Pierre Chemaly. Director of Photography. 818.445.3516

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I am a Los Angeles based cinematographer, specializing in features,short and art films.
 
Every film I shoot, is given a unique look and feel.

Filming is a lot of fun.  I like to work on locations out of LA. because of new people, new ideas, different equipment (sometimes little to none)  In Europe most crews I work with don't speak English, I like that, because I like a quiet set. A few hand signals here, and a few words there, gets the job done.
 
On one film in Bulgaria, I had  very little equipment, and the little there was, had to be shared with other productions. I had no scrims, nets, or flags,so I had to cut down lite by using smaller units and by squeezing barndoors. I also used  pieces of furniture, like a wardrobe, or a door  taken off the hinges.  I even used towels, anything I could find. Crews there like hands on work and are happy just to hold up a door or two. Infact they would rather do that than use the two C stands we had.
 

Ice staligtites outside my door

Me and the old Dodge

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Taking a lite reading. "Shade of Pale" Bulgaria  It was so cold, my light meter froze at F5.6. I remember an old cameraman quote I read once: "If in doubt shoot at 5.6."  That's exactly what I did, and it came out perfectly.
You can see my offical website at:  www.pierrechemaly.com