Amanda Carroll
Cinematography
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philosophy

“philosophy”
— a look into choosing the right Cinematographer
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My philosophy is to create emotion through simple and effective lighting, camera movement and color. Every scene is deliberately crafted to tell a visual story. My style has been described as the liberal use of traditional cinematography techniques, softened with naturalistic lighting. My use of depth of field and in camera color helps to drive the emotion of the story home.

My job is to partner with the director to deliver the vision to the screen. On set, I am a leader, a manager, a technical expert, a safety expert and the glue that holds the Camera, Grip and Electric team together.

As a businesswoman, I understand how to lead people, manage processes which leads to a business-like approach to managing my team on set. I keep my productions on budget and on schedule while creating a cinematic story. My goal is to serve the director and make the production viable for all stakeholders.

I believe that my experience as a military leader, entrepreneurial spirit, business management experience, and cinematography skills uniquely position me as the best choice for projects of any size.

“lead·er·ship”
— ˈlēdərˌSHip/ noun: leadership the action of leading a group of people or an organization.

The DP is the leader of the Camera, Grip and Electrical Departments, a substantial crew and highly skilled workers. The team looks to the DP for guidance and will gladly line up behind a good leader!

“work eth·ic”
— /wərk ˈeTHik/ noun: work ethic the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward.

 

The DP has to lead by example and a huge part of that is their work ethic! This can make or break your production!

“man·ag·er”
— /ˈmanijər/ noun: manager; plural noun: managers a person responsible for controlling or administering all or part of a company or similar organization.

 

A DP truly is a business manager. She is responsible for their budgets, equipment, personnel, union agreements, labor issues and the timeline to finish the production. 

“a·dapt·a·bil·i·ty”
— /əˌdaptəˈbilədē/ noun: adaptability the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.

 

No shoot is routine. Each production is a unique process and the DP should be able to develop ways to effectively and safely get that “impossible shot”.

“safe·ty
”
— /ˈsāftē/ noun: safety 1. the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury

 

A DP is in charge of some of the most risk prone departments on set, so she has to be an expert on OSHA regulations, state laws, union regulations and industrial safety practices.

“mas·ter”
— /ˈmastər/ noun: master; plural noun: masters a skilled practitioner of a particular art or activity+

 

Cinematography is constantly evolving. New cameras, lenses, lights, equipment and techniques require the cinematographer to constantly pursue new opportunities to learn, train and experience.  

“qual·i·ty”
— /ˈkwälədē/ noun: quality; plural noun: qualities 1. the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.

A huge part of the job is creating a consistent and high quality image. A DP needs to be an expert in all of the tools and methods available for image management. Contrary to popular belief, quality lies in the cinematographic process, not the camera! Although the camera is a part of the quality equation, it is not the only component. Lens behavior, camera sensor limitations, film stock, lighting, exposure, controlled movement, color and focus are among the largest components involved in a quality finished product.

“di·ver·si·ty”
— dih-vur-si-tee/NOUN: the spectrum of individual differences and the corresponding group memberships and identities that human beings have in society.

Diversity on set is the cornerstone of the creative process! There are few endeavors which bring so many people of diverse backgrounds together. As a cinematographer and a member of the LGBT family, I take my job of representing my peers very seriously. I strive to act as a beacon for others and provide mentorship for all LGBT people on set. As a leader, I strive to lift everyone around me up. As a Cinematographer I work hard to ensure that all stories are told in the best light possible.