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Los Angeles based Steadicam operator David Parrella filming a music video with Sad Cops, directed by Austin Roa Los Angeles based Steadicam operator David Parrella filming a music video with Sad Cops, directed by Austin Roa Behind the scenes photo from David Parrella's thesis film Origin (2018)

David Parrella

LA based Steadicam Operator David Parrella wearing a Steadicam  vest

Looking for a skilled, LA-based Steadicam Operator and Filmmaker? I have over seven years of experience operating Steadicam across various media formats, including film, TV, live broadcast, commercials, and music videos. While I’m based in Los Angeles, I can travel globally to capture the perfect shot with any professional camera setup.

My unique marching band background gives me an edge in executing precise and artful shots. With thousands of hours of rehearsal and field performance in college alone, learning a new show for every game trained me in rapid muscle memory retention. Combined with my love of cinema, this allows me to approach each shot with great care and precision.

Let’s create something amazing together!

I’ve worked for…

Disney Logo
Marvel logo
Dior logo
Roland logo
Prime Video NFL Thursday Night Football logo

My recent work

“Phoenix”

Dir. Sid Dalvi – Prod. Jackie Urteaga

Visual Effects Supervisor

Setting an entire room on fire, digitally, was a fun and challenging experience! I also did several screen replacements, stabilization and cleanup, and other effects on this project which is currently on its festival circuit run.

Take the Field

Director, Co-Producer

Take the Field is an ongoing documentary project capturing behind-the-scenes of some of the country’s most talented, hard-working college marching bands.

“Alexei 3049: DeLorean” by DragonWulf

Dir. Charlie Schwan – Prod. Micah Schultz

Director of Photography, Editor & Visual Effects

Perhaps my busiest project of the year, DeLorean was made with a bunch of close friends and collaborators. I shot, edited, and did the visual effects for this cyber-punk themed music video.

Multifaceted Filmmaker

Beyond the camera department, my filmmaking experience includes directing, producing, and post-production. My thesis film, Origin, debuted at the Berlin Sci-Fi Film Fest in 2018, where it was nominated for Best Drama Short. It won at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival and STUFF (South Texas Underground) and was a selection and nominee at several other festivals across the country and around the globe.

Steadicam Operator David Parrella wearing a Steadicam rig on a football field.

Take The Field: Michigan (Season 2, Episode 5) dir. David Parrella

My documentary series, Take The Field, in collaboration with collegemarching.com, goes behind the scenes of elite college marching bands as they prepare for and perform shows in front of hundreds of thousands of fans in some of the most electric stadium environments on earth.

Still of an orange clean room from Origin (2018) a short film by David Parrella

Origin (2018) directed by David Parrella

Certifications and Licenses

DaVinci Resolve Icon

DaVinci Resolve Studio

Blackmagic Design

Steadicam Silver Workshop logo

Steadicam®

The Tiffen Company & AbelCine

FAA Part 107

Federal Aviation Administration

PADI scuba diving organization logo

Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver

PADI

SafeSport Trained

U.S. Center for SafeSport

David Parrella is an LA based Steadicam Operator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin. Although he resides in Los Angeles, Steadicam is inherently a mobile platform. David loves to travel and can operate a Steadicam anywhere that three checked bags can go.