Frank Datzer is a seasoned video producer and cinematographer with 40+ years of experience across film, television, and multimedia.
He’s served as DP/Cinematographer on indie feature films, music videos, PSAs and network TV segments. He is also represented by Getty Images for his photography and video work.
How many years have you been a judge?
5+ years
What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?
Enjoy seeing the variety of work being done. And the creativity and diverse amount of styles and subjects.
What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?
In college I worked at the educational communications division on campus(ECD)which had two 3 camera studios. It was a paid position when I was a student. I used to hang around with the engineers and learned about shading cameras, lighting a set, doing remote productions.
What project are you most proud to have worked on?
I worked at cinematographer and Director of photography on two Independent feature length films which were challenging and very rewarding. The long hours and being away from home led me to return to spot work and corporate image pieces.
What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?
Keeping up with Technology and the cost of doing business.
What do you look for to determine excellence in video?
The basics of lighting, audio and camera work are essential but creativity and taking a different approach to presentation is what really makes things stand out
What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?
I used to work with larger crews but recently I work more as a one-man show.
Shooting, lighting and doing post production… I am working on an upcoming documentary this summer and I love to learn new things and about new people as I investigate the topic.
What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?
This coming summer I’m going to be working on a documentary about a entertainer/restauranteur in Palm Springs California
Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?
I love to collaborate whether it’s with talent or with the marketing department or other crew on set. I also love to listen to or watch podcasts about production techniques and cinematography.
What inspired you to pursue your career path?
When I entered college I originally wanted to be an engineer… I felt as if it would be a nice mix of technology and creation. I took an elective class in Film and like that so much I changed my major to film and television.
In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?
Well right now everything is about AI. I am the very early stages of dabbling with AI in the media. It’s pretty amazing and a bit scary. I’ve been able to create some pretty amazing images and short clips but there are a lot of glitches still to be worked out. I truthfully love using AI music because unlike Stock music you can have very much control over how you want the music to sound and feel.
