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John Alonzo, A.S.C. (June 12, 1934 in Dallas, Texas – March 13, 2001) was an American cinematographer who pioneered hand held work, lighting techniques and HD development during his career. He has an impressive list of films, but will probably be remembered mainly for Chinatown (1974) and Scarface (1983). Alonzo was not only the Director of Photography for some of the greatest American films of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but also the first American cinematographer of Mexican American and Latino heritage to become a member of the Cinematographer’s Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first... MORE

John Alonzo, A.S.C. (June 12, 1934 in Dallas, Texas – March 13, 2001) was an American cinematographer who pioneered hand held work, lighting techniques and HD development during his career. He has an impressive list of films, but will probably be remembered mainly for Chinatown (1974) and Scarface (1983). Alonzo was not only the Director of Photography for some of the greatest American films of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but also the first American cinematographer of Mexican American and Latino heritage to become a member of the Cinematographer’s Union in Los Angeles, as well as the first to be inducted into the famed A.S.C.. John Alonzo’s career began as part of the clean-up crew at television station WFAA in Dallas. However, within a short time he had made himself indispensable, not only building sets, hanging lights and moving cameras, but also directing cooking and children’s shows. Eventually he and actor Hank Williamson created a popular comedy duo: Alonzo became the voice and puppeteer of the irreverent “Señor Turtle,” who with Williamson as his sidekick, introduced movies and cartoons. In 1956, the show was picked up by station KHJ in Hollywood, where it lasted only 26 weeks. So LESS