Ian S. Takahashi

Ian S. Takahashi is an American Underwater Cinematographer and Camera Operator. He is known for his work on Beyonce's Lemonade visual album, Michael Bay's 'The Last Ship', 'Swiss Army Man' for Daniels, along with commercials for Nike, Land Rover, Corona, and a Twin Towers Memorial display for Director Joe Wright, sponsored by Ford.
Education and early Career
Ian S. Takahashi was raised in St. Helena, CA, where he attended St. Helena High School, playing 4 years of Varsity Soccer, 2 years of Varsity Basketball, and 2 of Varsity Golf. While in High School he found an internship at a local production company and decided to pursue a career in the film and television field.
While attending Film School in San Francisco Ian landed another Internship, this time under Director Francis F. Coppola and Cinematographer Ron Fricke. Ian also met and began a 10+ year mentorship under Underwater Cameraman and Mike Thomas.
After Graduating and moving to Los Angeles, Mike Thomas brought Ian in as Camera Dept Intern under 2 time Academy Award winning Cinematographer John Toll, ASC. Immediately after Ian was hired as Director of Photography for Director and Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait's film 'Sleeping Dogs Lie' which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. He began to shoot small Underwater projects when he could.
Ian joined the International Cinematogarpher's Guild as a Camera Assistant, working for Roman Coppola, Francis F. Coppola, and Romanian Cinematographer For the film 'Little Red Wagon' for Director David Anspaugh where Mihai Malaimare Jr moved Ian up to the position of Camera Operator, where he later officially re-rated.
Recent Career
In 2013 Ian was introduced to Peter Romano, ASC, owner of Hydroflex and Legendary Underwater Director of Photography. Later that same year Ian was hired to shoot the Underwater work for Selena Gomez's 'come and get it' video, Katy Perry's 'unconditionally', 'Pretty little Liars' 'Scandal' and 'Master of Sex'.
He Ian signed with Agent Erin Searcy at The Gersh Agency, as Underwater Operator and Cinematographer, and spent the next year working on projects like 'True Detective', commercials for Corona, Verizon, Princess Cruises, and features Swiss Army man' or The Daniels with Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano, 'The Neon Demon' for Nicholas W Refn, with Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks and Elle Fanning, 'All I see is You' for Marc Forster with Blake Lively, and 'The Layover' for William H. Macy, starring Kate Upton. Erin Searcy joined WPA as a partner and Ian followed her to that agency, booking ' Lemonade' visual album, as well as adding Nike, Ford, The Last Ship, to his work, and landing a job as Director of Photography (and Underwater Cinematographer) for a commercial under Marc Forster.
Family
Ian is Married to Marvel Executive Corinna Vistan and have a son Roman Takahashi.

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