Filmmaking is very much a collaborative process, and I truly lucked out when I got the privilege of collaborating with Jake Simpson, an absolutely brilliant cinematographer who is also an astonishingly nice guy. I have been making movies (both as a director/writer and as an actor) since I was a kid, and I've had all kinds of experiences with cinematographers. So often in pre-production, they initially agree to everything you have in mind and tell you how great your concepts are -- then go their own way once it's time for the cameras to roll. Jake, on the other hand, was completely on board with my ideas from our first meeting and not only supported them but greatly enhanced them through his expertise and imagination. I wanted my movie to look like something Paramount or MGM would have made with that luscious, otherworldly 1940s Technicolor; I had no clue if such a thing could actually be done. Jake made it happen, and came up with visuals that are stunning and rich. He consistently had wonderful ideas on how to shoot the action and how to make my actors look spectacular. He was extremely respectful of everyone's time and resources, and made the actors feel comfortable and valued instead of treating them like set decorations or mannequins at his disposal. He was my first choice for my project and I cherish the day he accepted the gig: His professionalism, skill, good humor and thoroughness were unbeatable. My only regret is that I'm afraid he has set such a high standard that it's going to be difficult to find another cinematographer who is such a dream to work with. I assure you, I will be checking his availability every time I am planning a shoot and I cannot wait to have him on my team again.

Jake Simpson is a BAD-ASS! I was looking for a new cinematographer for my series and one day I came upon a gorgeous reel and was blown away. I knew I had to work with this person but wasn’t sure if he would be interested in commuting from Fredericksburg, VA to DC so I let it go. Two weeks later one of my actors while working on a set was raving to me about a young guy that I absolutely had to meet and work with. I asked what is his name? and he said Jake Simpson, I replied “is he blonde and from Virginia?” He said yes and I said “put him on the phone”. We spoke for an hour and he already had ideas on how to elevate my series to a new level and we immediately clicked. Jakes work has truly taken my series Anacostia to new heights with great lighting, crafted camera movements and a truly cinematic feel that our audience noticed immediately. I am glad to call him a colleague but even more proud to call him a friend.

Jake is a rare find - incredible talent, true professional and lots of fun.  He does the most amazing things with his camera with what seems like such ease.  He quickly understands what his director wants and accomplishes it in such a way that shots come out even better than imagined.  He also made many great suggestions on angles and shots we hadn't considered.  He accomplished so much with lighting and camera settings that very little color correcting was needed, saving a lot of time in post-production.  And to top it off, Jake is just plain fun to work with.  He gets along with EVERYONE and brought joy to the set each day.  He is at the top of my list for all future productions.

I have been working in the film industry for the past 22 years as an actor, stuntman, stunt coordinator, and producer. During those years I have had an opportunity to work with some of the best DP’s and camera people in the business and I can tell you that Jake Simpson can hold his own with the best of them. I have had the unique pleasure to have collaborated with Jake in a number of circumstances on numerous projects, where I may have been the sound mixer, the stunt coordinator, the director, one of the actors, or the executive producer. In every circumstance Jake has been the consummate collaborator. And I can tell you as a producer, that makes all the difference in making your day. Jake shot the last two films that I produced and the quality of is work is top notch and I highly recommend him as a Director of Photography, and I look forward to working with him on our next project together.

Working with Jake is always a collaborative experience; it’s an ongoing dialogue about how to make the strongest product possible.  He’s always looking for ways to take the producer, writer, and director’s vision, and make it even more vivid and affecting.  I’ve worked with cinematographers and DPs who are so wed to the styles they are most comfortable with (or prefer) that their talent becomes a constraint on the rest of the team. This is not the case with Jake, who approaches his work with an open heart and mind, and in doing so becomes a force multiplier for the creative forces behind the project. I can’t recommend him enough.

Jake is literally an earth angel. 
Anytime I would go to ask him to capture a particular shot- he would show me that already had grabbed it, prior to me even saying anything. 
You can put total trust in him.
His work (and eye as a cinematographer)  is captivating and I love his clean, beautiful aesthetic. 
His professionalism, kind attitude and expertise are unparalleled.
And he’s only just tapped the surface of where he will go... 
Mark my words, this incredible  man will go quite far in his career.

Jake is an incredible Director of Photography. He has a real eye for catching human expression in the most captivating way. Working with him has been a true pleasure and I highly recommend him. His positive can do attitude is refreshing on set. He took my vision and made it better than I imagined and he took time to really connect with the script, the actors, and the story I was trying to tell. I will forever be a fan of Jake’s work.

Jake Simpson is one the most professional and talented cinematographers, I have ever worked with. He understood my vision completely and worked his hardest to achieve it. He is very knowledgeable of tone, atmosphere, film language and attention to detail. He has a great attitude and is highly motivated. It was one of my favorite experiences on set and i look forward to working with him again. 

Jake is an exciting person to begin with... so all that positive energy comes with his work And the outcome is brilliant. He is a young , up and coming DP. And I loved the way he thinks and what he brings to the value of a collabration with a director. I can not wait to work with him again on my next feature. Wonderful execution in his work. I wish him all the best in all he does because he works hard and he deserves it.