We interviewed the talented female DP Carolina Costa AMC, which two of her films were selected by Sundance 2023. Moreover, Costa lensed films that won multiple prizes, and she has earned the honor to be on Variety’s list of “10 Latinxs To Watch in 2020”. Read below what Costa has to say about the glass ceiling that touches many female cinematographers, and how to overcome/break it.
Carolina Costa AMC
Originally from Brazil, Carolina studied at the University of the Arts, London, where she was mentored by Sue Gibson, the renowned first female president of the British Society of Cinematographers. Costa then moved to Los Angeles and earned her Masters in Cinematography from the American Film Institute. Her AFI thesis film WAY IN RYE went on to compete at Camerimage in Poland, followed by her AFI alumni short CONTRAPELO which premiered at Tribeca before being shortlisted for the Academy Awards. She was also selected as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2018, won the Women in Media + ZEISS Altitude Award, and was on Variety’s list of “10 Latinxs To Watch in 2020”. Recently Carolina Costa was the DP of Erica Trembley’s Fancy Dance, which was nominated for the Sundance 2023 Grand Jury Prize, and Heroic, directed by David Zonana. These are Carolina’s third and fourth films premiering at Sundance. Below you can read our interview with her, talking about the glass ceiling that touches many female cinematographers, and how to break it.
Your gender should not be what defeats you. Every time someone told me I couldn’t do it, I went and did it. It definitely made me push harder. But, what I learned recently is that it is much better to surround yourself with filmmakers who respect and support you.
From camera trainee to full-time cinematographer
YMCinema: Let us know about yourself (short bio focusing on the filmmaking career), and how you chose filmmaking as a profession/ career.
Costa: Hi I am Carolina Costa, AMC. I am a cinematographer born in Brazil and though my culture and country define me in many ways, I have been living and working all around the world for the last 20 years. Right now, I live in Mexico and work mainly between here and the US. I started in the business as a camera trainee and then moved into a clapper loader in the UK. I did that for a few years and started working as a director of photography full-time after I did my master’s at AFI. I’m also currently working on a trilogy of shorts that I am Directing and DP’ing. We just wrapped post for the first one and just wrapped production on the second one.
I started in the business as a camera trainee and then moved into a clapper loader in the UK. I did that for a few years and started working as a director of photography full-time after I did my master’s at AFI.
Creating the visual grammar
YMCinema: Please describe your role and responsibility on the set (as a DP).
Costa: The DP is responsible for helping create the visual grammar for a project. That includes the lighting design and camera/framing. I think DPs are the directors’ right arms and key people in the logistical and creative world of a set. I always like to say that my job is to make the day. And if you make art along that day then that’s what makes you better than other DPs.
I think DPs are the directors’ right arms and key people in the logistical and creative world of a set.
DP-ing two Sundance films
YMCinema: Name a few interesting projects you took part in.
Costa: I shot two films recently that were at Sundance earlier this year – “Heroic” directed by David Zonana and “Fancy Dance” directed by Erica Trembley. Last year I shot the pilot for Amazon’s “High School” – a show based on Tegan and Sara’s memoir. I worked on the last season of “Insecure” and have had two films at Cannes in the past – “The Chosen Ones” and “They.”
I shot two films recently that were at Sundance earlier this year – “Heroic” directed by David Zonana and “Fancy Dance” directed by Erica Trembley.
The glass ceiling as a female DP
YMCinema: What’s it like to work in a professional environment dominated by men? As the majority of the filmmaking industry are men, do you feel that you have a glass ceiling above you? Do you feel that you have to try harder as a female filmmaker in order to make a climb in the industry?
Costa: Absolutely, and still it’s hard. I don’t see many Latinx filmmakers in the business either. Our community is very much segregated sadly. Our talent is still questioned. But I can’t deny that I also am privileged in many ways, being socio-economic, or my skin color.
I don’t see many Latinx filmmakers in the business either. Our community is very much segregated sadly. Our talent is still questioned.
Tips & tricks for other female cinematographers
YMCinema: Do you recommend other women to pursue a filmmaking career? If so, what’re your tips and tricks to do so?
Costa: Absolutely, your gender should not be what defeats you. Every time someone told me I couldn’t do it, I went and did it. It definitely made me push harder. But, what I learned recently is that it is much better to surround yourself with filmmakers who respect and support you. Your work will grow and you as a person too. Don’t buy into the idea that you have to suffer to be a good artist. That is not true. Your mental health should not be the cost. Just know that you will have to work twice as hard to get anywhere. I hope that gap diminishes with time.
Your work will grow and you as a person too. Don’t buy into the idea that you have to suffer to be a good artist. That is not true. Your mental health should not be the cost. Just know that you will have to work twice as hard to get anywhere. I hope that gap diminishes with time.
Closing thoughts
YMCinema: Is there anything to add? Talk freely.
Costa: I think it’s interesting that we are talking so much about diversity, but I still encounter so many barriers and I can see that happening to others around me. I think there’s too much talk and very little action. The only way for us to change and move forward is to actually put the money behind projects that are diverse from the get-go.
Are you a female DP? Do you have an interesting story to tell us, so other women get inspired to step forward in our industry? Send us an email to yossy [at] ymcinema.com for a chance to get featured.
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