Daily Inspiration: Meet Nobutaka Emura

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nobutaka Emura.

Hi Nobutaka, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Nobutaka Emura, but you can call me Nobu. I am a Cinematographer, was born and raised in Japan, and during my middle school and high school years, I lived in Bangkok, Thailand. I came to the United States for my bachelor’s degree in Film Production at California State University, Northridge. Although I’ve always been interested in filmmaking, I wasn’t sure about the specific path I wanted to take. After graduating, I returned to Japan and worked for Japanese broadcasting for two years as a Camera Operator and Camera Assistant.  While working there, my passion for filmmaking continued to grow, particularly in the Camera Department of the film industry. This led me to apply to the USC MFA program, and I was accepted in the fall of 2020. Our first year was remote due to the pandemic, but the subsequent years were in person. During my time at USC, I committed to shooting 5-6 short thesis films as a Cinematographer. I graduated in May 2023.

While working there, my passion for filmmaking continued to grow, particularly in the Camera Department of the film industry. This led me to apply to the USC MFA program, and I was accepted in the fall of 2020. Our first year was remote due to the pandemic, but the subsequent years were in person. During my time at USC, I committed to shooting 5-6 short thesis films as a Cinematographer. I graduated in May 2023.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road for me. I faced numerous struggles and challenges before returning to the US for grad school. I found myself working on tasks I never wanted to do and experienced failures, but those challenges proved invaluable during my time at USC.

While working in Japan, I was involved in shooting concerts in baseball stadiums across the country. Setting up cameras and cables for several days before the events was tough, leading me to question, ‘What am I doing?’ However, these experiences taught me essential skills such as caring for equipment, effective communication with my team, and emotional control. Although I am still encountering challenges, I view them as valuable experiences that will undoubtedly contribute to my future career. Emotional control was a significant aspect for me. While shooting projects at USC, I was able to control stress and emotions when faced with issues because of the experiences that I had in Japan.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Cinematographer responsible for crafting the story through the images I capture. In this role, effective communication with the Director is crucial to translating their vision into visuals. It involves more than just pressing the record button; I must carefully select camera gear, lenses, and lights to convey the narrative. Collaborating with the Gaffer, I design lighting setups to achieve the desired ‘look’ for each scene. I take pride in my crew when we successfully attain the envisioned look.

Contact Info:

• Website: nobutakaemura.com