Biography: William Heise was an American film cinematographer and director, active in the 1890s. Along with William K.L. Dickson, Heise was one of the most prolific filmmakers of the nascent days of cinema. Together, both men worked on many of the early shorts produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and were credited for more than 175 short silent films, capturing numerous scenes of everyday life as well as different aspects of performance and sport.