About El Claroscuro Films

Hello, I’m Vicente Porfilio, head of EL CLAROSCURO FILMS. Together with my partner Ese Ruiz, we shape a cinematic vision inspired by art, cinema and the masters of chiaroscuro.

We transform ideas and words into visual poetry through cinematic works with their own distinct identity, where emotion, technique and art come together. We develop, direct and produce film and video projects, supporting our clients throughout the entire process: from the initial idea to the final production.

Based in Spain (Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona) we work without boundaries: across the country and anywhere in the world.

This film is not just a presentation: it is a way of understanding who we are and how we approach creation.

Understanding El Claroscuro Films

Chiaroscuro is the way in which darkness makes us appreciate light. It is from this contrast that our storytelling style is born: revealing the light and, with it, the story that lives in every scene, every shot, every frame… Building a narrative and cinematic universe that brings meaning and depth to every project.

We are artists, technicians and film creatives with a deep appreciation for the art that communicates through the image: cinema, painting, light…

Creating audiovisual projects in the form of cinematic works where storytelling, technique, visual aesthetics and emotion come together so that each story transcends and is understood by the audience.

Using the language of cinema and visual narrative as essential tools. We integrate cinematographic and photographic techniques that allow us to construct solid, evocative and visually powerful narratives.

We are a small team, and therein lies our strength: we concentrate talent, work with agility and create with freedom. This allows us to engage more closely, more honestly and more deeply with every project, every idea and every emotion.

About me

Chiaroscuro is a technique that lends volume, depth and tension to an image; it creates atmospheres, evokes emotions and gives meaning to every scene. For us, it is the language in which stories that need no words are written. It is our brush. Our way of telling stories.

Chiaroscuro has inspired me so much that it has become our hallmark, and the name of this project born of love and respect.

For me, chiaroscuro is very important in visual communication. It is the raw material for creating narrative, beauty and the visual hierarchy needed to make a scene attractive, interesting and aesthetically pleasing.

Chiaroscuro is ‘speaking’ using light and darkness as an omnipresent narrative voice. Every image is made up of light and darkness to a greater or lesser extent. So chiaroscuro is the guide by which we write stories with images.

Career Path

I can highlight my work as director of photography in the international television channel ALJAZEERA Channel and Bein Sports Channel in Doha (Qatar). Having the responsibility for the lighting and image of the entire channel, with more than 100 cameras spread over 10 sets equipped with the latest technology. And all this for more than 25 million daily viewers around the world.

I have worked for some years as a cinematography and cinematographic lighting teacher at Universal Arts – UA School in Valencia.

I also highlight being the director of photography of 4 videoclips of Mónica Naranjo (among other artists), or having illuminated relevant politicians and presidents of the government of Spain, illuminating the Puerta del Sol in Madrid in several New Year’s Eve chimes, illuminating the Santiago Bernabeu in the closing event of its centenary, or directing the photography of short films, commercials and some feature films.

Anyway, if you want to know more about me, ask me directly, or take a look at this summary I have on LinkedIn.

We cover the technical and creative process from the idea to the final delivery. The number of resources, both technical and human, increases or decreases depending on the size of the project.

At El Claroscuro Films we have a mission

To convey our clients’ message and enhance their image through art, in the form of cinematic works. That is our mission.

We bring our cinematic perspective to every project, allowing the detail, the essence and the everyday to shine in their own right. Through our lens, we elevate to cinematic status that which is remarkable and beautiful, as well as that which seems ordinary and goes unnoticed. We transform it into beauty and into something worthy of being observed, felt and remembered.

Inspirations and references in The Chiaroscuro

Our main references and sources of inspiration are originally the masters of chiaroscuro, and as I said before, precursors of today’s cinematography: Caravaggio, Da Vinci, and Rembrandt above all. We also highlight painters such as Edward Hopper, whose works could well be stills from a good film story. Or the Valencian painter José Benlliure Gil, a mainly costumbrista painter who made truly spectacular use of chiaroscuro in some of his works, such as “La visión del Coliseo” (The View of the Colosseum).

Our cinematographic references

In El Claroscuro Films, we have our role models in the world of cinema, set design, and cinematography. Roger Deakins, Vittorio Storaro, Robert Richardson, and Tom Stern are cinematographers whose style inspires and appeals to us in a significant way. And we have film directors such as Clint Eastwood, Robert Zemeckis, Stanley Kubrick, Tarantino, and Wong Kar-Wai as references, who help us tell and enhance your story visually and narratively.

The equipment

We use professional film equipment to achieve technical and artistic quality. This includes drones and action cameras for underwater and/or sports shots. We can carry out projects for cinema (real 4K DCI for the big screen), streaming platforms, etc. In fact, our standard camera (Sony FX6 Cinema Line) is approved for use in projects for platforms such as Netflix and Prime. In any case, we use the appropriate technical equipment in proportion to the size and purpose of your project. Please contact us if you have any questions.