Shane Hurlbut on the True Secret to a Professional Film Career
Nov 4, 2025
By Shane Hurlbut, ASC
I’m often asked how I made the leap from driving a grip truck to becoming an ASC cinematographer. The answer is never simple, but it always boils down to two things: a relentless work ethic and the guidance of incredible mentors.
It’s tempting to believe that we can reach our full potential alone. In the digital age, we have endless tutorials at our fingertips. But all the technical knowledge in the world can't replace the wisdom, perspective, and support of a true mentorship. I’m living proof of that. My career was forged by the people who took a chance on me, who pushed me, and who showed me not just how to do something, but why.
In an industry that is evolving faster than ever, with shrinking budgets and new technology emerging daily, continuous, guided education is essential for survival.
More from Shane Hurlbut, ASC for cinematographers and do-it-all filmmakers: |
WE ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF OUR MENTORS
Mentors don't always come in the form of a famous DP. My first and most profound mentor was my father. He was a baseball player called up to the Boston Red Sox — the big show. But just before his debut, his father passed away, and he was faced with an impossible choice: his dream, or his family. He gave up his baseball career to go run the family farm. As a kid, that lesson in loyalty and work ethic was ingrained in me. It became the foundation of my entire career.
As I started working my way up, my mentors became the masters whose work I studied from afar, like Roger Deakins, ASC. When I was a gaffer, I would obsessively watch his films with the Coen Brothers, like Barton Fink, trying to deconstruct how he used light and composition to convey such powerful emotion.
Then, I had the mentors I was lucky enough to work for directly. Daniel Pearl, ASC, showed me how to be bold, to take chances, and to push the limits of what was possible on music videos. Joseph Yacoe taught me how to light for beauty, taking me around the world as a hybrid gaffer/key grip. The legendary photographer Herb Ritts, who hired me as his lighting director, taught me how to sculpt the human form with shadow and, crucially, how to interact with talent.
And then there was Kevin Kerslake, my "experimental mentor." He was a mad scientist who taught me to be fearless with photochemical processes — pushing film, pulling it, bleach bypassing, dragging it down driveways... you name it. The techniques I learned with him, like the "Oz process" (a silver retention method), became part of my signature look on films like Terminator Salvation.
FAILURE, MENTORSHIP, AND THE “SPECIAL SAUCE”
These mentors didn't just teach me what worked. They gave me the confidence to fail.
This is the biggest takeaway about mentorship: failure is not failing. Failure is the only way to get pushed out of your comfort zone. If you stay comfortable, you'll stay with what you know, and you will never innovate. My mentors taught me to try new things, to push the boundaries, and to see a "failed" experiment not as a loss, but as a new technique — a "special sauce" I could save for a future project.
A perfect example is when I used the HDR function on a RED camera for the film A Casa Tutti Bene (There’s No Place Like Home). I was trying to hold the detail in a bright ferry window, but it created weird artifacting whenever an actor moved. We had to scrap the HDR track. But I filed that "failure" away.
Lighting Schematic of ‘Cinco de Mayo’ scene in Holidate
Later, on the Netflix film Holidate, I had a scene where the characters get blitzed on tequila. I thought, "What if I use that HDR artifacting on purpose to create a disoriented, drunk feeling?" We did, and the result was a unique, creative, and successful sequence. I would have never found that "special sauce" if my mentors hadn't first given me the courage to fail.
THE FILMMAKERS ACADEMY ADVANTAGE: MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
This is why we built Filmmakers Academy. I was incredibly fortunate to have the mentors I did, but I believe that this level of guidance and education shouldn't be left to chance. It shouldn't depend on who you know or what city you live in. With the help of my wife and soulmate, Lydia, we created Filmmakers Academy to democratize filmmaking education and make professional mentorship accessible to everyone.
We are a comprehensive learning ecosystem designed to replicate that mentorship experience. It’s not just about the "what" — it's about the "why." It's about providing the practical, hands-on knowledge you need to build a career, not just to learn a piece of gear.
MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
We’re all about a living ecosystem designed to replicate that on-set mentorship. In fact, it’s how I build my own teams. When possible, I like to hire directly from our community.
FROM COMMUNITY MAP TO ON-SET CREW
One of the places I like to look when hiring for a project is our Filmmakers Academy shadow member community. This is the pool of filmmakers that I have been mentoring — some for years. So, back in 2020, as I was prepping the pilot for Resident Alien in Vancouver, I realized I had to build a new crew. I needed a solid gimbal tech, so I scanned our platform and discovered Mark Miller, an FA member whose profile showed a deep passion for gimbals, drones, and car rigs. He seemed like the perfect candidate.
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
I reached out to Mark immediately. On set, I challenged him, pushing him far out of his comfort zone with equipment that was new to him, like the Antigravity rig and the MōVI XL. He later told me he felt "completely underwater." But he rose to the occasion. He embraced the challenge, did the research, and delivered excellence.
FROM SHADOW MEMBER TO “MONEY SHOT”
My mentorship style on set is direct and honest. When Mark made a misstep, we worked through it. When he nailed a complex shot — a "oner" handoff from a crane to a handheld MōVI through a narrow doorway, with only 15 minutes to pull it off — I told him how awesome it was. That's the day he earned the nickname "Money Shot Miller."
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
Because of that trust and his proven work ethic, guess who was one of the first people I called for my next Netflix film, Love Hard? Money Shot Miller.
This time, I challenged him again with the Ronin 2 and the DGI wheels. He prepared tirelessly, calling my other operators to get the intel, and nailed an elaborate 3.5-minute oner on Day 1. Mark is the perfect example of our philosophy. As he put it, "Watching Filmmakers Academy’s videos gave me the confidence and knowledge to tackle projects I would normally pass up."
That’s the entire process in action: learn the craft on our platform, prove your dedication in our community, and get a real-world opportunity.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
In an industry that is changing faster than ever, with the rise of AI and new technologies, the need to be a "Swiss Army Filmmaker" — proficient in more than one area — is crucial. Your success will be defined by your commitment to continuous learning.
Don't just wait for a lucky break. Invest in your craft, find your mentors, and join a community that will support you every step of the way.
By Shane Hurlbut, ASC
I’m often asked how I made the leap from driving a grip truck to becoming an ASC cinematographer. The answer is never simple, but it always boils down to two things: a relentless work ethic and the guidance of incredible mentors.
It’s tempting to believe that we can reach our full potential alone. In the digital age, we have endless tutorials at our fingertips. But all the technical knowledge in the world can't replace the wisdom, perspective, and support of a true mentorship. I’m living proof of that. My career was forged by the people who took a chance on me, who pushed me, and who showed me not just how to do something, but why.
In an industry that is evolving faster than ever, with shrinking budgets and new technology emerging daily, continuous, guided education is essential for survival.
More from Shane Hurlbut, ASC for cinematographers and do-it-all filmmakers: |
WE ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF OUR MENTORS
Mentors don't always come in the form of a famous DP. My first and most profound mentor was my father. He was a baseball player called up to the Boston Red Sox — the big show. But just before his debut, his father passed away, and he was faced with an impossible choice: his dream, or his family. He gave up his baseball career to go run the family farm. As a kid, that lesson in loyalty and work ethic was ingrained in me. It became the foundation of my entire career.
As I started working my way up, my mentors became the masters whose work I studied from afar, like Roger Deakins, ASC. When I was a gaffer, I would obsessively watch his films with the Coen Brothers, like Barton Fink, trying to deconstruct how he used light and composition to convey such powerful emotion.
Then, I had the mentors I was lucky enough to work for directly. Daniel Pearl, ASC, showed me how to be bold, to take chances, and to push the limits of what was possible on music videos. Joseph Yacoe taught me how to light for beauty, taking me around the world as a hybrid gaffer/key grip. The legendary photographer Herb Ritts, who hired me as his lighting director, taught me how to sculpt the human form with shadow and, crucially, how to interact with talent.
And then there was Kevin Kerslake, my "experimental mentor." He was a mad scientist who taught me to be fearless with photochemical processes — pushing film, pulling it, bleach bypassing, dragging it down driveways... you name it. The techniques I learned with him, like the "Oz process" (a silver retention method), became part of my signature look on films like Terminator Salvation.
FAILURE, MENTORSHIP, AND THE “SPECIAL SAUCE”
These mentors didn't just teach me what worked. They gave me the confidence to fail.
This is the biggest takeaway about mentorship: failure is not failing. Failure is the only way to get pushed out of your comfort zone. If you stay comfortable, you'll stay with what you know, and you will never innovate. My mentors taught me to try new things, to push the boundaries, and to see a "failed" experiment not as a loss, but as a new technique — a "special sauce" I could save for a future project.
A perfect example is when I used the HDR function on a RED camera for the film A Casa Tutti Bene (There’s No Place Like Home). I was trying to hold the detail in a bright ferry window, but it created weird artifacting whenever an actor moved. We had to scrap the HDR track. But I filed that "failure" away.
Lighting Schematic of ‘Cinco de Mayo’ scene in Holidate
Later, on the Netflix film Holidate, I had a scene where the characters get blitzed on tequila. I thought, "What if I use that HDR artifacting on purpose to create a disoriented, drunk feeling?" We did, and the result was a unique, creative, and successful sequence. I would have never found that "special sauce" if my mentors hadn't first given me the courage to fail.
THE FILMMAKERS ACADEMY ADVANTAGE: MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
This is why we built Filmmakers Academy. I was incredibly fortunate to have the mentors I did, but I believe that this level of guidance and education shouldn't be left to chance. It shouldn't depend on who you know or what city you live in. With the help of my wife and soulmate, Lydia, we created Filmmakers Academy to democratize filmmaking education and make professional mentorship accessible to everyone.
We are a comprehensive learning ecosystem designed to replicate that mentorship experience. It’s not just about the "what" — it's about the "why." It's about providing the practical, hands-on knowledge you need to build a career, not just to learn a piece of gear.
MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
We’re all about a living ecosystem designed to replicate that on-set mentorship. In fact, it’s how I build my own teams. When possible, I like to hire directly from our community.
FROM COMMUNITY MAP TO ON-SET CREW
One of the places I like to look when hiring for a project is our Filmmakers Academy shadow member community. This is the pool of filmmakers that I have been mentoring — some for years. So, back in 2020, as I was prepping the pilot for Resident Alien in Vancouver, I realized I had to build a new crew. I needed a solid gimbal tech, so I scanned our platform and discovered Mark Miller, an FA member whose profile showed a deep passion for gimbals, drones, and car rigs. He seemed like the perfect candidate.
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
I reached out to Mark immediately. On set, I challenged him, pushing him far out of his comfort zone with equipment that was new to him, like the Antigravity rig and the MōVI XL. He later told me he felt "completely underwater." But he rose to the occasion. He embraced the challenge, did the research, and delivered excellence.
FROM SHADOW MEMBER TO “MONEY SHOT”
My mentorship style on set is direct and honest. When Mark made a misstep, we worked through it. When he nailed a complex shot — a "oner" handoff from a crane to a handheld MōVI through a narrow doorway, with only 15 minutes to pull it off — I told him how awesome it was. That's the day he earned the nickname "Money Shot Miller."
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
Because of that trust and his proven work ethic, guess who was one of the first people I called for my next Netflix film, Love Hard? Money Shot Miller.
This time, I challenged him again with the Ronin 2 and the DGI wheels. He prepared tirelessly, calling my other operators to get the intel, and nailed an elaborate 3.5-minute oner on Day 1. Mark is the perfect example of our philosophy. As he put it, "Watching Filmmakers Academy’s videos gave me the confidence and knowledge to tackle projects I would normally pass up."
That’s the entire process in action: learn the craft on our platform, prove your dedication in our community, and get a real-world opportunity.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
In an industry that is changing faster than ever, with the rise of AI and new technologies, the need to be a "Swiss Army Filmmaker" — proficient in more than one area — is crucial. Your success will be defined by your commitment to continuous learning.
Don't just wait for a lucky break. Invest in your craft, find your mentors, and join a community that will support you every step of the way.
By Shane Hurlbut, ASC
I’m often asked how I made the leap from driving a grip truck to becoming an ASC cinematographer. The answer is never simple, but it always boils down to two things: a relentless work ethic and the guidance of incredible mentors.
It’s tempting to believe that we can reach our full potential alone. In the digital age, we have endless tutorials at our fingertips. But all the technical knowledge in the world can't replace the wisdom, perspective, and support of a true mentorship. I’m living proof of that. My career was forged by the people who took a chance on me, who pushed me, and who showed me not just how to do something, but why.
In an industry that is evolving faster than ever, with shrinking budgets and new technology emerging daily, continuous, guided education is essential for survival.
More from Shane Hurlbut, ASC for cinematographers and do-it-all filmmakers: |
WE ARE ALL A PRODUCT OF OUR MENTORS
Mentors don't always come in the form of a famous DP. My first and most profound mentor was my father. He was a baseball player called up to the Boston Red Sox — the big show. But just before his debut, his father passed away, and he was faced with an impossible choice: his dream, or his family. He gave up his baseball career to go run the family farm. As a kid, that lesson in loyalty and work ethic was ingrained in me. It became the foundation of my entire career.
As I started working my way up, my mentors became the masters whose work I studied from afar, like Roger Deakins, ASC. When I was a gaffer, I would obsessively watch his films with the Coen Brothers, like Barton Fink, trying to deconstruct how he used light and composition to convey such powerful emotion.
Then, I had the mentors I was lucky enough to work for directly. Daniel Pearl, ASC, showed me how to be bold, to take chances, and to push the limits of what was possible on music videos. Joseph Yacoe taught me how to light for beauty, taking me around the world as a hybrid gaffer/key grip. The legendary photographer Herb Ritts, who hired me as his lighting director, taught me how to sculpt the human form with shadow and, crucially, how to interact with talent.
And then there was Kevin Kerslake, my "experimental mentor." He was a mad scientist who taught me to be fearless with photochemical processes — pushing film, pulling it, bleach bypassing, dragging it down driveways... you name it. The techniques I learned with him, like the "Oz process" (a silver retention method), became part of my signature look on films like Terminator Salvation.
FAILURE, MENTORSHIP, AND THE “SPECIAL SAUCE”
These mentors didn't just teach me what worked. They gave me the confidence to fail.
This is the biggest takeaway about mentorship: failure is not failing. Failure is the only way to get pushed out of your comfort zone. If you stay comfortable, you'll stay with what you know, and you will never innovate. My mentors taught me to try new things, to push the boundaries, and to see a "failed" experiment not as a loss, but as a new technique — a "special sauce" I could save for a future project.
A perfect example is when I used the HDR function on a RED camera for the film A Casa Tutti Bene (There’s No Place Like Home). I was trying to hold the detail in a bright ferry window, but it created weird artifacting whenever an actor moved. We had to scrap the HDR track. But I filed that "failure" away.
Lighting Schematic of ‘Cinco de Mayo’ scene in Holidate
Later, on the Netflix film Holidate, I had a scene where the characters get blitzed on tequila. I thought, "What if I use that HDR artifacting on purpose to create a disoriented, drunk feeling?" We did, and the result was a unique, creative, and successful sequence. I would have never found that "special sauce" if my mentors hadn't first given me the courage to fail.
THE FILMMAKERS ACADEMY ADVANTAGE: MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
This is why we built Filmmakers Academy. I was incredibly fortunate to have the mentors I did, but I believe that this level of guidance and education shouldn't be left to chance. It shouldn't depend on who you know or what city you live in. With the help of my wife and soulmate, Lydia, we created Filmmakers Academy to democratize filmmaking education and make professional mentorship accessible to everyone.
We are a comprehensive learning ecosystem designed to replicate that mentorship experience. It’s not just about the "what" — it's about the "why." It's about providing the practical, hands-on knowledge you need to build a career, not just to learn a piece of gear.
MENTORSHIP FOR ALL
We’re all about a living ecosystem designed to replicate that on-set mentorship. In fact, it’s how I build my own teams. When possible, I like to hire directly from our community.
FROM COMMUNITY MAP TO ON-SET CREW
One of the places I like to look when hiring for a project is our Filmmakers Academy shadow member community. This is the pool of filmmakers that I have been mentoring — some for years. So, back in 2020, as I was prepping the pilot for Resident Alien in Vancouver, I realized I had to build a new crew. I needed a solid gimbal tech, so I scanned our platform and discovered Mark Miller, an FA member whose profile showed a deep passion for gimbals, drones, and car rigs. He seemed like the perfect candidate.
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
I reached out to Mark immediately. On set, I challenged him, pushing him far out of his comfort zone with equipment that was new to him, like the Antigravity rig and the MōVI XL. He later told me he felt "completely underwater." But he rose to the occasion. He embraced the challenge, did the research, and delivered excellence.
FROM SHADOW MEMBER TO “MONEY SHOT”
My mentorship style on set is direct and honest. When Mark made a misstep, we worked through it. When he nailed a complex shot — a "oner" handoff from a crane to a handheld MōVI through a narrow doorway, with only 15 minutes to pull it off — I told him how awesome it was. That's the day he earned the nickname "Money Shot Miller."
Mark Miller on the set of Resident Alien
Because of that trust and his proven work ethic, guess who was one of the first people I called for my next Netflix film, Love Hard? Money Shot Miller.
This time, I challenged him again with the Ronin 2 and the DGI wheels. He prepared tirelessly, calling my other operators to get the intel, and nailed an elaborate 3.5-minute oner on Day 1. Mark is the perfect example of our philosophy. As he put it, "Watching Filmmakers Academy’s videos gave me the confidence and knowledge to tackle projects I would normally pass up."
That’s the entire process in action: learn the craft on our platform, prove your dedication in our community, and get a real-world opportunity.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
In an industry that is changing faster than ever, with the rise of AI and new technologies, the need to be a "Swiss Army Filmmaker" — proficient in more than one area — is crucial. Your success will be defined by your commitment to continuous learning.
Don't just wait for a lucky break. Invest in your craft, find your mentors, and join a community that will support you every step of the way.
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