Life & Work with Walter Diaz of K-Town

Today we’d like to introduce you to Walter Diaz.

Hi Walter, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first love was music. I worked in the music industry as a musician and recording engineer. That led me to NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood for a few years. During that time, I learned a lot about how the entertainment industry works, and I worked alongside some of my favorite bands. The expectations were high working there, and it definitely helped build my work ethic and the way I approach every job.

At a certain point, my time there was over. I was doing more video work, which a colleague of mine suggested I should look into as a possible career. At the same time, my brother-in-law suggested the Art Center College of Design’s film program, and I gave it a shot. I instantly connected with their hands-on approach and applied. I learned so much there, and I think it really helped me discover my eye and develop my technical knowledge.

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?
Of course, being an artist, especially in today’s creative world, is a huge challenge! Student debt, entertainment monopolies, AI, and an insufferable job market make it a constant struggle. But I also think it creates plenty of opportunities for new creatives and artists who are willing to adapt to today’s world.

You have to wear a lot of hats and call in a lot of favors to achieve the images in your mind. There are times when you still need to find work outside your field to keep things going. I’ve worked in-house editing, done e-commerce, and ran sound for some. What do they call it, jack of all trades?

But now it seems that, as an independent artist, you can make big waves on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, promoting yourself or even starting your own short-form projects. The audiences there are hungry for something different, and you might find that people will really resonate with your work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love my work. I have a love for that deep, dark, dramatic type of cinematography. DPs like Darius Khondji, Benoit Debie, and Chivo. You can definitely see their inspiration across my work.

If you look at my work like Eureka Home or the Korean artist Woodz’s video Cinema (Dir: Yun Kim), I like to get close and really observe the emotional performance. I love natural light and try to schedule performances to the right time of day to get the best-looking light in-camera. I feel the most proud when my amazing team and I take the time to really craft the right conditions for the director’s vision, and when we knock it out of the park, well, that’s just an amazing feeling to behold.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
For me, the best thing I learned is that you should be your own biggest supporter. If you don’t advocate for and promote yourself, no one else will. And maybe you will be surprised by where an attitude like that will take you. I’ve seen places I never thought I would have imagined setting foot in when I was a kid, so I gotta say it kind of works.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Walter-Diaz.com
• Instagram: @walter_diaz_dp
• Other: @walterdiazdop

Image Credits
Photo credit: Joseph Lao