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At 26 years old, Christophe Carcelle knows his limits, yet his CV is quickly filling with a host of impressive projects. We speak to the burgeoning cinematographer about seeking challenges, learning on the job and going beyond his comfort zone Full steam ahead
C hristophe Carcelle doesn’t shy away from a challenge. At 15, he began a career in film. At 23, he landed his first gig as a DOP (working with Kelsey Grammer and Elizabeth Hurley, no less). Now 26, he already boasts an impressive assortment of credits, from sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars: The Last Jedi to Turkish indie Kum Zambagi . Born and raised in France, Carcelle was ambitious from a young age – first wanting to be an architect before pivoting to cinematography. Others encouraged him towards film, so he
signed up for a summer course and tested the waters. “Instinctively, on all the projects throughout those six weeks, I was always behind the camera as the DOP,” he recalls. After being hired as a production assistant on Tell Me How I Die , “I just threw myself on set,” he says – all before attending film school. After three years at a Parisian university, Carcelle immediately moved abroad and sold himself as a focus puller, though he admits he had little experience. “‘I have to just get on as many sets as possible,” he thought,
“so whether they were free gigs, low- paying gigs, I just got on as many sets to meet as many people as I could.” Through a stroke of luck – as well as his extensive networking efforts – Carcelle was offered an opportunity not often extended to young filmmakers: DOP on Christmas in Paradise , directed by Philippe Martinez and starring Kelsey Grammer, Elizabeth Hurley and Billy Ray Cyrus. “I think the [previous] DOP had a medical emergency and had to drop out,” Carcelle describes. “My friend called me on a Wednesday night and asked,
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