PETE ROMANO: INNOVATOR IN UNDERWATER CINEMATOGRAPHY AND HYDROFLEX CREATOR

Pete Romano, ASC, a former U.S. Navy Diver, revolutionized underwater cinematography with his inventions at HydroFlex, Inc.

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His designs, like the HMI underwater lights and RAC MK5 housing, have been pivotal in shaping the industry. Known for his work on iconic films such as Titanic and Inception, Romano's technical expertise and creative vision have earned him two Academy Technical Achievement Awards. As a leading underwater Director of Photography, he continues to push boundaries in both cinematography and equipment innovation, ensuring a lasting legacy in film production.

Pete Romano, ASC, is a former U.S. Navy Diver and member of the Pacific Fleet Underwater Combat Camera Group.

After his Navy service, Pete was determined to find work in the motion picture industry, eventually landing employment as an Assistant Cameraman at ILM, the renowned visual effects facility, where he built his first underwater housing for the GSMO 16 mm camera. In 1985, while working as a Camera Operator at Boss Film in LA, he was contracted by the Cousteau Society to design and build their state-of-the art underwater camera housings. That same year, he built his first underwater housing for the Arri 35-3 film camera after recognizing the industry need for standardized equipment to simplify and enhance the underwater shooting process. Soon after, camera rental houses were representing his product and HydroFlex, Inc became a viable business.