Michael Rizzi
Cinematographer · Born April 25, 1981 (45) · San Francisco, California, USA
Michael Rizzi grew up in the San Francisco bay area where at a young age his love affair with filmmaking began. His parents bought a Sony a Hi-8 video camera when he was twelve and thus he began experimenting with the moving picture. Video production classes in high school helped him organize his ideas through editing, sound design, and camera work. He then attended San Diego State University and graduated in 2003 with a degree in Television, Film and New Media where he was honored with the Billy Wilder Excellence in Cinematography Award upon commencement. Now based in Los Angeles, he has worked steadily as a cinematographer shooting features, television, documentaries, and numerous commercials, promos and music videos both domestically and internationally in 20 different countries and 6 continents. His features The Sentimental Engine Slayer and Los Chidos have enjoyed success at the Tribeca and South by Southwest film festivals and various international festivals. Michael is a graduate of the ASC Master Class where he honed his skills under ASC members Robert Yeoman, Checco Varese, Curtis Clark, Bill Bennett, Don McCuaig and more. A strong work ethic, a keen eye for composition and lighting, and a good attitude keep his clients, crew and production teams happy.
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Biography from IMDb.
- April 25, 1981 (45)
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Cinematographer
- 9 on Motif
What are Michael Rizzi's films like?
Across their 9 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
Genres
Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 1 · Earnest 7
A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 1 · Dark 2
Grounded 6 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1
Gentle 3 · Charged 4 · Intense 1
Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2
Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0
Casual 2 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 3 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 1
Resolved 3 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy2
- Bittersweet5
- Ambiguous2
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Michael Rizzi's films?
As of October 24, 2026, all 9 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (3).
- Curiosity Stream
Subscription and free streaming for Michael Rizzi's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
9 credits, 9 with a Motif page.
Not an Artist(2023)
Motif score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Good Half(2023)
Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films
Motif score: 94th percentile of all films
Raven's Hollow(2022)
Motif score: 16th percentile of all films
Trees of Peace(2021)
Motif score: 77th percentile of all films
Beyond the Spotlight(2020)
Motif score: 15th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)
The Argument(2020)
Motif score: 21st percentile of all films
The Unicorn(2018)
Motif score: 18th percentile of all films
Motif score: 79th percentile of all films
Career shape
Across their 9 Motif titles from 2017 to 2023.
Biggest box office
Raven's Hollow (2022)
Highest rated
The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023)
Most popular right now
The Argument (2020)
Counts over their Motif titles; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles, shown from 5 scored.
How do Michael Rizzi's films land?
Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 27th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up3
- 25th to 49th1
- Below 25th5
Shape of the crowd
6 of their 9 titles are Mixed.
- Universally Loved1
- Divisive1
- Crowd Pleaser1
- Mixed6
Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 60. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Michael Rizzi work with?
People who share at least 2 of Michael Rizzi's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Schwartzman shares the most, 5.
Directors
- Robert SchwartzmanShared titles: Not an Artist (2023), The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023), The Argument (2020), The Unicorn (2018)See all 5 shared titles with Robert Schwartzman
Actors
- Cleopatra ColemanShared titles: Not an Artist (2023), The Argument (2020)See all 2 shared titles with Cleopatra Coleman
- Lucy HaleShared titles: The Unicorn (2018), Pretty Little Liars: A List Wrap Party (2017)See all 2 shared titles with Lucy Hale
Composers and editors
- Christopher DonlonShared titles: The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023), The Unicorn (2018)See all 3 shared titles with Christopher Donlon
- Ben MesselbeckShared titles: The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023)See all 2 shared titles with Ben Messelbeck
Producers
- Russell Wayne GrovesShared titles: Not an Artist (2023), The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023), The Argument (2020), The Unicorn (2018)See all 5 shared titles with Russell Wayne Groves
- Cole HarperShared titles: The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023), The Argument (2020)See all 3 shared titles with Cole Harper
- Geeta BajajShared titles: Not an Artist (2023), The Argument (2020), The Unicorn (2018)See all 3 shared titles with Geeta Bajaj
- David RuttenbergShared titles: The Good Half (2023), The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream (2023)See all 2 shared titles with David Ruttenberg
Mixed roles
- Matt WalshShared titles: Not an Artist (2023), The Good Half (2023)See all 2 shared titles with Matt Walsh
