Meet Martin Moody | Cinematographer

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

Hi Martin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Giving success time, realizing long term goals by namesake take a long time to achieve. That the process of growing your career during this “long term” is motivate by yourself solely, and has to be everyday. This process can be exhausting and disencouraging. Obsticals and misstakes have to be a learning and ever eyeopening experience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My approach is driven by each script, be it for a long term feature film production, or a few days commercial shoot. The material in addition to my closest collaborator. The director, with his or her interpretation of the written words, guide my initial creative process and planning on how the project should be captured in detail. The story drives a direction that early on does not have anything to do with cameras, lenses, and or lights. I try to focus on setting, moods, feelings, fully understanding each beat of the story, and the many different perspectives a scene could be captured from. This process then slowly develops into the technical thinking behind the visual ideas developed, and how to effectively use tools, lights, cameras in a given location. Not driven by always making a good looking image, but the image that speaks the language of the story being told. My craft is something that I am developing all the time. Each project brings unique challenges, although I see these challenges as the main motivator for my work. I enjoy the process of filmmaking and being able to learn by problem-solving, this really works for me. Having been fortunate enough to capture feature films outside of Los Angeles and the United States. In collaboration with foreign production companies and crews is something I value highly. Being invited to shoot and learn to understand filmmaking from a different angle thought me so much. Sometimes you need to step away, out of your comfort zone, without your regular crew. Into a completely new world, if you can achieve your creative vision, on a tight schedule and under these circumstances the confidence needed to keep chasing your dreams really builds up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This has really changed for me in the last little bit, as it probably has for everyone, due to the pandemic. More importantly, my wife and I welcomed our firstborn daughter into the world in 2020. These days I try to find myself in nature as much as possible whilst still in the city, or when time allows, exploring LA’s surrounding and diverse landscapes. We reside on the eastside of Los Angeles where we spend most of our time. We enjoy Frogtown and its bike path along the LA River. Great long walks, the Frogtown brewery is an enjoyable place to pick up a few beers. I am from Germany and really found myself enjoying a beer garden named Hinterhof on York Blvd, all Vegan German food. Nice place to sit then walk up York during the summer evenings. When time allows exploring Angeles Crest, the many different desert areas around LA, and beyond.

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?
Nothing I have achieved could have been done without my working crew and other key creative collaborators. I have worked with my Gaffer Derek Rittenhouse for over eight years now. Ryley Fogg who owns Eastside Camera, which has been my camera rental house of choice, keeping me up to date on the ever-changing technology used to achieve the art. I call Derek for every production and keep my fingers crossed that he is available to work with me. There is a high level of understanding in our approach to work that can only come from for many years of working together. I also have to mention Wildlife LA, an amazingly creative production company that is always implementing unique and new ideas into contet. Based in Los Angeles, founded and run by Scott and Jake Friedman. When I get to work with the Friedman brothers my creativity and skills get put to the test, we have shared a period of growth which I hope to continue.

Website: www.martinmoodycinema.com

Instagram: @martinmoody