Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunny Lee.
Sunny, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was the son of immigrant parents who encouraged me to pursue my passions. Growing up, I made short films with my brother and friends as often as I could. I had always loved the magic of motion pictures. In high school, I interned with Sandra W. Bradley, an award-winning documentary filmmaker in Potomac, MD. Sandy taught me a great deal about filmmaking and really encouraged me to pursue my dream.
I earned a cinema degree from the University of Southern California and afterwards started working as a grip for other cinematographers. I have always had a passion for cinematography and working in the grip department felt like a natural progression to learn the nuances of lighting and camera movement.
Although I had success as a Key Grip in Los Angeles, my wife and I moved to Atlanta searching for more growth opportunities. In Atlanta, I continued grip work on shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Prisoners and The Walking Dead.
During that time, I was also pursuing cinematography work. I made ends meet with grip work while shooting as much as I could on other projects. Soon, I was able to join the camera union and began to shoot second unit on union TV shows. Gradually, my work as a Cinematographer overtook my work as Key Grip and I am now a full-time Director of Photography based out of Atlanta, GA. Currently, I am shooting a show called Dead Silent for the Investigation Discovery Channel.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A Cinematographer or “Director of Photography” as it is also called, is the one responsible for the camera and lighting of a motion picture. One of the positions working under the cinematographer is the Key Grip. The Key Grip is in charge of orchestrating the camera movement and also controlling and shaping the lighting.
Transitioning from the grip department to a Director of Photography is difficult. In the film industry, there are not many career moves between departments. In most cases, switching departments means starting over and taking a pay cut in order to move up the ranks. Despite the challenge, I was determined to make that jump.
Often, I would work 70 hours as a Key Grip during the week then work as a DP on the weekends. Some weeks I would wrap my Key Grip job Saturday morning and have to be on set as a DP a few hours later.
With a wife and two daughters, the success of my Key Grip career offered the financial stability I desired but it was not enough. With the support of my wife and family, I kept pursuing the career of the cinematographer.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a Cinematographer in motion pictures, both television and features. My particular experience and path have given me a unique knowledge of lighting. I also have had the opportunity to work with many other cinematographers. From these relationships, I have had the benefit of learning their visions and acquiring techniques to add to my own repertoire.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
In 2006, my wife and I moved to Atlanta, looking for more opportunities. With the hope of building some capital, we worked together to build three custom spec homes. The plan was to use this capital to make documentaries and or at the very least have an enough money to keep pursuing a career. Unfortunately, those homes were completed in 2008, at the height of the housing crash. We were in trouble to say the least.
Our plan was to move back to Los Angeles to continue working in the film industry. We have family in Atlanta and did not want to leave. I remember saying that Hollywood would have to move to Atlanta for us to stay. Luckily, because of Georgia’s new film industry tax credit incentives, Hollywood did move to Atlanta. We were afforded the opportunity to stay in Atlanta, work in film and stay closer to family.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SunnyLeeDP.com
- Email: SunnyLeeDP@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mmaker12
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