If you love film. If you love crew. If you love culture. If you love history. You will love John Simmons, ASC. Part One of a candid conversation with the legendary Cinematographer. Who was his mentor, and what he thinks of the term mentor when describing himself. His cinematic spirit of protest. The first job out of Film School, and what caused Carlton Moss to hang up in his face. The value of passion, yet a vow and pledge for diversity. Apologies for brevity and Technicality. Errors of the head. Not the heart. All Film. All Crew. All Love. #
You want to talk Hair. In Hollywood. Talk to Carla "Joi" Farmer. Fresh off the filming of Coming to America 2, and in the middle of production on Will Smith's "King Richard project" detailing the father of the tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, Carla Joi knows the culture of hair. A veteran hair stylist with over 20 + years in the industry, Carla Joi joins the Film Crew Love podcast to discuss: The collaborative pride of leading the Hair Department on Coming to America 2. The inspirational work and story of Richard Williams, and how she seeks to make it authentic. Her work on the Netflix project Dolemite, and how she prepares for period work. The collaborative process with talent, What she seeks in staffing her department, The joys and adjustments to working in different locales, and her future aspirations. Film.Crew.Love.
Richard Vialet, one of the DP of the new Starz series, P-Valley, joins the Film Crew Love Podcast. Richard discusses: His initial interest, and subsequent apprehension with #PValley, his reflection and realization on what ultimately excited him. The culture and vibe of his sets, and being diligent regarding the male gaze on a strip club set. His collaborative process with Tyler Perry's equally rewarding and demanding shooting style. How he prioritizes story, seeks cinematographic challenges, and how that lines up with his biggest fear. His future plans, and what project he missed out on that made him decide to take every meeting. Also his underrated, overrated, and properly rated. DP Richard Vialet. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
A veteran Director of Photography with a deep love for cinema and culture Tommy Maddox joins the Film Crew Love podcast. In the midst of this era of introspection, reawakening, and relevance Tommy shares: Why being the Cinematographer of #Snowfall is personal for him. His admiration, appreciation, and friendly rivalry with Spike Lee. His talented crews, how he acquires them, and his responsibility to diversity on film sets. The future of the industry as he sees it, and what he hopes it produces. What he recommends to young filmmakers, And where he professionally aspires to be in the future. This, and so much more rich discussion with Tommy Maddox Upshaw. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
Trivia. What crew member is first in and last out on: #Insecure #WrinkleInTime #StraightOuttaCompton #TheSoloist #TrainingDay And Upcoming Amazon #UndergroundRailroad series Directed by Barry Jenkins just to name a few..? Location Manager Alison Taylor. Twenty Five years and counting, a three time California Location Award winner, Alison Taylor joins the Film Crew Love podcast to shed light on one of the most valuable, yet most underrated professions in the industry. She praises an LA Times article that acknowledges the Locations of Los Angeles in Insecure, yet fails to acknowledge the actual Locations Department. She discusses her appreciation and admiration for Barry Jenkins and Ava Duvernay, The creative and logistical responsibility she undertakes on each project, the project that she passed on, and professional and personal lessons she has learned from a “project that will go unnamed.” Also Who’s underrated, overrated, and properly rated from an industry veteran. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
A crew is only as diverse as a production manager's rolodex. Heidi McGowan, is the veteran Production Manager of ABC's hit show, #Blackish The crew reflects her diverse taste. Heidi joins the Film.Crew.Love podcast to discuss her career as African American Production Manager. She discusses how she has learned and grown in her position in Hollywood, her views of diversity and inclusion, and what she is fearful of going forward. We discuss: Who's underrated, Who's Overrated, and Properly Rated. Her most rewarding and challenging projects. Her ideal job. And who she want to work with in the future. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
When you need a "set vet", Go Get Paul. When you need an AD who works with "Blacks, Asians, and Kids..." Go Get Paul. Paul Lindsay is a veteran Assistant Director, with extensive credits in Movies and Television. He joins the Film Crew Love podcast to discuss his experiences from working on sets from "Us" to "Malcolm X" and all the skills and knowledge acquired along the way. What is the show or opportunity that got away? Who is underrated/overrated and properly rated? Where will he be career wise 24 months from now? An introspective session with, Assistant Director Paul Lindsay. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
What person does a hit show like HBO's Insecure and ABC's How To Get Away With Murder have in common? Courtney Franklin A veteran Assitant Director who recently transitioned to Production Manager, Courtney is one of the rising stars behind the scenes in Hollywood, and is a consistent presence in the Directors Guild of America. She joins the Film Crew Love Podcast to discuss: Who's underrated, Who's overrated, Who's properly rated. Her most rewarding and challenging projects. The show she regrets not taking. And who she wants to work with in the future. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
Tep + Episode = #Tepisode Personal opinions on professional matters. What is a show that Tep passed on working on, that he often thinks about? A weekly personal reflection or projections with Assistant Director Imhotep "Tep" Coleman
Shawn "Pip" Pipkin has stories to tell. And not! A veteran Assitant Director, and woman of color, her expertise, insight, and congeniality are in high demand in the television and film industry. She joins the Film Crew Love podcast to discuss: Her most rewarding/challenging projects. Her favorite people to work with in front and behind the camera. The show she regrets not taking, and the mystery show she took and regretted! This and much more with my sister, Shawn 'Pip' Pikin. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
Tep +Episode = #Tepisode Personal opinions on professional matters. What has been Tep's favorite show to work on up to this point? A weekly personal reflection or projection with Assitant Director Imhotep "Tep" Coleman
Episode 3 - Todd A. Dos Reis, ASC Veteran Director of Photography Todd A. Dos Reis joins the Film Crew Love podcast to discuss his process of filmmaking, his visual medium preferences, and the people and projects that inspire him. Currently one of seven African-American members of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), Todd discusses his: Preference for TV/Film/Music Videos/Commercials? Strengths/Weaknesses? Who's underrated? Who's overrated? Who's properly rated? And much more.. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
Lean on Me. New Jack City. Friday. Dead Presidents. Girls Trip. Baby boy. Just to name a few of the credits of a career of a veteran Assitant Director/Production Manager that has spanned 5 decades in the Directors Guild. Dwight Williams is a DGA Frank Capra Award winner that has ran sets, led crews, and built budgets for some of the leading projects in the history of black culture. Great Stories. Great Insight. Great Appreciation. And much much more. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
The pilot episode of Film Crew Love Podcast gets real with: Assistant Director Anderson Vilien Discussing his: Strengths/Weaknesses? Preference for TV/Film/Music Videos/Commercials? The job that got away? Which project had him ready to walk away? And of course: Who's underrated? Who's overrated? Who's properly rated? And much more.. All Film. All Crew. All Love.
Dedicated to The labor of film love, and the love of film labor.