Patrick Donnelly    [ resume ]   [ website ]

Patrick Donnelly entered the film business after graduating from San Francisco State University in 1988 with a B.A. in Cinema Studies. His first break came when he obtained a staff position at Rick Levine Productions, one of the most prestigious commercial production companies of the 80's. From there, Patrick moved to Peter Corbett & Company which specialized in effects and animated commercial production. He obtained hands on experience with camera, lighting, motion control, and table- top techniques. Patrick then moved to the freelance world as a Key Grip, where he did feature films in Ireland and New York. He also worked at Universal Studios in Orlando, on the television show WMAC Masters. All this time he continued to work extensively in the commercial and music video world in New York and Los Angeles.

Patrick then made the move to Gaffing, working with a wide range of Directors of Photography, including: Lance Accord, Jim Feely, Peter Biziou, Eddie Stevens, Tim Ives, Patrick Cady, Fred Murphy, and Darius Kondji. Patrick began shooting in 1998, working on a pilot for Four Kids Productions with director Norman Grossfeld. He then made his way into feature films, doing 2nd Unit and operating for DP Pat Cady on the Sundance Best Picture award-winning film “Girlfight”. Patrick than went on to produce and shoot the feature film “A Million Miles”, which won best screenplay and runner-up best film at the “Dances with Films” festival in Los Angeles.

In 2004 he shot the short film “A-alike” for director Randal Dottin which won the Academy Award for best student short, as well as winning the National Board of Review award. Patrick has shot numerous national spots for companies like Visa, MTV, Atari, CBS, Starburst, Lipton, Hallmark, VH1 and MTV2. He has an ongoing stint as one of the Directors of Photography for the shows Live@VH1.com and MTV.com Live, where he has shot over 120 live performances of some of the biggest acts in the music industry.

Patrick has made his feature film debut as Writer/Director/Cinematographer of the
Film “Divergence”.

  Critic Lisa Nesselson of Variety states:
 “First pic by d.p. Patrick J. Donnelly shows talent all around.” 

 George Schmidt of Moviefreak.com states:
“perhaps the best post 9/11 film I've seen – including “UNITED 93” and “WORLD TRADE CENTER” – because it focuses on a real human element: the promise of love amidst immense tragedy. This may very well be the “COMING HOME” of its generation.”

Eric  Campos of Filmthreat states:
“Divergence” is a wonderful sight to behold. Filmmaker Patrick J. Donnelly, along with his cast and crew, brings us a story that finds people struggling to stay strong in their darkest hour, a story that many of us can relate to, especially in trying times such as these. Highly recommended.”