Alex Gioulakis

Alex Gioulakis has been quietly stacking up some intriguing credits over the years, mostly flying under the radar unless you’re a die-hard indie film buff or just really into clever cinematography. You might’ve caught her name pop up in “McVeigh” (2024), which, let’s be honest, dropped with a bit of a bang considering the subject matter. That film? Yeah, not exactly your standard popcorn flick. It digs into the mind of Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, but with a kind of raw, uneasy focus that doesn’t let you look away—not even for a second. Alex’s work on this one is all about atmosphere, tension, and that slightly off-kilter feeling you get when you’re not sure if you should feel sorry for the guy or just totally horrified. But rewind a bit, and you’ll spot her in “Lake Los Angeles” from 2014. This one’s a whole different vibe—quiet, haunting, and all about the space between people who don’t quite belong. The film follows two lost souls, an immigrant girl and a lonely man, wandering the desert outskirts of Los Angeles. The visuals do a lot of heavy lifting, painting this vast, empty landscape that feels both beautiful and super isolating. Alex has a knack for pulling out these tiny, wordless moments that hit way harder than dialogue ever could. She also worked on “California Dreams” (2017), which is sort of a love letter to dreamers and oddballs chasing stardust in LA. It’s quirky, sometimes heartbreaking, and always honest about how weird and wonderful California can be. Oh, and on a more personal note? She’s married to Michael Gioulakis, which probably means their dinner table talk is, like, full-on film geek paradise.