Jurg Walther
Instructor
Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Office Location:
Chapman Studios West 118
Biography
As a teacher, Jurg Walther wants his students to understand "the poetic potential that filmmaking has." Growing up in Europe in the '60s and '70s, cinematographer Walther was captured and "forever intrigued" by the level of self-expression in the films of Fellini, Bergman, and Antonioni.
"Filmmaking is about showing human emotion," he says, "about hope and compassion, and expressing the very fine points of human existence." The cinematographer, Walther says, faces the task of making the screenwriter's and/or director's concept and vision take form in the real, physical world.
Coming to the United States, where he studied at UCLA and A.F.I., Walther worked as director of photography and camera operator on a variety of feature films documentaries, music videos and commercial projects, which demanded that he produce a wide range of special effects, including shooting while skiing. But whatever the assignment demands, Walther is always seeking a better way to portray that internal reality, the one that the camera can reveal best, the very state of the soul.
Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications
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Documentary on the work of the Order of Malta in Lourdes, France. featuring Virtual Reality Technology. This was a Collaboration with one of my colleagues Saga Elmohtaseb to make a Virtual Reality presentation of the work of the Order of Malta assisting "The Malades" in the rituals of worship to the holy mother Mary, who appeared in person to a nun, sister Saint Bernadette, also described as "The Miracle of Lourdes". I functioned as the Cinematographer working with a Virtual Reality camera. The idea of the project was intended for people and patients who are not able to travel to the Lurdes Sanctuary, to have a Virtual Experience of participating in the healing rituals and the the masses being held in the numerous churches in Lourdes.
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I worked as Director of Photography on the 2023 Crosroads Guitar Festival hosted by Eric Clapton at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles. It was a multi camera project with a total of 14 cameras. The show included Sheril Crow, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Junior, John Mayer, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Stephen Stills, ZZ Top, Los Lobos, Carlos Santana, Sonny Landreth, Doyle Bramhall, Robert Randolph and many more. There was a special Guest Appearance by Stevie Wonder!
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I did a series of interviews with Mo Ostin, the head of Warner Bros. Music.
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I filmed a series of interviews with Mo Ostin, the head of Warner Brothers Music. He was mostly involved with the career of Frank Sinatra. We also filmed and recorded a special appearance of guitarist Jeff Beck at the downtown Grammy Museum.
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2020 Documentary / Tribute Concert for Peter Green from Fleetwood Mac at the London Palladium. Participating Artists: Pete Townsend, Billy Gibbons, Steven Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, Bill Wyman, David Gilmour and many others. Directed by Martyn Atkins
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DoP on DVD release by Rhino Records: Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration, available on DVD on March 29, 2019
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2019 Director of Photography for The Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival for DVD release for Fall 2020 Participating artists include Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, Peter Framton, Sheryl Crow, Gary Clark JR, John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt, Citizen Cope, Los Lobos, Jeff Beck, Johnny Lang, Tom Misch, Vince Gill, Jimmy Vaughn and many others, inluding guest appearence by Johnny Depp on the set of Jeff Beck. The show was hosted by Bill Murray. I was able to hire two of our Alumns, Tommy Oceanic and Alberto de Caille as Camera Operators.
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2019 TV Documentary on the Swiss Surrealist Painter Wolfgang Paalen for ORF Austrian TV and ARTE, directed by Herbert Krill
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Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra at the Forum. Director of Photography with Director Martyn Atkins
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I was the Director of Photography for the Joni Mitchell 75th Birthday Celebration at the Dorthy Chandler Pavillion, Sept. 2018 The film was released in multiple movie theaters countrywide. It included artists like Graham Nash, Seal, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Chaka Khan, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, Los Lobos, Norah Jones and other various talent.
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Live in Concert, Hyde Park, London. Multi Camera (14) Production where I was the overseeing Cinematographer.
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Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's 40th Anniversary Tour, in Seattle, Safeco Field. 65,000 people in the audience! Multi camera show where I functioned as Director of Photography. Directed by British director, Martyn Atkins.
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2017 Film Production Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's 40th Anniversary Tour at the Hollywood Bowl, the final 3 Concerts. I was the Director of Photography, Director Martyn Atkins.
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Blu Ray release of Cult Movie "Blood Diner" , directed by Jackie Kong, produced by Vestron, new edition by Lions Gate, 2016. Cinematography by Jurg Viktor Walther.
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"Raised on the Sunset Strip - Slash" directed by Martyn Atkins, Cinematography: Jurg Viktor Walther, produced for DIRECT-TV
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"Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye Tour", Live at Fenway Park in Boston, directed by Martyn Atkins, Cinematography: Jurg Viktor Walther, produced by Warner Brothers Music.
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"The Boogeyman - Reincarnation", sequel to the original "The Boogeyman", directed by Ulli Lommel, Director of Photography: Jurg Viktor Walther, shot on Location in Edmonton, Canada
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"Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO" directed by Martyn Atkins, Cinematography by Jurg Viktor Walther, (available on i-tunes)
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"Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013" with Eric Clapton, directed by Martyn Atkins, Director of Photography: Jurg Viktor Walther
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"Paul Simon: Live in New York City" directed by Martyn Atkins, Cinematography: Jurg Viktor Walther
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"Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play the Blues" directed by Martyn Atkins, Camera: Jurg Viktor Walther