Meet Luke Todd | Cinematographer

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

Hi Luke, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Oh man. Art is so subjective. There’s no right or wrong, per se, yet it has the power to strike a chord deep within somebody. I can look at a piece of art and feel nothing, while someone right next to me might be completely captivated in the same piece, shaped by their life experiences and views on the world. That’s pretty damn cool to me. No matter what external interests I explore, I keep coming back to that desire to create. The desire to, one day, create something that strikes that chord for someone.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Going back to the “art is subjective” idea that I mentioned earlier, I don’t really know what sets me apart from others yet. That’s fine with me though. I think these things come with time, so I’ll figure it out as my career goes on.

With that said, as a creative that’s just getting started, it feels like it’s been neither easy nor hard just yet. I’m taking each project as it comes, giving it my all, and trying to learn as much as I can. Sure, there are challenges on every film set, but ultimately it’s just an opportunity to develop our skills. An artistic career is a life-long pursuit, so the way that I see it, there’s no rush yet to have it all figured out. Who knows? Maybe this will all sound a bit naive in a few years, but that’s okay.

If there’s anything that I want the world to know about me, it’s that I love what I do. Making films is fun. Collaborating with others is fun. Creating stories is fun. Whether it’s film or something else, go create something!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Love the question. Yosemite—my favorite place on Earth. I’m bringing them along with a big group for about three nights (reserving a full week is tough). Everyone’s sitting around the fire, eating the same old thing every trip: burgers, hot dogs, steaks, fish, Trolli Sour Gummy Worms—basically whatever’s cheapest at the store. There’s no real agenda for the day. Maybe you tackle a tough hike early in the morning, lay by the river and take it easy, do both, or do neither.

There’s something about that place that’s so captivating yet relaxing to me. You also meet the nicest and most interesting people in places like this (well, mostly). Any trip where you’re campin with friends will be a great time, but Yosemite, in particular, is just something else to me. So yeah, that’s definitely where I’d go.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Noah Hecht is the guy. We met briefly early on at UC Santa Barbara and immediately got along with our interest in film. However, with the self-imposed pressure of creating a stable career, I ultimately chose not to study film, focusing instead on Environmental Science and Statistics, and lost contact with Noah in the process. In this time, I kept up with my photography, though, and I guess he liked it. During our third year of university, he reached out to me out of the blue and asked if I’d be interested in working as a DP on a short film of his. Despite having no experience on set, I took the risk, quit my job, and said yes. Without that opportunity, I may have never taken the dive into the world of film. It shot me down an entirely different path in life.

Website: https://www.lukegtodd.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukegtodd/

Image Credits
Gabby Vile
Jocelyn Lo