Jesse H. Knight

My name is Jesse H. Knight, and I am a filmmaker with over twenty-six years of experience. I have been an active filmmaker since 1995 when I made my first film at the North Carolina School of the Arts during its Filmmaking Summer Immersion Program. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Broadcasting and Cinema Masters Program I continue to make films to this day.

I specialize in cinematography and editing. I am owner of Jesse Knight Films, a business I have maintained since 2009.

I have created and worked on a variety of commercials, documentaries, short films, music videos, live events, and feature films. I have a music video that aired on MTV's Headbangers Ball and a short film I am Director of Photography and Associate Producer on was picked up by Revolt, Sean "P-Diddy" Combs' network. I am Executive Producer, Cinematographer and Editor on a feature film called Kill Giggles, which was picked up by Grindstone Entertainment and will be available to the public.

I owe my visual sense to my mother, a wonderful painter and all-around artist. Her influence from early childhood to this day is evident within my own work especially within the realms of composition, value and color. I love art and refer to it often for ideas and inspiration for my own work. My early work is way more akin to styles such as German Expressionism and artists like H.R. Geiger and David Lynch. As I developed my style, I became influenced by the Flemish, Dutch and Italian painters. Through my love of Impressionism, I welcomed more vibrant color and movement into my work and continue to try new things which keeps it exciting.

Regarding the study of the image, I always push the elements and principles of design in my cinematography and try to use them as my cinematic weapons.

I became fascinated with motion pictures at an early age mainly due to my father's influence. He introduced me to the world of Akira Kurosawa, Stephen Spielberg, Coppola, Scorsese, Lucas, and Kubrick at an early age and I dove deep into the material. Story and image have always been one and the same, whether the pictures were provided within the confines of a movie or created by the infinite depths of the imagination.

I am a product of my influences and wish to influence others with my visual creations.

Jesse H. Knight Cinematographer