John Chester
Encyclopedia
John Chester is a documentary filmmaker, TV director, and cinematographer
. During his high school years he made student films in his hometown, the mainly seasonal resort town of Ocean City, Maryland
, USA. but later lived in the Los Angeles area where he worked as a Production assistant
on a well-known TV mystery series for the 1994 season. By 1995, he was again working on the East Coast employed by the Baltimore County Public Schools
as a TV producer for The Education Channel
in Towson, Maryland
, the school system's PEG-TV station. In 1997 he directed an unreleased 16mm low-budget independent narrative feature film shot on Assateague Island
near his boyhood home. Since then, Chester has produced, directed, and shot productions for Animal Planet
, ESPN
, the A&E Network
and various nonprofit clients. Similar to documentary filmmaker Michael Moore
, Chester has cast himself as a prominent character in several of his own projects, most notably the "Touched by a Slacker" documentary-style reality TV series Random 1
and its feature-length film sequel Lost in Woonsocket
. His cinematography and directorial style often features Dutch angle
s, a highly saturated color palette, and/or low-key lighting
.
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
. During his high school years he made student films in his hometown, the mainly seasonal resort town of Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
, USA. but later lived in the Los Angeles area where he worked as a Production assistant
Production assistant
A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production...
on a well-known TV mystery series for the 1994 season. By 1995, he was again working on the East Coast employed by the Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools is the school district in charge of all public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The nation's 25th largest school system as of 2005, it is managed by the Board of Education, headquartered in Towson. The Superintendent is Dr. Joe A...
as a TV producer for The Education Channel
The Education Channel
The Education Channel is a basic cable television Educational-access television channel realized by the Baltimore County Public Schools. Its offices and production studios are located, but not part of, The Carver Center for the Arts and Technology....
in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
, the school system's PEG-TV station. In 1997 he directed an unreleased 16mm low-budget independent narrative feature film shot on Assateague Island
Assateague Island
Assateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays and coves, including Toms Cove...
near his boyhood home. Since then, Chester has produced, directed, and shot productions for Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, the A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
and various nonprofit clients. Similar to documentary filmmaker Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
, Chester has cast himself as a prominent character in several of his own projects, most notably the "Touched by a Slacker" documentary-style reality TV series Random 1
Random 1
Random 1 is a documentary-style reality television series that aired from November 2005 to January 2006 on the A&E cable network. In each episode, hosts John Chester and Andre Miller travel from town to town, in Miller's real-life, rickety pickup truck Jackie, searching for total strangers who are...
and its feature-length film sequel Lost in Woonsocket
Lost In Woonsocket
Lost In Woonsocket is a documentary feature film directed by John Chester. It stars Chester and Andre Miller, co-creators of the A&E Network documentary series Random 1, from which the film draws much of its content...
. His cinematography and directorial style often features Dutch angle
Dutch angle
Dutch tilt, Dutch angle, Dutch shot, oblique angle, German angle, canted angle, Batman angle, or jaunty angle are terms used for one of many cinematic techniques often used to portray the psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed...
s, a highly saturated color palette, and/or low-key lighting
Low-key lighting
Low-key lighting is a style of lighting for photography, film or television. It is a necessary element in creating a chiaroscuro effect. Traditional photographic lighting, three-point lighting uses a key light, a fill light, and a back light for illumination...
.
External links
- Apple.com Feature on Chester
- New York Times review of Random 1.
- Time Out review of Lost In Woonsocket
- John Chester on IMDB