How We Film

🎬 Emmy-winning editor Sam Billinge breaks down why music should never lead your storytelling—and how relying on it to create emotion is a rookie mistake. In this episode, we dive into the real craft of editing: story scaffolding, emotional pacing, and when to actually bring music into your cut. Whether you're making your first short doc or working with a composer, this conversation will chall...

Sam Billinge, Emmy-winning editor and author of A Practical Guide to Documentary Editing, shares what makes a story actually work—and why most filmmakers get it wrong. If your edit feels flat or drags on, it’s probably not your footage—it’s your story. In this episode, we break down the exact structure Sam looks for to know if a film will hold an audience’s attention, the biggest traps new filmmak...

Learn to edit footage like Emmy-winning editor Sam Billinge (Netflix’s Surgeon’s Cut, Apple+’s Make or Break)! 🎬 In this episode, Sam shares pro tips to craft a killer story by taming hours of footage. Discover how to define your story early, use transcripts to mark key points, create assemblies for organization, and ruthlessly cut irrelevant clips—even the beautiful ones! Perfect for filmmakers...

Most filmmakers rely on postproduction to fix things — but by the time you’re color grading, it’s often too late. In this episode, I sit down with colorist Enikő Edelsbrunner, to explore how color works emotionally — and why your lighting, mood, and prep matter long before you ever open DaVinci Resolve. We talk about the creative tension between director and colorist, common mistakes filmmakers ma...

Most filmmakers think of color as the final polish — something you fix in post. But what if it’s actually where the vision begins? In this episode, I talk with Eniko Edelsbrunner www.magiclemur.com - a top-tier colorist with a PhD in mathematical biology, about how to design a film’s emotional tone from the ground up. We explore how lighting, LUTs, and communication between directors and colorists...

You bought the LUT. You followed the tutorial. But somehow... your footage still looks amateur. Why? In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Enikő , a professional colorist with a PhD in mathematical biology, to uncover why even beautifully lit footage can fall flat—and why no LUT can replace real intention, prep, and understanding of color. We dig into why pre-production matters, how to thin...

You made it. Your film got into a festival. Maybe even an Oscar-qualifying one. But now what? In this episode, Alex Lee—festival director of Doc Edge—opens up about what really happens after selection day. He explains why most first-time filmmakers walk away disappointed, and what it actually takes to build relationships, secure distribution, and grow a filmmaking career from that starting point....

What if your fear of being ignored is the very thing holding your film back? In this raw and honest conversation, Alex Lee—director of Doc Edge, one of the world’s Oscar-qualifying film festivals—reveals the biggest mistakes young filmmakers make when submitting their work… and why most films never make it past the first round. We talk about the courage it takes to make films that matter, the poli...

Why do great films still get passed over by festivals? In this episode, I talk with Alex Lee , director of Oscar-qualifying Doc Edge, about the real reasons programmers reject submissions — even great ones. We dive into what most filmmakers miss: how your press kit, title, stills, and even your tone can make or break your chance. This isn’t about selling out — it’s about communicating your story w...

🎥 Are you dreaming of getting your documentary into a big film festival? It’s not enough. In this episode, Alex Lee, director of Doc Edge (an Oscar-qualifying festival), shares insider strategies every filmmaker needs to hear: how to pick the right festival, how to promote your film once accepted, and how to future-proof your career beyond the festival circuit. Learn how audiences have changed, w...

Most filmmakers show up to AFM expecting a life-changing deal—but the reality is very different. In this episode, Abbie and Connor, co-founders of A2C Entertainment, share hard-earned lessons from the American Film Market: how to prepare, what to avoid, and why most pitches fail before they even begin. From nearly being scammed out of $20,000 to discovering what buyers actually want, this conversa...

In this insightful interview, Abbie and Connor, founders of A2C Entertainment, share their journey from aspiring filmmakers to successful studio owners. They discuss the challenges they faced, lessons learned, and strategies that helped them turn their creative passion into a thriving business. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your filmmaking career, this conversation off...

Interviews can make or break your documentary. Anthropologist Laura Korculanin shares essential insights to master this often-overlooked skill, revealing techniques to build trust, overcome awkward silences, and gently handle interviews where subjects struggle to open up. If you've ever felt anxiety about conducting interviews—or wished for better results—this episode is your guide to authentic, m...

Struggling with noisy audio or unclear dialogue? Sam Castleton, dub mixer at Halo Post whose audio work appears in documentaries streaming on Disney+, Apple TV+, and NatGeo, shares essential DIY audio tips every filmmaker needs: - Quickly clean up dialogue - Balance music and speech professionally - Common mistakes to avoid for better soundGet instant, cinematic audio improvements—straight from a...

In this episode of How We Film, dub mixer Sam Castleton—whose work can be heard on Netflix, Disney +, and many other platforms—dives deep into the power of cinematic sound. Learn how audio shapes storytelling, enhances visuals, and elevates your filmmaking. Sam shares insights from his journey—from DJ to acclaimed audio professional—and reveals practical tips to immediately improve your film’s sou...

How do you balance creativity and factual truth? How these 2 things come together? Is there such a thing as fly on the wall in documentary filmmaking? I talk about how directing always introduces perspective — even if you don’t mean to — and why creativity should enhance the facts, not replace them. Topics include:Why you can’t separate creativity from perspectiveThe myth of “fly on the wall” obje...

📽️ What makes a great cinematographer? How do you choose the right lens? And how do you work with a director to bring a vision to life? In this episode of How We Film, Joe Katches, an experienced Director of Photography, reveals:✅ The biggest mistakes filmmakers make when choosing lenses.✅ How to develop your own cinematographic style.✅ The secret to making low-budget documentaries look high-en...

Many aspiring filmmakers believe that a film school degree or a perfect career path is the key to making it in the industry—but the reality is very different. In this episode, we dive into the unconventional journey of Joe Katches, who went from fixing VHS tapes to becoming a Director of Photography working in both fiction and documentary filmmaking. We break down the biggest misconceptions about...

🎥 Think getting your documentary distributed is tough? Yeah… it is. But it doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. In this episode, I’m back with Zach Baliva ( Potentially Dangerous ) to talk about the good, the bad, and the straight-up shady side of film distribution. From dodging bad deals to finding the right partners (and why not to trust every distributor’s “reference list”), Zach spills what...

Going from short-form content to long-form storytelling isn’t easy. It’s like comparing a marathon to a speed run. So, what needs to change to make the switch—and why? Let’s break it down.

💡 Want to learn exactly how to distribute your film on PBS?👉 Get exclusive access to Zach’s insights & step-by-step PBS strategy—free! Go on howwefilm.com 🎥 Getting your documentary on PBS might seem impossible—but it’s not! In this episode, I sit down with Zach Baliva, director of Potentially Dangerous, to break down how he successfully distributed his film on PBS without signing a bad dea...

Not sure there’s a blueprint for building a filmmaking network, but I’ve seen how certain moments—screenings, travel, and even unexpected opportunities—naturally connect you with the right people.

🎥 Is content creation the opposite of filmmaking? I try to explain the difference and the implication of these 2 world.

In this episode of the Documentary Questions Podcast, I tackle the question: How do you make a story out of a topic? Breaking down three approaches—following passionate characters, guided research journeys, and observational filmmaking—I share practical insights to help transform broad ideas into compelling stories. Whether you're just starting out or already experienced, this episode provides...

💡 Want to learn exactly how to distribute your film on PBS?👉 Get exclusive access to Zach’s insights & step-by-step PBS strategy—free! Go on howwefilm.com🎥 Getting your documentary on PBS might seem impossible—but it’s not! In this episode, I sit down with Zach Baliva, director of Potentially Dangerous, to break down how he successfully distributed his film on PBS without signing a bad deal...