In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed camera and Steadicam operator, Ashlea Downes, for an intimate look into the artistry, discipline, and emotional honesty behind visual storytelling. Ashlea shares the journey that led her behind the lens—from early creative sparks to the physically demanding craft of Steadicam work—and how she learned to see movement as a language all its own. She discusses the challenges of working on fast-paced sets, honing precision through strength and intuition, and how vulnerability plays a role in crafting powerful imagery. Listeners are invited into her world of creative risks, personal breakthroughs, and the collaborative magic that fuels every frame. Filled with thoughtful reflections and cinematic insight, this episode offers a rare look at the heart and hustle of a visual artist whose steady eye captures motion, meaning, and human truth. Perfect for filmmakers, cinematographers, creators, and anyone curious about the emotional stories behind the camera.

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Ashlea Downes interview, camera operator interview, steadicam operator, steadicam artistry, filmmaking podcast, cinematography podcast, behind the scenes filmmaking, women in film, film production stories, camera movement, creative process interview, visual storytelling, film industry careers, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, women behind the camera, on-set filmmaking, cinematographer spotlight, film equipment, filmmaking education, film crew insights, podcast for filmmakers, camera department, film interview, entertainment podcast, personal storytelling

South African camera operator and steadicam operator, Ashlea Downes. Among Ashlea’s credits are the popular Netflix series Bridgerton on which she is working with a previous guest on this podcast, Alicia Robbins. Ashlea has also worked on House of the Dragon, Wicked, Skyfall, Spider-Man: Far From Home and His Dark Materials. Ashlea was born in Pretoria, South African in 1985. Her father, Ant, was an accountant and business owner, and her mother, Alex, an artist and art teacher. Her brother, Scott, is a hand painted sign artist. Ashlea grew up enjoying sports and the outdoors; she was a competitive rider, taking after her mother who was a keen horsewoman. She also swam, played water polo and netball but academia was not her rap. Instead she followed her father’s interest in photography and her mother’s talent for art. Her love of wildlife gave her aspirations to be a wildlife documentary filmmaker so it was no surprise that these influences steered her to the AFDA Film School where she graduated with a degree in Cinematography. After college, her relentless determination and ambition to break into the industry opened up opportunities that would prove the foundation of her career, and soon she would find herself being called up for the Bond movie Skyfall filming in Turkey and then to the UK to film at the London Olympics. A turning point in her career was moving to the UK shortly after where she met her partner and found steady work from trainee to 2nd AC/ loader and then making her mark as a camera operator. Ashlea lives between Reading, England and Cape Town, South Africa with her husband Karl Taggart. She is currently working as a camera operator on Season 4 of Bridgerton.
 
Ashlea on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4701569/
Instagram: @ashlea_downes 
https://www.instagram.com/ashlea_downes
 
Ashlea’s favorite women in visual arts:
Charlotte Bruus Christensen
Mandy Walker
Reed Morano
Rachel Morrison
Catherine Goldschmidt
Alicia Robbins
Alice Brook
Elana Garret 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
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