Today we’d like to introduce you to Ella Lubienski
Hi Ella, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in the Midwest, and was the type of kid who would beg my parents to stay up after a movie so I could watch the special features. Seeing the energetic ecosystem of a film set excited me, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I was first drawn to the camera, falling in love with the choreography between the camera and the actors, and from there I found cinematography and knew that was what I wanted to do as a career.
I got my Bachelor’s in film production with a concentration in cinematography in Chicago, which allowed me to jump into the industry there soon after graduation. My senior year of college I juggled attending classes and shooting short films while Camera PAing on the FOX show Empire, and upon graduation I joined ICG Local 600. I spent several years working my way up to 2nd AC, primarily in television, while shooting narrative short films as a cinematographer on weekends and breaks. I was fortunate to learn from many wonderful artists and craftspeople on the shows, and take that knowledge onto the short films I worked on. When I was accepted into the American Film Institute here in Los Angeles last year, I was eager to take this next step in my career.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving across the country to attend AFI was daunting, but it has already been incredibly rewarding. I’m very thankful to have had my fiance, Alan Dembek, a Local 600 focus-puller, by my side the whole way, figuratively and literally. It was heart-wrenching to say goodbye to the community we had built over 10 years in Chicago, and also nerve-wracking for me to consciously step away from work for the duration of AFI’s 2-year program. However, we have found a wonderful community in Los Angeles, and I have grown so much as an artist, technician, and collaborator at AFI. I feel lucky to have been dropped into a tight-knit group of talented, intelligent, and kind filmmakers, and am looking forward to continuing to grow my career in L.A. after graduation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a cinematographer with a focus on narrative filmmaking, and am particularly drawn to films that are additive to our world. I love being able to tell stories that haven’t been heard before, to elevate voices that have something to say. I was raised by parents who brought me to anti-war protests before I could walk and I minored in Peace, Justice, and Conflict studies in college which led me to take a class inside a prison and spend a week providing humanitarian aid at the border – all experiences that have shaped my worldview and my work ethos.
I also really value the process of collaboration, and see my role as that of a chameleon, adapting to each project’s aesthetic vision. I’m as excited by a more grounded, naturalistic story as I am one with fantastical world-building – as long as I’m with good people. I love getting to know a new collaborator and creating a visual language together, and I especially value the collaborations that I’ve been able to grow over multiple films, creating a shared shorthand and evolving together as artists. Ultimately, I want to be a part of projects that make a positive impact, whether that’s because it’s a call to action or a comedy, was a model working environment on set or is modeling a better world onscreen.
How do you think about luck?
I often talk about ‘making your own luck’ – the idea that by putting in the work and developing good relationships you can create opportunities for yourself. The more you show up, the more likely it is that you are in the right place at the right time. I have had lots of lucky breaks throughout my career, but many of them can be traced back to an earlier connection. I believe that by working hard, building strong relationships, and being an engaged member of the community I am planting seeds that could bloom tomorrow, or several years from now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellalubienski.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellalubienski/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/890520672
