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

Kathrin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

When I first started out working in the film industry and I had freshly graduated from a hands-on filmmaking workshop I worked on a set that had a female director of photography. It was the first time ever that I had seen a woman working the key position in the camera department and I was in awe. Seeing her work motivated me to follow my dream of becoming a cinematographer. I needed to see the representation to realize that it is possible as a woman.

As someone who works in a male dominated department, I’ve run into several questionable situations where I wished for a more female friendly and inclusive environment. I’d love to see more women finding their way into the camera department in the future. In my opinion a safer working environment and more opportunities for women are needed to achieve that. Just because a job needs more muscles and requires extensive knowledge in technology doesn’t mean a woman can’t do it, which is a common perception of society.

Lastly, I believe that diversity in every aspect should be celebrated and more included in the entertainment industry. This goes way farther than just equality for women it’s also about nationality, race, sexuality, gender preferences and and and. Every person is unique in their own way and brings different valuable qualities to the table and I’d love to see a more inclusive workspace for all parties involved.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I originally got my BFA degree in Media- and Communications with the focus in Marketing and Advertising in Austria before moving to Los Angeles and studying Filmmaking. After finishing my course, I decided to specialize in the Camera Department because my interest and heart has always been highly focused on cameras.

To this day I remember when my father introduced me to my first camera. I was fascinated by the way it worked and how you could capture a moment to keep it forever as a memory. Technology evolved quickly and soon enough digital cameras came out which as well captured my attention. Every new model kept piquing my curiosity and interest. Nobody was surprised when I started teaching myself photography at a young age and eventually worked on a few paid wedding photographer gigs back in my home country.

Growing up around cameras has put me on the path that I am today. Learning photography is something I still benefit from working as a director of photography, especially when it comes to composition. As cinematographer, I strive to find creative and interesting frames – shots that are beautiful yet fit the story and fulfill its purpose. There is absolutely nothing wrong with basic coverage shots because it’s needed to bring the story across, but I believe that a lot of times you can spike it up and transform even the basic shots into more appealing ones.

I love finding new creatives ways to shoot something and at the same time working closely together with the director/writer to get the best possible outcome for everyone involved. It amazes me how many ways there are to tell a story with a camera and how lighting can change the entire emotion and mood of a frame.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up I’ve always felt a bit like the odd one out – I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I found a safe space in reading and watching fiction. In a way, some characters just spoke to me, made me feel seen/understood and safe. Movies and shows have gotten me through some rough times and my goal or mission is deeply intertwined with that.

I’ve received a lot of feedback on one of my recent projects, “Black Sunset”. It’s about a woman who’s struggling in life and trying to find inner peace. Some of my friends who appeared to be happy reached out to me after reading the screenplay and told me that they feel connected to the main character and her struggles.

The world we live in can be brutal and growing up can be miserable. The thought that something I created or something that I was a part of reaches a person who’s not doing well and makes them feel seen and better – that’s really the most rewarding aspect to me as a creative and all that I am hoping to achieve.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

When it comes to growing my clientele, there are different ways that have shown itself to be effective.

Number one is connected to my way of working and commitment to the craft itself, as well as my knowledge and expertise. Every job I take on as a cinematographer, I take very seriously no matter how big their budget may be. I want the best possible outcome – I’m almost stubborn in that way. I believe that hard work always comes around rewarding you and when I commit to a project, I want it to succeed. I’m a very organized person and I like preparing beforehand as much as I can – people have praised me and enjoyed working with me due to these qualities.

Number two has to do with my loyalty, honesty and openness. I very much try to be a – excuse my language, no bullshit person. I want a clear communication where both sides know what works and what doesn’t. In the end, I get hired by people to fulfill their story and bring it to screen. The last thing I want is taking over someone’s project and making it something they didn’t want. I want to give them what they visualized and/or more than they hoped for.

Both number one and two have resulted into good word of mouth on my behalf – and word of mouth is a very helpful tool. Your reputation and ways of working are important in the entertainment industry. Film sets have long working hours where you’re constantly working closely with each other. Therefore, it’s important to be working with people you can count on.

The third and last one is the most obvious and general one, social media. As much as social media irritates me at times – and that is coming from someone who has studied it intensely, it has helped me in many ways. Not only is it great for promoting yourself and your work – which I’m probably guilty of not doing as much as I should but it also helps you finding and connecting with new people that have the same passion as you. I’ve made several great connections throughout my life that way – even as a teenager. As unhealthy as the online world can be it can also be a great tool to build a loving and caring community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathrinasmus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrinasmus/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrinasmus/

Image Credits
Seda Anbarci, Shranjay Arora, JoAnna Luna