MEET OUR CINEMATOGRAPHER

Celeste Yumara Barbosa, Director of Photography

Celeste is a cinematographer who was raised in the San Fernando Valley. She has been working on sets for a decade, with projects ranging from commercial work to narrative shorts, feature documentaries, film essays, and music videos. Her latest film, “Eclipse,” a short she made with her sibling about her abuela’s goat farm in the valley, premiered at BAMPFA and won the Eisner Award in 2023.

THE INTERVIEW

Talking Cinematography with Celeste

In this conversation, we sat with Celeste to ask about her work on Niki•Tomi•Beto. She shared how she was brought on to the project and some of the challenges and exciting moments she faced while making the film.

We asked her what inspired her to shoot the film the way she did and what she does when she isn’t filming. Plus, read through for a special surprise at the end of this newsletter. Check out Celeste’s interview now! 🚀

At what point were you brought on to the project? How early on were you trying to create a "look" for the film?

“I was brought on in February of 2024, we began pre-production pretty quickly after that. The look was something I had started thinking about when I first read the script. I was on a plane, I remember reading the scene with the boys sitting on the living room floor looking at the crow. That scene was fun to think about. Also, the cave scene before we knew it was the cave scene. That one got me excited, too.”

What aspects of being the Director of Photography were the most challenging while working on this film?

“It would probably have been the time constraints. Of all things, I cherished every second I had to be shooting, working with the cast and crew.”

What was exciting about working on NTB? Were there any firsts for you?

“I was excited every step of the way. The rig we pulled off in the cave was probably the most exciting first for me. That and working with the Alexa 35. Those were some amazing firsts.”

What are you excited for audiences to experience once the film is released?

“I’m thrilled to get people in the cave with us. That place was special to me, and I’m so excited to share that weathered rock and magical space with everyone.”

Were there any initial ideas you had for the film that were scrapped, but were hard to part with?

“We had this camera pulley rig planned, once in the cave, it would descend through one of the holes at the top. Fun in theory, but maybe not so much in practicality. We had the greatest team of grips hiking in all the sandbags and rigging gear. It was a lot to ask. In the end, we got a couple of good shots out of it!”

Which scene in this film do you think best encapsulates your work?

“That’s a tough one, but maybe the cave? I'm currently drawn to a color palette with browns and reds. I've always loved finding the light in a natural landscape. It was even sweeter to shape it there on the day we had with our team, enhancing those light beams and creating a nice floor bounce on Tlazolteotl.”

What's your favorite scene in the film as a viewer?

“The sibling dance party in the living room. There is such a great feeling to that scene. Reminds me of my siblings.”

What films do you typically watch for inspiration, and which ones influenced you for this film?

“I'm usually watching films older than me. They have a feeling I find has not been replicated in a while. For this one, I remember watching 90s films that felt in sync with our look references, The Florida Project and Ya no Estoy Aqui.”

How did your job evolve throughout the film? What do your days look like on set vs after all the filming is complete?

“It felt like the evolution of my job was just Jon including me in a lot of the pre- and post-production and holding value for my opinions throughout. It was adrenaline. It was dopamine, and a great time with friends, that's how I remember it. A healing week with a crew of the sweetest people I've met. We would start the day with a safety meeting, shoot, break for lunch, and back to shooting for another 4-6 hours. Once we wrapped, I went back to working on a documentary. Back home, I shot some B-roll with a tarantula and more footage in the cave. Shortly after that, we went straight into color, and I worked with Jon and Darren to make sure everything looked the way we had planned.”

What do you do when you’re not filming?

“When I'm not hanging out on sets, I'm making ceramic wear! :)”

▶ Read past newsletters HERE!

OUR GIFT TO YOU

THE WAIT IS OVER!

Watch the trailer now!

Here it is! The long-awaited first trailer to our film, just in time for summer and a new festival season! Wish us luck!

Spread the word, make the NTB fam bigger!