The Cinematography Podcast

The Cinematography Podcast
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Art, Business, Craft and Philosophy of the Moving Image

  1. 15 HR AGO

    The scrappy, indie production of Hunting Matthew Nichols

    Hunting Matthew Nichols is an indie horror film that’s shot as a mockumentary/found-footage movie about a documentary filmmaker investigating her brother's disappearance 20 years earlier on Vancouver Island. Writer/producer Sean Harris Oliver and DP Justin Sebastian shot the horror film in 12 days, then independently released it into theaters. Key Podcast Highlights: -How cinematographer Justin Sebastian used Sony FX9 cameras on autofocus, shot archival footage scenes on period-correct cameras, and then physically digitized the tapes for documentary authenticity. -Keeping the camera crew small and the lighting natural, so that the film’s characters could realistically pull off the documentary. -Detailed scriptwriting by Sean Harris Oliver, such as specifying who holds the camera in each scene. Sean scripted the film with cleaner, more deliberate camerawork that degrades into chaotic, survival-mode footage as events progress. -How the team pushed hard for theatrical release against distributor pressure to go straight to streaming. They self-funded distribution and budgeted for marketing from the very beginning. Find where to watch Hunting Matthew Nichols in theaters and play the interactive game on the website: https://www.huntingmatthewnichols.com/ Find Sean Harris-Oliver: https://www.seanharrisoliver.com/ Instagram: @SeanHarrisOliver Find Justin Sebastian: https://www.justinsimonsebastian.com/ Instagram: @JustinSebastianDP Listen to our episode with producer Ted Hope, who discusses similar approaches indie filmmakers can take to understand and control the entire filmmaking process from budget to shoot to distribution: https://www.camnoir.com/ep352/ Show Rundown: 02:45 Close Focus 13:04-01:02:59 Sean Harris Oliver and Justin Sebastian interview 01:03:19 Short ends 01:12:42 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  2. 17 APR

    Two horror films, one DP: They Will Kill You, Faces of Death

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 353: Isaac Bauman Cinematographer Isaac Bauman captured the visual identities of two different horror movies in They Will Kill You and Faces of Death. Both films are currently in theaters. Bauman discusses the intricate technical gymnastics required to give each film a distinct, cinematic feel. Key Podcast Highlights: -Carefully developing the look of They Will Kill You and Faces of Death with each film’s director. -Solving big lighting challenges for They Will Kill You's climax, using a massive 18K light that had to be repeatedly moved. -Working with practical puppeteering effects for the crawling eyeball in They Will Kill You, which gave the scene a higher sense of realism. -Shooting on 35mm film for Faces of Death and intentionally reducing the camera’s visual capabilities. Isaac used wider lenses, stopped down, and embraced darkness to enhance the gritty, filmic quality of older movies. Find Isaac Bauman: Instagram @isaacbauman See They Will Kill You and Faces of Death in theaters. Hear our previous interview with Isaac Bauman: https://www.camnoir.com/ep242/ Show Rundown: 02:12 Close Focus 10:28-01:00:24 Isaac Bauman interview 01:00:45 Short ends 01:07:34 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  3. 11 APR

    Ted Hope, Hope For Film: the rebirth of independent cinema

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 352: Ted Hope Producer Ted Hope has worked in the film business for over 40 years, producing dozens of features with several Academy Awards nominations and wins. After leaving Amazon Studios in 2020, Hope went back to his roots as an independent producer and began writing his Substack blog, Hope For Film. He argues that the independent film ecosystem as we know it has reached its final days. However, far from being a tragedy, Ted definitely has hope for film. He sees what's happening in the industry today as a necessary seismic shift. Hope has a vision for a more “punk rock” future of cinema, with a decentralized, artist-owned future that prioritizes "freak flags" and human empathy over corporate consolidation. Key Podcast Highlights: -How filmmakers should stop trying to emulate "mini-Hollywood" productions and embrace a DIY, experimental approach with room to fail. -How the streaming era has killed the anticipatory joy of seeing a film when it’s simply dropped on a homepage, making it harder for the longer-term cultural engagement that helped independent films thrive. -Why ownership is the new path forward, paired with self-financing and total IP control. -Film’s best defense against AI is embracing cinema that mimics life and human complexity, with scripts that contain ambiguity rather than payoffs. -Why filmmakers must understand and control the entire filmmaking process, from budget and shoot to distribution. **A special note to our listeners: We have an exclusive discount link to subscribe to Ted Hope’s substack, Hope For Film! Get 50% a 1 year subscription at https://tedhope.substack.com/cinepod. This offer does expire on April 20 (4/20) at 4:20 PM PT. Yep, that’s on 4-20 at 4:20. Don’t miss out!** You can also find the discount link in our shownotes for this episode at www.camnoir.com Show Rundown: 03:07 Close Focus 06:44-01:13:14 Ted Hope interview 01:14:04 Short ends 01:25:42 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  4. 3 APR

    Two DPs, one vision: creating the look of Pluribus

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 351: Marshall Adams, ASC and Paul Donachie Pluribus DPs Marshall Adams and Paul Donachie share a visual shorthand, love of wide shots, and creative freedom to craft inventive techniques using LED panels. Key Podcast Highlights: -Marshall and Paul’s collaboration as DPs, and how their shared aesthetic vision strengthens the show. -Getting absolute top-down permission from producer/director Vince Gilligan to take creative risks. -The importance of prep, rehearsal and flexibility in planning intriguing shots. -Focusing on finding visual effects in camera instead of relying on VFX, such as the LED rig Marshall built for the truck oner in the pilot episode. Find Marshall Adams, ASC: Instagram @smadadp See Pluribus on Apple TV Show Rundown: 02:22 Close Focus 11:46-46:45 Marshall Adams and Paul Donachie interview 47:22 Short ends 55:47 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  5. 20 MAR

    Lawrence Sher, ASC reimagines Frankenstein for The Bride!

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 350: Lawrence Sher, ASC DP Lawrence Sher felt creatively challenged on The Bride! The "everything burger" movie combines many film techniques and influences, 1930's and contemporary lighting, contemporary actors dropped into archival movie footage, and practical makeup effects. Key Podcast Highlights: -Creating a stylized movie with director Maggie Gyllenhaal using multiple techniques and film influences -Honoring 1930’s filmmaking with longer lenses, and using real archival footage for the “movie within a movie” sequences. -The challenge of lighting and filming practical makeup effects on actors Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley -Finding creative inspiration in projects that excite and scare him Find Lawrence Sher: https://www.lawrencesher.com/ Instagram @lawrencesherdp See The Bride! in theaters Check out Shotdeck: https://shotdeck.com/ Hear our previous episodes with Lawrence Sher: https://www.camnoir.com/ep293/ https://www.camnoir.com/ep56/ Show Rundown: 01:38 Close Focus 09:43-50:05 Lawrence Sher interview 50:21 Short ends 57:08 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  6. 13 MAR

    2026 Academy Awards nominations with Jenelle Riley

    The Cinematography Podcast 2026 Oscar Special Jenelle Riley, three-time Emmy-winning entertainment journalist and host, chats with Ben and Illya for our SEVENTH annual Oscar nominations special. With a focus on cinematography, they discuss what they liked, what will win, what should win, and their favorite movies of the year that may not have been recognized. They discuss this year’s nominations, including the likeliest Best Picture and Best Director contenders, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. F1 is also mentioned as an outlier for the category, although the cinematography by Claudio Miranda is excellent. This year's new category, Achievement in Casting, is celebrated as a much needed addition. The cinematography competition is a heated one, with both Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Michael Bauman as favorites, with Bauman recently winning the ASC Award. Some of the snubs this year include one of Jenelle's favorite movies, Life of Chuck.  Song Sung Blue also didn't receive much awards love. Last year's awards omitted the worthy film, Thelma.  Also discussed: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Find Jenelle Riley on Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, X: @jenelleriley and Substack: https://substack.com/@rileywrites74/note/p-183180534 Tune in to the SAG/AFTRA foundation YouTube Channel to see Jenelle's interviews with several of the nominees this year. https://www.youtube.com/@SAGAFTRAFoundation The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  7. 6 MAR

    James Whitaker: Good Luck Have Fun Don’t Die’s visual chaos

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 349: James Whitaker, ASC Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die DP James Whitaker, ASC played with different genres, with over 70 setups a day in the Norm's diner set. He used LED walls and projectors to cast real, interactive light on the characters in the film’s climax, and swapped to a different camera system for certain scenes to play up the glow of cell phones. Key Podcast Highlights: -Shooting the opening sequence of the film in a set replica of Norm’s Diner -How director Gore Verbinski’s complex, hand-drawn storyboards allowed the crew to maintain a "ballet-like" precision during Rockwell's complex physical performances. -Using LED walls and projectors to cast real, interactive light on the characters in the film’s climax -Swapping to a Sony Venice 2 when the cell phone light source wasn’t strong enough in some scenes Find James Whitaker: Instagram @jameswhitaker_dop See Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die in theaters See James' most recent series, DTF St. Louis, on HBO Max See Patriot on Amazon Prime Hear our recent interview with Nicole Whitaker: https://www.camnoir.com/ep338/ SHOW RUNDOWN: 02:05 Close Focus 12:14-01:00:49 James Whitaker Interview 01:01:30 Short ends 01:06:46 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min

  8. 27 FEB

    Danny Cohen, BSC: Slow Horses ‘dirty London’ cinematography

    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 348: Danny Cohen, BSC DP Danny Cohen, BSC, reveals how he crafted the "dirty London" look of Slow Horses through motivated lighting, high ASA grain, and the grit of Slough House. Key Podcast Highlights: -How Slow Horses ditches the typical block shooting system, with one DP and one director to create the entire season’s visual look. -Using camera settings to bake in noise and deep, inky blacks for that signature London grit. -Shooting with 2–3 cameras, which allows for weird, accidental angles that a single camera would never catch. -Why Danny bans traditional backlighting and soft fill to keep his characters trapped—and embedded—in their murky environments. - A look at the multi-story Slough House sets that let actors and cameras move through floors without ever hitting a fake wall. Find Danny Cohen: http://wwwb.co.uk/ See Slow Horses on Apple TV. SHOW RUNDOWN: 02:23 Close Focus 13:41-51:27 Danny Cohen Interview 51:53 Short ends 01:03:18 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

    1hr 11min
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About

Art, Business, Craft and Philosophy of the Moving Image

Information

  • Creator
    The Cinematography Podcast
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    418
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    The Cinematography Podcast

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