Born in Santa Barbara, CA. A fourth generation Californian, Funke has been a cinematographer for over 30 years. He studied biochemistry for several years in college, but in the early 1960's he switched to UCLA Film School. He subsequently worked with Stephen Burum, ASC. He spent eleven years with The Office of Charles and Ray Eames (shooting over 30 films at that time). His first effects project was "Battlestar Galactica," at first with Apogee and then at Universal-Hartland. He founded Precision Film Group in the late 1970's, doing effects for TV and features. Later, at Las Palmas Production, he co-designed the first-ever system for pin-registered transferring of film to video. Although he is a specialist in miniatures and visual effects, he also shoots live action of all kinds. He has taught advanced cinematography courses at both UCLA (full-time faculty for two years) and Loyola University. He has been invited to give lectures on visual effects photography in Italy and Norway. Notable feature film credits include THE BLOB (1988, visual effects photographer), THE ABYSS (1989, miniature photography superviser: DQI), FREEJACK (1992, effects protography: DQI), THE LAWNMOWER MAN (1992, bluescreen d.p.), THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD (1995, background plate d.p.), and EXECUTIVE DECISION (1996, miniatures unit d.p.). Funke directed visual effects photography for TOTAL RECALL (1990), GRAND CANYON (1992), WATERWORLD (1995), STARSHIP TROOPERS (1997), MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1998), MYSTERY MEN (1999), THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy (2001-03), and KING KONG (2005). He is married with five children: one screenwriter; one pro musician; one fashion marketer, and two students.  Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects 1990: TOTAL RECALL (w. Rob Bottin, Eric Brevig & Tim McGovern)  Best Achievement in Visual Effects 2002: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (w. Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri and Randall William Cooke)  Best Achievement in Visual Effects 2003: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (w. Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri and Randall William Cooke) 2 nominations, 2 Awards, 1 Special Achievement Award