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Moving is hard. It’s even harder if you are in the film business, where new connections are to be made in a possibly unfamiliar area. We talk with someone who recently moved from Cleveland to Austin. Ryan Girard is a director and editor, who has worked on projects for companies like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Vitamix. He talks with us today about making connections when moving to a new place, adapting to the new location, and dealing with one of the worst snowstorms in Texas history, among others.

Talking Points

-How the Austin film scene compares to Cleveland and how Ryan found connections during his time there

-How he adapted from the Midwest to the heart of Texas

-Making the shift from directing to editing during the Pandemic

-Staying creative during the Pandemic

-The value of having on-set editors

-Ryan’s interest in filming cars

-Promoting your work through reels

-How his interest in music connects with his filmmaking skills

Social Media

IG: ryanfgirard

Link: ryanfgirard.com

Episode Link

The Session Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=araUb4AJzFM&t=53s

The Session: Behind the Scenes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtOSva8OE_miCWePwMPjZmm05u3WbNRND

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With over 45,000 views on YouTube and being accepted into a couple of film festivals, we figured that it would be a great time to debrief filming “The Session.” Thanks to a worldwide pandemic, we were unable to walk down the red carpet at the Cleveland International Film Festival and watch it on the big screen. However, we are able to share it worldwide through streaming festivals and YouTube. In this episode, we bring back directors Chris Webb and Conrad “Abel” Miles to talk about filming “The Session,” as well as reminiscing about what happened on-set. After the show is over, watch our Behind The Scenes mini-series to go even further in-depth of our production.

Talking Points

-The feedback we got from the film, as well as what we’re doing next to further expand on the story

-What’s next for our directors

-Staying creative in a very competitive industry

-Favorite memories on-set

-What was left on the cutting room floor?

-What additional footage will be released?

Social Media

Chris: Website

-IG: chriswebbspeaks

-Facebook: Chris Webb

-Twitter: @chriswebbspeaks

Conrad

-IG: imxabel

-Facebook: Conrad Abel Miles

-YouTube: AbelMediaStudios

The Session

-Facebook: The Session

-IG: thesessioncle

Episode Link

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One of our favorite podcasts to listen to (besides ours, of course) is the Wandering DP Podcast, hosted by cinematographer Patrick O’Sullivan. In this episode, it was an honor having Patrick on our show to talk about filmmaking and cinematography. We also go into the making of his podcast, as well as talking about his new online course about commercial cinematography. Recently, Patrick was the director of photography for the Australian romantic drama film, I Met a Girl, and we talk about his experience filming that. After the show is over, check out some Wandering DP episodes using the links below.

Talking Points

-Going from an aspiring rugby player to a cinematographer

-Growing pains of his cinematography career

-Learning how to work with others on your crew, as well as developing a system on-set

-Patrick’s biggest “aha” moment

-The cinematographer-director connection on-set

-Patrick’s experience working on the Australian film, “I Met a Girl,” and what he learned from working on the film (including long-term effects)

-Deciding what you want out of your filming career

-Behind the scenes of the Wandering DP Podcast

-Filmmaking in a world where anyone can do it

-Patrick’s new online course about commercial cinematography

Social Media

IG: wanderingdp

Podcast Link: wanderingdp.com

Link: patrickosullivandp.com

Commercial Cinematography: The Foundation

Episode Page

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Many directors and DPs start off as production assistants in the film industry. Today’s guest learned to become a DP on the job. Starting off as a history major with a photography position at Quicken Loans, Ray Rushing went through the motions to become a freelance cinematographer. In this episode, he shares his evolution as a DP, as well as developing a leadership aspect to the job.

Talking Points

-Ray’s transition from history major to cinematographer

-His learning curve going from filming for Quicken Loans to going freelance

-“Morphing” your cinematic style to the project and the optimal project to doing so

-The team aspect of filmmaking and adjusting to the number of crew members per project

-Going through projects during COVID

-Evolving as a DP and learning why lighting matters

-What he brings on-set

-How having a good reel doesn’t necessarily translate to jobs

-Marketing Yourself

-Hobbies outside filmmaking

Social Media

-IG: rayrushing

-Twitter: @rayrushing

-Link: rayrushing.tv

Episode Link

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How has working on-set changed during the pandemic? That’s just one of the questions we answer this week. We talk with Cleveland-based cinematographer Nicholas Weiss about that, as well as the change of messages commercials want to convey and how it affects DPs. We also go into what smaller film cities, like Cleveland, can do to thrive in the industry, as well as what the future of filming commercials can look like in 2021.

Talking Points

-COVID Mindset of commercials/marketing

-Inspiration during quarantine

-The flexibility of sets during the pandemic

-Working with small crews

-Optimizing relationships with others on-set (i.e. Director, Gaffer, etc.)

-Establishing community outside of bigger markets like NY, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, etc.

-Why we need more people to do one job rather than do multiple jobs on crew

-Outlook for 2021

-Self-improvement

-Trusting your crew

-Formula for success

-Technical aspects

Monitoring color on-set

The importance of efficiency on-set

-Pros and cons of having an agent as a DP

Social Media

IG: nicholasweissdp

Link: nicholasweissdp.com

Also On This Episode

The Session: 2020 DC Shorts International Film Festival

Episode Link

The Session: 2020 DC Shorts International Film Festival

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Today’s guest has a résumé that includes being behind the camera for shows like GLOW, Ramy, and Love Life. However, it’s his humble beginnings in the industry, as well as his drive to tell the best stories, which have led him to where he is today. In this episode, we talk with cinematographer Adrian Peng Correia about how his career in the business, what he’s learned through it, and one of the toughest times on-set emotionally. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Talking Points

-Adrian working on his first million-dollar feature and the emotional first night he endured

-The moment when he knew he made it in filmmaking

-Humility and why everyone should be a PA at least once in their career

-Finding crew you want to work with

-How a dinner conversation and strong relationships led to DP-ing a major Netflix series

-Skill development and acquiring talents

-Getting to the “next level” and staying competitive

-Director/DP Relationship

-Working with no more than a two-camera setup

-Differences of looks between shows he’s worked on

-Future projects

-Technical DP info

Social Media

IG: adrianpengcorreia

Link: adrianpengcorreia.com

IMDb: Adrian Peng Correia

Episode Link

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Caleb Crossen is a Cleveland-based freelance cinematographer. He has been behind the camera for numerous clients, including Reebok, Progressive Insurance, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In this episode, he joins James for a conversation between fellow DPs. They talk about things like the importance of lens choice, interactions with directors and producers, and movies that drove them to work in film.

Talking Points

-Caleb’s start in the industry

-Gathering a vision from experience

-The importance of lens choice

-Interactions with the director and producer

-Process for monitoring exposure

-Staying consistent in getting a good frame

-Standing out as a DP

-Measuring up to the “National” standard

-The movies that shaped both Caleb and James’ interest in film

-Process of breaking down frames from other films/projects

Social Media

IG: calebcrossendp

Link: calebcrossen.com

Episode Link

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If you would have asked today’s guest if he would be behind the camera and directing very impactful films years ago, he would have laughed. Specializing in documentaries and focusing on the heroes that are the subjects of them, Nick Cavalier’s career has led him to film festivals like Cleveland and SXSW, numerous awards, and even a Vimeo Staff Pick. Today, he talks about his progress, inspirations, and challenges he has endured getting to where he is. We conclude Director’s Month 2020 with Nick Cavalier.

Talking Points

-How he turned to art as an escape and how that led to filmmaking

-Finding yourself through filmmaking

-His journey from struggling during the Recession to success in LA

-Filming commercial compared to narrative

-Why documentaries are seen as the “ugly redheaded stepchild” of film

-The type of director Nick is (crew-centered or talent-centered)

-Filming with smaller crews compared to bigger ones

-Where Nick derives inspiration

-Executing ideas

-His views on spec work

-What the next few months hold for filmmakers

-How Nick has been handling the COVID-19 Crisis

-What stories he likes telling the most

Social Media

Facebook: Nick Cavalier - Director

IG: nickcavalier

Twitter: @nickcavalier

Link: nickcavalier.com

IMDb: Nick Cavalier

Episode Link

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An important aspect of filmmaking is developing your characters. How they can relate to anyone, whether people should like them or not, and how they interact with other characters and intertwine in the story are just some of the factors. In this episode, our guest recently had an experience incorporating all of these points. His film, The Last Christmas Party, tells the story of a group of college friends in troubled romances as they party one last time before Winter Break. As we near the end of Director’s Month, we welcome director and fellow Pinoy (slang for Filipino), Julian C. Santos.

Talking Points

-Julian’s film journey from San Francisco to NYU

-Character development and implementing them in his writing

-How he can relate to his characters

-Building a team for a film

-Directing suited to a specific genre

-Perceiving characters

-The importance of table reads/rehearsals

-Benefits of reshoots and pickups with a low budget

-Gaining constructive feedback from your circle

-Telling a great story while staying original

-Going in-depth on making his micro-budget movie, The Last Christmas Party

-How long production days were

-Dailies

-Post-production process

-Getting into film festivals

-Future projects and the hope to film Asian-centered stories

Social Media

Julian

-Facebook: City Bear Media

-IG: technicolor_julian

-IMDb: Julian C. Santos

-Link: juliancsantos.com

The Last Christmas Party

-Link: thelastchristmasparty.com

Episode Page

Watch Moondance on Prime Video

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It’s hard enough to direct a musical, but imagine writing it and composing the music after thinking it was not going to be one in the first place. That is what today’s guest had to go through. Moondance director Cooper Flannigan is our guest on this episode of Spokes, and he goes into his process of creating this film, as well as some of the challenges including distribution and changing release plans due to the Coronavirus.

Moondance is now on Amazon Prime Video.

Talking Points

-Cooper’s path to filmmaking

-Adjusting to the situation on-set

-Why directing and why it wasn’t his initial career

-How Moondance wasn’t originally a musical and how it turned into one

-The process of writing Moondance

-Assembling a team to create a film

-Funding the project

-The Pre-Production Process

-The imperfect on-set situations

-Planning post-production

-Making the musical numbers

-Distribution

-The biggest lesson learned from the production

Social Media

Cooper

-Facebook: Squatch Film

-IG: cooperflannigan, squatchfilm

-IMDb: Cooper Flannigan

-Link: Squatch Film

Moondance

-IMDb

-Facebook: Moondance Movie