Charlie Gruet
Camera
Biography
Charlie Gruet is an accomplished Cinematographer and Director with over two decades of experience working across New York, Los Angeles, and internationally. Charlie seamlessly blends compelling imagery with emotional depth, crafting narratives that resonate with audiences. His expertise spans comedy, drama, and documentary filmmaking, offering a versatile approach to storytelling. Charlie’s career highlights include serving as the Film Unit Director of Photography for Saturday Night Live during its Emmy-winning Seasons 42 and 43. During his tenure, he worked with A-list talent on sketches that have become part of pop culture history, honing his ability to adapt cinematic techniques to a variety of comedic and narrative styles. Following his time at SNL, Charlie was the Director of Photography for the critically acclaimed series The Other Two (HBO/Max). Collaborating with creators Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, he brought a refined visual sensibility to the show. In addition to cinematography, Charlie directed the Season 2 finale as well as two episodes in Season 3. Charlie served as one of the Directors of Photography for all four seasons of HBO’s critically acclaimed series High Maintenance. The show, created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, was celebrated for its unique storytelling, capturing intimate character portraits and vibrant slices of New York City life. Charlie’s cinematography played a pivotal role in shaping the show’s aesthetic, blending naturalistic lighting and dynamic compositions to reflect the authenticity and diversity of the city’s narratives. His collaboration with the creators resulted in episodes that ranged from deeply emotional to whimsically humorous, making High Maintenance a standout in modern television. In feature films, Charlie has worked with prominent comedy talents on projects like Most Likely to Murder and Big Brother Volcano. He has also directed short films for Freakonomics Radio, blending documentary and fiction with sharp humor. In drama, Charlie showcased his versatility as the DP for Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, a gripping series starring Grace Van Patten and Jackson White. Charlie worked with notable directors, including Robin Wright and Isabel Sandoval, to capture its nuanced narrative. Charlie’s documentary work has garnered critical acclaim, including Meet the Hitlers, Confessions of a Superhero, and PBS’s emmy-nominated The Self-Made Man. His ability to create intimate, visually engaging documentaries is further highlighted in projects for CNN Heroes and Stand Up 2 Cancer. A proud member of the International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600) and the Directors Guild of America, Charlie continues to push creative boundaries.
Known For
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
Saturday Night Live
A former professional dancer, Brooke, and her brother Cary, an aspiring actor, try to find their place in the world while wrestling with their feelings about their 13-year-old brother Chase's sudden rise to internet fame.
The Other Two
A group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people, despite being neither "good" nor "people" yet.
Adults
Jump into the daily routines of a diverse group of New Yorkers and how they light things up. “The Guy” is a nameless pot deliveryman whose client base includes an eccentric group of characters with neuroses as diverse as the city.
High Maintenance
A nameless cannabis delivery guy delivers his much-needed medication to stressed-out New Yorkers.
High Maintenance
Love it or hate it, the government plays a huge role in our lives. Adam Conover explores its triumphs, failures and how we might be able to change it.
The G Word with Adam Conover
Four girls living in Small Town, Florida re-examine their lives after their only ambitious friend moves away to follow her dreams.
Florida Girls
Billy, once the coolest kid in high school, comes back to his hometown 15 years later to find he’s no longer cool and the girl he still has feelings for now dates the former class outcast. Billy becomes obsessed with proving the outcast is a murderer.
Most Likely to Murder
A family dismisses their daughter's claims of "fairies" living in the playhouse in their new home's backyard, until they discover another girl described the same beings in their home, decades before.
Inhabited
Michael Nouri stars in this high-tech thriller as Brad Weston, a digital tycoon who must fend off attacks from his former partner, who's unleashed a computer virus onto the entire system at his firm Autocom. But the virus appears to be a true menace that's determined to destroy anyone -- or anything -- that comes its way. Now, Weston must rely on his son (Matthew Ewald), a teenager with a penchant for hacking, to stop the menace in its tracks.
Terminal Error
Basketball superstar and wildlife advocate Yao Ming travels to Africa to help spread awareness about the cruelty of poaching. Yao sees for himself the evidence of a losing battle, where Africa's giants are senselessly slain every day for their tusks.
Saving Africa's Giants With Yao Ming
When a man’s wife flakes on a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, his overeager brother-in-law joins him on a trip to a hipster resort in Nicaragua.
Village People
From the comfort of her bathroom, a resilient woman tries to marry her desires for sexual freedom with emotional intimacy by showering with all her dates. Maybe just enjoying the ride is as intimate as it's going to get?
She's Clean
What would it be like if your last name was Hitler? Director Matt Ogens seeks that answer by intimately portraying a diverse group of individuals with that same unfortunate name.
Meet the Hitlers
Is it ever rational to choose death? On Independence Day at Stern Ranch, 77-year-old solar energy pioneer Bob Stern finds out he’s seriously ill – possibly dying. Meanwhile, an elderly in-law is dying on artificial life support. Bob decides to cheat that fate and take his own life. His family tries to stop him. Bob sets up a video camera. Daughter Susan Stern explores “rational suicide,” the “right-to-die” and the difficult end-of-life choices faced by an aging population.
The Self-Made Man
CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO is a feature length documentary chronicling the lives of three mortal men and one woman who make their living working as superhero characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard. This deeply personal view into their daily routines reveals their hardships, and triumphs, as they pursue and achieve their own kind of fame. The Hulk sold his Super Nintendo for a bus ticket to LA; Wonder Woman was a mid-western homecoming queen; Batman struggles with his anger, while Superman’s psyche is consumed by the Man of Steel. Although the Walk of Fame is right beneath their feet, their own paths to stardom prove to be a long, hard climbs.
Confessions of a Superhero
David Gram, a pharmaceutical sales rep, is offered an opportunity to win over a client in a remote northern territory. If successful, this challenge could make him the top sales rep of the year. David accepts the challenge and hits the road. Along the way however, David discovers his estranged wife, Jill has just been hired by the competition and is headed for the same client and the same opportunity. David has always been a fierce competitor. The race is on...