Cybel Martin Blog February 6th

Cybel Martin Blog February 6th 2007

Cybel Martin Introduces Herself

Greetings World and new readers! My name is Cybel Martin. I guess that I am unique, being a black female Director of Photography. However, I am also a believer of whatever it is I focus on, just grows…so don’t come here expecting me to rant and rave about how unfair the industry is to women or minorities. My bitching days are long over. This is my fifth blog, but the only one that will concentrate on my film life. I’ll detail my experiences working in Indie Film, will certainly offer many stories of what it is like to have friends far more successful than myself and will pass on any useful tips I gather along the way.

I am named after a 1961 Oscar winning film, “Sundays and Cybele”. My biggest aspiration is to be the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Cinematography. I am born and raised in New York. My parents were in advertising and my father is also a painter. Gratefully, my interest in film was encouraged. I went to University of Pennsylvania and then got my MFA at New York University. While in school, I worked on weekends and summers on music video shoots, commercials and features. I would AC on commercials and music videos and also work as a grip/electric on features. One of my best experiences was working in the repair shop at Kaufman Astoria Studios. I shot my first feature in 1998 on Super 16mm. We shot in 12 days, in over 20 locations and with over 20 principle actors. Since then, I am not easily scared by time restrictions as long as there is adequate and comprehensive pre-production.

Cybel Martin talks about her backstory

I love pre-production. Tear sheets and reference material makes me giddy.

With the exception of a 3-month stint at a small advertising agency, I have never had what people would call a “jobby job”. The upside is that lack of financial security has forced me to create opportunities out of nothing. For example, I moved to Los Angeles twice to give my career a shot of adrenaline. The final time was just after September 11th when there was literally no film work in New York. This was also around the time that reality

TV was huge. I shot a lot of “not going on the reel” shows back then. It was great to be working and paying the bills, but disappointing not to have anything I was proud to show. I like to think of myself as a purist. I think there is a 75-year-old Eastern European DP living in my head. I like to talk about old films, but I’m not that old. My favorite lenses are over 50 years old. I’m grateful and excited that filmmaking is back in, storytelling, and controversial subject matter.

Cybel Martin and what she's been up to

Last year was a very good year. I shot a great documentary about the local music scene in Charlottesville, Virginia. A place that I have grown to absolutely adore. I also shot a feature, had two films in the Tribeca Film Festival and an art exhibit of my oil paintings on 5th Avenue. Two separate friends have mentioned that I am like the juggler who spins plates on different poles and perhaps I am spinning many plates. Besides being a DP, I’m writing a book on being a freelance artist, am illustrating two children’s books, have four other blogs, started a charity, Fed Artist, am VP at a Special Events company, throw at least 4 parties per year and am also an “art coach” (guiding freelance artist towards success). Oh, and I also started acting. For me, life is a joy when I say yes to an opportunity. That’s what landed me at Wild Card Pictures and chatting up Matt Toffolo.

Cybel Martin and what this blog will be about

So, if anything, this blog will me about my adventures in spontaneity and how I manage to still stay focused on the little Gold Man.

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