Conversations with Michael Street

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Street.

Hi Michael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
My story started a year before I started college. I was invited to a music video set, and on that day, I knew I wanted to be the person behind the camera. So, I spent the next year working as a Production Assistant, then started Grip work and eventually worked as a Best Boy Electric. Then I decided to put myself through school and I attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco. At the Academy, I was taught the true fundamentals of cinematography by starting on Super 8mm film and learning the ins and outs of each format. After learning how to shoot on 35mm we transitioned into digital cinema with the Red Cameras. While at the Academy, I shot a short film on Super 16mm titled PEARL CHANG. It is a story of a first-generation born Taiwanese girl struggling with her family traditions and the modern ways of U.S. thinking, exploring one’s identity. The short film won the William A. Fraker ASC Technicolor Award and a Special Achievement in Cinematography. The next year, I shot the film noir-inspired 35mm short film DARK DESERT HIGHWAY. With this film, I was nominated for a Golden Tadpole at Camerimage (2011) and featured in Kodak Magazine’s Next Generation. At this point in my career, I was driven to succeed. 

After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and attended the prestigious American Film Institute. At the AFI, I developed an understanding of visual language, breaking down scripts, diving into preparation, and collaborating with people from all walks of life. My thesis, GOLDEN THREAD, won Best Cinematography at the Women’s Independent Film Festival (2014). Once my academic career was complete, I began working in the independent feature sphere and the documentary space. Since 2018 I have been working as a cinematographer in feature films, documentaries and commercials. I recently wrapped my latest feature, WHAT HAPPENS IN MIAMI. The movie was directed by Tim Cruz, and I cannot wait for people to see this! We had a great time creating the visual style, there are some amazing performances, and some of my best work to date. I also have the horror feature SPIN THE BOTTLE coming out later this year. This entertaining genre movie features Justin Long, Ali Larter, Tony Amendola, and Tanner Stine. SPIN was directed by Sundance Alumni Gavin Wiesen. Look for it coming this fall! 

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?
I believe there are going to be struggles in any path someone chooses. If there are not obstacles to overcome, then we would never grow in our profession. The bumps and drags along the way helps one become better at their craft. In the film industry, we battle with a volatile state of operation. Every few years, we have yearlong shutdowns, or strikes, or other unforeseeable events. As I mentioned before, I have been working steadily as a director of photography and filmmaker since 2018. During this 6-year window, we had a global pandemic that shut down production; we had a yearlong writer and actor strike, as well as halts with IATSE or other organizations. Being adaptable and ready for anything is par for the course. Personally, I have danced between feature film productions and commercial/documentary work. During strikes, or shutdowns, as well as halts in production, I lean into documentary work or commercial / branded media work. This allows me to flex different skill sets and offers me the room to work on multiple projects with a simple pivot of focus. Going between feature films, documentaries and commercials not only makes me a better storyteller, it also allows me to always think about the future and have an eye on what is coming next. This flexibility is an opportunity to advance my techniques. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since 2018, I have been working mostly in the independent feature film space. I have shot everything from action, to supernatural, to science fiction, to comedy, and horror. I love all genres and no matter what the story is, I lean into experimentation with my visual design. That is me as an artist. I love shooting darker subject matters because it tends to allow for interesting cinematography or to push the boundaries of the visual genre. Horror films, action, science fiction, and dark dramas seem to be what people hire me for. Although I can and I have shot comedies, as well as period pieces. In the end, I can shoot it all! 

I would say the work I am best known for is the Tubi Original UNBORN, directed by Steven R. Monroe, which I shot in 2021. This movie gained some notice with the Tubi audience and with fans of the horror genre. To this day, I have people ask me about this movie. Most recently, I shot the dramatic comedy YOU, ME & HER, directed by my AFI classmate and friend Dan Dagerman. This was an amazing experience because we took a unique approach to the visual language for his genre. It is an artistic comedy if you will. We really played with composition, creating long-moving shots with some great Steadicam operators, and we created a visually unique take on the genre. YOU, ME & HER premiered at Dances with Films in 2023. 

What I am most proud of is the last movie I worked on. The movie is called WHAT HAPPENS IN MIAMI and is directed by Tim Cruz. The movie is also a Tubi Original and will premiere later this year. I am really happy with this movie because we created some great production value with our camera work and our locations in Miami. We had a great steadicam operator, and the grip and lighting team was amazing. The movie has 2 looks, which is a flashback and a present-day look. Both are completely different styles and yet it grabs the audience visually. I think this is some of my best work to date, and part of the reason is because of the great collaboration I had with the director and with my team. I could not have worked with a better crew. I think this movie shows what sets me apart from other cinematographers. Many cinematographers have a ‘look’ that establishes their identity. You know what you are getting, With me I can create any genre visually, and I can show versatility in styles. I can make something look dark and gritty or warm and colorful. I can mix visual styles and genres. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love best about the city of Los Angeles is the diversity. There is a great diversity in the people, the cultures, the environments, the food and the lifestyles. We are fortunate enough to have people from all over the world visit and live in Los Angeles. This allows everyone to experience cultures from people they might not otherwise be exposed to meeting. We have small pockets all throughout the city of sub-cultures, neighborhoods, people with like-minded sensibilities, and similar walks of life. Every 2 miles, it feels like the neighborhoods morph and evolve into other ‘parts’ of the city. One of the best features about Los Angeles is the FOOD! We have so much great food and cuisines in this city. If you want authentic Mexican food, great Sushi or Japanese, amazing Korean or fusion food, as well as fine dining and more! This city has the most eclectic collection of food. It is a great treat to be able to eat a different cuisine every night. The options are endless. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.streetartistpictures.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/streetartistpictures/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.street
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-street-cinematographer/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/streetartistpix
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@streetartistpictures