Cinematography Salon

As fears mount over AI’s impact on creative labor, cinematographer and technologist Jim Geduldick joins host David Kruta to dissect the frenzy surrounding artificial intelligence and its encroachment into the film industry. As AI-generated imagery floods social media and marketing departments chase cost-cutting automation, Geduldick challenges the doom-and-gloom narrative with a nuanced, insider perspective—arguing that while jobs may shift, human storytelling will remain irreplaceable. However, decades of tech disruption, from DVX100s to LED volumes, won’t change the fact that great filmmaking has always been—and still is—about the people behind the lens.

Jim Geduldick’s Instagram

David Kruta’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/jim-geduldick-the-machines-are-here-to-take-your-job-but-only-if-you-let-them/

This week, we’re joined by Matt Workman—filmmaker, developer, and creator of Cine Tracer—for a candid look at the shifting landscape of cinematography. We explore how filmmakers can better communicate, justify resources, and protect their creative choices in a rapidly evolving industry, and why futureproofing your skillset now means knowing both a light meter and a game engine. From the emergence of virtual production to the democratization of 3D previsualization, Workman unpacks how technology like Unreal Engine, once reserved for high-budget productions, is becoming a daily tool for working DPs.

Matt Workman’s Instagram | YouTube

Peter Pascucci’s Instagram | Website

Lauren Guiteras’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/matt-workman-from-light-meters-to-game-engines-and-the-future-of-cinematography/

Rachel Clark, BSC, brings a poetic realism to the screen, and in this special edition episode recorded at the Camerimage Festival, she reveals how she constructs that visual language. Joining hosts Ava Benjamin Shorr and Lauren Guiteras to reflect on the making of “Edge of Summer”, a lyrical coming-of-age film set in the haunting landscapes of Cornwall. Clark unpacks her immersive handheld approach, the challenge of lighting with only headlamps, and the deeply collaborative relationship with director Lucy Cohen. Their discussion explores the aesthetics of memory, adolescence, and the subtle power of image-making that trusts the viewer’s emotional literacy.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Rachel Clark’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

Lauren Guiteras’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Creamsource and Sandisk, with special thanks to Kondor Blue.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/rachel-clark-bsc-a-meditation-on-innocence-silence-and-the-space-between-words-special-camerimage-episode/

What does it mean to carry someone else’s artistic legacy forward? Bianca Cline joins the Cinematography Salon Podcast to share a rare and deeply moving look behind the lens, stepping into the unfinished production of Rust following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, ASC. Bianca discusses the moral and emotional calculus behind accepting the role, her consultations with Hutchins’ family, and the quiet determination to preserve Halyna’s memory. 

A memorial scholarship has been established in Halyna's name at the AFI Conservatory. Donate here it you wish to contribute to the scholarship fund.

Bianca Cline’s Instagram | Website

Peter Pascucci’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/bianca-cline-a-cinematographers-reckoning-with-tragedy-legacy-and-honoring-a-fallen-colleague-on-the-set-of-rust/

Joining us this week is Zach Kuperstein, a New York-based cinematographer known for his work on "Barbarian" and his collaboration with Anna Kendrick on her highly anticipated directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour". Zach sits down with host David Kruta to discuss why he’s running for office in Local 600, breaking down contract negotiations, leadership stagnation, and why democratic engagement among union members matters now more than ever. With elections looming, Kuperstein outlines a progressive campaign for union leadership - and why the status quo is no longer sustainable for working camera professionals.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Zach Kuperstein’s Instagram | Website

CREW’s Instagram | Website

David Kruta’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/zach-kuperstein-a-cinematographers-mission-to-make-local-600-transparent-democratic-and-member-led/

Sam Levy’s body of work has helped define contemporary American independent cinema. In this episode, Levy pulls back the curtain on his methodical, deeply personal approach to cinematography, revealing how scripts, performances, and even sleep all shape his lens. Levy revisits career-defining moments with Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, and Kelly Reichardt, and speaks on how technical mastery is often best used in service of disappearing.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Sam Levy’s Instagram | Website

Peter Pascucci’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/sam-levy-a-well-rested-mind-and-the-art-of-invisible-cinematography/

When the realities of censorship made filming in Cuba impossible, production of Los Frikis moved to the Dominican Republic, where cinematographer Santiago González and his team worked tirelessly to create a world that felt authentic down to the sodium vapor streetlights. In this special Camerimage episode, Ava Benjamin Shorr and Lauren Guiteras sit down with Santiago and break down how the film’s color palette, lens choices, and shooting methodology reinforce its themes of rebellion and freedom.

Los Frikis will be available to stream beginning March 28th.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Santiago Gonzalez’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

Lauren Guiteras’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Creamsource and Sandisk, with special thanks to Kondor Blue.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/santiago-gonzalez-how-los-frikis-brought-1990s-havana-to-life-special-camerimage-episode/

In an age of pristine, digitally clinical imagery, cinematographers are increasingly drawn to imperfection—the swirl of a bokeh, the dreamlike haze of vintage glass. The Soviet-era lenses that once defined an era of photography are experiencing a rebirth through IronGlass, a Ukrainian company turning vintage optics into modern cinema glass. Hosts Peter Pascucci and Ava Benjamin Shorr sit down with Alan Besedin to discuss how IronGlass, despite the challenges of war and supply shortages, has built a dedicated following. From their early rehousings to supplying lenses for The Batman and Dune: Part Two, the conversation explores how artistry, resilience, and innovation converge in the pursuit of the perfect image.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Alan Besedin’s/IronGlass Instagram | Website

Peter Pascucci’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/alan-besedin-of-ironglass-shaping-the-future-by-reclaiming-the-past/

With the proliferation of accessible cinema cameras, affordable lighting, and the democratization of filmmaking tools, cinematography is changing with breathtaking speed. Hosts Peter Pascucci and Ava Benjamin Shorr speak with Jomo Fray and Oren Soffer about the unprecedented access to filmmaking tools, the impact of shifting industry models, and the dangers of complacency. As filmmakers navigate AI-generated imagery, studio uncertainty, and cultural shifts, they ask: Is this truly a golden age, or are we looking at the end of an era?

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Jomo Fray’s Instagram | Website

Oren Soffer’s Instagram | Website

Peter Pascucci’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/are-we-in-a-golden-age-of-cinematography-feat-jomo-fray-and-oren-soffer/

On this special edition of The Cinematography Salon Podcast, recorded at the 32nd Camerimage Film Festival, hosts Ava Benjamin Shorr and Lauren Guiteras sit down with cinematographer Lol Crawley to dissect his latest collaboration with Brady Corbet, The Brutalist. Crawley discusses the philosophy behind his bold visual choices, the interplay between maximalism and minimalism, his daring use of underexposure and the delicate art of framing iconic symbols like the Statue of Liberty in unexpected ways. A masterclass in storytelling through the lens, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at the power of perspective, composition, and the magic of imperfection.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.

Lol Crawley’s Instagram | Website

Ava Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | Website

Lauren Guiteras’s Instagram | Website

This episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Creamsource and Sandisk, with special thanks to Kondor Blue.

Show notes, stills and credits: https://cinematographysalon.com/podcast/lol-crawley-vistavision-underexposure-and-the-brutalist-special-camerimage-episode/