Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoine.
Hi Antoine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a small village nestled between the countryside and the mountains in the south of France. Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved telling stories. But before sharing them with anyone else, I first told them to myself. My imagination became a world of its own, filled with characters, emotions, and places that felt incredibly real. At some point, I began wondering what would happen if those stories could leave my mind and come to life through the eyes of others.
That is how cinema became an obvious path for me. I wanted to write, direct films, and turn emotions, sensations, and ideas into images. What fascinates me most is the way a film can connect complete strangers, reminding us of what we share while also celebrating what makes each of us unique.
While studying screenwriting, I had the opportunity to intern in Paris as an assistant director. Stepping behind the scenes of a film production was a turning point. I witnessed dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people working together to transform a few written pages into something alive. More importantly, I realized that filmmaking is a deeply collaborative art and that meaningful encounters often shape both our work and our lives.
Then the pandemic arrived, bringing countless projects—and everyday life itself—to an unexpected halt. Like many people, I had to adapt. I worked a variety of jobs, from restaurants and live events to delivering mail and even working as a funeral stonemason. Looking back, I see that every experience taught me something—not only about people, but about myself. Each one quietly enriched the way I see the world and, ultimately, the stories I want to tell.
One day, a friend I had met during my internship called me with a spontaneous proposal: “Come to Paris. Stay with me for as long as you need. We’ll write together, make our films, and chase our dream.”
I was both terrified and excited. But I knew that some opportunities only come once in a lifetime. So I left my village, everything familiar, and stepped into the unknown, hoping to build a life centered around what made me feel truly alive: creating stories that could, in turn, make others feel alive too.
That’s how my journey really began.
When I arrived in Paris, I once again worked different jobs—front desk host, restaurant employee, escape game master, and many others—to support myself while continuing to pursue my creative ambitions. Little by little, I found my own place, built a new life, and kept moving forward.
Since then, I’ve worked on a wide range of productions, including feature films, television shows, commercials, and music videos. Every set has been another opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow.
Along the way, I’ve met extraordinary people. Every encounter has shaped me in some way, teaching me something new, giving me confidence, or encouraging me to keep going. At the same time, I continued writing and directing my own projects, sometimes alone and sometimes alongside talented collaborators. I simply couldn’t imagine a life without creating.
That same desire naturally led me to professional photography. Today, I photograph actors, artists, and everyday people, capturing fleeting moments, genuine emotions, and fragments of life. In many ways, photography is an extension of filmmaking for me. Both are about telling stories—the only difference is that one unfolds over time, while the other exists within a single frame.
Five years have now passed since I moved to Paris. I continue developing my films, my photography, and every creative project that allows me to express myself.
The more I move forward, the more I realize that my greatest journey wasn’t simply leaving my hometown for Paris. It’s the ongoing journey of turning imagination into reality and creating stories that allow people to see a part of themselves through someone else’s eyes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but an easy journey. I think that’s true for most artistic careers, and for anyone who chooses to leave their comfort zone and step into the unknown.
The challenges have come from many different directions. The first, and probably the most immediate, is financial. You have to earn a living while still finding the time, energy, and resources to develop your own projects, hoping that one day they will become your main source of income. In the beginning, that balance is difficult to achieve and the path is rarely straightforward.
Another challenge is building a network. When you’re starting out, you don’t know anyone. You have to create opportunities, introduce yourself, reach out to people, and sometimes be bold enough to knock on doors that seem impossible to open. It takes confidence, persistence, and a willingness to put yourself out there.
But I believe the most difficult obstacle is yourself.
You have to learn to trust yourself and give yourself permission to believe that what you’re creating has value. You have to accept rejection without letting it define you, stay focused when things don’t go as planned, and understand that meaningful careers take time to build. Above all, you have to wake up every day with the determination to keep going, to work harder, and to believe in your vision even before anyone else does.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I currently work as a photographer, focusing mainly on actor portraits, behind-the-scenes photography, and capturing authentic moments filled with emotion. Alongside photography, I write screenplays and direct my own films. I’ve directed several short films that have been screened at film festivals across France.
Portrait photography is where I feel most at home. I’m fascinated by the subtle details of a person’s expression—their eyes, their emotions, their intensity. I love telling stories through frozen moments. With filmmaking, my focus shifts toward human relationships. I’m drawn to exploring our deepest fears, our vulnerabilities, and the invisible emotions that shape the way we connect with one another.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular project—it’s the determination that has guided my journey. I’m proud that I chose to pursue the life I had imagined for myself, even when it meant leaving everything familiar behind and embracing uncertainty. I often tell myself that even if one day it all comes to an end, even if none of it becomes as big as I once dreamed, I’ll always be proud that I had the courage to try and to build this path on my own terms.
What sets me apart is probably the same thing that sets every artist apart: my personality and my perspective. We all see the world differently, and that’s what makes art so powerful. My work is rooted in my own vision of human relationships and in a desire to explore the fears, doubts, and emotions we all carry within us. I believe authenticity is every creator’s true signature. It’s what makes each voice unique, while at the same time creating an invisible bond between us all.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there’s one thing I’d like to leave with your readers, it’s this: sometimes we’re so focused on the dream we’re chasing that we don’t realize we’re already living it.
When I left my hometown for Paris, I thought I was pursuing a distant goal—to contribute, in my own way, to the world of cinema. Over time, I realized that every screenplay I write, every film I direct, every photograph I take, every person I meet, and every challenge I overcome is already part of that dream. I wasn’t waiting for my life to begin—I was already living it.
The final outcome is never entirely up to us. It takes hard work, of course, but it also depends on timing, the people we meet, and sometimes a little bit of luck. Those things are beyond our control. The only thing we truly control is our commitment: choosing to show up every day, to keep creating, and to keep moving forward despite doubt, rejection, or uncertainty.
For a long time, I was fascinated by the destination. Today, I’m just as fascinated by the journey itself. Someone who has deeply inspired me helped me understand something that changed my perspective: if our happiness depends only on reaching a distant goal, we risk missing the beauty of everything that happens along the way. That goal might take years to reach—or we may never reach it at all. So why not make the journey itself extraordinary?
I’m only 27 years old, yet I’ve already lived experiences I could never have imagined. I’ve met people who changed the way I see the world, learned different trades, created, failed, started over, and grown with every step. In chasing my dream, I realized I was already living it.
I simply hope that everyone finds the courage to take that first step toward whatever truly makes them feel alive. Because, in the end, the life we’re searching for often begins the moment we dare to leave what’s familiar behind.
Pricing:
- I don’t have fixed pricing to share, as every project is different. I’m always happy to discuss each collaboration based on its specific needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.antoinepinna.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antoine_pinna_photo/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-pinna-6a94571b7/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/antoine_pinna/
