Our lives might not make to the small screen or even the silver screen but local girl Elizabeth Ribeiro followed her passion for the film industry all the way to the Big Apple.
Ribeiro is a cinematographer and camera assistant and currently lives and works in New York,
There, she has been part of several productions that have that garnered fans across the world. Hoping to inspire and motivate, the 23-year-old shared with Northcliff Melville Times her journey to the States and how she hopes to impact the industry she loves in her home country.
The Roosevelt Park resident matriculated from De La Salle Holy Cross College about five years ago and made friends for life there. “I was a part of just about every extramural possible. I loved playing netball, and have some incredible memories of going on tour and learning how to be in a team,” she said, adding that being part of school plays and rehearsals made her build friendships with different people while developing fun characters together.
Although she had wanted to be an actress since she was little girl, her destiny had another plan for her, after she didn’t get into the Theatre and Performance programme at the University of Cape Town, which devastated her. She learned later that the institution had a Film and Television Production course which she quickly applied for and realised this was what she was meant to do.
“Looking back it was a blessing in disguise.” She realised that she had a passion for cinematography and knew she had to learn more about it. That is when she went overseas to do a one-year cinematography conservatory at the New York Film Academy.
Ribeiro is inspired by many in her industry, and locally her inspiration comes from Motheo Modaguru, a cinematographer she cites as doing utterly exquisite work. American born Reed Morano is another of her inspirers who she said led the way for women in the camera department “Her work is stunning and the way she talks about balancing her career as well as having a family is something I look up to.”
She has lived in New York City for about a year and said she first was enchanted by the city’s ‘electricity’. “This electricity is what keeps me here, the way that the city is a mixing pot of cultures, creates an energy of passion and determination because to some extent everyone is living their dream. In all honestly, it’s not always the easiest place to be, it can be lonely at times and people move in and out the city a lot but that is also what makes it so special.”
Due to the global pandemic, her industry has had to adapt which means she had to adapt too. “Producers are constantly trying to cut crews down to as few people as possible, to decrease the number of people on set. This includes the camera team.”
Soon she will be back home, with a wealth of knowledge and more to give to her country. “Specifically, my plan is to set up workshops specifically aimed at training people to be a part of the camera department.”
She hopes to be able to share the things she has learnt with people who would otherwise not have the chance to get on set.
