The FilmUp Podcast

Aryeh Hoppenstein
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  • FILM INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The FilmUp Podcast, Your Home For All Things Filmmaking. I'm Aryeh, founder of FilmUp, here to explore the journey of accomplished filmmakers and their road to success. Each podcast episode is dedicated to a non-profit of our guest’s choosing to both highlight our interviewee’s passion outside of filmmaking and bring awareness to a good cause. Our goal is to use Film to move the world Up - FilmUp. Come join us for this week's episode and let's explore the world of filmmaking together.

  1. #108 - AJ Bleyer - Award Winning DGA Director and Founder of Advent Films

    5 DAYS AGO

    #108 - AJ Bleyer - Award Winning DGA Director and Founder of Advent Films

    We've got an awesome conversation with an awesome guest this week. Welcome AJ Bleyer to the podcast! AJ is a high-octane director and the founder of Advent Films, a creative production house known for its visually arresting, high impact work. AJ is also a trusted shooter for many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Ferrari, McLaren F1, Aston Martin, Red Bull, Riot Games, Amazon, and more. He’s also become a known industry speaker for brands like RED, Adobe, Fujinon, Dell, NVIDIA and more. He’s delivered a TEDx talk, and many on-stage keynotes at events like Adobe MAX and NAB. AJ is also a big supporter of ManifestWorks, a non-profit that connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness and incarceration with job opportunities and provides ongoing life and professional skills to support long-term success. To learn more about how you can get involved and support Manifest Works, visit https://www.manifestworks.org/

    1hr 2min
  2. #107 - Ayden Mayeri - Actor and Director of Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story

    28 APR

    #107 - Ayden Mayeri - Actor and Director of Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story

    You may recognize today's guest from one of the many great show's and movies she's been in. This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Ayden Mayeri! Ayden is an Actor and Director from Northern California. With performances in dozens of shows and movies including Paul Feig’s Jackpot!, Mr. Throwback with Steph Curry, New Girl, and Veep, just to name a few, she has quickly established herself as a star on the rise. Her directorial debut, Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story, had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2026 and won the Jury Award for Documentary Feature Film. Most recently she starred in the Tribeca 2025 Untold Stories feature film, Honeyjoon, and can be seen opposite Cameron Diaz in Netflix’s upcoming action comedy Bad Day, and the Rachel Bloom ABC series Do You Want Kids. Ayden is also a big supporter of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants to push policies that promote freedom of movement, full human rights, and the vigorous civic action that strengthens this democracy. To learn about ways you can support CHIRLA, visit https://www.chirla.org

    46 min
  3. #106 - Valerie Weiss - Television and Film Director on Projects like Outer Banks, Ginny and Georgia, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

    21 APR

    #106 - Valerie Weiss - Television and Film Director on Projects like Outer Banks, Ginny and Georgia, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

    Today’s guest is a true talent who’s work can be seen all over the big and small screen. This week we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Weiss! Valerie is an award winning director, writer, and producer of film and television. After receiving her PhD from Harvard Medical School, she decided to embark into the entertainment industry, and it seems like she made the right choice. Valerie has directed dozens of episodes of some of the most popular shows on television such as Outer Banks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Ginny & Georgia, as well as directed multiple features like Mixtape and The Archer. She is also co-chair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee. Valerie is also a big supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, a non-profit dedicated to building a future in which people live in harmony with nature by conserving and restoring biodiversity, reducing humans’ environmental footprint, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. To learn more about ways you can contribute to the World Wildlife Fund, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/support

    1hr 9min
  4. #105 - Paris Schulman - Founder of RiTE Media

    14 APR

    #105 - Paris Schulman - Founder of RiTE Media

    This week we are thrilled to have Paris Schulman on the podcast! Paris began his career as a record producer and film composer. In 2010, he founded RiTE MEDIA, a creative content studio based in Atlanta. Over the years, RiTE has developed and produced hundreds of stories spanning commercials, narrative, and music visuals. Rite Media’s expertise and resources are on emerging technologies like Virtual Production and Bolt CineBot robotic cameras, and they have deployed these solutions on some of the most notable films and series of the last decade, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & 3, Stranger Things, and many more. Paris is also a big supporter of Earth Echo International, a non-profit that collaborates with youth around the world to provide knowledge and develop tools that drive meaningful environmental action to protect and restore our ocean planet.  You can learn more about ways to support them by visiting earthecho.org

    56 min
  5. #104 - Justin Jarrett - Emmy Winning Director and Founder of JTWO Films

    7 APR

    #104 - Justin Jarrett - Emmy Winning Director and Founder of JTWO Films

    This week Aryeh is sitting down to talk with the talented and accomplished director, Justin Jarrett! Justin is an Emmy Award-Winning writer, director, and producer based in Philadelphia. He has written and directed over 200 television shows, commercials, shorts, and feature-length documentaries across five different continents while acting as the Principal Director of JTWO, a full service production house based out of Philly and Chicago.  Justin is also a big supporter of Fred’s Footsteps, a non-profit that provides financial relief to working families in the Philadelphia region who find themselves in a crisis due to the costs associated with caring for seriously ill, injured, or disabled children. To learn more about ways to support Fred's Footsteps, visit https://fredsfootsteps.org.

    1hr 5min
  6. #103 - Dale "Rage" Resteghini - Music Video and Feature Film Director, Previous Clients include Fall Out Boy, Soulja Boy, Lil' Wayne, Guns n' Roses, and many more.

    31 MAR

    #103 - Dale "Rage" Resteghini - Music Video and Feature Film Director, Previous Clients include Fall Out Boy, Soulja Boy, Lil' Wayne, Guns n' Roses, and many more.

    This week we're excited to be joined by Dale "Rage" Resteghini. He's a legendary Music Video and Feature Film Director who's worked with some of the biggest names in both Hollywood and the music industry. Dale was born into a blue-collar Boston family, and traded a future in labor for a legendary career in film and television. He got his start on the set of School Ties and spent his early years in New York City, working alongside masters like Alfonso Cuarón and Sidney Lumet. Driven by a relentless 'Balboa' work ethic, Dale has helmed countless iconic music videos—amassing over 10 billion views for artists like Fall Out Boy, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, Guns N’ Roses, and so many more. With more than 200 feature film credits to his name, including a Co-Executive Producer role on Al Pacino’s Lear Rex, Dale continues to bridge the gap between gritty independent storytelling and global cinematic spectacles. Dale is also a big supporter of Father John’s Animal House, a non-profit dedicated to providing quality, humane care to the cats and dogs at our shelter, to find loving homes for otherwise homeless animals, and facilitate spay/neuter procedures to reduce the over-population and suffering of unwanted or homeless animals. To learn more about ways to help Father John's Animal House, visit https://www.fatherjohns.org.

    1hr 7min
  7. #102 - Nathan Presley - Award Winning Director, Writer, and Cinematographer

    24 MAR

    #102 - Nathan Presley - Award Winning Director, Writer, and Cinematographer

    This week we're excited to introduce Nathan Presley! Nathan is a Los Angeles-based director, writer, and cinematographer known for his dark visual style and emotionally intuitive storytelling across music videos, narrative films, and commercial work. He hosts the Art & Faith podcast and his most recent narrative  project  FLESH & BLOOD  has earned official selection for many film festivals including SIFF & Screamfest.   Some of his clients include: SONY, NIKE, FILA, Tommy Hilfiger, WEEZER, J Lo, etc.  He is also, most importantly, a husband and father of two boys. Nathan is a big supporter of Serve LA, a non-profit that serves people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Los Angeles by providing meals, hygiene services, and essential resources. Rooted in dignity and compassion, the organization partners with volunteers and local groups to help people move from crisis toward stability and flourishing. To learn more about ways to contribute, visit https://servela.org/community-impact

    49 min
  8. #101 - Taso Alexander - Commercial/Short Film Director

    17 MAR

    #101 - Taso Alexander - Commercial/Short Film Director

    This week, we’re excited to be joined by the hilarious commercial and short film director, Taso Alexander. Taso graduated with a film degree in acting for film and television. And that's how serious he is about his craft. After lighting up the screen in a recurring role as the Pizza Hut delivery guy, he dove into the world of casting before finding his place in the director's chair, cementing his status as a true actor's director. Thanks in part to his performance background, he is known to have a keen eye for pitch perfect casting. His dry comedic sensibility and absurdity played straight styling consistently delivered the unexpected and mildly unsettling.  Taso is also a big supporter of the Sick Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that is improving health outcomes for children and families in a compassionate and innovative, responsible and efficient manner. Learn more by going to https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/.

    44 min
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About

Welcome to The FilmUp Podcast, Your Home For All Things Filmmaking. I'm Aryeh, founder of FilmUp, here to explore the journey of accomplished filmmakers and their road to success. Each podcast episode is dedicated to a non-profit of our guest’s choosing to both highlight our interviewee’s passion outside of filmmaking and bring awareness to a good cause. Our goal is to use Film to move the world Up - FilmUp. Come join us for this week's episode and let's explore the world of filmmaking together.

Information

  • Creator
    Aryeh Hoppenstein
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aryeh Hoppenstein
  • Show Website
    The FilmUp Podcast

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