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David A. Armstrong(I)

  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Cinematographer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
TWO SPIRITS interweaves the tragic story of a motherÂ’s loss of her son with a revealing look at the largely unknown history of a time when the world wasnÂ’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders.

Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied person with a feminine essence, a special gift according to his ancient Navajo culture. He was one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at sixteen by a young man who bragged to friends that he had “bug-smashed a fag.” TWO SPIRITS explores the life and death of a boy who was also a girl and the essentially spiritual nature of gender and sexuality. The film makes the case that in the twenty-first century we need to return to traditional values.
Play trailer2:26
Two Spirits (2009)
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
David Armstrong is a DGA member and a film industry veteran, rising through the camera ranks to become a cinematographer. He served as Director of Photography for director James Wan and producer Mark Burg on the SAW film franchise (SAW I-VI), one of the key team members to create the Guinness Book of World Records' highest-grossing horror film franchise in history.

Armstrong's latest feature THE ASSASSIN'S CODE, starring Peter Stormare (FARGO, JOHN WICK 2) and Justin Chatwin (WAR OF THE WORLDS, SHAMELESS), had its world premiere to sold-out crowds (with a third screening added due to demand), at the 42nd annual Cleveland Film Festival in April 2018; and was released theatrically and on VOD in May 2018. A recent review: FanBoy Nation. Teaming with story partner Valerie Grant, David has available projects encompassing supernatural thriller, drama, war, and romantic fantasy. Armstrong and Grant's recent collaboration ABOVE AND BEYOND is a Finalist in the 2018 Page Awards (Top 10 in its category) and was granted a letter of support from the U.S. Navy. They are currently polishing a "Me-Too"-era supernatural horror/thriller, CRYBABY BRIDGE.

Armstrong's 2013 directorial debut PAWN starred Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Common, Stephen Lang, Michael Chiklis, Nikki Reed and Martin Csokas.

David's inclusive approach to directing encompasses not only visuals and story but also a unique insight into psychology and relationships, with a passion for delving behind a character's public "mask" to unearth their deepest wounds and the essence of their humanity.
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Known for

    Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
    Saw
    7.6
    • Cinematographer
    • 2004
    Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996)
    The Nutty Professor
    5.7
    • Camera and Electrical Department("c" camera)
    • 1996
    Saw VI (2009)
    Saw VI
    6.0
    • Cinematographer
    • 2009
    Scott Patterson in Saw V (2008)
    Saw V
    5.8
    • Cinematographer
    • 2008

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Camera and Electrical Department



    • Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez in Getaway (2013)
      Getaway
      4.4
      • director of photography: additional principal photography
      • 2013
    • Cribs (2000)
      Cribs
      5.2
      TV Series
      • a cam first ac
      • camera operator "b" camera
      • first assistant camera: "a" ...
      • 2000–2010
    • Piper Perabo in Carriers (2009)
      Carriers
      5.9
      • director of cinematography: re-shoots (uncredited)
      • 2009
    • Eric Roberts and Catherine Oxenberg in Frozen in Fear (2001)
      Frozen in Fear
      3.9
      TV Movie
      • first assistant camera
      • 2001
    • The Exterminators (2000)
      The Exterminators
      Video Game
      • camera operator
      • 2000
    • Software (2000)
      Software
      Short
      • first assistant camera
      • 2000
    • Bryan Burke, Robert Curtis Brown, Chad Gordon, Ginger Kinison, Rita McKenzie, Jill Ritchie, Gregory Siff, Lisa Wilcox, and Shannon Collis in Unauthorized: Brady Bunch - The Final Days (2000)
      Unauthorized: Brady Bunch - The Final Days
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • first assistant camera (as David Armstrong)
      • 2000
    • Elise Horn, Corey Mendell Parker, and Alon Williams in After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped (2000)
      After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped
      6.0
      TV Movie
      • first assistant camera
      • 2000
    • Morgan Freeman, Renée Zellweger, Greg Kinnear, and Chris Rock in Nurse Betty (2000)
      Nurse Betty
      6.3
      • daily first assistant camera (uncredited)
      • 2000
    • Getting Away with Murder: The JonBenet Ramsey Mystery (2000)
      Getting Away with Murder: The JonBenet Ramsey Mystery
      6.0
      TV Movie
      • first assistant camera
      • 2000
    • Tim Daly in Seven Girlfriends (1999)
      Seven Girlfriends
      5.7
      • additional first assistant camera (as David Armstrong)
      • 1999
    • Craig Ferguson in The Big Tease (1999)
      The Big Tease
      6.1
      • first assistant camera (as David Armstrong)
      • 1999
    • Bad City Blues (1999)
      Bad City Blues
      4.5
      • camera operator: "b" camera
      • 1999
    • Rob Lowe in One Hell of a Guy (1998)
      One Hell of a Guy
      4.2
      • first assistant camera
      • 1998
    • Thursday (1998)
      Thursday
      7.1
      • first assistant camera (as David Armstrong)
      • 1998

    Cinematographer



    • Myriella Kourenti in It's Worth More Than You Think (2014)
      It's Worth More Than You Think
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2014
    • Nick Stahl, Dash Mihok, Shohreh Aghdashloo, and Olivia Wilde in On the Inside (2011)
      On the Inside
      5.2
      • Cinematographer
      • 2011
    • Independent Lens (1999)
      Independent Lens
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Cinematographer
      • 2011
    • Stephan Smith Collins in Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
      Hellraiser: Revelations
      2.7
      • director of photography
      • 2011
    • Rose McGowan, Nick Stahl, and Amy Smart in Dead Awake (2010)
      Dead Awake
      4.5
      • Cinematographer
      • 2010
    • Two Spirits (2009)
      Two Spirits
      7.7
      • Cinematographer
      • 2009
    • Saw VI (2009)
      Saw VI
      6.0
      • director of photography
      • 2009
    • Next Day Air (2009)
      Next Day Air
      5.7
      • director of photography
      • 2009
    • 2:13 (2009)
      2:13
      4.8
      • Cinematographer
      • 2009
    • Alfred Molina, Simon Baker, Hope Davis, and Shane West in The Lodger (2009)
      The Lodger
      5.7
      • director of photography
      • 2009
    • Heroes: The Recruit (2008)
      Heroes: The Recruit
      5.6
      TV Mini Series
      • Cinematographer
      • 2008–2009
    • Kill Theory (2009)
      Kill Theory
      5.3
      • Cinematographer (as David Armstrong)
      • 2009
    • Scott Patterson in Saw V (2008)
      Saw V
      5.8
      • director of photography
      • 2008
    • Sarain Boylan in Saw IV (2007)
      Saw IV
      5.9
      • director of photography
      • 2007
    • Sibling Rivalry
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2007

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos3

    New Suits
    Full Movie 22:57
    New Suits
    Showtime Networks' Latino Filmmakers' Showcase Winners; Regina Don
    Interview 2:45
    Showtime Networks' Latino Filmmakers' Showcase Winners; Regina Don
    Showtime Networks' Latino Filmmakers' Showcase Winners; Regina Don
    Interview 2:45
    Showtime Networks' Latino Filmmakers' Showcase Winners; Regina Don
    Two Spirits: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez
    Trailer 2:26
    Two Spirits: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez

    Personal details

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    • Official site
      • DGA Directing
    • Alternative name
      • David Armstrong
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Articles

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Former stepbrother of Mocean Melvin.

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