We were lucky to catch up with Molly White recently and have shared our conversation below.

Molly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?

When I was a rising senior in college at the University of Colorado Denver, I was lucky enough to be accepted to an LA-based internship program through my school. My internship was with the American Film Institute helping out on their Directing Workshop for Women in 2019. The internship allowed us to participate in and work on 2 professional level films that were being produced. I was able to work in the camera department as a 2nd Assistant Camera on Blocks, directed by Bridget Moloney, and was taught all about the role of a 2nd AC and working in camera by Ruby Paiva, who is now a cinematographer based in LA. This experience was one of the most incredible I have ever had and it really solidified my love for camera and the world of filmmaking. I was in a learning environment where I could ask questions, make mistakes, and build up my knowledge with real working professionals, some of who I still work with and am friends with to this day. The collaborative and inclusive environment on that set is always in the back of my mind on every shoot I work on now, and I am grateful to continue learning from those I met during that time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

There are many facets of the film industry that one can find themselves in. The discipline that spoke to me and continues to energize me every day is the camera department. As a full time, non-union 1st Assistant Camera and aspiring Cinematographer, I spend my days working on set in various locations, conditions, and with new people. As a 1st AC, you are responsible for building the camera(s) for a shoot and making sure everything is in working order so the day can go smoothly. A 1st AC also pulls focus during shots and is the first point of contact with the cameras. It is a deeply technical yet also creative role, with new things happening every day!

One thing I am most proud of is where I have gotten in the 3 years post-graduate (2020). As a woman in the camera department, it has not been the easiest journey and I have had negative experiences with people both on and off set. I have never let any of that stop me and I hope that can be seen as an inspiration for other women looking to get into this line of work, just as I have been inspired by the many women ACs and cinematographers over the years.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I started in the film industry working as a Production Assistant, like many others do, to get my foot in the door and meet others that had found success in the industry. I have always been proud of my work ethic and have strived to be as attentive and willing to learn as possible. That, combined with a good attitude and friendly demeanor have helped me meet and keep many relationships with other creatives, both in Los Angeles and in Denver, CO. I firmly believe that you can be the absolute best at your job, but if you aren’t a nice person or someone others want to be around, your success will be short-lived. I try to balance both of those aspects every time I meet new people or am hired for a new job. Being someone that can make you laugh or smile while also completing the job to the best of their ability goes a long way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I went to film school in Denver, CO from 2016 to 2020. I graduated in May of 2020, in the height of the pandemic and quarantine throughout the entire country. Everyone was struggling, and to be thrust into the world during that chaotic time was not easy. During this time, I was working a full-time day job that provided a decent and stable income, which during the pandemic was hard to find. I could have kept that job after 2020, continued to have a stable life and income, but I knew that working in film was the only thing that would bring me true happiness and I would do anything to make it happen. The film industry is all about who you know and how well you can do your specific job, so not being able to fully take advantage of the Colorado film industry right out of college was a major struggle. I was lucky enough to have met some local creatives prior to the pandemic and was able to keep in touch with them, as well as meet new people even though we weren’t able to shoot or go out. At a time when my life and career was so up in the air, I was able to keep fostering those relationships so that when the world started to open up, I could get on set and begin to hone my craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mollyfarrellwhite.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyfarrellwhite/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-white-3405b3152/

Image Credits
Kevin Kim, Rex Bressler, Orion Madsen, Stephen Ochsner, Sam Salibi,