Narrative
“Ruby Throat” / Dir. S. Polhaus (upcoming fall 2022)
“I Am Not A Robot” / Totally Inc. / Dir. Brian Olliver / camera: Arri Alexa Mini - anamorphic
“Rite of Passage” / Ebo Entertainment / Dir. Michael Krehan / camera: Arri Alexa Mini
“To Tell the Truth” / Fik Tiv Films / Dir. Shema Jones / camera: Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro
"Monster in a House" / Manowar Media, Muller Entertainment / Dir. Christiano Dias / camera: RED Epic
"King Eternal" / Manowar Media, Muller Entertainment / Dir. Christiano Dias / camera: RED One
“One Heart” / DeeDee Benkovich / Dir. Arturo Vargas / camera: RED Scarlet
“The Confrontation” / Dir. Soraya Hajjaji / camera: Canon 5DM2
“Dungeons & Dorks” / Dr. CLS Productions / Dir. Jimmy Yen / camera: Canon 5DM2
“Revolution” / Gentlemen Films / Dir. Josh Spector / camera: Arri SRII
“Versus” / Emily Branham / Dir. Sean Gannet / camera: Arri SRII
Commercial | Music video | Corporate
Elder Scrolls 2022 Global Reveal / Artifact Studios LA / Dir. A. Colombo / Arri Amira
Cedar Sinai Year End Innovation / Effie Studios / Dir. A. Colombo / C300 Mark I & C300 Mark II
Cedar Sinai Women's Gala / Effie Studios / Dir. A. Colombo / C300 Mark I & C300 Mark II
Heritage Yarn Mills / “Grandson” / Dir. M. Helenek / camera: Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro
TruStage Insurance / “Memories” / C41 Media / Dir. Pete Sillen / camera: Arri Alexa Mini & Amira
Pxsell / “Social Marketplace” / Dir. Christiano Dias / Uberion, Inc. / camera: Canon 5DM2
Antmine / “Angry Garage” / Dir. Christiano Dias / Uberion, Inc. / camera: Canon 5DM2
CLS & Rich Ferguson / “Secrets & Lies” / Dr. CLS Productions / Dir. Saul Herckis / camera: Canon 5DM2
Netafin Flexnet / Goal Productions / Dir. Griff Partington / camera: Sony FS7
Miracle Grow / Goal Productions / Dir. Griff Partington / camera: Sony FS7
Tone It Up / Sypher Films / Dir. Jens Jacob / camera: Canon C300
Raising Canes / Goal Productions / Dir. Griff Partington / camera: Sony FS7
No-Notoriety / Dir. Michael Helenek / camera: Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro *video not endorsed/approved by organization*
Documentary
“Great Park” / Techstyle Fashion Group / Dir. John Cregan / camera: Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro
“The Heart of Man” / Sypher Films / Dir. Jens Jacob / camera: Arri Alexa mini, RED Dragon
“DogTown” television series / National Geographic Television / EP. Kim Woodard / camera: Sony EX1
“Centro Medico Humberto Parra” / Daniels Hamant Foundation/ Dir. Michael Helenek / camera: Panasonic DVX100
Set lighting
Gaffer. Commercial clients include: Gatorade, Sunkist, Intuit, USAA, Bank of the West, American Express, NBC, Bank of the West. (Complete listing @ heleneklighting.com).
Set Lighting Technician, Diary of a Future President (Disney+), Big Shot (Disney+), Anomalisa (Paramount), GLOW (Netflix), The Waltons: Homecoming (Warner Bros.)
Post Production
Post Production Manager, National Geographic Television, NYC. Managed offline, conform, color correction, and audio mix for series TV shows.
Editor, Animator, Image Work Communications, LA, CA. Created documentary, commercial, and corporate programming.
Education
Northwestern University. B.S. Radio/Television/Film. 3.55/4.0 in major.
Awards
Cinematography of Monster in a House featured in American Cinematographer Magazine (July ’16).
Awarded Best Cinematography, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival (Monster in a House).
PRESS
“Michael Helenek's lensing is simply stellar, utilizing a perfect use of shadowing and framing and giving the film an emotional depth by following the faces of the characters involved.”
– Richard Propes, The Independent Critic. Review of Monster in a House.
“…Dias and DP Michael Helenek [keep] impressive visuals on the screen throughout, finding dreamy wonder in the most ordinary of locations.”
– Nicholas La Salla, Forest City Short Film Review. Review of Monster in a House.
CLIENT REVIEWS
“The footage we have so far is nothing short of amazing, and I'm grateful to have you as DP. I can't wait to finish our film.”
– Michael Krehan, Director, Rite of Passage.
"The footage looks amazing. You did an excellent job and I would love to work with you again or recommend you to friends!”
– Deedee Benkovich, Writer, Producer, One Heart.
“I’m just fortunate to have worked with such immensely talented people from Composer - Daniel James Chan and Director of Photography - Michael Helenek.
To me, it’s all about building a family that you work well with, believe in, and are “sharp as a knife” focused on telling a story.”
– Director Christiano Dias - Hollyshorts Film Festival interview.