Qualia Pictures is owned and operated by Matt V. Rhodes
Global Storyteller, Single-Shooter Video Producer
Matt is a full-service, single-crew producer who has spent more than 12 years honing his skills in every stage of videography from concept development and storyboarding in pre-production, shooting, interviewing and sound engineering in the field, to editing, sound mixing and color grading in post. His award-winning videos are known for their cinematic style, turning complex issues into informative and engaging visual stories. Whether interviewing prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, families who fled violence in Afghanistan, teenagers surviving in Nairobi’s Dandora landfill, or protestors taking to the streets in Washington, D.C., Matt is able to convey authentic stories by quickly establishing rapport with the people who entrust him to do so.
Collaborator & Catalyst
Clients describe Matt as both a collaborator and a catalyst. He storyboards with teams to discover the heart of a narrative, then captures it with the craft of a filmmaker and the urgency of a journalist. A fast-moving producer and masterful interviewer, Matt thrives in the field — assessing visual assets on the fly, shaping rapid-response coverage at rallies and protests, or crafting longer-form pieces that give news and non-governmental organizations narratives that inform and enlighten the audience.
As an experienced editor, he “shoots to edit” by framing, timing and sequencing his shots in the field, already mapping out how the puzzle pieces align well before entering the edit bay. Once there, he shifts between the contemplative and kinetic, pacing imagery with sound to captivate the viewer without losing sight of what matters most: the story.
Award-Winning Career
Matt's professional career began while still earning a graduate degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Between courses, he was commissioned by the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) to interview recently deported migrants on-location in Matamoros, Mexico to document the dangers facing them, such as the threat human trafficking by warring cartels in the area.
Upon his return, Matt co-produced and shot "Flipping the Script," an Emmy-winning documentary about the mission of Derek Brown: a returning prisoner and community organizer who created after-school programs to steer West Side Chicago youth away from gang affiliation haunting the area. The film went on to win First Place in its category from the Illinois Press Photographer’s Association.
After completing his degree, he covered trials at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and went on to help produce Transgender: At War and in Love, one of The New York Times’ most watched Op-Docs — later expanded into the feature TransMilitary, winner of the SXSW Audience Award.
Since then, Matt’s worked with The Washington Post, Al Jazeera+, Vice News, Congressional Quarterly Roll Call and a litany of NGOs and non-profit organizations many of which focus on environmental and humanitarian issues.
Tools & Craft
Matt owns a suite of top-tier camera, lighting and sound gear, is expertly proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro, Audition, Photoshop, Vimeo, YouTube and developing short-form vertical videos for social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram Reels and live streaming programs, such as OBS.
Sound is a key component to Rhodes’ storytelling. His NU professor, Craig Duff, taught him, “People will watch bad video with good sound, but never good video with bad sound.” Matt utilizes technical mastery with creative instinct by weaving music, nat sound and audio design to complement his imagery and elevate the story.
As a “hybrid-shooter,” Matt has a penchant for still photography, being able to switch from cinematographer to photographer in as much time as it takes to flick the switch on his Canon R5c.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy with a focus on ethics and a Master’s Degree of Science in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. Whether producing rapid-response coverage or polished features, Rhodes has earned the reputation as a visual storyteller whose work aims to captivate, enlighten and inform.