Interview: Dominique Palombo, A Director

I was jolted when I first watched Dominique Palombo‘s directorial masterpiece with Rachel Roy’s fashion film, “Move”. It was hands down more inspiring than some campaign videos I had seen at the moment, and the idea that things I love in fashion, dance, and great content were right there in front of me as one unified piece — A piece that went on to win Best Picture at The La Jolla Fashion Film Festival 2011. Palombo just so happened to be here (SCORE!) visiting with Smashbox Digital a few weeks after his win, and in a spontaneous interview, I got to sit him down and dig deep. He told me about the power of editing and showed me a few more riveting videos… from rooftops in Paris to subway stations in New York. No big deal, just major chills. He’ll give them to you, too…

“MOVE” Rachel Roy Spring 2011 from Dominique Palombo on Vimeo.

SB: Congrats on winning Best Picture for “MOVE” at The La Jolla Fashion Film Festival 2011!
DP: Thank you very much, Mademoiselle Reneé.
SB: [Blushing] How did you team up with Rachel Roy to direct this piece?
DP: My agent, Joe Lombardo of ETC Creative pitched me! He heard that they wanted a director for a dance film. They already had a choreographer in line and had the thing in motion a bit. I had a film I had directed that was shown to them called Contact, which was shot on a Phantom. It inspired the art director enough to choose me.
SB: What was your main inspiration behind it?
DP: When I first saw the dancers auditioning. Primal movement is the kind I like. Dramatic, movement that conveys a pure emotion. Not anything really arranged. My goal was to push people’s buttons in every sequence.

“Seeing Red” — Shot, Directed and Edited by Dominique Palombo. Paris, 2011.

SB: It looks like it was a seamless process. How long have you been directing?
DP: I’ve been shooting a long time. In photography, a long time.
SB: Have you been on our stages before today?
DP: I’ve come back to LA from time to time and I’ve seen Smashbox Studios grow from the Culver City location to this mega-complex. It’s very impressive. I also worked a job at Quixote Studios before as well. I love all of these stages!
SB: How did you end up here today?
DP: I am on vacation, but just shot a watch campaign in China and a deadline of Monday is in the works. I’m using editing room here at Smashbox Digital. It was a last minute request, and Daniele Colombera came through for me.

SB: We went through your photography portfolio and love your pool series in Book 3.
DP: I knew that one thing I was able to do in stills is convey emotion in a real way. I don’t like things to look forced. I want to always capture authenticity.

SB: You seem to love capturing movement as a director. What was the thing that made you fall in love with it?
DP: I always loved capturing movement in still photography. I felt like photos, from the beginning it was like that decisive movement — catch it because a photo is made to catch a key image of a sequence, and I feel like that image shouldn’t just be limited to portraits.

SB: You work as an editor, too? Impressive.
DP: I’m a strong believer in editing your work. A film is made by the edit. It’s much more than retouching a photo. In editing, you’re composing the piece. You lead the audience along on the journey.
SB: What’s your favorite part of a production?
DP: Rehearsals.
SB: Interesting. Why?
DP: You don’t have the pressure of shooting in rehearsals. Once you do start filming, there’s so much at stake. With rehearsals, you get to play a bit more. That’s when a collaboration is truly born.

“Subterra” — Shot, Directed and Edited by Dominique Palombo. NYC, 2011.

SB: You currently live in Paris and NYC. How often do you travel to LA?
DP: Believe it or not, I used to live here. I went to High School, College, but travel here seldom now. I would like to shoot here more.
SB: Fill in the blanks. Always ________ & Never __________
DP: Always be ON. Never GIVE UP.
SB: What’s next for you, Dominique?
DP: I hope to get more work in LA. I’m off to Paris again where another job awaits, I have to put out a few films online, finish editing. I also have a few dancer projects in development with fashion labels.

*Go forth, Palombo*