Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pavel Gazdyuk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Pavel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

When I was on my OPT back in 2021, I co-DP’d a feature drama The Beethoven Method with my good friend and cinematographer Flemming Laursen. It is a story about friendship, love, creativity, and being critical to yourself. These are the topics that anyone could relate to but what attracted me to this particular project is that it was based on real events, on someone’s life.

When I first read the script by the writer and director Crawford Banks it was clear to me that it was a very personal story, thus people who would watch it would be able to relate to it. I thought that this movie could help people overcome similar struggles, inspire them, give them hope and strength to believe in something better in their lives.

In a way, working on this movie as a co-cinematographer was helpful in terms of personal growth because you witness particular life situations over and over again, reading the script, watching the actors rehears, shooting the scene in real places, cafes, clubs, apartments, city streets. You think about those same situations many times and every time it changes your perspective on things, you think about what you would do if something like that happened in your life. This story definitely changed my as a person.

Pavel, 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?

I graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2011. International Journalism was my major. Somehow I picked up photography while studying in my undergrad school. After graduation, it was a mix of news editing and working with visuals and images. With time I transitioned to video storytelling while working for various web-media companies in Moscow as a DP, documentary producer, director, and editor.

I have always wanted to study abroad. The dream came true many years later when I applied for the Cinematography program at UCLA Extension in 2019. It has been a life and career-changing experience. I had never worked on narrative film sets. So I had to learn everything from scratch.

The learning process turned out to be very intense and very efficient. I studied theory at UCLA Extension and I had an opportunity to use my knowledge as a volunteer G&E or AC on student film projects. The Pandemic definitely slowed everyone down but after about two years of studying I started shooting my own projects as a cinematographer.

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

I hear that question very often, what is your end goal? I feel like it is like asking what is the meaning of life. It also reminds me of that question you are asked at job interviews, who do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years. To me, there could be no end goal. And I didn’t realize it at the beginning of my creative journey, but having a goal means you are not happy with what you have now.

If I have to speak in terms of having a goal, my goal is to enjoy every project I am a part of. I enjoy being part of the team, coming up with ideas together, sharing the rewarding moments with people on film sets when the shoot is over. It is the little things that make your life and career exciting. Of course, I want to keep learning and getting more experience but I am sure it will come while you are doing your best as a professional.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Before moving to Los Angeles to study cinematography I used to have a steady job, so I know exactly what it is. I took a risk and decided to take a new path in my life. There was a lot of stress involved but what I have now thanks to that decision I made is very rewarding. It was a jump toward creative freedom, personal growth, and self-expression.

Cinema is a collective art. You can’t do it on your own. As a cinematographer or anyone who works on film sets, I enjoy being around people, the energy, the common effort, and the support you give and get from other creative minds.

There is an aspect of freedom in being creative too. You can choose the projects you want to be a part of. You can do something short or long-term. You can take full responsibility and do something of your own. You can be a day player for once in a while.

Every little project you start gives you something, some new knowledge about yourself and things around you. It helps you form your style and the way you look at the world, the way you notice the details. It helps you better understand the things that are important to you as an artist.   

Contact Info:

• Website: pavelgazdyuk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pablo_honey/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pavel.gazdyuk/

Image Credits
Rahul Boruly Yotaro Okada Bruno Agnello