Daily Inspiration: Meet Gregory Starke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gregory Starke.

Hi Gregory, 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?
I got my start in film in Tallahassee Fl while I was attending FSU for Nursing. I remember sitting in class and feeling displaced amongst the other nursing students. I left class early that day and sat myself in the front of my mirror and asked myself: What do you like to do? Prior to asking myself that question, I was mainly doing things with little to no purpose. After asking myself the same question a few times, I said, “I like watching movies”. In hindsight, I got pretty lucky that I actually liked filmmaking. Later, I found out that “Liking to watch movies” and “filmmaking” don’t correlate at all. I immediately started researching how I could get on set. After a few days, I found the Tallahassee Film Society, a group of students making films every semester. I bought a cheap camera, wrote a script, and showed up to my first meeting thinking I needed to prove something. That’s when I met YaSin Ali, a director who ended up changing my entire life. I remember him reading my script, tossing it out, and telling me to grab my camera to shoot a comedy sketch they were doing outside. I don’t fully understand Ali’s logic behind that decision, but ever since then, I’ve found myself behind that camera and never looked back. Fast forward 5 years, a lot of trial and error, wins and losses, and the usual, I find myself working in LA as a DP on narratives and commercials. At this current point in my story, I’m learning to enjoy the ride. I have a wonderful support system in family/friends who encourage me to go out and catch my dreams.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The “road” I’ve been on has felt more like a rollercoaster at times. During my time away from home, my grandparents became very ill. They are a huge part of my life and gave everything they could to see me succeed, while also teaching me to follow what I love. Their illness and helping care for them during that time became my full priority, so I decided to move back home with my partner, Antonia. That period tested me in every way possible. I watched my friends go off and start their lives, and at times I felt stuck, but I never regretted my decision. Instead of sulking, I used the opportunity to really lock in and study my craft in cinematography. I remember spending that entire year in my room, testing different ways to light a subject (thank you for being my stand-in, Antonia) and experimenting with composition. I also developed a deep love for photography and routinely went out to photograph whatever caught my attention. Over time, I kept getting better until I was called on to DP a narrative project for a filmmaker in my city, Miami. That shoot opened so many doors for me. Even though I wasn’t fully established yet, people were still willing to trust me with their projects. At the same time, I was balancing prep work for shoots while taking my grandparents to chemo appointments. Even while they were sick, they remained incredibly supportive and constantly encouraged me to keep going whenever I felt like I needed to stay home with them. A few months later, I re-enrolled at my local university and met some of the most amazing collaborators I’ve ever worked with. I’m proud to say I’m still working with them today. We’ve been fortunate enough to travel across America shooting indie projects and commercials, often for little to no money. That experience only sharpened our skills and eventually led me to apply to LMU and move to LA. Unfortunately, Papi, my grandfather, wasn’t able to see all of this progress. But his teachings and, most importantly, his love for me have given me even more drive to prove him right.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m extremely proud to say that I’m a cinematographer. My job is to help directors tell their stories visually. A lot of that process involves countless meetings with different film departments, making sure we’re all aligned visually so we can execute the overall feeling and tone of the film. Once we move past pre-production and into production, I’m in constant conversation with the camera, lighting, and art departments, problem-solving anything that may come up on the day. Alongside that, I’m also working closely with my director, quietly watching blocking and actors’ performances while thinking of ways to translate the story visually through composition, lighting, and camera movement. Among my peers, I’m known for being a very calm cinematographer. When things go wrong on set, I take pride in my ability to stay calm and find the next solution instead of panicking. What I think helps me to stand out is my attention to storytelling. I’m very sensitive to composition, lighting, and shot selection, and I care a lot about how each visual choice supports the emotional core of a film. For me, that means having constant conversations with directors, sharing references, and building a strong creative relationship so I can help tell their story in the best way possible.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s hard to say exactly where film will be in 10 years. The past five years alone have already felt like a dream. Just being able to do what I love while surrounded by the friends and family I have is, in itself, what it’s all about. What I do know for certain is that I’ll be further along in the journey I started in cinematography. I’ll continue pushing myself to grow, improve, and evolve as an artist. Most importantly, I’ll keep searching for stories that move me and hopefully move others, too.

Contact Info:

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