From Columbia to the Emmys: Cinematographer Tari Segal '03

Person with cameraAlum Tari Segal '03 is an Emmy-nominated cinematographer and member of the American Society of Cinematographers.
head shot of tari segalTari Segal '03
person in hat and sunglasses on film location alum Tari Segal '03 on location.
alum Tari Segal '03 earns her first Emmy nomination for cinematography on “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”

On the morning of July 8, alum Tari Segal '03 awoke to career-changing news.  

Segal, who had been shooting a pilot in Vancouver, received an early morning text message telling her she had earned an Emmy nomination for her cinematography on Apple TV+’s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.” 

“I was basically waking up and thinking, ‘What? Is this a dream?’” Segal recalls. “It was just so unexpected.” 

Thankfully, this was no dream but a defining moment in a 20-plus year career in film and television that all began right here at .  

Learning to Put Story First 

At Columbia, Segal learned about the value of professional relationships, storytelling, and technical skills, and she has leveraged those lessons throughout her career, finding success in an incredibly competitive industry. 
Segal’s journey to Hollywood began soon after graduation, when two Columbia friends invited her to share a place in Los Angeles.  

“I wasn’t even really planning to do it,” she says. “But it felt like it was now or never.” 

Another Columbia connection soon pointed Segal toward an internship on Alexander Payne’s  Oscar-winning  film “Sideways,” where she worked with cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. In that role, she detailed lighting diagrams, took light-meter readings, and photographed lighting setups—an invaluable on-set educational experience in her journey as a filmmaker.  

The technical skills she honed at Columbia helped her step onto that professional set with confidence. 

“The interesting thing about Columbia as opposed to other film schools is you get this great technical education,” Segal says. “The fact that you could leave Columbia and just immediately go on a film set and know your way around was super helpful.” 

Just as importantly, Columbia taught Segal to make creative choices in service of the story rather than simply chase beautiful images. 

“It wasn’t about making something look big or making something look sexy,” she says. “At Columbia, it was about how you tell the story through cinematography, which is everything that cinematography is.” 

She still applies that lesson to every project: “No matter how big the project, I go back to the basics of, ‘well, what am I trying to say in this story?” 

Finding Her Way to “Margo” 

Segal spent her early career shooting music videos, independent features, and commercials before breaking into episodic television. Fellow Columbia alum Jayson Crothers ’02, who would eventually work on “Margo” as well, helped her secure her first second-unit TV job, and Segal used that experience to land even more work.  

“Friends helping friends,” she says. “That’s Columbia in LA for you.” 

From there, each project led to another opportunity. Segal worked on “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Justice,” and “FBI,” followed by “Hunters” and “Interior Chinatown.” On “Interior Chinatown,” she connected with co-showrunner Eva Anderson. When producer Anderson later worked on “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” she recommended Segal for the series. 

The Apple TV+ comedy stars Elle Fanning as Margo, a young single mother confronting financial hardship and finding an unconventional way to support herself and her child. Segal and fellow “Margo” cinematographer and Columbia alum Carl Herse ’06—a two-time Emmy nominee for “Barry”—use naturalism, heightened color, and intimate camerawork to pull viewers into Margo’s world. 

In the “Flamingos” episode for which she was nominated, Segal pushes that visual approach further as the story travels to Las Vegas where Segal used color, light, and movement to track Margo’s emotions and give the episode a distinct visual rhythm. 

“The cinematography of that episode had a bit of a poetic approach to it,” Segal says. “It had a lot of moments where the camera was feeling Margo and using color to talk about emotion.” 

Reaching a Long-Held Goal 

“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” also marked another milestone for Segal: She shot the series shortly after joining the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). Founded in 1919, the invitation-only organization recognizes accomplished directors of photography and advances the art and craft of cinematography. Membership ranks among the profession’s notable honor. 

Segal had imagined joining its ranks since college. 

“You’re at Columbia studying and thinking that one day you’ll be in the ASC or in ‘American Cinematographer’ magazine,” she says. “And then, 23 years later, these things start to happen, and you realize what a journey it’s been.” 

Columbia connections have followed Segal throughout that journey. In addition to fellow alumni Herse and Crothers working on “Margo,” you’ll find first assistant camera Justin Watson ’11. 

During her time in Los Angeles, her alumni relationships offered more than job leads. 

“There’s a lot of camaraderie here in LA and a lot of support from people who know what you’re going through,” Segal says. 

Now, as an ASC member and first-time Emmy nominee, Segal encourages young filmmakers to resist comparing their progress with someone else’s and to keep learning instead. 

“Your path is going to be unique to you, and no one’s going to have the same path as you,” Segal says. “The best thing is to just always continue to be a student. You’re always learning from other people and it’s important to just keep absorbing art around you.” 
 
While Tari didn't win an Emmy this year, fellow alum Christian Sprenger '07 took home an Emmy in a different category for his cinematography work on "Widow's Bay" at the Creative Arts Emmy Award on September 6. Sprenger is also nominated as a producer for "Widow's Bay," and alum Chase Infiniti ’22 has been nominated for an Emmy for her acting on "The Testaments." Those awards will be presented at the 78th Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14, at 7 p.m. CT on NBC and Peacock.

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