Alex Funke

Alex Funke

Supervisor Cinematographer

Wellington, New Zealand

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Miniatures Director Of Photography

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Director Of Photography

Furious 7 (2015)

Motion Control Supervisor

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Motion Control Supervisor

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Director Of Miniature Photography

Total Recall (2012)

Director Of VFX Photography

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Visual Effects

Battlestar Galactica (2007)

Visual Effects Director Of Photography

King Kong (2005)

Visual Effects

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Visual Effects

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Director of Photography

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Director of Photography

Mystery Men (1999)

Director of Photography

Mighty Joe Young (1998)

2nd Unit Director Of Photography

Snake Eyes (1998)

Visual Effects

Starship Troopers (1997)

Miniatures Unit Director Of Photography

Executive Decision (1996)

Director of Photography

Waterworld (1995)

Background Plate Director Of Photography

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

Visual Effects

The Lawnmower Man (1992)

Blue Screen Photography

Warlock (1991)

Director Of Miniature Photography

Total Recall (1990) (1990)

Miniature Photography Supervisor

The Abyss (1989)

Visual Effects Photography

The Blob (1988)

Special Effects Photography

Heavy Metal (1981)

Effects Photography

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)

Work History

  • Visual Effects DOP

    Special Effects

    1978 - Present

  • Motion Control Supervisor on The Hobbit

    3foot7, ltd

    May 2011 - June 2012
    New Zealand

    I'm running the scaling motion control group, which creates scale variations (say, making Sir Ian McKellan as Gandalf bigger than Michael Freeman as Bilbo)--using two motion control units, slaved together, *in real time* and opeating in a specific scale relationship. What a hoot. Doing this to fill in until miniature photography gets re-established in New Zealand. Keep the faith.

  • chief bottle washer

    Kamoboko

    1944 - 2011

  • Director of Photography

    Miniatures NZ Ltd

    1999 - October 2010

    After decades of work in film and VFX, I've worked at most of the FX shops--Like...Dreamquest...Video Image...Digital Domain...Praxis...POP....R & H...all those fine folks who wrote the book on VFX.

    The Unit which I now head, Miniatures NZ, was created in 1999 to serve Peter Jackson's amazing vision for The Lord of the Rings. After thousands of miniature and VFX shots for the three LOTR films, MNZ shot all the miniatures for King Kong, and then for Narnia: Prince Caspian.

    MNZ is the largest permanent, fully-equipped miniature shooting facility anywhere!

  • Director of Photography

    Miniatures, Ltd (new Zealand)

    August 1999 - May 2010

  • Cameraman

    Office of Ray and Charles Eames

    1968 - 1978
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Education

  • BA in Theatre Arts--Film

    University of California, Los Angeles

    1962 - 1965