Music, fashion, and their attendant aesthetics, moods, and expression have been central to Mylo Butler, BFA Film ’21, as he has built his body of work—but also stories, particularly those of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other communities whose voices and experiences might be overlooked. A director and cinematographer with a specialization in color grading, Butler began his studies as a photography major at Pratt Munson before joining Pratt’s film program in Brooklyn, culminating in a thesis film—Sundown Town, an all-too-real horror short about two boyfriends and an ill-fated road trip pit stop—that made the rounds and picked up accolades at more than 20 festivals. Since then, Butler has captured runways from Tory Burch to Toteme; worked on campaigns for fashion brands like Levi’s and Diesel and magazines including Ebony, Paper, and Out; and made dance and music videos with performers like voguing star Honey Balenciaga, singer-songwriter Teyana Taylor, and drag diva Selma Nilla. (Butler shot her technicolor take on Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go” at one of his favorite Brooklyn spots, All Night Skate.)
Fresh from a project highlighting SZA before her halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX, and in the early stages of shooting his first feature film, Butler shared a bit about what’s been essential to his work, how he stays grounded, and what’s been inspiring him this year.
1.
As a creative/artist in the industry, it can be really hard to create a routine and stick with it, but I try my best to find things to do that keep me grounded that aren’t always flexing my creative muscles but more feeding the logical side of my brain. I go roller skating [pictured here is Bushwick skating hotspot Xanadu Roller Arts], sometimes I practice building my camera configurations, or even doing something as simple as having a coffee and watching the news.
2.
Right now with my busy schedule, it’s hard to find things to do other than work, but I really enjoy consuming content—music videos, horror movies—and even reading Marvel comic books. It allows me to absorb certain references and stay connected to things that I enjoy, and use elements of them as inspiration in my work, which ultimately makes it feel more like me. I’ve been reading some of the Young Avengers comics recently and Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, Agatha Harkness, and Captain Marvel.
3.
. . . for horror movies, The Substance—and it’s not a horror movie, but I have been enjoying Wicked so much!
4.
I love music . . . but I think it’s the melodies and ballads of artists like Ariana Grande, Daniel Caesar, SZA, and even Beyoncé that really influence and inspire me and my work.
5.
My camera is my most essential tool. I feel very close to it, and that it fuels my brain in a way that marries both the logical and creative sides of it. A camera system that I have been familiarizing myself with is the Sony FX3 Camera, building unique camera configurations for each shoot. I like using different cameras for everything depending on what I’m shooting, but I really enjoy the versatility of the Sony Camera system.
6.
All throughout my time at Pratt and even today, an object that always inspired me was prisms. The way they refract and interpret white rays of light into different wavelengths of color is just so inspiring to me!
7.
One thing I have recently discovered about myself, which I had never really thought about until now, is how important your instincts are to your work and basically everything you do. I feel most centered with myself and my work when I’m able to trust myself when it comes to the many important decisions I face every day. You will never make a bad decision if it comes from trusting yourself and your ability to see things only you can see.
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