Diego Gagliardi, a video professional specializing in video production, editing and art direction. He began as a recording engineer working in audio post-production for television and films. His perception soured on that part of the industry as he saw only the possibility of working late hours, with days bleeding into nights, in an environment that he just didn’t want to be a part of. So, after a little soul searching, he chose to go in another direction, a career in advertising industry.
“I knew I had to learn some programming to get into the industry,” said Diego, “even though I really wanted to edit and create video. I learned Flash and animation and slowly started creating cool website intros and logo animations. It was a great way to develop…contribute to the development, of the ability to compose a shot and see the transitions as you tell a story. That’s pure design and the difference between a technician and an artist.”
“Learning is what keeps you from quitting”, he states. “Learning and experimentation makes you a better art director, communicator and visualist. Today, in my position, you need to be able to work the entire timeline. Farming out elements often isn’t practical.”
For Diego learning included delving into cinematography and lighting from the best cinematographers in Los Angeles, storytelling structure, editing, pacing, directing and art direction. “Los Angeles and online,” he credits, “there are so many resources that weren’t available a quarter of a generation ago. Everything is on the table from skills to perspectives to unique approaches.
“A whole new world opened for me. I started to work more and more and created my own job at an agency.” He concludes, “I was the new video motion graphics guy. My approach is unique, so are my skills. Nobody could do what I could do—merging all that I knew—graphic design, audio editing, video production, motion graphics and animation. I became my own agency; from directing and shooting photography to designing and, on some occasions, writing my own scripts.”
Now, specializing in video production and social media advertising, knowing all aspects of production from pre-production to post-production, from design, storyboarding to editing and filming, Diego prides himself in being one step ahead of the game.