Tips for Aspiring Cinematographers

Give your career a boost with some expert advice from legendary cinematographers.

If you want to be a better Director of Photography, then you’re in luck. You can now gain valuable insights from the industry’s finest, including Roger Deakins, Vittorio Storaro, Sean Bobbit, Paul Cameron, Vilmost Zsigmond, and more. Cinefii.com offers a unique opportunity to learn from these legendary cinematographers and enhance your skills in the craft of filmmaking.

“You have to have your own way of seeing, if that’s not too pretentious a way to put it, you have to have something to offer.” – Roger Deakins

Advice for Aspiring Cinematographers

Vittorio Storaro, the triple Academy Award winner known for his work on Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, shares his advice for aspiring cinematographers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the meaning and philosophy behind light and color, which is often overlooked in film schools.

Don Burgess ASC, the acclaimed cinematographer nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for his work on Forest Gump, reveals the piece of advice that has resonated with him throughout his career: “You can’t control everything.” In the following clip, he shares his guidance for aspiring cinematographers who aspire to succeed in the industry.

Dante Spinoti, the talented cinematographer behind films like LA Confidential, Heat, and The Insider, shares some inspiring wisdom for young cinematographers in this short clip.

“What I try to keep in mind always is that one of the most important things to be a cinematographer making movies is to keep the energy and passion for what we’re doing.”

Eduard Grau, the cinematographer known for his visually captivating work on films like Tom Ford’s A Single Man and Rodrigo Cortes’ Buried, shares the best advice he has ever received in the following clip.

“Cinematographers aren’t born, they develop over time.”

Sean Bobbitt, renowned for his work on 12 Years A Slave and his experience in various challenging environments, advises aspiring cinematographers to shoot as much as possible. His words of wisdom apply to any craftsman seeking to excel in their field.

“It’s the most difficult thing to break in to be a cinematographer, the only ones who will survive are those who really cannot live without it.” – Vilmos Zsigmond

Vilmos Zsigmond, the cinematographer behind exceptional films like Heaven’s Gate, The Deer Hunter, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, shares his perspective on the challenging journey of becoming a cinematographer.

Dean Cundey, the accomplished cinematographer whose work includes beloved films like Jurassic Park, Apollo 13, and Back To The Future, imparts his insightful wisdom in these two clips.

“I think one of the things that is surprising is that you have to fit into a team… and learning how to collaborate only comes with experience.”