Rain Li
Director of Photography
Heads of Department
Heads of Department
Rain Li was born and raised in Beijing, China. A passion for Cinema and TV led her to enter into the film industry as an electrician / spark on short films, commercials and feature films, moving to the camera department six months later at the age of 16. By age twenty-six, she had shot ten features, twenty-five short films, numerous popular commercials, music videos and also interesting art and fashion projects. She is currently developing more ideas towards projects bridging fine art, photography and film. Since early 2005, she has been collaborating with renowned cinematographer/director Christopher Doyle ('In the Mood for Love', 'Hero' 'Rabbit Proof Fence', 'Lady in the Water' etc), on twelve projects to date. She has also collaborated with many internationally renown directors, including Jim Jarmusch, Gus Van Sant and Mike Figgis. Her recent film, Paranoid Park, by Gus Van Sant, received a Special Prize of International Cannes Film Festival 60th Anniversary in 2007. She was voted one of the 10 Best Cinematographers of The Year by Variety in 2007 and received the Best Cinematography award from the Boston Film Critic in 2009, shared with Christopher Doyle. She is also a Creative Director of London-based production company 'Pure Film'. Rain is constantly looking for new ideas and energies to apply to visuals.
Film
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
HABIT 2021 | 852 Films | Dir: Janell Shirtcliff |
BEIJING, NEW YORK | Velvet Rain Inc. | Dir: Rain Li |
CIGARETTE 2010 | Kosmo Films LED | Prod: Snow Zou |
THE ISLAND 2008 | Nikki Black Films / Taylor Made Films, Scotland | Dir: Elizabeth Mitchell / Brek Taylor |
HATTER | Pure Films Ltd, UK | Dir: James Killough |
8 | Canana Films | Dir: Gael Garcia Bernal |
THE LIMITS OF CONTROL | Pintblank Films, Spain | Dir: Jim Jarmusch |
DIRTY RAT | Paradox Pictures, UK | Dir: John Dawson |
WARSAW DARK | Ozumi Films, Poland | Dir: Christopher Doyle |
UNCERTAINTY | Kino Films, USA | Dir: Scott McGehee / David Siegal |
DOWNLOADING NANCY | Tule River Films | Dir: Johan Renck |
LOSING HER | Pure Films Ltd, UK | Dir: James Killough |
PARANOID PARK | M2K and Pie Films Inc | Dir: Gus Van Sant |
PARIS JE T'AIME | Victoria International, France | Dir: Christopher Doyle |
POP GOES THE BHANGRA | Talent Productions India / UK | Dir: Rajesh Nair |
WHAT IS SEX? | AFT Films / FilmFour | Dir: Emily Wolf |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
US 2016 | Sun Media Group | Dir: Rain Li |
RAIN | WGGB | Dir: David Mahmoudieh |
THE LAST GAME | SimpleLife Productions | Dir: Rain Li |
CYCLE | Guerrilla Productions UK | Dir: Kate Freeland |
TWENTY TWENTY | Thailand | Dir: Pen-ek Ratanaruang |
MADNESS OF THE DANCE | Carol Cannon Productions / FilmFour | Dir: Carol Moreley |
RETURN | SimpleLife Productions | Dir: Rain Li |
Commercials
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
DOVE - A CHINESE DOVE WOMEN SERIES | Velvet Rain Inc. | Dir: Rain Li |
DOVE CHOCOLATE | God Mother | Dir: Rain Li |
UNIQLO HEAT TECH | P.I.G | Dir: Rain Li |
SECOO - 'Father, Wedding, The Unique Experience' | P.I.G | Dir: Rain Li |
BT 2012 | Outsider | Dir: Ric Cantor |
BOOTS 2012 | Outsider | Dir: Ric Cantor |
TETLEY 2012 | Outsider | Dir: Ric Cantor |
Clairol 2012 | Rankin Photography Ltd | Dir: Rankin |
VIRGIN 2012 | Outsider | Dir: Ric Cantor |
361 2010 | The Sweet Shop | Dir: Ben Quinn |
TITAN BET 2010 | Dab Hand Media | Dir: Calle Astrand |
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT 2009 | The Gate Films | Dir: Simon Burill |
AMD 2009 | Dabhand Media | Dir: Big TV |
GE 2008 | Traktor Ltd | Dir: Traktor |
KAPPAHL | Forsberg Co | Dir: Patrick Forsberg |
WILKINSON SWORD | Infinity Productions | Dir: Simon Burill |
WRIGLEY'S EXTRA | HSI LA | Dir: Arni & Kinski |
JC PENNY | HSI LA | Dir: Carlos Manga |
BOOTS | HSI LA | Dir: David LaChapelle |
NIKE | RSA, LA | Dir: Johan Renck |
Promos
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PLAN B 'Deepest Shame' 2012 | JJ Stereo | Dir: Paul Caslin |
NERO 2011 | Pulse | Dir: Ben Newman |
PARADE 'Perfume' 2011 | Pulse | Dir: Emil Nava |
SIX CREATIVE 2010 | M.A.P Ltd | Dir: David Hughes |
LISA MITCHELL 2010 | Pulse Films | Dir: Dave Ma |
YOJHI YAMAMOTO 2009 | Fantastic Pictures | Dir: Max Vadukal |
GARETH PUGH 2009 | Gainsbury and Whiting | |
YOJHI YAMAMOTO 2009 | Gainsbury & Whiting | Dir: Max Vadukal |
GARY GO 2009 | Flynn Productions Ltd | Dir: Mike Baldwin |
MINDER | Dabhand Media | Dir: Nick Esdaile |
GABRIELLA | Flynn Productions | Dir: Mike Baldwin |
EDITORS | HSI LA | Dir: Arni & Kinski |
DRIES VAN NOTEN ' 2009 | Offlines | Dir: Christopher Doyle / Joeri Meij |
P. DIDDY ft NICOLE | HSI LA | Dir: Chris Robinson |
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE | HSI LA | Dir: Michael Hausmann |
THE RACONTEURS | Lightbourne Productions | Dir: Jim Jarmusch |
MURDOC | OnMeJack Productions | Dir: Iain Smith |
REVOLUTION45 | SimpleLife Productions | Dir: Rain Li |
LADY SOVEREIGN | SimpleLife Productions | Dir: Chris Phillips |
PRINCESS AND PEAS | Sweet Peas | Dir: Camilla Roberson |
RAINER MARIA RILKE | ASD Lionheart/Arte TV | Dir: Hermann Vaske |