From Behind the Camera to Producing Change: Kelly Mason’s Cinematic Journey

The Art of Film Funding

Join Carole Dean and Kelly Mason and learn how to:

Break Into Cinematography

Transition from Cinematographer to Producing Cinematographer and

Become a Film Consultant & Create Impact Through Filmmaking

Kelly Mason

(Mom |Entrepreneur | Healer | Filmmaker | Cinematographer)

Kelly Mason’s priority is to make a lasting difference in the world for generations to come. A mother, entrepreneur, filmmaker, and intuitive healer, Kelly’s mission spans storytelling, advocacy, and transformational work. As an independent producer, her focus lies in creating stories that champion social justice, environmental protection, and well-being awareness.

Kelly shattered barriers in 1997 as the first female cinematographer in IATSE (ICG 669). Over her 30-year career, she has collaborated with Tier 1 crews, A-list celebrities, and world-class directors for major companies like Netflix, Warner Bros., Disney, Apple TV, and the Berlanti Group. Her cinematography expertise extends across film, digital, green screens, LED environments, and virtual production alongside cutting-edge VFX teams. Notable projects include The Night Agent (Netflix) and Travelers (Netflix). She has worked with legendary producers such as Greg Berlanti, Shawn Ryan, and Seth Gordon, and Academy Award-winning filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory.

Her career as an "A" camera operator has been shaped by mentorship from cinematographic masters like Vilmos Zsigmond ASC and Dante Spinatti ASC, contributing to over 200 productions. Kelly’s cinematic vision has also earned her acclaim in the impact filmmaking space, with 18 laurels for her feature documentary Pave the Road, including Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 Chelsea Film Festival.

In 2024, Kelly earned the Altitude Award recognizing her achievements in the industry through Women in Media. She is an Executive Producer and the Cinematographer for the docu-series The Frequency of Miracles, currently in post-production. She is also collaborating with Academy Award-winning producer Mimi Polk Gitlin (Thelma and Louise, The Breadwinner) to adapt Pave the Road into a narrative feature film.

Through the power of impact filmmaking, Kelly influenced environmental legislation in Costa Rica to mandate the use of plastic waste in road construction, triggering an investigation that led to incarcerating 72 corrupt government officials. Beyond filmmaking, Kelly established the Trinidad and Tobago Film Commission, and created impactful educational programs for the American and Canadian Societies of Cinematographers. Her curated motion pictures with Getty Images has generated over seven figures in royalties and continues to enrich productions worldwide.

Through her extensive work in film, healing, and environmental advocacy, Kelly Mason exemplifies the power of storytelling to inspire, transform, and create a better future.