Sam Mason - Film Projects:

Brisbane 48hr Film Competition 2025

"The 5 Star Motel" - 2025 48hr Film Competition Brisbane

I recently worked as Director of Photography on a 7-minute short film created for a 48-hour film challenge — a high-pressure project where the entire film had to be written, shot, and edited within just two days. Shot on the Sony FX3 full-frame cinema camera, I utilized a mix of prime and zoom lenses to create a visually cohesive and cinematic look, leveraging the gear available to us. With no time for a shot list or storyboards, I was pushed out of my usual pre-production comfort zone, relying instead on instinctive, on-the-spot decision-making to frame and light each scene. I graded the footage in DaVinci Resolve and was able to save time in post by building a few look presets before picture lock. The fast pace demanded adaptability, precision, and trust in the process, and I was honoured to be nominated for an “Achievement in Cinematography” award for my work on the film.

Stills From the 48-Hour Film Challenge:

NSFW - GFS Web Series

Not Safe For Work - Mini Web Series for Griffith Film School

For this series, I was the DOP for the sixth and Final Episode. I shot this episode on a Sony FX6 with various Sony Cinema Lenses. This project provided me with both challenges and rewards. I was also responsible for the colour grade of this episode and am very pleased with how it all turned out. This episode was shot over a two-day period in Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Below are some stills from some of my favourite shots taken from the episode as well as camera spec: