Tim Bellen can often be found directing the camera, electric and grip departments for creator/writer Jason Katim’s. AS WE SEE IT, ALMOST FAMILY, RISE and ABOUT A BOY, to name drop a few.
On MASTERS OF SEX, S1 (SHOWTIME) Tim “bumped up to DP for several episodes, and never looked back. A lucky stream of offers from SHOWTIME, HBO, ABC, CBS and NBC followed.
The catalyst for Tim’s desire to be a cameraman occurred while working on his first television series for actor/producer Bob Conrad. Jim Roberson was the wizard with the light meter and Gary Holt (The Natural) was the legendary gaffer with the glass. Tim was mesmerized by their knowledge and skill. One day Mr. Holt pulled Tim aside and told him he was the world’s worst grip and suggested he take up Steadicam operating. Gary’s suggestion and Garret Brown’s workshop changed Tim’s life.
Since graduating from California College of Art with a degree in film and drawing, Tim has produced many short films of his own, including two ECA Award winning projects. He did his “post graduate” work at a small market television station in the Bay Area. In six years he shot (and sometimes edited) over 900 projects on ¾” Umatic, Betacam,
S-16mm and 35mm film. He designed and built his own “Tulip” crane, skate-wheel dolly and would often build his own sets. He has photographed everything from local car dealer commercials, industrials and documentaries to national spots for Honda, Paul Mitchell Systems and Korbel wines.
Tim gratefully stands on the shoulders of DP’s such as Jim Roberson, Ed Plant, Garrett Brown, Stephen Lighthill, Francis Kenny, Michael Weaver, and many more. As a Steadicam operator since 1988 and an “A” camera operator since 1994, Tim has worked under, and stolen from, dozens of exceptional cameramen.
Recently, Tim has shot AS WE SEE IT for Amazon, ALMOST FAMILY for Universal/Fox, GOOD GIRLS S2 for Netflix, VEEP S5 for HBO and RISE NBC Among many others. “My CREW is the thing,” he is happy to remind producers.
Tim is an enthusiastic mountain biker, photographer, Rock balancer and author of an historical fiction novel. He is a member of DGA and Cinematographer’s Guilds.
Unique traits: Rides a bike backwards. Knows way too much about early aviation. High pain threshold. ...Green peppers are not a food...they are an industrial weapon.