Meet Akanksha Shyam | Cinematographer

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

Hi Akanksha, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I grew up in India. Where on one hand, the magic of Bollywood is ingrained in you. Color, drama, and over-the-top extravagance are a part of your vocabulary. When the pendulum swings to the other side, in terms of the Indian film industry, you get extreme social realism. Growing up, I was able to volunteer in NGOs and do social work that exposed me to important human stories that needed to be told.

I also grew up, quite literally, surrounded by art, as my mom started delving into her own career as an abstract artist when I was young. Having these influences in my life motivated me to find a middle ground and hone in on my voice. Using creative visual approaches to telling bold and necessary stories. This is the reason I strive to make films as a cinematographer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I’m a cinematographer. My work consists of breaking down a story visually and then building it back up with the right tools and creative ideas. I work closely with the director to come up with images that are right for the story and help an audience connect with the characters whose stories are being told. The best way to explain my job is visual storytelling.

In my own professional career, I have tried to tell stories that are important. I believe that films have great power and help reveal truths about the world and draw attention to real stories. I try to seek out stories from underrepresented communities and themes that aren’t talked about to bring attention to these facets of life. I have worked on films about the LGBTQ+ community, visually impaired people, minorities, and films about mental health awareness. I am grateful to be able to have such a diverse range in my career and hope to continue in the same way.

I started out in the camera department in India in the narrative world but found a lesser barrier to entry in corporate films and branded content. After doing that for a little while, the itch to return to narrative got too big to ignore. I got into the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2019 and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in narrative film. After receiving my MFA in Cinematography from there, I have been freelancing in LA working my way through the camera department and the occasional lighting jobs. I am starting to shoot more now and working on projects that are meaningful to me.

One of the biggest learnings for me from my shift from corporate films to narrative was how much more collaborative the work was. You have to work together with different creatives, each person adding something unique that creates the final piece. I am grateful to have found many collaborators who are open and excited about the work they are doing.

I believe I am still finding my voice which may be a lifelong process. I am starting to be drawn to conceptual art as a means of visual storytelling and harnessing it for narrative filmmaking. I love working with color and movement and finding a balance between reality and surrealism. I am drawn to the works of Michel Gondry and Andrei Tarkovsky who are pioneers of surrealist dreamlike pieces.

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.
No trip to LA is complete without going to the beach. I would take them to Malibu, the quieter beaches, and definitely spend the day there with a picnic. The Getty is a must, not just because of the art but also the architecture and views of the city. I am a huge fan of the Silverlake food scene, there are some incredible Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants including Pine and Crane and Woon. Drag shows in West Hollywood are another great way to spend an evening in LA. Lastly, a hike in Runyon Canyon or Topanga is a fun way to get off the grid for a bit when the traffic and bustle of the city get too much!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Of course, my parents, who have supported me unconditionally and helped me have the belief in myself to keep working towards my goals. Having a support system is everything in this industry because the life of a creative freelancer is not easy and the warmth of friends and family is what keeps you going. I am also grateful to my newfound family in LA.

Website: www.akankshashyam.com

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akankshashyam/

Image Credits
Jared Hawkley Ci Zhang Melly Lee