Rising Stars: Meet Catherine Del Castillo of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Del Castillo.

Hi Catherine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was first applying to colleges, I knew all I wanted to do was theater tech. I loved lighting design and building sets, but I was aware that the theatrical industry was too niche, and it could not provide me the kind of future I envisioned for myself. I had no clue what else I wanted to do with my life, so I applied to almost every college as undecided until my theater tech teacher, Michael Evans, told me about the film industry and how similar it was to stagecraft. He encouraged me to apply to at least one school as a film major, saying that if I worked hard enough, I could succeed and build the life I wanted, while also doing what I loved. So, I applied to Cal State Long Beach as a Cinematic Arts major. To my surprise, I got in!
I remember starting my first film class and listening to my classmates talk about film festivals and all the films they’ve directed, thinking I would never catch up. Everything changed once I got onto my first student film set as a G & E swing. I remember being asked to set up an F22c and going on YouTube to watch a tutorial, and building it on my own. I started getting asked to work on more and more sets outside of Long Beach, working alongside NYFA, LMU, and eventually USC. Every set I worked was an opportunity to learn and improve my craft. I always asked questions and carried a pocket notebook everywhere I went to write down what I learned, which has led to a great reputation. My skill set grew exponentially as well as my career, and soon I was DP on my own projects and regularly Gaffing and KGing on large sets. Now, I work as a freelance Cinematographer and Key Grip as a senior in college, while running the film club on campus, giving back to our amazing community by teaching others and helping students to get their first start on set, too!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve faced many setbacks and challenges in my career, but the most difficult would have to be navigating a department that doesn’t have many people who look like me. The severe lack of female representation has always been a struggle for me from the beginning. Whenever I arrive on set, there is always one person who is surprised that I am the DP or KG. This reaction quietly questions my competence before the day has even begun, and therefore, I must work even harder to gain the same level of respect and trust that is automatically granted to my male counterparts. I’ve learned to rise above it and let my work speak for itself. I know many women in the industry can relate, having to walk the line between leading with decisiveness and being labeled as “bossy”, while navigating and dealing with these challenges andnot being seen as “difficult”. What keeps me optimistic is how much change I’ve witnessed in just a few short years. When I started classes for cinematography, I was one of 3 women out of 30 students, but now there are more than 5 times the number of women in my classes. That being said, I have so much hope for the future of this industry becoming more welcoming of female KGs, Gaffers, and DPs!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a freelance Cinematorgrapher, which means I work with a director to implement a certain visual language in projects using camera work and lighting to either emphasize the story or achieve a specific tone for a project. Currently, I am primarily known for my work as a Key Grip and Gaffer since I specialize in rigging and light design. I have a background in light design and carpentry, which has helped me greatly in these departments, and now I’m known for my critical thinking skills. When it comes to rigs, I’m great at finding many different solutions for many kinds of problems a Key Grip or Gaffer could face on set.
I’m most proud of my work as a Director of Photography, having recently wrapped my biggest film yet, “Soma” which was my capstone project at CSULB. I’m also very proud of the film club I am co-president of, Producer’s Club, which is a club dedicated to getting students their first jobs on set and giving them the education they need to thrive. I think what sets me apart from other Cinematographers is my sheer determination and passion for my craft. I try to never stop learning or improving. I try to learn everything about anything; no task is too small, no question is too dumb to ask, and there is no job to work that is beneath me. There is always an opportunity to improve everywhere I look, and for some people thats a unique perspective.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I would love to recommend always showing up to set with a poket sized notebook and pen to write down everything new you learn. I use it for overheads and shot schedules to avoid being on my phone on set. I also use it to write down questions, new pieces of gear I encounter, new rigs I learn, and tips, tricks, and advice for everything under the sun related to film. I also recommend Milanote for preproduction planning, ShotDeck for mood boards and shot references, and the app Shadowmap, which is incredlibly user friendly and a great way to visually map out exactly where shadows will land on location ahead of time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherine.del.films/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573385253768
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-del-castillo-
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/i4ztrkHlEMA
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14957989/