Today we’d like to introduce you to Masha Egorova.
Hi Masha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Since elementary school I had prepared myself for a career in music and never considered film industry as a career path . I used to play bass guitar and tried to write songs. But when it was time to choose my future track in the ninth grade I chickened out, thinking I wasn’t talented enough to really achieve sorting in a music field. So, I withdraw to my room and spent two days in the dark thinking what to do next. I knew I wanted to work in a creative field, I liked leading roles and working with other people. And I my light bulb turned on: I can be a director of photography.
Before that I’d never had any interest in films, filmmaking or photography, so I started to consume everything I could about the field. Nothing at that moment could satisfy my curiosity and I realized that if I wanted to learn something about cinematography I had to get into VGIK( All-Russian institute of Cinematography named after S. A Gerasimov) in Moscow, Russia.
Despite desperate competition, I was lucky enough to join VGIK, the cinematography faculty workshop of V. V. Alisov, a director of photography that worked on many iconic USSR films. And that’s where my journey started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was anything, but a smooth road. When I started studying cinematography and working on sets, I understood that it was nothing like what I expected. Most of my classmates were more experienced than I, so I had to to catch up on plenty of things: physics, history of film, photography. I overestimated myself obviously in many ways. And in 2019 right before the COVID-19 pandemic I was in a big downfall. However, the lockdown gave me a break, really helped me to calm down and after that I’ve started to tackle everything more precisely.
But hey, every film that you work on gives you a new challenge. Throughout the years in Russia I shot during cold winter nights in a remote village(-20 degrees)))))))), I was locked in a car’s trunk for a shot and tried to navigate stubborn cows in a field for perfect composition. That’s one of the greatest parts of this job, in my opinion.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, mostly I shoot films as a director of photography. Last year I worked in collaboration with Jazmyne Black on a film «Godhead» which was premiered this summer on FilmLand film Festival in Arkansas. Working on this film, I tried to find inspiration in Southern horrors and that was a lot of fun.
I also produce films. Right now I’m working on two films as a producer. One of them is a short fiction piece, and another one is a feature length documentary. As for the fiction film my main inspiration were fashion commercials, which became one of my biggest crash last year. The plot revolves around an artist couple and explores the dynamic of their relationship. As for documentary, me and my collaborators want to shoot a film about Golden Triangle territory, which I find fascinating.
Currently, I’m trying to explore a reverse-perspective effect in film. Since my undergrad years I’m fascinated by icons(Russian Orthodox art), so I’ve started to develop an idea of building my own attachment. I went to Amsterdam to make test with the only original lens and. Creating an attachment for lenses that recreates the effect and using it in film, is one of my main goals this year.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Hahahah, well, I miss seasons here, especially winter. Every time I go back home, I dive into a huge mountain of snow and stay there for a minute. I also didn’t’t have a car for a very long time, so, I couldn’t explore the city properly. I can say that Los Angeles is a city for drivers only. Last spring I finally bought a car(Her name is Tess) and it opened so many doors for me. I went to West Hollywood for the first time! And I Loved it.
I’m also really happy to have met so many amazing, vibrant and talented people along the way — collaborators, artists, friends. The diversity and creative energy in this city is unreal. There’s always something new to learn or someone unexpected to connect with, and I love that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mashaegorovadp.com/
- Instagram: https://mashaegorovadp.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariia-egorova-46ab07354/
Image Credits
– the main picture( with candles) – Matthew Moore( plus the last two pictures)
– Picture with lens( number 1) – Ryan Fajet
