Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Pawsey.
Hi Luke, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Yeah, sure! I was born in England and moved with my family to Cape Cod, Massachusetts when I was about two. Growing up I always loved making IMovie trailers and skits with my sister and neighbors. When I got to high school I started shooting cinematic highlight reels of hockey, football, lacrosse… My highschool offered video production classes. I took all of them that were offered then went into two years of an independent study after that.
I knew since I was five how much I loved creating. I didn’t think of it as a career option until my sophomore year in high school. I originally wanted to study at a school on the West Coast, but I fell in love with Savannah and SCAD’s resources.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve definitely been extremely fortunate growing up. My parents have always been really supportive of my passions as well as my friends. Everyone tried to help me out as much as they could but it was definitely a barrier growing up in a place that didn’t have a lot of filmmakers. Luckily now I’m in a place where I’m constantly surrounded by them!
I think a lot of people struggle with things like imposter syndrome and worrying that they’re not “good enough”. Whenever I feel like that I just remind myself how much I’ve grown in the past year, let alone how I’ll continue to get better as I spend the rest of my life with the camera.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Cinematographer/Director of Photography. I have always loved being the guiding hands of the camera. I mainly work on narratives, but also do fashion films, commercials, music videos, etc… I love storytelling. So much more goes into a shot than people think. How does the lighting make the scene feel? Will this composition compliment the character in this moment? Does this camera movement align with what’s needed in the story? I’m constantly researching and practicing my craft so that I can deliver the most beautiful shots that serve the story at its root.
Right now I’m in preparation to shoot one fashion film, three short films, two scenes for a class project, and most proudly – I am in pre-production to fly to Greece this summer with my school to shoot a commercial for SOS Children’s Villages in Athens.
One thing that sets me apart from others is the amazing team I work with. We all have our own talents that we bring to the table and we’re constantly making each other better. It is extremely difficult to find a network as vast as all of us, have everybody be such great friends, and all be able to switch into professional mode when we need to. Without them I most certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.
I’ve also always found cinematography to come instinctually to me. I genuinely feel like the camera is an extra limb on my body. I can really see how just the slightest adjustment or bump to the camera can make or break a shot. My education and experience is teaching me how to harness that eye and instinct into something more.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Like any filmmaker I would love to see something I worked on be screened at a festival or one day make it to the big screen – but you can’t control how audiences, judges, distributors, or anyone else reacts to your work. For me, a successful project is one that I can confidently say I put forward my best work on. The job of a cinematographer is to bring a story to life visually based on the director’s vision. Success for me is full dedication to the process of storyboarding, shot listing, meetings, location scouts, ordering equipment etc… for Every. Single. Project. No matter how big or small. I love the craft and treat it with respect. I want people to look at me and know, “Hey, this guy is a hard worker”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pawseyproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawseyproductions/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-pawsey-145392198/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PawseyProductions
