Dan Hertzog

In the Wee hours and Freelance
Director and Director of Photography

Swedesboro, New Jersey

Member Since:
May 2015

Last online:
2 weeks ago

Invites sent:
1

About Dan

Dan Hertzog graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in May 1991 with a BA in Cinema-Television Production. From there, he rapidly worked his way up from a production assistant in LA to an ad agency producer in New York City. It was at his first staff job with Ogilvy & Mather in New York that he also made a name for himself as a director/dp, shooting first-rate test spots for next to no money.

He moved back to Los Angeles in January 1996 only to find himself crisscrossing the country countless times to freelance at a handful of ad agencies, including FCB, Bates USA, Grey, and Ogilvy. While continuing to produce TV commercials, he also found work shooting and directing spots through his production company, In the Wee hours.

Then, after more than ten years in the ad industry, Dan returned to the world-renowned AFI Conservatory to immerse himself in the study of more narrative, visual storytelling. He went on to receive his MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in December 2004. His AFI thesis film, THE PASSAGE OF MRS. CALABASH, was later honored for Artistic Achievement in Cinematography at the 2006 Emerging Cinematographer Awards.

After graduating, Dan continued to occasionally freelance as a senior and then executive producer at Ogilvy LA. His many years of hands-on experience in both production and post-production eventually led to stints consulting for ad agencies interested in building out their in-house production capabilities, shooting and directing TV commercials and web content for dozens of brands along the way.

Passionate about narrative filmmaking, Dan traveled to Indonesia in 2014 to lens the dramatic short EARTHBOUND for writer/director Robin Shou. He was recognized again by the International Cinematographers Guild for his work on that collaboration at the 2016 Emerging Cinematographer Awards.

He has since collected a variety of awards as the director/dp behind the thought-provoking teaser for his 2049 sci-fi concept THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC, the pilot presentation for the 1950s family drama LIFE IN KODACHROME, the inspirational drama THE SNOW IS ALWAYS WHITER, romantic comedy DATING AUDREY, and adventure mystery DOMINO SPRINGS. As a working commercial director/dp specializing in visual storytelling, natural dialogue, and subtle humor, Dan is eager to continue his ventures in more narrative work with the coming-of-age thriller AU PAIR GIRL.

Gender:
Male

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Loglines

DREAMS OF STARLIGHT Budget: $1M - $5M | Romance ⋄ Drama A young Mongolian herdswoman flees her abusive relationship to pursue her passion for performing -- only to see her longtime Hollywood dreams realized by her daughter.

Credits

TUESDAY'S FLU (2025)
Film by Drewlin Productions Director of Photography
JÓLAKÖTTURINN (2024)
Film (short) by In the Wee hours Director/DP
DOMINO SPRINGS (2024)
Film (short) by In the Wee hours Director/DP
THE FRIES REBELLION (2024)
Film (short) by In the Wee hours Director/DP
THE SNOW IS ALWAYS WHITER (2023)
Film (short) by In the Wee hours Director/DP
DATING AUDREY (2023)
Film (short) by In the Wee hours Director/DP
THE HAIL MARY (2023)
Film by Magic Bean Entertainment Director of Photography
LUCKY LOUIE (2022)
Film by Magic Bean Entertainment Director of Photography
RED WOODS (2021)
Film by On Beat Productions Director of Photography
DEADLY RIDE (2021)
Film by Hollyware LLC Director of Photography
EMERSON HEIGHTS (2020)
Film by Jeenyus Entertainment Director of Photography
LUMPIA: WITH A VENGEANCE (2020)
Film by Kid Heroes Productions Director of Photography
CAMGIRL (2019)
Film by Cutkin Films Director of Photography
THE LANDLADY (2018)
Film (short) by Carpe Fin de Semana Pictures Director of Photography
12 DAYS OF GIVING (2017)
Film by Expression Entertainment Director of Photography
THE LAST TIME (2017)
Film (short) by South Baywatch Director of Photography
EARTHBOUND (2015)
Film (short) by Earthbound Films Director of Photography
BLACK TIGER: HUNTER HUNTED (2014)
Film (short) by Kid Heroes Productions Director of Photography
THE SETTLING (2014)
Film (short) by Barbed Wire Films Director of Photography
SUGAR (2013)
Film (short) by Whitful Productions Director of Photography
ROADSIDE (2013)
Film by Southern Fried Films Director of Photography
NICO'S SAMPAGUITA (2012)
Film (short) by Sacred Fire Film Productions Director of Photography