Cinemapodgrapher

Netflix hit series Adolescence has taken the world by storm — a gripping 4-part mini series exploring parenting, misogyny, and bullying — each episode shot in one continuous take. This week on the podcast, we chat with Director of Photography Matt Lewis and Camera Operator Lee Brown, the duo behind the lens of this viral sensation. They break down exactly how they pulled off the oners- from the te...

Markus Förderer ASC BVK takes us behind the scenes of September 5 , an independent feature where he crafted an authentic 1970s broadcast aesthetic while pushing the boundaries of digital cinematography. He shares how he transformed the RED V-Raptor to look like film, lit the set for 360-degree shooting, and operated in a raw, documentary style without rehearsals. Markus also discusses the challeng...

Sean Flannery has operated on some of the biggest live broadcasts in the world— Oscars , Grammys,  Super Bowl Halftime Shows , you name it. In this episode, we sit down with Sean to unpack what it takes to operate under intense pressure while millions watch live. We dive deep into the technical side of Steadicam and Trinity , break down what it was like bringing the Kenergy with Ryan Gosling at th...

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Poynter ACO, SOC Assoc, BSC to talk about his journey from a young assistant to becoming the President of the ACO (Association of Camera Operators) . Matt shares insights into the ACO's role in the industry , as well as his own career path—moving to London , starting out in a rental house , and the pivotal moment when he met cinematographer Sean Bobbitt BSC ....

What does it take to be the series DP for Beast Games , the most ambitious reality  series ever, helmed by none other than MrBeast ? In this episode, we sit down with cinematographer Jason Elliott to break down the high-stakes spectacle—shattering camera world records, orchestrating shots with 1,000 contestants and a massive crew, and bringing extravagant sets to life. Jason shares how he landed a...

In this episode, we dive into Invisible Boys , the Stan original series adapted from Holden Sheppard's award-winning novel. The story follows four young men navigating identity and sexuality in a coastal country town—a perspective rarely seen on Australian screens. Joining the podcast is Director Nicholas Verso and Cinematographer Jason Hargreaves ACS. We discuss how Nick optioned the book and his...

Heidi Jo Gilbert's journey in animation is as inspiring as the stories she brings to life. After losing her dream job at Disney and facing one of the darkest times in her life, Heidi found unexpected inspiration in the story of Tom Brady—a quarterback who overcame doubt to become one of the greatest. That spark ignited her comeback. She channeled her creativity into an Instagram reel about Wicked...

On this episode of Cinemapodgrapher , we sit down with international dolly grip Jamie Starr to discuss his incredible career. From starting out as a video assistant to working on James Bond , to dolly gripping on 1917 , and Star Wars: Episode VIII. He also gives us an insider's perspective on the art of dolly gripping and working with telescopic cranes. And, of course, we couldn't miss chatting ab...

Producer Patrick Caligiuri began creating content during COVID discussing the Film & TV industry on TikTok and Instagram. He has since amassed over 250k followers and established himself as a respected voice and thought leader. Patrick joins us to explore the biggest topics shaping the future of entertainment, including the decline of Hollywood, the clash between traditional studios and tech giant...

Helen Shaver has directed some of television's most celebrated shows, including  Vikings , Orphan Black , Law & Order: SVU , Westworld , Station Eleven and The Penguin (Episodes 4 and 5). Helen takes us on a personal journey, sharing how a childhood illness led her to discover a passion for storytelling. We explore how her time in the hospital influenced her path to acting and, eventually, her tra...

In this episode, we chat with Larkin Seiple , the visionary cinematographer behind some of the most iconic visuals in recent film and music video history. Larkin discusses his early years working in reality television and shooting over 100 music videos. We break down his work on viral music videos like DJ Snake's "Turn Down for What" and Childish Gambino's "This is America" . We also explore his l...

David Elmes , one of Australia's most experienced focus pullers, works predominantly on U.S. features with many of those films budgets exceeding $100 million. In this episode, we begin by discussing his top tips for new assistants and his insights into the role of the A Cam focus puller. David also shares his journey from New Zealand to Brisbane, and eventually Sydney. Later, we explore his work o...

Cinematographer Sky Davies ACS is one of Australia's rising stars. She joins us for a conversation about navigating the camera department, from assisting to DPing on drama. We discuss her early years hustling on short films, how they shaped her work ethic, and inspired her to innovate creative techniques. We also talk about balancing family and work while avoiding burnout. Later in the episode, we...

From barefoot kicker for the Michigan Wolverines and the Buffalo Bills to Hollywood 1st AC, Todd Schlopy shares behind-the-scenes stories from blockbuster films such as Starship Troopers , Air Force One , Spider-Man , Transformers , Wanted , The Revenant , and Swordfish . Throughout the episode, we discuss the techniques he uses for focus pulling, offering insights into his craft. We also explore...

Naaman Marshall spent his early childhood visiting famous film sets designed by his uncle, such as Hook and Saving Private Ryan . This inspired him to pursue a career in the art department, where he has worked as a model maker, art director, and production designer on films including  Westworld , The Dark Knight , Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen , Mortal Kombat , Dawn of the Planet of the Apes...

Catherine Goldschmidt BSC was nominated for both an Emmy and an ASC Award for her work on HBO's House of the Dragon and was named a rising star of cinematography by American Cinematographer . Two seasons later, she is credited with shooting three episodes: "Lord of the Tides," "Burning Mill," and the Season 2 finale, "The Queen Who Ever Was." In this episode, Catherine shares her experiences on th...

Erik Winquist is a renowned VFX Supervisor at Wētā FX, a leading visual effects company based in New Zealand. After leaving the US to work on the Lord of the Rings, he now has over two decades of experience working on iconic films such as Avatar, X-Men, I Robot, King Kong, Rampage, and the Planet of the Apes franchise. In this episode, we discuss the latest installment, Kingdom of the Planet of th...

The Cinemapodgrapher team travelled from Brisbane to Lisbon for Filmcare's Trinity 2, Steadicam & A Cam masterclass. We recap all the higlights of the camera operator workshop hosted by Geoff Haley SOC, Ari Robbins SOC, Curt Schaller & Fares Corbani SOC ACO. We also talk all things football, food, castles and one crazy Tuk Tuk ride down a mountain. 

The world's most famous stunt helicopter pilot, Fred North, has flown over 20,000 hours, shot 200 films, worked with directors Michael Bay, Roland Emmerich, and Sam Hargrave, holds a world record for altitude, and is the author of his autobiography, Flying Sideways . Some of his credits include Inception , James Bond: Spectre , Mission Impossible ,  Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers: Dark Side...

Mental health issues are significantly higher in the entertainment industry than in the general population. Symptoms of anxiety are ten times higher, depression five times higher, and sleep disorders seven times higher, with five suicide attempts every week. Early in his career, Ben Steel battled his own mental health issues, which led him to create the 2016 documentary "The Show Must Go On." Upon...

At 21, Carlos Rosario left the fashion houses of Paris for the hills of Hollywood, where his illustrations landed him his first job. Now a costume designer himself, his recent credits include A Girl in the Spider's Web , Alien Romulus , and FX's hit series Shogun . We talk about his love for fashion, being mentored by four-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood, and how he found his voice through the co...

At 14 years old, Fares Corbani SOC ACO, was helping a neigbour with wedding videography in Beirut, Lebanon. This would then lead him on a journey to becoming a Trinity, Steadicam and Camera Operator shooting in the Middle East and Europe. Fares' love of workshops inspired him to found Film Care, the home of elite film workshops. We discuss buying his first steadicam, adopting the Trinity and his o...

Stuart Dryburgh ASC NZCS teamed up with Jonathan Nolan for four episodes of Amazon's new hit series, Fallout . Adapted from the popular video game series, we delve into shooting with 35mm film, combining virtual production, and working as a setup DP. We also cover Stuart's beginnings in New Zealand, shooting iconic films such as The Piano and Once Were Warriors , and his eventual move to the USA.

Sam McCurdy ASC BSC, shot five episodes of FX's new hit series 'Shogun.' Join us for our longest episode ever as we discuss honesty, love, dropping out of art school, Game of Thrones, lighting, football, and break down our favourite moments from the show.

At age 19, Sophie Darlington left Dublin for Tanzania to become a camp manager at the Ngorongoro Crater. It was there that she was mentored by Hugo Van Lawick to become a wildlife cinematographer. Now, 30 years later, Sophie is a BAFTA award winner, and her work has been screened globally on National Geographic, Netflix, BBC, and the Discovery Channel. Early in the episode, we discuss her mentorsh...