1. First of all , your flight to suceed as a cinematographer is well known and you have suceeded too. What was your debut work and who was your inspiration ?
I did my first work when I was in my second year of college i.e, by 2007 and it was just with my digital camera. I seriously started as a cinematographer after getting my DSLR and worked with Ganesh for 536 and I am still cannot be said that i have succeeded as cinematographer and i have many cinematographers like santhosh sivan, nirav sha and etc as my inspirations .
"when you love a profession, you won't think much on the difficulties.. "
2. Why are you not enrolling into film industry as a cinematographer / assistant cinematographer ? Why do you take part in cinematography in free time ?
I still have some plans in entering a cine industry.. but as u all know, its not easy.. I have to be professionally strong in technical aspects to enter cine industry which i am lagging now.. and I am not sure still.. I might be doing course on cinematography later and might enter into the industry as well.. but I am not sure about it now..!! for now i am happy with working as cinematographer for some good short films.
From my point of view, being a cinematographer is more difficult than a photographer.. Camera movements have to be carefully noticed when I am doing cinematography whereas I can fix a frame and click for photography.. Fixing frames and deciding on the movement of camera on cinematography, working on exposure settings are the difficult parts,, but when u love a profession, you wont think much on the difficulties.. I just love working on cinematography and photography..!!
4. What's your view on "Everyone can become a photographer if they have high-tech camera and equips"
I cannot go with that statement.. If its the case, any one who own a high tech camera will be a photographer and the ones with normal digital cameras will not be a photographer. According to me apart from the equipment, the INTEREST and PASSION towards it will make them successful in that field.
"We had to work in hot sun through out the day which were really tiring"
5. For which kind of critic , do you get annoyed..
I don't get angry for any of the critiques of my work.. I would love to get critiques for my work rather than appreciation so that i can work on my negatives and try to make it positive which will improve my quality and work..
My experience with 536 was awesome.. I had to do some home work for it because i had to keep learning things in my camera.. It was my first movie with DSLR.. so i had to know lots of things about exposure setting and stuff.. I had little trouble with that but later i started learning things with experience.. Ganesh and team was really supporting.. If there was some prob with my work, he never get angry and will directly go for another shot.. which made me more comfortable in the group.. And i have to tel thanks to Ganesh for tat..
7. What's the memorable day/incident in being as a cinematographer / photographer ?
I cannot just tell one single day.. Because each day which we worked for 536 was memorable.. We had to work in hot sun through out the day which were really tiring and after each day, we used to forget the pain when we see the shots.. All the pain was converted into pleasure once the movie was well received by the audience.. Then a single day shoot for Ramasamy was also a memorable day which was a fun day actually..
I dont think so because people with talents has to reach forward so that their talents can be recognized. They cannot just think that people will recognize their talent and come to them..
9. What's your advice / guidelines to budding cinematographers and film makers ?
I am not such a big guy to give advice and guidelines to budding cinematographers.. Afterall, even I am a budding cinematographer..
Special mention -
CDTV is a good innovative work which is being carried out which brings out the ideas of various good film makers.. Its really helpful for the budding film makers to get ideas and carry out their work..
Cinematographer K.B Prabu was interviewed on 12/01/2011.