James "Jim" Glennon (August 29, 1942 – October 19, 2006) was an American cinematographer.
Career Born in Los Angeles, California, Glennon was the son of cinematographer Bert Glennon and script supervisor Mary Coleman. In 1968, he received a bachelor's degree in filmmaking from UCLA. Glennon started off working in the Warner Bros. mail room where he became close with Jack Warner, being the only mail clerk not afraid of the studio head. When a set PA on Gilligan's Island didn't show up for work, Glennon was given his first on-set job. From there, he aimed to move into camera, like his father. Following the advice of Jack Warner, Glennon bought a motion picture camera and rented it out, offering his own services as operator and DP for free. Thus, Glennon initiated his career as a cinematographer with Jaws of Death (1977).
Glennon continued to work as a camera operator on other cinematographers' films, including The Conversation (1974), Ordinary People (1980), and Altered States (1980), before coming to notice as cinematographer on El Norte (1983). He worked steadily thereafter, including heading the American unit for Return of the Jedi (1983), as DP for all location scenes in the desert and forest (credited as Location Director of Photography).
He filmed My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985), the story of the actor his own father had photographed in four films.
In 1986, Glennon shot Flight of the Navigator. The film is notable for being one of the first Hollywood films to use extensive computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects. Specifically, it was the first use of reflection mapping and an early use of morphing in a motion picture.
In 1987, he photographed a sequence in Paul Verhoeven's RoboCop, the interior scenes in the steel mill, and was also responsible for a large number of pickup and insert shots, including all the shots showing the robotic thigh-holster.
He partnered with director Alexander Payne on three films: Citizen Ruth, Election, About Schmidt.
In 2005, his work on the HBO television series Deadwood earned him an Emmy Award. Glennon also worked as director of photography on a number of other television movies and program series, such as The West Wing, along with Carnivàle and Big Love for HBO.
Personal life
Jim was one of five Glennon boys: Bert, John, Jim, Michael, and Greg.
Gannon was married to Charmaine Glennon; they had four children. He had widely varied interests. He served repeatedly as a judge in the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
He operated Malibu Water Resources, a water aeration program that sold windmills and provided free information on how to naturally purify water. He donated windmills to those in need, including an orphanage in Vietnam.
He farmed geoduck clams in the Pacific Northwest, owned a boar hunting ranch, restored old cars, and trained parrots.
Glennon died unexpectedly on October 19, 2006, from complications (a blood clot) during surgery for prostate cancer. Jim is buried at the Santa Barbara Cemetery with his wife Charmaine.
Selected filmography
As cinematographer Year Film Director Notes1977Jaws of Death Richard MartinDocumentary1981Prisoners Peter Werner1983El Norte Gregory NavaCredited as Jim GlennonReturn of the Jedi Richard Marquand Location Director of Photography1984Up the Creek Robert Butler1985Smooth Talk Joyce Chopra1986One More Saturday Night Dennis KleinFlight of the Navigator Randal Kleiser1987RoboCop Paul VerhoevenUncredited1988A Time of Destiny Gregory Nava1990A Show of Force Bruno Barreto1992Me Myself & I Pablo Ferro1996Citizen RuthAlexander Payne1997Best MenTamra Davis1999Ron MolerElectionAlexander Payne2000South of Heaven, West of HellDwight YoakamPlaying Mona LisaMatthew Huffman2001Viva Las NowhereJason Bloom2002About SchmidtAlexander PayneLocal BoysRon MolerLife Without DickBix SkahillStraight-to-DVD2003The United States of LelandMatthew Ryan Hoge2005The Big WhiteMark MylodMadisonWilliam Bindley2006Room 10 Jennifer AnistonAndrea Buchanan Short Film
References
External links
Jim Glennon PBS Interview 2005 Emmy - Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series American Society of Cinematographers ~ ASC official website James Glennon Photos