Film Roundtable

Film Roundtable is thrilled to welcome Cinematographer, Phedon Papamichael (Ford v Ferrari, Nebraska) and 1st Assistant Director, and Film Roundtable Co-Founder, Doug Torres (Mr.+ Mrs. Smith, 12 Years a Slave). Together, they discuss their collaboration on James Mangold's upcoming film, A Complete Unknown, the highly anticipated project exploring a pivotal era in Bob Dylan's life.Phedon and Doug share their experience working alongside Mangold, diving into the intricate dynamic between a Cinematographer and 1st Assistant Director, two roles that are essential in bringing a director's vision to life. They discuss the creative and logistical challenges of making A Complete Unknown, offering a rare, behind the scenes, look at their process, from pre-production planning to the on-set execution that shaped the film's visual storytelling.Tune in for a fascinating discussion on collaboration, leadership, and the artistry behind crafting a cinematic world.Enjoy!!From Your Friends at Film RoundtableCheck out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our YouTube channel.

On our latest roundtable, we host a conversation between Nosferatu director Robert Eggers and the film's cinematographer, Jarin Blaschke. Moderated by one of our fav's, Rodrigo Prieto. The three begin by discussing their approach to visual storytelling, focusing on blocking, shot design, and the level of precision required to craft Nosferatu's haunting imagery. Rodrigo leads a thoughtful exploration of Robert and Jarin's long-standing creative partnership, tracing its evolution from their early collaborations to their latest work.The conversation delves into the balance between control and spontaneity, in their filmmaking process, as well as the discipline needed to achieve striking, meticulously composed visuals. Highlights include reflections on their shared cinematic influences, the interplay of light and shadow in shaping mood, and the technical and artistic decisions that brought some of the film's most memorable moments to life.Enjoy!!Check out this conversation wherever you listen to your podcasts and also available to watch on our YouTube Channel.

Film Roundtable is thrilled to welcome Co-Directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae (Daughters). Their poignant Netflix documentary, which premiered at Sundance last year, won the Audience Award in the Documentary Competition and was named the festival's overall Festival Favorite. Daughters is also nominated for a BAFTA and is currently on the shortlist for an Oscar nomination in the Best Documentary Feature category.The conversation is insightfully hosted by Filmmaker and Producer Mishka Brown.Angela and Natalie share their journey of creating Daughters, a powerful film inspired by Angela's work as CEO of Girls For A Change, the organization behind the documentary. The film highlights the transformative father-daughter dance initiative inside a Washington, DC jail, an idea born from the creativity and determination of the girls in the program.This discussion dives into the decade-long journey to bring the film to life, from its origins in a TED Talk to the challenges of production during COVID. Angela and Natalie reflect on their shared values and vision, the therapeutic impact of the project on participants, and the importance of centering the voices of the girls and their families in the storytelling process.Tune in to hear the inspiring story behind this groundbreaking documentary and its heartfelt message about visibility, connection, and hope.Enjoy!!Check out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our Youtube Channel.

Happy New Year!! Film Roundtable is thrilled to welcome Cinematographer, Jomo Fray (The Nickel Boys, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt). Jomo's latest film, The Nickel Boys, directed by RaMell Ross, is an adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and recently won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography. He is also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for his work on this film.The conversation is thoughtfully moderated by Cinematographer and Visual Artist, Shawn Peters.Jomo shares his journey from his early love of filmmaking, shaped by a Caribbean immigrant upbringing, to his transition from entertainment law back to cinematography. He and Shawn discuss the visual language of The Nickel Boys, the film's striking first-person POV approach, and the deep intentionality behind every frame. They also explore the power of images to evoke emotion, foster empathy, and reshape cinematic storytelling.Tune in to hear Jomo's insights into his craft and the artistry behind The Nickel Boys. This episode offers a glimpse into the mind of a visionary cinematographer and the dedication it takes to bring such powerful stories to life.Enjoy!!Your Friends at Film RoundtableCheck out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Film Roundtable is thrilled to welcome Cinematographer Jason McCormick (Olivia Wilde's Book Smart, and Ryan Murphy's Dahmer) + Assistant Director Francisco Ortiz (Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story, and Martin Scorcese's The Wolf of Wall Street) Jason + Francisco recently teamed up on the Ryan Murphy anthology drama Feud; Capote vs. the Swans. This project was directed by the inimitable Gus Van Sant. The conversation is thoughtfully moderated by Cinematographer Maceo Bishop. Jason and Francisco share their story of collaborating for the first time on this beautiful series and the partnership that took shape as well as the gift of a new found friendship. They both share their journey on how they made their way up the path of success in this not so easy business which was marked by relentless hard work, incredible mentors/teachers and a passion for learning. Tune in to hear Jason + Francisco's insights on their respective crafts. This episode offers a glimpse into the world of a talented cinematographer and a top notch assistant director and the dedication it takes to excel in the film industry.Enjoy!!From Your Friends at Film Roundtable Check out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our Youtube Channel.

Film Roundtable is thrilled to be joined this week by Roshan Sethi, a screenwriter, director, and physician, to discuss his most recent film, A Nice Indian Boy. Alongside Roshan, we're joined by the incomparable Amy Vincent, who lensed the film which had its SXSW premiere this year. Led by Maria Prieto, this conversation dives deep into their collaboration on the film. We discuss the ways in which Roshan's medical experience has shaped his directing work, the importance of preparation, Amy's experiences as a mentor and mentee, as well as a wide range of other topics. Enjoy!

Film Roundtable is happy to welcome back Creative Director + Production Designer, Ethan Tobman. He is hosted and interviewed by Film Roundtable co-founder, Erin Wile. Ethan shares the story of his journey from NYU to indie films in the 90s' golden age to helping shape the visual landscapes of global icons like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Explore the trajectory of his career, including designing a restaurant after working as the production designer on the film, The Menu. Ethan shares the secrets of finding his joy as he continues to push creative boundaries.Enjoy!!

Film Roundtable is welcoming for the first time, Cinematographer James Friend. James is the 2023 recipient of the Academy Award + the BAFTA for Best Cinematography on Edward Berger's All Quiet on the Western Front. He is hosted and interviewed by Visual Artist + Cinematographer Bradford Young. James shares the story of his path to success, marked by relentless hard work, a passion for learning everything about lighting, and a determination to shoot every opportunity that came his way. He also emphasizes the crucial role of perseverance and the unwavering support of his family throughout his career.Tune in to hear James Friend's insights on the art of lighting and the intricate deconstruction of removing it. This episode offers a glimpse into the world of a talented cinematographer and the dedication it takes to excel in the film industry.Enjoy!!

In our latest episode we are joined by two acclaimed artists, multidisciplinary visual artist, filmmaker Arthur Jafa and director of design, Akin McKenzie. The emotive and intuitive cinematographer Shawn Peters hosts this discussion where we explore a design process intent on channeling ancestral vibrations. In this fascinating conversation they discuss the human pattern through history, the relationship of continuity, praising the shadows, the art behind The Woman King and the moving image as a tool to destigmatize. Enjoy!!!

Film Roundtable is very excited to welcome, for the first time, Director + Writer Savanah Leaf along with one of our most favorite guests (and recent Emmy nominee for Dead Ringers!!) Cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes, ASC.In this episode we get to talk in depth about their latest partnership on the newly released film, Earth Mama. We hear about how they originally connected and what continuously inspires them to keep working together. They share their experience collaborating on this incredibly touching and unique film (a MUST see!!!). And they set a wonderful example of what a truly creative alliance is for a director and a DP.The film was shot in the Bay Area, Savanah's hometown, with mostly non-actors and the idea for this feature length film was birthed from a short documentary Savanah wrote and directed. Earth Mama premiered at Sundance earlier this year and then at MOMA's New Director's Series in NYC. It opens in theaters in LA + NY Friday, July 14th. Enjoy!!

Film Roundtable is welcoming back to the show two of our most favorite guests and all around just magical and inspiring artists; Director/Cinematographer Rachel Morrison, ASC and Cinematographer Rina Yang, BSC. In this episode we discuss Rachel + Rina's most recent collaboration on the upcoming film, Flint Strong. We talk about Morrison's first outing as a feature director, Yang's transition into long form and the burning question in everyone's mind - what it is like for a DP to shoot for a DP?You have to listen to the episode to find out the details and more, but this is a great example of trust, in both artistic collaboration and believing that everything works out exactly as it should.Enjoy!!

Film Roundtable is very excited to welcome back to the show, Mandy Walker, ASC ACS, Natasha Braier ACS ADF, and Polly Morgan ASC, BSC.In this insightful and in-depth conversation, all 3 talented and trailblazing female cinematographers engage in a personal, collaborative, and honest discussion. Amongst the many great topics discussed, they reveal how they have learned to navigate the challenges of getting the job done maintaining respect, and creating a positive team spirit.Breaking down aspects of their latest films, Elvis, She Said, and Woman King, they talk about their prep process, how it's evolved, and how to deal with “How am I going to do that?!” Moments.They also talk about how the landscape has changed in the industry highlighting how production is becoming more aware that opportunities need to continue to be given to women and people of color.One of the greatest takeaways that have turned out to be extremely timely in light of Mandy Walker becoming the 1st woman in history to win the ASC award for best cinematography, is that a balance in the industry is finally starting to form thanks to the strength, courage, and persistence of these and other heroines before them.

Film Roundtable is welcoming back two pioneering instigators and our dear friends who we love to have on the show; Artist Terence Nance and Producer, Artist, and founder of Populace, Tamir Muhammad. In this episode we talk about Terence + Tamir's years of partnership. Most recently, the second season of Random Acts of Flyness, now on HBO. We chat about the expansiveness of season 2 as well as the deep level of collaboration and devotion being held by all involved in the project. Tamir share's with us how he holds the and/both while working in partnership within the studio system, with a project as creatively uninhibited as this one, and at the same time keeping Terence's artistic vision whole and safe. We discuss what it means to speak our truth and what allows us to feel free in our expression. And we spend some time discussing the differences between healed and unhealed Kings and Pirates. If you know you know :)Enjoy!!

Film Roundtable is thrilled to welcome acclaimed cinematographers Jamie D. Ramsay SASC and Larkin Seiple.In this in-depth conversation with Matthew Woolf they talk about their careers, ambitions, and sacrifices and their approach to color, tone, and camera tests on their recent respective movies, Living, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.One of the great takeaways from this rich conversation is how cinematography can help art become more compelling and hopefully leaving the audience with a more memorable emotional experience.

Film Roundtable is thrilled to be joined this week by Elizabeth Woodward and Sean Glass, Producer and Executive Producer of the newly released (self distributed!)You Resemble Me, and Kyle Greenberg, Head of Marketing and Distribution for Utopia. You Resemble Me, the debut feature by filmmaker Dina Amer, tells the story of Hasna Ait Boulahcen, a women who was falsely accused of being Europe's first female suicide bomber.In this candid conversation moderated by Kyle, Elizabeth and Sean discuss self distributing You Resemble Me, and how that has impacted their perception of the contemporary landscape of film and exhibition. You Resemble Me is open now (November 18) nationwide on 80 screens, after already being extended at New York's Angelika and LA's Laemmle Noho, and receiving the highest per screen average in its opening weekend.Check out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our Youtube Channel.

Film Roundtable is thrilled to be joined this week by Filmmaker Dina Amer, the writer / director / producer of the newly released debut feature, You Resemble Me and Actress May Calamawy, co-star of Hulu's Ramy and Disney+Marvel's Moon Knight.  You Resemble Me tells the story of Hasna Ait Boulahcen, a women who was falsely accused of being Europe's first female suicide bomber. In this candid conversation with You Resemble Me executive producer Sean Glass, Dina + May discuss telling stories that feel realistic and emotional to their experience, even if that doesn't check the boxes of mainstream society.  You Resemble Me opens at New York's Angelika November 4th, LA's Laemmle Noho November 11th, and expands nationwide November 18th.   Check out this conversation wherever you listen to podcasts and also available to watch on our Youtube Channel.

In our latest Film Roundtable, we are joined by Cinematographers Gavin Kelly and Nico Aguilar, AMC.  Gavin's recent work includes the acclaimed Apple TV+ anthology series LITTLE AMERICA, and the Emmy Award winning series WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA. Nico's work focuses on a wide range of long form projects in both television and film. He recently finished the Netflix film CHUPA, directed by Jonas Cuaron and produced by Chris Columbus.  Led by Maria Prieto, this conversations dives into several themes; including their early inspirations, building trust with a director, and whether finding a true balance between work and life can exist in this industry.  

Film Roundtable is excited to welcome Polly Morgan ASC BSC as its guest this week, moderated by Matthew Woolf. In this episode, they discuss some of the many films and the career path that helped Polly transition from a commercial production runner in London to the only woman that has so far been invited to join both the ASC and BSC. As well as uncovering some insightful cinematography tips we also discuss the challenges Polly faced juggling motherhood with 2 young infants while filming Where the Crawdads Sing and going straight onto prep for The Woman King with only 3 days in between projects.

Film Roundtable is welcoming back this week two of our dear friends and two of our most favorite guests to have on the show; Filmmaker + Cinematographer Shawn Peters and Visual Artist + Cinematographer Bradford Young.  This conversation is moderated by the inimitable Maori Karmael Holmes, Founder of BlackStar Projects.  In this episode these close friends talk about life and where they find their joy and inspiration. They discuss how to uplift and support the next generation of image makers. Those coming in their wake and whom are carving out their own paths of storytelling that look very different from the antiquated ways. They spend time uplifting one another in this conversation which is a beautiful example of their friendship, collaboration and the deep teachings they each receive from one another and their respective gifts. It is an exchange that leaves you understanding the importance of supporting one another in community in a creative sense and also how great it is to have just really good people in your life. Enjoy!!

Film Roundtable is thrilled to be joined this week by Director Hiro Murai and Cinematographer Christian Sprenger, both of whom are double Emmy nominees in their respective categories for, “Atlanta”, and “Station Eleven.” In this candid conversation with Doug Torres, Hiro + Christian discuss how they started collaborating together and what has become their process as their work has evolved over the years. Tune in for a wonderful discussion about the essence of collaboration and developing a creative team early in your career.

In our latest Film Roundtable, we are joined by part of the team behind the web series “Rabbit.”  "Rabbit" follows an antisocial freelance criminal as he bounces around Los Angeles doing jobs that are too “embarrassing or dangerous” for Taskrabbit. However, as he makes moral compromise after moral compromise, he must ask himself if he's really connecting with his clients, or just doing their dirty work. Maria Prieto leads a conversation between writer and star, Kyle Prue, and director, Max Michalsky.  The two discuss their early collaborations in improv at the University of Michigan, the strengths they see in each other as artists, the biggest challenge in bringing the web series to life, as well as many other engaging anecdotes.  You can stream all of “Rabbit” on Kyle Prue's YouTube channel. 

In our latest Film Roundtable, we are joined by celebrated horror director, writer, and actor, Larry Fessenden, and independent film producer, Peter Phok. As the team behind the fiercely independent New York production company, Glass Eye Pix, they have fostered a creative playground for horror auteurs. This conversation, moderated brilliantly by Sean Glass, covers a range of topics: first-hand accounts of the making of several Glass Eye Pix productions, including Ti West's feature directorial debut, “The Roost,” the minutiae of budgeting, and the importance of using local resources and favors. They also discuss how serendipitous encounters with filmmakers can lead to long-term collaboration. Larry and Glass Eye Pix are currently being honored with a retrospective at the MoMA, with screenings occurring through April 19th, both online and in person.

Our latest Roundtable features the Director, Actors, and Writers of the meta psychological thriller/documentary film Ayar. Floyd Russ decided to approach the film Ayar by inviting the two lead actors, Ariana Ron Pedrique and Vilma Vega to co-write the movie with him, bringing a rich and multi-faceted perspective to the movie.  The Roundtable features various topics, including the challenges of making one's first feature film, getting it funded, and finally distributing it. Most importantly we discuss how the movie tackled the extremely difficult barrier to entry that immigrants face when trying to break into the US/English speaking Film Business, especially when faced with preconceived ideas about what a foreigner's role should be, especially when they have a foreign accent and different primary language. Finally, we discuss the Film maker's brave decision to mix the genres of narrative storytelling with documentary, essentially laying the actors bare to movie audiences and smashing the 4th wall in an unforgettable & enriching raw fashion.

In our latest Film Roundtable, we welcome Academy Award Winning Producer Adele Romanski and Academy Award Nominated Producer Nicolás Celis.  Led by Maria Prieto, the conversation covers a range of topics, including the support system and friendship they've found in one another, their early days navigating the industry, and a brief discussion of their latest projects: The Underground Railroad, which Romanski served as producer on, and Prayers for The Stolen, Mexico's submission to compete for the Academy Award nomination for the best foreign film this year, produced by Celis. 

In our latest Roundtable, we are pleased to welcome Production Designer Kasra Farahani and Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw. Matthew Woolf leads a conversation discussing their experience on the Marvel Series Loki. The conversation covers a range of topics including; the pressure and expectations of making a Marvel show, how much one is able to bring stylistically to the Marvel Universe, the importance of having the right collaborators in key positions to accomplish the right look, and how a limited involvement in the post process can affect the original vision of the artist. Finally, they discuss the impact on their personal lives working in the film industry, especially in the backdrop of the recent averted strike threat by IATSE.

In this Roundtable, we welcome Writer, Creator, and Director Danny Strong, Cinematographer Checco Varese and Director of episodes 5 & 6 Patricia Riggan of the Hulu Series Dopesick. The conversation focuses on the responsibility of creating an episodic series covering the national opioid crisis, and how such a series can help expose the architects of this crisis and make evident the roots of this convoluted and complicated situation. Among other topics, the group delves into the process building a creative team, the choices faced by director coming into a show for specific episodes, how the Writer, Showrunner, Cinematographer and Director collaborate on an episodic series.

In this Film Roundtable, we welcome back two friends, Director/DP Reed Morano and Director/DP Bradford Young for a therapeutic conversation in the wake of the potential IATSE strike. The two go straight into the quality of life concerns that exist in our business, as well as the general culture of self-care practice being neglected or treated as an afterthought. The two discuss how the stress to deliver in an unattainable time frame puts our mental health at risk and delve into the deep inequities between above the line and below the line crew members. In addition, Reed speaks about where her allegiance lies on set, taking care of her crew, while knowing that is not always the case for everyone in her position.  Listen and share this segment of an essential conversation that we must continue to amplify in a wider scope, so that we may begin the work of systemic change across the board.

On our latest film roundtable, we host a conversation between Isabel Sandoval, Hari Nef, and moderator Ximena Prieto. The three start with a discussion regarding setting, introspection, and reflection, and Isabel points to the impact of nature well as the importance of sunlight on creative input.  Hari delves into her response to prompts as a writer, and the interaction with New York as a source and force to contend with, reflecting one's place in the constellation communally and individually. Isabel discusses her early films as a calling card for her work as a talent behind and in front of the camera, remaining true to an intimate vision which she would not compromise on; Hari dives into this specificity, starting with the visual and political voice of Apparition, continuing with Señorita (Isabel contending with “third world cinema”) and expanding into Lingua Franca. They also discuss fictional historical narratives and the visual departures taken in Sandoval's latest film, Shangri-La, which will screen at Venice Film Festival this year, and what this could mean for Isabel's storytelling style going forward. Other highlights include Hari discussing the embrace of chaos and discipline, creating as a reflection to the world around you, Hari playing Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream at fifteen, and Isabel divulging the influence of Jeanne Dielman on Lingua Franca.  Finally, we close with a question about the conscious inclusion of Identity Aesthetics, versus an unplanned and perhaps inevitable apparition of lived experience onto visual expression, as well as the importance of not becoming mired in either expectations or discourse, letting go, and having fun.

We are thrilled to present our second Roundtable recorded in Spanish. In our latest episode, we are joined by Cinematographers Gonzalo Amat and Alexandra Bas. Gonzalo has shot four seasons of “The Man in the High Castle,” produced by Ridley Scott and Amazon Studios. He's a member of the International Cinematographers Guild, the DGA, and the ASC. In 2018, Gonzalo ventured into the world of directing and has since directed four episodes of SEAL Team. Alexandra Bas is a Mexico City based cinematographer from Venezuela. She's lensed a variety of projects including short films, music videos, and documentaries. Her hunger to share intimate narrative stories has taken her all over the world, and her work has been recognized by multiple festivals. Maria Prieto leads them through a conversation that touches on their early career days, the counterintuitive way to build your career, and the way they both adapted to a pandemic world. Estamos encantados de presentar nuestro segundo episodio de Film Roundtable grabado en español. En este episodio, nos acompañan los directores de fotografía Gonzalo Amat y Alexandra Bas. Gonzalo ha fotografiado cuatro temporadas de “The Man on The High Castle,” producida por Ridley Scott y Amazon Studios. Es miembro del International Cinematographers Guild, la DGA y la ASC. En 2018, Gonzalo se lanzo al mundo de la dirección y desde entonces ha dirigido cuatro episodios de SEAL Team. Alexandra Bas es una directora de fotografía Venezolana que vive en la Ciudad de México. Ha fotografiado una variedad de proyectos que incluyen cortometrajes, videos musicales y documentales. Su hambre por compartir historias narrativas íntimas la ha llevado por todo el mundo, y su trabajo ha sido reconocido por múltiples festivales. Maria Prieto modera esta conversación que aborda los primeros días de su carrera, la forma contraria a la intuición de construir su carrera y la forma en que ambos se adaptaron a un mundo con pandemia.

In this episode, we host discussion between Cinematographer Larry Fong and Doug Torres. Larry relives the early part of his career and how he got started working with visionary Directors Zack Snyder and Tarsem Singh, also sharing a great story about his friendship with JJ Abrams when they were teenagers, and how that carried over into a professional relationship later in their careers. Through the conversation, we also get to understand how Larry sees his skills as a magician correlating to the art of filmmaking. This great episode highlights how surrounding yourself with like-minded creative souls and finding the commonalities in your interests can pay off into a long and fruitful creative journey.

In this roundtable, we host a rich conversation between Director John Hillcoat and Cinematographer Benoit Delhomme. You don't want to miss this special tête-à-tête from these longtime collaborators and friends. They talk with us about a bounty of topics including how they first met, the two incredible films they teamed up together on: Lawless and The Proposition, and a life altering premonition they each experienced... (This Film Roundtable conversation would not be taking place if they hadn't listened to their intuition, but you have to listen to hear the full story.) They share anecdotes about the trials and tribulations as well as the magic that is the process of filmmaking and talk about how shooting in Australia isn't just shooting in another country, it is like shooting on another planet: the light, the landscape, the heat and the flies! They also share how creative Benoit had to get at times to light scenes without lights (because of the heat!) as well as reflecting on what he might have done differently at this stage in his career. They discuss the process of storyboarding a film and how important it can be but also how equally imperative it is to be able to put that pre-visualization aside and surrender to the organic flow of the actors and the moment. They then discuss film vs digital (Lawless was one of the first films to be shot on the Alexa Raw) and the heartbreak they experienced when the film was not screened at Cannes using the film print they made. They also talk about the “Netflix” look and how the richness of cinema is fading away, and how much more it could change after this past year on Zoom and what our eyes are getting accustomed to. They chat about lensing and aspect ratio and Benoit shares his experience shooting with the new BLACKWING 7 lenses. This conversation is full of teachings and such a treat!!

Film Roundtable Community, Our team is taking a short break while we brew up some exciting new roundtables and implement site modifications. In the meantime, we wanted to ensure you’ve heard some of our all time favorite episodes... Almost a year ago, Darius Khondji & Bradford Young came on our show and had a conversation expressing their views on light, inspiration, and letting yourself follow the river of those two interwoven mediums of expression. Please enjoy this candid talk including two of our favorites guests, led beautifully by Film Roundtable co-founder Doug Torres, and re-charge on the energy they emit through their work and words. See you soon.

In this Roundtable, we are joined by Patty Polinger and Cathy Tauber, the founders of the iconic Los Angeles video store, Vidiots. Vidiots opened its doors in Santa Monica in 1985 with a mission to provide access to art house films and rare titles. During its tenure, it served as a community space with events and became a mecca for cinephiles. Vidiots had to close its doors in 2017, but has found a new home at the Eagle Theatre in Eagle Rock. Construction will begin this summer with a plan to open its doors in the first quarter of 2022. The Eagle Theatre location will include a video store, a 250 seat cinema, as well as a 40 seat micro cinema, a bar, and an event space.  We sat down with Patty and Cathy to discuss the history of their beloved store, the steps they took trying and ultimately succeeding in saving it, and their hope for the future of the theater experience.  You can find a link to a virtual tour of the Eagle Theatre with renderings of what the finished space will look like, as well as a link to donate to the Vidiots Foundation below: https://www.vidiotsfoundation.org/donate (https://www.vidiotsfoundation.org/donate) https://vimeo.com/wylde/review/530978837/0c6ef872f6 (https://vimeo.com/wylde/review/530978837/0c6ef872f6)

In this roundtable, Matthew Woolf hosts a conversation between Actor Mark Ruffalo and Director Derek Cianfrance and the three of them discuss Mark & Derek’s experience making the hit HBO Mini-series I Know This Much is True. They break down many aspects of the show, including Mark & Derek’s relationship as co-creators and how that affected their individual roles, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them (including the decision to shoot on film vs. digital) and the technical process behind Mark’s portrayal of identical twins. Finally, the duo highlight the commitment it took on several people’s parts to put to achieve a believable and successful result. The doors are opened through this conversation to the special relationship between two of the finest filmmakers of our generation.

In this roundtable, we host a conversation between Cinematographer Roman Vasyanov and Doug Torres. The duo discuss what it was like for Roman growing up in Russia and learning his craft at a young age from some of the great Filmmakers from Eastern Europe. Roman delves into those early days, how they drove his desire to make it in America, and what that transition was like to shoot movies such as “Fury”, “Thank You For Your Service” and “Suicide Squad” among others. He also shares how going back to Russia to direct his first feature made him a better Cinematographer. This is a special one on one that proves we all have our own path in the film industry. 

In this Roundtable we are joined by rising directors Kendall Goldberg and Nina Meredith. Kendall’s feature directorial debut, When Jeff Tried to Save The World, won the International Film Critics’ Prize at the 2018 Heartland Film Festival and garnered much praise. Most recently, Kendall created and directed a docuseries pilot for Comedy Central. Nina’s work as a director blurs the line between narrative and documentary, with an elegance and ease that has not gone unnoticed. Her work has been recognized both internationally by the Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes Lions, and the Clios, to name a few. We dive into their journeys getting projects off the ground, the importance of talking about your rejections as much as your successes, and their mutual admiration for Judith Weston. We end the discussion with a fun round of quick fire questions, such as favorite crafty snack and weirdest location they’ve filmed in. 

In this Roundtable we are joined by Cinematographers Rodney Taylor (ASC), Tommy Maddox Upshaw (ASC), and Eric Branco. Rodney has been a long time Television DP and his recent credits include Swagger and Ballers. Tommy is also a veteran of the Television world and recently became a member of the ASC; his recent credits include Empire and Snowfall. Eric has established himself in the indie film world, and his latest films are Clemency, which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in 2019 and Forty Year Old Version, which won the US Dramatic Award at Sundance in 2020. He also recently shot his first TV series for HBO. A broad range of topics are discussed, including how to transition into Television from the movie world, how the genres differ, the toll the industry can have on family life, and what these filmmakers have learned from previous mistakes.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Wendy Levy and Kimberlin Bolton. Wendy is an Executive Director of The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture and the co-founder of Arts2Work, a new award winning creative workforce initiative that centers racial and gender justice in a new model of Apprenticeship for digital media careers. Kimberlin is an executive Director of re:imagine/ATL, an organization that trains, equips, and inspires Generation Z to build careers in the creative and digital media industries. Moderating is Kisha Imani Cameron, a film and television producer and a film coach. Cameron founded Africa First, a program for emerging filmmakers and was the former COO of Ghetto Film School. These three powerhouse women are out to transform this industry in more ways than one, and in this conversation they spend time discussing how real change takes place at the root. The overt lack of diversity and inclusion in the film world is a systemic issue that cannot be ignored any longer and to even begin making a difference takes a village and each one of us taking action. These three guests, each doing their own part to redefine the greater collective of the film community, work together and support one another in reciprocity. One could not exist and be successful without the other. We need to similarly support these organizations, be aware of their work, and involve ourselves in order to be a part of the solution.

In this roundtable we are joined by Production Designer Hannah Beachler, Artist and Filmmaker Jenn Nkiru, and Director/Creative Director Kwasi Fordjour. The conversation opens with a discussion on unexpected sources of inspiration and creativity in the past year (including the sun!) as well as the spirit of continuation and exploration through one’s connection and responsibility to self. The group also delves into the act of deciding and accepting as creators, the importance of listening and finding answers within oneself through stillness, and the intentional act of creating space for one’s wonderment, which is discussed as a path for circumventing the indoctrinated societal machine of constant production. They close by emphasizing the vitality of assessing our emotional state, revitalizing so we can connect visually, and finding ways to traverse a fast-paced world while making time for joy. At the core of the conversation is the act of prioritizing curiosity, allowing for intuition to be instinct, and the importance of acknowledging the connectivity of our actions.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Mexican photographer, Tania Franco Klein, and art curator and writer, William J. Simmons. Tania’s work has been exhibited widely both in solo and group shows across Europe, the USA, and Mexico and has been commissioned by clients like The New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Vogue and Dior. Will received his BA in Art History and LGBTQ Studies at Harvard University and his book, Queer Formalism: The Return, was published by Floating Opera Press this March. In 2020, Will curated the special projects section at the Felix Art Fair in Los Angeles, entitled Cruel Optimism, which highlighted themes of gender, queerness, and feminism. He is presently curating a special limited edition zine for King Kong Magazine, and brought Tania on to photograph Yalitza Aparicio for the first issue. Ximena Prieto leads this thoughtful conversation and the three debate many aspects of the art world, from the view of the artist to that of the audience. They start with discussing how Will and Tania’s recent collaboration came about, the inspiration, and the logistics to bring it together during a pandemic. Tania delves into society’s influence on her practice and how self reflection has helped her achieve the intimacy that’s portrayed in her work, and the group considers how the audience's perception can sometimes differ from the intention, and how this can be a fruitful challenge to further hone artistic focus. Ximena wraps up the conversation with a reflective and hilarious round of quick fire questions including ideal 1 am snacks and controversial art & film world opinions...

In this Roundtable we are joined by Hollywood Pipeline co-founders: Educator and Law Student Mischaël Cetoute & Production Designer Ethan Tobman (Room, Beautiful Boy, Black Is King). The Hollywood Pipeline is a radical network of young people from backgrounds underrepresented in the film industry and conscientious allies looking to connect them to the insider information, jobs, and training necessary to build a career and diversify the media landscape. We spend time in this conversation talking about the birth of this revolutionary program, what Misch and Ethan learned during this beta round to allow them to have even greater success moving forward, and how it takes a true village to make lasting change.  If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out at: ethan.tobman@gmail.com or mcetoute@gmail.com.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Director Karen Cinorre and Cinematographer Sam Levy. Karen is the writer and director of Mayday, which premiered this year at the virtual Sundance film festival.  Along with lensing Mayday, Sam has collaborated with Karen on a range of projects, including marriage. Sam’s career behind the lens took off when he was an apprentice to cinematographer Harris Savides and his talent has not gone unnoticed since. He has shot critically acclaimed films such as Lady Bird and Frances Ha. Leading the conversation is  David Ebershoff. David’s debut novel, The Danish Girl, was released in 2000 and was subsequently adapted into an Academy Award winning film. Along with a prolific writing career, David worked at Random House for twenty years, working his way up to executive editor and has also taught writing at NYU, Princeton, and Columbia. They cover a range of topics in this captivating chat, from the inspiration and evolution of Mayday, the casting process of the film, the influence of sound in Karen’s work, their upcoming joint project, and David leads them through a fun lightning round of questions. Sam and Karen turn the tables on David and ask him questions about his work and his experiences seeing it adapted to the screen.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Filmmaker and Innovation Doula, Nova Scott-James and elder Yoruba Priestess, Grandmother Sangoma.   They discuss their new film that is in its crucial fundraising phase, Wild Darlings Sing the Blues (And It's A Song of Freedom). This feature-length documentary follows the Wild Darlings, queer healing art collective of black women and non-binary activists, as they embark on an epic road trip from New York to a plantation in Mississippi. Accompanied by Grandmother Sangoma and two other elders, the Darlings are tasked with harnessing their “healer within” to bless the plantation land, honor their ancestors and explore their experiences of racialized and gender-based violence. They create performance art in homage to The Blues. The Wild Darlings approach their personal wounding through the lens of the painful legacy of slavery and set out to deepen the conversation around healing ancestral trauma. The film pays reverence to all black and queer artists that have found power in transmuting pain into creative intelligence. Bessie Smith, Prince, Little Richard, Billie Holiday... They explore how gender-bending, radical resilience and performative play help us heal and transform the trauma of our nation’s past.

In this Roundtable we are joined by wildlife documentary filmmakers Rolf Steinmann and Fredi Devas. Rolf’s cinematography is featured predominantly in BBC natural history documentaries such as Planet Earth 2, Seven Worlds and A Perfect Planet. Fredi’s a producer known for his work on Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. He and Rolf have worked together on a couple of projects and will collaborate later this year on the third installment of Planet Earth. The conversation covers a range of topics, from the rigorous years-long prep that goes into these projects, to the serendipity that occurs once they’re on the field capturing the animals, as well as the ways you can discuss planet conservation with children.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Composer/Sound Designer, Nicolas Becker and Editor Mikkel E.G Nielsen of the latest Darius Marder film Sound of Metal for a conversation moderated by Editor/Sound Designer, Marc Thomas. They discuss their process for developing the sound experience for the film and get into the approach and concepts behind how the team advanced the story, character arc and main character’s emotional journey, using both sound design and editorial. The team speaks about the complexities of their approach, the techniques they used, and the way they achieved exploring the senses and different points of character/audience perspective. They also speak about the very open, highly engaged, and extraordinarily collaborative attitude director Darius Marder helmed to create such a powerful film.

In this Roundtable we are joined by New Zealand Cinematographer, Ben Seresin.  Ben has lensed many films over the years, including Tony Scott’s Unstoppable, Marc Forster’s World War Z, and the upcoming Chaos Walking by Doug Liman.  Ben is joined by Film Roundtable Co-Founder, Erin Wile, to talk about career path, inspiration, and how to unify personal joy with a career. 

In this Roundtable we are joined by Award-winning filmmaker Sofia Coppola and producer Youree Henley for an intimate conversation moderated by Chase Sui Wonders. Sofia and Youree dive into the importance of finding your team, learning how to pick the right project, and how they achieved their harmonious relationship as director / producer. Chase shares some first hand accounts from her experiences acting in their film “On The Rocks” and the positive vibe created on set.

In our latest Film Roundtable we’re joined by Cinematographer Michael Goi ASC, Cinematographer Christian Sprenger, Cinematographer Tehillah DeCastro, and the President of Motion Picture and Entertainment at Kodak, Steve Bellamy, moderated by Hannah Welever. In this enlightening conversation we discuss the future of shooting film in higher education, the foundation of cinematography, and how film as a format is here to stay. We invited this panel together after it came to our attention that Columbia College is discontinuing their expansive film camera courses from their curriculum. Columbia College’s extensive film program is what attracts students to Chicago and to this degree, and is one of the last remaining film schools to teach film cameras & photographic theory at this level.  Along with the discussion, Film Roundtable partnered with Hannah Welever to gather signatures from top industry professionals for a letter addressed to the administration imploring them to reverse their decision.

In this Roundtable we are joined by Award-winning documentary filmmaker Yoruba Richen to discuss her powerful film “How It Feels to be Free,” which is streaming on PBS through February 16th. This documentary follows the inspiring stories of six iconic Black female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – and the ways their actions defied the standards of the entertainment in a time when they were expected to conform into roles that perpetuated racist stereotypes. Their influence is felt to this day and is touched upon in interviews with Halle Berry, Lena Waithe, Samuel L Jackson, and other trailblazers. The film explores how each of them used their art and influence to further advance the civil rights movement.  Producer Mishka Brown leads this engaging conversation, covering Yoruba’s early days where fellowships helped her travel around the world creating documentaries, mentorship, and Black representation in Hollywood, and the making of Yoruba’s other film, “The Killing of Breonna Taylor,” which is currently streaming on Hulu. 

Director Erin Vassilopoulos, Producer Benjamin Cohen, and Producer Alex Orlovsky discuss independent filmmaking now and "then", how these passion projects actually get made and what happens when your film gets into Sundance during a global pandemic.  Vassilopoulos' film "Superior," produced by Cohen, is her Sundance feature debut. It is based on a short film that premiered at Sundance in 2015. The film follows Marian, a woman on the run, as she returns to her hometown in upstate New York to hide out with her estranged identical twin sister, Vivian. Struggling to put the past behind her, Marian lies about the reason for her return, leaving her sister in the dark until their two worlds begin to collide. Orlovsky, a 10+ film veteran of Sundance, produced "John and the Hole," a nontraditional coming-of-age story, set in the unsettling reality of John, a kid who holds his family captive in a hole in the ground. 

In our latest Film Roundtable we’re joined by Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, ASC and editor William Goldenberg, who both recently collaborated on Paul Greengrass’ News of the World.  William has led an incredibly prolific career editing films for directors such as Michael Bay, Kathryn Bigelow, Angelina Jolie, and Ben Affleck. He’s been nominated 5 times for the academy award and won for Argo. Dariusz Wolski is one of the world’s leading cinematographers and has helmed projects alongside Ridley Scott, Rob Marshall, Tim Burton to name a few. He has shot notable franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean, and films such as the Martian and Prometheus. In this conversation, moderated by cinematographer Nico Aguilar, we dive deep into their roles as editor and cinematographer, the risks they’ve taken and innovations they’ve accomplished.  Recommended watching: News of the World