steeven petitteville of venice on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with steeven petitteville and have shared our conversation below.

steeven, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I love electric guitars and I started to learn setting and building .
It’s a pure joy to be in contact with instruments, manualy wood working and craft stuffs.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a cinematographer.
I create the mood and visual grammar for films (features, series, commercials…) translating director’s vision onset with camera, light and grips.
I recently wrapped a cowboy western show for disney based on the comic book Lucky Luke.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I think the directors I’ve been working with are the ones that taught me the most.
As a director of photography, you are constantly looking for what they have in mind, understanding their tastes, and trying as much as possible to “read their mind.”
That teaches a lot about how specific and unique each of us is.
And it is where the challenge happens.
It is very satisfying being pushed out of your comfort zone, as well as getting a different vision of yours. It keeps you on your toes and helps you be open to more ideas. It just expands your thoughts and brings more options.
And It is a very warm satisfaction when a director turns to you and says it looks like what he pictured in his mind (which happens sometimes).

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I did.
I wrapped a project a few years ago where everything on paper was perfect: great crew, great production, fun story, everything you dream of.
But lack of involvement from creatives made it a nightmare for everybody.
When we wrapped this, I went back home and thought, “Let’s do this guitar-building class you dream of and never go back to a set.”
I did the class; it’s been a thrill, the perfect break. Then I received a script, and…
I didn’t turn it down. I shot this new project, And it was one of the best adventures.
It takes ups and downs to appreciate good times and confirm you can’t live without it.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think right now it is :
Recycling stories, rebooting, and sequeling will be successful at no risk and still bring audiences.
Instead of creating new stories, taking risks, make things unique. Which I think is the way to build our futur and not being boring.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Ah ah ah,
I think it is my everyday job.
Cinematography is all about perception, so most of the job should be unnoticed,
And we put a lot of energy into that part.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://steevenp.com
• Instagram: steeevendop

Image Credits
Steeven petitteville