Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Waite.
Hi Matt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Matt Waite! I am a Utah cinematographer and filmmaker with a passion for surreal and unique visual imagery.
I imagine I started like many other filmmakers by recording short videos with lego sets I made from scratch with an old VHS camera and eventual early digital cameras. These videos weren’t stop motion but in fact were just my hand holding each character moving them throughout a scene with practically no edits. This evolved into making short sketches or videos with my friends using my family’s small digital camera (that barely worked).
Once I hit high school is really when I started to develop more of my true passion for filmmaking. I took every available video or production related class. Out of many of my classmates I tended to standout as more of a filmmaker type instead of a fun video sketch person, making more short films for my assignments. What really sold the vision of becoming a filmmaker though was when I submitted one of my final assignments for one of these classes into the school district film festival. My teacher Mr. Potokar who was one of the judges for the festival pulled me aside one day and told me my film was disqualified because it was too dark for the district festival but that he would have chosen my film as the best one. That sparked a massive amount of confidence in myself (instead of feeling bad I was disqualified).
After high school I served an LDS mission in the Phillippines. In 2018 I returned and began school at Utah Valley University in their film program. This is where I met one of my closest friends and film duo Jaxler Lowell. Throughout the next few years we worked closely on many projects together. Eventually the COVID pandemic hit and totally threw a wrench into school life (especially since I was a senior at the height of the quarantining and lockdowns). Once in person life resumed in a somewhat normal way I was able to complete my senior capstone as the cinematographer for the film Wishful, Sinful directed by Wyatt Garrett. After that I graduated UVU with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Cinema Productions with my emphasis being in Cinematography.
The next year was a bit of a low time because I wasn’t sure what to do. I thankfully owned a real estate media business that was doing okay so I didn’t really think about film stuff that much. I started to lose a bit of my passion. I loved making things and would record Youtube videos with cinematic filmic visuals trying constantly to improve my skills but not knowing if I would actually work on another film with a crew of people.
One day in early 2023 I was messaged by Jackson Hall who was in the same graduating class as me at UVU. I was somewhat friends with him but didn’t know him very well since I only became his friend during my last semester of my senior year. He reached out to me and told me he had a feature film script and wanted me to be the cinematographer. I was in shock since I hadn’t really talked to many of my fellow classmates since I graduated about a year earlier. However, this ignited a bit of a new spark in me so I accepted. The film was called On The House and choosing to work on the film would become one of the best decisions of my life.
I was nervous that I wouldn’t like working on set like I used to. I was afraid I couldn’t shoot an entire feature film especially with having not shot any big project for a year. Jackson believed in me and said I was one of the only people that came to mind for cinematographers he would want which definitely boosted my confidence.
So we shot the film. I was able to bring my cinematic duo Jaxler onto the project as well to help support me in areas I was weaker. What occurred over that 15 day shoot was the biggest resurgence of passion for filmmaking that I never thought would come back. I began to remember all the small little things about cinematography and filmmaking that made me fall in love with it in the first place. The first feature film I ever DP’d (short for Director of Photography AKA Cinematographer) brought back such passion in me that I began to actively ask some friends I still knew in the program at UVU if they needed help with their capstones. From that point I was finding myself working on set every month on decently big projects (for the time) making friends and building connections.
Over the next year I would work with Jaxler (who had taken time off of school during COVID and had just resumed attending UVU a few months prior) on many senior capstones as Key Grips and Gaffer (who are in charge of lighting). Some of which include Daxon Geldemacher’s A Grinning Mouth, A Gaping Wound, Taylor Bateman’s It’s Not My Fault, and Ethan Hawkins’ Animal.
During this time Jaxler was asked to be the cinematographer for another feature film called The Flower of Valois in which he asked me to be the Gaffer as well as 1st AC (Focus Puller).
Near the end of capstone season Jaxler and I decided to create our own big project that we could be in charge of as Co-Directors and Co-Cinematographers. Over the next few months and into the summer I was able to create the horror film Procession. This was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done since I essentially had to put on so many hats for one of the biggest projects I’ve ever been apart of. From co-writing the script, producing and fundraising for the film, planning the lighting designs, shot-list, casting, lighting and camera tests, being the lead actor of the film, and eventually co-directing and being the co-cinematographer. The film is still in the post productions process (I am the editor, colorist, sound designer, and composer) but it is in the final stages and is expected to be released this year!
Since then I’ve been able to work on more projects than most people my age or depth in the industry. With 2 feature films, 20+ short films, and who knows how many commercial and corporate film work. At this point I have been able to refine my talents in a much more accelerated way then most who occupy similar depth (in the industry) to me.
Recently I was able to DP a film that has been one of the best things I believe I have done so far. A friend of mine named Zealand Despain one day reached out to me and asked me to be the cinematographer for his capstone film called Vargr’s Saga. Vargr’s Saga is a dark and mystical viking revenge story that instantly caught my attention. Over the next few weeks I was able to craft a visual look for the film that to me felt “next level.” Then we shot the film.
Never in my life if you would have shown younger me stills from Vargr’s Saga would I have believed I was capable of crafting such beautiful images. This film is me at my current peak cinematically and I highly encourage everyone to go to the UVU Capstone Showcase that is being held in April of this year!
As of recent it was announced by the Utah International Film Festival that On The House (the first feature film I DP’d) was selected for their festival which is incredibly thrilling! I’m super excited to see if we are able to win any awards this upcoming January 11th.
Beyond that I have goals and dreams cinematically that might take a few years to realize. I’ve just written a great psychological horror short that will definitely take everyone by surprise. I’m also in the process of writing my first ever feature script that will definitely take me multiple years to complete. It is a story that I believe no one has ever attempted (I’ve looked everywhere and haven’t seen a single film that comes close). All I can say about it right now is that if I am able to see the story through in the way It is being written, then anybody who eventually sees the film will never ever forget it.
Anyways that’s my story, or at least the gist of it. I’m looking forward to 2025 and all that it will bring!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In general I think so but it can be hard to tell. I think more than anything the biggest struggle is finding work. Finding people who want to hire you, and not just hire you once. It is a never ending grind to live. It creates this level of financial insecurity that can be incredibly difficult to live with. Some months you don’t know if you’ll have enough work to pay rent and that can be really mentally challenging.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a cinematographer, which means I create stories through visual imagery in film.
I have a specialized skill in dark, surreal, and stylized lighting. I tend to create very intense and unforgettable visual images that become so otherworldly or unique that audiences can’t help but remember the experience of it.
I’m most proud of my ability to intuitively understand how light works. I am very lucky that I have worked on more projects than most in my category and this has given me a bit of an edge when it comes to my visual understanding of lighting and the language of cinematography.
What sets me apart from others is my willingness to create things that are bold. One of the biggest things I hate is when creatives play things safe. I want to see things that push the boundaries and standards of film. You would be surprised at how many “safe” filmmakers there are here in Utah. They aren’t bad but for some reason many just don’t feel the need to create something distinguishing. Everything I make or create I do so with the intent of having a boldness that stands out from the rest. I think those who see my projects or other creations would agree that I want to make something that nobody even considered possible. I strive to create emotional dissonance within a viewer and give them an experience that (even if they don’t like) they can’t forget.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The only advice I can give is the only advice I think anyone in my industry can give. Just make things. Make them by yourself, then make them with friends. Invite others to work on the things you make. Look up people in the industry and tell them you want to work on their projects. You just have to keep doing it. Keep making things, keep reaching out to other filmmakers, and keep holding on for dear life because the road is not easy.
It’s like you’re blindfolded and somebody says to walk straight and eventually you’ll find success. Sounds easy enough. Except after you start to walk you realize you have no idea how far away success is, or if you’re even walking the right direction. All you know is some people have reached that success in 1 year, some in 2-3 years, some in 5-10 years, and some not at all. You start to ask out loud into the space in front of you how long you need to walk for and the only response you ever get back is “Just keep walking.”
It is incredibly frustrating as the person trying to get deeper into the industry but after awhile you do get a little deeper and you’ll look back and realize that all you needed to do was just keep going, meet people, build friendships, and do it all over again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mwcinematography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattwa_97/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@understandingcinema
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15379511/?ref_=fn_al_nm_11
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