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Brett Pawlak

Brett Pawlak

CinematographerActorCrew Oct 25 (age 43) Castaic, California, USA 2005–2026 (21 year career)
5.9 avg rating

Biography

Brett Pawlak is an American cinematographer known for his work on independent and mainstream films. A frequent collaborator of director Destin Daniel Cretton, he gained recognition for his cinematography on Short Term 12 (2013), where he used handheld camerawork and natural lighting to create a realistic aesthetic. In 2016, he served as the cinematographer for the pilot episode of This Is Us, establishing the show's visual style. Pawlak later reunited with Cretton for Just Mercy (2019), which f…

Known For

Just Mercy
Film

Just Mercy

Director of Photography
Instant Family
Film

Instant Family

Director of Photography
This Is Us
Film

This Is Us

Director of Photography
Short Term 12
Film

Short Term 12

Director of Photography
We Are Your Friends
Film

We Are Your Friends

Director of Photography
The Glass Castle
Film

The Glass Castle

Director of Photography
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn
Film

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn

Director of Photography
Life Itself
Film

Life Itself

Director of Photography

Filmography

Crew (46)

·

Movies (40)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

2026 Upcoming

Director of Photography

Jul 29

He Bled Neon

He Bled Neon

2026

Director of Photography

A Jazzman's Blues

A Jazzman's Blues

2022

Director of Photography

7.5
The 24th

The 24th

2020

Director of Photography

4.8
Just Mercy

Just Mercy

2019

Director of Photography

7.9
Instant Family

Instant Family

2018

Director of Photography

7.5
Life Itself

Life Itself

2018

Director of Photography

7.2
End of the Line

End of the Line

2018

Director of Photography

5.2
The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle

2017

Director of Photography

7.1
MDMA

MDMA

2017

Director of Photography

4.5
Unicorn Store

Unicorn Store

2017

Director of Photography

5.9
It's Been Like a Year

It's Been Like a Year

2017

Director of Photography

The Meddler

The Meddler

2016

Director of Photography

6.0
Max Steel

Max Steel

2016

Director of Photography

5.6
All We Had

All We Had

2016

Director of Photography

5.5
REM

REM

2016

Additional Director of Photography

4.0
We Are Your Friends

We Are Your Friends

2015

Director of Photography

6.8
Maggie

Maggie

2015

Second Unit Director of Photography

5.4
The Wannabe

The Wannabe

2015

Director of Photography

5.1
GirlHouse

GirlHouse

2014

Additional Director of Photography

5.9
GirlHouse

GirlHouse

2014

Additional Photography

5.9
Hellion

Hellion

2014

Director of Photography

5.9
Short Term 12: Behind the Scenes

Short Term 12: Behind the Scenes

2014

Thanks

7.0
Short Term 12

Short Term 12

2013

Director of Photography

7.8
I Am Not a Hipster

I Am Not a Hipster

2013

Director of Photography

5.8
The Final Moments of Karl Brant

The Final Moments of Karl Brant

2013

Director of Photography

7.9
Pretty Tough

Pretty Tough

2011

Director of Photography

7.0
Call Back

Call Back

2009

Camera Operator

2.7
Poker Run

Poker Run

2009

First Assistant Camera

3.2
Watercolors

Watercolors

2008

Best Boy Grip

5.6
Watercolors

Watercolors

2008

Dolly Grip

5.6
Passed the Door of Darkness

Passed the Door of Darkness

2008

Dolly Grip

4.0
A Simple Promise

A Simple Promise

2008

Grip

7.3
Short Term 12

Short Term 12

2008

Director of Photography

6.7
Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect

2007

Key Grip

5.0
Redrum

Redrum

2007

Grip

1.5
Days of Darkness

Days of Darkness

2007

Second Unit Director of Photography

4.7
Holla

Holla

2006

Grip

3.0
Markings

Markings

2005

Assistant Camera

The Loneliest Road in America

The Loneliest Road in America

Camera Operator