Rough Cut

The Video Consortium
  • 4.9 (82)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Conversations with documentary filmmakers and video journalists about their creative process—successes, failures, and what they’ve learned along the way. Created by the global filmmaking collective The Video Consortium, Rough Cut is a guide to navigating today’s ever-changing media landscape.

  1. Best Seat in the House: Behind the Lens with the LA Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez

    12/09/2025

    Best Seat in the House: Behind the Lens with the LA Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez

    Step courtside with Los Angeles Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez! In this episode of Rough Cut, hosted by producer Lauren Mahoney, Alicia shares her journey from cinematography and film production to capturing the energy of the WNBA. Hear how she leveraged unpaid gigs to land her dream job, the pressures of being a one-person crew shooting everything from promos to practices, and the amazing experience of having the best view in the house. Alicia talks gear, her busy in-season workweek, building trust with the team, and where she hopes to go from here. Consider this episode the final, satisfying swish of the net as we successfully close the book on another incredible season. Show Links Lauren Mahoney: https://videoconsortium.org/members/lauren-mahoney Alicia Ramirez: https://www.aliciasramirez.com/ LA Sparks Instagram: www.instagram.com/la_sparks LA Sparks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLosAngelesSparks/ Credits Host Lauren Mahoney Guests Alicia Ramirez Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    16 min
  2. Activism, Art, and the Business of Documentary Film with Jarod Neece and Nicholas Bruckman

    11/04/2025

    Activism, Art, and the Business of Documentary Film with Jarod Neece and Nicholas Bruckman

    SHOW NOTES: Documentary filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman, along with guest host Jarod Neece, senior programmer at the Tribeca Festival, take a deep dive into the surprising intersections between activism, art, and industry. From disability rights in Not Going Quietly to NFT art in Minted, and the surprising government power plays behind The Price of Milk, Nick shares how he navigates storytelling, ethics, and business in the modern doc world. Along the way, the two pull back the curtain on film festivals, funding, and the fine line between passion and pragmatism. This is a candid, funny, and eye-opening look at what it takes to fund nonfiction films that matter, and get them seen. Show Links Jarod Neece: https://jarodneece.com Nicholas Bruckman: https://videoconsortium.org/members/nicholas-bruckman and https://nickny.com Peoples TV: https://peoples.tv Credits Host Jarod Neece Guests Nicholas Bruckman Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    34 min
  3. Trust, TikTok, and the Future of News with Ryan Kellett and Dave Jorgenson

    10/07/2025

    Trust, TikTok, and the Future of News with Ryan Kellett and Dave Jorgenson

    In this episode, Rough Cut dives deep with journalist and video creator Dave Jorgenson, co-founder of Local News International and the mastermind behind the Washington Post’s unexpected TikTok success. Host Ryan Kellett unpacks Dave’s journey from producing YouTube sketches in college to pioneering a new wave of media literacy—armed with humor, a journalist’s commitment to accuracy, and a phone. Since launching his independent outlet, LNI, Dave has stepped into a bigger creative space, exploring a broader editorial range with transparency and nuance. From bold language choices to a collaborative, evolving style guide, he's prioritizing clarity, accuracy, and accessibility. Dave proves that trusted journalism isn’t about institutions—it’s about people. Now, with full ownership of his platform and vision, he’s building something bigger: an honest, informative, and entertaining space for the next generation of news consumers. This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how meaningful storytelling—and a good editor—can reshape the way we consume the news. Tune in now for insights, laughs, and a masterclass in creative adaptation. Show Links Ryan Kellett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankellett Dave Jorgenson and Local News International: https://lni.media Credits Host Ryan Kellett Guest Dave Jorgenson  Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    43 min
  4. Trust Through Transparency: Rethinking Pay and Power in Documentary

    09/09/2025

    Trust Through Transparency: Rethinking Pay and Power in Documentary

    In this episode of Rough Cut, Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert from Multitude Films—an independent production company dedicated to transformative culture change through nonfiction storytelling—dive deep into how Multitude is building a values-driven model that prioritizes sustainability, fairness, and humanity both on set and behind the scenes. Key takeaways include: sharing production budgets when hiring crew to establish fair standards across the industry and recognizing care as a crucial component of ethical filmmaking — not just an afterthought. Listeners will gain practical insights on reshaping budgets, negotiating with transparency, and redefining compensation beyond just money. If you’re committed to changing the culture of filmmaking for the better, this is an episode you can’t miss. This episode is a collaboration between Video Consortium and Brown Girls Doc Mafia to bring attention to The Pay Transparency Project, a resource built in collaboration with VC and BGDM to promote and highlight the importance of pay transparency in documentary and nonfiction film production.  Show Links Sweta Vohra: ​​www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohra Emma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpert Multitude Films: www.multitudefilms.com Brown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.org Pay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.org Credits Guests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude Films Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    39 min
  5. From Grassroots to Netflix: Inside the Join or Die Impact Campaign

    08/05/2025

    From Grassroots to Netflix: Inside the Join or Die Impact Campaign

    In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Caitlin Boyle sits down with filmmaker Rebecca Davis to discuss the journey behind Join or Die, the powerful documentary that reimagines Robert Putnam’s landmark book Bowling Alone for the screen. Rebecca shares how the team behind the film not only brought Putnam’s ideas on the decline of community life to a broader audience, but also charted an ambitious and intentional path for its distribution. From grassroots community screenings to a Netflix release, and even a theatrical run for Oscar qualification, the filmmakers prioritized meaningful engagement and peer collaboration over mass exposure. This episode offers an honest look at the time, strategy, and heart that went into building impact around Join or Die—a film about community that practiced what it preached. Rough Cut Podcast is brought to you by the global nonfiction video community the Video Consortium. Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating or a comment to help this podcast reach more filmmakers around the globe! ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Episode Credits: Host: Caitlin Boyle Guest: Rebecca Davis Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio Producer: Audrey Horwitz Music: Zack Wright ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Episode Resources: ▶  Join or Die: https://www.joinordiefilm.com ▶ Rebecca Davis: https://rebeccadavis.co and https://videoconsortium.org/members/rebecca-davis ▶ Caitlin Boyle: https://caitlinboyle.co ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Get involved and follow the action: Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/join Support the community: https://videoconsortium.org/donate  Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718  https://www.instagram.com/videoconsortium/ https://www.linkedin.com/videoconsortium/

    30 min
  6. Digging Through Time and Truth: Archival Ethics in the Age of AI

    07/01/2025

    Digging Through Time and Truth: Archival Ethics in the Age of AI

    On this episode of Rough Cut, host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros sits down with archival producer Stephanie Jenkins, whose work with filmmaker Ken Burns has uncovered rare historical gems like early footage of a young Muhammad Ali. Stephanie also shares insights into the art of bringing history to life on screen, and discusses co-founding the Archival Producers Alliance, which recently released groundbreaking guidelines on the use of generative AI in documentary filmmaking. From preserving the integrity of primary sources to navigating legal and ethical concerns, this episode explores how the rise of AI is reshaping the way we tell true stories—and why filmmakers must tread carefully. Show Links Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros: https://videoconsortium.org/members/dchavezontiveros Stephanie Jenkins: https://videoconsortium.org/members/stephanie-jenkins Archival Producer Alliance APA: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/ APA GenAI Best Practices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WS4iZ2Wi_wft5x54RG-hYb45sf10W8nV/view APA GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/tool-kit-for-documentaries Credits Host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros Guests Stephanie Jenkins Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    31 min
  7. Filming Family: The Ethics of Documenting Loved Ones with Ondi Timoner

    06/03/2025

    Filming Family: The Ethics of Documenting Loved Ones with Ondi Timoner

    Michael Werner returns to Rough Cut and sits down with filmmaker Ondi Timoner to discuss the unique challenges involved in making documentaries involving one's own family. Ondi talks with Michael about her recent films "Last Flight Home" and "All God's Children," which explore deeply personal subjects like her father's final days and her sister’s religious and social justice work. She candidly shares the emotional and ethical dilemmas she navigated and the delicate nature of making films focused on deeply personal experiences and relationships.   Show Links Interloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/ Michael Werner: https://videoconsortium.org/members/michael-werner  Credits Host Michael Werner Guests Ondi Timoner Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    25 min
  8. Framing the Artist: Inside Nathan-ism with Dennis Scholl and Elan Golod

    05/06/2025

    Framing the Artist: Inside Nathan-ism with Dennis Scholl and Elan Golod

    On this episode of Rough Cut, artist and filmmaker Dennis Scholl speaks with Elan Golod about his new documentary Nathan-ism, and the complicated work of making art about artists. Dennis and Elan discuss their film’s impact on artist's legacies, how to make canvases and sculptures compelling on film, and the complexities of working with a subject who is used to having creative control. This nuanced conversation will resonate with filmmakers who have navigated relationships with complex film participants and faced challenging artistic choices when working with archival materials and other nontraditional media.  Show Links Dennis Scholl: https://schollcreative.com/about/ Elan Golod: https://videoconsortium.org/members/elan-golod Nathan-ism: https://www.nathan-ism.com/ Credits Host Dennis Scholl Guests Elan Golod Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

    24 min
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4.9
out of 5
82 Ratings

About

Conversations with documentary filmmakers and video journalists about their creative process—successes, failures, and what they’ve learned along the way. Created by the global filmmaking collective The Video Consortium, Rough Cut is a guide to navigating today’s ever-changing media landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    The Video Consortium
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rough Cut
  • Show Website
    Rough Cut

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