Biography
John Radel ACS is an award winning producer and cinematographer whose career spans more than two decades working across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Known for delivering visually striking films while managing complex international productions, he has built a reputation for combining strong cinematic vision with practical production leadership on major global projects.
Early in his career John trained in Budapest under legendary cinematographers Vilmos Zsigmond ASC HSC, known for The Deer Hunter and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and László Kovács ASC HSC, celebrated for Easy Rider. The experience helped shape the visual storytelling style that would define his award winning work. He later relocated to Asia where he has spent more than twenty years working across Indonesia, Singapore, Korea, China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Hong Kong on large scale international productions.
As a cinematographer, John has received more than thirty five international awards for his work. His cinematography on the Jason Scott Lee action film Dance of the Dragon earned the Best Cinematography Award, while his work on the Netflix crime drama Operandi Grahana earned another Best Cinematography Award at the Asian Academy Awards. Across his career he has developed a reputation for visually dynamic storytelling across action, drama, and large scale international productions.
Alongside his cinematography career, John has become an experienced international producer and on a wide range of high profile films. His producing credits include the global action hit Monkey Man, directed by and starring Dev Patel and produced by Jordan Peele, which premiered at SXSW before its worldwide release by Universal Pictures. He also co produced the Netflix action film The Night Comes for Us starring Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais, as well as the acclaimed martial arts thriller Headshot directed by the Mo Brothers and starring Iko Uwais.
Earlier in his career John served as Line Producer on Michael Mann’s cyber thriller Blackhat, starring Chris Hemsworth. Working alongside one of cinema’s most influential filmmakers provided early experience on a major studio production and helped establish John’s reputation as a producer capable of delivering complex international productions.
As Director of Photography, John has brought his visual style to a diverse slate of international films including the American science fiction drama After the Dark directed by John Huddles, the Asian action thriller Losmen Melati, and Buffalo Boys, an Asian western that was selected as Singapore’s official submission for the 91st Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
His work has also contributed to major international productions including Ridley Scott produced Equals, starring Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, and Guy Pearce, the Japanese action film Joker Game starring Kazuya Kamenashi, and the science fiction action film Beyond Skyline featuring Frank Grillo and Iko Uwais.
Most recently John served as Director of Photography on the sci fi action feature Skyline: Warpath starring Iko Uwais and Scott Adkins, and the action adventure film Alphas for XYZ Films shot across South Africa and London. He also recently co produced Extraction: Tygo, the Korean spin off of the AGBO global action franchise Extraction, starring international action icon Don Lee and global superstar Lisa from BLACKPINK. The film has recently completed production and expands the world of the blockbuster franchise created by the Russo Brothers.
John is currently preparing his feature directorial debut with the action film Warrior, starring international martial arts star Iko Uwais.
12 wins and 1 nominations
