Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby

Show Notes What does it really mean to film something that can't be seen? In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, I sit down with award-winning documentary cinematographer Liz Moughon to explore the emotional and technical craft of visual storytelling. Liz has worked with ProPublica, Blue Chalk Media and some of the world's leading documentary filmmakers, creating films that explore grief, il...

Show Notes Award-winning director Minkie Spiro joins Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby for a deeply personal and insightful conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the emotional responsibility of directing. Minkie reflects on her unconventional journey into film and television, revealing how growing up in a highly academic household — where television was rarely allowed — unexpec...

Podcast Show Notes In this expansive and intimate conversation, Damien Swaby welcomes legendary cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh for a masterclass in visual storytelling, collaboration, and creative longevity. Born in the UK in 1952 and raised largely in New Zealand, Stuart’s early life was shaped by both migration and discipline. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Auckland...

🧾 Episode Show Notes In this episode, Damien sits down with filmmaker and creative studio founder Darren Rayner to explore how action-sports filmmaking shaped modern social media storytelling — and how brands can scale content without losing their voice. Darren discusses: 🎬 The origin of Magnafire Why a serious snowboarding accident changed his career direction Moving from athlete to filmmaker B...

Episode Show Notes: In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien speaks with Domenic Angelino, an exercise science specialist, public health expert, and digital fitness innovator working at the intersection of research, technology, and human performance. Currently serving as Chief Fitness Scientist at FitCraft, Domenic leads the science behind gamified fitness experiences...

What role does fear play in shaping political narratives—and who benefits from it? In this episode, Emmy Award–winning investigative producer Andrew Goldberg joins the podcast to discuss his documentary White With Fear, a powerful examination of how racial anxiety has been strategically used in American political messaging over the past half-century. We explore how documentary storytelling can unp...

Episode Guest: Michael Kellman Host: Damien Swaby Born in Los Angeles, Michael Kellman has been passionate about storytelling and performance from an early age. With interests spanning film, television, theatre, comedy, and live performance, Michael has spent years developing his voice as a creative storyteller. In this episode, Michael shares insights into his creative journey as a writer, direct...

Show Notes Creative careers often demand everything from us—long hours, emotional investment, and intense focus. But how often do we consider how our relationship with food affects our creativity, energy, and wellbeing? In this episode, we speak with Shirley Billigmeier, founder of the Innergetics Process, about transforming our relationship with eating. With more than 50 years of experience in ho...

Show Notes Rachel Deutsch is a filmmaker whose work explores relationships, identity and memory through emotionally grounded storytelling.  After studying acting at New York University, she transitioned into directing and went on to train at the American Film Institute, where she developed a body of short films defined by careful performances and a strong sense of visual atmosphere. In this episod...

In this episode, Damien sits down with entertainment attorney Lauren Hansson to explore her journey into the legal side of film and television. Lauren shares: How she discovered her passion for law Why internships were key to finding her niche Her experience at Warner Bros. Animation What it’s like working with independent film producers and financiers The realities of entertainment law beyond the...

🎙 Episode Show Notes In this episode, we explore Ashlie’s unconventional path into acting — one that didn’t begin in theatre classrooms or on school stages. She didn’t grow up as a “theatre kid.” Instead, Ashlie spent much of her childhood and teenage years behind the scenes as a visual artist and writer, engaging in storytelling from the creative side rather than as a performer. Though she was ge...

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien is joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker and showrunner Xan Aranda for a wide-ranging discussion on taste, creative authority, and decision-making in filmmaking. Drawing on her experience across film and television — including work with Netflix, HBO, and Amazon — Xan talks about why strong opinions are not optional in creative work...

🎙️ Show Notes In this episode, host Damien Swaby speaks with Richard Bradshaw, Director of Rebel Safety, about the often-misunderstood role of safety in film, television, and live events. Far from being a barrier to creativity, Richard explains how safety, when approached differently, can actually fuel imagination, innovation, and bold storytelling. As the head of Rebel Safety, he has seen firstha...

Episode Summary In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien is joined by the talented and driven, a promo producer, editor, and filmmaker whose determination, discipline, and creative resilience have shaped a truly distinctive career in post-production. From her early beginnings as a theatre actor in Ireland to becoming a multi-skilled editor and producer across some of t...

Last night, I watched Sleepless in Seattle. This morning, I woke up to the news that Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, had been found dead at their Los Angeles home, as police investigate what they’ve described as an apparent homicide. In this episode, we sit with grief, uncertainty, and legacy — and we look closely at what Rob Reiner’s career teaches us about filmmaking cra...

In this episode, Damien speaks with filmmaker Christopher, the creator of Princess Hally and the Jester, a groundbreaking ultra-low-budget fantasy feature made with a hybrid workflow of green screen, virtual production, traditional VFX, and AI-enhanced imagery. Christopher shares how he went from NYU Tisch to building an animation studio, mentoring artists who would later work on Avatar and with C...

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby sits down with Caprice Bourret — award-winning model, actress, entrepreneur, and now film producer — to discuss her powerful career reinvention and the making of her new Christmas movie, A Scottish Christmas Secret. Known worldwide for her iconic modelling career, Caprice has graced over 350 magazine covers, starred in major West End produc...

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, host Damien Swaby speaks with Juli Berg, an accomplished film and television editor and post-producer whose creative path began in junior high school and evolved into a decades-long career in documentary, unscripted television, music videos, and independent film. Juli shares the early experiences that shaped her artistic identity, the unexpected moments...

Episode Summary In this episode, Damien Swaby is joined by the remarkable Barbara Niven, an actress whose dedication, versatility, and heart have made her one of Hollywood’s most enduring and admired talents. With a career spanning more than three decades, Barbara has starred in over 100 film and TV roles, been featured in thousands of commercials, and contributed her experience and leadership to...

Episode Snapshot Playwright-turned-filmmaker Seth Zvi Rosenfeld joins Damien Swaby to talk about his journey from the New York theatre scene to Hollywood, Sundance, and independent filmmaking. He shares how his latest film—shot guerrilla-style in a real restaurant over six days—became a heartfelt portrait of community and resilience in post-lockdown New York. The conversation dives deep into worki...

In this episode, host Damien sits down with filmmaker and conservationist Arix Zalace, the creative mind behind The Paper Bear — a visually stunning blend of animation and live action that tells the story of Florida’s disappearing wilderness. Arix shares how his journey from producing corporate films evolved into a years-long mission of documenting Florida’s black bears and protecting one of North...

Episode Summary  Lebanese-American filmmaker Zayn Alexandre joins us to discuss his journey from a small town outside Beirut to the heart of New York’s independent film scene. Known for his award-winning films Abroad and Manara, Alexandre shares how psychology, identity, and diaspora shape his storytelling. From the Venice Film Festival to the TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Zayn has carved a space for authen...

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, host Damien Swaby talks with Victoria Duncan, a filmmaker and Senior Creative Video Producer at Bloomberg Media Studios, about building a career that bridges art, analytics, and authenticity. Victoria shares how she transitioned from post-production and film school at NYU Tisch to producing global branded campaigns at Bloomberg. She opens up about her c...

Show Notes In this episode, I sit down with Mark Watters to talk about a life lived in music: from Disney, Pixar, and Olympic scores, to his role today at Eastman School of Music, where he oversees the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media. We get deep into the Eastman Film & Media Festival—how it started, what it’s become, and why Rochester, NY is fast becoming a home for compo...

📒 SHOW NOTES In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien sits down with Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, Ph. D., a food scientist, consultant, and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. Bryan’s career is a masterclass in curiosity-driven storytelling — one that filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives will find both inspiring and familiar.🎬 What’s inside this episode: A story...