Meet Melina Psarros

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melina Psarros.

Hi Melina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was meant to be a cinematographer, and I mean that in the most unserious way. If you watch back my family home videos, they consist of hours of me directing my younger siblings from behind a camcorder. I was pretty creative; once mimicking scrolling end credits by writing my name on a piece of paper and then moving it upwards in front of the camera. I eventually taught myself how to edit on Microsoft Movie Maker when I was in middle school and would burn my “films” onto CDs; I felt like the coolest kid ever. I ended up studying Film at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with minors in French and Art History. One of the best parts of my time in college was working in the school’s camera rental house throughout all four years. I was so determined to work there my first semester that I walked into the professor’s office and asked for an interview. They technically weren’t hiring. Thankfully they offered me a job and gave me the opportunity to channel my curiosity and build my technical confidence in a positive atmosphere.

Syracuse is also where I started building my visual style through my appreciation for art history. I learned how to engage with different styles of art that interested me, like baroque and neoclassical paintings and expressionist photography. Which gave me a new way of interpreting lighting and composition. I became obsessed with learning as much about different art styles as well as film movements in order to widen my sources of inspiration as much as I could.

Right after graduation, I started a job as an assistant in the Feature Department at Iconic Talent Agency, working for Cinematographers, Production Designers, Costume Designers, and Editors, whose work has inspired me throughout my life. I worked remotely from my parent’s house in New York for seven months before being promoted to Coordinator and making the move out to Los Angeles a little over a year ago.

The last year has felt like whiplash. I hit the ground running, literally, when I found myself working on a set the weekend after I moved out. Since I’ve been in LA, I have taken advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I am thankful to everyone who has given me the chance to develop myself as a cinematographer outside of shooting my own projects; whether that’s offering me a job as an AC, allowing me to shadow their preps, or having multi-hour conversations with me over a cup of coffee. I have also had invaluable opportunities presented to me through my job at Iconic. I have been fortunate enough to attend Sundance, SXSW and TIFF, which have felt like surreal experiences.

I currently have two short films in post-production, as well as a few in pre-production and am looking forward to collaborating with more filmmakers and taking the next steps in my career.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I will always feel like an imposter. I’m an overachiever at heart, and I constantly battle this feeling that I’m not doing enough to further my career, that I am undeserving of opportunities that I have worked hard for. There was a point last year, before shooting my first short film in LA, where I was putting so much pressure on myself that I became my biggest obstacle. I had a memorable conversation with a DP where he compared becoming a cinematographer to learning how to swim. Instead of starting at the rapids of a stream, you want to start in the shallows where the water is calm. The shallows are the stage that I’m in: shooting short films, developing my style, and fueling my passion for filmmaking. I want to enjoy the moment and to spend time figuring out what stories I want to tell through my work. Most of all, I want to be proud of the progress that I make, mistakes included. I’m content with not being at my end goal.

I wrote a set of yearly goals that I keep taped behind my phone as a constant reminder of where I’m going. The most important goal on that list, written in my nearly-illegible handwriting, is to foster love, confidence, and passion for my art.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At my core, I’m an introvert who loves watching the world around me. I try my best to carry my film camera around with me wherever I go because I am inspired and excited by the smallest, most mundane things. I take notes about the way that the light hits my dining room when the sun rises, the silhouettes of two people walking on the beach, and the way a child watches a plane take off at the airport. In my narrative work, I am drawn to smaller, more intimate stories that might not feel extravagant or tense in the moment but carry meaningful personal emotions behind the action on screen. My visual style mirrors this—driven by warm and soft lighting, simple compositions and a clean frame. At the same time, I am always looking to explore new styles and grow out of my comfort zone. One of my personal short films explores the relationship between a mother and a daughter as they get older through two voicemails written as poems by Danielle Clough. I shot another short with Director Anna Moskowitz, which captures the beauty and longing of aging told through dance. My upcoming short is an experimental piece that focuses on isolation, daydreaming, and escapism.

What sets apart every cinematographer is the unique worldview that they bring to how they capture a scene. No two DPs will cover something in the same way—that is the beauty of the art form. I am proud of how I have developed my style and how dedicated I am to my craft. When I get attached to a script or a concept, it becomes a fixed thought in my head. Everything I do somehow evolves into inspiration for the project I am working on, and I exude what feels like my entire existence into it. I love the long conversations with directors, solving together the puzzle of how to make their vision come to life in the most authentic way possible.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I’ve really come to know the importance of fostering a creative community and valuing the people around me. Covid started while I was still in college and completely changed the trajectory of my plans. I found myself searching for somewhere to channel my creative energy and decided to organize a virtual international film festival in order to bridge together other film students to celebrate and share our work. The Salt City International Film Festival received over a hundred submissions from students across the world, and each category was screened via livestream on Youtube. I also organized virtual industry guest speakers and networking events throughout the weekend of the festival in an attempt to bring the industry to our Zoom screens. I want to continue to create spaces where people can connect and motivate one another. Recently, I hosted a networking event for young creatives with one of my friends and fellow cinematographer, Kai Philavanh. We had a surprisingly large and motivated turnout. We plan to host more events in the future to grow a large community of fellow cinematographers and filmmakers who will support one another as we grow in our careers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melinapsarros.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinapsarros/ 

Image Credits
Melina Psarros Brandon Goebel