Meet DAE HYUN KIM | Camera Operator

We had the good fortune of connecting with DAE HYUN KIM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DAE HYUN, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I always had the love of watching film and that led me to be part of filmmaking. Filmmaking has many different aspects and parts that collaborate together to create one big piece of art that the Director/Storyteller envisioning. Out of so many different departments that work together to create a film, Cinematography has gotten me the most attention. I love images, I was also interested in photography, the idea of creating someone’s imagination into physical image form was very fascinating.
Within cinematography works, I loved to be behind the camera, operating the camera to be the first and closest one to witness one’s performance, happenings, and creativity and capturing the moment.
Being a cinematographer can be the one to create an image with bigger responsibility and more control of your own creativity but for me, the path of cinematographer really did not suit me. The politics, the networking, and moreover work and life balancing were huge factors that I want to be a camera operator.
Being a cinematographer requires to be in the middle of politics, this politics can be within the departments or within the other departments. And being able to manage these politics is one of the essential parts. Cinematographer’s work can be affected by so many other things and in order to achieve what you want and need, and also to serve the director’s vision, Cinematographer needs to navigate and deal with the politics.
To be an artist, a cinematographer, the way I think I would need to be if I want to be a cinematographer, I don’t think I can separate myself from the work and the work needs to be an extension of my life. And I do not want it to make my work an extension of my life. I want to make a clear separation between my work and my life. After the job is over I want to go back home, to my real life. That way I can balance my work and life, my life with my loved ones, my family.
Being a camera operator gives me a chance to be part of many different creativities; narrative films, commercials, music videos, documentaries, etc. And the core notion of my job is very simple. Capture what’s in front of me that helps to tell the story that the creator wants to tell. Within that simple idea, there are many different craftsmanships needed. Understanding of what needs to be told, knowing how to utilize the gear you have, communicating with others, being intuitively reactive to the happenings in front of the camera, etc. And I enjoy all these craftsmanships. There are always things to learn, inspire and experience. The responsibility is big but the enjoyment is bigger.
As many operators say, I think being a camera operator is one the best job in filmmaking.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am still working towards my goal, to be a camera operator. It’s been only 3 years, so I still consider myself not professional yet. I am still navigating in the industry and creating a bigger circle to be known in the industry. I would say to be where I am was not easy but it could have been worse. With my many good friends in the industry’s help, I was able to be where I am. I am very grateful to them. I mentioned earlier, I think the best thing about being a camera operator is to be the one who is the first and closest person to witness and capture the artist’s creativity. The camera operating requires lots of technical aspects but at the same time, I think there is artistry in it; how to move, how fast to move, how you react and capture, what frame to start and end, etc. Lots of what the camera operators do are based on the cinematographer and the director but at the same time, within the technics to achieve the order that’s given, there’s some part of artistry that operator needs to fill in to capture the moment that the cinematographer and the director want.
I believe every camera operator brings their own uniqueness to filmmaking, it can be the technical skill set, communication skills, artistic vision, and/or intuitive reactions. Some camera operators would have a strong side on one or two things compare to the others. I believe that when you reach a certain level of being a camera operator, it’s not about your skill set that makes Cinematographer to hire you, I think it’s more about how well you get along, how well you have connected, and matches with the styles and preferences. I believe human to human relationship between you and the cinematographer/director is more important. Therefore what sets me apart from other operators is still unknown, because I am still developing my skill sets, I still have more to grow and learn, and what makes me different than others is more likely defined by how does the cinematographer and the director feel about working with me. One of the things that I prioritize on set the most is the Story and the actor who is performing the story. Often times I think there’s lack of respect for the actors who is in the vulnerable position to play the character in the story. And I try to create the best environment and also the best respect for the actors. It’s their job to perform but they are in a very vulnerable and emotional position. And I try to create the best environment and situations to give little help to actors to perform with their best ability. I want to be prepared to capture their performance the way the director and the cinematographer want with my best. The actor’s great performance makes my work look better and it makes the story to be told better. I believe it’s important for me to understand the story, what goes into the actor’s performance and be solidly ready to capture the performance.

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.
Not sure I know enough of LA city or I have enough interest in the places in the city. I would take them to Point Dume beach or Joshua Tree National Park. I really like Joshua Tree National Park. It’s close enough to do a day trip if it’s needed, has astonishing views, the quietness of the place, lots of hiking spots, and also great nighttime star views. It’s one of my favorite places that I go often and I have very special memories there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first shoutout is always to my parents, who gave me the opportunity to learn what I wanted to learn and made me be able to do what I like. Without them, I won’t be able to dream what I am dreaming and doing what I am doing. The second shoutout is to my friends. Most of my friends are all in the filmmaking business. Lots of them gave me the opportunities to be in the filmmaking process in my early career. They trusted me and they taught me so many things and inspired me. Without their help, I wouldn’t be able to navigate my way into the industry.
The third shoutout is to my mentors, Collin Anderson, SOC, Greg Smith, SOC, and Janice Arthur. I learned how to operate the camera, ideas of being a camera operator, how to create my own thoughts on being a camera operator, its responsibilities and roles, etc. It’s my honor to have them as my mentors.
The last shoutout is to the someone very special to me. I won’t mention the name or who the person is but the someone taught me the importance of life and what I was missing from my life when I was burying myself into the career and chasing my career thinking that being successful in my career would give me the happiness I thought I want. Because of the someone, I was able to realize what I truly want from my life and what I want to live for.

Website: https://daehyunkim.website/

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

Image Credits
Jared Hawkley Adam Birch Bia Catbagan Pavel Shumov Tom Ciszewski Vinny Jefferds Tyler Besh