Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Finn Parisot.
Hi Bella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles by New York transplants. My parents, storytellers in their own rights, always encouraged my brother and me to try new things and follow what interested us. I spend my childhood painting, dancing, playing instruments, photographing, and running around outside. My extended and immediate family are filled with eccentric larger-than-life painters, cellists, architects, sculptures, dancers, musicians, and filmmakers, so growing up felt very freeing. Life was filled with mischief and curiosity. This all might seem like I would be a very loud outgoing kid but I was extremely shy and quiet. Because of that, things like photography became my outlet to express how I saw the world.
When I was 16, my mom unexpectedly passed away. I talk about her a lot but I am who I am because of her. Growing up she was a massive influence on me. She was a strong powerhouse of a woman who held her own in the film industry. She and my dad are the reason I am a filmmaker today. To them filmmaking is not about the glitz and glamour but about deeply and truly loving storytelling, it is about connection and expression.
In 2012, I left LA and went off to NYU Tisch to pursue photography. There I was surrounded by a different artists, most, of my generation but also those who had grown up in New York with my parents. While an undergrad, I decided that I wanted a career that felt more collaborative. Weirdly enough, because of my shyer nature, I craved an environment that pushed me to be more outgoing. Photography will always be my first love but cinematography felt like a natural transition for me.
Post graduation, I stayed in New York for a few years before moving back to Los Angeles and attending American Film Institute in 2019. Now, a year and change out of Grad School I find myself working with an amazing group of peers that I can truly call family. At the first preproduction meeting or the moment I take my first step on set, I’m reminded constantly why I do what I do, I love telling stories and being a visual translator.
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?
Yes and no. Everything has its ebb and flow. The film industry can be very rewarding but also very cruel and unfair at times. I’ve had a lot of incredible opportunities so far that I don’t take for granted, I work hard and I keep going. I’ve also had roadblocks along the way. I’ve been called inappropriate names or not taken seriously because I’m a woman. I’ve been told by older men that because I am female I won’t succeed as a cinematographer based on preconceived notions they made up.
Now that all is said, I’m also forever grateful to the woman who has come before me and who has paved the way for people like me to have the opportunities I do. I would not be here without them. I am stronger because of them and more driven because of them, this includes my mom. I hope that the work that I do in the future will help to keep those paths open for others to succeed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a cinematographer, my work revolves around acting as a type of artistic chameleon, a visual translator of sorts.
First and foremost the images I create must serve the story and do justice to the subject matter. It’s not just about a “pretty” image it’s about giving space and respect to what is in front of the camera. While I adapt and change to the project, I also inherently bring my perspective to each film. Everything I create is a product of my lived experience.
I work across narratives, documentaries, music videos, and commercials. I’m hoping to expand into video installations soon.
I’m currently most proud of the short film “The Color Green” which I shot while in my final year at AFI. Directed by Yvonne Zhang, this film explores what it feels like to experience the presence and absence of a loved one within a space. This film I hold near and dear to my heart and will care with me throughout my career.
What’s next?
What really is a plan when it comes to filmmaking? Who know’s what the next year holds but that is what is so exciting about this job! My hopes and dreams are to keep working with incredible storytellers and produce more work I am proud of. I have a few films in the works that I’m very excited to shoot in the coming new year. I’m planning to also direct a part of my attention to some photography projects I’ve been keeping on the back burner.
The future is unknown and thrilling, this year feels like a lot of big changes are coming.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://bellaparisot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellafinn/?hl=en
Image Credits
Cath Vo, Bella Finn Parisot
