Motion Picture Cinematographer. He was best known for his association with director John Landis, notably on the Michael Jackson music video "Thriller" (1983). Paynter began his career in the early early 1950s with the Central Office of Information's Colonial Film Unit, making numerous trips to East Africa; he then apprenticed as a cameraman with British Transport Films and would go on to work on TV commercials and documentary shorts. This lead to a fruitful collaboration with director Michael Winner, beginning with the feature "Hannibal Brooks" (1969), and followed by such films as "Lawman" (1971), "The Nightcomers" (1971), "Chato's Land" (1972), "The Mechanic" (1972) and "The Big Sleep" (1978). He then joined forces with John Landis for "An American Werewolf in London" (1981), as well as "Trading Places" (1983) and "Into the Night" (1985). Among the other films Paynter worked on were "Superman II" (1980), "Superman III" (1983), "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (1984) and "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986).
Motion Picture Cinematographer. He was best known for his association with director John Landis, notably on the Michael Jackson music video "Thriller" (1983). Paynter began his career in the early early 1950s with the Central Office of Information's Colonial Film Unit, making numerous trips to East Africa; he then apprenticed as a cameraman with British Transport Films and would go on to work on TV commercials and documentary shorts. This lead to a fruitful collaboration with director Michael Winner, beginning with the feature "Hannibal Brooks" (1969), and followed by such films as "Lawman" (1971), "The Nightcomers" (1971), "Chato's Land" (1972), "The Mechanic" (1972) and "The Big Sleep" (1978). He then joined forces with John Landis for "An American Werewolf in London" (1981), as well as "Trading Places" (1983) and "Into the Night" (1985). Among the other films Paynter worked on were "Superman II" (1980), "Superman III" (1983), "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (1984) and "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986).
Bio by: C.S.
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