Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast

Subscribe to The Fourth State on Apple Podcasts. In this episode of The Fourth State podcast, Bailey explores the link between sleep and longevity, emphasizing the importance of adequate rest for a healthier and longer life. She shares insights on sleep mechanisms and offers practical tips for improving sleep hygiene, introducing her comprehensive Insomnia Toolkit as a valuable resource for optimized sleep.

First, I am happy to announce that I have started working on the podcast's third season. Second, I launched an online gallery where I represent some of my favorite photographers and showcase and sell their work. If you want to check it out, go to www.waytoomad.com.

Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth (Fight Club, The Social Network, Gone Girl) offers a rare deep dive into the silent architecture of cinematic storytelling—where light, shadow, and restraint carry more emotional weight than spectacle ever could.From building iconic imagery with David Fincher to balancing intimacy and scale in Tales from the Loop, Cronenweth reveals how timeless scenes are not crafted through technical perfection, but through precision, instinct, and the ability to disappear behind the story.This is a masterclass in how to shoot complexity without explanation, to make fear your creative compass, and to serve narrative above ego. If you've ever wondered how great filmmakers make the camera feel, this conversation will stay with you long after the credits roll.Chapters00:00 – The Art of Balance: Career, Family, and Creative Drive 04:00 – Designing Stillness in Sci-Fi: Tales from the Loop09:30 – How Jeff Cronenweth & David Fincher First Connected13:00 – Visualizing the Unreliable Narrator in Fight Club17:30 – Box Office Failure, Cult Status, and Misunderstood Marketing20:15 – Framing the Psychosis in Gone Girl22:00 – Shooting Isolation: Depth, Distance, and Disorientation26:00 – Commercials, Directing, and Adapting Your Voice30:15 – Why Fear Keeps You Sharp33:00 – Building Aesthetic Lineage Through Family & Film History35:45 – Is Film School Still Worth It? A Case for Deep Study38:00 – Film vs. Streaming: How the Medium Shapes Production40:30 – Preserving Continuity, Fighting for Every Shot42:00 – Collaborating with VFX & Production Design45:00 – Motivated Lighting and Knowing When to Break the Rules47:00 – Inside the Opening of The Social Network49:00 – What Makes a Scene Iconic: Image, Dialogue, and Timing

Academy Award® Nominee, Matthew Libatique (Black Swan, Iron Man, A Star is Born) is an American cinematographer. Matthew chats with Portbox about his workflow behind Black Swan, and A Star is Born, the two movies that earned him Oscar nominations. He also expands on his on-set color-workflow for Iron Man and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Madhav inquires about Matthew's frequent collaborations with Spike Lee, Jon Favreau, and Darren Aronofsky — Matthew indulges and talks about his relationship with them.  Matthew also talks about the musical influences he's had on his career and reflects when Madhav asks about what kind of characters in the films Matty finds engaging. The two bond over road-trips, music, and international cinema. Towards the end of the episode, Matthew lays out guidelines international filmmakers can follow to advance their careers. 

Erik Messerschmidt (Mindhunter) is an American cinematographer. Erik chats with Portbox about his transition into cinematography with Netflix Original Series: Mindhunter. Madhav inquires about how Erik studies human behavior, both professionally and personally. Erik highlights how working with great cinematographers and highly disciplined directors has informed his workflow and why director-cinematographer relationships work across different films. He also breaks down one of Madhav's favorite scene from the second season of Mindhunter, while giving us details on his next project with David Fincher; Mank.

Anurag Kashyap (Dev.D, Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly, Lust Stories) is an Indian director, writer, and producer. Anurag chats with Portbox about the importance of independent films and their rise in India during the early 2000s.  Madhav asks about the appeal of psychologically disturbed characters in Anurag's films and realism behind his dialogues. Anurag recounts the lessons he learned from when his movies did not get released early in his career. Additionally, the two talk about Anurag's management style and the expectations he has from his crew.  Taking accounts from his personal and professional life, Anurag takes us on a journey about his process, creating a community of artists, and creating a new-age movement in India. During this conversation, Madhav and Anurag bond over their love for Indian movies, yoga, and single-screen exhibitors (who are, to this date, a walking recitation of film history). 

Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan, Lootera, Sacred Games) is an Indian director, writer, and producer. Vikramaditya chats with Portbox about the global influence of Indian cinema while sharing notes from the beginning of his career. Madhav inquires about the inspiration behind Vikram's characters, and Vikram comments on the events that shaped independent films in Indian cinema. The two talk about the business of Indian cinema and how it has evolved over the years. Vikram highlights the importance of theatrical film releases and examines the future of independent cinema. They bond over the Mumbai vada-pavs, old Bollywood music, and their mutual heritage. This episode is a heavy-hitting cultural lesson. 

Academy Award winner Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Transcendence) is an American cinematographer, director, and musician. Wally chats with Portbox to discuss the preservation of art as an individual, and the origins of his cinematic career. Madhav asks about an artist's need to have control over one's craft, and Wally expands on his decision to become a director. The two talk about how this pandemic will change filmmaking, while Wally continues to share wisdom from his accumulated experiences in the industry. They bond over the love for music and Bob Dylan. On Wally's side, some rice gets overcooked, and later, he jams on his guitar while Madhav shuffles through the questions from the audience.  Madhav's partner, Bailey, also makes a brief appearance on this episode.

Ben Kutchins (Ozark, Legion, Mozart in the Jungle) is an American, Emmy Award-nominated cinematographer. Ben chats with Portbox about his creative process and his approach to developing the visual language of Netflix's Ozark with Director Jason Bateman. Madhav wonders if the darker tone of a show can affect its critical success. Madhav and Ben discuss the distinction between 'the right image' and 'a good looking image.' Ben explains how character psychology influences his work as a cinematographer and puts further emphasis on the collaborative effort of filmmaking by saying, "we are all here for the story."

In this episode, the host interviews Ben Kutchins, a renowned cinematographer known for his work on the hit TV show 'Ozark'. Ben discusses his creative process, the importance of a respectful and collaborative set, and the art of balancing the experience with the final product. He shares insights from his career, touching on the importance of making genuine human connections on set, the challenges of maintaining lighting continuity, and the impact of the 1970s on modern cinematography. Ben also delves into his personal journey, including his start as a still photographer and his work on live music shows, emphasizing the importance of being present and adaptive on set.

Academy Award® Nominee, Phedon Papamichel (Walk The Line, Nebraska, Ford v Ferrari) is a Greek cinematographer, director, and painter. Phedon chats with Portbox about his career, from his early collaborations with Jon Turteltaub, followed by frequent collaborations with directors like Alexander Payne (Sideways) and James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari). Madhav asks Phedon about Phedon's approach to interpreting a screenplay, and Phedon tells the story of how collaborating with directors who have a similar taste as he shaped his career. The two talk about how influences can elevate one's storytelling; Phedon recalls how Johnny Cash's roadie informed his decisions while shooting Walk The Line. 

Our second season is here, featuring some of the masters of cinematography. 

For our seventh episode of Let's Get To It, Cinematographer Jon Chema brings us closer to his journey of creating a career as a cinematographer. He also talks to us about how travel and access influence his process of storytelling through camera-movements. He talks about building character-driven camera movements, insights into the changes in light depending on where you are in the world and how he uses it. We touch on subjects of anxiety and stress and an artist's relationship with Instagram.  Some of Jon's credits include:  FAIS x Afrojack- Used to have it all Dan + Shay- Tequila Noah Cyrus x ONE BIT- My Way Julia Michaels- Worst in me All Time Low- Dirty Laundry Linkin Park- Good Goodbye Big Sean - Light and Single Again Commercials for Coca Cola, Nike, New York Times x Google, Vice, BMW, StateFarm, PlayStation, and eBay. Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For our sixth episode of Let's Get To It, Singer-Songwriter Hailey Knox brings us closer to how the songs on her mixtape came into being. She also talks to us about self-expression in music, the importance of it, and how certain feelings translate into songs when she starts to write about them. We touch on insecurity and how it's not a negative space. In this conversation, Hailey brings us to a closer understanding of who she is.  Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For our fifth episode of Let's Get To It, Singer-Songwriter Mogli expands on the story behind her track- Patience, which is also the name of her latest EP. She also talks about her depression and how sharing with friends and family along with her decision to get better brought her out of it. Additionally, she brings us closer to her creative process and enlightens us with her thoughts on unconditional love. Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For the fourth episode of Let's Get To It, Cinematographer Steve Annis expands on his on-set experiences across commercials, promos, and feature films. He shares his feelings about the impacts of digital streaming on global cinema and how it has changed how we interact with cinema; with deeper insights into his creative process, the film industry and some stories from his personal life. Some of Steve's selected credits are:  I Am Mother - Netflix England Lost - Mick Jagger Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran What Kind of Man, Lover to Lover, & Saint Jude - Florence and the Machine Every Breaking Wave, Song for Someone - U2 Feels so close - Calvin Harris Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For the third episode of Let's Get To It, Cinematographer Bryce Fortner talks to us about his journey in the industry. He opens up about his depression and how he overcame it through sharing with family and friends. He expands on his thoughts regarding the societal and cultural influence on art, and, how imagination can sometimes be confused as memory. It's a spiritually enriching dialogue with many reminders for the soul. Some of Bryce's selected credits are: Stargirl (Feature) Ingrid Goes West (Feature) Professor Marston & The Wonder Women (Feature) Flaked (Series) Too Legit (Short) House of Cards (Promos) Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For the fourth episode of Let's Get To It, Director Andrew Donoho talks to us about his experiences with lucid dreaming and his understanding of human subconsciousness. By taking instances from his personal life, he indulges us in an insightful conversation about memories, mental health, and what makes something original; and how on-set set-backs can be dealt with ease and become bridges of creativity. Some of Andrew's selected credits are: Lose My Mind, Indian Summer - Jaif Wolf Better - Khalid Levitate, Heathens, Nico And The Niners - Twenty One Pilots DJango Jane - Janelle Monáe  Free - 6LACK Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

We begin our show with supremely talented filmmaker and editor, Dionna McMillian. In this episode, we talk about the basics of editing and how editing influences the overall tone of a scene and a film holistically. We also dive into what Dionna's process is like as a filmmaker and what her influences are and what she does to keep herself grounded when the ideas of creation take over her psyche. We don't tiptoe around anything, so before you forget what we are all here for, let's get to it.

Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, Sip. Breathe. Listen. Transform.