Daryn Okada, ASC
current president of the American Society of Cinematographers, began experimenting with a Super 8 mm camera during his pre-teen years. He graduated from high school at the age of 16 and began working part-time as a projectionist at East Los Angeles City College as well getting hands on experience volunteering on student and independent film crews. During the mid-1980s, he completed 2 low budget features and was shooting commercials when his career was put on hold for several years after being injured in a helicopter crash while shooting aerial footage. Upon his return to cinematography he photographed several independent films during the late '80s and earned an Outstanding Achievement Award nomination from the American Society of Cinematographers for the Emmy nominated mini-series "In a Child's Name" in 1991. Daryn Okada has compiled more than 30 feature credits, including "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Anna Karenina," "Captain Ron," "My Father the Hero," "Black Sheep," "Halloween: H20," "Lake Placid," "Joe Somebody," and the television series pilot "Dawson's Creek."

Daryn recently completed cinematography on the feature "Baby Mama" starring Tina Fey, Amy Pohler, Greg Kinnear, Steve Martin and Sigourney Weaver. Prior to that he photographed "Sex and Death 101" for director-writer Daniel Waters starring Winona Ryder and Simon Baker in addition to director-writer Jessica Bendiger's "Stick It" for Touchstone Pictures. He has previously collaborated with director Mark Waters on the hit comedy "Mean Girls" for Paramount and the Dreamworks Picture "Just Like Heaven," starring Reese Witherspoon.

Along with being current president of the American Society of Cinematographers, Daryn is also a member of the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

About American Society of Cinematographers (ASC)

The ASC traces its roots to 1913 when a handful of cinematographers organized camera clubs in New York and Los Angeles for the purpose of sharing ideas about technical and creative issues. The two clubs coalesced into one organization with 16 charter members on January 8, 1919. From the beginning, ASC membership has been by invitation based on the individual's body of narrative film work. Some 275 cinematographers with national roots in approximately 20 countries are members of ASC today. In addition, there are 140 associate members from various allied sectors of the industry. For more information about ASC, visit www.theasc.com.