Mary Rose is a visual artist who moved from the Philippines to the small town of Steinbach at the age of 7, where she retreated into books and movies, storytelling to learn the English language and diving into other forms of art such as poetry, painting, and photography. After moving to Winnipeg at 18, she hosted art shows around the city with fellow Fine Arts classmates and created an art collective together, and received a BFA from the School of Art. She unexpectedly joined the film industry after graduating. With a love for stories and all mediums of art, she found a home in the film industry.
When and how did you start in the media production industry?
I was just taking photos around the city for fun. Through that, I met people and companies throughout Winnipeg who wanted to work together and began doing freelance photography and videography. During my last year of university at my internship in Creative Manitoba, I met Adam Smoluk (FTM) who informed and encouraged me that it was possible to join the film industry. Then, through my freelance work, I was recommended to the International Cinematographer’s Guild Local 669 in the summer of 2021. I received a call asking to work on a few feature films that summer where I immediately loved the fast-paced set life and camera department. I have been working since and received my membership.
What area of the film industry do you work in now and why?
I currently work in the Camera Department as a 2nd Assistant Camera, which I’m so excited about every day, being able to work in this position and work closely with, and learn from, incredible cinematographers, camera operators, directors, and actors around the world.
I’ve always had a love for cameras and photography, which evolved into movies. It felt like a natural progression for me. I was constantly watching YouTube videos on how movies were made. I found out that being a Cinematographer was a job that encapsulated so many of my interests into one. I love shaping lights and creating frames in photography. It excites me even more in the form of films.
What has been a substantial change in the industry since you started?
When I started, I was one of four working women in the Winnipeg camera department. While I was a trainee, I had other women on set tell me that it motivated them to apply, which I encouraged. We now have significantly more women camera trainees, which is amazing to see!
If you could give yourself advice today to yourself in the past, what would it be?
To keep making my own stuff, to not be afraid to be seen.
What advice would you give to someone starting off in the media production industry?
Always be curious and never stop trying to learn. There is always so much more to know about the equipment and people around you. It is such a special industry where you get to meet people from all walks of life. Don’t be afraid to ask questions from the people in positions above yours, especially for help. Be humble and never pretend to know what you don’t, especially if it includes safety.
Why is learning and training important?
Being a sponge in this industry makes the work day even richer. It is such a collaborative, fast-paced industry. It helps every department when you take the time to know what you are doing and how every department works together to achieve one goal.
While I was a trainee and in my current position, I realized that both have been training me with the necessary tools and knowledge to become the filmmaker and person I want to be, and the confidence I need to make more of my own films.
What are some of the films, TV series or even books that have inspired you? How about anything new you’ve been into?
Some of my favourites are:
In The Mood For Love (2000) by Wong Kar Wai
A Ghost Story (2017) by David Lowery
Paris, Texas (1984) by Wim Wenders
Le Bonheur (1965) by Agnes Varda
The Red Shoes (1948) by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Mirror (1975) by Andrei Tarkovsky
Something new: The Color of Pomegranates (1969) by Sergei Parajanov, and a poetry book titled Sleep by Amelia Rosselli, and Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D.
Is there something about you or an interesting past experience that you’d like to share with your colleagues?
One of my favourite past experiences is being part of the photography collective that was called From Here And Away. It was started by Joseph Visser, who invited myself and some mutual photographer friends to join. Together, we harvested community within the photography world in Winnipeg. I got to teach a Creative Portraits workshop with my friend, Ali, at our space in the Forks.
FH&A also hosted photography hikes, camping trips, editing workshops, and a space on the second floor of The Forks, where people could just drop in anytime and have a creative space to work with other artists and/or visit and meet people. This has always been such an important period of my life, and it shares my love for the film industry because I was always surrounded by what makes me excited and how I wanted to live my life: creating art and experiencing nature with a community, and meeting and making new friends. We constantly learned from and showed up for each other and our work. I got to meet so many amazing people through it.
Is there someone within the film industry you would like to work with and why?
Any director who also operates the camera or doubles as a cinematographer. I realized recently that it’s what I would like to do. Also, maybe write with Celine Song or Joachim Trier.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Hopefully, I will have made at least one or two movies that I have been writing screenplays for with the friends I’ve made in this industry.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.