Sara Mishara - Cinematographer

What is your job? How would you describe your work?

I'm a cinematographer. I'm the person on the set who is responsible for the picture and who coordinates the work of everyone on the set whose job is related to the picture. That includes the camera department, electrical and grip. I synchronize the team in order to achieve the result agreed on with the director. It’s all done in collaboration with the other departments.

What do you like most about being on the set?

The best part of it is when I have a visceral sense of an image, an emotion, and having the power to communicate it through technique.

Each person on the set has a very specific talent and when we all work together, we create magic on the set and on the screen. It is by combining our skills that we produce an amazing image. I feel very fortunate to be part of it.  

What was your favourite project?

There have been many that I liked for different reasons. Recently we finished shooting Stéphane Lafleur's film Viking. I'm doing the colour correction right now. It's the fourth film I've done with him. I've known many members of the crew for a long time: I've been working with the Key Grip and the Assistant Cameraman for more than 10 years. I love working with them! 

What excites you about working in film?

Human beings need stories and imagination, and cinema fills that need. What excites me is being able to transform something that exists in reality, emotions, into images. I'll never get tired of it! 

What would you say is the Quebec audiovisual industry's greatest strength?

We have a very strong tradition of auteur cinema here. But we do all kinds of productions: American blockbusters, television, commercials. 

Most people work on several types of projects together. It's not like in Toronto or Vancouver, where members work in silos. The quality of the work here is very high. There aren’t many places in the world where you can find such a large number and variety of high-level skills.