Zack Santagate

Cinematographer + Director + Owner (Freelance) · WhaleShark Film Co.

Dallas, TX

In My Own Words

I’m a Cinematographer + Director based in Atlanta + Dallas. I primarily work on commercials, branded short films and branded content, but I also shoot docu-series and narrative work. Over the past five years I’ve worked as a DP, Director, and Colorist with American Airlines, FritoLay, Nissan, Texas Rangers, StateFarm, GameStop, YellowTail, AT&T, LeVel, CarMax, Charles Schwab, and more. I’ve shoot in a wide variety of environments, such as big studios with complex lighting set-ups, to filming on-location in Iceland, to filming 100 feet deep in the ocean with sharks. I’m also FAA Part 107 drone certified. I love telling amazing stories thru moving images, and like to demystify cinematography by lighting in a naturalistic and filmic way. Every detail of the stories I tell is reflected in the lighting, composition, and lens choice that all drives towards telling the story.

Work Experience

Cinematographer + Director + Owner (Freelance)

WhaleShark Film Co.

2014 – Present

Zack is a Cinematographer + Director. He primarily is a Cinematographer, but Directs about 50% of the projects he shoots. Zack believes story is the driving factor that determines the cinematography + directorial style. Selected Brands Worked With: American Airlines, AT&T, Frito Lay, PepsiCo, Nissan, CarMax, GameStop, State Farm, NFL, Spirit Airlines, PureFlix Selected Agencies + Production Companies: Dace & Mohr, Superbly Studios, The Marketing Arm, Oust, Ritual Film Co, J. Walter Thompson, Media Dept, Desert Wind Films, Spector Films, ProPac Agency Selected Talent + Influencers Worked With: Young Guru, Tyra Banks, Derek Huff, Lauren Schleyer, Karl Shakur, Andy To, Sarah Hopkins, Aaron Chewning, Josh Kelly

Director / Cinematographer

The Marketing Arm, Omnicom

2017 – 2019

Director and / or Cinematographer on projects with budgets up to $150K commercial production and branded content for various clients including American Airlines, AT&T, Frito Lay, YellowTail, GameStop, StateFarm, Phillips, Nissan, NFL Draft via The Marketing Arm and more. Working with a wide ranging list of talent from real people telling real stories to talent like Derek Huff, Liza Koshy, Tyra Banks, Karl Shakur, Andy To, and more.