For South Australian cinematographer Michael Tessari (BCreatArts (Screen Production) \u201912, BCreatArts(Hons) \u201912), the spark to capture moments in time started early. \u201cOne of my earliest memories of photography was playing with Dad\u2019s little SLR camera,\u201d he says. \u201cI was at the zoo and taking photos at six years old\u2026 I\u2019ve still got those photos.\u201d<\/p>\n
That early fascination eventually collided with natural ability. It was during a conversation in a Screen studies class at Flinders where Michael shared that he could easily visualise shots with clarity, and discovered this is a great advantage in his intended profession. \u201cAlthough I\u2019m not great with books and essays, I feel I can hold onto and recreate images from memory.\u201d That ability became a cornerstone of his cinematography practice. That ability became a cornerstone of his cinematography practice.<\/p>\n
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Finding His Path at Flinders<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael was accepted into the Screen program at Flinders straight out of high school \u2013 something he still describes as a defining moment. \u201cIt was quite a small class back then, and you had to do an interview and create a portfolio for the application process. I was only 17 years old when I was accepted and I remember thinking, \u2018maybe I can actually do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n His years at Flinders remain some of his favourite. \u201cUni was one of the best times of my life. I was young, there wasn\u2019t too much stress, and I was hanging out with people who wanted to make movies on the weekend,\u201d he says. One standout memory was making a web series with a friend. \u201cIt was massive. We wrote the scripts and directed episodes. Achieving that felt really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n He still collaborates with Flinders graduates today. \u201cEvery second person I meet on a film set is a Flinders grad,\u201d he laughs. And he gives back to the next generation of film makers whenever he can. \u201cI do mentoring and some guest lectures and I always encourage people to reach out. When I was starting out, I really appreciated the people in the industry who replied to my emails.\u201d<\/p>\n Before launching into film, Michael briefly considered photography more seriously. But the social, collaborative side of cinematography ultimately won him over. \u201cPhotography felt too isolating for me. Cinematography has this team aspect and camaraderie that really suited me.\u201d<\/p>\n Straight out of uni, he became a 2nd<\/sup> camera assistant. \u201cI worked on anything I could get onto, paid or not much pay,\u201d he says. He worked his way to 1st<\/sup> camera assistant while shooting small projects on the side.<\/p>\n Eventually, he faced the leap every DP (Directory of Photography) must take: stop assisting and commit fully to shooting. \u201cYou take a hit to the income and just hope for the best,\u201d he says. Still, he\u2019s grateful he started young. \u201cI didn\u2019t have people relying on me at the time. That made it easier to take risks and go into freelancing,\u201d he says. But freelance life can be stressful, \u201cwhen I\u2019m working it can be tiring and stressful and I want some downtime, and when I have downtime I want to be working because that\u2019s what pays the bills, but I really wouldn\u2019t have it any other way\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Shooting Across SA and Beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n South Australia remains one of Michael\u2019s favourite places to work. \u201cThere are so many advantages \u2013 the locations and the crew are amazing,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve got such a variety of landscapes. The last horror film I shot was set in Utah, and while we took some drone footage in Utah, we shot most the film in a pine forest in SA.\u201d<\/p>\n Small towns especially leave an impression. \u201cPeople have been so generous in letting our film crews into their houses and streets,\u201d he says. \u201cI forget how unique it is to do what we do until I see people gathering on their lawns to watch the filming.\u201d<\/p>\n Tough shoots are part of the deal, sometimes brutally so. He recalls one location where \u201cit rained and rained and rained,\u201d while filming nights in winter. \u201cIt was 3am, I\u2019m wearing three jackets, a beanie, gloves, gum boots, and trying to walk through mud. It\u2019s crazy what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite long hours, tough conditions, and creative pressure, there\u2019s one moment that always hits hardest: the premiere. \u201cThe first time an audience sees a film you\u2019ve shot is the most rewarding and terrifying experience,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve probably seen the film 100 times in the edit and colour grade. But watching it with an audience? Nothing compares. But I\u2019m not as terrified as I used to be. Over time I\u2019ve learned that audiences aren\u2019t scrutinising my work, they\u2019re just there to enjoy the story\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Proud Moments and What Comes Next<\/strong><\/p>\n For Michael, who has already won a swag of awards for his work, the biggest accomplishment isn\u2019t a single film, it\u2019s being able to shoot feature films at all. \u201cFeatures are a hard circle to crack,\u201d he says, and every project still feels meaningful. \u201cThey\u2019re big days, sometimes months in the middle of nowhere, braving weather, stress, long hours\u2026 getting through that with a decent film feels amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers<\/strong><\/p>\n His advice to future Flinders students, and anyone starting out, is simple: slow down. \u201cYou\u2019ve got time,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a mindset now of needing to jump straight into the deep end. But a career in filmmaking is a long process. Hone your skills, be a good person, build relationships, work on as many projects as you can. Persevere and it will come.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want to find out more about Michael and his work visit michaeltessari.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2025 Michael won four gold and a silver award in the Australian Cinematographers Society Awards SA and WA. He was also awarded a Distinction in the National Awards in the category of Feature Films Under $3M for his work on the film\u00a0With or Without You.<\/em><\/p>\n Read more<\/a> about all the Flinders ACS Award winners.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n