About
Rayana Rasamee is a Thai-American cinematographer based in Los Angeles. Her passion for the art of storytelling is drawn from a desire to inspire, uplift and introduce new perspectives. As a product of immigrant parents, she is enamored with stories that examine the human experience while showcasing inclusive imagery representative of her upbringing.
Rayana’s cinematography work encompasses narrative feature films, documentaries and commercials for world-renowned clients such as Valentino, Toyota, Puma, and Covergirl. Her career in film took off after deciding to pivot from a decade-long journey working in tech. In 2018, she was accepted to the inaugural class of the American Film Institute’s Cinematography Intensive for Women (CIW) and in 2022, she completed her MFA in Cinematography at the AFI Conservatory with support from AFI AWARDS Audi Scholarship, Tom Yoda Award and P.E.O. International. She holds a BA in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and is an associate member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC).
In March 2023, Rayana was selected as one of four cinematography participants out of 1500 applicants for Issa Rae’s talent management company, ColorCreative’s inaugural ‘Find Your People’ cohort.
Upon graduating from AFI, Rayana has completed shooting three independent feature films: “Spiral into the Yellow Void” a psychological horror film shot in Santa Fe, NM starring Monique Candelaria (Breaking Bad, Lovecraft Country) and directed by Levin Garbisch. “Ugly Sweater” a coming-of-age story shot on digital, super 16mm and stop-motion animation, starring Deja Monique Cruz (Disney+ The Crossover), directed by Lauren Musgrove and produced by Purple Magnet Productions. “Second Chair, Stage Left” a feature documentary uncovering the rise and fall of the jazz scene in Las Vegas directed by Kevin Abrams and produced by Alpine Labs.
She is currently in pre-production for her fourth indie feature film called “I Need You To Stay” directed by Bria Massie and will be filming in Washington State in September 2024.
Rayana’s cinematography work encompasses narrative feature films, documentaries and commercials for world-renowned clients such as Valentino, Toyota, Puma, and Covergirl. Her career in film took off after deciding to pivot from a decade-long journey working in tech. In 2018, she was accepted to the inaugural class of the American Film Institute’s Cinematography Intensive for Women (CIW) and in 2022, she completed her MFA in Cinematography at the AFI Conservatory with support from AFI AWARDS Audi Scholarship, Tom Yoda Award and P.E.O. International. She holds a BA in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and is an associate member of the Society of Camera Operators (SOC).
In March 2023, Rayana was selected as one of four cinematography participants out of 1500 applicants for Issa Rae’s talent management company, ColorCreative’s inaugural ‘Find Your People’ cohort.
Upon graduating from AFI, Rayana has completed shooting three independent feature films: “Spiral into the Yellow Void” a psychological horror film shot in Santa Fe, NM starring Monique Candelaria (Breaking Bad, Lovecraft Country) and directed by Levin Garbisch. “Ugly Sweater” a coming-of-age story shot on digital, super 16mm and stop-motion animation, starring Deja Monique Cruz (Disney+ The Crossover), directed by Lauren Musgrove and produced by Purple Magnet Productions. “Second Chair, Stage Left” a feature documentary uncovering the rise and fall of the jazz scene in Las Vegas directed by Kevin Abrams and produced by Alpine Labs.
She is currently in pre-production for her fourth indie feature film called “I Need You To Stay” directed by Bria Massie and will be filming in Washington State in September 2024.
Photo: Naomi Christie
ray@rayana.co
Featured Press
Hollywood Reporter: Top 25 American Film Schools (2023)
Hollywood Reporter: Issa Rae’s ‘Find Your People’ program cohort (2023)
Sante Fe New Mexican: Horror filmmaker living dream (2023)
Hollywood Reporter: The short films from Issa Rae’s ‘Find Your People’ inaugural cohort (2024)