We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Connor Mooney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Connor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The biggest and most important trend coming out of our industry right now is the emergence of the self taught filmmaker. In the past, one would need to go to school, or learn from an individual already invested in the field in order to properly take steps toward finding jobs. These days, however, it’s become easier than ever before to gain access to the resources needed to make films. Cinema cameras especially have become more accessible than seen in the past. One great example is the recent Gareth Edwards film, The Creator. Normally, a science fiction blockbuster film with the budget of $80 million would utilize a Sony Venice, or an Arri Alexa, cameras that can cost upwards of $20,000. Instead, they opted to use a lighter, compact Sony FX3 in order to create a fleet of cameras that can fit on any piece of equipment they desire. Drones, gimbals, you name it. But the most important outlier of this camera is that it can be used by any filmmaker. With a price of just $4,000, it opens the door for anyone to pick it up and start making movies.

Connor, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Connor Mooney, and I work as a Camera Operator, Gaffer and PA in the film industry. My services often include operating cameras for short films, commercial work, or conferences, which often includes operating drones as well. As a gaffer, I help set up lights for the cinematographer, and prepare the setup for each shot. Most problems I end up solving are camera issues, whether it’s something in the settings that don’t provide the best performance, or camera builds that require additional equipment to create the best image. The work I’m most proud of so far come from my college days, where I worked on a show for our college’s local TV network almost every semester I was in school, even earning a Lonestar Emmy for an episode I directed. The most important thing to know about me is that I take as much time as needed to make sure we get the best image for the client as possible, but also work quickly to make sure we stay on schedule.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Ever since I was younger, I always found wonder in cinema and TV, but especially in the cinematography. The way filmmakers were able to control the emotions of the viewer in the camera movement, the lighting of each scene, and even the color grading always fascinated me and kept me enchanted in the magic of how it’s made. That influenced my desire to enter the field, with a mission to capture that feeling in the work I do and inspire anyone in the next generation that feels that same magic every time they watch a movie. If I’m able to inspire even just one person to pick up a camera and start making something, than my mission will have succeeded. As long as I constantly strive to be better in everything I do, I can hope to inspire someone else to do the same.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first got out of college, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go with my career. Most of my jobs were here and there, with no real aim to them. One spring, I decided I was done wandering aimlessly, and looked to take hold of my future. I applied for an internship with Arcpoint Studios, and began working the hardest I ever have. Balancing a part time job on top of videography work for Arcpoint, I carved out a career path for myself that I follow to this day. I focused on honing my camera skills with the variety of models at my disposal, and learning the importance of every lighting setup that one could create for a film, or use in commercial work. Without that internship, I’d still be unsure of where I wanted to go, but through them I found a direction I wanted to go with my life, and work toward every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connormooney_camop/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ConnorMooney
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZVLVBy-ifwbyYy_HJNVDzA