Biography

Chris Arata is a Los Angeles–based camera operator and cinematographer who has cultivated his craft through a traditional, hands‑on journey in the camera department, beginning his career by advancing from camera assistant to camera operator. In 2020, Arata earned recognition from his peers by being inducted as an active member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC). Throughout his career, Arata has worked on a variety of high-profile feature films and television series, contributing as a camera operator to projects including Short Term 12, I Am Not a Hipster, Unicorn Store, This Is Us, Lowriders, Just Mercy, and The Outlaws, among others. His filmography includes operating both A- and B-camera units across genres, from independent dramas to major studio and streaming productions. In addition to performing camera duties, Arata has distinguished himself as a director of photography, notably helming the visual narrative for the film Black White and the Greys. He has worked under esteemed directors and alongside prominent cinematographers, including Brett Pawlak, Emmanuel Lubezki, Amir Mokri, and Michael Bonvillain.  Arata's body of work spans feature films, episodic television, second-unit photography, commercials, and innovative projects, such as the virtual reality installation Carne y Arena, which received a Special Achievement Academy Award.