Today we’d like to introduce you to Oliver Young.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Two days after graduating from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, I began my career in film as a Key Grip on “The Young Kieslowski.” That project then led to “The Axe Murders of Villisca” where I met DP Jeffrey Waldron who became a collaborator and friend. Jeff introduced me to director John William Ross; we hit off immediately and worked together on “The Thing in the Apartment,” where I was Director of Photography. This horror short proved to be a great calling card for the both of us and began a now years-long working relationship and numerous projects, including our first feature film together “Shadows of the Dead” which cemented me in the Horror genre.
While I’m well-versed in shooting all kinds of content–everything from music videos to corporate commercials–Horror has always been the most fun and the genre where my sensibilities and aesthetic really shine. My work as a Cinematographer has taken me everywhere from rural Kansas to the beaches of Jamaica to the icy streets of Eastern Europe.
While cinematography will always be close to my heart, over the past couple of years, I have added the roles of writer and director to my repertoire. In the film world, I’ve found it is beneficial to be knowledgeable in many different fields, and I am excited to see where the future takes me.
Great, 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?
No creative medium is easy to navigate, and I am constantly learning new things year after year. The hardest part of the film world is getting your foot in the door. I spent quite a bit of time working up from the grip and lighting world before finally beginning to shoot my own stuff. It was a struggle at the time because I wanted to be shooting, but that period that I spent mastering lighting and rigging proved the be very valuable, and the knowledge I gained then now augments my cinematography.
Also–in the film world, there are always people who want you to come out and work for free. Sometimes these projects can lead to really amazing stuff down the road, but deciding which ones to say no to can be hard. Also, sometimes a cool sounding unpaid project comes along while you are already shooting a paid project, and you have to turn it down. These choices sometimes hurt later on when the unpaid project blossoms into something bigger without you, but those are the risks we take.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a freelance cinematographer based in Los Angeles, California. I specialize in Horror films; most notable is my work for Crypt TV (The Thing in the Apartment, Sunny Family Cult Season 3, etc.), the Netflix series “Don’t Watch This,” and the SyFy channel original movie “Shadows of the Dead.”
Because of my background working in all aspects of filmmaking, I am able to take a lot of stress off of the backs of directors during production. As the Cinematographer, my job is to interpret the director’s vision accurately and creatively so that they don’t need to babysit the camera and lighting departments. Because I think like a director, I am particularly good at reading a director’s mind, anticipating their needs, and translating their vision in reality.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Attending the Tribeca Film Festival to see one of my films screens was particularly surreal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jr2HsJnPc8
- Email: oliverclintonyoung@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliveryoungdp/?hl=en
Image Credit:
dMg Photography
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