A Fresh View with Cinematographer Marko Alonso
True artists do not lead comfortable lives. We’re not talking about the pop culture and media fixtures whom are used to generate income for massive companies; we’re talking about committed and talented professionals who are driven to push themselves into new experiences which challenge their creativity. Marko Alonso is driven by such passion. Yes, he has been the cinematographer for productions of very recognizable artists like Grammy Award Winning band Maroon 5’s video for “Animals” as well as multiple music videos for celebrated Brazilian musician Marko Zeeba, both of which he is immensely proud of, but you’ll also find him behind the camera for an Indie film or even trekking across Europe or Asia with a skeleton crew for a television travel program. It’s not comfort which drives Alonso but rather a belief that what he captures with the camera is a means of connection for people all across the planet. The differing platforms which present his work are less important to him than the value of great storytelling and collaborating with the other professionals who enlist him because of their belief in his individual approach behind the lens.
The success of Travel Bare Feet is proof that what the audience wants in their entertainment is passion. This show has received multiple Telly Awards, the G! Premis Award, and numerous other accolades. Host/Producer Mickela Mallozzi possesses four Emmy Awards to vet the public’s embrace of herself and the show which depicts this professional dancer and trained musician’s desire to connect with other locations and cultures via dance. Ranging from the inherent masculine energy of Georgian Ballet (the country, not the US state) to the Flamenco of Seville and others, Mallozzi immerses herself in the dance dialect of different regions to connect and understand the people who cultivate these unique dance styles. The show has been praised by the industry and peers alike for its insight and uplifting nature. Alonso concedes, “A great deal of what I love about my professional career is that it demands I look with fresh eyes. I lived in Spain for the first twenty-four years of my life yet when we filmed in Seville, I not only discovered a city that is a big part of my own culture but also a dance that is a big part of it as well. During my time growing up in Spain I always regarded Flamenco as too folkloric and old-fashioned but I was wrong. We interviewed the biggest eminences of Flamenco and were invited to their private shows, which opened my eyes to its beauty. It was a great way to rediscover this dance; though they say it’s not a dance but rather, a way of living.” It’s easy to lose one’s self in watching Travel Bare Feet, feeling as if you’re dancing alongside the performers. This is not easily achieved and is highly indicative of the symbiotic movements of Alonso from behind the camera. Mickela was so impressed with Marko’s skill and technique that she recommended him to Kim Haas, host of Afro Latino Travels. Afro Latino Travels, which features Alonso in the DP role, premieres Saturday, September 12th on WNET New York (6:30 PM EST).
The inverse of this comfortable tone and the proof of Marko’s diversity in creating emotion and atmosphere from behind the lens is his work as cinematographer for the Horror film The Wrong One; recognized at the Five Continents International Film Festival for his lighting design which so perfectly aligned with the psychological state of the story’s main character. The film stars Wei-Yi Lin as Lisa, Duke Williams as Tim, and Ann Magoulas (of Netflix’s two-time Golden Globe winning series House of Cards and CBS’s twice Primetime Emmy nominated series Mindhunter) as Julia Graham in a story where an unresolved death investigation meets the paranormal. Alonso worked with director Yaa Boaa Aning to present the house, in which much of the action takes place, as another character in the film. As Lisa’s relationship with the house evolves, so do the color palettes, camera movements, and angles. Evolving from cool blue hues and low contrast to more foreboding greens and eventually the aggressive aesthetics of the final shocking scenes, Marko has formulated a visual means that prompts us down the director’s desired path to elicit a panicked state. The result is both incredibly frightening and satisfying, at least for those who relish a good scare.
When not connecting hearts through depictions of celebratory dance or causing the audience to cower in fear from ghost stories, Marko Alonso is applying his talent to productions like Samsung’s launch of the S10 phone for E! Brazil or videos for tourism consultancy company Destination International. There’s an undeniable sense of connection in the very DNA of Marko’s perspective as a cinematographer. Ironically, his visual exceptionalism possesses a quality that is not clearly visible but instead lies in the associations that he generates beneath the surface. Alonso recognizes, “Since I was a kid I wanted to experience as many aspects of life as possible; to see how other people live and think. Filmmaking has allowed me to do all this. I grew up in Spain yet my mother is from Finland. I’ve worked all across the world and have tried to take what’s best from these experiences. As a cinematographer, I feel it’s what is unique and fresh to your view that attracts others to your work.”
