Christian Epps
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Christian Epps’ career as a lighting designer has spanned more than two decades covering the range from major motion pictures, broadcast television, live theater, dance, music videos and special events. Recent projects; ‘SELMA’, Beck & Lincoln Automotive (commercial), The Door (a short film for fashion brand Prada), Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, (Sundance Cinematography Award winning movie).
On film, Christian’s passion for dramatic lighting has been put to use with notable directors such as Spike Lee, Hype Williams, and Nick Castle. As part of his decade long association with Spike Lee, Christian was chosen to bring live performance lighting to the big screen. Christian also was brought in to execute the nightclub lighting for Ice Cube’s directorial debut ‘Player’s Club’. In the fast paced music video format he’s contributed his design work to such artists as: Michael Jackson, P. Diddy, Biggy Smalls, R. Kelly, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Branford Marsalis, Me’Shell N’degeocello, TLC, The Indigo Girls, Boyz II Men, and many, many more.
He served as the gaffer on ‘Belly’, directed by the seminole music video director Hype Williams as part of his long association with Mr. Williams. Of late. For the last three years Christian has been gaff’ing again with a rising star DP Bradford Young. Their most recent project wast the national and international critically acclaimed SELMA. One of their movies, ‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints’, was recently awarded the Sundance Best Cinematography 2013, and will be released August 2013.
TV; President Clinton: Live at the White House, 1996 Centennial Olympic Games – Badminton Competition & numerous press areas. Black Movie Awards (TNT). John Leguizamo’s Broadway show Freak (HBO). Dinner & A Movie (TBS). Man-Made Movie (TBS). The Jacksons’ Reality Show (A&E). Source Awards, Stellar Awards, Comic View, 106 & Park, Jamie Foxx’s Laffapalooza, ‘The Tom Joyner Show’ (Syndicated). VH-1, A&E, ’The Brian McKnight Show, The Weather Channel, Bill Cosby’s web content OBKB. Film; Christian’s passion for dramatic lighting has been put to use with notable directors such as Spike Lee, Hype Williams, Ava DuVernay, David Lowery. Ice Cube. Music video; Michael Jackson, P. Diddy, Biggy Smalls, R. Kelly, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Me’Shell N’degeocello, TLC, Boyz II Men, and many, many more. He served as the gaffer on ‘Belly’, directed by the seminal music video director Hype Williams. Corporate; Nike, IBM, Sprite, McDonald’s, Buena Vista Television, GE Capitol, Paramount Studios, Home Depot, ESPN, Buick, Kaiser Permanente, Amtrak, Panasonic. Disney Imagineering selected Christian to participate in their very exclusive concept program known as ‘Blue Sky’. He has been commissioned to work with such global powerhouses as Nike, IBM, Sprite, McDonald’s, Buena Vista Television, GE Capitol, Paramount Studios, Home Depot, ESPN, Buick, Kaiser Permanente, Amtrak, and Panasonic and numerous Hollywood Movie premiers. Disney Imagineering selected Christian to participate in their very exclusive concept program known as ‘Blue Sky’.
Christian is honored that his work has been showcased in legendary venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kodak Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Apollo Theatre and The White House and The Superbowl Fan Experience. Christian’s work has been seen across the US, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, and of late has become a regular fixture in Africa – Nigeria (Nollywood, TV & concert), South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe. Other highlights include The Trinidad & Tobago Jazz Fest and The St. Lucia Jazz Festival, ThisDay! (Festival Designer) in Lagos, Nigeria, feat. Beyonce, Shakira, Jay-Z, Usher, UB-40, John Legend.