Joseph Torres Jr.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Joseph Torres, Jr. was born and raised in the central San Joaquin
Valley town of Stockton. His father, Joseph Torres, Sr. was sports
cinematographer and his mother, Gloria, a high school teacher for over
40 years. Exposed to photography at an early age, he spent most
weekends of his childhood in the motion picture processing lab that his
father owned and operated, absorbing the skills of his father's craft.
Influenced by his father's work, the knowledge he acquired about still
and motion picture cameras, including the art of developing and
printing, was both a powerful and critical part of his growing up and
would ultimately lead him toward his future career goal of working in
the television and motion picture industry. Joseph would assist his
father in shooting football games for the University of Pacific. After
a short time, he came into his own. He was given the opportunity to
shoot a football game for California State University at Sacramento by
himself at the age of 15. Thus, his career in cinematography was born.
During his sophomore year in high school, to get out of having to write
a biology report, he instead shot a 16mm documentary film that included
voice over and a soundtrack. Needless to say it was a hit with his
teacher and his classmates, alike. The film was so popular that it was
shown to all the science classes that year and pioneered the way in
which students would complete their report assignments in their science
courses for years to come. He also worked as a member of the photo
staff for his high school yearbook and newspaper. During his Senior
year, he spent a week as the primary still photographer chosen to
document a high school theater trip to London, England. Joseph had a
wide range of interests besides photography. He was a student athlete
in football and track, was a member of his high school choir and acted
in local theater productions. As a saxophone player, Joseph was honored
to have performed as a member of his high school marching band when
invited to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena,
California in 1987. He was also involved in Boy Scouts and is proud to
have reached the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout. In 1990, he was hired on
his first feature film as a production assistant. The low budget
feature was a great learning experience and reinforced his desire to
work with motion picture cameras in film production. Later that fall,
he enrolled at the prestigious School of Cinema-Television (now known
as the School of Cinematic Arts) at the University of Southern
California. In 1993, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, he began
his career as a camera assistant. In 1996, he became a member of the
International Cinematographer's Guild, joining as a first assistant
camera. Some of his projects as a camera assistant include, the end
title sequence for the remake of Dawn of the Dead, second unit on Mr. &
Mrs. Smith (with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) and seasons five through
eight on the Emmy-nominated, television comedy series, Scrubs, four
seasons on ABC/TBS's Cougar Town, four seasons on Showtime's
Emmy-nominated Episodes, and five seasons on ABC's American Housewife