BIO
Born in California and raised partly in Australia and Japan, Paul is an award-winning director of photography working internationally across scripted and documentary filmmaking.
After working at Lucasfilm, he earned his MFA in Cinematography from UCLA, where he studied with then Cinematographer-in-Residence Roger Deakins, before going on to work as an electric for Emmanuel Lubezki.
In 2009, Paul received the Colón de Plata for Best Cinematography at Spain’s Huelva Latin American Film Festival for the Bolivian feature ZONA SUR. The film’s distinctive visual language was built around long, rotating master shots, with each scene captured as a single continuous take. ZONA SUR went on to win at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and Paul’s cinematography was featured in American Cinematographer.
His second feature, LAND WITHOUT EVIL (IVY MARAEY), shot on 35mm film, received recognition at Camerimage 2014, Berlinale 2015, and New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
His fourth narrative feature, 88, an anamorphic political thriller, premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and is now available on Apple TV.
Most recently, Paul collaborated closely with John Travolta on his directorial debut, PROPELLER: ONE-WAY NIGHT COACH, which premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where Travolta received an honorary Palme d’Or.
In documentary, Paul recently lensed the visuals for the Netflix documentary BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard.
Paul’s work is defined by a naturalistic approach and a visual language tailored to the emotional world of each story.
When not on set, he can usually be found playing tennis or soccer— or somewhere in the islands with his family.
Paul is also a Film Professor at the University of Tampa.
Photo Credit: Yusuke Sato
AWARDS
TAB TIME S1 + 2 - children’s TV series
*Emmy Nomination - 2022 Outstanding Preschool Series
*Winner - Outstanding Children’s Program - NAACP Image Award 2023
DARING SIMONE - short format series non-fiction
*Winner - Outstanding Short Form Series - Non fiction - NAACP Image Award 2023
ZONA SUR - scripted feature
*Winner - Colón de Plata - Best Cinematography - 2009 Huelva Latin-American Film Festival, Spain
*Winner - Best Film - World Dramatic Competition – 2010 Sundance Film Festival
WONDERLAND - scripted short
*Winner – Special Jury Prize – 2012 Gulf Film Festival
*Winner – Grand Jury Award – 2011 Zero Film Festival
ENTEL 100% - Commercial
*Winner – Best Cinematography – Entel Campaign – Bolivian Advertising Award 2008
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
88 - scripted feature
* Premiers at 2022 Tribeca Film Festival
YVY MARAEY - LAND WITHOUT EVIL - scripted feature
*shot on 35mm film
* CamerImage 2014, Berlinale 2015, and the NY MOMA