Matt Bendo
Cinematographer | Storyteller in Light
Matt’s creative spark began in animation and game design – until he realized he “could still paint with light and still be a cinematographer and create images that way and tell stories.”
“Even when I was a lot younger I was always really interested in creating things… I couldn’t be an artist with pen and paper, but I can still paint with light.”
Visual Style:
Matt’s signature lies in marrying cutting‑edge digital capture with vintage, organic optics – wide‑open T1.3 Super Speeds at ISO 3200 – 6400 give him the freedom to sculpt light, not chase exposure.
“The Alexa 35’s new sensor… lets me shoot at a much higher ISO and still have it be an acceptable image. Paired with something organic like the Zeiss Super Speeds, it lends that filmic quality.”
He controls every nuance of diffusion and texture, choosing tools that shape light rather than overpower it.
Preferred Camera Package:
Compact, versatile, and tuned for cinematic texture.
- Camera: ARRI Alexa 35
- Lenses: Zeiss Super Speeds
- Support & Motion:
- Dana Dolly
- O’Connor 2575 Head
- Dana Dolly
- Monitoring:
- SmallHD Cine7 (OLED)
- SmallHD 2403 Director’s Monitor
- SmallHD Cine7 (OLED)
- Mattebox & Filters:
- ARRI LMB‑25 3‑Stage Mattebox
- 4×5.6 Clear Filter
- 4×5.6 Rota Pola
- ARRI LMB‑25 3‑Stage Mattebox
- Wireless Video: Teradek Bolt Pro 1000
“Something I always have in my package that isn’t related to camera is muslin – I use it in floppies, taped to walls, bouncing Fresnels into it. It’s my main diffusion tool.”
The One Thing He Always Packs:
“I always have a Nona plate – a small glass plate I took from my Nonna’s house. It gives a homogeneous, Vaseline‑like imperfection I can bring in and out of frame as a storytelling device.”
(Pro tip: always slip a clear filter in front of the lens to protect the plate.)
His Underrated Gem:
“Muslin fabric – my go‑to diffusion tool. It’s versatile, warm, and essential to the way I shape light on set.”
Rent Matt's Kit:
Shoot with Matt’s exact setup by Contacting Ontario Camera and requesting this package.
Advice for Emerging Filmmakers:
“Be bold. Don’t worry about what you see on Instagram. Experiment, get weird, and don’t be self‑conscious – there are endless ways to achieve something new.”