Emmy-winning cinematographer Natalie Kingston, the DP behind Apple TV+’s hit series Black Bird, joins The Fable House Podcast to break down her creative process, cinematography techniques, and the career path that led her to win an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography.
In this deep-dive interview, Natalie shares her experience shooting Black Bird, working with Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser, navigating long-form storytelling, and handling real on-set challenges—including the unforgettable day her and some of the crew got accidentally locked inside a real Louisiana prison during production.
Whether you’re a cinematographer, filmmaker, DP, or film student, this episode is packed with valuable insights into lighting, camera operation, visual storytelling, and breaking into the film industry without film school.
Natalie Kingston is an Emmy-winning cinematographer, director of photography, and visual storyteller known for her work on:
• Black Bird (Apple TV+)
• Feature films, commercials & music videos
• Narrative visual storytelling rooted in Louisiana culture
• Long-form series cinematography and high-end prestige TV
Timestamps:
00:00 – Natalie’s Emmy Win & Out-of-Body Moment
00:23 – Getting Locked in a Prison While Filming Black Bird
04:30 – Shooting Black Bird in Real Louisiana Prisons
07:30 – Moving to LA, Returning Home to Shoot Black Bird
09:44 – Being the Sole DP for All 6 Episodes
13:22 – Shout out to David F. Sandberg and the @ponysmasher channel behind the scenes
15:43 – The Emmy-Winning Episode: Why She Submitted Episode 3
17:31 – The Emmy Submission & Nomination Process
21:30 – Natalie was inspired by Daniel Day Lewis and Phantom Thread for her homemade fashion show
22:47 – Walking the Red Carpet & Winning the Emmy
26:49 – Did the Emmy Change Her Career?
27:00 – Natalie references the book The Secret to the Law of Attraction
28:11 – Discovering Manifestation & The Secret
29:00 – Natalie mentions https://www.mainemedia.edu/
29:13 – How She Learned Cinematography Without Film School
37:07 – What Makes an Ideal Creative Collaborator
59:09 – What She Loves Filming Now
01:03:24 – Her Next TV Series