In this episode, we welcome Tony Wisniewski. Tony is the Sr. Marketing Manager for Cinematography and Photography divisions at ZEISS. Having supported creatives in both communities for many years, he has his pulse on the latest movements in each market. In our chat, we hear Tony’s backstory, career evolution into the world of optics, and all about the latest products from ZEISS — including their solutions for Virtual Production. In addition, we hear his predictions for the filmmaking industry...

In this episode, we welcome producer Mark Skelton. Mark is currently at work on a feature-length documentary about the infamous Cannonball Run car race across America. He has a long history of producing films, documentaries, and other content. In our conversation, Mark shares his path into filmmaking, prior projects he’s worked on, and artists that have inspired him. He also shows us under the hood about how he’s producing this documentary, Cannonballer, that’s currently in production. The...

In this episode, we welcome Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira. This pivotal team at Vimeo leads the curation of the platform’s celebrated Staff Picks and engages with the filmmaking community on a constant basis. In our chat, we hear their back stories, how they got involved with Vimeo, and their unique roles with curation. In addition, they share insights on the state of independent film today — and what’s coming for Staff Picks events throughout 2024. The Making Of is presented by...

In this episode, we welcome filmmaker Chris Kentis. Chris is a writer, director, producer and editor, who achieved great success with his independent film, Open Water, in 2003. In our chat, we hear his backstory, path into filmmaking, and process making this movie. Chris also shares about his cinematic inspirations, other projects he’s worked on, and what's next for him. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems. As productions grow in complexity, access to on-set displays for...

In this episode, we welcome award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Esteban Toro. Esteban also serves as Adobe’s Sr. Community Relationship Manager and is based in New York City. In our chat, he shares his origin story, how he learned photography, on through becoming an ambassador for brands such as Sony and BenQ. He also talks about his role at Adobe supporting the creative community of filmmakers and editors — and sheds light about recent developments in post workflows, A.I., and much...

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-nominated Composer, Score Producer and Musician Chris Ruggiero. Chris has worked on films such as Emily the Criminal, Swallow, The Martha Mitchell Effect, Minding the Gap, Hooligan Sparrow, “Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music,” One Child Nation, Plan C, Camp Courage, episodes of “American Masters" and “American Experience” — and Resynator, which is premiering at SXSW this month. In our chat, we hear Chris’ backstory, his path from...

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-winning Cinematographer and Producer Ben Staley. Ben has worked extensively on the popular series “Deadliest Catch” — as well as “Ice Road Truckers,” “Lost Gold of the Aztecs,” “Alaskan Bush People,” “Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante,” “Shark Week” and “Pirate Gold of Adak Island”. In our chat, Ben shares all about growing up in Alaska, his path to filmmaking, and tales from shooting in extreme environments all over the world. The Making Of is...

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-winning Documentary Editor Arielle Amsalem. Arielle has worked on docs including By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, “The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth,” Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, Whose Streets?, The Education of Dee Dee Ricks, Coming Back with Wes Moore, and They Called Him Mostly Harmless. In our chat, Arielle shares about her upbringing, path into film editing, education at...

In this episode, we welcomed James Mockoski, Film Archivist and Restoration Supervisor at American Zoetrope. Over the last twenty years, James has worked on and restored The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, One from the Heart, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, The Cotton Club, and The Conversation for its 50th Anniversary in 2024. In addition, James restored the Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” for its 40th Anniversary last year — and is producing Mike Figgis’...

In this episode, we welcomed our friend Steve Bannerman, Head of Post for International Features at Amazon Studios. Steve’s career includes many years at Apple, GenArts, Assimilate, Silverdraft Supercomputing, as well as running Local Hero Post, now REAL by FAKE, in Santa Monica, CA. In our chat, we hear Steve’s backstory and his insights from working for decades for top technology companies and in Hollywood. Topics discussed include evolving technologies, production tax incentives, A.I. in...

In this episode, we welcomed producer/director, DP and educator Jem Schofield. Jem has been a fixture in the industry for over twenty years — helping educate filmmakers about cinematography, lighting, cameras, lenses, producing, and much more. He’s also created content for leading groups such as NAB, LinkedIn Learning, AbelCine, Apple, B&H, Canon, RØDE, Sony, Westcott, and ZEISS. In our chat, Jem shares all about his journey into the business, what types of projects he works on, his...

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, her films include The Killing Floor, Personal Velocity, Love Liza, Nico Icon, and Wim Wenders’ Until the...

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 our conversation, Leo and Mike share their backstories and pathways into producing — plus the...

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 Underground. In our chat, Wolfgang shares about his early days, his journey into documentary filmmaking,...

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 also DP on David Lynch’s short film What Did Jack Do? featured on Netflix in 2020 — and is currently Chair of...

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 also sheds light on his latest venture — and how he plans to harness the power of A.I. to...

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 years. Some of the projects James has shot include The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Beautiful Dreamer: Brian...

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 Denver to building a career in Hollywood. We also learn about his role as a DIT, the technologies he...

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 growing up in Brooklyn and his path to becoming a Hollywood cinematographer. We also learn about his...

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 popular European film festivals in action today. An inspiring conversation to check out… The...

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 about Vimeo’s latest solutions, his perspectives on A.I., and much more! The Making Of is...

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 shares all about his upbringing, his path to becoming a working cinematographer, experiences...

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: Hobbs & Shaw, Seberg, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Tomorrow War, and Megalopolis! We learned...

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 Squid and the Whale, Asking For It, and “East New York”! An amazing conversation covering her...