James Michael Muro, Jr. (born October 12, 1964) is an American cinematographer and director.
Early life Muro's father was the owner of Statewide Auto Parts, a now-defunct junkyard located at 1256 Grand Street, Brooklyn, New York City.
Career In 1987, Muro made his directorial debut with the horror film Street Trash, which Muro tailored the script for, including a junkyard dance sequence, to make use of a Brooklyn based wrecking yard and adjacent warehouse belonging to his father.
From 1989-1997, Muro was a Steadicam operator for James Cameron's films The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, and Titanic and Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves.
In 2002, Muro was director of photography on Costner's Open Range.
Kevin is always saying, “Jimmy, go back to the script as you’re setting this shot up and make sure we’re doing classic, iconic frames.” - Muro
In 2024, Muro was director of photography on Costner's Horizon: An American Saga.
Filmography Cinematographer Film Year Title Director 2003 Open Range Kevin Costner 2004 Crash Paul Haggis 2005 Roll Bounce Malcolm D. Lee 2006 Flicka Michael Mayer2007 Rush Hour 3 Brett Ratner The Last Mimzy Robert Shaye 2008 Traitor Jeffrey Nachmanoff 2009 Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Paul Weitz 2011 What's Your Number? Mark Mylod 2013 Parker Taylor Hackford 2016 The Book of Love Bill Purple 2018 Billionaire Boys Club James Cox2024 Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1Kevin Costner Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2
Television Year Title Director Notes 2007 The Black Donnellys Paul Haggis Episode "Pilot" 2009-2013 Southland Christopher ChulackNelson McCormickFélix Enríquez AlcaláHimselfAllison Anders 28 episodes 2010 Detroit 1-8-7 Jeffrey Nachmanoff Episode "Pilot" 2011 Shameless Mark MylodJohn WellsStephen Hopkins Episodes "Pilot", "Frank the Plank" and "Aunt Ginger" 2012-2017 Longmire 20 episodes 2015 The Brink 7 episodes 2017-2022 SEAL Team 47 episodes 2025 Dexter: Original Sin Monica Raymund Episodes "The Big Bad Body Problem" and "Business and Pleasure"
Director Film Street Trash (1987)
Television Year Title Episode(s) 2013 Shameless "The Sins of My Caretaker"2010-2013Southland "Maximum Deployment" "Cop or Not" "Failure Drill" "Legacy" "Risk" "Babel" "Heroes"2012-2017Longmire "An Incredibly Beautiful Thing" "Tell It Slant" "Election Day" "Of Children and Travelers" "Harvest" "Help Wanted" "Shotgun" "Pure Peckinpah" "Continual Soiree" "Thank You, Victoria" "Opiates and Antibiotics"2014The Red Road "The Wolf and the Dog" "The Woman Who Fell from the Sky" 2015 The Brink "Swim, Shmuley, Swim" 2016 Rush Hour "LA Real Estate Boom"2017 Outsiders "Unbroken Chain" Animal Kingdom "Bleed for It" Power "We're in This Together"2018-2021SEAL Team "The Upside Down" "Never Get Out of the Boat" "Outside the Wire" "You Only Die Once" "Rules of Engagement" "Horror Has a Face" "Hollow at the Core" "Frog on the Tracks" "Man on Fire"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result1987 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival Silver RavenStreet Trash Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival Fear Section Award 2004 BAFTA Awards Best Cinematography Crash
References
External links J. Michael Muro - crew-united.com