Meet Patrick “Embryo” Tapu | Director / Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick “Embryo” Tapu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick “Embryo”, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by artists. The real artists. The rebels. The heretics. The people who go against the grain and challenge the status quo. The ones who dare to take risks and push boundaries. Those are the people who change the world. They break through the current limitations and expand humanities perspective. They bother and provoke people to think differently and see the world with a broader vision.

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.
At the core, I am a creator/creative director who just happens to have worked as a Director and Cinematographer. I would say my true gift is having vision and the audacity to believe I can create the vision I see. I think it takes a level of fearlessness to pursuit an idea you believe in. A deep trust in your self and maybe even a level of ignorance. I got to where I am today with a relentless self belief and determination. I’ve always been bold to ask for what I wanted and that saying “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed” has been a cornerstone of my journey. Nothing came easy or without sacrifice but everything in life requires sacrifice. It really comes down to what you are truly willing to sacrifice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had friends coming into Los Angeles to visit and wanted me to take them out for the day. I would start off in the morning at Cognoscenti Coffee in Culver City. It’s one of my personal favorite coffee shops and one of the best in Los Angeles. Then we would go to either Destroyer in Culver City for brunch or Aeirloom Bakery in Toluca Lake. Two of my favorite brunch spots in Los Angeles. Now there’s a lot to do between brunch and dinner so it would be up to them to explore their interests. Maybe we can go hit Malibu Beach, or go hiking at one of the many LA trails like Runyon Canyon, but come nighttime I would make sure we end at the iconic Jumbo’s Clown Room in Hollywood for some drinks and pole tricks.

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?
My success has been because of the trust from all the different creatives that dared to create with me. The people who believed in the vision I saw and wanted to help me manifest it. I’ve worked with so many different creatives through out the last 15 years that have not only helped me accomplish a vision I set out to create but also challenged me to grow as a creator. Even the people who were difficult to work with gave me the opportunity to grow and expand. I have a deep gratitude for everyone I’ve ever worked with. Each project was a learning lesson and a self discovery process.

Website: https://www.directedbyembryo.com

Instagram: DirectedByEmbryo

Image Credits
First image features Margo, Timbaland and Brookelyn Styles. Second image features G-Eazy, Too Short and The Dream