Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cardenas.
Hi Michael, 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?
As a native Angelino some would say I was destined to work in the entertainment business. As early as seven years old, I was doing Improv / Performance acting at the Renaissance faire, but 13 I was training and performing as a musician, by 16 I had already played most of the Sunset Strip venues and started touring by 18.
By 18, I knew that a career behind the scenes would have a lot more stability and longevity so I began college for Audio engineering at The Los Angeles Recording School on Sunset. While in school, I started my first of three recording studios I would eventually build and own. I would also take select months off of school to work as a tour manager for my friend’s bands.
While I was touring, I decided to pick up a camera and start filming as part of the Tour package I was offering, that small part of my music business and career changed everything and eventually became my second career.
I’ve had a number of odd jobs and businesses while trying to build my career in entertainment, one of the funniest and a pivotal times for me was Running my own Hot Dog Cart in the valley while I was building my 3rd studio. I made a good amount of money and supplemented that with some family help to buy my first Cinema camera. It was 2012 and I purchased the newest Red which was one of the best career and financial decisions I had ever made. Once I purchased the Red, I jumped into Video / Film with both feet and never looked back, I was mainly doing Music Videos, Concerts, and Documentary work as a Director / One man band.
Through all that work I eventually found my way into Low Budget Feature films and quickly realized I didn’t have the appropriate skill set to continue Directing at a higher level. I made the tough choice to keep my ego in check and step back to learn the camera department from the ground up. Though I took that step back professionally, I still continued to Direct smaller projects like web commercials, branded content, and music videos throughout my whole film career.
In 2013, I was able to finally quit my day job and was working full time as a freelance Camera Assistant, I went on to work on hundreds of sets working up from 2nd AC to 1st AC. I spent the majority of my film career working as a 1st AC and joined Local 600 in 2015. Working as a Camera assistant was such an incredible blessing and was the best film school out there. Through my time as an assistant, I was lucky enough to work with countless world-class Directors, Cinematographers, and Camera Operators. In 2016 I knew I needed to make the move up to operator so I purchased my first Steadicam package, I’m so thankful for all the talented operators I worked with as an assistant who took the time to teach and mentor me. Steadicam isn’t a plug and play tool, it takes years of dedication and practice to master the craft, even now having operated for seven years I feel that I still have so much to learn and room to grow. I take every opportunity to continue my education with courses and mentorships.
My operating career has grown so much over the past few years and now I feel confident enough to step back into Directing so I can drive my career where I truly want it to go. This year I refocused my offset time into rebuilding my production company and building new relationships. In between my time on set as a Steadicam operator I’ve been Directing & Editing smaller Docu/Reality and Commercial productions to rebuild my name as a Director. It’s a long road convincing people that you’re competent, qualified, and deserve such a title but I’m excited to do the hard work and prove myself. I’m hoping to have enough new work compiled by 2023 to start shopping for an agency to represent me as a Commercial Director and hopefully put operating on the back burner and doing it only for select mentors and friends.
This business takes us to crazy places and no matter how much you plan, it takes you on a ride.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It most certainly hasn’t been a smooth road, you have to wholeheartedly love what you do to survive the entertainment business. There are so many financial ups and downs, the saying feast or famine couldn’t be more true. I think it’s especially difficult when you’re transitioning to a new job classification. One of my favorite DPs told me when I was switching from 1st Assistant Camera to Operating “Be careful what you’re good at, that’s all you’ll be called to do” and he was most definitely correct.
Other than the financial woes of working freelance in the film business, there’s the classic stories about abusive work practices and environments. Unfortunately, there are predatory people who take advantage of people trying to follow their dreams, you’ve just got to stand your ground and do what’s right, sometimes you’ve got to burn a bridge you never should have crossed in the first place.
Having worked professionally in the film industry for over a decade now, I can honestly say I can see the signs of unprofessional, predatory, or outright naivety of appropriate work practices from a mile away and I’ve skillfully avoided most of those situations and I’m unafraid to walk if they arise.
My biggest piece of advice to anyone trying to smooth out this rocky road is to invest in yourself and your tools (Buy once, Cry Once), Invest outside the industry (Real Estate investing has been great to me), and always prioritize having a multi-month float for expenses because you never know when work will come to a halt.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Camera Department?
I started Camera Department in 2014 as I started to build my collection of film equipment, by 2016, I had a small warehouse with camera packages of my own and several camera packages on consignment. I quickly realized that running a rental house while I was working full time on set wasn’t for me and downsized my equipment holdings and stopped taking consignments.
I transitioned the company to being a production company where I Produced and Directed many Film business industrials working with companies like SpaceCam Systems, Chase Car, Telescopic Camera Cranes, and Blood rugs.
I’d say that now I utilize Camera Department not only as my production company for projects that I produce or direct but also as a Loan Out for larger productions and consulting on stabilized camera systems.
My experience as an Assistant, Operator and Equipment owner has lead to have an in-depth understanding of Motion Control, Remote Head, and Camera Stabilizer systems and people consult with me about the best systems to use for a particular shot.
My company allows me to utilize cutting-edge tech for my own productions and to support larger productions. My latest acquisition is of the ARRI Trinity 2 which I should be taking delivery on this fall and I’m excited to test, practice, and see what this incredible camera stabilization tool can bring to the cinema community.
What I’m most proud of is that my mentors and clients come to me for advice in my areas of expertise, it’s an incredible feeling when people you look up to seek advise from you and you can provide genuine value to their career, production, and life.
I don’t think that what I offer is any different than the other similar providers / operators, I just think people come to me because of my genuine love of this craft and community. I truly love what I do and that energy comes with me to set every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: michaelcardenasfilms.com
- Instagram: michaelcardenasfilms
