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

I'm a director of photography, camera operator, and editor in Boston, working across Greater Boston, the North Shore, and New England. More than 200 productions shot, cut, or produced: national documentaries, commercials, live broadcasts, and brand films. BFA in Photography, Endicott College, 2020.

On HBO's Murder in Boston I was director of photography, camera operator, and gimbal operator. On NBC Sports Boston's Cardillo's World I cut two episodes, then became the show's DP. For the Museum of Fine Arts Boston's Encounters with Eternal Presence I was director of photography. I edit regularly for Hearst Media's Hyper Local and run ENG camera on Dirty Water Media's series for NESN.

Earlier, I was a union production assistant on Netflix's Don't Look Up, FX's American Horror Story, and Apple TV+'s Spirited. On Discovery Channel's Sacred Cod I was a production assistant and cut motion graphics. The full role-by-role list is under Credits below.

Today I'm Media Production Manager at Boston University's College of Fine Arts, and I take freelance camera and edit work alongside it. Before that I was Senior Video Editor and Camera Operator at Above Summit. I work for agencies, networks, brands, and nonprofits across Boston and New England, with my own camera, lighting, and sound kit.

Awards, reviews, and credits

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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Booking a shoot Send the dates, the place, and what you’re making. film@michaelrotiroti.com
Michael Rotiroti on location with cinema camera and tripod, framed through doorway

On set, 2025

0+ Productions
0 Emmy Noms
0 Emmy Win
0 States +DC
0 Countries
Emmy Award Winner duPont-Columbia Award RFK Journalism Award BPPA College Contest, 1st Place
Camera & edit credits
HBO, Hearst, MTV, Discovery, ESPN, NCAA, Dirty Water Media, Cardillo's World, Boston Red Sox, Above Summit, MFA Boston, Harvard, Harvard Hillel, Boston University, Ivy League, USO, Mission Safe, Hospitality Homes, Snowcap Productions
Also crewed on
Netflix, Apple TV+, FX / Hulu, Encore Boston (production assistant)

CameraCamera, lighting, and sound on set

  • Three-part HBO documentary series on the 1989 Stuart case and its lasting impact on Boston. Emmy for Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary, 2024, and the duPont-Columbia Award. Read the recap →

  • Season 5, episode 1 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston: John DiBiaso, the winningest high school football coach in Massachusetts history. I shot the interviews, produced, and cut the episode. Read the recap →

  • Season 5, episode 2 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, the first half of the Freedom x Cardillo Korea collaboration. As director of photography, I filmed the additional scenes it needed. Read the recap →

  • A Cardillo's World episode with Gerry Cheevers of the Bruins, for NBC Sports Boston. I shoot, produce, and edit it.

  • Dana-Farber President and CEO Dr. Ben Ebert in conversation with PMC riders, by the lake at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac, the night before PMC Unpaved 2026. A live multicam. I ran two of the three cameras. Read the recap →

  • The Living Proof toast after the ride at PMC Unpaved 2026, covered with three cameras and two drones. I ran two of the cameras. Read the recap →

  • Season 5, episode 4 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, a tribute to Hulk Hogan. I conceived and produced the new segments and shot them as director of photography. Read the recap →

  • A 30-second spot for ProForm Physical Therapy in Salisbury, made with Cardillo's World and airing on NBC Sports Boston. I shot it solo in one hour, camera, audio, and lighting, with Mai as talent director. Then I cut it and built the graphics, 2026. Read the recap →

  • A 30-second spot for American Nutrition Center in Everett, home of the Cardillo weight belt showroom and same-day laser tattooed belts. I shot it solo in one day in 4K, with Mai as talent director. Then I cut it and built the graphics, 2026. Read the recap →

  • ENG camera, location sound, and B-roll for Dirty Water Media's Summer Stroll on NESN, Memorial Day weekend at The Landing in Newport, 2026. Read the recap →

  • ENG camera, location sound, and B-roll for Dirty Water Media's Summer Stroll on NESN, in Chatham on Cape Cod, 2026. Read the recap →

  • ENG camera for Dirty Water Media's Summer Stroll on NESN, back at The Landing in Newport, July 2026. Read the recap →

  • ENG camera and location sound at Dirty Water Media's World Cup watch party at Clery's in Boston, for Dirty Water TV on NESN. Read the recap →

  • A film for the USO on the Come From Away story and its impact on the community.

  • A short film for the MFA Boston on John Wilson's Eternal Presence, Roxbury's Big Head, made for Witnessing Humanity. I was director of photography. Read the recap →

  • Boom operator and sound recorder for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston on a half-day shoot, on a RØDE NTG3B shotgun. Read the recap →

  • College of Fine Arts musicians on the way to Carnegie Hall, filmed as a story rather than event coverage. I shot and edited it.

  • Voice student Lauren Mahoney sings the national anthem at TD Garden, Fenway Park, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade, for BU's College of Fine Arts. I shot and edited it, 2025. Read the recap →

  • BU College of Fine Arts students at the Popayán festival in Colombia. I directed, produced, and edited it, 2024. Read the recap →

  • A walk through CFA's movement studios, Booth Theatre, and painting facilities, shot on a Canon C300 and a DJI Ronin RS2. I shot it, cut it, and designed the graphics, 2024. Read the recap →

  • An overview film for Boston University's College of Fine Arts. I shot and edited it, 2025.

  • Highlights from the College of Fine Arts 2025 convocation. I shot and edited it.

  • A welcome film for the College of Fine Arts class of 2026. I shot and edited it.

  • An interview with Julian Shapiro-Barnum for BU's College of Fine Arts. I lit, shot, and edited it, 2023.

  • Four-part MTV documentary series following students at a recovery high school. Winner of the 2021 RFK Human Rights Award for Journalism. Read the recap →

  • A public service announcement for Mission Safe, a Boston nonprofit supporting at-risk youth. Emmy nominated.

  • A three-episode documentary series from Above Summit on the pursuit of the American Dream.

  • A TD commercial produced with Above Summit. I led camera and cut the final spot. Read the recap →

  • A walkthrough of the CRISPR Therapeutics office designed by LLM Designs, produced with Above Summit and shot on a Canon C70. Read the recap →

  • A design film on Rowes Wharf for LLM Designs, produced with Above Summit. I lit the shoot and edited the film.

  • Produced with Above Summit at MGM Music Hall at Fenway. I ran camera and led the edit.

  • The McKim Building of the Boston Public Library, produced with Above Summit. I ran camera and was senior editor.

  • An ultramarathon film produced with Above Summit. I ran camera and led the edit.

  • The Trustees' 130th annual meeting, produced with Above Summit. I lit it, mixed live sound, and edited, 2024.

  • Two shoot days for Fuller Village with Above Summit, feeding a narrative film, four testimonial cuts, and four social cuts, 2024.

  • An Endicott College thesis documentary. I shot it. First place in the Boston Press Photographers Association college contest, one of my two wins there; the other is the sports still on the photography page.

  • An FPV drone production for Boston Red Sox Opening Day. I was lead gaffer.

  • Two days of the NCAA Division III men's hockey Final Four and championship for Endicott College Athletics, shot and edited, 2023.

  • Two NCAA Division III baseball games over two days, shot and edited for Endicott College Athletics, 2023.

  • A day and a half of filming and two edits for Endicott College baseball, 2022.

  • Two half days of filming and the edit for Endicott College's homecoming weekend, 2023.

  • A recruitment series for Endicott College. I ran camera and produced.

  • An Endicott College concept spot for Converse. I shot, produced, and edited it on a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. Read the recap →

  • Photographs of Ivy League fencing competitions.

  • A two-camera live film of tenor David Guzmán and the Leopoldo Quintet for Boston University's Center for Latin American Studies. I directed and shot it. Read the recap →

  • A fine art film series for a private New England art collector: four cameras on moving metal sculptures, cut over three weeks. I built, shot, and edited it. Read the recap →

  • A campus plan and vision film for Lesley University. I lit and shot it, 2024.

  • A two-camera live music shoot at the Rockwell, with a multicam edit and a 30-second behind-the-scenes cut, 2025.

  • The Rendon Group's 40th anniversary event, 2026.

  • Shot and cut on the same day for Wagner Law, 2025.

  • Interviews only. I lit and filmed the sit-down interviews for The Woodward School for Girls' community film, 2026. The rest of the video is someone else's work.

  • Event and ride weekend coverage of the Pan-Mass Challenge for Snowcap Video Solutions, including the 2026 ride and a day at Fenway Park in 2024.

  • A Cardillo's World anniversary episode filmed in New York City and on Long Island. I ran camera and produced.

  • Three days at the 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge Off Road ride.

  • A short documentary for Snowcap Productions, in production.

  • Two days of camera on a children's show for Snowcap Video Solutions, 2025.

  • A firefighter candlelight event for Snowcap Productions, 2026.

  • Three days of documentary filming. I ran camera and sound.

  • Four days of filming and a 90 second to two minute edit for Harvard Hillel's welcome week.

  • Live event coverage at Harvard.

  • A half-day shoot and a same-day edit for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

  • Half-day location sound, boom and mixer, on several Museum of Fine Arts, Boston shoots, including social content for Eternal Presence.

  • Photo and video coverage of the Rice Lumber convention.

  • Two days as first assistant camera on PTC's company-wide livestream opener.

  • First day of school at Maimonides School, for Boston Filmworks, 2023.

  • Two days as gaffer and first assistant camera on interviews with eighth graders at Maimonides School, for Boston Filmworks, 2023.

  • First assistant camera, gaffer, and second camera days for Boston Filmworks.

  • Camera on more NCAA Division III games and events.

  • About a dozen more College of Fine Arts productions beyond the films above: producing, camera, and lighting.

PostEditing, color, and motion graphics

  • Season 5, episode 3 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, the second half of the Freedom x Cardillo Korea collaboration. I led the edit and built custom branded motion graphics. Read the recap →

  • Season 5, episode 4 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, the Hulk Hogan tribute. I led the edit and built custom branded motion graphics. Read the recap →

  • The closing segment of WBZ Boston's Pan-Mass Challenge broadcast: three survivors' stories cut into one segment, with segment graphics. Read the recap →

  • Season 5, episode 2 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, the first half of the Freedom x Cardillo Korea collaboration. I re-cut it to match the quality and branding of the show's other episodes. Read the recap →

  • I synced three cameras and a drone to the recorder, cut the half hour talk as a live multicam, leveled the sound, and took it through several rounds of client notes, 2026. Read the recap →

  • I cut the 30-second spot for ProForm Physical Therapy and built graphics that move on Dr. Chad Burnham's words, mastered for air on NBC Sports Boston, 2026. Read the recap →

  • I cut the 30-second spot for American Nutrition Center and built its TV graphics in code, from Peter’s lower third to the end card, 2026. Read the recap →

  • I led the edit on the Gachi Sushi spot at BWI Fraport for Hearst Media, 2026.

  • The social cut of the Gachi Sushi spot for Hearst Media, 2026.

  • I led the edit on the Silver Diner and Obrycki's spot at BWI Fraport for Hearst Media, 2026.

  • The broadcast cut of the Silver Diner and Obrycki's spot for WBAL, 2026.

  • Additional motion graphics for Sacred Cod, a feature documentary on the collapse of New England's cod fishery, aired on the Discovery Channel.

  • An eight-minute film on Pete Frates, Chuck, and the Bourque Family Foundation, shown to donors to fund ALS research. I edited it and built the motion graphics.

  • The Spirit Ball event film, which helped generate $850,000 in donations for cancer research. I edited it and built the motion graphics.

  • The narrative package shown to a live audience at the 2025 Alnoba Leadership Awards. I edited it and built the motion graphics.

  • The event film for the Captain's Ball, an ALS fundraiser, cut over five days, 2025.

  • A Dana-Farber event film cut over five days for Snowcap Productions, 2025.

  • Four social videos cut in a day for Lux Life, 2025.

  • The Emmy nominated public service announcement for Mission Safe. I was assistant editor on the post team.

  • Edit, color, and a night of revisions on SPAN for the Town of Needham, through Boston Filmworks, 2023.

  • An edit for Silver Lining Mentors through Boston Filmworks, 2023.

  • Profile edits for Endicott College through Boston Filmworks, 2022.

  • A campaign video for Harvard Hillel. I edited, colored, and built the motion graphics.

  • A student admissions video for Harvard. I handled all of post: edit, color, and motion graphics.

  • Assistant editor on the four-part MTV series. I organized and synced 500+ hours of footage and built scene selects and assemblies for the editors. Read the recap →

  • Edit and color on the Endicott thesis documentary that took first place in the BPPA college contest.

  • A documentary on Tuskegee Airman Colonel McGee. I was senior editor and colorist.

  • A three-minute film for the National Trust's 75th anniversary, built from interviews and B-roll, produced with Above Summit, 2023.

  • Senior editor and colorist across multiple Above Summit productions.

  • About 15 post-production projects for BU's College of Fine Arts: editing, color, and motion graphics.

ProducingProducing and managing productions

  • I produced season 5, episode 1 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, a profile of the winningest high school football coach in Massachusetts history. Read the recap →

  • I produced season 5, episode 2 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, the first half of the Freedom x Cardillo Korea collaboration. Read the recap →

  • I produced season 5, episode 4 of Cardillo's World on NBC Sports Boston, a tribute to Hulk Hogan. Read the recap →

  • I produce a Cardillo's World episode with Gerry Cheevers of the Bruins, for NBC Sports Boston.

  • I produced the 30-second spot for ProForm Physical Therapy in Salisbury with Cardillo's World: a one-hour shoot at the clinic, for NBC Sports Boston, 2026. Read the recap →

  • I produced the 30-second spot for American Nutrition Center in Everett: the story, scripts, and shot list, then the one-day shoot at the store, 2026. Read the recap →

  • I produced a Cardillo's World anniversary episode filmed in New York City and on Long Island.

  • An Emmy nominated documentary for Hospitality Homes, a nonprofit that provides temporary housing for medical patients and their families. I was executive producer.

  • Managing producer on about 7 productions for Boston University's College of Fine Arts.

Production assistantUnion and non-union crew

  • Union production assistant on Adam McKay's Netflix feature starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.

  • Union production assistant on season 10 of FX's American Horror Story.

  • Union production assistant on Apple TV+'s musical feature starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.

  • Production assistant on Discovery Channel's Sacred Cod documentary.

  • Production assistant on the four-part MTV documentary series about students at a recovery high school. Read the recap →

  • Key production assistant on an FPV drone production for the Boston Red Sox and Encore Boston.

Credits last updated September 2026

Experience
Media Production Manager Boston University, College of Fine Arts
Nov 2023 to Present · Boston, MA
  • Promoted from Video Producer. Manage a full-time producer and own the editorial standard for all college video.
  • Run each project from pre-production through delivery and YouTube publishing, in Premiere Pro and After Effects.
  • Redesigned the After Effects motion graphics templates and the YouTube content strategy, raising click-through rate and brand consistency.
  • Final approver and quality control lead for every video the college publishes.
Director of Photography / Camera Op / Gaffer HBO + Little Rock Films, Murder in Boston  ★ 2024 Emmy Award
March 2023 · Cambridge, MA
  • Director of photography for the three principal interviews on a 2024 Emmy winning HBO documentary.
  • Led a crew of camera operators, ACs, and gaffers through lighting, lens choice, and on-set execution.
  • Built camera and lighting plans to match the existing cut and the director's vision.
Senior Video Editor / Camera Op / Gaffer Above Summit Production Studio
May 2021 to Nov 2022 · Somerville, MA
  • Promoted to Senior Video Editor within a year. Managed post-production on commercial projects.
  • Concepted, storyboarded, shot, cut, and colored client campaigns in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.
  • Delivered broadcast-ready cuts on 2-day turnarounds.
Studio Manager · Part-time Somerville Studios
Apr 2022 to Nov 2022 · Somerville, MA
  • Ran the studio as sole on-site manager: scheduling, clients, facilities, and vendors.
  • Kept a full booking calendar, with multiple client sessions a week and clean turnovers.
  • Built client relationships from inquiry through wrap that brought repeat bookings and referrals.
Assistant Editor / Camera Operator / Sound Op MTV Films, 16 and Recovering
Sep 2018 to Sep 2020 · Beverly, MA
  • 250+ hours on set as camera operator and focus puller, on a Sony FS7, for a long-form MTV docuseries.
  • Mixed 6 live audio channels at once, 5 wireless lavs and a boom, across interviews and production days.
  • Organized and synced 500+ hours of raw footage in Premiere Pro and built scene selects and assemblies for the editors.
Education
BFA, Photography Endicott College
Class of 2020

Presidential Art Scholarship · Semester abroad in Italy