Meet Wade Muller of Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wade Muller

Wade, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
About Cinematographer Wade Muller, HKSC, ACS
Born in the small town of Townsville, Australia, his journey in cinematography has taken him across continents, ultimately finding a second home in the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong at the age of 19.

A Cinematic Odyssey in Hong Kong
Navigating the unfamiliar, He dove headfirst into the world of cinematography, initially knowing no one and uncertain of the adventure ahead. Fast forward, and he found himself immersed in the dynamic landscape of Cantonese language feature films, collaborating with some of Hong Kong’s most iconic stars.

Hollywood Calling: Elephant White
His role as the Director of Photography for the Hollywood action film “Elephant White” marked a pivotal chapter in his career. Starring Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou and Golden Globe winner Kevin Bacon, the film, directed by the renowned Thai visionary Prachya Pinkaew (Ong-Bak).

Latest Cinematic Adventures
In recent years, He had the privilege of lensing captivating projects that span genres and continents. From the Hollywood blockbuster “Occupation Rainfall” featuring Ken Jeong and Temuera Morrison to the thrilling “Kiss of The Con Queen” starring Ravi Patel, each project has been a unique tapestry of storytelling.

He also had the honor of contributing as the Director of Photography for the Thailand portion of James Wan’s cinematic universe in “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” for Warner Bros.​

He is now based out of Los Angeles.

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?
“Yes, there have been many challenges along the way thats for sure. Before I started shooting feature films, I was working on documentaries for years. Making the transition was tough. In the end, I had to turn down well-paying documentary projects to work, sometimes for free or for very little, on low-budget short films as this was the path i wanted to head on. My big break came in 2011 when renowned director Prachya Pinkaew, known for ‘Ong-Bak,’ found that his regular Director of Photography was unavailable. At the time, I was working on that film as a camera operator. They offered to promote me to Director of Photography on the film, starring Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou and Golden Globe winner Kevin Bacon.” I jumped at this opportunity!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“I am working across various genres, from action and thrillers to horror and even a couple of romantic films. Recently, I wrapped up an action/horror film called ‘Primitive War.’ Set during the Vietnam War, it features a unique twist involving dinosaurs, blending elements of ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Apocalypse Now.’ This has been my favorite film to date to work on as a Director of Photography. My style focuses on natural-looking lighting, ensuring consistency and that the visual aesthetics follow the emotional journey of the characters throughout all the films i work on.”

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Love the people and the weather, Don’t like the traffic

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wademullerdp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wademullerdp/