Sophie Gemelas finished her MFA at Loyola Marymount University in the spring of 2022. Within just a few years, Sophie has DPed multiple professional projects.

Here’s a breakdown of one of Sophie’s first music videos, and her most recent work as a professional cinematographer.

Class Projects

Rachel Alexandra - DRIVE

RT: 3:10

While you watch, notice:

• 🖼️ How framing says it all

• 🎥 An extended rack focus emphasizes the distance, spatially and emotionally, that exists between the characters

• 💡 The vertical line that slices down the frame, once again communicating a disconnect

Sophie paired her obvious cinematography shops with an understanding of storytelling. It’s that pairing that would eventually land her on professional music video sets as a cinematographer.

Professional Crewing

LonelyTwin - More Than On My Mind

RT 4:46

While you watch, notice:

🌫️ How the film establishes and maintains an air of reminiscence: A combination of digital and analog mediums lend different textures (and aspect ratios) to the various shots.

🖼️ Frame within a frame shots: This is a pattern in Sophie's work. Techniques such as these give the film a feel of flipping through a photo album or perusing faded memories.

🍭 How the film harnesses color to animate a romantic dream: LonelyTwin’s vivid red polo and deep blue sweater vest pit her against the hazy blue-greenish hue of the city light. As such, she stands out within the frame - as though her character is an ethereal traveler in another world.

👋🏼 Editor's Note

Next week, we'll either dig into a current student's work at USC or an NYU alum who explores how art and your career can coexist. Which would you want to read first? Feel free to reply with your preference.

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We'll see you next week.

Eric Villa, Co-founder, Stuudeo

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