In 1987, I worked as a rental technician for Continental Camera Systems - Astrovision, Inc., installing and operating aerial camera systems, including helicopter mounts and Astrovision, a sophisticated aerial camera system for specially modified Learjets.

In 1994, I taught a filmmaking course at Yuba College in Marysville, California. I created the course curriculum and all instructional videos and materials. The course covered all areas of film production, including screenwriting, financing, pre-production, principal photography, post production and distribution.

Currently, I am busy shooting everything from instructional demos to product demos and I am co-producing several feature film projects that are in various stages of development. In addition to my production company, I was a partner and Media Director for We Thought of That, an invention development company I formed with my wife Fran in 2000 and a Media Director for PAKT Foundation, handling all of their website and media needs. In addition, I created HDcompare.com, an online resource directory for cinematographers moving into HD production.

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Copyright © 2011 Steve Lantz Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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