Matt Sakatani Roe Biography
Matt Sakatani Roe is an accomplished cinematographer whose diverse work spans narrative films, commercials, music videos, and experimental shorts. A native of Alabama, Roe first discovered his passion for visual storytelling by shooting home videos with his mom’s camera. He later honed his craft at Auburn University—where a key photography class encouraged him to create evocative, idea-inspiring imagery—and parked his roots in LA post‑graduation to build his career through internships and strategic networking.
He Served as director of photography on Netflix’s Purple Hearts (2022), collaborating with Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum. Roe skillfully employed Sony VENICE cameras and Cooke S7/i lenses to capture a moonlit, smoke-laden night scene at ISO 6400—an image he describes as uniquely clean and Netflix-ready. He crafted a show‑stopping IMAX promo with Michael B.
Jordan and director WALU, filming a dramatic sit-down interview at Dodger Stadium. Utilizing multiple VENICE 2 bodies, signature primes, gimbals, and a sweeping 45-foot jib, Roe and team illuminated an entire stadium in under 24 hours—a feat he calls “one of the most epic looking sit-down interviews”. He captured his breakout piece shooting a director’s daughter’s fifth birthday party with newfound intensity and artistry—reminiscent of Darren Aronofsky’s style—landing him a feature with Mark Pellington and future commercial and music video work.
