Cinema Pathway Podcast

This week on the Cinema Pathway Podcast, we welcome filmmaker, Joycelyn Bejar. Joycelyn will take us on a journey from her early dream of being a foreign news correspondent and journalist to eventually making commercials, music videos, and films. In addition, she will share some stories of filming overseas and in one of our neighbors to the south. Joycelyn will also speak candidly about her career, what she has accomplished, and what aspiring filmmakers need to know.

Prepare for a great new episode with writer, producer, director (and many other titles) Mo Fitzgibbon. Mo will share with us how she got her to start in the business and how shortening her full name to Mo helped clear some hurdles for women in the film industry. We will also talk about the limitations and how women can overcome them but need help from allies. Mo will also share experiences from some of the many productions across all different formats and her years with Latina Pop Music Royalty.

On this exciting episode, we are pleased to have Juan Bofill. He will talk about the impressive career that has taken him from stuntman to stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and special effects artist to acting and moving behind the camera as a producer, director, and writer. We will have an essential conversation about safety on set in light of recent events on film sets. Juan will share stories from some of his most memorable moments from movies and T.V. shows and share what he is doing to help train and educate the next generation of stunt performers and coordinators. Hold on to your seat for this exciting ride!

In this episode, we like to get deep into the craft of

filmmaking, talking about the actual ins and outs of making

films. The film has always been a visual medium. Starting with

the Lumiere brothers, the genius of silent film stars like

Chaplin and my personal favorite, Buster Keaton, wowed

audiences with what could be captured by this new device, the

movie camera. More than 100 years later, the camera and

mastery of it is still a vital key to filmmaking as a craft.

Our guest today is a master at that. He is a cinematographer

and director of photography whose credits include the hit

series DEXTER and BURN NOTICE. Feature films that range from

STRIPTEASE, REALITY BITES, and PASSENGER 57 (underrated in my

opinion) and one of my childhood favorites, FLIGHT OF THE

NAVIGATOR, as well as numerous music videos for JANET

JACKSON, GLORIA ESTEFAN, RICKY MARTIN, CHRISTINA AGUILERA, and CELINE DION.

We are joined on this episode by cameraman Rick Bravo Jr. The son of cinematographer and camera operator Enrique Bravo, who worked on some of the most influential films of the last 75 years, including The Exorcist, The French Connection, and The Deer Hunter, Rick grew up on and around film sets. As a child, he even asked to be a lighting stand-in for some of the most famous scenes ever captured on film. So when Rick started his career, he followed in his father’s footsteps and helped stand up the first camera teams for the show Miami Vice. Rick will share stories from his childhood and work and how he landed a unique career behind the camera, where he has been for more than 30 years.

We start this episode by talking about how a pre-med student in Texas began on his pathway to becoming a cinematographer. Then, Laszlo will share how he started working in advertising as an editor and eventually moved to behind the camera. He’ll share stories of the hundreds of commercials he’s shot and his foray into films. He’ll also share some insight into how he approaches his craft and how it is much more than just the camera. We will also answer the question of the difference between a cinematographer and a director of photography.

We are joined on this episode by writer, producer, actor, and acting coach Yonel Aris who will talk about his pathway to earning his degree in theater. He will tell us as he's gone from acting to writing and getting into acting coaching. Further, we will discuss what makes a good acting coach, and Yonel will even put the host through a couple of acting exercises. He'll also advise on what actors should look for in an acting coach and why they should use one and share some of his upcoming projects with our listeners.

We are joined in this episode by accomplished filmmaker Aaron Abelto. Aaron will share with our listeners his unique pathway to becoming the actor, writer, director, and producer he has become today. He'll talk about his inspirations and influences from the indie film world, his two documentaries that were up for Oscar consideration, and what that process is like. Aaron will also share his experiences working as many different jobs on a film set as possible and how building that toolset has helped him succeed.

We are joined by actress, director, producer, content creator, and all-around storyteller Jennifer Joy O'Grady on this episode. Jennifer will talk about her pathway from starting in dance and theater and evolving to acting in front of the camera before expanding her knowledge to all aspects of the creative process. In addition, she'll share her unique college program, the courage it took to create her own production company, and some exciting news about her latest project.

In this episode, we have a special treat for our listeners. We have not one, but two guests. Maria Jose & Karla Noriega, also known as “The Lucky Twins.” They will share their inspiring journey from Guadalajara, Mexico, to the United States and how their creativity began when they were little. We’ll talk about the special bond that twins have and how it helps them when making films and content. Both guests will share their stories of coming out and how those experiences shaped them as artists, and why they are so passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community and will give some encouraging words to those in that community that may be suffering. Finally, the Lucky Twin will share exciting news about their upcoming projects.