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

Tina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

I think if I were to go back in time, I would lean on my community more. The older I get, the more I realize that it’s important to not only build community, but to give back to the community. I feel like I spent so much time doing things alone because I felt like I could only rely on myself and that I would be judged if I asked for help. I’ve only recently become more accepting of this beautiful community around me and acknowledging that I don’t have to do this alone. Working in the film world, it’s truly team oriented.

I would also encourage my younger self to just “do the thing” scared. Although I still struggle with imposter syndrome, I find it much more productive to push myself to do the action while feeling afraid rather than wait for it to go away. It’s completely normal to find the unknown or big leaps scary, but I find it very important to brave the feeling.

Tina, 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?

Hello there! I’m Tina Somphone, a queer, first generation Asian American with Chinese and Laotian heritage based in Atlanta, Georgia. You’ll often find me on the move with my camera or immersed in freestyle dance sessions. While my focus has shifted from dancing to being behind the camera, dance remains my first love. There’s a unique joy in late-night dance sessions with friends, where communication happens through the exchange of movement. My foundation in movement is the driving force behind most of my work today; I leverage camera movement to highlight not only dance but other narrative forms.

My journey has led me to collaborate on various projects with both non-local and local Atlanta dancers. Capturing their movement through the lens is a way to give back to the community and express my love for dance in a different craft. Looking forward, I’m excited to delve into the cinematic side of dance and film, viewing them as an endless canvas for storytelling.

As a woman within the Asian-American and LGBTQ+ communities, I’m deeply committed to embracing intersectionality. I strive to support individuals from diverse backgrounds in any way I can, particularly those of the underrepresented and underprivileged. My goal is to forge a path that enables others to discover steps and pathways for advancing in their careers.

One project that holds a special place in my heart is ‘Kalimba.’ While it will eventually become a feature-length film, we recently shot the proof of concept last May of 2023. It’s currently going through circuits, and I’m excited for the future! This psychological horror short film, written by my friend Robbie Atkinson, owner of RPX Media Productions, and her late father, challenged me as a cinematographer in ways I hadn’t experienced before. It marked my first time leading a full crew while being hands-off the camera. Despite the challenges in lighting for day-to-night, experimenting with color palettes and tones, and incorporating movement, the project exceeded my expectations.We chose to take on this project earlier than planned, and despite the initial challenges and learning curve, we were able to make it happen thanks to our teamwork and dedicated crew.

For the past 2.5 years, I’ve been a prep tech at Otto Nemenz International in ATL. This role has allowed me to immerse myself in learning about camera gear and packages, gaining valuable hands-on experience, interacting with the camera department, and networking within the industry. Helping to host workshops during the strike has been fulfilling, providing opportunities for those who might not typically have access to learn about this equipment. It has brought me immense joy to have played a role in assisting those who wanted to gain exposure to camera gear or learn new things. My favorite part has been seeing friendships fostered during these events. I aspire to continue breaking down barriers and sharing resources!

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

Trigger warning: Death, Trauma

Two in one. Experiencing the separate, but sudden deaths of my father and older brother in my early twenties have undeniably tested and illustrated my resilience. To say my twenties have been a tumultuous ride would be an understatement. The harrowing experiences of grief, loss, and trauma have fueled me to pursue my career as a cinematographer and make the most out of every opportunity. The losses I’ve faced have amplified my desire to follow my true aspirations. Despite the challenges of this journey feeling daunting, I perceive it as a privilege—one that my departed loved ones no longer have. While anxiety, concern about others’ opinions, self-doubt, and fear of setbacks still linger, I draw strength from both my experiences of loss and the supportive community around me to push me forward.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most fulfilling aspect of being an artist or creative lies in the ability to share stories and create works of enduring value. There’s a unique privilege in creating a vulnerable space with others, capturing moments that become lasting memories or archives for the future. I take immense honor and pride in helping individuals bring their stories to life or preserving forever memories. In the early stages of my career, I had the opportunity to work as a videographer, documenting the final weeks of a boy’s life at home so that his family could always have memories with him after he passed on. Despite feeling that my support during their devastating loss was limited, the family continues to express gratitude with Christmas cards for the lasting gift. I will always carry profound gratitude toward them, especially for their kindness and compassion during a time of such sorrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: coming soon! :)
• Instagram: tina.snaps

Image Credits
Kat Frazier, Marisa Panyasith, Young-Jae Kim, Hannah Chung , Caren Cruz, Dennis Chen