Meet Santiago Serrano | Cinematographer

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

Hi Santiago, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

I see risk as vital for personal growth. Years ago, I took a leap of faith and moved to the USA without a clear plan, but with some goals in mind. It turned out to be a rewarding experience, with adapting to a new language and lifestyle adding depth to my perspective and shaping my career path.

In my professional journey, I am always seeking ways to challenge myself, constantly striving to discover something new and try different approaches. Once the unknown becomes known, I’m eager to tackle the next. Whether it’s experimenting with a new camera movement or relocating from NYC to LA to advance my career, I’m open to taking risks.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a cinematographer, so I collaborate closely with the director in crafting the film’s visual story. On the creative side, it’s about deciding on the types of shots we want and choosing the colors and textures that give the film its look among many other variables. These creative choices come together through teamwork, all in service of the story. On the technical side, my job is to figure out the equipment and technical elements needed to bring that vision to life efficiently.

I started in film doing sound. I come from a family where music was always present, so my first inclination was to get involved in that world. After a few years, I dabbled in doing sound for film, which fascinated me. However, since the cameraman always received all the credit, I wanted that. Just kidding! I had the opportunity to play with cameras, and before I knew it, I was spending more time behind the camera than micing and mixing. I worked several years back in Ecuador, mostly on documentaries, until I had the opportunity to come to the USA. Since my journey so far hadn’t been that difficult, I thought that the USA was a piece of cake. Oh yeah, sure! I had to start from scratch and work my way up, around, behind, and through all the challenges an immigrant faces. From all of these experiences, I learned that it is on you; you have to carve your path. Yes, people are willing to help you, but if you do not take the risk, make the call, or send that email, you will never know who they are. The second may sound cliché, but it holds true. It is never about the destination but the journey. It took me several years and so many frustrations because I was solely focused on the end goal. Once you learn it is all about the journey you will naturally surround yourself with good people. That’s part of what excites me the most, continuing to build and grow my work tribe!

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?

I love to venture, so it’s difficult to have favorite spots. From all the things you can do, I’d take them to explore Griffith Park, The Getty Center, LACMA, Malibu Beach, Corona Del Mar Beach, Rodeo Drive, Universal CityWalk, Hollywood Bowl, Chinatown, Plaza Olvera, the Hollywood sign, and Echo Park. Of all of these, my favorite is Corona del Mar; it is a gorgeous place.

For dining or coffee, we could visit the Farmers Market at the Groove, Grand Central Market, Don Cuco, Sightglass Coffee, or Café Fresco (which serves Ecuadorian food on the weekends). And if we are going to have drinks, it will be at my place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I firmly believe that we are the result of all the people who have crossed our paths and helped us along the way, whether with small tasks or big endeavors. So many people come to mind, but as a Latino, my family comes first, and my wife is at the top. Pursuing a non-traditional career brings many questions and challenges, and it takes a very special person to support you. From her, it has only been support, love, tenderness, and understanding. Of course, there’s a grain of salt here and there, but we find a way at the end of the day. When I told her I had the opportunity to come to LA to pursue a career in cinematography, she hugged me and said, ‘Let’s go.’ We crossed the country driving from NYC to LA with a 3-month-old baby and all our belongings in the trunk. So, if I need to give not a little but a lot of credit, it’s to them: to Fer and my kiddo Juanes. 

Website: https://www.serranosantiago.com/

Instagram: @ese.serrano

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

Other: Nova App: Santiago Serrano