Bohdan Borysov is a talented cinematographer and director who has learned to trust his vision while finding beauty in the real world and transform ideas that once existed only in his mind into something others can see, feel, and believe in too. In this interview, Bohdan shares what first drew him to filmmaking, how real-life experiences continue to shape his creative vision, and why he believes some of the most cinematic moments can be found in ordinary places. He also opens up about the making of Your Turn, his transition from cinematographer to feature director, his love of music, and the importance of collaboration and giving every person on set a sense of ownership. Read further our exclusive Q & A with Bodhan Borysov!
Q: Bohdan, what first inspired you to become a cinematographer?
Bohdan Borysov – A: I don’t think there was one specific moment when I decided I wanted to become a cinematographer. It started way before I even knew what a cinematographer was. I grew up in a very small town in rural Ukraine. There wasn’t really a film community around me or any example of filmmaking being a real job. But I was always fascinated by this form of art of transferring a piece of reality into a physical or digital medium.
As I got older, that curiosity turned into making my own films. I was writing, directing, editing, recording sound, designing sets and shooting everything with my friends. By around twelve, I was already making little comedy sketches and short films. I think cinematography eventually became the part of filmmaking that I connected with the most because it combines two things I love: the artistic side of seeing beauty in the world around you and the technical side of figuring out how to actually capture it.
Q: Can you share what are some of the main projects you’re working on?
Bohdan Borysov – A: The main project I’m focused on right now is Your Turn, my feature directorial debut, which is currently in post-production. It’s a grounded, character-driven story about two lifelong friends who are struggling financially and trying to find their way through a world where every decision seems to have consequences.
What I really love about the film is that, underneath the crime and everything that happens in the story, it’s really about people. It’s about friendship, masculinity, responsibility, making mistakes, and the choices we make when circumstances push us into situations we never expected to be in. I don’t see the characters as good or bad people. They’re just human beings trying to get through another day, and eventually they have to decide who they want to become.
Visually, I wanted the movie to feel very grounded and honest. We shot in real locations around Southern California—restaurants, bars, motels, liquor stores, pawn shops and quiet streets—and tried to find the beauty in those ordinary places rather than making everything look overly polished. t’s a very personal project for me, and I think there’s something in it that a lot of people can recognize themselves in.
Q: Are there any specific genres or types of projects you especially enjoy working on?
Bohdan Borysov – A: I really enjoy projects that feel real. I’m not particularly interested in fantasy or supernatural stories because they usually give me a hard time immersing myself in what’s happening on the screen.
When I see a movie about real people living in the real world, dealing with real problems, that’s when I become interested and invested in the story. Those are the kinds of projects I love working on, the ones where the world feels familiar, the characters feel like real people, and you almost forget you’re watching a movie.
That’s also why I’m drawn to ordinary places. I don’t necessarily need beautiful landscapes or glamorous locations. A restaurant back alley, a motel room, a roadside business – those places can become incredibly cinematic if there’s something real happening inside them.
Q: What is your favorite part of the cinematography process?
Bohdan Borysov – A: Probably finding the beauty in things that people normally don’t think of as beautiful, and then figuring out how to capture it.
For me, cinematography is where art and technique meet. You have to be able to see things in a certain way, and then understand the technical side well enough to translate that feeling into an image. I also love those moments that are difficult to explain with words. Everybody has experienced a moment where life suddenly feels beautiful for some reason, and you wish you could somehow preserve that feeling. That’s what I think filmmaking is really good at. It’s not always about making something look perfect. Sometimes it’s about capturing a feeling that can only really be shown, not explained.
Q: Is there anything about your creative process or personality that people might find surprising or interesting?
Bohdan Borysov – A: I think people are sometimes surprised by how much time before the set I spend making sure everyone on my team understands the idea. I believe filmmaking is the most collaborative form of art there is. You have so many different people bringing their own expertise to the same project, and I think the more clearly everyone understands what we’re trying to do and, more importantly, why we’re doing it, the easier everything else becomes.
I’d rather spend extra time communicating the vision beforehand than spend that same time trying to solve problems once we’re already shooting. Once everybody is on the same page, most of the technical and creative decisions tend to figure themselves out pretty naturally. Everyone can make decisions independently because they understand the bigger picture.
For that reason I always send color-graded stills and dailies to the cast and crew at the end of every shooting day. People work incredibly hard on set, but they don’t always get to see what they’re actually creating. I want everyone to see the bigger picture and understand how their work fits into the movie. I think it gives people a much stronger sense of ownership and makes them feel like they’re contributing to something rather than simply completing a job.
Q: What are some of the coolest or most memorable experiences you’ve had while working in the industry?
Bohdan Borysov – A: One of the most memorable experiences I’ve had was seeing Your Turn grow from a short proof of concept into my first feature film. I showed the short to producers Scott Engrotti and Henry Lipatov just to hear their opinion. Instead, they asked if I could turn it into a feature, and somehow we actually did.
But what I remember even more than that is looking around on set and realizing this idea wasn’t just in my head anymore. There were nearly 30 people working incredibly hard to bring it to life. The gaffers were rigging the lighting, the art department was transforming locations, makeup was creating incredible effects, every department giving everything.
I think that’s what I love most about filmmaking. There’s something incredibly moving about seeing so many talented people believe in the same idea, each bringing their own creativity into it. And then, you see a scene come together, and you realize it became something far beyond what you could have created alone. That’s the most memorable part for me.
Q: Where can people follow you and keep up with your work on social media?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohdanborysov/
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