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

Madison, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

“Success” is a subjective idea– we all have different notions of what success means. Being in America, the first thought that comes to mind would probably be financial, yet many would argue that health or feeling complete with life in general is success as well.

I was raised by a family that taught me the value of hard work from an early age; but, what I learned was the value in showing up for yourself. I learned the value of working to care for who and what surrounds you. My Nona (mom’s mom) became the black sheep in her family by leaving Torreón, MX and coming to the US to work. She always says “do what you have to do today, so you can do what you want to do tomorrow.” The needs come before the wants, so success doesn’t just mean work is the priority, but being attentive to your needs as an individual is. Get the rest you need, feed your body, and relax your mind with something that brings you joy or peace. Success begins when we start taking care of ourselves– because when we take care of ourselves, we show up for ourselves. If we show up for ourselves and our needs, then it becomes easier to show up and achieve the things we want.

While the pandemic is a period I do not miss, I have noticed a collective shift with how we make money and what labor means to us. A lot of corporations downsized on office space because it was possible for employees to work from home. People created side businesses that flourished. Others found time to explore new endeavors that resonated more with them. Success is constantly being redefined, and I think the direction it is heading in is positive and hopeful.

Madison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Madison Stonefield, and I am a Cinematographer, Assistant Camerawoman, and Photographer based in Los Angeles, CA.

I graduated in 2018 with a BA in Film and TV Production from USC SCA. I was able to transfer there from Santa Monica City College, where I starting learning formal production skills in 2013. I entered SMC’s production program with the intent on becoming an editor, but fell in love with cinematography pretty quickly and wanted to focus on it ever since.

As I moved through schooling, I was deeply interested in social sciences; studying human history, culture, and connection instilled an instinct to capture the world as is. With my parents being first and second generation immigrants growing up in LA, I was raised by a diverse family in a diverse city, learning/re-learning the value of community every day. This upbringing helped shape me into a filmmaker seeking honesty and empathy in storytelling, while also hoping to convey the beauty of having faith in humanity.

Now, I am working mostly as a camera assistant on documentaries, and with that comes some great colleagues/friends. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some amazing individuals on some exciting projects about real history and real people existing in the present. My job requires maintaining camera builds, managing media, and anticipating the camera operator’s needs. In documentary, a lot of footage is captured with one opportunity to record what is happening in the best way possible. This means that the operators need to constantly be ready at any given moment, so my job is to make sure they have what they need to do their job properly. It’s a technical, hands-on job, and I love what I do.

I fell in love with cameras, and so I feel happy being involved in any project as part of the camera or lighting team. Even with 10 years now existing in the film production world, I know there is always something to learn, and I learn by observing others and fully immersing myself in the craft.

I am grateful for the opportunity to work in the field I dreamt of when I was in high school; however, it does not happen without finding your community and meeting incredible, like-minded colleagues. A lot of these jobs rely on word of mouth recommendations or peers you have already met on other projects. I am more grateful for the community I am a part of in this vast industry. Being kind and showing up for yourself in all aspects of your life will direct you to the right people.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I feel lucky to be born in a generation that pushes mindfulness when it comes to who is being given opportunities to work in the arts. When it comes to film production, I think the last 25 years proves that diversity in stories, crew, and actors allowed for the art of film production to evolve.

When I started learning about cinematography ten years ago, I didn’t anticipate the political and social climate would shape me so much as a filmmaker in general. I started to feel a sense of responsibility as I moved through my training– now I find myself, like I said, working in documentary on projects that honor community, agency, integrity, and education. I feel comfortable where I am and once again am so grateful for the people I have met and worked with along the way. And even in these tense times where the strikes have rendered most of the industry to shut down, I am hopeful for the future of cinema and “Hollywood” because of the creatives’ motivation to stand up for themselves and each other.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is knowing that I’m solely responsible for the quality of the work I produce. I don’t have to worry about depending on someone else to execute my job, and because of that, it becomes really easy to grow. I chose the industry I wanted to work in, so I need to continue to show up for myself–even when the day feels hard. True collaboration starts when all parties are fully present in achieving the goal for the project. With that being said, I do have to mention the obvious reward of meeting other talented creatives who have the same amount of passion and care for their crafts. I have the fortune of meeting new artists on new jobs and also work on projects with people I’ve met and enjoyed working with before. Running into big egos happens often, and avoiding that kind of energy early on will help you find your community much sooner; and, I feel more grounded in who I am and who I vibe with on a creative level.

Contact Info:

• Website: madisonstonefield.com
• Instagram: hey.hotdog