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Hi everyone,
My name is Matt Opena, and I'm a full-time freelance cinematographer & DP.
On Saturday, September 13th, my car was broken into in Arts District, LA… and all of my essential film equipment was stolen. I lost not only tens of thousands of dollars in gear, but also the tools I rely on to support myself, fulfill current projects, and continue building my career.
For those who know me personally, this isn’t easy to share. As someone who prides himself on being resourceful and self-sufficient, asking for help is and has always been incredibly difficult for me. However, through the warmth and care of my friends and family, I have come to see that asking for help in times like this is more than understandable.
What I Lost:
- 3x cameras (Nikon z9 fully rigged cinema camera // Nikon z6 B cam rig // Fujifilm x-t4)
- 1x go pro hero 12 action camera with accessories
- All of my lenses (5 lenses total: 2x 24-70mm 2.8 // 70-200mm 2.8 // 23mm 1.4 // 105mm 1.4)
- All of my support gear (LiDAR, grip, rig parts, and rigging equipment)
- All of my audio recording equipment
- All 9 of my external hard drives with work since I started (this one hurts the most)
- My new laptop (I just upgraded like 2 months ago )
- A pair of AirPod Max
- My backpack and Pelican case
There’s more, but that’s the more important stuff. The financial hit is overwhelming, and insurance won’t come close to covering the full extent of the loss, but the biggest hit is something I can’t replace, which is all the past memories and projects I had on those drives. It’s been a really painful and disheartening couple of days, to say the least… But hopefully, with enough donations, I can get right back to making new memories once again.
I have clients counting on me, projects in progress, and a career that depends on having the right tools. Every dollar raised will go directly toward replacing essential equipment so I can get back to doing what I love — telling visual stories that matter. For those who know me personally, you know I live and breathe this career and all it encompasses. I’ve been blessed to live and experience the many beauties life has to offer through this career and am eagerly trying reset and start again.
Whether you’re able to donate or just share this campaign, every bit helps more than you know. Thank you for taking the time to read this, support me, and lift me back up during this incredibly difficult time. If you want to donate but not through GoFundMe, you can zelle through the QR code I have in the photos. Thank you so much.
Peace, Love, n all the above-
Matto :)
Organizer
