Rising Stars: Meet Wara Pornkulwat of Los Angeles & Bangkok

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wara Pornkulwat.

Hi Wara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey began at the age of six. My father owned a film camera, but he never allowed me to press the shutter. He’d always say film was too expensive. All I could do was peer through the viewfinder and imagine what the final image might look like. Years later, my aunt lent me her DSLR. That was the first time I actually got to take a photograph—and I instantly fell in love with it. The curiosity I had as a child eventually opened a new chapter in my life, one where I discovered the role of a cinematographer. I had never realized how much the visuals in a film could shape an audience’s emotions until I watched Gattaca. That experience sparked a deep desire to understand how imagery affects the way people feel toward the character in the movie.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Pursuing a career in film has never been easy. When I first decided to study film for my undergraduate degree, my family didn’t support my choice. It wasn’t until I was admitted to one of Thailand’s most prestigious universities that they began to take my passion seriously. Even then, a degree alone didn’t guarantee success. After graduation, I struggled to find stable work and took on videography jobs just to make ends meet.

Eventually, I decided to commit fully to my career. I applied for a camera assistant trainee position at one of the biggest rental houses in Thailand—and got in. While working as a camera assistant, I picked up essential on-set skills that every cinematographer should know. That experience reignited my dream of studying abroad, and the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI) came to mind, especially since one of my undergrad teachers had earned her master’s degree there.

I applied to AFI and got an interview, but didn’t get accepted. Determined to stay on course, I enrolled in a one-year cinematography program at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in Burbank, hoping to get used to the area and better prepare for my next AFI application. After graduating from NYFA and working on some AFI student projects while on OPT, I realized I still needed more experience as a director of photography (DP) to make a compelling case for AFI. So, I returned to Thailand.

Over the next five years, I focused on honing my craft, working on commercials and music videos. I grew a lot technically, but I began to understand that narrative storytelling requires more than technical skill—it demands a deep understanding of visual language. At the time, I didn’t even fully grasp what that meant. That’s when I knew it was time to try again. I reapplied to AFI, and this time, I was accepted into the Class of 2026.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a cinematographer from Thailand, currently based in both Bangkok and Los Angeles. My work primarily focuses on commercials and music videos. One of my proudest achievements as a cinematographer is shooting an episode of Terror Tuesday Extreme, a horror anthology series on Netflix.

What made this episode particularly special is that it breaks away a bit from the traditional horror genre. We approached it with the belief that at the heart of every great horror film lies compelling drama. This episode delves into the complex relationships between the characters and the motivations behind their actions. At around 45 to 50 minutes long, it’s arguably the least traditionally “horror” episode of the series, but it’s one of the most unique.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I believe that trust is the most important element in any relationship. Without trust, even lovers cannot sustain their connection—there’s no way for the relationship to grow. The same applies to any kind of interpersonal relationship: trust is essential for progress. When you find a truly rewarding connection with someone—where you trust that they’ll give their best because they believe you’ll do the same—that’s when a relationship can truly thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wara-dp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wara_dp/

Image Credits
Netflix Thailand