ABOUT

Derek McKane is an Emmy-winning New York cinematographer and director of photography working across commercials, branded, social media, narrative film, documentary, beauty, fashion, automotive and dance.

I asked AI to help write a short Bio for this page, based on a web search of projects I’ve worked on, articles and press releases, my Experian score – whatever it could scrape. It came up with:

Derek McKane is an Emmy-winning cinematographer based in New York, drawn to images with movement, atmosphere, and a strong human point of view (I don’t think AI gets irony…). Equally at home in the heightened worlds of beauty, fashion, dance, and automotive filmmaking as in intimate narrative and documentary work, he brings close attention to performance, feeling, and the small details that make a frame memorable. His commercial work has been commissioned by brands including Adidas, Amazon, Toyota, Volvo, Bose, Thom Browne, YSL, Cartier, and Band-Aid, while his feature credits include Blue’s Big City Adventure, The Magnificent Meyersons, Five Dances, and Other People’s Bodies. Across formats and scales, he works closely with directors, agencies, and creative teams to create visually distinct work that feels emotionally present, technically assured, and connected to the story.

That’s all true I guess, but misses the point. I take great pride in the craft I bring to a project in service of the art of story-telling. I’ve had the good fortune to join forces with many of the most talented directors and creatives. I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best - Vilmos Zsigmond, Gordon Willis, Ernest Dickerson, Michael Slovis, William Rexer - as well as every key grip, gaffer and AC with whom I’ve ever worked. There is nothing better than collaborating with a talented team to tell a meaningful story – in 30 seconds or two hours. I’m very lucky - I love my job. And my racecar and my family. The order depends on the day…

Selected Feature Films + Television:

OTHER PEOPLE’S BODIES x Alan Brown, director ARTHUR ELGORT: MODEL’S AND MUSES xWarren Elgort, director BLUE’S BIG CITY ADVENTURE Paramount +, Nickelodeon x Matt Stawski, director LOVE-40 Bluewater Lane Productions, Jason Shuman, Producer x Fred Wolf , director
STRANGE GIRL IN A STRANGE LAND Mangata Films x MB, director
THE MAGNIFICENT MEYERSONS TMM Productions x Evan Oppenheimer, director
LOVE IS A BROADWAY HIT Broadway Mulan Productions x Peter Lee, director
THE GET DOWN (Second Unit), Netflix x Baz Luhrman, director
FISH & MEN (doc.) Blood Brothers Content x Darby Duffin & Adam Jones, directors
A LITTLE GAME Michael Mailer Films x Evan Oppenheimer, director
FROM DARKROOM TO DAY LIGHT (doc.) x Harvey Wang, director
FIVE DANCES All For One Productions x Alan Brown, director
PRIVATE ROMEO Wolfe Releasing x Alan Brown, director
SUPERHEROES IFC Films x Alan Brown, director
LOST NBC - various directors
THE LAST NEW YORKER Brink Films x Harvey Wang, director

Selected Short Films + Music Videos: 

THE BIG BREAK Phantasm Cinematics LLC x Gil Freston, director
ANSEL ELGORT "THIEF" x Warren Elgort, director
BOCCAMAZZO CONSTRUCTION - WE BUILD “WALLS”! Two Hands Films x Paul Riccio, director
FLOATING POINTS - "PERORATION 6" Paradoxal x Fabien Coupez, director
CONNOR LEIMER - "BROOKLYN" x Warren Elgort, director
8,336,615 (doc.) Sandwick Media x Paul Riccio, director
SPACE CADET Sandwick Media x Paul Riccio, director
SCOTT MATHEWS - "I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY" Perry St. Films x Alan Brown, director
ARK - "UMBA" Paradoxal x Fabien Coupez, director
THE RECLAIMERS Reel Life Film x Adam Jones, director
STRANGER DANGER Slingback Productions x Adam Jones, director
AND THE WALLS CAME DOWN First Wave x Adam Witten, director
LATE BLOOMER North Lake Films x Craig MacNeill, director
SONY DREAMS: “Flight” Park Pictures x Alison Maclean, director

Selected Commercials:

VYVGART HYTRULO NTropic x Nate Robinson, director ADIDAS Lair x Steven Weinzierl, director INDEED Supper Club x Bernie Roux, director CRAVE Crooked River Prod x MB, director TOYOTA NTropic x Nate Robinson, director PEPSI Quiet Content x Johnnie Semerad, director
ACER Lair x Steve Weinzierl, director
TOYOTA MS Creative x Bryce Duffy, director
NATIONWIDE No Smoke Films x Adam Jones, director
ESPN Trio Films x Ramaa Mosley, director
PANASONIC Quiet Content x Johnnie Semerad, director
BREATHE RIGHT Chelsea Pictures x Robb Bindler, director
AIO Gypsy x Roger van der Ploeg, director
REDDI-WIP B-Reel x Eivind Holmboe, director
LANCASTER PARIS Lancaster x Guy Aroch, director
VERIZON FIOS Sandwick x Paul Riccio, director
NFL Gypsy x Roger van der Ploeg, director
SAMSUNG GALAXY Shilo x Anthony Furlong, director
VALERO Form x Jonathan Darby, director
MICROSOFT NTropic x Nate Robinson, director
LIBERTY BANK Sandwick x Paul Riccio, director
SAVIN COPIERS Zero 2 Sixty x Mark Claywell, director
BLUE CROSS Celsius Films x Bruce Van Dusen, director
NY METS Biscuit Filmworks x Tim Godsall, director
SCION The Sweet Shop x Paul Riccio, director
INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS Crooked River Productions x Danny Kaufman, director
SONY Nonfiction Spots x Peter Gilbert, director
PPA Celsius Films x Harvey Wang, director
VERIZON Park Pictures x Alison Maclean, director
CAPITOL LIGHTING Public Domain x Paul Riccio, director
ADVIL Public Domain x Bruce Van Dusen, director
EXCELLA COFFEE Detour Films x Jeff Kaumeyer, director
ADIDAS Sockeye Creative Inc. x Andy Fraser & Kenan Moran, directors