Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Adegbola.
Hi anthony, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
So I guess my journey into filmmaking really kicked off back in 2019. I’d just moved to New York, didn’t really know anyone, and was feeling a bit lonely and reflective about life. I remembered that as a kid, I always had a thing for cameras—my mom used to say I had an eye for it. So on a whim, I took out a loan, got myself a Sony A7 III, and from that point on, I never looked back.
At first, it was all about doing gigs, shooting portraits around Detroit, and just enjoying the process as a hobby. Then COVID hit, and I almost gave up. There were moments when I thought about selling my camera and just walking away, but I decided to give it one more shot. And that persistence paid off.
Right when I was on the verge of quitting, I got an email from MULA FILMS. They’d seen my work and invited me to shoot BTS photos on a movie set. The moment I stepped onto that set, everything changed. Photography was my first love, but filmmaking became this whole new passion. I had no formal schooling in filmmaking at all, I was a complete newbie. But I learned everything there at MULA FILMS. I soaked it all in, went from knowing absolutely nothing about making movies to eventually becoming one of the best DPs in Detroit’s independent film scene, winning awards along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
So in terms of struggles in filmmaking, honestly, one of the biggest hurdles was just learning everything from scratch. Coming from a photography background, there’s a lot that’s similar, but there’s also so much that’s different. Photography is about still images, and video is about moving pictures, and that learning curve was a real struggle for me at the start.
And then there’s the whole process of leading people, especially when you step into more of a leadership role on set. That was a whole new mountain to climb. Like I said, I started out not knowing a thing so going from just shooting a movie to actually editing a movie was another big obstacle. But now I feel confident I can edit anything that’s put in front of me. There are still learning curves here and there, but after overcoming all those obstacles, I know I can do it. It’s just part of the process, you know?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
So, I work for MULA FILMS as the Director of Photography, and my specialty really lies in camera work and, if we’re getting technical, also a bit of gaffing. What I’m probably most known for and most proud of right now is my work on “McGraw Ave” Season 3. It’s the latest project and definitely one of my best pieces of work. I loved every minute of it, even though it was a really grueling production.
What sets me apart, I think, is that I’m not afraid to get down and dirty, put in those long hours, and really push through to get things done especially when it comes to action sequences. If you check out “McGraw Ave” Season 3, it’s packed with them, and I think that really shows what I bring to the table.
What were you like growing up?
So growing up, I was actually a pretty quiet kid. I kept to myself a lot, but at the same time, I was also really outgoing in my own way. I loved going outside, playing around, riding bikes, taking pictures, and playing soccer. I did a lot of different things, even though I was kind of reserved most of the time.
But one thing about me, I was super competitive, especially on the soccer field or really in anything I did. So yeah, I was quiet, but if you brought that competitive side out of me, it was on lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ucult.tv/programs/collection-hly4b8vzhve
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thee.tonyx?igsh=MTVjeHY4dDNoYnJiNw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
