Meet Elias Posada

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Elias Posada. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Elias below.

Elias, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

Growing up, I always knew I wanted more of an unconventional career. Always led by creativity, my teenage years were filled with playing in bands and making short films with friends. As my journey through filmmaking and specifically cinematography continued, I began to think about what drew me to this career. I realized that I was always attracted to strong visuals. The cliche of “a picture is worth a thousand words” really resonates with me. Beyond that, I’ve always wanted to connect people on a deeper level. Realizing that sharing people’s stories whether it be through photography or film is a way to do that. In all my work I am looking to share something or ask a question. Specifically, I look to use my skillset to help tell stories of those who may not otherwise be able to share their own. Finding my purpose took many years of introspection and growth. I will continue to explore and question why I do what I do, but at this moment I believe my purpose is to help create empathy and connection. Although my methods to do that might vary, I approach them all with the same goal in mind.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

What excites me most in the creative process is really exploring the story behind each project that I am on. For me, the story should drive everything, even beyond the script or documentary subject. For music videos I am always trying to visually express what the singer is feeling. When working on a commercial or branded content I want to learn and tell the story of the brand and bring that through in my work to make the viewer feel connected. As a cinematographer and photographer, I think what sets me apart is my desire to build on emotions and tell a story visually using lighting, framing, camera angle, depth, and movement.

If I could choose one thing for people to know about my brand it would be that while my goal is to help tell all stories, I am particularly passionate about helping storytellers from more marginalized groups in our society. It is crucial that these communities are given the tools to share their stories, and I am so proud to be even a small part of that. This is something I also keep in mind when assembling my teams. I am always looking for diversity of background and diversity of thought to help push myself and make the work the best it can be.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Although my career is filled with the need for technical knowledge and techniques for visually telling a story, I believe there are other traits that I have found that have helped me in advancing my career. First, effective communication helps in many ways. As a cinematographer you not only need to accurately communicate your visual style to a variety of crew members, but you are also a department head and you are responsible for the well-being of your team. The most important element of communication however is listening. Whether it’s interpreting the director’s vision or listening to input from your team, you always need to be open and the communication needs to go both ways. My advice would be to learn common terms and phrases in the industry in order to communicate clearly. I would also advise to really listen when working with other crew members. Don’t try to be a step ahead in that moment, but really listen and hear what the other person is saying.

The second trait is persistence. Although this may seem obvious, it gets tested often. In the film industry you will hear “no” many more times than you will hear “yes”. The goal here is to not take the “no’s” too personally and to celebrate the “yes’s”. Every opportunity you get will improve you in some way and it is very important to take a step back every once and awhile and reflect on your journey. It is very easy to look forward to what you want to do, but looking back at what you have done is crucial if you want to stay positive about the track you are on.

The final quality that I have leaned on heavily is the desire to never stop learning. In cinematography and photography it is always important that you always strive to learn something new. Whether it involves your creative approach such as lighting and composition or if it’s technical knowledge like learning the latest camera or software. This industry is forever changing and you need to not only be ok with that, but thrive in that sort of environment. In order to make sure this quality stays I would continue to research different cinematographers and photographers and their approach. Not only for what they put on the screen, but also how they carry themselves behind the camera. I would also stay up to date on the latest technology in the field you are pursuing.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration is my favorite part of working in the film industry. I am always looking for people to work and create with. When looking for collaborators, I am looking for people with a strong point of view. My goal is to take what they have created and add a strong visual aspect to their story. This requires them to listen and to be open to new ideas that could help the audience connect to their story. Above all else, I want to work with good people. I want them to respect everyone on their crew and understand that every person is involved in bringing their vision to life and should be treated well. Our industry has a history of mistreating people and thankfully that has been shifting, but being respectful of your crew is key for a strong collaboration. The best ways to connect with me would be through my website (www.eliasposadacine.com) or my Instagram (@eliasposada).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eliasposadacine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliasposada
• Other: Vimeo.com: https://vimeo.com/eliasposada

Image Credits

Tanner Grandstaff
Alexis Wade