In this season finale of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich delves into the intricacies of Oscars betting with Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports Book Operations at DraftKings. He shares his perspective as an Oscars betting expert on everything from setting odds to when they make adjustments and the significance of precursor awards on the lines. Next up in this special episode is a comprehensive season recap with FYCit Field Agent Tony Miros, highlighting memorable moments, best screening rooms, and receptions. Tony and Ryland hand out the Season Salutes for various categories like Best Q&A and Best Campaign. The episode concludes with an analysis of The Season's Lightning Round questions–and Ryland goes on the hot seat to give his answers.

Show Notes:

(01:35) Conversation with Johnny Avello on Oscars Betting

(04:40) How to Quantify an Awards Race When Setting Lines

(06:16) The Factors That Matter When Determining Odds

(10:07) On How Negative News Stories Impact the Lines

(16:48) Potential Upsets for This Year's Oscars

(20:11) Recap of the Season with FYCit Field Agent Tony Miros

(26:22) The Season Salutes

(36:27) Best FYC Event Highlights

(38:52) Season Salute for Best Campaign

(44:50) Tony's Tips for Emmy FYC Events

(49:10) 2024-25 Awards Season Lightning Round Results

(55:07) Host Ryland Aldrich's Lightning Round

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Johnny Avello - Director of Race and Sports Book Operations, DraftKings

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Producer: Steve Petchenik - Head of Production, Spellbinder Media

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews Chris Albert, a documentary awards guru who spent more than 20 years at National Geographic before leaving to found Albert Media Group. Chris discussed his experiences leading Oscar and Emmy-winning campaigns for Free Solo and this year's nominee, Porcelain War, as well as insights on why craft still matters when it comes to making successful documentaries. The conversation also covers the importance of festival premieres, the role of distribution strategies, and finding champions within the documentary community to advocate for films. This episode offers a little extra awards season perspective thanks to our FYCit Field Agent, Tony Miros, sharing his experience as a 2x nominee at this year's Casting Society Artios Awards.

Show Notes:

(02:19) Chris Albert's Career Journey

(02:53) Porcelain War and Its Impact

(04:46) Challenges and Rewards of Documentary Campaigns

(06:23) Key Elements of a Successful Documentary

(09:30) Festival Premieres and Their Importance

(15:20) Theatrical Releases and Distribution Strategies

(19:16) Awards Campaign Strategies and Tastemakers

(30:38) Exploring New Opportunities

(31:45) The Nat Geo Lounge at Telluride

(35:05) Lightning Round with Chris Albert

(39:57) Tony Miros at Artios

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Chris Albert - Docu Awards Guru & Albert Media, CEO

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich is joined by Jarin Blaschke, Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Nosferatu, to discuss his experiences with awards season as a two-time nominee. Back now after his previous nomination for The Lighthouse, Jarin shares what goes into his acclaimed work with his longtime collaborator, Director Robert Eggers, including some behind-the-scenes insights from the making of this year's vampire epic. The conversation also covers Jarin's thoughts on how his meticulous cinematography might be received by awards voters, what other genres he'd like to work in, and why he prefers working on films rather than TV..

Show Notes:

(01:22) Introducing Jarin Blaschke

(02:04) Jaron Blaschke on Nosferatu and Cinematography

(02:52) His Collaborations with Director Robert Eggers

(03:51) Challenges and Techniques in Cinematography

(08:26) Awards Season Reflections

(14:10) Future Projects and Aspirations

(16:37) Lightning Round

(20:17) FYCit Field Agent Report w/ Tony Miros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Jarin Blaschke - Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer of Nosferatu

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich sits down with Volker Bertelmann, Oscar Winner and Nominated Composer of Conclave. Their conversation covers Bertelmann's experience composing for films like Conclave and his winning effort for All Quiet on the Western Front, his collaborations with director Edward Berger, and insights into his creative process. Volker describes the challenges and rewards of awards season, the pressure to meet expectations, and his method of infusing unique instruments and sounds into his scores that have helped lead to his awards success.

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Show Notes:

(03:36) Volker's Approach to Film Scoring

(06:54) The Unique Sound of Conclave

(09:06) Awards and Recognition

(12:37) Campaigning and Networking

(16:17) First Oscar Nomination Experience

(20:25) Preparing for the Oscars

(24:28) The Challenges of Composing for TV Series

(25:34) Navigating Awards Season

(26:41) Collaborations and New Projects

(27:46) Exploring New Genres and Ambitions

(28:31) Lightning Round: Awards Season Favorites

(32:28) FYCit Field Agent Report w/Tony Miros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Volker Bertelmann - Oscar Winner & Nominated Composer of Conclave

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews David Barber, President of Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE), to discuss sound design in film and television. The episode explores the unique peer-voted nature of the Golden Reel Awards, MPSE's efforts to promote sound editing awareness and international expansion, as well as mentoring and support for emerging talent. They also touch on the impact of industry strikes, the role of AI in sound editing, and David's personal dedication to advancing the field via his role as President of MPSE.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Welcome and Acknowledgements

(00:53) Interview with David Barber Begins

(02:43) Golden Reel Awards: Process and Traditions

(09:52) Challenges and Changes in the Industry

(15:22) Expanding MPSE's Reach and Influence

(17:48) Balancing Roles: President and Sound Editor

(23:27) AI in Sound: Challenges and Opportunities

(24:55) MPSE's Role in Mentoring Emerging Talent

(26:41) Advice for Aspiring Sound Editors

(29:27) Lightning Round with David Barber

(31:38) FYCit Field Agent Report with Tony Miros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: David Barber - Motion Picture Sound Editors, President

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

In this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews acclaimed sound designer, editor, and mixer Will Files. The discussion covers Will's impressive career, his approach to sound design, and his recent work on multiple award-contending films, including Alien: Romulus and Saturday Night. Will shares insights into the technical and artistic aspects of sound design, the challenges of working on legacy franchises such as his Oscar-nominated work in The Batman, and his experiences during past awards seasons.

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Show Notes:

(01:40) Introducing Will Files

(02:29) Will Files on His Busy Season

(04:56) Sound Design Insights

(11:24) The Batman and Awards Recognition

(17:52) Alien: Romulus Sound Techniques

(24:48) On His Chances For Another Sound Oscar Nomination This Year

(25:54) Sound Editing vs. Sound Mixing

(33:47) Lightning Round with Will Files

(36:07) FYCit Field Agent Report w/ Tony Miros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Will Files - Award-Winning Sound Designer & Mixer

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

In this episode, The Season host, Ryland Aldrich, kicks off the new year with Jerry Rojas, EVP at Shelter PR for Awards and Events. He has helped craft campaigns for celebrated films such as The Theory of Everything, Milk, Dallas Buyers Club, American Fiction and many more. Jerry shares invaluable insights into the intricate world of awards events and campaigns, including strategies for Oscar and Golden Globe success, the role of tastemakers, and the evolving landscape of awards campaigning.

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Show Notes:

(03:05) Jerry Rojas on Awards Campaigns

(04:51) The Role of Tastemakers

(06:53) Building and Managing Guest Lists

(11:25) The Importance of Venue and Technical Setup

(14:08) Crafting Effective Q&A Sessions

(17:14) Food, Drink, and Event Atmosphere

(18:22) Networking and Schmoozing Tips

(21:29) International and Younger Voting Bodies

(23:10) Golden Globes Campaigning

(25:52) The Impact of Events on Awards Success

(30:09) Exploring New York's Screening Rooms with FYCit Field Agent Tony MIros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Jerry Rojas - Shelter EVP, Awards & Events

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich hosts an insightful conversation with Oscar-winning costume designer Deborah L. Scott. Known for her work on iconic films like E.T., Heat, and Back to the Future, Deborah discussed her storied career, the evolving role of digital costume design in film, and the impact of technology and social media on the awards season. She shares personal anecdotes from her Oscar-winning work on Titanic and the challenges faced in the production of the Avatar films.

Show Notes:

(02:03) Introducing Deborah L. Scott

(03:10) Deborah's Titanic Experience

(04:57) Impact of Social Media on Awards

(12:39) Avatar: A New Frontier in Costume Design

(21:31) Evaluating Costume Design in Film

(22:53) Challenges and Preferences in Costume Design

(25:35) Mentoring Young Designers

(26:46) Lightning Round with Deborah L. Scott

(29:17) FYCit Field Agent Report with Tony Miros

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Deborah L. Scott - Oscar-Winning Costume Designer

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

On this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich delves into the intricacies of predicting awards season with Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter's Executive Editor for Awards. We dive into why he's been dubbed an 'awards oracle' as Scott explains his methodology for creating the Feinberg Forecast, the influence of various factors on Oscar predictions, and the changing dynamics within the Academy. Additionally, the episode features an analysis of how a global voting body and the rise of streaming platforms are impacting awards and broader industry trends.

Show Notes:

(02:57) Introducing Scott Feinberg

(03:50) Scott Feinberg on Awards Season

(04:41) Predicting the Oscars

(09:11) Factors Influencing Oscar Predictions

(12:36) The Impact of Academy Changes

(24:04) Netflix and the Oscars

(26:57) The Oscars Telecast and Ratings

(30:21) Future of Award Season

(32:32) Lightning Round: Quick Questions with Scott Feinberg

(37:03) FYC Field Agent Tony Meros Reports from New York

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Scott Feinberg - Executive Editor (Awards), The Hollywood Reporter

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]

In this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich speaks with director and producer Vanessa Hope about the grassroots awards campaign for her documentary, Invisible Nation. They discuss navigating a challenging festival circuit and the strategy as independent filmmakers behind the doc's Oscar push. Vanessa also shared her experience gaining unparalleled access to politicians in Taiwan, her filmmaking journey, and how the Academy Awards remain the gold standard across the globe.

Show Notes:

(00:34) Latest Awards News

(01:46) Conversation with Vanessa Hope Begins

(03:50) Self Distributing the Documentary

(07:16) Hiring an Awards Publicist

(09:06) Devising a Screening Strategy

(15:08) Vanessa Hope's Filmmaking Journey

(23:31) Grassroots Awards Campaign Insights

(26:53) Lightning Round Questions

(28:54) FYC Field Agent Tony Miros Reports from New York

Host: Ryland Aldrich @RylandAldrich

Guest: Vanessa Hope - Director & Producer, Invisible Nation

FYCit Field Agent: Tony Miros @tonymiros

Produced by Spellbinder Media

More at https://fycit.app and on socials @fycitapp. Questions? Email [email protected]