Why We Do This

It's been a very difficult year, and unfortunately we are still experiencing tragedy and loss. The events this past weekend around the Ghost Ship artist collective workspace are truly heartbreaking and our hearts go out to everyone affected. We wanted to take a moment to offer a resource for support:

www.youcaring.com/firevictimsofoak…dec232016-706684

Our guest this month is Mackenzie Mathis, a filmmaker who wears a lot of hats. He stopped by to discuss his latest film, Ten Eleven O Two, and to get philosophically deep with us not just about film, but about the world we live in, and the space around us. We talked about the social aspects as well as the isolating aspects of making movies, as well as what drives and inspires Mackenzie in his work. Get ready to get deep!

You can see Ten Eleven O Two on Vimeo on Demand:

vimeo.com/ondemand/tenelevenotwo

As well as more of Mackenzie's work:

www.mackenziemathis.com

Will Abramson of Yours Truly stopped in by way of internet to get some real talk going with us. We discuss how to curate work that is meaningful, how Yours Truly has evolved as a production company and as a group of artists, and a little bit about the difference between the work that pays and the work that is our passion. It's a really inspiring episode for us because we don't often get to commiserate with other production companies. We hope you enjoy!

yourstru.ly

Here's a piece we made with Yours Truly back in the day featuring Little Dragon: vimeo.com/21719521

This episode features Winnie Wong, a producer who has worked both in freelance as well as in the corporate arena, currently working at Pandora. We talk briefly about the differences she has seen between the freelance and corporate producing, but quickly this conversation shifts to the love of film, what drives Winnie’s work, and what inspired her to go down the path of filmmaking. Enjoy!

Winnie will be on a panel at the SF Urban Film Fest for a Q&A following the screening of an episode for the PBS project, "The Day One in the American City" (Friday Nov. 18). Check it out at www.sfurbanfilmfest.com

This episode is particularly special for us: Mark Kohr joins us!

Mark has directed a huge list of amazing music videos, including many that we grew up with in the 90's—Green Day videos, Primus videos, etc. He stood along side Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Mark Romanek, and many others repped at Propaganda Films to set the standard a new standard for what a music video could be. Today he talks to us about his process and his ideas around creativity.

We're super excited to have him on the show! Enjoy!

We worked with Mark on this Primus video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQv8zNQX578

Mark Kohr on the interwebz: markkohr.com/

This episode features Vincent Cortez, a long-time friend, director and jack-of-all-trades. We focus a lot on philosophy in this episode, as Vincent talks to us about his process as a director and a storyteller, what projects interest him, and how he lives his life as a filmmaker with his family.

See Vincent’s work here: mitchellstreetpictures.com

Following that, enjoy a longer epilogue of madness as we ramble about the Candyman, breakfast cocktails, and alternative super villain origins. Enjoy!

This episode features Phil Bowen, a long time AC (assistant camera) in the Bay Area. He’s worked on everything from Hunt For Red October to Pirates of the Caribbean and has also taught production. We had the pleasure of talking with him about a very important topic: what an AC actually does. We talk about other stuff too, because Phil is an amazing storyteller with a great deal of experience and an inspiring love of filmmaking. Enjoy!

This episode features Joe Mendoza, long time gaffer and co-owner of Little Giant Lighting & Grip. We talk to Joe about the Bay Area community of filmmakers and the projects that interest him, as well as Little Giant's "brand" and how he thinks about the balancing act between being a working gaffer and a CEO. Additionally, this episode sets a mark for a new format, and a little more from the French Press madness. Enjoy!

Check out Joe Mendoza here: mendozasf.com/

Check out Little Giant here: littlegiantlighting.com/

Cinematographer Phillip Briggs discusses story, collaboration, process, and the continuing journey toward mastery of our craft as filmmakers. There's also a lot of food metaphors in here, so don't listen hungry!

Check out Phillip's work here: www.phillipbriggs.com

Lauren is an awesome filmmaker that has worked on many a commercial production as well as art and dance films. We had some fun talking a little East meets West, art meets commerce, and why it’s important to grow and learn as a person in this industry. LISTEN!

Here's a little piece we worked on together for FEMA and AdCouncil, called “We Prepare Everyday”:

vimeo.com/134878208

The guys chat with Justin Plummer and Martin Strauss, a director duo that’s been a team since they met in college as wee laddies. They talk about a whole slew of stuff, like making decisions as a team, changing the plan, and how filmmaking is NOT like Diablo 2.