In this episode, Damien Swaby sits down with filmmaker and multi-disciplinary creative Mick Lexington to talk about his journey through art, music, and writing — and how it all led him back to filmmaking. From restless college days in the Midwest to wandering the streets of Paris, playing music in London, and finally honing his craft as a writer and filmmaker, Mick shares a candid look at what drives him to create.

They dive into:

• How Mick’s unconventional path shaped his voice as a storyteller.
• The realities of indie filmmaking and staying true to your artistic instincts.
• The importance of persistence, curiosity, and “getting things out of your system” to find your real calling.
• Why failure, detours, and even being “a bum in Paris” can become part of an artist’s foundation.

This conversation is full of honesty, humor, and inspiration for anyone navigating their own creative journey.Links & Resources:

• IG Mick Lexington: https://www.instagram.com/micklexingtonofficial/?hl=en
• Website: https://www.micklexington.com

Check out https://starwalkerorganicfarms.com YouTubel: https://www.youtube.com/@StarWalkerOrganicFarms

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In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby speaks with filmmaker Natalie, whose journey bridges anthropology, culture, and cinema. From her early studies in cultural and social anthropology to her work at the Smithsonian’s International Center, Natalie explains how her background in research and global exploration shaped her filmmaking perspective.The conversation covers:

• Anthropology to Filmmaking: How cultural and social anthropology informed Natalie’s storytelling and cinematic vision.
• Documentary as a Tool for Education: Why documentary filmmaking can function as cultural preservation, social critique, and activism.
• Technical Approach to Filmmaking: Insights into pre-production research, narrative structuring, and blending ethnographic methods with visual storytelling.
• The Role of Institutions: What working at places like the Smithsonian taught Natalie about archiving, knowledge dissemination, and authenticity in media.
• Independent Filmmaking Challenges: Practical advice on funding, distribution, and maintaining creative integrity in a competitive media landscape.
• Filmmaking as Cross-Cultural Dialogue: Using cinema to bridge communities, histories, and identities.

This episode is both a practical guide for filmmakers and a deep reflection on how academic training and fieldwork can enrich the art of cinema.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Academic training in anthropology offers a unique lens for storytelling.
• Documentary filmmaking is both technical and ethical—it requires balancing research accuracy with compelling narrative.
• Institutional experiences (museums, archives, cultural centers) provide tools for framing stories with depth and responsibility.
• Independent creators must innovate in funding, distribution, and audience engagement while staying true to their artistic mission.

Website: https://www.documentaries.org/filmmakers/natalie-zimmerman/

Weaver Films Launches Arkansas Love Story Campaign with Wedding & Engagement Film Giveaway

Weaver Films – Arkansas Love Story Campaign Assets

https://weaverfilms.co/

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• X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
• Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en 

Guest: Jason Walsh — Strength & Performance Coach
Mentors & background (as stated in the episode):

• Worked under Greg Gatz at the University of North Carolina (Olympic athlete S&C environment).
• Mentored by Luke Richardson (respected strength coach).

Selected clients & projects mentioned in the episode:

• Bradley Cooper — American Sniper: Discussed as a standout “all-in” transformation Jason was involved in (“the transformation that we did in American Sniper”), including addressing tendon issues from prior high-volume work and rebuilding capacity more intelligently.
• Also discussed (not presented as clients): Jake Gyllenhaal (praised for exceptional discipline); Jennifer Aniston (raised by Damien as a comparison point for training history), Chris Kyle referenced as the role target in American Sniper.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Foundations over fads: Why movement quality, progressive overload, and recoverability beat “miracle” plans.
• Load management done right: Practical ways to prevent overuse and tendon flare-ups when volume spikes or schedules get hectic.
• The creative athlete: How filmmakers and crew can train for long days—grip/carry strength, posture endurance, and simple maintain-during-shoot protocols.
• Mindset & longevity: Program to the job, not the trend—sleep, steps, protein, and stress become programmable variables, not guesswork.
• Beginners vs. trained: How Jason onboards true beginners vs. those with training history (same fundamentals, different starting loads, tighter guardrails on volume and intensity).

Episode Sponser: https://starwalkerorganicfarms.com

My Review: Essential Provisions


Rise311

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In this episode, host Damien Swaby sits down with Brian Weaver, founder of Weaver Films — a Central Arkansas–based company known for its cinematic wedding storytelling and powerful social documentaries.Before stepping behind the camera, Brian was a musician, performing over 300 live shows and even opening for acts like Plain White T’s. His journey into filmmaking began with a deeply personal moment — his own wedding — which showed him the power of preserving meaningful memories.Together, Damien and Brian explore:

• The intersection of legacy and reinvention in creative work
• Building a sustainable filmmaking business in a shifting media landscape
• Balancing authentic storytelling with client expectations
• The role of platforms like TikTok in modern creativity
• What it means to leave behind a lasting impact through art

Whether you’re a filmmaker, creative entrepreneur, or simply someone navigating reinvention, this episode will inspire you to find sustainability without losing your voice.

Weaver Films Launches Arkansas Love Story Campaign with Wedding & Engagement Film Giveaway

Weaver Films – Arkansas Love Story Campaign Assets

https://weaverfilms.co/

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Hello and welcome back to the show. Today, I'm joined by Les Johnson, a NASA technologist, science fiction author, and consultant on films like Europa Report and Lost in Space. We'll be diving into what it takes to bring science to the screen, how to balance scientific truth with a good story, and the real-world passion behind space travel. Stick around, you won't want to miss this!Show Notes

• What is a Science Consultant? Les explains his role as a science consultant on films and TV shows like Europa Report, Lost in Space, and Beacon 23. He describes the different levels of input he has had, from a deep collaboration on Europa Report to being dismissed from a project for stating a plot point was "totally implausible".
  
  
• Balancing Science and Storytelling: A major challenge is balancing scientific accuracy with a compelling narrative. Les shares that he and his editors work to avoid "data dumps" and instead provide just enough detail for a lay reader to find the story plausible without getting bogged down in technicalities. He also discusses the common trope of faster-than-light travel and how it's often used to make a story more interesting, even if it's not currently possible according to the laws of physics.
  
• Inspirational Sci-Fi: Les names two TV series he considers the "gold standard" for accuracy and creativity: For All Mankind, which presents an alternate history of the space race, and The Expanse, which he praises for its special effects and technical consulting.
  
• The Passion for Space: Les traces his love for science and storytelling back to his childhood, recalling the pivotal moment of watching the Apollo landing at age seven and later watching reruns of the original Star Trek with his sisters. This led him to pursue a career as a physicist at NASA.
  
• A Personal Imperative: He believes that spreading life from Earth into the universe is an "imperative". He discusses his philosophical belief that life on Earth is special and worth preserving by expanding it to other worlds like Mars and the moons of Jupiter. He also notes that getting to Mars will be a "very, very difficult" process, likely starting with domed cities and self-sufficient colonies

W: https://www.lesjohnsonauthor.com

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This podcast episode features a conversation with actress and director Blanche Baker, who discusses her career, her notable roles, and her passion for making films that address social issues.Show Notes:

• Early Career and the Impact of Holocaust
  • Blanche Baker's debut role was in the Emmy-winning miniseries Holocaust.
    
  • This role was deeply personal for her because her father, Jack Garfine, was a Holocaust survivor.
    
  • Before filming, she retraced her father’s journey through the concentration camps, including visiting Bergen-belsen, where he was liberated at age 14.
    
  • She also shares a story about a taxi driver in Vienna making a joke about the Auschwitz ovens, which made her experience "horrifying at times".
    
  • Her father supported her doing the film, believing people would relate to the story better than "just facts and numbers".
    
  • She also recounts how her father would laugh at most films about the Holocaust, saying that in the camps people were singing and dancing, and those who felt sorry for themselves were the ones who died. This was his way of saying you have to "find the joy in life despite the horrors" to survive.
    
    
• Acting Technique and Education
  • Baker believes that an academic background gives actors roots in a tough business with many ups and downs.
    
  • She recommends the books Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen and Intent to Live by Larry Moss for her students.
    
  • She has also taken Stanislavsky’s work and translated it for film to help students achieve the naturalistic performances seen on screen today.
    
  • She notes that the basic acting technique is the same across mediums like film, television, and theater, but it must be modified for each, with film bringing the "audience... right up into your face".
    
• Sixteen Candles and On-Set Stories
  • Baker recalls that John Hughes wrote Sixteen Candles in just two weeks and let the cast improvise.
    
  • None of them expected the film to become a cult classic that still resonates with young people today.
    
    
  • She recounts a story about Anthony Michael Hall hanging from a coat hook in her hotel room and other pranks on set, describing the experience as "like being at camp".
    
  • She also shares a story about trashing a hotel room while shooting a film in Israel when she was younger and how it taught her that pursuing acting as an art is what makes you happy, not acting out.
    
    
• Moving Behind the Camera
  • Blanche Baker is passionate about making films that make people think about social issues.
    
  • Her short films, like Street Right, deal with freedom of speech by contrasting negative advertising with positive graffiti.
    
    
  • Her other short film, Make America Safe, uses humor and a "backwards" world to highlight the issue of gun violence and school shooter drills. She mentions that she believes there need to be stricter gun laws.
    
    
  • She is currently working on a film called Girl in a Glass Box, which explores psychological manipulation and shines a light on gaslighting and abuse

LINKS 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_Acting
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Stanislavski
3. https://www.nyfa.edu

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Episode Summary:
Marc's career is anything but ordinary. Before becoming a powerhouse entertainment attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP, he studied film at the University of Pennsylvania and UCL, made three documentaries—including the Sundance Special Jury Award-winning After Innocence—and helped change legislation in multiple states. In this in-depth conversation, Marc opens up about how he navigated the worlds of law and filmmaking, and the lessons he’s learned from representing clients ranging from Hollywood legends like Joe Pesci to first-time filmmakers breaking out at Venice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 🎥 Breaking In – How a passion project about the wrongfully convicted became a Sundance hit and changed state laws.
• ⚖ Balancing Careers – Producing films while practicing law at major firms.
• ✍ Why Contracts Matter – The dangers of handshake deals and how to protect your creative work early.
• 🎯 Negotiation Tactics – Why respect, clear communication, and calm articulation win deals in a small industry.
• 🖥 Streaming’s Impact – How Netflix’s early spending spree changed the game, and why Apple’s theatrical push is both exciting and limited.
• 🌍 Global Deals – How to approach cross-border financing, tax credits, and presales in today’s market.
• 💡 Advice for Creatives – What young lawyers, filmmakers, and financiers must understand before jumping in.
• 🔍 Case Studies – Behind-the-scenes legal challenges on The Irishman, The Hunting Ground, The Eagle Huntress, Winter’s Bone, and The Kids Are All Right.

Guest Bio:
Marc is an entertainment attorney in the 40-member Entertainment & Sports Law Department at Fox Rothschild LLP. A filmmaker, his unique career has spanned Sundance premieres, award-winning documentaries, high-profile distribution deals, and complex cross-border financing arrangements. His clients include top-tier talent, rising stars, and independent financiers shaping the future of content.

Key Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Fox Rothschild LLP – Entertainment Law
• After Innocence (Sundance Special Jury Award)
• Unraveled, The Irishman, Winter’s Bone, The Kids Are All Right
• The Hunting Ground, The Eagle Huntress, Dead Man’s Wire (Venice 2024)

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In this episode, we sit down with Alec, co-founder of the New York Climate Film Festival, to explore how cinema is being used to spark conversations around climate change. From building a community of diverse storytellers to rethinking what climate narratives can look like, Alec shares the journey of starting a film festival focused on one of the most urgent issues of our time. Whether you're a filmmaker, climate advocate, or simply a lover of good stories, this episode uncovers the creative intersections where art meets environmental action.📝 Show Notes:In this episode, we discuss:

• 🎬 The origin story of the New York Climate Film Festival
• 🌍 Why climate is as much a cultural issue as a scientific one
• 🧠 How experimental and narrative formats push climate storytelling forward
• 🤝 Collaborations between artists, scientists, and curators
• 🎥 What Alec looks for in a festival film submission

🛠️ The real challenges (and joys) of building a niche film festival

• 🔊 The underrated power of good sound in indie filmmaking
• 🐝 Highlighting “Keeper,” a touching short film about beekeeping and family in the Bronx
• 📈 Hopes for the future of media, festivals, and climate narratives

🎬 Mentioned Films & Resources:

• One With the Whale – a coming-of-age climate story set in the Aleutian Islands
• Keeper by Hannah Rafkin – a short film about a father-daughter beekeeping duo
• Climate storytelling resources:
  • Good Energy Playbook
  • Climate Spring (UK)
  • Earth Angel (sustainable production)
  • Albert (BAFTA’s sustainability program)

W: https://www.climatefilmfest.com

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Welcome to the show. Today, we're joined by Paul Robinson, a self-taught photographer who began his career in Paris shooting fashion and celebrities. Paul's work, which has been described as blending story and image, has evolved from classic single-frame photography to a focus on abstract, narrative-driven visuals. He's a true creative who has photographed cultural icons like B.B. King. Paul's passion for storytelling and empowering new artists led him to found the NEFTI short film competition, a global initiative to support underrepresented filmmakers in emerging economies. We'll be talking to Paul about his journey, his unique approach to visual art and filmmaking, and the inspiring work he's doing with NEFTI. Stay tuned.
In this episode, we sit down with artist and photographer Paul Robinson to discuss his creative journey and work.

• From Fashion to Abstract: Paul shares how he transitioned from traditional fashion and celebrity photography to his current focus on abstract, narrative-driven visuals. He explains that he always loved the drama and storytelling in art, and felt limited by a single frame. This led him to experiment with multiple exposures on film, a process he calls "In Camera". This process involves layering several images onto one frame of film, with some images taking up to a year to complete. You can see this series on his website, paulrobinsonart.com.
• The Art of Collaboration: Paul discusses his approach to working with famous artists, emphasizing the importance of a collaboration between artists where you are "able to see what that person is about in the final image". He cites his long-standing working relationships with actors like Jennifer Tilly and David Arquette as examples of how these collaborations can lead to ongoing creative partnerships.
• Filmmaking and Visual Arts: For Paul, visual arts and filmmaking are very similar, both centered on storytelling. He approaches both by first writing a story to guide his vision. His love for raw, real, and intense drama, often found in French and British films, is a key influence on his storytelling.
• NEFTI Short Film Competition: Paul's desire to "give back in the arts" led him to found the NEFTI competition, which provides underrepresented filmmakers in emerging economies with the financing, mentorship, and a platform to share their voices. He's currently in South Africa at the Durban FilmMart for the seventh NEFTI competition. He recounts a story of a past winner who was featured on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting the impact NEFTI has on participants. He also explains that a new initiative for the competition is to make a film in just three days with a skeleton crew. Panavision, a company that also donated equipment to Paul's first short film over 30 years ago, has donated all the camera and grip equipment to the NEFTI filmmakers.
• Creative Advice: Paul's advice to emerging artists is to "have no fear" and to create something every day. He believes that consistent creativity makes you a more prolific and comfortable artist.

Website Links:

NEFTI 

https://nefticompetition.com

Paul Robinson 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-robinson-11311328/

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🔍 Episode Summary
In this episode, Damien Swaby sits down with the brilliant Lee Romaire, an Emmy-winning creative force behind some of the most iconic animatronic creations in entertainment. From his early fascination with Disney World and miniature train sets to designing immersive experiences for Disney Parks and major TV productions, Lee shares the origin of his creative passion and how he transformed it into a world-class career.

Listeners will discover:

• The childhood spark that ignited Lee’s career in animatronics
• How growing up in Louisiana and dabbling in taxidermy influenced his artistry
• Behind-the-scenes stories from award-winning projects
• Insights on blending technology, imagination, and storytelling in theme parks and television

Whether you're a fan of Disney, a creative professional, or just love origin stories that lead to artistic mastery, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Highlights
00:03 – Introduction and welcome
01:30 – Lee's early influences and love for artificial realism
03:15 – How taxidermy became a surprising creative gateway
05:50 – Journey from hobbyist to professional designer
12:40 – Lee’s work with Disney and his Emmy Award-winning TV contributions
17:10 – Philosophy behind immersive design
22:00 – Advice for aspiring creatives in entertainment design

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