Meet Patrick Anthony | Cinematographer

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

Hi Patrick, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Greater the risk, greater the reward right? I’ve taken on a few jobs that I felt were debatably above my pay grade or outside my comfort zone and my career would be drastically different if I hadn’t taken those risks and the rewards were worth it. I think it proves that one has more to offer than they think they do and the main thing holding them back is self doubt. So when I think about risks, I’m thinking about what the reward could be and how I can benefit from it. Of course one has to know that it IS a risk, and make a calculated decision on whether or not it’s worth it and feasible. Certain risks are too risky and that’s something I always find myself battling with. I go through the process of calculating risks as if I’m going into battle. I never commit before I’ve thought about it in great detail and confirm that even if I fail I can still come back from it and be okay financially, physically, and mentally.

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.
I think what sets me apart from others in my field is my extensive sports background. I played competitive soccer and basketball my whole life and all at the highest level for my age. I played soccer all 4 years in college and was captain of my college soccer team my junior and senior year. For the many years I played on various sports teams, it taught me a great deal about discipline, work ethic, mental toughness and leadership. These skills have directly transferred into what I do today and for this I am most proud. Being on set as a Director of Photography, you’re leading a team to reach a common goal and that’s what I grew up doing by playing sports. I’ve gotten to where I am today because of these skills and understanding that even though we aren’t playing soccer, our team still has a cumulative goal of creating something special and we must work as a team to get there. Every person plays such a vital role in achieving said goal, so mutual respect and support is also a necessity.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way is to never burn bridges and to always be kind, upbeat, and encouraging when working in this industry. I’ve seen many other artists lose out on opportunities or not get rehired because they were rude on set, had poor communication, or had bad attitudes. People want to work with people who are genuine and fun to be around. I know for me, I’d rather work with someone who maybe isn’t as skillful as other candidates but has a great attitude rather than someone who has a bad attitude but is more skillful.

As a cinematographer, I want the world to know that I absolutely love what I do and I am eager to work more in this industry with the goal of one day being a Director of Photography for major studio films.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a huge foodie, especially Italian! So for this I’d most likely take them to all my favorite food and drink spots. ShoutOut to some of my favorites! Pace, Osteria Mozza, Mother Wolf, The Little Door, FireFly, Granville, Aroma Coffee and Tea, Hymart Sandwiches, 8oz Poke, Bluestone Lane, Sweet Butter, Jinya, Lal Merch, Black Market, Bacari, Providence, Urth Caffe, and many more! I’d be here all day listing the rest of them! I’d argue that visiting some of these restaurants mixed with a hike or two and a beach trip is some of the best ways to experience LA.

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?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my wife, Brooke Viselli Anthony because without her I don’t know if I would be where I am today in my career. She’s been through it all with me and her unwavering support has kept me going strong. For instance, I was let go from a 9-5 job and had nothing, but she stuck with me and motivated me to keep pushing. She relentlessly reassured me that I have something to offer to the world and that I needed to keep going. She has also dedicated time to teaching herself skills relevant to my field so she can help me with more jobs that I’d otherwise have to outsource. We have created an amazing team together and for her, I am grateful!

Instagram: @Patrickanthonydp

Image Credits
C Event Pics