Life & Work with Emily Belleranti

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Belleranti.

Emily, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was about 14, I developed a serious interest in movies, especially art house/world cinema and silent films. I also studied photography as a teenager. When I was about 15, I took a basic studio lighting class. I remember being skeptical at first because I wasn’t even aware that there was such a thing as “lighting” for movies.

I think many people never even consider that anyone designs the lighting for a movie scene. But the class made a major impression on me. I was immediately drawn to the artistic contribution that lighting makes to a film, and I decided not long after that movie lighting was what I wanted to do for a career.

It took me a while to figure out what career opportunities were even available in lighting. When I was 18, I took a basic grip and electric course which was offered by the (now defunct) IATSE 485 local, the Arizona union representing film technicians.

The courses were held at an equipment rental house, and when I arrived for the class, the owner of the rental house took one look at me and told me I could never do this job, because, in his words, “a coil of 4/O (super heavy electrical cable) weighs more than you do.” This was probably the first taste I got of the sexism that was and still is prevalent in the film industry. Even though there are more women working in technical positions in film production today, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that 90-95% percent of people who do what I do are men.

I made some great contacts during the IATSE training class, but it took me several years to get to the point where I felt like I could make enough money doing only lighting work to be able to pay my bills. Film production isn’t an easy business to break into, and it can be especially unstable in the beginning. But I kept working to make contacts and build a reputation.

In 2014, I became involved with Monsoon Production Services, which is the major production services and equipment rental company in Southern Arizona. I’m not an employee with Monsoon, but I work with them closely as an independent contractor.

Today, I work in a variety of jobs: commercials, television, movies, etc. as an electrician, best boy electric, or gaffer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve certainly faced prejudice due to my age and gender, although this has become less of an issue as I’ve made more contacts. Today, it’s rare for me to work on a project where I wasn’t referred by someone I’ve worked with previously, and I usually work with people whom I’ve already worked with before, and therefore they know my capabilities.

One of the biggest challenges facing independent contractors in film production is that you really are your own. You don’t have sick leave, you have to pay for your own health insurance (if you can afford it), and you don’t have an employer-sponsored retirement fund. If a company doesn’t pay you, it’s up to you to go after them to collect.

This business can be very unpredictable, and it can be difficult to make plans because work schedules often change at the last minute. I usually don’t know when I will be starting work until the day before, and I almost never know when my workday will end. Jobs come up or get canceled at the last minute, which means you often have to shape the rest of your life around your job.

This can be especially difficult for family members.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an electrician and gaffer, and I do lighting for movies, television, and commercials. I work with the director of photography and the lighting department on a film set.

Overall, I think I am most proud of having persisted in spite of many people who told me that I couldn’t do this job as a woman, or because the film industry had dried up in Arizona and there wasn’t enough work. I am also proud of having served as a mentor for other young people, especially women.

When I was first starting out, I had a couple of mentors, but there was one person in particular who gave me a lot of opportunities and taught me a lot about the job. I would like to give some of that back to succeeding generations.