Chasing Light

Mark Davis is a filmmaker and first AC based in Idaho. With an extensive credit list in TV, films, commercials, and live productions - Mark's career is a testament to the power of specializing to perfect your craft.

SrA Alex Cook has one of the best jobs in the USAF. He is the Public Affairs Officer for the F-35 Demo Team. Traveling around the world filming and photographing this unbelievable display of air power is a gig most anyone would love to have. Alex's accelerated path to success is a testament to the rewards of hard work and passion.

Simon Rex-Lear is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in corporate documentaries, promos, and commercial work. Simon and I discuss the commonalities and opportunities of filmmaking in every facet of the industry. Whether you're doing corporate work, making features, commercials, or weddings, the process of filmmaking is the same. Simon's unique path to becoming a director is likely to open your eyes to a sector of the filmmaking industry you probably wouldn't have previously considered. 

Michael Cioni is the Senior Vice President of Innovation at Panavision and is the Product Director of the new 8K Millennium DXL camera. Michael also serves as Senior Vice President of Innovation for the post house he founded, Light Iron. Light Iron is the leader in file-based workflows and the premier producer of on-set data management tools. 

Amassing an unimaginable credit list from features, episodic, and commercials, Michael's journey exemplifies the need to think outside the box and follow your gut. He is one of the driving forces that reshaped the filmmaking industry, pushing it firmly into the digital age. 

President and Board Chairman of the International Society of Aviation Photographers, Larry Grace, sat down with me this week while I was in Arizona to talk about his career, photography, (and more specifically aviation photography) the importance of collaboration, and how to break into this exciting field.

Red Sanders is my guest this week. He is the owner of the highly successful, Red Productions in Fort Worth, TX. Red has combined his entrepreneurial spirit, media expertise, and love of visual storytelling to create one of the premier media companies in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. Red and I sat down in their new studio space to talk about his business model, commercial work, and producing independent films.  

Brent Barbano is an award-winning Cinematographer based in Los Angeles. For over 11 years, he has traveled to over 25 countries to film for clients including, the Discovery Channel, HBO, National Geographic, and the NFL Network.

Brent also co-founded ShareGrid in 2013. ShareGrid is a peer-to-peer marketplace where filmmakers and creatives can rent gear to and from each other with integrated insurance. 

Brent and I discuss his filmmaking journey and the importance of taking taking risks to achieve your goals. 

Chris Hatchett is an award-winning Television & Commercial Director based in Fort Wort, Texas. With a client list including Patron, Saatchi & Saatchi, The History Channel, Universal, and Toyota – Chris is a well-versed filmmaker. Chris and I have an in-depth discussion on the business side of filmmaking. We also talk about Chris' latest endeavor, Cinemadventure. Cinemadventure is a peer-learning traveling workshop. 

This week's guest is Bryan Moore of Tempt Media - a digital cinema production company specializing in high energy action motorsports, documentaries and commercials. Bryan and I discuss their breakout viral hit, Recoil, (featuring champion Trophy Truck driver, BJ Baldwin), The logistics of filming the Baja 1000, and working on the now legendary Gymkhana series with Ken Block. Bryan's story is a testament to the rewards of recognizing opportunity and not being afraid to chase your dreams.

Renowned aviation photographer, José Ramos (call sign, Fuji) has been documenting Naval Aviation since 1988. His first published work appeared in The Hook in 1989 and since then, his images have been seen all over the globe in various magazines and other publications. Fuji and I take a deep-dive into how he got into this unique segment of photography, the ins and outs of separating yourself from the crowd, and just basic geeking out on shooting fighter aircraft. Fuji's story is a prime example of the amazing possibilities the world of photography offers.