ABOUT REBECCA COLLEY
I am a graduate from Northumbria University, where I studied an honours degree in Film and TV Production. I am 25 years old living in Belfast and I love working behind the camera, though I have mixed media experience in my background. I've worked on a variety of projects and am always looking for my next opportunity to pursue a career in film and content creation. I am a keen learner, constantly looking for ways in which I can expand my knowledge, think outside of the box and improve my work. If you’d like to learn more about my work and interests, feel free to look around my website or get in touch!
INTERVIEW
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET INTO CINEMATOGRAPHY?
I’ve always felt as though my interest in film went beyond what I saw on screen, to me it has never just been watching for entertainment. Since I was younger I have been fascinated by the ways different production companies work behind the scenes, and I found such satisfaction and joy in the visuals. It’s not until you begin to read between the lines and study cinematography that you realise how much thought goes into every single shot, everything is there for a reason. So, when I started my degree, I naturally found myself favouring the route of camera work and cinematography. Visual storytelling as an art is just so beautiful.
WHAT DO YOU FIND THE MOST ENJOYABLE ABOUT CINEMATOGRAPHY?
Cinematography is so versatile, there's endless options no matter the project and I think that is what is so amazing. You can experiment and tailor all aspects of the visuals to compliment the narrative, and completely change the mood. I love setting up for each shot and seeing everything come together, but my favourite part is adding lighting and colour, it just takes it to a whole new level. Seeing everything come together from the colour scheme and lighting right down to the tiny details on screen gives you such an incredible sense of achievement, because the visuals really are such an important part of film. If the cinematography is done just right it feels natural, but if done wrong it can have a major impact on the film. It takes a lot of work, but the finished product is so worth it.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
I have so many cinematography influences but one I go back to constantly is ‘Mr Robot’. I was always taught to believe everything needed to be centred to be visually pleasing or follow rules of cinematography, but watching ‘Mr Robot’ has completely changed mine and so many others perspectives. I think this was the one TV show for me that unlocked a lot more potential in my work, it made me realise that the rules of cinematography dont always make for the best possible outcome. Rules are sometimes made to be broken and this is a perfect example.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECT SO FAR TO WORK ON?
My favourite project to date has been my most recent film ‘Girl of my Dreams’. The director, Jenni Canning, first pitched this idea to me in November 2020, and having never worked on a Sci-Fi film before I immediately fell in love with the idea. Sci-Fi has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, and cinematography wise it is a genre in which there is so much to work with because each film has its own unique style, particularly within the colour palette. I had so many ideas to put on the table and it felt like such a perfect opportunity to really experiment and I feel as though I have gained a lot from the experience. We are so proud of the final product.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CINEMATOGRAPHY?
My main piece of advice would be to make sure you absorb as much content as possible. Try to get out of your comfort zone, watch films you would never usually go for because this is the best way to see the contrast in cinematography across genres and better understand how it enhances different narratives. Analyse the framing, how the lighting portrays a character's intentions, how the colour palette makes you as the audience feel. Remember that while there are rules to cinematography, it’s okay to stray away and try new things. They may not always work but it's always worth the try, you can create great pieces of work by just trusting your instincts and experimenting.