Michael Rotiroti smiling behind a cinema camera on set in Boston

Photo by Tom Tranfaglia, 2025

Michael Rotiroti

Emmy Award Winning Director of Photography, Camera Op & Editor

Boston-based, Emmy Award Winning Director of Photography, Camera Operator, and Editor. Michael graduated from Endicott College in 2020 with a BFA in Photography and has since worked on over 200 productions.

His filmography includes work on HBO's Murder in Boston, Discovery Channel's Sacred Cod, Netflix's Don't Look Up, American Horror Story, and Apple TV+'s Spirited. He has also worked with Hearst Media, Hyper Local, and Dirty Water Media for NESN.

He currently serves as Media Production Manager at Boston University's College of Fine Arts and previously worked as Senior Video Editor and Camera Operator at Above Summit.

Awards & Recognition

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for Journalism
MTV's 16 and Recovering (2021)
Local Emmy Nomination
Hospitality Homes (2023)
Boston Press Photographers Association
Two-time college contest winner

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Or reach out at film@michaelrotiroti.com
Michael Rotiroti on location with cinema camera and tripod, framed through doorway

On set, 2025

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Emmy Award Winner duPont-Columbia Award RFK Journalism Award BPPA 1st Place
Clients & Networks
HBO Hearst Netflix Apple TV+ FX / Hulu MTV Discovery ESPN NCAA NESN Boston Red Sox
Above Summit MFA Boston Harvard Harvard Hillel Boston University Ivy League USO Mission Safe Hospitality Homes Encore Boston
Director of Photography Camera Operator Editor Colorist Motion Graphics Producer Gaffer Gimbal Op Boom Op Photographer

Production

HBO Murder in Boston DP, Camera Op, Gimbal Op Emmy Winner
Three-part HBO documentary series exploring the 1989 Stuart case and its lasting impact on Boston. Winner of Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary (Emmy 2024) and the duPont-Columbia Award.
USO Come From Away DP, Camera Op
Video production for the USO highlighting the Come From Away story and community impact.
MFA Boston Encounters with Eternal Presence DP, Camera Op
Documentary production for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston exploring art and cultural legacy.
MTV Films 16 and Recovering Camera Op, Boom Op RFK Journalism Award
Four-part MTV documentary series following students at a recovery high school. Winner of the 2021 RFK Human Rights Award for Journalism.
Mission Safe South Boston PSA Camera Op Emmy Nominated 2024
Public service announcement for Mission Safe, a Boston-based nonprofit supporting at-risk youth. Emmy nominated for outstanding achievement.
Above Summit Selling the American Dream (3 eps) Cinematographer
Three-episode documentary series produced by Above Summit exploring the pursuit of the American Dream.
Thesis Film A Tiny Hope Cinematographer BPPA 1st Place
Award-winning thesis film shot as cinematographer. Recognized with BPPA 1st Place honors.
Boston Red Sox Opening Day FPV Lead Gaffer
FPV drone production for the Boston Red Sox Opening Day event. Served as lead gaffer for the production.
NCAA D3 Coverage (multiple) Camera Op
Multiple NCAA Division III sporting event productions as camera operator.
Ivy League Fencing Photographer
Photography coverage of Ivy League fencing competitions.
Boston University CFA ~20 Productions Producer, DP, AC, Gaffer
Approximately 20 productions for Boston University's College of Fine Arts spanning multiple roles including producing, cinematography, and lighting.
Above Summit Trustees, PTC, LLM Design, MGM, BPL Multiple Roles
Multiple client productions for Above Summit spanning DP, camera, editing, color grading, and lighting roles.

Post Production

Mission Safe PSA Assistant Editor Emmy Nominated
Emmy-nominated public service announcement for Mission Safe. Served as assistant editor on the post-production team.
Harvard Hillel Campaign Motion Graphics, Editor, Colorist
Campaign video production for Harvard Hillel handling motion graphics, editing, and color grading.
Harvard Student Admissions Motion Graphics, Editor, Colorist
Student admissions video for Harvard University with full post-production responsibilities.
MTV Films 16 and Recovering Assistant Editor
Post-production work as assistant editor on the four-part MTV documentary series.
Above Summit Multiple Projects Senior Editor, Colorist
Senior editor and colorist across multiple Above Summit productions.
Thesis Film A Tiny Hope Senior Editor, Colorist
Full post-production on award-winning thesis film including editing and color grading.
Documentary Tuskegee Airman Col. McGee Senior Editor, Colorist
Documentary about Tuskegee Airman Colonel McGee. Senior editor and colorist on the project.
Boston University CFA ~15 Post Productions Editor, Colorist, Motion Graphics
Approximately 15 post-production projects for BU College of Fine Arts covering editing, color grading, and motion graphics.

Producer

Hospitality Homes Documentary Executive Producer Emmy Nominated 2023
Emmy-nominated documentary for Hospitality Homes, a nonprofit providing temporary housing for medical patients and families. Executive produced the full production.
Boston University CFA ~7 Productions Managing Producer
Managing producer overseeing approximately 7 productions for Boston University's College of Fine Arts.

Production Assistant

Netflix Don't Look Up PA, Union
Union production assistant on Adam McKay's Netflix feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.
FX / Hulu American Horror Story S10 PA, Union
Union production assistant on Season 10 of FX's American Horror Story.
Apple TV+ Spirited PA, Union
Union production assistant on Apple TV+'s musical feature film starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.
Discovery Channel Sacred Cod PA
Production assistant on Discovery Channel's Sacred Cod documentary.
MTV Films 16 and Recovering PA
Production assistant on the four-part MTV documentary series about students at a recovery high school.
Red Sox / Encore Boston FPV Production Key PA
Key production assistant on FPV drone production for the Boston Red Sox and Encore Boston.

Credits last updated April 2026

Experience
Video Production Manager Boston University — College of Fine Arts
Nov 2023 – Present · Boston, MA
  • Promoted from Video Producer; manage a full-time producer and own editorial standards across all video content.
  • Oversee full project management and post-production workflow, from pre-production through final delivery and YouTube publishing, in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.
  • Redesigned motion graphics templates and YouTube content strategy in After Effects, improving click-through rate and brand consistency.
  • Serve as quality control lead and final approver for all video content the college publishes.
Director of Photography / Camera Op / Gaffer HBO + Little Rock Films — Murder in Boston  ★ 2025 Emmy Award
March 2023 · Cambridge, MA
  • Director of Photography on a 2025 Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary, overseeing all cinematography for three principal interviews.
  • Led a crew of camera operators, ACs, and gaffers; coordinated lighting design, lens selection, and on-set technical execution.
  • Designed camera and lighting plans to match the visual grammar of the existing cut and the director's creative vision.
Senior Video Editor / Camera Op / Gaffer Above Summit Production Studio
May 2021 – Nov 2022 · Somerville, MA
  • Promoted to Senior Video Editor within one year; managed post-production on commercial projects budgeted at $20,000–$40,000.
  • Conceptualized, storyboarded, shot, edited, and color-graded client campaigns in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.
  • Delivered broadcast-ready final cuts on 2-day turnarounds with no revision requests.
Studio Manager · Part-time Somerville Studios
Apr 2022 – Nov 2022 · Somerville, MA
  • Managed all studio operations as sole on-site manager: scheduling, client relations, facilities, and vendor coordination.
  • Maintained a full booking calendar, handling multiple concurrent client sessions weekly with seamless turnovers.
  • Built and sustained client relationships from inquiry through wrap, driving repeat bookings and referrals.
Assistant Editor / Camera Operator / Sound Op MTV Films — 16 and Recovering
Sep 2018 – Sep 2020 · Beverly, MA
  • Logged 250+ hours on set as camera operator and focus puller on a Sony FS7 for a long-form MTV docuseries.
  • Monitored and mixed 6 simultaneous live audio channels (5 wireless lavs and 1 boom) across interviews and production days.
  • Organized and synced 500+ hours of raw footage in Premiere Pro, building scene selects and assembly edits for the editorial team.
Education
BFA, Photography Endicott College
Class of 2020

GPA 3.3 · Presidential Art Scholarship · Semester abroad in Italy