Studio B Sessions

Vipul Bindra

Studio B Sessions is a weekly live-streamed podcast hosted by Vipul Bindra, Founder of Bindra Productions. Recorded at Studio B, this unscripted two-hour show features candid conversations with industry-leading guests from the video production and business world. Dive deep into the art of filmmaking, business strategies, client acquisition, and the latest in camera technology. Perfect for video professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about the intersection of creativity and business.

  1. 5d ago

    Building A Cinematography Career Through Connections

    One message can change your whole career, but only if you’re ready to show up. We’re sitting down with Brazilian cinematographer Guga Carvalho to unpack how he went from Full Sail film school to real commercial sets, real credits, and real momentum across Orlando and LA, even while juggling language nerves, visa pressure, and the unpredictability of freelance life. We get honest about what actually brings clients in the door: relationships, referrals, and being the person who delivers. Guga explains how early gigs in LA started with small student productions and spiraled into the next job, while Orlando required rebuilding a network from scratch through Instagram outreach and local production connections. We also dig into the unglamorous skills that keep you working, like saving money, staying versatile across DP and AC roles, and making portfolio pieces through spec commercials and personal projects. Then we go behind the scenes on commercial production, including a perfume spot on a psych wall and two car commercial shoots that forced hard choices about time, crew, and gear. We compare fast setups like the DJI Ronin 4D to larger cinema builds like the Sony Burano, talk lens strategy for premium brands, and share why pre-production is the simplest way to buy calm on set. We also debate AI in filmmaking, where it helps, where it hurts, and why using AI for admin or monitoring LUTs is very different from replacing craft. If you’re building a cinematography career, hit subscribe, share this with a filmmaker friend, and leave a review so more crew can find it. What’s the most effective way you’ve found to land your next gig? Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    Building A Cinematography Career Through Connections
  2. Sep 24

    How To Get Hired On Real Sets While Still In Film School

    A student can have a degree and still be invisible on set, or they can become the person everyone calls when a schedule is falling apart. We’re joined by Luis Pereira, a first assistant director and Full Sail MFA student, to get brutally practical about what turns film school into a real filmmaking career and what wastes your time.  We talk through Luis’s first-time directing experience on his thesis short film, including the hard parts nobody glamorizes: translating the movie in your head into coverage, shaping performances with limited casting options, and learning to trust collaboration without losing control. Then we go deeper into how he built momentum off campus by networking on LinkedIn, volunteering on professional productions, and treating every call time like an audition for the next job.  The gear debate gets a reality check too. We break down why “owning the tool” is not the same as “knowing the tool,” how a shoot can be saved by pivoting from a cinema camera to a smaller setup, and why unclear expectations about a gear package can torch your budget. We also unpack what makes a great first AD, the pros and cons of non-union crews wearing multiple hats, and how a production company can scale using systems, trusted people, and the right kind of work in markets like Orlando and Atlanta.  If you’re a film student, indie filmmaker, or crew member trying to level up, listen all the way through and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push to get on set, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking into your next shoot. Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    How To Get Hired On Real Sets While Still In Film School
  3. Sep 17

    Underwater Cinematography As A Career Path

    Underwater cinematography looks like a dream job until you’re the one responsible for the housing, the dive plan, the lighting, the workflow, and the invoice. I’m sitting down with freelance cinematographer and documentary director Makayla Wheeler to unpack what the work actually requires, how she got started filming Florida springs at 15, and why a clear niche can make you instantly memorable in a crowded filmmaking industry.  We get into the practical stuff producers and filmmakers need: Sony vs RED vs Alexa choices, why underwater shoots amplify workflow problems, and what gear decisions matter most when you’re trying to stay fast and safe. Makayla breaks down scuba and freedive certifications, the real barrier to entry for underwater filmmaking, and how she approaches budgeting and day rates for cam op versus DP roles. We also talk about why she won’t rent her underwater rig unless she’s personally there, and what productions often overlook when they “just need one pool shot.”  From there, we zoom out into the business of staying employed as a creative. We compare the production company path versus marketing yourself as a freelance cinematographer, how delegation changes your income, and why relationships beat cold emails over the long run. Makayla shares what’s worked for her: networking events, coffee chats, spec and barter projects, and even Facebook groups that still land serious gigs. We also have an honest conversation about being a woman behind the camera, where the industry is improving, and what still needs to change.  If you want more real talk like this, subscribe, share this with a filmmaker friend, and leave a review so more creatives can find the show. Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    Underwater Cinematography As A Career Path
  4. Sep 10

    Stop Chasing Gear And Start Solving Problems

    You can have the sharpest eye and the best camera package on the truck, but if nobody wants to work with you, your career stalls. I sit down with my friend Matt, a cinematographer and all-around set problem solver, to talk about the unsexy truth behind sustainable filmmaking: trust, attitude, and showing up with real effort every single time. We get practical about cinematography and film production choices, from why “coverage thinking” can make your work feel amateur to how the best DPs design shots with intent. Then we go deep on gear without turning it into gear worship: the DJI Ronin 4D, when it shines as a high-mobility tool, and why the “right tool for the job” is usually about time, budget, and constraints. We also share real stories from fast-turn car commercials where planning, pre-production, and the ability to pivot mid-shoot separates pros from chaos. From there, the conversation widens into freelancing, networking, and business mindset. We talk about learning on set, earning repeat clients, using platforms like YouTube as a tool, and why marketing and audience matter even when your craft is strong. We close with a reminder that filmmaking is a marathon, so your health and habits are part of the job. Subscribe for more filmmaker-to-filmmaker conversations, share this with someone building their career, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the biggest mindset shift you’ve had on set lately? Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    Stop Chasing Gear And Start Solving Problems
  5. May 21

    The Business Owner Mindset

    One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves as filmmakers is that the next camera, the next client, or the next “big break” will finally make the business feel stable. This season finale roundtable gets honest about what actually changes things: the people you trust, the boundaries you enforce, and the systems you build when sheer effort stops being enough. Our guests include Adam Kalinowski of Adam K Studio, David Morefield of Morefield Visuals, and Dalton Smith of NPI Productions. We talk marriage and partnership in the real world of production, including what happens when your spouse or family becomes part of your workflow. From role clarity on set to protecting personal time at home, we dig into the messy overlap between relationship and business, and why “we work well together” can still come with friction you have to plan for.  From there we go deep on growth and scaling a video production company: how relationships led to high-level sports broadcast work, why being a reliable vendor matters more than being the hero, and how to turn a one-person reputation into a brand that can deliver without you at every turn. We also share hard-earned lessons on client experience, scope creep, overtime disputes, and the quiet power of sticking to the contract you signed.  Finally, we break down practical operations: staffing as the biggest expense, building an org chart without becoming a meeting-heavy bureaucracy, and when gear is a smart investment versus a money trap. If you’re a freelance filmmaker, studio owner, or creative agency operator trying to grow without burning out, this conversation will land. Subscribe, share this with a filmmaker friend, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking into your next project. Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    The Business Owner Mindset
  6. May 14

    A First Assistant Camera Explains What It Really Takes To Run A Camera Department

    Focus pulling looks simple until you’re wide open at T1.4, the actor hits an unplanned mark, and every producer has a monitor. We sit down with Orlando-based first assistant camera Josh Reimer to talk about what the 1st AC job really is: not just keeping the image sharp, but running camera workflow, solving gear problems fast, and protecting the integrity of the footage while the DP stays focused on the big picture. We also dig into a story filmmakers need to hear more often: a short film that blew up on the festival circuit and turned into a feature film shooting in Orlando, backed by real support and serious equipment. From inclusive casting and working with new on-set needs, to the reality of building a narrative career in a city where commercials are often the steady paycheck, Josh shares how he chooses projects and why story still wins even as cameras and lenses get cheaper and more accessible. Then we go deep on the gear and career questions people actually ask: ARRI vs RED in 2025, why the RED Komodo stays popular as a B-cam, what the DJI Ronin 4D does amazingly well (and why it can feel brutal on your arms), and when renting beats owning. You’ll also hear practical guidance on kit fees, day rates, networking through rental houses and local film groups, avoiding getting pigeonholed, and how union protections and set rules can keep freelancers safe. If you’re trying to break into the camera department, level up as a 1st AC or 2nd AC, or just want a real-world look at how film crews work, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a filmmaker friend, and leave a review with your biggest question about focus pulling or set life. Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    A First Assistant Camera Explains What It Really Takes To Run A Camera Department
  7. May 7

    How Filmmakers Turn Meetups Into Paid Work

    You can have top-tier skills and still struggle if nobody knows you exist. We dig into the unglamorous truth of a creative career: the work usually comes from trust, speed, and relationships, not from the “perfect” camera or the cleanest color grade. Elias Andres joins us to talk about how he built Digital Artisans, how a filmmaker meetup can turn into real paid gigs, and why being proactive in communities and group chats is often the difference between staying booked and staying stuck. We also get practical about budgeting and client communication. When someone says, “We just need a video,” that can mean anything from a simple run-and-gun shoot to a full crew with lighting, audio, and creative development. We break down how to guide clients toward clarity, how to think about pricing event photography and event videography, and why delegating business tasks to the right partner can keep a production company sustainable. From there we zoom out to indie filmmaking, the passion, the chaos, and the economics. We talk about why indie films are often a portfolio step rather than a reliable paycheck, how gear choices should match the budget, and how small cameras can unlock shots that would otherwise require more crew and time. We close with Elias’s plan to move to Brazil for a stretch and rebuild opportunity through the same fundamentals: meet people, be helpful, and deliver. If you got value from this, subscribe, share it with a filmmaker friend, and leave a review so more creatives can find the show. What’s one networking move that brought you real work? Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    How Filmmakers Turn Meetups Into Paid Work
  8. Apr 30

    How To Get A Netflix Look Without Netflix Money

    One mic rental. That’s the origin story. Zay pulled up through ShareGrid looking for high-end audio gear, brought it back spotless, and a simple transaction turned into the kind of long-term collaboration most filmmakers say they want but rarely build on purpose. We talk through how that trust compounds over years, from parking-lot conversations to flying out for real work, and why “who you know” only matters when you actually show up like someone worth knowing. From LA sessions to nonprofit advocacy films to conference storybanks, we get specific about what makes a crew effective: calm communication, role flexibility, and a shared standard for audio, lighting, and composition. We also dig into the friction point every commercial filmmaker recognizes: clients who want everything stable and “clean,” then push back on mood, handheld energy, and creative framing. If you’ve ever had someone call your foreground depth a mistake, you’ll feel seen. The Chicago shoot is the centerpiece. Tight access windows, strict venue rules, last-minute format changes, and a huge mandate to level up the look. We break down the real production choices behind a cinematic interview aesthetic: FX6 and Burano camera coverage, lighting strategy under a two-hour build, and why DZOFilm Arles primes became the mid-tier lens solution that kept the visuals sharp, smooth, and expensive-looking without blowing the budget. If you’re building a video production career, this one is a masterclass in networking, problem solving, and delivering under pressure. Subscribe for more Studio B Sessions, share this with a filmmaker who needs a better crew, and leave a review with the biggest on-set pivot you’ve ever had to make. Support the show Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!): https://www.studiobsessions.com Learn more about Bindra Productions: https://bindraproductions.com/

    How To Get A Netflix Look Without Netflix Money

About

Studio B Sessions is a weekly live-streamed podcast hosted by Vipul Bindra, Founder of Bindra Productions. Recorded at Studio B, this unscripted two-hour show features candid conversations with industry-leading guests from the video production and business world. Dive deep into the art of filmmaking, business strategies, client acquisition, and the latest in camera technology. Perfect for video professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about the intersection of creativity and business.