How an Athlete became a Cinematographer: Maddy Talias
Of Skiing, Focus, and the meeting of two opposite worlds
As a Cinematographer, much of my approach comes from my instincts as an athlete. Skiing runs in my family. My grandfather started a ski business without ever skiing a day in his life. He invented what is now commonly known as “seasonal rentals” for ski and snowboard equipment. He saw a hole in the market and started our family business in New Jersey. His sense of risk taking, fearlessness - that’s what I channel into my own life even today.
I went to a ski academy in Vermont from the age of 14 until 18. It was a really intensive program for kids taking the sport seriously. We traveled all over Europe… Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy and France. In the fall, we trained in Chile and Argentina.
When we traveled, I was always the one with the camera. I made short films of friends, started shooting stills as a hobby… we had a tiny dark room in our basement. It was something to do while traveling. I thought, after I retired from ski racing, I’d make ski movies.
But… I had to retire a lot earlier than I thought.
I was racing in Colorado, 19 years old, when I got my sixth concussion. It changed my whole life. From being this super strong, super capable athlete, I suddenly couldn’t do anything except sit in a room. Sound affected me, light affected me, moving around affected me. After 2 years of trying to go through college, I had to drop out because of this brain injury.
Finally, after some intensive therapy, I started to improve. I realized that I was now a much more visual person. So I applied to a commercial photography program and got in.
After that, I moved to New York and started working in stills photography. I worked alongside photographers who were also directors. Eventually, I started DPing for the directors.
But even after all these years, when I’m on set, my past life as a skier is still alive in my body and mind.
For one - the discipline, the drive, and the risk taking that a skier needs. I am at my best in high pressure situations, when I am out of my comfort zone and pushing. That is something that has helped me grow.
Also, as a former athlete, I have a certain understanding of energy in movement. I enjoy working with dancers and athletes because it feels very natural to me. When I am on set, I naturally fall into a sort of rhythm with people who are “body” people, who are movers. There is a flow that develops between me with the camera, and the talent. And many athletes and dancers that I have shot, have pointed that out to me.
So maybe, a part of me feels like I am still on the slopes. Now I just make it into something visually artistic.
Latest from Maddy Talias.
“Pride in Progress” - Campaign by Gymshark
“Pride in Progress” - Campaign by Gymshark highlighting the success that LGBTQ+ people have found in fitness spaces
As a queer person, I strongly see the need for accessibility to different storylines and storytellers in general. I think that is what brings variety and dynamism to the work…. That we each bring our own perspective to the table.
So for this spot for Gymshark, working with an all-queer camera crew… each person with their own backgrounds and experiences, brought a really empowering spirit to the shoot. Director Devyn Galindo has a real affinity for getting to the heart of people. The spot featured Angel Joy Flores who is a trans power lifter from Austin (she was on an episode of Queer Eye) … we shot at a queer-owned gym. So all around, it was all about inclusion and representation. Just really empowering overall.
