Q&A With Pete Villani

Expert Article

Pete Villani a third generation Italian was born New York and lived there until the age of ten when his family moved to Southern California. After leaving high school, Pete attended Fullerton College where he received an Associates Degree video production.. After attending Fullerton, Pete went on to Chapman University School of Film and Television (Known now as Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts).

While attending Chapman he won the film schools prestigious Einstein Award and Cinematographer of the year. After graduating, a film that Pete shot called “Saorse” won best short in the 2002 Method Fest independent film festival. That same year, Pete won best cinematography for a “Paplero” at the Huntington Beach Film Festival and the following year a Lexus spec spot won best commercial at the same festival. Throughout the years many film he shot have been in festivals around the world.

In 2002 Pete was accepted to attend the prestigious American Film Institute as a Cinematography Fellow. He graduated in June 2004 with his Master Degree in Cinematography. Pete loves to collaborate with others and in his career has shot documentaries, music videos, shorts, features, industrials, and commercials.

IC: Why did you get into the entertainment industry?
PV: I was always fascinating by how they make movies and love photography.

IC: How old were you when you made the decision?
PV: My mid to late twenties.

IC: What was the first project you worked on?
PV: My first project was an independent feature.

IC: Which one and who directed it? Was it a positive experience? Why or why not?
PV: The name of the project was 'Dream Parlor' and it was a positive experience. To this day I keep in touch with the DP and the producer.

IC: How did you find it?
PV: A professor at my Junior college let me know about. It was some friends of his that were doing it.

IC: What were your goals when you started?
PV: When I started I thought that I would be a camera guy at a local cable station or maybe a larger TV station. Then I thought about becoming a director when I got into the University. I never really thought about being a cinematographer.

IC: What are your future goals?
PV: To shoot big Hollywood movies.

IC: Did you go to film school?
PV: Yes I went to film schools. Besides going to community college for an associate degree in video production, I did my undergrad at Chapman University and then went on to get my MFA at the American Film Institute for cinematography.I chose the school for a certain reason. For instance, Chapman University I chose because I would be able to shoot a lot of project and the more you shoot the more you learn. I had a great mentor who basically shaped me as the shooter I am today. My choice to go to AFI was because it is the best cinematography program for me.

IC: Do you feel that you got the education you wanted from your time in school? Do you think you would have been better off going someplace else or simply just diving right into the industry?
PV: The education I got was great, although at this moment I think I may have opted out of grad school ‘cause I got more out of working with Hollywood’s top DP’s as a crew member. Some of the people I worked for (Allen Daviau ASC and Bill Pope ASC) taught me a lot and were cool to approach. Now, I had worked as a grip/electric before I went to the universities that I mentioned. And I feel that this was a pretty good base.

IC: What advice would you give to a prospective student who is applying to film school?
PV: Well the advice I would give is that get on a set and make sure this is what you want to do. I have plenty of friends from undergrad who are not doing film, they are maybe just burnt out or they figured this is not for them.This industry can be brutal on your personal life so think wisely.Also think about where you are going to school. I went to school here in Southern California where I planned to work. So my contacts are all here

IC: What are the biggest mistakes a film school student can make while in school?
PV: None, make all the mistakes you can ‘cause you won’t have the repercussions that you will have in the real world.. This is where mistake are meant to happen.

IC: What did you originally want to do in Hollywood?
PV: Be a director like everyone else.

IC: What did you do after film school? Did you have trouble finding work when you first got out?
PV: When I got out of film school I had my old contacts and my new ones I made in school. You get into networks and that is how you get work.

IC: What difficulties (if any) did you encounter in Hollywood?
PV: There are a lot of thing you need to steer through. It is competitive and people can be cut throat. Loyalty is something that is a rare commodity. Unfortunately people will do whatever it takes to get to where they want to be. I have lost good friends because of this and now have a tight network of people I can trust. The old saying is true "swimming with sharks."

IC: What did you do for a day job while looking for showbiz work?
PV: When I am not shooting I work as a union set lighting tech (728) and now I have my days as a union camera operator (600) so I will start to make the transition.

IC: When did you decide to stop working for free?
PV: I still work for free. If I believe in a project and I can financially do it, I will show up for free. A lot of time the stuff that pays poor is the best material. I had a conversation with Bill Pope ASC a couple of months ago and he said "don’t be shy to do something for free, it can come back to you."

IC: How do you choose when to work on those terms?
PV: I just shot a commercial for a director that I have been working for years. Content and timing decide if I can come out for free.

IC: What are you currently working on, and how did you arrive here?
PV: It is pilot season so I have been working on pilots and I day play on “Entourage.” I have two commercials that I am shooting in early April and am starting to prep for a feature I am shooting in July. After that I am shooting second unit on back to back features. I have some other stuff that is on the horizon and it looks like the coming months will have me shooting more commercials, shorts, and features.Arriving at this point is years of ground work. These are repeat customers that I am servicing with a few new ones added.

IC: What’s the biggest thing you depend on, on set?
PV: My crew. You are no one if you don’t have great crew and my guys are everything to me.

IC: Did someone ever try to take advantage of your inexperience in Hollywood?
PV: Sure people do it all the time. I have had people try to take contacts and jobs that I had.

IC: Did you ever come across a project or a person that looked promising, and then the whole thing blew up in your face?
PV: Yes, I am now very selective on the project I take.

a. Were there any telling signs?
PV: Disorganization is the biggest. If people don’t have there ducks in a row before they shoot, what is going to happen on set? Your movie is made in preproduction.

b. What did you do?
PV: Well once you commit you must weather the storm and it can be rough.

IC: Were you ever put in a position that you were asked to compromise your artistic integrity as a DP? What did you do?
PV: Oh yeah that’s happened. You finish the job the best you can and then decide if you want to work with that person again..

IC: Did anyone ever approach you and say they would offer you a job if you slept with them?
PV: No, but that probably doesn’t happen to men much and if it did must guys would say OK. I am married so I would have to turn down the job.

IC: What’s been the highest point of your career so far?
PV: Besides winning a few festival for best cinematography, one of the highlights was getting feedback from Bill Pope ASC (Matrix trilogy, Spiderman 2&3, etc.) on my current reel. He told me that it was great and all I need is a break to blow up.

IC: Did you ever meet someone casually at a club that wound up leading to a great job, or a major step in your career?
PV: I have met a lot of people at parties and it has led to work, but nothing huge.

IC: How would you advise people to network? (places, methods, etc.)
PV: Network takes place everywhere. Have cards and don’t be shy to talk.

IC: If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?
PV: I would have done it earlier in life.

IC: What motto do you try to live your life by?
PV: Honesty is the best policy and hard work pays off.

IC: Where’s your favorite place in Los Angeles?
PV: Wherever set is.