BUDDY SQUIRES - Cinematographer

Buddy Squires, the acclaimed cinematographer behind Ken Burns' landmark documentaries and films like *Beyond the Beach*, reveals that his career was forged not in elite film schools, but in a raw, self-directed journey through the Berkeley Film Institute and Hampshire College. He recounts how a chance encounter with a handbill for a film program in 1970s Berkeley led him to a life of immersive, often dangerous documentary work—shooting in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era, on the frontlines of war zones, and in the heart of refugee crises. What sets Squires apart is his philosophy: filmmaking is not about control, but about presence. He thrives in the chaos of Verité, where the story unfolds in real time and the camera becomes a silent observer. His approach—using small, handheld gear, embracing imperfection, and prioritizing human connection over technical perfection—has redefined how history is visualized. He argues that the most powerful documentaries aren’t scripted, but discovered, and that the best films emerge from collaboration, risk, and the willingness to be present in the moment, even when it means losing expensive shoes in a mud pit. In a world of overused drones and polished narratives, Squires remains a believer in the raw, the real, and the deeply human. Squires’ work is defined by a relentless pursuit of authenticity. He doesn’t just document history—he reenacts it with a reverence for the physical and emotional truth of the past.