New York Film Academy (NYFA) Filmmaking Alum Rozette Rago Photographs Steven Spielberg and the Cast of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’

April 29, 2019

Freelance photographer and New York Film Academy (NYFA) Workshop alum Rozette Rago was recently profiled by ABS-CBN news. Rago has photographed several high-profile subjects, including Steven Spielberg, U2, and the cast of Crazy Rich Asians, and often shoots for The New York Times. Rago hails from Marilao in the Philippines and is currently based in Los Angeles. In 2011, Rago completed New York Film Academy’s 8-Week Filmmaking Workshop. Her first big break came after shooting legendary rock group U2. Since then, she has worked for national publications including FADER, Buzzfeed News, Bloomberg, TIME, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Smithsonian Books, VICE, and HBO. Additionally, she has shot on the set of famed sitcom Will & Grace and has worked as a photo editor for Time Out Los Angeles.

Rago is also a freelance photographer for The New York Times and has worked with the publication to shoot subjects including musician Shirley Manson, actor Riz Ahmed, racing driver Robert Shwartzman, the cast of Crazy Rich Asians, and filmmaker/NYFA guest speaker Steven Spielberg. When asked about shooting such high-profile subjects, Rago told ABS-CBN, “The biggest challenge with these shoots is maintaining composure. I have very limited time with them so I always have to stay focused on the images I need. I allow myself to freak out later when I’m driving home.”

The interview and profile also focus on Rago’s position as a woman of color in an industry that has been traditionally male-dominated, but that has been undergoing a seismic—yet, gradual—shift in the past few years. Rago currently works as the photo editor at Wirecutter, a product review website owned by The New York Times. She also continues to shoot freelance.

The New York Film Academy congratulates Filmmaking alum Rozette Rago on her continued success!


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