Albert Maysles
Birth Name:
Albert Maysles
Birth Place:
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Cinematographer, Director, Producer, Camera department
Fast Facts
- Was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in July 2014
- Won the president's award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1998
- Studied psychology at Syracuse University and earned his master's from Boston University
- Suffered from a learning disability in his youth that he said caused him to develop the listening skills that made him a good documentary filmmaker
- Worked as a psychology teacher at Boston University for three years before making his first film, "Psychiatry in Russia," in 1955
- Quote: "Making a film isn't finding the answer to a question; it's trying to capture life as it is․"
- Best known as a documentary filmmaker who, with his brother David, made "Gimme Shelter" and "Grey Gardens․"
- In addition to his work with his brother, he also co-directed documentaries with people like Susan Froemke, with whom he worked on "Soldiers of Music" and "Abortion: Desperate Choices․"
- Grey Gardens was so successful that it went on to inspire a Broadway play and a film on HBO by the same name
- Although "Gimme Shelter" was largely admired for its portrayal of the Rolling Stones' 1969 American tour, many viewers were concerned that the film was exploiting violence because it included a scene of a fan being stabbed to death at a concert
Awards
- 1974Oscar - Best Documentary, Short Subjects:Nominated
- 1976Gold Hugo - Best Feature:Nominated
- 1987Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Individual Achievement - Classical Music/Dance Programming - Directing:Winner
- 1987Grand Jury Prize - Documentary:Nominated
- 1991IDA AwardWinner
- 1991Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Individual - Informational Programming:Winner
- 1991Cinematography Award - Documentary:Winner
- 1991Grand Jury Prize - Documentary:Nominated
- 1992DGA Award - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary/Actuality:Nominated
- 2001Cinematography Award - Documentary:Winner
- 2002Independent Spirit Award - Best Documentary:Nominated
- 2010IDA Award - Continuing Series:Winner
- 2010Gold World Medal - Documentaries:Winner
- 2010Gold World Medal - Best Direction:Winner
- 2011Cinema Eye Legacy AwardWinner
- 2013Short Film Grand Jury PrizeNominated
- 2014Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2014Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2014Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2014Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature:Winner
- 2015Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2015Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2015Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2015Jury Award - Best Documentary Feature:Nominated
- 2015Special Mention - Documentary Feature:Winner
- 2015Jury Award - Best Documentary Feature:Nominated
- 2015WFCC Award - Best Screen Couple:Nominated
- 2016Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2016Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2016Cinema Eye Audience Choice PrizeNominated
- 2016Cinema Eye Honors Award - Outstanding Achievement in Direction:Nominated
- 2016Cinema Eye Honors Award - The Influentials:Winner
- 2017Emmy - Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary:Nominated