February 11, 2012 – Filmmakers Journey: “Act of Valor”

SHANE HURLBUT, ASC is an accomplished cinematographer who graduated from Emerson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Film. The American Society of Cinematographers recognized Hurlbut after his first feature film “The Rat Pack,” directed by Rob Cohen in 1998.

Over the course of the next decade Hurlbut lensed seventeen additional features including “Terminator: Salvation,” and “We Are Marshall,” directed by McG, “Greatest Game Ever Played,” directed by Bill Paxton, and “Drumline,” directed by Charles Stone III.

The highly anticipated “Act of Valor,” directed by Scott Waugh and Mike McCoy, details the covert operations of the US Navy SEALS. The film was shot primarily on the Canon 5D Mark II camera and will be the first HDSLR full-length feature released by a major studio on February 24.

Recently, Hurlbut was in Montreal shooting, “Kin,” directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky and starring Eric Bana, Olivia Wylde, Charlie Hunnam, Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson.

Hurlbut balances shooting features with commercial work, using his diverse skill set to maximize short form campaigns. His credit list includes: Marines For Us All, Case IH, Game of Thrones, Visa, Coca-Cola, Verizon, American Express, US Navy, Discovery, Big Love, and Deadwood. Hurlbut has also worked with music legends The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. He is signed as commercial director with Bandito Brothers.

Although Hurlbut has always put technology second to story telling, it would be the consumer DSLR from Canon that would help define him as a true innovator. Hurlbut mastered this device by turning it into a cinema rig capable of producing digital film. Hurlbut Visuals funded and lensed “The Last 3 Minutes,” directed by Po Chan. www.hurlbutvisuals.com.

In 2010, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended an invitation to Hurlbut to join the Academy. He was also among a select group of cinematographers recognized by Canon as an Explorer of Light and by the Tiffen Company as an ImageMaker. He has become a coveted public speaker at industry events and a recognized expert consultant for directors and producers. To further explore Hurlbut’s work please visit: www.shanehurlbut.com

“Take something ordinary and make it extraordinary, be obsessed with the subtleties then finish with an unstoppable work ethic.” – Shane Hurlbut, ASC

Writer Kurt Johnstad is a product of a mid-western childhood where he was raised on a working cattle farm, and an arts education from the California School of the Arts. After a decade as an assistant director, Johnstad made the transition to screenwriting.

Starting with an early collaboration with director Zak Snyder, their groundbreaking film “300” launched Johnstad onto Hollywood’s radar. Ongoing writing work with numerous filmmakers has put Johnstad in business with companies such as Warner Bros, Paramount, New Regency, Relativity and Legendary Pictures, as well as notable producers such as Mark Canton, Mandeville Pictures, Thunder Road Films and Silver Pictures.

Upcoming projects for Johnstad include “The Last Photograph” which has stars Christian Bale and Sean Penn attached for director Zak Snyder; “The Gunslinger” for New Regency and director Jim Mangold; and the sequel to the “300” for Warner Bros and director Noam Murro.

In addition to his screenwriting contributions, Johnstad’s involvement with feature film “Act of Valor” enabled him to honor his long standing working relationship with the Special Operations Community.