By: The Don

Kayla Windsor has many skills within the film industry. From operating cine-cameras, to experience as a Digital Imaging Technician, she has many insights to share being on film sets. The production of a movie requires many different skill sets and we (the audience) wouldn’t be able to enjoy movies the same, without the contributions of each indivdual. Kayla has also overcome numerous adversities being a woman working as a in the film industry, especially as a cinematographer. Kayla tells us what happens behind the scenes in some of these roles.

Interview

1) What’s your name and how long have you been in the film industry?

My name is Kayla Windsor. I’ve been a cinematographer for 12 years, but I’ve just broken into the bigger productions 4 years ago.

2) What do you currently do within the entertainment industry?

I actually do a little bit of everything. When you freelance in this industry, skills in every department is important. I mostly work as a Camera Assistant and a Digital Imaging Technician working my way up to Director of Photography.

3) What got you interested in filmmaking originally?

I’ve always had extremely intense dreams since I was a little girl. Ones that I can remember in every detail, even today. I always thought that I should share them with the world so I went to college to learn screenwriting. I have them all written down so maybe one day, I’ll be able to share them.

4) Screenwriting nice! Was that what you originally wanted to do, or do you like the variety or doing different types of roles in the industry?

Screenwriting was what I originally wanted to do in regards to the film industry. I was filming live music events at the time of studying screenwriting so i kind of started both of them at the same time. I actually had a screenwriting teacher at my university tell me that I should quit the industry all together and he wouldn’t pass me so I wouldn’t be able to graduate, so I had to switch my major from screenwriting to general film production in order to graduate. I actually haven’t written a script since his class.

5) Do you ever want to go back into screenwriting?

I am actually getting back into screenwriting now! I really want to be able to sell a few scripts in my lifetime.

6) How many productions have you been on?

I stopped counting when I hit 100!

7) Wow! What was it like being on set for the first time?

I had absolutely no idea what to do. I started as an unpaid intern and thankfully I had an inclusive crew and each department took time out of their days to teach my proper set etiquette and I will always be grateful for them.

8) Cool! Is there a role you love to do more than the others? I’m guessing behind the scenes on cameras?

My favorite role is camera operating. A lot of camera guys in the industry want to be Director of Photography, but I don’t really care to fight for that role. I’ll happily just operate the camera and have someone else make those bigger decisions

9) What do you find fascinating the most about being a camera operator?

I’m really good at finding the right light and capturing the right moments that come really easily to me. I’ve always been able to kind of see into the future, to predict when to be ready with the camera and that took 10 years of patience and practice, so now it’s a breeze. I really like that it captures time and the things in the worlds that are changed due to cameras. It really excites me and makes me want to be a part of the change.

10) Did you use to use a camera when you were younger? Is that where you got the camera skills?

So my dad bought me a Canon T3I when I was 13 years old. I started taking photos just wherever I was, mostly landscape stuff. I then got into time-lapses and astrophotography. This allowed me to understand the ways cameras work. Then I started going to raves and back in the day, they were more underground, but there was a website everyone could go to find pictures of themselves and their friends so I became one of 5 Arizona “spotters” and took pictures of people in all kinds of lighting scenarios… which helped me understand light and timing. I did this from 15 to 18, then I started filming “Aftermovies” for music festivals and raves while I was in college. After college, I started as an intern Personal Assistant and worked myself back up to camera operator. So I’ve technically been a cinematographer for 14 years now. I didn’t start learning about cameras because I wanted to be in the industry. I did it because it was fun and I happened to find out you can get paid a lot for it!

11) Wow, awesome! So where do you mainly work? Is Philly on your list of places you have worked?

I mainly work in Arizona. I’ve traveled to a few states now. I have filmed in Philly. I go on tour sometimes and followed a few EDM artists there.

12) How many times have you worked in Philly?

I’ve only worked in Philly once. I liked it I just thought it was really dirty but I’m used to nature and being in the desert so I’m not used to homeless people and trash everywhere.

13) Yeah we can always improve in Philly. What do you love most about working in Philly?

I liked being in Philly mainly because I love learning about how other people live. I’d go back if another show hired me.

14) What’s your least favorite part of working on a set?

My least favorite part is when I’m working as an Assistant Cameraperson and the entire camera crew is guys that give me crap all day long. They gang up on me A LOT and it’s hard to stay calm when 4 or 5 people constantly rag on me.

15) Rag on you? How and why?

The camera guys rag on me. I think because I’m a girl. They don’t know how else to respond, so they make fun of me, but when it’s every show it gets really hard to put on a happy face every time… The way they rag on me is by telling me how to do my job even though I already know, they carry my gear for me when I don’t need them to, I’ve even had guys try to sabotage me for no reason by hiding my batteries and slate, so the productions have to wait on me to find the slates.. I’ve had a guy literally hide it in his jacket while I freaked out looking for it.

16) Wow thats harsh. Really harsh! What are some other adversities being a woman in the film field?

The adversities being a woman in film is the constant bullying and not getting hired because of the #metoo movement. Guys don’t want to even be in the situation, so they just don’t hire girls on sets anymore. Guys don’t think that girls can work a camera when we’re actually better at it than they are.

17) How do you overcome those adversities?

How to overcome it is just by ignoring the bullying, working out so you’re stronger than everyone else, and kinda just paving your own way the best you can. Luckily we are in a great time for women getting better roles on set, so it is changing positively but I don’t think our problems as women on set will ever go away.

18) Do you think the #metoo movement ruined your film experience or made it better?

It’s literally half and half. There are a ton of sets where I’ve been the only girl… It depends on who the people are you’re working with. It’s either they’re super open to having females onset or they don’t want us there at all… I’ve had people stop talking to me and stop hiring me because I’ve turned them down for dates… It’s a fine line and it’s always disappointing when I don’t get hired because of the fear of the #metoo situation.

19) Is there someone you look up to within the entertainment industry and why?

Not yet, maybe James Cameron because he has written the top two grossing films in history! I’d like to be able to do that too… Make something so beautiful that almost everyone sees it at least once.

20)  Do you have a favorite genre and why?

Hmm, I think my favorite genre is Sci-Fi and then the next would be Drama because I really love making up stories that haven’t happened or could never happen and creating worlds that people can imagine themselves being in. I love being able to relate to human nature within that unrealistic world, it’s so fun. With dramas, I’m a very sad person at heart. I’m not “sad”, but I can think of things that would make others cry and I’ve got a lot of really dark and dramatic scenes in my head that I want to put on paper and then on screen.

21) Do you have a favorite actor or actress?

The first person that came to mind was Jason Bateman.

22) What’s your favorite movie with Jason Bateman and why?

I love him in everything he’s in. He just seems like such a cool person to work with. I’d love to meet him one day.

23) Do you have a Plan B in case film doesn’t work out?

No, I don’t have a Plan B. I can’t even imagine doing anything else. I would probably die to be honest. I have my Bachelors degree, so I would be fine but I’ve been a freelancer for too long now. I don’t fit into that world anymore.

 24) What did you originally major in?

I have a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Media & Film Production and a minor in Photography & Spanish.

25) Do you ever see yourself in Los Angeles or traveling?

I want to move to Los Angeles as a last resort. I’d rather have a higher quality of life than I would be able to afford there. I’ve traveled my whole life so to get paid for it is ideal.

26) What advice do you want to give to others interested in the entertainment field?

Practice! Don’t listen to what other people say. Don’t go to film school!

27) Why not go to film school?

Film school is a waste of time because it’s mostly only theoretical. The film industry is a hands-on learning field so just get on set and you’ll be fine.

28) Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself creating my own films. Writer, Producer, Director, Director of Photography. I want to have found my team by that time. There’s a lot more but I’ll keep that secret for now!