Matthew F. Leonetti

• Name — Matthew F. Leonetti • Birth Name — Matthew Frank Leonetti • Born — 31 July 1941 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, U.S • Years Active — 1969–2014 • Education — Loyola Marymount University • Relatives — John R. Leonetti (brother)

Leonetti was born in Los Angeles, California. His younger brother, John R. Leonetti, is also a prolific cinematographer and occasional film director. Their father Frank was a filmmaker and cinematographer, who served as a gaffer and lighting technician on low-budget films like The Violent Years, Frankenstein's Daughter, and Beyond the Time Barrier. Leonetti is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University.

Leonetti began his career working on a number of projects with his father, serving as a camera operator on films like Adam at 6 A.M. and The Organization. He soon fell in with Jerry Jameson, a prolific television director who dabbled in feature films. His debut as cinematographer was The Bat People, a low-budget horror movie directed by Jameson, on which Leonetti also served as an executive producer. Though the film came and went with little fanfare, it did gain a minor cult following years later after being featured at an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Leonetti spent much of the 1970s shooting TV films directed by Jameson. In 1979, Leonetti worked on his first big-budget theatrical film with the Academy Award-winning Breaking Away, directed by Peter Yates. Leonetti later shot the Poltergeist, where he was responsible for creating many of the film's iconic images. This proved to be his big break, and in the following years he quickly became one of the most prolific and accomplished DPs in the film industry, shooting a large number of iconic films of the 80s. Leonetti served as DP on his brother's directorial debut, Mortal Kombat Annihilation. In 2000s, Leonetti shot a string of blockbusters, from thrillers to action, as well as comedy films.

TV movies • Year — Title — Director — Notes • 1974 — The Elevator — Jerry Jameson • Hurricane • Terror on the 40th Floor • It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy — Cy Howard • 1975 — The Secret Night Caller — Jerry Jameson • Search for the Gods — Jud Taylor • The Deadly Tower — Jerry Jameson • The Lives of Jenny Dolan • 1976 — High Risk — Sam O'Steen • The Call of the Wild — Jerry Jameson • 1977 — The Spell — Lee Philips • Flight to Holocaust — Bernard L. Kowalski • The Hostage Heart — Bernard McEveety • 1978 — Superdome — Jerry Jameson • Ruby and Oswald — Mel Stuart • Special Olympics — Lee Philips — With John V. LaBarbera • The Comedy Company • A Fire in the Sky — Jerry Jameson • 1979 — The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal — Mel Stuart • Willa — Joan Darling Claudio Guzmán • Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love — Glenn Jordan • 1980 — Turnover Smith — Bernard L. Kowalski • 1981 — Crazy Times — Lee Philips • Stand By Your Man — Jerry Jameson • 1982 — Mae West — Lee Philips • Hotline — Jerry Jameson • E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors — Malcolm Leo Andrew Solt — Documentary film • 1983 — Happy — Lee Philips • 1986 — American Geisha • Under the Influence — Thomas Carter • 1988 — Secret Witness — Eric Laneuville TV series • Year — Title — Director — Notes • 1975 — Bronk — Richard Donner — Episode "Pilot" • 1976 — Jigsaw John — Allen Reisner Reza Badiyi Charles S. Dubin — 3 episodes • 1978 — The American Girls — Lee Philips — Episode "The Phoenix Connection" • 1982 — Tucker's Witch — Peter H. Hunt — Episode "The Good Witch of Laurel Canyon" • 1983 — Lottery! — Lee Philips — Episode "Being a Winner" • 1984 — Jessie — Richard Michaels — Episode "Pilot" • 2008 — Unhitched — The Farrelly Brothers — Episode "Pilot"