Meet Seth Petero | Cinematographer & Founder of Petero Productions

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

Hi Seth, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Thanks for having me. For over a decade I’ve been involved in making video and film content, and for a 22 year old, that’s kind of a wild thing to say. I’ve made my own short films, I’ve collaborated with many other talented artists, and I’ve been a part of both union and non-union projects in the film industry. I’ve also done freelance and commercial work, creating narrative-driven marketing to boost brands and their stories.

I haven’t always known I’d be a filmmaker. Back in 2014 when YouTube was set ablaze with vloggers from all over the world (notably creators like Casey Neistat, Shonduras, and later on, Peter McKinnon), I entered into a culture where picking up a GoPro or a camera on a Gorillapod was just second nature. Ever since I was a little kid, holding and using a camera felt like a natural thing for me. My talent has always been in framing a shot, and from the moment I was taught how to use my first editing software, YouTube became my place to post vlogs and videos. After getting my GTAE certification in high school for AV Tech, I turned my passion towards a more serious route of professional projects and pursued both my bachelors in Film & Media and my film production certification from the Georgia Film Academy. In college, I created my LLC under the name ‘Petero Productions’ and continued offering professional video services to both businesses and incredible, everyday people. The services I did and continue to provide are influenced by the film industry projects I have shared with many talented filmmakers, giving my work a distinctive cinematic feel and knowledge-base that it wouldn’t have had otherwise.

When I think back to my time of growing up with the YouTube creators that made me, I think back to this sense of belonging that surrounded the platform. And what’s more, that feeling of belonging that involved just picking up a cheap, day-to-day camera and documenting the narratives that exist in life. In the end, I think it’s this natural belonging that drew me to the film industry, motivated me to learn everything I could, and inspired me to establish Petero Productions, a company that is “creating film that expands upon the saturated cinematic world in a unique and personal way.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I was getting my AV Tech certification through the CCI, a trade school that lets high-schoolers take trade classes part-time, I made a ton of small short films using nothing but iMovie, a Lumix GH5, and the help of my creative peers. I made several short film projects that still live on my YouTube channel to this day, and in the end, that class led me to my first dedicated job. I worked for SERVPRO for several years creating all the local social media content for their Northwest and Central Georgia franchises. At the time, I was a 17 year old with my own desk and office. From there, I started my editing journey in DaVinci Resolve, upgraded my kit to a Blackmagic 6K Pro, and both my film degree and my GFA certification helped me break through into the industry.

The projects rolling out on my YouTube channel right now are ones that I completed in college with smaller, borrowed cameras and DaVinci Resolve. In fact, my most recent project, Healing Release, was filmed with a Lumix GX-85 and my smallest crew to date. It’s an example of what I can complete with as few resources as possible, while still remaining true to the Petero Productions spirit. Experimental in nature and inspired by Porter Robinson’s similarly experimental work, it delves into a personal and fantastical exploration of how our surroundings affect us. Like many of my earlier projects, it’s one where I direct from in front of the camera, but with the next project soon to be released, that will all change. Titled ‘Stay With Me’, it will be the first narrative project I’ve posted where I led the film completely from behind the camera and proved what can be accomplished with no budget.

It was a very long and difficult task, but then again, there are always problems in the making of films. Film itself is not supposed to exist; bringing make-believe worlds perfectly, flawlessly, and beautifully into real life. Even at the higher end of production and with some of the bigger budgets, this ideal still rings true. To make films is essentially impossible, yet projects are being made around the world every day by us stubborn, possibly mentally-ill people. While we are drowned in the phrase “Chase your dreams”, I would encourage any person wanting to make this impossibility a career to be certain that they truly have a never-ending passion in the dream, because you won’t know how deep the hole is until you really jump into it. To those artists who are certain, I can easily say that it’s an exciting life full of new challenges and experiences, and one that I’m glad to have just started.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, now we’re getting into the really deep topics. I am one of the few natives in the city; I was born and raised in Georgia and the first 18 years of my life were spent in the same house in Douglasville. I can easily say that I know Georgia, and while many would probably choose the standard Atlanta attractions like the Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and The Varsity, I would choose something a bit more local Georgia. I would either take them up to Ellijay and Blue Ridge, making sure to hit the Corner Stone Cafe, Neel’s Gap, and drive the Blood Mountain route on the way home, or I would take them to Cartersville and White. You may be wondering what in the world is in White, GA. Well, the oldest and largest junkyard in the nation happens to reside there. Old Car City USA is an expensive admission, but definitely a must-see destination due to it’s unique art and cinematic-looking history. Furthermore, food has always been very important to my family, and Cartersville is filled with old-school, Georgia stops like Ross Diner, 4-Way, and Coconuts Ice Cream.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Above all, I thank God for these things I’ve shared with you today. It would also be my honor to thank my parents and my Aunt Carol, people who I dearly love and who have greatly supported me mentally, physically, and spiritually over my entire life. And I’d love to thank my mentors and colleagues who have supported me over the years of my filming journey. In our industry, you can have all the education, degrees, and certifications you want, but you don’t know anything until you’ve had actual professional experience. That is just the very difficult truth right there. So the people who have taught me both the big and the small things about this incredibly vast and complex world of film will forever have my undying gratitude.

Website: https://peteroprod.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peteroproductions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-petero-23130324a/

Twitter: https://x.com/PeteroProducti1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083619483968

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeteroProductionsLLC

Other: For those interested, Petero Productions does both creative content AND client content. Just reach out via email (which can be found at peteroprod.com) and I’d love to personally discuss your project with you!

Image Credits
Alex Pilotzi
Adam Duffy
Corbin Mobley