The Making Of

The Making Of
  • 5.0 (12)
  • FILM INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

"The Making Of" explores the creative pros behind the most innovative films & TV shows in recent history. themakingof.substack.com

  1. 2D AGO

    Kickstarter's Taylor Shaw on their Partnership with Tubi, Best Practices for Campaigns, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Taylor Shaw, Head of Film Outreach at Kickstarter. In our discussion, Taylor dives deep into Kickstarter’s new strategic partnership with Tubi. She also offers insights into running successful campaigns on the fundraising platform, shares best practices on building an audience, and much more. The Making Of is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here Support The Making Of: Consider supporting our podcast and help us grow in 2026 with a paid subscription. The Netflix Chief Who Insists He Won’t Ruin Hollywood Ted Sarandos, a movie buff and one-time video-store clerk, may soon oversee the iconic Warner Bros. studio Ted Sarandos has minted his status as an entertainment power broker, but he still feels the need to tell the world that he’s not trying to destroy Hollywood. Read more here Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Explore here Why Jamie Lee Curtis Is Thankful Her Mom Didn’t Let Her Audition for ‘The Exorcist’ as a Child The Oscar winner eventually made her horror film debut in 1978’s ‘Halloween.’ While Jamie Lee Curtis is now famously known as the Scream Queen, she recently revealed that her mom actually stopped her from making her horror film debut as a child. During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the Oscar winner recalled a producer wanting her to audition for 1973’s The Exorcist. However, she said her mother, Janet Leigh, declined the opportunity for her then preteen daughter. “He called my mom and said, ‘Hey, I’m producing the movie of the book The Exorcist.’ Will you let Jamie audition for it?’” Curtis recounted. “And at the time I was probably 12 and, like, cute and kind of sassy and I had some personality, and I’m sure he saw me at a party and was like, ‘Oh, she’d be funny.’ And my mother said, ‘No.’” Read more here ZEISS Holiday Special: Save 25% on ZEISS Nano Primes There’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Explore here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Browse here Podcast Rewind: Dec. 2025 - Ep. 110… Advertise in this newsletter and reach 250K filmmakers, TV, broadcast and video professionals each week. For more info, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    23 min

  2. 12/24/2025

    "The Last of Us" Cinematographer Ksenia Sereda on Crafting the Series, Her Filmmaking Career, & More

    Happy Holidays, everyone! We hope you enjoy time with friends and family. ☃️ In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Ksenia Sereda. Ksenia shot “The Last of Us,” as well as Beanpole, Chernobyl: Abyss, and “The Crowded Room”. In our chat, she shares on her early days, pathway into cinematography, and about lensing “The Last of Us” series. Ksenia also discusses the tools and technologies used to craft her images, and offers filmmaking insights for students and cinematographers today. The Making Of is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here Support The Making Of: Please consider a paid subscription to support our podcast and help this newsletter grow in 2026… Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Explore here Insights on Recording the Sound on “Sinners”: ZEISS Holiday Special: Save 25% on ZEISS Nano Primes There’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Explore here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Browse here Podcast Rewind: Dec. 2025 - Ep. 109… Advertise in this newsletter and reach 250K filmmakers, TV, broadcast and video professionals each week. For more info, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    31 min

  3. 12/16/2025

    Filmmaker Ty Evans on his Journey from Skateboarding Videos to Top-Tier Aerial Cinematography

    In this episode, we welcome Ty Evans. Ty is a professional filmmaker with experiences shooting, producing and directing a variety of content. His career stems from cutting-edge skateboarding videos in the 1990’s on through next-level aerial filmmaking today. In our chat, he shares his origin story, how he learned his craft, evolved his skill-sets, and embraced new technologies. Ty also offers practical insights for students and emerging creatives on working towards your dreams. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here VFX Supervisor Dennis Berardi on The Making of “Frankenstein”: Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here ZEISS Holiday Special: Save 25% on ZEISS Nano Primes There’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Check out the Nano Primes here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Explore here Podcast Rewind: Dec. 2025 - Ep. 108… Consider advertising in “The Making Of” to reach 250K film, TV, broadcast and video industry professionals each week. For more info, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min

  4. 12/09/2025

    "A House of Dynamite" Cinematographer Barry Ackroyd BSC on Making the Political Thriller, Filmmaking with Kathryn Bigelow, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Barry Ackroyd, BSC. Barry is an Oscar-nominated cinematographer who has shot films including A House of Dynamite, The Big Short, The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Bombshell, Detroit, Jason Bourne, Green Zone, and United 93. In our chat, he shares on his incredible career, about working with director Kathryn Bigelow on multiple films, and about making A House of Dynamite. Barry also lends priceless insights about cinematography and filmmaking in general. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here Skip Lievsay CAS to be Honored with the 2026 Career Achievement Award by the Cinema Audio Society ZEISS Holiday Special: Save 25% on ZEISS Nano Primes There’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Check out the Nano Primes here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Explore here Podcast Rewind: Dec. 2025 - Ep. 107… Advertise in “The Making Of” to reach 250K film, TV and video industry pros each week. For more information, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    52 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    "Sinners" Sound Mixer Chris Welcker CAS on Recording Sound on Set, His Career Journey, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Chris Welcker, CAS. Chris is an Emmy award-winning Production Sound Mixer who has worked on projects including Sinners, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Daisy Jones & The Six, Where the Crawdads Sing, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Mudbound, Patriots Day, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Deepwater Horizon, Jurassic World, and 12 Years a Slave. In our chat, he shares on his career path, about the art of recording sound on set, and behind-the-scenes of his incredible work on Sinners. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here Insights on “Die My Love” with Seamus McGarvey ASC, BSC: Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here Vimeo Austin Event: Dec. 9th | AFS Cinema A night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary! 6:30pm Doors7:30-9pm Films + commentary 9-11pm Reception (complimentary drinks + bites) RSVP required | Free tickets here Seats are first come, first served. ZEISS Holiday Special: Save 25% on ZEISS Nano Primes There’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Check out the Nano Primes here Women in Media Holiday Toast Dec. 6th | 10am – 2pm Hotel Sofitel | Beverly Hills, CA Join Women In Media as we raise a glass to legendary women of the entertainment industry. There will be a champagne brunch, silent auction, panel with honorees, and celebratory toasts by their toastmasters. Holiday Toast Honorees include: Ashley Nicole Black, Writer/Actor (Shrinking, Ted Lasso, A Black Lady Sketch Show), Toastmaster Chelsea Devantez, Comedian, Writer (The Problem with John Stewart, Girls5Eva), Krystina Figg, Best Boy Grip, Grip (Superman, Killers of the Flower Moon, Dunkirk), and Mandy Walker, AM, ACS, ASC, Director of Photography (Elvis, Hidden Figures, Mulan), President of the American Society of Cinematographers. Get tickets and tables here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Explore here Podcast Rewind: Nov. 2025 - Ep. 106… Advertise in “The Making Of” and reach 250,000+ film, TV and video industry pros each week. For more information, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    34 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    "Frankenstein" VFX Supervisor Dennis Berardi on Crafting Visual FX, Creating with Guillermo del Toro, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Dennis Berardi. Dennis is a top VFX Supervisor who has worked on films including Frankenstein, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, Ad Astra, Hellboy, Crimson Peak, Pacific Rim, Tron: Legacy, Resident Evil: Retribution, Dawn of the Dead, The Cell, and Fight Club. In our chat, he shares about his career path, longtime collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, and about the making of Frankenstein. Dennis also offers recommendations for up-and-coming visual effects artists and creatives. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025 From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV. Get the full rundown here Vimeo Austin Event: Dec. 9th | AFS Cinema A night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary! 6:30pm Doors7:30-9pm Films + commentary 9-11pm Reception (complimentary drinks + bites) Free RSVP here. Seats are first come, first served. Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Learn more here Advertise in “The Making Of” newsletter and reach 250K film, TV and video professionals each week. For more information, please email mvalinsky@me.com Podcast Rewind: Nov. 2025 - Ep. 105… Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    "Sinners" Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw ASC on Crafting the Film using IMAX Cameras, Collaborating with Coogler, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC. Autumn has shot films including Sinners, The Last Showgirl, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Beastie Boys Story, “Loki” and Palo Alto. In our chat, she shares about her roots, early cinematic inspirations, pathway into filmmaking, and how she approached the cinematography of Sinners. Autumn also talks about working with IMAX cameras, her lens choices, and other insights into the making of this standout film of 2025. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: UDC-4K: More than just an average 12G-SDI and HDMI up/down/cross converter AJA’s newest Mini-Converter boasts powerful 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD scaling, frame sync, frame rate conversion, and more. Unlocking an expansive range of conversion possibilities, UDC-4K enables teams to get disparate sources into a common format and timing reference. Explore how UDC-4K solves some of the most common production and post challenges here. Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Explore here Women in Media — Holiday Toast 2025 Dec 6th | 10am – 2pm Hotel Sofitel | Beverly Hills, CA Join Women In Media as we raise a glass to legendary women of the entertainment industry. There will be a champagne brunch, silent auction, panel with honorees, and celebratory toasts by their toastmasters. Holiday Toast 2025 Honorees include Ashley Nicole Black, Writer/Actor (Shrinking, Ted Lasso, A Black Lady Sketch Show), Toastmaster Chelsea Devantez, Comedian, Writer (The Problem with John Stewart, Girls5Eva), Krystina Figg, Best Boy Grip, Grip (Superman, Killers of the Flower Moon, Dunkirk), and Mandy Walker, AM, ACS, ASC, Director of Photography (Elvis, Hidden Figures, Mulan), President of the American Society of Cinematographers. Get tickets and tables here Podcast Rewind: Nov. 2025 - Ep. 104… Advertise in this newsletter and reach 250K film and TV industry professionals each week. For more information, please email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    43 min

  8. 11/14/2025

    "Tulsa King" & "Boardwalk Empire" Star Vincent Piazza on Season 3, His Acting Journey, & More

    In this episode, we welcome Vincent Piazza. Vincent stars in “Tulsa King,” and is also known for his lead role as Lucky Luciano in “Boardwalk Empire.” In our chat, we hear about his NYC roots, education, career path, and approach to his character in “Tulsa King.” In addition, Vincent offers insights and recommendations for actors and emerging filmmakers today. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA: UDC-4K: More than just an average 12G-SDI and HDMI up/down/cross converter AJA’s newest Mini-Converter boasts powerful 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 I/O, 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD scaling, frame sync, frame rate conversion, and more. Unlocking an expansive range of conversion possibilities, UDC-4K enables teams to get disparate sources into a common format and timing reference. Explore how UDC-4K solves some of the most common production and post challenges. Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile. The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Learn more here ZEISS Events at Camerimage Immersive Action Cinematography with Movement Specialist Daniel Ilabaca Tuesday, November 1814:30 - 16:00Venue: CKK Jordanki – Seminar Room and Camerimage Online Platform Former stuntman and Parkour performer turned filmmaker Daniel Ilabaca has been researching immersive filming for a while. Now with smaller camera bodies and compact full format lenses such as the ZEISS Nano Primes, it’s becoming possible to literally wear the camera without compromising the quality of the footage. Be a fly on the wall as Daniel turns the seminar room into a production office: from screenwriting to shot-listing, location scouting, and camera rigging, he’ll take us on a gliding tour of his creative process, as he goes through the preproduction of his upcoming passion project. Learn more here Meet Stream Deck Studio: Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Explore here Podcast Rewind: Nov. 2025 - Ep. 103… Advertise in “The Making Of” and reach 250K film & TV industry pros each week. For more information, email mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

"The Making Of" explores the creative pros behind the most innovative films & TV shows in recent history. themakingof.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Making Of
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    114
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Making Of
  • Show Website
    The Making Of

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