Article updated: 1/15/2013 2:53 PM

From Chucky to 'Vampire Diaries,' Schaumburg native makes living behind the camera

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Hollywood cinematographer and Schaumburg High School grad Paolo Cascio readies a shot on the Pasadena set of the movie "High School."

Paolo Cascio grabs lunch at the Egg Basket in Schaumburg.

Schaumburg High School grad Paola Cascio shoots a music video with actor Thadd Turner at the old west town at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe where "Cowboys and Aliens" was shot.

Schaumburg High School graduate and Harper College student Paolo Cascio says he can't imagine doing anything else in life besides shooting movies. He found his life's calling at age 16, during a spring break trip to San Francisco with his parents.

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At 16, Schaumburg High grad and Hollywood cinematographer Paolo Cascio found his life's calling at Alcatraz. He had visited the prison with his parents. A movie crew was shooting. When Cascio spotted the Panavision camera, "It hit me like a bolt of lightning," he said. "It's like when you see somebody and it's love at first sight. I knew in that moment that this was what I was meant to do."