Check Out Maria Perlifonova’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Perlifonova.

Hi Maria, 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?
My artistic journey as a Cinematographer started since I was a kid when I was using my grandpa’s one of the first digital photography camera, just for fun. At that time, I had no idea it will be my future.

Shortly after, I chose to go to Photography high school in Naples, Italy. But for the will of destiny my 5-year program was changed into Audiovisual program after two years of study, and here is how my transition from photography to narrative film started. I started to work in photographic field since the beginning of my school program, after some time I had a gigs as camera operator and DP as well. I can say it was a smooth long transition until I completely quit photography in 2019 in order to focus more on cinematography.

When I moved to Los Angeles in 2019 and studied at NYFA Burbank to learn more about it. During the college time, I discovered love for color grading, it came to me very intuitively because of long years using a Photoshop, it has a lot in common for me. After graduation, I got a Resolve colorist certificate and joined the SOC (Society of Camera Operators) as an associate member. Since then, I’ve been working on many different projects as a Cinematographer and film Colorist.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s not a smooth road, film industry is known for being not the easy one at all.

And it includes all kinds of challenges from classic pre-production challenges to challenges in production during filming process and post-production, there is always something going on. But it is also beautiful how every time with a team, we can find the right solution. There is absolutely no way to have not challenging projects. Every project stimulates your imagination and problem-solving skills, which helps you learn every time more and more and improve your craft.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is mostly concentrated in narrative cinematography, as short films, features, and documentaries. But I am open to any type of projects, even if narrative remain my very favorite.

I developed my own aesthetic style and vision, with which I communicate with a viewer, in Cinematography and in Color Grading, and will continue to improve my craft.

I work often with Francesco Malandrino as a DP-duo, people love to see a DP couple on set! It’s very rare and this is one of the things that set us apart from the others as well as our style. I am happy about some of our recent projects, as my favorite short film “The Role Play of Life’ directed by Pietro Barba, it was such an amazing experience to shoot it. We just shoot an interview with Randy Jackson, and our second feature film will come out soon, I am very excited, can’t wait to see what’s next!

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I would say I had both moments, there is more lucky times but also some bad times, but if I look at my life and business, it is very rich of moments and experiences that I am very grateful for. So I feel I am in the right space in the right time of my path. I believe a good luck is important in any career no matter how hard you work for it, you will need it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marioski.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marioski.photo/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10096684/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 

Image Credits
Frames from: – Unnamed feature film 2023 – The Role Play of Life short film 2022 – Loving Picture Documentary 2023 BTS pictures from: Unnamed feature film, Buddy short film, and others.