The Making Of

In this episode, we spoke with Emmy-nominated Cinematographer Martina Radwan . Martina has shot award-winning documentaries including The Last Year , Food and Country , The Social Dilemma , How to Survive a Pandemic , Hot Coffee , Arthur Miller: Writer , Saving Face , Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow , and episodes of American Masters, Frontline, Independent Lens, and P.O.V. On the narrative front, he...

In this episode, we spoke with Decentralized Pictures Co-Founders Leo Matchett and Mike Musante. Along with Roman Coppola, these three founded the innovative film production company that’s helping to fund many independent projects, as well as provide a home for mentorship and other support for emerging filmmakers. Mr. Matchett serves as CEO of the company and Mr. Musante as its Head of Production....

In this episode, we welcomed New York-based Cinematographer Wolfgang Held, ASC . Wolfgang has shot over 100 documentaries and feature films including The Andy Warhol Diaries , Joan Baez I Am a Noise , This Stolen Country of Mine , All In: The Fight for Democracy , The Fourth Estate , Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind , Particle Fever , Brüno , Teeth , and the Oscar-nominated documentary Children...

In this episode, we spoke at length with filmmaker Scott Ressler . Scott is an industry veteran who’s worked on projects including Barton Fink , Scream , Lost Highway , Who’s Harry Crumb? , Austin Powers , The End of Violence , The Straight Story , The Cider House Rules , Mulholland Drive , Inland Empire , I Heart Huckabees , Jarhead , Jurassic Park III , “Dexter” and “Twin Peaks” S3. Scott was al...

In this episode, we welcomed workflow technology expert and entrepreneur, Michael Cioni . Michael has launched or played key roles at companies such as Plaster City Digital Post, Light Iron, Frame.io and Adobe — and is now building a brand-new startup, Strada. In our conversation, Michael shares his origin story — from growing up in Chicago, on through all his business and career chapters. Michael...

In this episode, we were fortunate to welcome Mr. James Mathers . James is both a longtime Cinematographer and is the founder of the Digital Cinema Society. In our conversation, James shares his story — from child actor, to meeting Walt Disney, his experiences working on the original “Frost/Nixon” interviews in the late-1970s, to shooting dozens of independent films and documentaries over the year...

On this episode, we were joined by one of the most talented DIT’s in the business, Mr. Eli Berg . Eli has worked on films including The Invitation , Sleepless , The Hate U Give , Jojo Rabbit , The Harder They Fall , and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis . He’s also worked on tons of music videos, episodic series, and commercials for top brands. In our chat, Eli shares all about his journey from D...

In this episode, we spoke at length with cinematographer Richard Crudo, ASC . Richard has worked on an impressive list of projects including Raising Arizona , American Pie , American Buffalo , Presumed Innocent , Jungle Fever , Donnie Darko , Federal Hill , Outside Providence , “Justified” and “Jane the Virgin”. He also served for years as President of The ASC. In our chat, Richard shares about gr...

In this episode, we spoke with actor, producer and founding director of the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Sandra Lipski . We heard Sandra’s story beginning with her early days in Europe, her solo journey to America to pursue acting — on to Los Angeles where much of her career took shape. On the festival front, we learned how she built the event from an idea to one of the most pop...

In this episode, we welcomed an industry veteran and trusted thought-leader, Mr. Derick Rhodes. Derick is Vimeo’s VP of Marketing and is involved in a lot of initiatives including helping shape the platform’s engagement with the creative community. In our conversation, we learn about Derick’s roots, his early inspirations, path to making films — on through his current role at Vimeo. We also chat a...

In this episode, we spoke with Emmy-award winning Cinematographer Matt Porwoll . Matt has worked on an impressive list of Documentaries including Cartel Land, Catching Lightning, LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy, Once Upon a Time in Uganda, Tiger, The Trade, Tigerland, At the Fork, The First Wave, The Way I See It, City of Ghosts, and By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. In our conversation, Matt...

In this episode, we welcomed one of the most talented Gaffers in the business, Mr. Jeff Murrell . Jeff joined us to share about his life and work on films including True Lies, Get Shorty, Men in Black, Gone in 60 Seconds, Lords of Dogtown, Live Free or Die Hard, Ted, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Fast & Furious Presents:...

On this episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with veteran Film and TV Cinematographer Jendra Jarnagin . Jendra has worked on an extensive list of top shows and films including “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City,” “Law & Order,” “Gotham,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,” David Mamet’s Spartan , Spike Lee’s She Hate Me , Noah Baumbach’s The...

On this episode, we were lucky to welcome Mr. Phil Caruso, one of the industry’s most talented Still Photographers. Phil has shot on-set images on projects including Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Parenthood, Backdraft, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, A Bronx Tale, Forrest Gump, Clockers, Casino, 12 Monkeys, The Rainmaker, Wag the Dog, Analyze This, Meet the Parents, Game Change, Sinister, Meg...

In this episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with veteran filmmaker Hugo Perez. A New York-based writer, director and producer, Hugo is most-recently known for “Omara” — a documentary about legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo as well as for producing the award-winning feature documentary “Once Upon a Time in Uganda.” In our conversation, Hugo shares about his roots in Miami, education...

In this new podcast, we spoke at length with the legendary Daniel Pearl, ASC. Mr. Pearl is the artist who nearly fifty years ago (in 1973) shot his first feature film, the masterpiece “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” — which changed the face of horror cinema forever. In the years that followed, Daniel also pioneered the music video genre — lensing videos for artists including The Police, U2, Billy Id...

In this special episode, we were fortunate to welcome an industry veteran and thought leader, Mr. Bryce Button. During our chat, we hear Bryce’s story - from his early beginnings on set, to years working in post, and on through his position today as Director of Product Marketing at AJA Video Systems. Bryce sheds light on all the changes the industry has seen over the years — changing formats, evol...

We are excited to share this new conversation with the one and only Jay Holben. Jay wears a few hats in our industry, including writer, director and producer. He also serves as the contributing technical editor for American Cinematographer Magazine, is co-author of The Cine Lens Manual , co-chairs The ASC’s Motion Imaging Technology Council Lens Committee, and moderates many of the industry’s lead...

We are pleased to share this mid-summer conversation with a very talented cinematographer, Mr. Mihai Malaimare Jr. Mihai has worked on an impressive slate of films since the year 2007, where he shot the first of three features for Francis Ford Coppola, Youth Without Youth . Since then, he’s lensed Tetro and Twixt for Coppola, The Master for Paul Thomas Anderson, A Walk Among the Tombstones , Nina...

We are pleased to share Episode II of The Making Of , where we talked shop with Oscar-nominated Cinematographer Larry Sher, ASC.  Larry is an amazing DP with a long list of successful films including The Hangover series, Garden State , Kissing Jessica Stein , I Love You Man , Dan in Real Life, Due Date , Paul , The Dictator , War Dogs , Godzilla : King of the Monsters , and Joker . In our conversa...

Forty-five years ago in a galaxy far, far away a little science-fiction film called Star Wars hit cinemas nationwide and in an instant, the industry was changed forever. So, it is on this anniversary that we are excited to launch The Making Of… a fresh newsletter and podcast shining a light on the artists behind the scenes of the most innovative, influential, and iconic films in recent history. In...