Today we’d like to introduce you to Sankalp Dubey.
Hi Sankalp, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began in Gwalior, India. I was always interested in the technology and functionality of cameras as a child, but I never really got the correct exposure to the industry.
My earliest inspiration came when I experimented with my dad’s vintage Nikkor and VHS cameras. As time changed, I continued to learn more and more about cameras from online resources. I was intrigued enough to buy a camera for myself but never had the financials to get one.
In the beginning of 2015, I got my hands on my first professional camera, I spent the summer learning about it and experimenting with it, and I fell in love with the art of street photography. I used to use my time off throughout the week to shoot pictures on the streets of India because I loved the art of street photography. Looking at those photos now has made me fall in love with the beauty of cameras and my culture once again.
I never took the idea of taking things seriously in this direction until my university days, when I met an amazing group of people from all over the country sharing the same passion and interest as me in the camera department. I joined the media society at my university and went on to film events, music videos, take pictures, and so much more. I also learned about theatrical arts and drama, which sparked my interest in film and film studies. Despite having limited resources, I continued to learn the craft of filmmaking and enjoyed looking at different kinds of behind-the-scenes photos from movies and TV shows. At the time, Game of Thrones was my all-time favorite show, and I loved discovering how it was filmed.
In the winter of 2019, my brother Sarthak and I took a 20-day vacation to Hawaii, during which I filmed a movie of our trip using my DSLR camera and GoPro. On the final day, my brother noticed my love for the art and urged me to take it seriously and turn it into a profession. This was the validation I needed to convince myself to pursue my passion as a career.
When the time came for me to graduate from my engineering program and sit in job placements in early 2021, I was more disappointed than happy to receive the first email about my placement. I recall asking my father (Satish Chandra Dubey) for advice and permission when I was 21 to change career paths and enroll in the New York Film Academy to move things in a different direction. I am and always will be grateful for the love and support my family gave me when I decided to follow my heart and take the path less traveled.
Things for me changed for the better. I met some of the most amazing and talented young people when I enrolled in the cinematography program at NYFA. The majority of them had backgrounds or had started their careers early, and I saw this as a challenge to learn and advance in the Hollywood industry. After graduating in December 2022, I went on to make award-winning short films and worked on features, documentaries, music videos, and much more. I have been successfully working as a Cinematographer in Los Angeles since then and continue making digital art.
The journey and the adventure for me has been fantastic, and I hope to keep developing!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has certainly not been a smooth road; majority of my struggles or “journey” as I call it, came from growing up in a middle-class society in a tier 2 city in India, not having the right exposure required and the financials to support it either. I think the Indian Society, especially everywhere outside the heart of Bollywood is growing pretty fast and people are taking more and more different paths and getting successful in it, which in return goes back to the society to educate them more about it; it was even more tough for me because there was absolutely no one guiding me in the journey and I had to take very tough decisions along the way by myself to get to today. All of my family is filled with engineers, which was also a challenge for me, I had to face numerous failures, setbacks, society drama and self-doubt. But like they say, it’s not about the destination it’s about the journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Cinematography and film have been my passion for as long as I can remember. I have always been fascinated by the way a film can transport the viewer to another world and evoke a range of emotions. My love for film led me to pursue a career in cinematography, and I have never looked back.
What I love most about cinematography is the ability to create a unique visual language for each project. As a cinematographer, I specialize in creating specialized lighting and shot design for the films that I work on. I spend hours researching and experimenting with different techniques to ensure that each shot is visually stunning and enhances the story being told.
Over the years, my dedication and hard work have paid off. I am proud to say that everyone in the industry knows me for my work in award-winning short films. My unique approach to cinematography has helped me stand out in a crowded field, and I am constantly pushing the boundaries to create something new and innovative.
What sets me apart from other cinematographers is my resourcefulness. I know how to get the most out of any budget or equipment, and I am always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that each shot is perfect. I believe that cinematography is not just about the gear you have but how you use it to tell a story.
Overall, I love cinematography because it allows me to use my creativity and technical skills to bring stories to life. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had in my career so far, and I am excited to continue pushing the boundaries and creating unforgettable cinematic experiences for audiences around the world.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The support of my family has been invaluable in my journey of becoming a successful cinematographer. My father (Satish Chandra Dubey), my brother (Sarthak Dubey), my mom (Kavita Dubey), my uncle (R.K Dubey) and all of my cousins and extended family have been my biggest cheerleaders, motivating me, believing in me, and keeping me pushing forward throughout. They have always encouraged me to pursue my passion for film and cinematography, even when the going got tough. Their unwavering support has been a source of strength for me, and I am grateful for their love and encouragement every day. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support and guidance.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sankalp___dubey/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/sankalp.cine/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanku97
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sankalp-dubey-726ab765/
- Other: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm13540119/overview
