Meet Kayla Mason

We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Mason recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kayla, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something that has been a battle for me for years. The first time I heard the word “imposter syndrome” I was a Key PA working on a film that eventually won SunDance Film Festival. I found myself in a conversation with two women who were department heads; whom I saw as talented and successful professionals killing it in the film industry. And they were talking about their struggles with imposter syndrome, they asked me if I’ve ever had it. At the time I was like I’m working as a production assistant and never felt that this wasn’t something I can’t do or I’m imposing as someone I’m not. So I thought I was lucky maybe this is something I’ll never have to deal with. But the more I got into my career and working in the film industry it started to poke it sneaky little head.

Specially working in the camera department which is predominantly male driven. Being female and gay it sometimes isn’t the most welcoming department. Majority of DP’s (Cinematographers) Camera Operators and in my case Steadicam Operators are male. When they are on set they get taken more seriously then I do. So when I’m Steadicam operating and I have to do more than 3 takes I sometimes get in my own head. I 2nd guess myself, I fear that I am in way over my head. I think to myself a male operator would have had this shot by now. But in reality no one is saying that it’s my “inner saboteur” as RuPaul calls.

I think back to those two successful women who had the same insecurities as I am feeling and remember those insecurities weren’t true for them and they are definitely not true for me. So I pick up my 60ld Steadicam and nail the next take. finding out why we kept going had nothing to do with me but something else that I had no control over. If I was to give any advice, even to myself, when those thoughts come into your head, 1. Listen to what the people around you are saying. Maybe they are praising your work and you’re not listing to them because you’re in your own head to much. 2. We all are our own worse critic, there is room for improvement but take time to appreciate your own work. Look at what went well just as much as what went wrong. And maybe what went wrong doesn’t feel as huge as it did a moment ago 3. Trust yourself! You got hired on this job for a reason. They came to you and saw your work and was like damn I need to work with this person. Thoughts come and go but your skills are like a fine wine, they only get better.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am originally from Cleveland Ohio born and raised. I have two sisters whom are successful lawyers and a brother who is an account and then there’s me the “Film Maker”. I went to college at Cleveland State University but like LeBron I chose to take my skills somewhere warm. Hollywood is what everyone thinks of when they think of movies. So I moved out to LA in 2015 got work as a production assistant on a reality show. At the time I wanted to be and editor but lets just say being on set felt more like home. The camera team swooped in and I was like a sponge I just absorbed all the knowledge they shared. From there I worked my way up in the camera department. I was working on a Post Malone music video and started asking the Steadicam operator questions because his shots were fire!!! Which there was also fire in the background. So it was literally and figuratively fire it was awesome. He told me he took lessons with Greg Smith who is a retired Steadicam operator and gave me his info then I started taking classes. After the first class I knew this was something I wanted to do. From there I was eventually able to buy my own gear and never looked back. Today I work in all aspects of the film entertainment industry from reality shows like Vanderpump Rules to commercials, to feature films, I was able to join the Union, and my story is only beginning. I have some exciting movies that are in the works and more to come!

I know I just briefly described my story in a paragraph I do want to point out how hard it has been. Moving across the country isn’t an easy thing to do you leave behind your whole support system and Los Angeles isn’t cheep. I’ve seen people come and go through out my years of living here.

Also working in the film industry is hard. You never know when your next job is and you work at minimum 12 hour days. And those were the struggles before the pandemic. The film industry just had a writers strike and we are still trying to recover now. I am very lucky that my phone keeps ringing. But film making is an art form and we are all artist and every film maker can understand the term struggling artist because we have all been there if not are there. At the end of the day for me I love what I do this is in my opinion the best career ever and all the struggles make the pay off that much better.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Hard work! I think my work ethic is my most important thing I bring to the table. I work hard and it is one of many things I get complimented on. I never give up on anything there is always an answer to any problem.

2. Be reliable and communicate. If you say you can do something you best know how to do it. Being able to follow through on your promises is key and also know your limitations. I think people are too afraid to say I can’t do something. For myself I tell directors when I can’t do a shot but I give them reasons why, you’re see my shadow or the camera can only go so high. Being able to communicate your limitations may open up discussions to an even better idea.

3. Be liked! Having a good attitude gets you so far in the film industry. Think about it, you are spending 5 days a week, 12 hour days with these people. Nobody wants to work with someone negative or grumpy. Having a positive can do attitude will get you more work in the future. I know it’s easy to complain but it’s even more impressive if you can take a negative and turn it into a positive. Or just make people laugh, if it’s been a long day and everyone is over it, you being that person to crack a joke and up lift your crew it goes miles! Good vibes are what people want to work with.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Both of my parents have taught me values that have impacted my adult life. When I was younger my dad would put me to work for his business. He is a builder and had me help him on his job sites. My job was to bring side wall in, I’d clean up the job site, you know all the other carpentry stuff you can get away with using child labor. ( he paid me a whooping $5 for my labor that went to a lot of candy.) But I think I get my work ethic from him seeing how hard he worked, wanting to work as hard as him. and most importantly wanting to get all the candy that I could hoard and hide from my siblings.

My mom taught me leadership. My mom was working in Washington DC during 9/11. She was doing a conference next to the pentagon when it got attacked. I was 9 years old, barely old enough to understand the severity of the situation. I remember being on the phone with my mom that night during all the chaos. And my mom was so calm and caring, she was telling me how she was helping people contact their love ones and figuring out how she could get her workers home safely. How she was able to help her workers and keep calm is something I strive to do in my adult life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/user124764175/kaylamasonreel?share=copy
• Instagram: KaylaMason11

Image Credits

Allen J. Mort