Piero Basso

Born and raised in northern Italy, Piero studied Cinema and Art Studies at the University of Turin. There he analyzed the work of directors such as Truffaut, Kubrick, Lynch, and Wenders and developed a deep interest in visual storytelling. He was inspired by the images of artists like Boris Kaufman, Sven Nykvist, Robbie Muller and Conrad L. Hall. He graduated with a thesis on the works of David Lynch, knowing that cinematography would be his ultimate pursuit.

Piero began building a career as a director of photography while also working as a Steadicam operator. He photographed a number of award winning films and documentaries with some of the most interesting young directors in Italy. He presented himself as a talented and fast director of photography, with a strong and mature vision.

He shot 14 major projects between features and tv series, dealing with high to very low budgets showing a great capacity for managing the problems of limited equipment and crew while maintaining a distinctive visual character, as well as many short films and documentaries. They have been screened in major international festivals, including Cannes and Locarno and have been awarded important prizes and received international recognition, including nominations at the European Film Awards & at the David di Donatello and several victories at Festivals around the globe (including Oberhausen, Edinburgh, Turin, and Huesca).

The main characteristics of Piero’s work are the strong visual personality, connected with a deep understanding of the moviemaking process and a great capacity of adaptation to work in various and demanding conditions and with different crews. He is able to work on large productions as well as with small crews using only available and practical light.

Piero believes strongly that the work of the director of photography is to understand the facets of the vision of the director and translate the whole, with special sensitivity to creative integrity, to the silver screen.

Piero Basso is based in NYC, where he lives with his wife and daughter. He is bilingual and holds permanent residency in the U.S and European Citizenship.

2017
L’AQUILA – GRANDI SPERANZE (working title) TV series – in production 01.01 thru 01.12 episodes
UNA FAMIGLIA  (working title) feature film – in post production
MINYHALES HAGER  feature film – in post production (shot in Ethiopia)
ALMA MATER  short musical
PLUS ONE   short musical

2016
THE INDEPENDENTS  feature film – in post production
KENNETH JAY LANE: MASTER OF FAKING IT  feature documentary – in production
GALANOS: A FEAT OF MAGIC  feature documentary – in production
THE RENOVATION  short film
THE GHOST OF ETHAN DEAN  short musical
RADIO HEAD GEAR  short musical
ALICE  short musical
LANDED  short musical
LOVE ON EARTH 44  short musical
ALIBI  short film
HOLDING ON TO THE BAR  documentary – in production
BLACK RUSSIANS  documentary – in production
THEN COMES THE GLORY  documentary – in production
LAYOFFS ON WALL STREETS: BANKERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS  documentary in production

2015
AMERICAN GENIUS  tv series

episode 01.02 – WRIGHT BROTHERS vs CURTISS
episode 01.03 – HEARST vs PULITZER
episode 01.05 – FARNSWORTH vs SARNOFF
episode 01.06 – OPPENHEIMER vs HEISENBERG

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE  feature film
SAY MY NAME – GRAFFITI A NEW YORK  documentary
HERE AND NOW  documentary – ongoing
LAURENCE  feature film
CANVAS  short
LIFE IN FREE FALL  short musical
START-UP.COM  short musical
WINNING NEW YORK  short musical
A SHORT TRIP  short
ALMOST CHET  short