Today we’d like to introduce you to EJ Manalo.
EJ, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started when I get my first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T3i camera in 2012. I was just 16 years old living on the beautiful island of Guam. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into buying that camera, but I wanted to find a hobby to get away from playing video games. This decision ended up being one of the important decisions of my life. I did everything I could to learn every aspect of my camera every day.
As time went on, I started to see the world differently. Seeing the world through my lens changed everything. One of the most meaningful things I’ve learned to use a camera for is to capture a moment, regardless of how silly or how important it is, and be able to freeze that moment into a memory. A single picture can convey so many feelings, thoughts, and emotions that I felt at that very moment.
After graduating high school, I made the big jump to move to San Diego in 2014 to pursue better opportunities in the arts. Living on a small island, the opportunity for growth in the arts was minuscule compared to a place like California. For the next four years, I fell in love with the city and its beautiful beaches. I forced myself almost every day after my college classes to shoot the sunset and master my craft even more. One day, I purchased a drone and that was the next big step for me. That was the start of my freelancing career as I went to college. Flying a drone allowed me to share a perspective of San Diego to my viewers that they’ve never seen before. I got enough recognition to do some work in real estate and found a way to make money through that means.
In the last two years, I attended San Diego State University pursuing a degree in Film Production with an emphasis in Cinematography. I was chasing one of my dreams to become a Director of Photography one day. It was a big jump to go from shooting photos to Making films. I always love to push myself and be uncomfortable. Something told me this was the next step in my journey. I’ve met some of my greatest friends and develop meaningful connections throughout my time there. Now, I made another big move to North Hollywood and Los Angeles to pursue my dreams where all the work is. The last six months have been both the most exciting and toughest parts of my life. Working on film sets, TV shows, and red carpet events has been an amazing experience so far. I don’t know where life will take me out here in LA, but I’m gonna give this city everything that I have to become a well known Director of Photography. one day Believe you can, and you’re already halfway there.
Please tell us about your work.
I’m mainly a Photographer & Director of Photography. I do a lot of work in lower positions to get where I’m at such as being a PA, Assistant or Camera PA. I’m known for my drone work in San Diego and my travel content throughout the years. My proudest moment is getting out of my comfort zone and traveling the world in a short amount of time. What sets me apart from others is how I see the world and how I choose to share it. My experiences from my past make me see the world definitely and I try my best to share that vision to move others to feel a certain type of way.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I remember going to San Francisco for the first time as a kid. It was the first time I met my older sister who I never really grew up with. It was such an interesting time to meet someone you’ve only seen in pictures and be able to see them for the first time. A lot of good memories were made and many photos were taken. I barely talk to two of my sisters now so I hold those photos very dearly.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/theeprodigy
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