American Cinematographer - May 2020 - 13

Photo courtesy of the AC Archive.

Don't fawn. Don't be a pest. If
they're speaking somewhere, make a
point to attend and, if you can, say "hello"
at the end of the event. If you aren't in the
same city/state/country, try social media.
Many of the top cinematographers have
their own social-media accounts. Try to
comment on their posts with insightful
questions. Try the direct-message
approach. An individual who is open to
serving as a mentor will most likely be
open to these contacts and answering
your questions. If the person you're
targeting for mentorship doesn't attend
events and doesn't respond on social
media, your chances are extremely slim,
and you might want to try someone else.
Generally, such individuals aren't open to
extensive mentoring, either.
In the end, it all starts with a
personal connection, so it behooves you
to create one. Don't be overly aggressive!
Don't be creepy! Don't send personal
photos or make weird comments. Keep it
professional! If the individual responds to
you, then you have the first stages of
establishing a relationship - but don't
read too much into this too quickly! It's
possible they respond to a lot of people,
and one message (or even half a dozen)
doesn't make you best buddies. Social
media can work, but there's nothing like
face-to-face contact. This is the key
reason to live in a city that's a major
production hub: so you can connect with
individuals who are at the pinnacle of
their professional careers and might be
able to help you.
Once you've had repeated contact,
ask if you can take them to coffee to seek
their advice. If you don't live in the same
city, perhaps ask for a 10-minute phone
call or Skype call. DO NOT ASK THEM TO
BE YOUR MENTOR. In the same way you
wouldn't ask a date to marry you within
minutes of meeting them, don't ask someone to make a major commitment to you
without establishing a strong base first.
Additionally, the venerable sixdegrees-of-separation rule is very powerful. Do you know anyone who knows them
personally? A mutual friend who can
introduce you and your hoped-for mentor
is a very strong way to make that personal
connection. Someone your potential

Future ASC member John Toll operates on Sweet Dreams (1985), directed by Karel Reisz. Beside him
are 1st AC Conrad W. Hall; cinematographer Robbie Greenberg, ASC; and Reisz. Toll had previously
worked with Hall while he was operating for the latter's father, Conrad L. Hall, ASC.

mentor knows and trusts can help you
form a strong bond quickly and shortcut a
lot of more "casual" encounters.

The mentor needs to know your
work and your talent
This one is also huge. If I'm taking
on a commitment to someone, I need to
know they're worthy of my time and
effort. I need to see that they have talent
and drive. They can't be lazy; they can't be
complacent; they have to be a go-getter. I
need to see a reel and work that
impresses me. Even early in a career, the
work needs to show skill, knowledge and
talent. If the work is truly terrible, why
would I waste my time? If the person
seems lazy or complacent or complains
about the difficulties or challenges of the
business too much, they're not worth my
time. I only have time and energy to dedicate to one, maybe two people. If I'm
making an investment in you, then you'd
better show promise and prove my efforts
won't be a waste. If I think you've got
great talent but don't have the constitution to persevere against all odds - which
this business requires - then, again,
you're not worth my time.

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Tips
It really should go without saying
(and as I fervently stated in last month's
Shot Craft): Have a good reel. Have a
GREAT reel. Easier said than done? Not
really. In this day and age, there is NO
excuse for not having a great reel. Go out
and shoot. If you are an aspiring cinematographer and you don't have a reel
yet, stop reading this NOW and go out and
shoot. Use your phone. Borrow a camera.
GO SHOOT. Get friends together and use
them as actors. Or find a local community
theater or college with acting classes and
recruit actors to be in small scenes. Shoot
a 1-minute scene, and BOOM, you've got
reel material. Make it good. If you don't
know lighting or camera or editing, LEARN
IT. Then shoot to learn more.
You need to be at a point in your
career where you are knowledgeable
enough, experienced enough and talented
enough to merit a mentor taking you on. If
you are not at that stage yet, you're not
going to get a mentor. You need to put in
the work first. Get out there and learn the
trade. Get out there and build a reel. Show
the individual that you're driven, you've
put in the effort and time, and you're looking to get to the next level. All professionals appreciate someone who is dedicated,
May 2020

http://www.ascmag.com

American Cinematographer - May 2020

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