Brett Pawlak is an American cinematographer known for his work on independent and mainstream films. A frequent collaborator of director Destin Daniel Cretton, he gained recognition for his cinematography on Short Term 12 (2013), where he used handheld camerawork and natural lighting to create a realistic aesthetic.
In 2016, he served as the cinematographer for the pilot episode of This Is Us, establishing the show's visual style. Pawlak later reunited with Cretton for Just Mercy (2019), which featured a character-driven cinematographic approach. In 2023, he was announced as the director of photography for Marvel Studios' Wonder Man.
Career In 2013, Pawlak served as the cinematographer for Short Term 12, collaborating with director Destin Daniel Cretton to develop a naturalistic visual style. Having previously worked with Cretton on the original Short Term 12 short film and I Am Not a Hipster, Pawlak employed handheld camerawork and available light to enhance the film’s realism. His cinematography for the film received positive recognition for its naturalistic approach. His visual style allowed for fluid movement within scenes, contributing to the film’s blend of humor and emotional depth.
In 2016, Pawlak served as the cinematographer for the pilot episode of This Is Us, helping to establish the visual tone of the series. His work introduced a handheld shooting style that facilitated seamless transitions between different time periods, a key element of the show's narrative structure. When the series was officially ordered, Yasu Tanida took over as the primary cinematographer but retained aspects of Pawlak’s stylistic approach, including the use of handheld camerawork across eras.
In 2019, Pawlak served as the cinematographer for Just Mercy, his fourth consecutive feature-length collaboration with director Destin Daniel Cretton. Pawlak’s cinematography for the film received positive industry recognition for its intimate and character-driven visual style. His work contributed to the film’s emotional depth and portrayal of its legal drama. While Just Mercy was not nominated at Camerimage that year, Pawlak’s cinematography was noted in discussions on the film-versus-digital debate.
In 2023, Pawlak was announced as the director of photography for Marvel Studios' streaming series Wonder Man. The series reunites Pawlak with executive producer Destin Daniel Cretton.
Filmography
Feature film +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released Year Title Director Notes 2012 I Am Not a HipsterDestin Daniel Cretton 2013 Short Term 12 2014 Hellion Kat Candler2015 The Wannabe Nick Sandow We Are Your Friends Max Joseph The Meddler Lorene Scafaria2016 All We Had Katie Holmes Max Steel Stewart Hendler2017 MDMA Angie Wang The Glass Castle Destin Daniel Cretton Unicorn Store Brie Larson2018 Life Itself Dan Fogelman Instant Family Sean Anders 2019 Just Mercy Destin Daniel Cretton 2020 The 24th Kevin Willmott 2022 A Jazzman's Blues Tyler Perry2026 He Bled Neon Drew Kirsch Spider-Man: Brand New Day Destin Daniel Cretton
Television Year Title Director Notes 2011 Pretty ToughStewart Hendler 2011–2013 H+: The Digital Series 48 episodes 2016 This Is Us John RequaGlenn Ficarra Episode "Pilot" 2020 Next 9 episodes 2021 The Republic of Sarah Kat Candler Episode "Pilot" 2023 American Born Chinese Destin Daniel Cretton Episode "What Guy Are You" 2026 Wonder Man Destin Daniel CrettonTiffany Johnson Episodes "Matinee", "Self-Tape", "Found Footage" and "Callback"
Miniseries Year Title Director Notes 2012 Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Stewart Hendler 2022 Echoes Li LuValerie Weiss Episodes "Party", "Body" and "Falls"
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