Meet Melina Psarros | Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melina Psarros and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melina, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
In a roundabout way, one of my habits to “succeeding” is to rethink what success means and looks like for me. I feel that I put a lot of pressure on myself to achieve impossible goals, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in chasing a false idea of success. Recently, I’ve been trying to break down this unhealthy thought process by measuring my success in smaller and more tangible goals, instead of constantly dangling the entire weight of my career over my head.

This is the first year that I have written out a list of goals for myself, and I have carried them with me everywhere I go in the back of my phone case. At first I thought this would be a silly and fun thing to do for a new year’s resolution. I assumed I would forget about the whole thing in a few months, or inevitably lose the piece of paper. But as the year has progressed I have slowly accomplished each goal (and kept the paper in place thanks to a strip of gaff). Now that the year is almost over I find that it’s helpful to have a tangible way to measure my growth, because I am miles away from where I was in January, and that is something I need to remember and be proud of.

The book “Art & Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland helped me challenge my own perceptions of success and I reread pages from it often, especially when I’m stuck in a rut. A line that I like to come back to is: “Those who continue to make art are those who have learned how to continue — or more precisely, have learned not to quit”. I know this sounds dramatic, but I repeat this to myself on a loop every time I am anxious or start overthinking. When I think I have failed I have to remind myself that I tried, and by continuing to try I therefore have not failed. I know that I am always going to be my harshest critic, and my brain is hardwired to always think that way, but by starting to challenge my own thought process I feel like I have created a healthier space for myself to continue to try.

This has all led to this year being my year of saying “yes” to every opportunity without fear, and that’s a habit that I want to continue to keep as I move forward in my career. It has been important to me to take advantage of every chance to learn, grow, or create, without holding myself back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It is difficult for me to reflect on where I am currently, because when I look at myself as a cinematographer I am still at the beginning of a long journey. In my head, I imagine my career as a really long dirt path that dissipates into a foggy unknown, a little eerie, but only because I’m not sure of where it’s going.

I think what sets me apart is my desire to continue to challenge myself. I say “yes” to each opportunity that comes my way because I know the value of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I want to explore new genres of stories, light using methods that are new to me, and continue to grow my technical understanding of this artform. I have an insatiable desire to work and learn as much as possible, and that is what I am most proud of as a cinematographer.

My brain never stops thinking about light, color, and composition, and I truly am inspired by the small moments that define our life experiences. I hope to continue developing my style through stories that explore nostalgia, coming of age, and the complexity of human relationships. The films this year that have been the most inspiring for me so far have been Close, Past Lives, and Anatomy of a Fall. Each of these films left me sitting stunned in the theater for different reasons, and I chase the ability to create that feeling for someone through my own work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This upcoming January will be my two year anniversary of living in Los Angeles, and my favorite part of living here (besides the food, which is the obvious answer) is its closeness to nature. I actually had both my best friend and sister visit me this past summer, and took planning our itinerary quite seriously, so I’ll highlight a few favorite moments from their trips here.

Coming from New York, the proximity of mountains, beaches, and the desert is something I am not used to, and I always love sharing that with my friends when they come to visit. I like taking them up to Point Dume in Malibu for a beach day, and out to Joshua Tree to walk in the national park. When in the desert, always end the night with the sunset and some stargazing. It’s important to note that when driving to Joshua Tree I always stop at the Cabazon Dinosaurs, mainly because their existence is hilarious to me.

A hike at some point during the visit is non negotiable, since some of the best lookout spots are at the top of a mountain. If you’re headed to the ocean, I think a unique way to enjoy an LA sunset is riding a bike down the beach path, and the rentals are super cheap! Always pick up some fresh fruit from a vendor on the path as well, making sure to add tajin and lime. I definitely have a few secret spots too, but those will remain a secret.

As far as other activities go, I love going to the different flea markets around the city, while stopping at my favorite coffee shops and bookstores along the way. Our museums are incredible, and this past summer The Broad had a Keith Haring exhibit that made a strong impression on me.

I also keep an exponentially growing list of restaurants in LA, so please feel free to send me recommendations. I do tend to avoid expensive dinners because I feel that money is better spent on experiences, but I try to sneak one nice meal into each visit (Bacari in Silverlake or any KBBQ spot in Koreatown are my current go-tos). And if you’re going out, a street taco is always the best way to end the night.

All this being said, I’ve heard it takes at least 5 years to fully understand this city – so I’ll follow up with an updated list in 2027!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe everything that I have learned to the incredible camera community in both LA and NY. The people that I have worked with have been generous with both their time and knowledge, and I am grateful to be surrounded by a supportive group of peers. When I first moved to LA, I struggled to find a creative community or a place where I felt like I fit. But throughout this past year I have met such inspiring people on set, at events, and through mutual friends. It’s funny how quickly the world began to feel small. Of course, I also have to acknowledge and thank my friends and family who have always unconditionally supported me (thank you for listening to my rants, rambles, and moments of doubt… I could not exist without you).

Website: https://www.melinapsarros.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinapsarros

Other: Email: melinapsarros@gmail.com