MAXIMILIAN SCHMIGE | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Maximilian Schmige is based out of Los Angeles and originally from Berlin Germany with German and Finnish roots. He grew up in the film industry and is the son of the German screenplay writer Hartmann Schmige. He studied film history and film theory at UC Santa Barbara, where his early cinematography and filmmaking journey began. He later went on to receive his MFA in cinematography from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles and was mentored by ASC cinematographer Karl-Walter Lindenlaub. Since then, Maximilian Schmige’s career has spanned over a wide range of projects in many aspects of the industry. He now focuses on narrative, documentary, television shows and commercials. 

His resume includes the Saturn Award nominated sci-fi action-drama series Pandora on The CW, the Raindance Film Festival nominated film Double Exposure, The New York Times hailed comedy mystery My, Myself and The Void, the family drama Where Did the Adults Go? directed by Academy Award nominated Courtney Marsh, and the Universal Pictures released award-winning documentary feature film Long Promised Road on Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys.

He has worked on shows about pop-icon Ricky Martin, country musician Toby Keith, Dolly Parton, hip hop artist Nelly, gospel singer Tamela Mann, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. His television background also led him to directing experience with the stage show production of Drag Race Germany for Paramount Plus. He photographed music videos for top European artists such as Booba with over 150 million views on YouTube, received a Berlin Music Video Awards nomination for best cinematography and shot the award-winning fitness commercial campaign for Nordic Track. Notable short films include the AFI Fest Jury Prize nominated and Oscar Qualifying Go for Grandma starring Justine Lupe and Academy Award nominated Amy Madigan. 

He has traveled to film across the US and international such as in Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, India, Jordan, Mexico, Malaysia, Norway, and Serbia. His work has been aired by NBC, CBS, The CW, National Geographics, Paramount Plus, BET, TV One, Fox, NBC Sports, and many more. 

He has photographed using motion control systems, ultimate-arm car systems, LED walls, underwater photography and green screen VFX heavy productions; as well as two award winning virtual reality films combining his creative and technical skills in emerging storytelling formats. Maximilian Schmige brings a range of experiences, creative skills and passion for visual storytelling to each film, show and commercial production.