Connect
To Top

Meet Sebastien Paquet in Silver Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastien Paquet.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Sebastien. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Music has been the soundtrack to my life since I was a little kid growing up in France. Music has shaped me to become the person and the artist that I am Today. Music has guided me from one medium to another throughout my career.

I started my career in 2000 in Paris shooting photographs at concerts and interviewing bands for small publications and fanzines after hours while working for a record label. I moved to Los Angeles, CA in 2004 to become the LA correspondent for numerous music magazines in Europe (Rock Sound etc.) photographing and interviewing bands for the European market.

This led to an 11-year stunt as Korn’s tour photographer and videographer documenting the daily life of the band on the road traveling to every continent, in the recording studio etc. Some of my favorite photographs are featured in the band’s 20-year anniversary photo book I curated.

After years of shooting music videos on the side, I am now a freelance cinematographer shooting and directing documentaries, music videos, commercials, EPKs etc. My first documentary feature film, ‘Mind Over Matter’, chronicles the life of Brandon Mendenhall, a young man born with Cerebral Palsy, who rehabilitated his then paralyzed hand by teaching himself how to play the guitar through the mentorship of James ‘Munky’ Shaffer from Korn.

Has it been a smooth road?
Moving from a small town in France to the entertainment capital of the world that is Los Angeles, CA has been a monumental challenge personally and professionally. I moved here by myself with one suitcase (packed with more CDs than clothes!) but my passion and desire to work in this industry made it all possible.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sebastien Paquet – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I officially closed the stills photography chapter of my career with a photo show (my first and last!) in LA in 2018 and am now fully dedicated to my craft as a cinematographer and director.

My passion lies in storytelling. I thrive to capture, document and tell competing, inspiring, emotionally driven stories that will make you feel and relate to a subject matter and the pain or joy that my subject is going through. Not in the world of fiction but in the REAL life of documentary filmmaking.

For my first feature doc ‘Mind Over Matter’ for example, I immersed myself in the life of my subject for 5 years traveling with him to his hometown in Illinois interviewing his family, high-school teachers, friends and even the town’s mayor – you name it!

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Los Angeles is my muse. The city inspired me to move here as a kid, growing up in France learning about LA through the eyes of American TV series. And it still inspires me daily no matter how bad the traffic on the I-5 is… The city and discovering new parts of it is my biggest hobby after music and basketball!

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Alison Roberto and Sebastien Paquet

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in

  • Portraits of the Valley

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Portraits of Hollywood

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • LA’s Most Inspiring Stories

    Every neighborhood in LA has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

    Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Portraits of LA

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 18, 2025
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Services Spotlights

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Experiences to Consider

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Products from the Community

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 14, 2024
  • Podcast: Your Journey As An Actress

    We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss your journey as an actress and so much...

    Partner SeriesOctober 22, 2024