ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Santorini Island, Greece

AUTHOR
Following in the footsteps of family members Yiannis J. Samaras started in the film business in Athens Greece at the age of 16 working his way up through the camera department. In 1984 he graduated from the Hellenic Film Academy and in '86 he moved to New York City where he began working for BBC, PBS, HBO as a camera technician and Liberty Studios as a special effects & motion control photography technician. In the mid '80s Samaras studied Fine Art Photography where he experimented with long exposure, cross processing and colorizing. He put on 15 photo exhibitions in galleries and nightclubs where he received accolades for his unique style and vision. From the late '80s to the early '90s Yiannis worked as a Lighting Designer in some of the best clubs in New York City and also designed lights for off Broadway theatre, opera, mime, and dance. He also organized and presented visual multimedia shows involving lasers, digital projections and live performers in the dynamic world of rave music. In 1994 he moved to California and enrolled in the American Film Institute where he graduated with a Master's degree. He currently works as a cinematographer and fine art photographer, residing in Los Angeles with his wife and their two children.

Mini biography by: Rebecca Nordquist

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