The Filmmaker's Guide to the Industry

Thomas Dean relocated from North Carolina to Georgia back when the film incentives first came to the state. Now in Atlanta Tomas has built his career as a rigging gaffer, continuously working on some of the largest productions happening in the state. The latest projects being Doctor Sleep, Zombieland: Double Tap, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Fernando Garcia has been living in Atlanta, GA since 2017. Previous to that, he was living in Tampa, FL where he started as a PA. He joined IATSE local 479 to pursue work in the grip/electric departments and currently works in the Rigging Electric department for various film and television shows. Fernando also has a background in photography and started in 2011 as a photo assistant.

An Atlanta based Unit Still Photographer, Brian Douglas, has over 40 credits since 2015, most notably Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Strangers: Prey at Night, Miles Ahead, Aftermath and more. Brian started as a radio host but since 2015 has shifted his hobby of photography to a profession and now is a union member of IATSE Local 600.

Part 2 of 2: Randy Greenberg is an Executive Producer of The Meg and Cowboys & Aliens and past studio senior entertainment executive; founder of The Greenberg Group, a global entertainment investment and content strategy advisory, and co-founder of the Resolution Talent Agency.

Part 1 of 2: Randy Greenberg is an Executive Producer of The Meg and Cowboys & Aliens and past studio Senior Entertainment Executive; founder of The Greenberg Group, a global entertainment investment and content strategy advisory, and co-founder of the Resolution Talent Agency.

Raised between Queens, NY, and Irving, TX, Shanice Williamson, having befriended, engaged with, or worked with folks from many different backgrounds, is a cultural shapeshifter type. By age 18, she'd already worked for Jamaica Savings Bank, Ernst & Young, and GTE. She left a nearly 20-year paralegal career to become a freelance production assistant in the Atlanta film industry - at 41 years old. Since shifting to the film world she has worked in the art department as a props buyer on The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) before quickly moving up to art department coordinator on The Bobby Brown Story (BET), American Soul (BET) and Stargirl (CW).

An award-winning cinematographer from New York, Seamus Tierney has paved the way for himself in the film and television industry starting as a gaffer on set in New York to then graduating from AFI in California. His works extend across multiple genres include comedies, thrillers, action, and horror. Seamus's most notable comedies include Humor Me, Like Father, All Nighter, and recently shot Steve Brill's film, “Hubie Halloween,” for Netflix. He also shot the sci-fi thriller “Centrigrade,” and season 2 of the popular Netflix series, “You.” Seamus is currently shooting the ABC/Disney+ series “The Mighty Ducks.”

Kevin and Josh talk COVID-19 and what changes they are already seeing and hearing. Set life could very well change for the foreseeable future but more importantly, they want to be sure filmmakers are not taken advantage of and also do not inadvertently cause an issue to other production mates. Also, have you heard the rumblings on Amazon buying AMC?

Recap episode! Kevin and Josh dive into some of their favorite soundbites from the first 20 episodes of FGI. This episode is a great refresher on what has been talked about and what FGI is intended to be, a weekly stream of information for all filmmakers to grow and learn about the business side of the industry. This episode highlights segments from Brandon Cox, James Duke, Mike D, Nick Matthews, Cat Sullivan, Andrew Ortoski, and more.

Stu McLaughlin is a Producer and Co-Founder of Greenlit Entertainment who specializes in EPK and marketing services for the entertainment industry. He began his career as a filmmaker and over the last 15 years, has expanded into digital marketing, data analytics, and technology services. He also serves as the Director of Creative Services for Greenlit's parent company, TheRiot Agency, a post-modern growth agency that builds customer acquisition and retention programs.

Eric Johnston has over 20 years of industry sales and product management experience with some of the largest brands in the film industry including Cooke Optics, OConnor, and Arri. Eric started his career at Eastman Kodak and is an Associate Member of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Mike D grew up in South Central Los Angeles and was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary "Colors Straight Up" which followed his participation in the inner city performing arts group, Colors United. After studying film at Los Angeles Community College he landed a job at the premiere camera house, Panavision, and spent 18 years learning from their engineers on top of the line equipment. His fourth feature "BrightBurn" produced by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) released to theaters across the world Memorial Day 2019.

Kevin O'Brien was born into a nomadic military family but did most of his growing up in Virginia. Never crossing his mind that filmmaking was a career choice, smash cut to his 30's he launched a production company with the passion of "creating films that move people to live better stories." Kevin quickly became a leading creator of short films for worship communities. Little did he know the entire process of writing, producing, directing, editing, and releasing a feature film was a life-sized experiment in facing your fear.

James Duke is an accomplished filmmaker, educator, and communicator. As an independent filmmaker, James has almost twenty years of experience in film, television, and video production. His credits include writing, producing and directing over a hundred award-winning short films, documentaries, and theatrical productions.

Raised in the American South, Nicholas Matthews is a Los Angeles based cinematographer. He is known for his work on Cuck (2019), which follows an extremist loner's descent into violence, along with Japanese horror drama Makhaliss (2019) and most recently the six-part episodic Black Veil (2020). He shoots features, shorts, commercials, and music videos around the globe.

Julie Harris Walker is the SVP of West Coast Operations for GreenSlate. She has spent the last 25 years in Los Angeles, working in the entertainment industry as a Commercial Producer, Production Auditor at Disney, Production Finance Executive at HBO and The Weinstein Company, and VP of Sales for Entertainment Partners.

Justin Kucsulain is a Los Angeles actor known for his work on Homeland (2018), Sleepy Hollow (2017), Bloodline (2016), and The Walking Dead (2016). He is also black Belt in American Jiu-Jitsu as well as a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Doug Fox is the co-owner of The Power Station film studio and began his career producing and directing commercials for Saatchi and Saatchi/Toyota, Sony Music and Lava Records. Throughout Doug's career, he has been involved in film finance, packaging and production at every stage.

Since being honorably discharged from the Navy for 5 years of service Michael Brown has written, directed, and edited dozens of commercials, music videos, and documentaries. As a partner and senior producer at Digital Caviar Mike have worked on features including Crazy Lake, Killroy Was Here, Draupadi Unleashed and Random Tropical Paradise.

Adam is a production insurance broker with Wrapbook, living in New Orleans, Louisiana. Before getting into production insurance, he was an Assistant Director on non-union films, as well as a nonprofit director, in Baton Rouge. He is also an avid creative writer, homebrewer, and fan of his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jonathan (JC) Chambers has produced or managed more than 900 projects in the film, television, and advertising/commercial arenas throughout his career. His projects have brought him to Florida, California, other U.S. States, as well as Mexico City, Vancouver, and San Juan. As a member of the Directors Guild of America Award (DGA) Jonathan's feature credits include Crawl, Not Alone, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Walking Across Egypt and Never Say Die.

Cat Sullivan is a writer & producer that specializes in comedy and competition reality television. She's produced for shows like Nailed It!, Top Chef, and Chelsea Handler's Netflix show, Chelsea. During her time on Chelsea, she was featured on-camera staffer in a variety of comedic sketches. A graduate of the Florida State University Media Production program, this is where she and Kevin became friends and created the first-ever student-run variety show at FSU, Seminole Night Life.

Zachary Ramos has over 10 years of experience in Film & Television on various features, reality, and commercial productions. A member of I.A.T.S.E. 477 as an Art Department Coordinator & Set Decorator, Zach has worked on Kilroy Was Here (Kevin Smith feature), Not Alone (feature) and Bernie the Dolphin 1 and 2 (feature).

This episode of FGI is special because it's just Kevin and Josh talking mono a mono from their time at advertising agencies to commercial and feature film productions. If you don't know much about FGI's hosts this is the perfect time to find out.

Tyle Martinolich is the Film Commissioner for Tampa Bay. He is a graduate of The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and has been working primarily as a Production Manager. Best known for his work on The Infiltrator, Bet Your Life and Hallows Point, Tyler now ensures that production in Tampa continues to grow.

Brandon Cox is a Director of Photography based in LA California, who has worked on films such as The Collector, Heist, and Line of Duty. He is a graduate of The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and AFI Conservatory, is a true student of the art and has a passion for Bruce Lee.

Tony Armer is the Film Commissioner for St. Petersburg Clearwater FL. He is an Award-Winning Filmmaker and the Founder of the internationally acclaimed Sunscreen Film Festival. Tony has developed, written, financed, produced and directed top-level award-winning film, TV and media content over the years.

Part 2 of 2: Andrew Ortoski is a Gaffer and Product Photographer in the commercial and motion picture industry. Andrew has worked on films like Parker, Tomorrowland, Springbreakers, David Makes Man and most notably as Gaffer on Bernie the Dolphin and Kevin Smith's Kilroy Was Here.

Part 1 of 2: Andrew Ortoski is a Gaffer and Product Photographer in the commercial and motion picture industry. Andrew has worked on films like Parker, Tomorrowland, Springbreakers, David Makes Man and most notably as Gaffer on Bernie the Dolphin and Kevin Smith's Kilroy Was Here.