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Jonathan Michael Mahoney

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About Jonathan Michael Mahoney

  • Birthday December 10

Profile Information

  • Occupation
    Cinematographer
  • Location
    Prague, Czech Republic
  • Specialties
    Learning, Film, Gradations, Shapes, Shadows, Color, Music, Dancing, Psychology, Graffiti, Anatomy, Physiology, Animals, Family.
  1. I am an accepted student into the CALARTS film school starting in September. I too was basically deciding on Chapman a while back. Then I found Columbia, which seemed to be a much cheaper and much more liberal approach to a well rounded art school rather than a film school preparing students for the Hollywood studio system like chapman, in my opinion. I thought If I were to go to Columbia I might have more of a chance to work on more artistically driven projects, rather than the down to earth/easy to follow/ heavy FX narratives that for some reason I started to associate with Chapman after touring the campus. I was days away from applying to Columbia in Chicago, when my younger brother introduced me to CALARTS. We looked at the acceptance rate and said, "Yeah there is no way we are getting in" but we both decided to apply, still thinking that we stood no chance. I was accepted but he was not. We had both figured that if one of us was going to get in it would be him, being that we thought he was much more cut out for a Uber-liberal art school with the majority of educational style focusing on the critical and analytical practice and studies of filmmaking rather than the technical conservatory approach which I had already been fundamentally taught from at SCC. Now I have moved to Valencia (last Sunday) and I am getting prepared to start classes at CALARTS. I hope to take the same approach to CALARTS as David Mulllen. I was so glad to see this post and read what he said about the school. Because of its very anti Hollywood film school technical style of teaching I am apprehensive about going there, especially when the student body in the film program is sooo small! I was one of the 25 somthing accepted students into the film/video program this year. But reading Mullen’s words have helped me to-- at least for the moment-- realize that it’s probably a perfect place for me to go while I attempt to shoot everyone’s projects. Also, by going to CALARTS rather than Chapman I feel that I have a better chance of winding up shooting something like the next Pans Labyrinth or Moulin Rouge with a cal arts education and resulting experience rather than the next Mean Girls or Knocked Up with a Chapman education. (Forgive the crude analogy, that most likely is unfair, wrong, and makes no real sense—but that’s how I feel.) I guess in the end its just as David Mullen said, “In terms of future work, where you went to school doesn't matter much, what matters is your experience and knowledge, so go wherever you can get both.” Hopefully I’m going to one of those places.  -jon
  2. Yes who got in? This is my first post on Cinematography.com and I have enjoyed reading through this short AFI History of nervous and anxious applicants, and knowledgeable fellows. I have been sort of dreaming of AFI for a while now, and reading all these posts makes me pretty happy. I have got to work with a few AFI Fellows in the recent past that have made lasting impressions on me: the fantastic Jayson Crothers, the amazing Joe Passarelli, and for 4 days the Miguel Bunster, who are all awesome and incedibly inspiring cinematographers. For the short time I have been in their presence, all of their teachings, personalities, and techniques have made a unforgettable impact on me as a aspiring d.p. I just moved to Valencia CA from PHX last Sunday to finish my BA at CALARTS and to further realize my goal of being a professional D.P. I have what I thought to be 1 and 1/2 years left to finish the 4 year degree, But recently found out that I have 2 and 1/2 years to finish.... :( Right now grad school seems sooooo far away! I just signed my fee bill for $18,371 for this semester alone. So by the time I graduate and start off in direction of grad school, the idea of paying another large amount seems impossible and insane right now. My student loans are already really scaring me. I realize that this post is quite a bit off topic now, and please don’t be upset at me for it, i just felt like I needed to write something. I have an incredible feeling of optimistic anxiety driven hopelessness fueled by comprehendible confusion of my artistic and financial future. If my journey as a D.P. through CALARTS turns out to be as fulfilling as I hope it will be, then maybe I’ll be reposting on this forum in a few years with an anxious and exciting post, corresponding the days waiting for that fateful phone call. Thanks everyone for posting all of this, and for being so passionate. It’s so inspiring!!
  3. Hello Cinematography.com I am finally joining you!

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