Meet Kaitlyn Pham | Cinematographer & Video Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaitlyn Pham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaitlyn, what do you want people to remember about you?
I aspire to leave a lasting impact on the film community by becoming a world-renowned director. I want to create powerful, raw, and emotionally resonant content like documentaries and narratives that not only inspire people to be creative themselves but also motivate them to capture their own stories and legacies.

For me, storytelling through film goes beyond entertainment. It’s about celebrating the power of creativity and reminding people of its importance in capturing meaningful experiences and the essence of life itself.

Ultimately, I hope my films will be remembered for not only their entertainment value but also for the spark they ignite in others to pursue their own creative passions.

I hope people remember me for my vulnerability and the courage it took to share myself authentically. I want them to see the immensity of my heart and how much I cherished love in all its forms, both capturing it in my experiences and celebrating it in others. I hope people remember me as someone who wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable, to show their true emotions. I believe there’s immense courage and passion in that, and I want to use my vulnerability to connect with others on a deeper level. Most importantly, I aspire to be remembered as the girl who made them feel something.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create meaningful art in the form of video. I have a series on YouTube titled “Video Diaries”, where each video is an intimate look from my perspective into how my life plays out every month. Aside from my Video Diaries, I also specialize in documentary filmmaking and video editing. I wouldn’t say it was an easy path, but it was a path I’d take over and over again if given the chance. Whatever you perceive as a bad experience is never actually bad, it’s a learning lesson. I’ve had lots of learning lessons. Of course they sucked in the moment, like a client not paying, navigating nearly impossible demands, etc., but all of that taught me how to handle the situation and prevent it from happening again. If I’ve learned any lesson, it’s to sharpen your own axe. You can’t cut down trees if you don’t take the time for yourself to take a rest, sharpen your blade, and start anew.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If any of my best friends were visiting the area, I’d for sure take them to my go-to spot — Verde Garden! It’s my favorite little bar tucked into the busy streets of Montrose. I love the atmosphere and drinks, the staff is also super friendly. This sounds sponsored, I swear it’s not hahaha.

I’m not much of a dancer / clubber, I like environments where I can hear what my friends are saying and catch up in depth…. So I’d definitely catch up over a game of pool at Slick Willie’s or arcade games at Cidercade. I love a good game night, don’t even get my STARTED with guitar hero!

Other than that, I don’t know really. I like to spend time indoors. Cook yummy food, enjoy some drinks together. I love intimacy so wherever that happens to be, let me know.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where do I even start? I would not be where I am right now if it weren’t for every single person, thing, or experience that has ever made itself present in my life. But if I must, I will narrow it down:

For starters, there were two professors during my time at The University of Houston that saw a light in me before I ever did — Keith Houk and Greg Carter, both Media Production professors. School was never my cup of tea, but it was because of these mentors specifically that I had a sudden excitement and thirst to actually attend school and learn. But more importantly, they showed me a world I had always been extremely eager to be a part of – the film industry.

Some other people I’d love to give recognition to are the people I call my backbone — My friends and my family. I am extremely thankful to have such a wonderful support system behind me. To have your hand held as you sprint toward the finish line; a wonderful gift I have been given by the wonderful people I surround myself with. I am thankful for their support, love, and even hard truths. I am who I am because of them. And honestly, even you reading this.

Website: www.selfdemise.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/selfdemise

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@selfdemise

Image Credits
Kaitlyn Pham, Monica Mariano, Gerardo Velasquez