Sundial Film Festival Podcast

Redding cinematographer Kevin Kewely and gaffer (and bagel baker) Nathan Cichosz join the Sundial Film Festival Podcast to talk about what it takes to make a living in film in Redding and Shasta County, California.

Kevin shares the launch of his new app, Pre Light, which helps DPs and gaffers choose the right light size before they get to set. He also covers Shasta Film Supply, the local rental house and studio space he started to give Redding filmmakers access to pro gear without driving to Sacramento or the Bay Area. Nathan explains how he went from Bethel Media to baking bagels and sourdough while still gaffing on set.

They also dig into:

• Shooting long handheld zoom takes on the Shasta-made horror film The Rattlin' Bog
• Why Redding’s affordable cost of living, supportive locations, and short commutes are an advantage for filmmakers
• Building crew experience as bigger productions and feature films come to Shasta County
• Why Redding needs hands-on training, and how the Media Coalition helps local filmmakers make things together
• Their start in the industry, from a career switch at 32 to learning grip work on a feature
• Their under-the-radar film recommendations, Primer and Ozu’s Late Spring

Whether you’re a Redding filmmaker, a crew member, or a producer thinking about shooting in Northern California, this conversation shows how a small-town film community grows.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro and what Kevin and Nathan are working on
• 0:36 Pre Light app for DPs and gaffers
• 2:07 Shasta Film Supply: local gear rental and studio
• 3:31 From Bethel Media to bagels
• 5:06 The future of filmmaking in Redding
• 12:19 Shooting The Rattlin' Bog
• 17:41 Why Shasta County is a great place to film
• 23:25 Media Coalition and film training
• 25:42 How they got into the industry
• 32:24 Bethel Media’s impact on local talent
• 35:19 Underseen film recommendations: Primer and Late Spring
• 40:41 Where to find Kevin and Nathan

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Oscar season is here, and the Sundial Film Festival Podcast is breaking down the 2026 Best Picture race with two Redding movie obsessives: writer and lifelong cinephile Kallie Markel and music video director Luke Manwaring.

They debate Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another (including the best car chase of all time and a Redding-area film production story), Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and its 16 nominations, and the heartbreaking Hamnet with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. They also weigh in on Frankenstein, Train Dreams, Bugonia, Weapons, F1, and the underrated gem The Ballad of Wallis Island.

Plus: who deserves Best Director, whether Jessie Buckley takes Best Actress, and which nominees are worth a rewatch. Whether you’re filling out an Oscar ballot or building your watchlist, this one’s for you.

Subscribe to the Sundial Film Festival Podcast for more film talk, festival news, and local filmmaker spotlights.

Welcome to the Sundial Film Festival Podcast, the official podcast of the Sundial Film Festival in Redding, California. Hosted by Tyler Faires and Tyler Lockamy, each episode dives into movies and filmmaking, with conversations for film lovers, independent filmmakers, and curious storytellers.

We interview filmmakers, special guests, and visitors from the Sundial Film Festival, plus a mix of people from many walks of life who may or may not work in the film industry. Expect behind-the-scenes filmmaking insights, film discussion, and plenty of fun along the way.

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