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

Robert, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Growing up I watched a lot of films. I remember afterwards I would usually watch those DVD extras, the behind-the-scenes clips of how the film was made, and I remember just feeling mesmerized at the whole process of how a film is made. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and something I wanted to try. I also generally loved stories and storytelling and overall creating things. I had a lot of passions when I was a kid, I sort of wanted to do everything haha. but the thing that stood out to me though was the camera. I remember becoming very infatuated with cameras, especially the ones I saw in the behind-the-scenes clips. These big Panavision film cameras attached to these large cranes or dolly tracks, and using these tools to create a story was just fascinating to me. I remember my grandfather giving me one of his cameras. it was a really small one mainly for taking photos but It had a film option on it, so I would go out and recreate scenes from my favorite movies. my family mostly being the actors. I remember making one of those big film cameras out of shoe boxes. making the film magazine and matte box out of paper mache and cardboard pieces. and putting my little photo camera inside, creating a sort of eyepiece on the side with mirrors to the inside where the camera was so I could see what I was recording. Haha, I got quite creative. It was funny though as I was filming all of this material but I did not know how to edit, so I had all of this footage lying around. I was around 8 or 9 at the time. Eventually when I was a bit older got a computer and taught myself to edit. and after that point, I was constantly making these short films pretty much every week. with my mum, of course. being the main actor in all of them. I really don’t think I’d be here without her because man I really put her through some things haha.

Robert, 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?

At the moment I do quite a bit of freelance cinematography work in the independent world. Some music videos but mainly narrative work with short films that have been getting longer and bigger, all while gaining as much on-set experience as I can in the camera department within the industry.

I love meeting and collaborating with new people and working on new projects near and far. I love the narrative world but I would also love to shoot documentaries. I think it’s a form of filmmaking that is very raw and oftentimes unfiltered which I love. I’m really into creating imagery that feels grounded and holds a lot of realism. the work of filmmakers like Hoyte Van Hoytema ASC FSF NSC, and his work with Nolan is very much inspiring for me, and their approach to doing in-camera effects is something I really love, which you don’t see much of these days anymore. I think it just goes back to when I was really young making short films and having to do all of the effects I wanted to do in camera, not knowing how to edit of course so any sort of computer graphics work wasn’t an option. It’s just a very visceral and authentic feeling watching something that was photographed for real with no computer graphics, and I think it’s that visceralness that I am drawn towards in my own work and inspirations.

I remember up until a few years ago I was just making my own short films, really doing everything and realizing that’s not really what I want to be doing and rather to just focus on cinematography. I started to network with other filmmakers and aspiring young directors to shoot their films. The thing I found I loved the most about working on those films was that you really end up like a small family by the end of the project. Most of the time I started a project and didn’t really know anyone. None of the crew or cast, but as you start to work with these people you start to form these amazing friendships and connections.

back in 2017, I had a screening for one of my first proper short films (Alone) Where I met Savanna Crasto. Also being into filmmaking I remember we talked a bunch about all these great ideas and concepts and then just kept in touch. Fast forward to 2020, we set out to create something together. It was a feature-length project titled ‘Grey’ based on the play, ‘Tender Napalm’ by Philip Ridley. We shot in a single location (a house) over 2 nights with 2-3 crew members, including myself. What made it more ambitious was the approach to shooting it. Being a play we wanted to shoot it in a way that conveyed that real-time theatrical feel. so the entire 100-minute film was made to look like it was done in a single take. The film only has around 3-4 takes. with each take going anywhere between 15-25 minutes, all seemingly stitched together to give the illusion of a single take. I don’t know how but we pulled it off, and a few months later we screened the film theatrically with an almost sold-out audience. That’s definitely a project I’m most proud of!

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

From making my own personal films I was always drawn to stories that have an impact and meaning. I think film is such a powerful medium. You can really leave a lasting effect on people that I don’t think you necessarily get with another artform. I’d say my goal is to just create the most meaningful work I can. Stories that matter.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

An overwhelming sense of accomplishment after I’ve finished a project, especially when watching it on the big screen. To see something through like a film from start to finish is no small task. So many people come together to make this happen and there’s no better feeling than celebrating that at the end of a project with all your crew.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.robplazadp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertplaza_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-plaza-053380128/?originalSubdomain=au
• Affiliated production companies: https://www.thecolourseries.com.au/ https://www.bluetalefilmstudios.com.au/

Image Credits
Will Smith