Dan Macarthur
Biography
Dan Macarthur is an accomplished Australian film director and highly acclaimed director of photography (cinematographer), and the founder of 18° Entertainment. Known for his keen eye and ability to bring a distinct visual style to a wide range of projects, Macarthur has made significant contributions to both Australian and international cinema.
Biography and Early Career:
Born on November 13, 1970, in Australia, Daniel Macarthur began his career in the dynamic world of music videos. He quickly gained recognition for his cinematography, working with prominent Australian bands such as Powderfinger, The Whitlams, Killing Heidi, and the John Butler Trio.
This early success laid the foundation for his transition into feature films, where his talent for visual storytelling truly blossomed. He notably served as Director of Photography for Russell Crowe's band Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts, capturing their music videos and an international tour documentary, and even an Oprah Winfrey segment at Crowe's farm.
Career Highlights and Notable Works:
Macarthur's career as a cinematographer is marked by a diverse portfolio of films across various genres. He has collaborated with Academy Award winners and renowned directors, earning accolades for his visually stunning work. Some of his notable contributions as a Director of Photography include:
- Bollywood and Kollywood Success: Macarthur gained significant recognition in India for his work on Bollywood's first zombie comedy, Go Goa Gone (2013), and the highly praised Tamil film Yennai Arindhaal (2015), starring Ajith Kumar. His cinematography in Yennai Arindhaal was particularly lauded for bringing a "Hollywood look" to Tamil cinema. He also worked on Gautham Vasudev Menon's Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016).
- Hollywood Collaborations: He has worked with prominent figures like Cuba Gooding Jr. in the action thriller Absolute Deception (2013), where veteran director Brian Trenchard-Smith described Macarthur as "up there with the best." Other films include I, Frankenstein, The Suicide Theory (2013), and Blood Money, which featured Pitbull and Kung Fu legend Gordon Liu.
- Directorial Endeavors: Beyond cinematography, Macarthur has also showcased his skills as a director. In 2013, he wrote and directed the gangster comedy Nice Package, a film that he also co-produced with Melanie Poole, co-founder of 18° Entertainment. His short film Anthesis of Man also garnered several awards, including Best Comedy at the Austin Comedy Film Festival.
Awards and Recognition:
Dan Macarthur has received numerous awards throughout his career. He won a Bronze Award for Cinematography at the Australian Cinematography Awards (Qld) for Go Goa Gone in 2015. In 2012, he received a Gold Award for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film at the Australian Cinematography Society's Awards (QLD).
His early short film Stop was the only Australian short film accepted into the Cannes Film Festival in 2000, and his music videos have also earned him multiple awards for Best Cinematography, including the National ACS Golden Tripod Award for The Whitlams' "Blow Up the Pokies" in 1999.
