The Making Of

In this episode, we welcome Matthew Heineman. Matthew is an Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director of projects including American Symphony, Cartel Land, Retrograde, The First Wave, “The Trade,” “Tiger,” City of Ghosts, and A Private War. In our conversation, he shares all about the origins of his documentary career, his workflow, and experiences working in war zones, pandemic environments, and other hot spots. Matthew also talks about his influences, mentors, and other insights from a life creating some of the best non-fiction films in recent years. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Uncover exciting new AJA tech for production and post workflows.From KONA IP25, AJA’s new SMPTE ST 2110 I/O card, to OG-ColorBox, an openGear version of AJA’s ColorBox color management and conversion device, AJA announced exciting developments at IBC 2024. Explore these tools, alongside new AJA Diskover Media Edition plug-ins and enhancements, a Virtual KONA technology preview, and more here.Masters of Shadow: The Cinematography of HorrorJoin Band Pro and "The Making Of" for an evening of chilling insights into the dark side of filmmaking with Mark Irwin CSC, ASC, James Kniest, and Polly Morgan ASC, BSC. Moderated by Mike Valinsky, these three master cinematographers will share their creative approaches to horror filmmaking.Mark Irwin CSC, ASC is known for his work with director David Cronenberg on iconic horror films such as The Fly, Scanners, Videodrome, and The Dead Zone, as well as Wes Craven on Scream and New Nightmare. James Kniest has terrified theater and streaming audiences alike with Annabelle, "American Horror Stories,” "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and "The Midnight Club.” Polly Morgan ASC, BSC lensed the blockbuster hit A Quiet Place Part II, as well as The Woman King, Back to Black, and Where the Crawdads Sing.After the panel, Band Pro will host a Halloween-themed happy hour for filmmakers to mingle over food & drink, explore product demos, and a raffle loaded with filmmaking gear and horror memorabilia!Free passes hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…The Canon EOS C70 offers exceptional cinema capabilities in a compact package. Enjoy stunning images with a 4K Super 35mm DGO Sensor and all the built-in features you could ask for, including ND Filters, mini XLRs, direct touch rotatable LCD screen, Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus, and excellent battery life. Making the EOS C70 even more powerful is compatibility with Canon's expanding line of high-performance RF Lenses.Learn more hereFeatured Book:Lessons from American Cinematographer: Sharing Nearly Three Decades of Tips & Techniques from the World's Top Cinematographers — A Shot Craft CompanionFor nearly three decades, Jay Holben has a been a contributor for American Cinematographer magazine and has had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with the top cinematographers in the world. As a cinematographer himself, Holben used this extraordinary privilege to not only discuss the ins-and-outs of a particular movie being covered, but to "pick the brains" of the best cinematographers on the planet. This rather selfish approach to his journalism afforded Holben the chance to fill his creative toolbox with tips and techniques from the true masters of the art. These treasures of movie magic were printed in the pages of American Cinematographer over the past 27 years, but they have now all been collected into a single volume. Lessons From American Cinematographer brings the reader back to every interview and AC story highlighting those special tips and techniques that Holben learned. It's like opening a secret vault to a secret collection of tips and techniques handed down from the artisans of motion picture photography in your hands. A perfect companion to Holben's extremely popular Shot Craft series, Lessons From American Cinematographer provides the reader a lifetime of masterclasses in a single volume.Pickup a copy hereVimeo NYC Event:October 23rd @ Angelika Film CenterA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!Join Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira as they screen recent Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo.Founded in 2008, Vimeo Staff Picks has emerged as one of the preeminent channels for online video and one of the most coveted awards for young filmmakers, having helped launch the careers of many celebrated directors. Hear from the next generation of storytellers in a format that’s sure to be eclectic and insightful.Free tickets hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress CardsExperience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereTalking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.Podcast Rewind:Oct 2024 - Ep. 50…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Promote your company to 92,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Send us an email to mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this 50th episode, we spoke with Lawrence Sher, ASC about the making of Joker: Folie à Deux with a live audience at the ZEISS Showroom in Los Angeles. Larry shared about how he approached creating this sequel, the techniques and technologies used to shoot it, and about his longtime collaboration with director Todd Philips. He also talked about various inspirations that fed his approach to this story and about their post process. In addition, Larry shed light on his company, ShotDeck — and answered a variety of questions from the audience. Photo by Joel Lipton.“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Uncover exciting new AJA tech for production and post workflows.From KONA IP25, AJA’s new SMPTE ST 2110 I/O card, to OG-ColorBox, an openGear version of AJA’s ColorBox color management and conversion device, AJA announced exciting developments at IBC 2024. Explore these tools, alongside new AJA Diskover Media Edition plug-ins and enhancements, a Virtual KONA technology preview, and more here.Masters of Shadow: The Cinematography of HorrorJoin Band Pro and "The Making Of" for an evening of chilling insights into the dark side of filmmaking with Mark Irwin CSC, ASC, James Kniest, and Polly Morgan ASC, BSC. Moderated by Mike Valinsky, these three master cinematographers will share their creative approaches to horror filmmaking.Mark Irwin CSC, ASC is known for his work with director David Cronenberg on iconic horror films such as The Fly, Scanners, Videodrome, and The Dead Zone, as well as Wes Craven on Scream and New Nightmare. James Kniest has terrified theater and streaming audiences alike with Annabelle, "American Horror Stories,” "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and "The Midnight Club.” Polly Morgan ASC, BSC lensed the blockbuster hit A Quiet Place Part II, as well as The Woman King, Back to Black, and Where the Crawdads Sing.After the panel, Band Pro will host a Halloween-themed happy hour for filmmakers to mingle over food & drink, explore product demos, and a raffle loaded with filmmaking gear and horror memorabilia!Free passes hereVimeo NYC Event:October 23rd @ Angelika Film CenterA night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!Join Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira as they screen recent Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo.Founded in 2008, Vimeo Staff Picks has emerged as one of the preeminent channels for online video and one of the most coveted awards for young filmmakers, having helped launch the careers of many celebrated directors. Hear from the next generation of storytellers in a format that’s sure to be eclectic and insightful.Free tickets hereFeatured Book:On Set with John CarpenterJohn Carpenter’s producing partner Debra Hill hired photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker to be the unit photographer on Halloween, and Kim soon became part of Carpenter’s filmmaking family, going on to shoot stills on the sets of some of his most iconic films: Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, Halloween II, Christine.Collected together here for the first time is the best of that on-set photography, with iconic, rare, and previously unseen images. All accompanied by exclusive commentary from those involved, including John Carpenter himself, and other key crew and cast. From production stills, to candids of the stars between takes, and the crew in action, alongside portrait shots of the actors who would eagerly pose for Kim, this book gives an unprecedented glimpse into the action on set with John Carpenter.Pickup a copy hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…The Canon EOS C70 offers exceptional cinema capabilities in a compact package. Enjoy stunning images with a 4K Super 35mm DGO Sensor and all the built-in features you could ask for, including ND Filters, mini XLRs, direct touch rotatable LCD screen, Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus, and excellent battery life. Making the EOS C70 even more powerful is compatibility with Canon's expanding line of high-performance RF Lenses.Learn more here Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out herePodcast Rewind:Oct 2024 - Ep. 49…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Feature your company’s products to 90,000 film, TV, video and broadcast pros reading this newsletter. Send us an email to mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Craig Yanagi, National Product Manager at JVC Professional Video. In our chat, we learn about Craig’s roots, education, and experiences working for Sony Electronics, as well as JVC for the last twenty years. He shares about a wide range of camera systems, including the DVCAM, where he helped usher in its pairing with Final Cut Pro’s workflow. Craig also sheds light on other evolutions in digital cinematography — and about solutions he’s involved with today.Pictured above: Craig Yanagi, Megan Cunningham, and Albert Maysles.“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Uncover exciting new AJA tech for production and post workflows.From KONA IP25, AJA’s new SMPTE ST 2110 I/O card, to OG-ColorBox, an openGear version of AJA’s ColorBox color management and conversion device, AJA announced exciting developments at IBC 2024. Explore these tools, alongside new AJA Diskover Media Edition plug-ins and enhancements, a Virtual KONA technology preview, and more here.Masters of Shadow: The Cinematography of HorrorJoin Band Pro and "The Making Of" for an evening of chilling insights into the dark side of filmmaking with Mark Irwin CSC, ASC, James Kniest, and Polly Morgan ASC, BSC. Moderated by Mike Valinsky, these three master cinematographers will share their creative approaches to horror filmmaking.Mark Irwin CSC, ASC is known for his work with director David Cronenberg on iconic horror films such as The Fly, Scanners, Videodrome, and The Dead Zone, as well as Wes Craven on Scream and New Nightmare. James Kniest has terrified theater and streaming audiences alike with Annabelle, "American Horror Stories,” "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and "The Midnight Club.” Polly Morgan ASC, BSC lensed the blockbuster hit A Quiet Place Part II, as well as The Woman King, Back to Black, and Where the Crawdads Sing.After the panel, Band Pro will host a Halloween-themed happy hour for filmmakers to mingle over food & drink, explore product demos, and a raffle loaded with filmmaking gear and horror memorabilia! Get your free passes hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereFeatured Film Book:KISS ME QUICK BEFORE I SHOOTThis film memoir is all about the magic of filmmaking and forging a cinematic personal life in Hollywood. It includes stories of a producer turning out to be the assassin of the Mafia boss who allowed The Godfather to film in NY; to shooting the pyramids of Egypt for Battlestar Galactica; to directing a grumbling Mr. T on The A-Team; to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore right after ET; and to unwittingly almost delaying James Cameron’s early career! It is full of invaluable experiences and unique industry stories of a celebrated film/TV career, and should be required reading for every film lover.“Finally, a book for all who love the movies written by a filmmaker who has walked the walk in TV and film. A very entertaining journey of fascinating industry stories providing a true look behind the curtain of filmmaking.”JOE ALVES, Production Designer JAWS, British Academy Award for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KINDPickup an instant copy at KISS ME QUICK BEFORE I SHOOT Kindle Ebook AmazonOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereVimeo NYC Event:October 23rd @ Angelika Film Center A night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary!Join Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira as they screen recent Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo.Founded in 2008, Vimeo Staff Picks has emerged as one of the preeminent channels for online video and one of the most coveted awards for young filmmakers, having helped launch the careers of many celebrated directors. Hear from the next generation of storytellers in a format that’s sure to be eclectic and insightful.Free passes herePost|Production World New YorkJoin us at Post|Production World New York (P|PW NY), the premier training event for content creators, editors, producers, and motion graphics specialists. Featuring cutting-edge tracks in Creative AI, Cinematography, and more, this is your chance to learn from industry leaders at the Westin Times Square!Register hereTalking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.Podcast Rewind:“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and feature your products to 85,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Nancy Schreiber, ASC. Nancy has a long career working in film, television and documentaries. Some of her credits include Your Friends and Neighbors, Loverboy, The Nines, November, Path to War, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Mapplethorpe, Visions of Light — and TV shows such as “P-Valley,” “Station 19,” “The Family,” “Blue” and “The Comeback.” In our chat, Nancy shares about her upbringing in Michigan, early days working in New York City, on through lensing countless feature films and TV shows. She also talks about her workflow, technologies used, and other insights from a life making movies. “The Making Of” is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Learn more hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereFeatured Event:Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5thThousands of industry professionals will surge to attend this year at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. A focal point of Southern filmmaking, Cine Gear 2023 drew thousands to the studio, which houses productions like Black Adam and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. Visitors met with equipment exhibitors from across the globe, attended panels and workshops from the International Cinematographer’s Guild, the ASC, and numerous tech brands, and partied at the Friday night Southern Cine Soirée.Comp passes hereFeatured Book:Cronenberg on CronenbergCronenberg on Cronenberg charts Cronenberg's development from maker of inexpensive 'exploitation' cinema to internationally renowned director of million-dollar movies, and reveals the concerns and obsessions which continue to dominate his increasingly rich and complex work.Available here Podcast Rewind:Sept 2024 - Ep. 48…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and feature your products to 85,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Richard Rutkowski, ASC. Richard has lensed top television shows such as “Masters of the Air,” “Sugar,” “The Americans,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “Castle Rock” and “Manhattan” — and films including “Interview with the Assassin.” In our chat, Richard shares his backstory, film education, road to working in television, and approach to crafting various projects. He also provides invaluable advice and tips for emerging filmmakers today.The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereIgelkott Studios Offers World Class In-Camera Visual EffectsOur expertise lies in delivering end-to-end ICVFX productions, which include 360 plate creation and directing the in-studio operation. We are proud to have been industry leaders in ICVFX, image development, and image workflows since 2018.Visit us hereFeatured Event:Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5thThousands of industry professionals will surge to attend this year at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. A focal point of Southern filmmaking, Cine Gear 2023 drew thousands to the studio, which houses productions like Black Adam and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. Visitors met with equipment exhibitors from across the globe, attended panels and workshops from the International Cinematographer’s Guild, the ASC, and numerous tech brands, and partied at the Friday night Southern Cine Soirée.Get your passes hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereFeatured Coffee: New York-based Devoción is a game changer as the only true Origin-to-Cup roaster flying in their direct trade, single-source beans via FedEx from Bogota to NYC weekly. With year-round harvests, Devoción ensures its coffee’s supreme purity, freshness, and integrity. Taste the difference in a single sip.Click here to subscribe today.  Podcast Rewind:Sept 2024 - Ep. 47…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and promote your products to 85,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Simply email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Jonah Kessel. Jonah is the Deputy Director of Opinion Video at The New York Times. His work there is a hybrid of explanatory and investigative short form documentary and other innovative forms of visual journalism. In his career, he’s been recognized by a variety of organizations, including two World Press Photo awards, four times as a Multimedia Journalist of the Year from Pictures of the Year International, the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Justice and Human Rights Reporting, and the Innovative Storytelling Award from the National Press Foundation. In our chat, Jonah shares his backstory, path to The New York Times, and his experiences helping run the Opinion Video department. In addition, he talks at length about covering the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereZEISS Cinema & The Making Of present: A Conversation with Lawrence Sher, ASCZEISS Cinema is pleased to host a live interview with Lawrence Sher, ASC. Join Michael Valinsky from the podcast The Making Of as he discusses Lawrence's work on the upcoming feature JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX, as well as his past films and the indispensable filmmaking website ShotDeck. The ZEISS team will be on hand with our lenses and camera technologies as well!Join us for bites, beer, wine and a conversation not to be missed! Register for free hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereUpcoming Event: Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5thThousands of industry professionals will surge to attend this year at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. A focal point of Southern filmmaking, Cine Gear 2023 drew thousands to the studio, which houses productions like Black Adam and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. Visitors met with equipment exhibitors from across the globe, attended panels and workshops from the International Cinematographer’s Guild, the ASC, and numerous tech brands, and partied at the Friday night Southern Cine Soirée.Get your passes hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out herePodcast Rewind:Sept 2024 - Ep. 46…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and promote your products to 82,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Simply email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Andy Hutton. Andy is the Head of Product Management for Batteries at Videndum Production Solutions. His role at Anton/Bauer is to help innovate and oversee the legendary brand, used daily by professionals in film, TV, broadcast, sports production, and beyond. In our chat, Andy shares his backstory from England, his education and career arc — and all about his role running product at Anton/Bauer. He also provides best practices for keeping your power solutions in optimal shape, and other insights from his world of supporting the industry. The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereFeatured Coffee:New York-based Devoción is a game changer as the only true Origin-to-Cup roaster flying in their direct trade, single-source beans via FedEx from Bogota to NYC weekly. With year-round harvests, Devoción ensures its coffee’s supreme purity, freshness, and integrity. Taste the difference in a single sip.Click here to subscribe today.  Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.Podcast Rewind:Sept 2024 - Ep. 45…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and promote your products to 78,000 film, TV, video and broadcast professionals reading this newsletter. Simply email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Tony Denison. Tony is a veteran actor with starring roles in Michael Mann’s “Crime Story,” “The Closer” and “Major Crimes” — and in films such as City of Hope, The Amy Fisher Story, and Getting Gotti. He’s also played characters in “Wiseguy,” “Melrose Place,” “JAG,” “Prison Break,” “Sons of Anarchy” and “Criminal Minds.” In our chat, Tony shares his backstory, about his early theater work in New York City, and how he landed his seminal role in “Crime Story.” From there, he walks us through other key parts and offers invaluable advice for creatives coming up in the business today. The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereFeatured Film Book:Kiss Me Quick Before I ShootThis film memoir is all about the magic of filmmaking and forging a cinematic personal life in Hollywood. It’s full of invaluable experiences and unique industry stories of a celebrated film/TV career, and should be required reading for every film lover. It includes stories of a producer turning out to be the assassin of the Mafia boss who allowed The Godfather to film in NY, to shooting the pyramids of Egypt for Battlestar Galactica, to directing a grumbling Mr. T on The A-Team, to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore right after ET, and to unwittingly almost delaying James Cameron’s career!“Finally, a book for all who love the movies written by a filmmaker who has walked the walk in TV and film. A very entertaining journey of fascinating industry stories providing a true look behind the curtain of filmmaking.” — Joe Alves, Production Designer - JAWS, British Academy Award for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.Pickup a copy at KISS ME QUICK BEFORE I SHOOT Kindle Ebook AmazonFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire hereHonoring a Pioneer: Nancy Schreiber ASC Receives the Trailblazer AwardThe Manaki Brothers Film Festival introduces the Trailblazer Award, a prestigious honor celebrating individuals who have not only excelled in their craft but have also forged new paths for future generations. The inaugural Trailblazer Award will be presented to the distinguished cinematographer Nancy Schreiber, ASC. Schreiber’s illustrious career spans decades, contributing to some of the most visually compelling projects, particularly in the independent filmmaking sector. As one of the first women to join the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), Schreiber has been a driving force in challenging industry norms and advocating for greater inclusion.More about the festival hereTalking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.Featured Coffee: New York-based Devoción is a game changer as the only true Origin-to-Cup roaster flying in their direct trade, single-source beans via FedEx from Bogota to NYC weekly. With year-round harvests, Devoción ensures its coffee’s supreme purity, freshness, and integrity. Taste the difference in a single sip.Click here to subscribe today.  Podcast Rewind:September 2024 - Ep. 44…“The Making Of” is published by Michael Valinsky.Partner with us and promote your products to 78,000 film, TV, video and broadcast pros reading this newsletter. Simply email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Tim Smith. Tim is Executive Director for the Americas at Angenieux. In our chat, Tim shares about his upbringing in Maine, his early interest in photography, and stories from his tenure at Canon, where he witnessed the “DSLR Revolution” up-close. He also talks about his current role at Angenieux and about their high-end lenses for cinematographers. In addition, Tim provides insights about the state of the industry and where things may be headed in 2025.The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…All-new pricing for RED KOMODO and KOMODO-X unlocks exceptional cinema quality, global shutter performance, and the power of RED to filmmakers at every level. The KOMODO is a compact cinema camera featuring RED's unparalleled image quality, color science, and groundbreaking global shutter sensor technology in a shockingly small and versatile form factor. The KOMODO-X is the next evolution with all-new sensor technology that multiplies frame rate and dynamic range performance within a new advanced platform.Inquire here Featured Film Book: Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot This film memoir is all about the magic of filmmaking and forging a cinematic personal life in Hollywood. It’s full of invaluable experiences and unique industry stories of a celebrated film/TV career, and should be required reading for every film lover. It includes stories of a producer turning out to be the assassin of the Mafia boss who allowed The Godfather to film in NY, to shooting the pyramids of Egypt for Battlestar Galactica, to directing a grumbling Mr. T on The A-Team, to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore right after ET, and to unwittingly almost delaying James Cameron’s career!“Finally, a book for all who love the movies written by a filmmaker who has walked the walk in TV and film. A very entertaining journey of fascinating industry stories providing a true look behind the curtain of filmmaking.” —Joe Alves, Production Designer - JAWS, British Academy Award for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.Pickup a copy at KISS ME QUICK BEFORE I SHOOT Kindle Ebook AmazonMeet Igelkott Studios:Our expertise lies in delivering end-to-end ICVFX productions, which include 360 plate creation and directing the in-studio operation. We are proud to have been industry leaders in ICVFX, image development, and image workflows since 2018.Learn more hereIntroducing Something New…OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check them out hereTalking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.Podcast Rewind:August 2024 - Ep. 43…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To showcase your products to 75,000 filmmakers and industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Larry O’Connor. Larry is the founder and CEO of OWC, the industry leader in storage solutions. We also welcome Jon Hoeg, OWC’s Director of Marketing Communications. In our chat, we hear Larry’s backstory, how he created his company from the start, and its evolution over the last thirty-six years. In addition, Larry and Jon share about their solutions for production and post pros, offer best practices for storage and archiving your assets, and provide insights on A.I.The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereTalking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer CoxJennifer Cox is a director of photography, documentarian and owner of Moto Films LLC based in New York. Cox procured one of the first sets of ZEISS Nano Prime lenses and used them on three diverse documentary projects. She tested the unique traits across a Beatles Fan Fest feature film shoot, a short form promotion for non-profit Free Arts NYC and as part of the 2024 Courage Awards from PEN America.From our Friends at Broadfield…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Read more hereFeatured Book: Images: My Life in FilmIn this new edition, Ingmar Bergman presents an intimate view of his own unique body of work in film. His career spanned forty years and produced more than fifty films, many of which are considered classics: The Seventh Seal, The Virgin Spring, Persona, Smiles of a Summer Night, Wild Strawberries, and Fanny and Alexander, to name but a few. When he began this book, Bergman had not seen most of his movies since he made them. Resorting to scripts and working notebooks, and especially to memory, he comments brilliantly and always cogently on his failures as well as his successes; on the themes that bind his work together; on his concerns, anxieties, and moments of happiness; on the relationship between his life and art.Available here OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly, and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Learn more herePodcast Rewind:August 2024 - Ep. 42…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products to 70,000 filmmakers and industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Ed Begley Jr. Ed is a legendary actor with roles in films including This Is Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, Pineapple Express, Whatever Works, Recount, For Your Consideration, The Accidental Tourist, Paul Schrader’s Auto Focus, Blue Collar, and Cat People — and shows such as “Better Call Saul,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Arrested Development,” “Portlandia,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “St. Elsewhere”. In our chat, Ed shares all about his background, experience as a Camera Assistant, and path from early roles on through working on today’s top films and TV shows. He also describes his process for preparing for each project, and offers priceless advice for storytellers today.The Making Of is presented by AJA:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereTalking Cinematography with Jack Schurman:Emmy Award winning cinematographer Jack Schurman sat with ZEISS Cinema to talk about using the new ZEISS Nano Primes for his upcoming short, We Regret to Inform You.Watch the conversation hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Read more hereFeatured Book:To the Temple of Tranquility... and Step on It!: A MemoirBeloved actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. shares hilarious and poignant stories of his improbable life, focusing on his relationship with his legendary father, adventures with Hollywood icons, the origins of his environmental activism, addiction and recovery, and his lifelong search for wisdom and common ground.Ed Begley Jr. is truly one of a kind, a performer who is known equally for his prolific film and television career and his environmental activism. From an appearance on My Three Sons to a notable role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman to starring in St. Elsewhere—as well as films with Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and mockumentarian Christopher Guest—Begley has worked with just about everyone in Hollywood. His "green" bona fides date back to 1970, and have been the topic of two books, a reality show, countless media appearances, and even repeated spoofs on The Simpsons (in one episode, Begley's solar‑powered car stalls out on train tracks, but is saved when the train is revealed to be an "Ed Begley Solar‑Powered Train”).Begley’s unmistakable voice is honest and revealing in a way that only a comic of his caliber can accomplish. Behind all the stories, Begley has wisdom to impart. This is a book about family, friends, addiction, failure, and redemption.Pickup a copy hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly, and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Learn more hereUpcoming Event: Celebrate the top talent in entertainment at the HPA Awards, hosted at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre on November 7, 2024. Since 2006, the HPA Awards have set the standard for creative achievement, exceptional artistry, and engineering excellence in an industry that continues to embrace groundbreaking technologies and expanding creativity.Tickets now available herePodcast Rewind:August 2024 - Ep. 41…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to 51,000 industry pros and filmmakers reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Charlotte Brändström. Charlotte is an award-winning Director working on today’s top shows including “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Shōgun,” “The Consultant,” “The Outsider,” “The Witcher,” “The Man in the High Castle,” “Madam Secretary,” “Conspiracy of Silence” and “Outlander”. In our chat, Charlotte shares about her early days in Europe, path into the industry, on through directing many of the biggest shows streaming today. She also speaks about her creative workflow, collaborating with cinematographers and editors — and offers recommendations for up-and-coming filmmakers. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources.Find out more hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Read more hereFeatured Book:To the Temple of Tranquility... and Step on It!: A MemoirBeloved actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. shares hilarious and poignant stories of his improbable life, focusing on his relationship with his legendary father, adventures with Hollywood icons, the origins of his environmental activism, addiction and recovery, and his lifelong search for wisdom and common ground.Ed Begley Jr. is truly one of a kind, a performer who is known equally for his prolific film and television career and his environmental activism. From an appearance on My Three Sons to a notable role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman to starring in St. Elsewhere—as well as films with Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and mockumentarian Christopher Guest—Begley has worked with just about everyone in Hollywood. His "green" bona fides date back to 1970, and have been the topic of two books, a reality show, countless media appearances, and even repeated spoofs on The Simpsons (in one episode, Begley's solar‑powered car stalls out on train tracks, but is saved when the train is revealed to be an "Ed Begley Solar‑Powered Train”).Begley’s unmistakable voice is honest and revealing in a way that only a comic of his caliber can accomplish. Behind all the stories, Begley has wisdom to impart. This is a book about family, friends, addiction, failure, and redemption.Get your copy hereTalking Cinematography with Jack Schurman:Emmy Award winning cinematographer Jack Schurman sat with ZEISS Cinema to talk about using the new ZEISS Nano Primes for his upcoming short, We Regret to Inform You.Watch the conversation hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly, and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.See hereFilmmakers Call for Change:Join the dozens of global organizations urging Camerimage to increase its support for women by signing the petition below. These include: Women Behind the Camera, IMAGO Diversity & Inclusion Committee, illuminatrix, fDOP, WIFT-tech, CINEMATOGRAPINNEN, Crew United, Apertura, Primetime, Indian Women of Cinematography, Directoras de Fotografía, DAFB, Lumbre Colectiva. Women and dissidents of Chilean cinematography, Women in Media, & more.Read more hereSupport a Friend of The Making Of…Unfortunately, our friend Mark Foley has been diagnosed with cancer. He has started a treatment plan including both chemotherapy and radiation. With that said, he’s facing medical and day-to-day expenses. It’d be incredibly helpful if you could support Mark and his efforts in this battle. Anything you can do is most appreciated.Please visit herePodcast Rewind:August 2024 - Ep. 40…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to 50,000 industry pros and filmmakers reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Eric Hasso. Eric is the founder of Igelkott Studios, a world-class In-Camera Visual FX company. His clients include studios such as Netflix, Warner Bros, Amazon Prime, MAX, and Sony Pictures. In our chat, Eric shares about his early days in Sweden, about launching his company, Igelkott Studios, and his experience working on shows such as “The Playlist.” Eric also provides insights on the art and science of in-camera visual FX.The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources. Find out more here From our Friends at Broadfield…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Browse hereTalking Cinematography with Jack Schurman:Emmy Award winning cinematographer Jack Schurman sat with ZEISS Cinema to talk about using the new ZEISS Nano Primes for his upcoming short, We Regret to Inform You.Watch the conversation hereOWC Atlas Ultra CFExpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFExpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly, and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Learn more hereFilmmakers Call for Change:Join the dozens of global organizations urging Camerimage to increase its support for women by signing the petition below. These include, just to name a few: Women Behind the Camera, IMAGO Diversity & Inclusion Committee, illuminatrix, fDOP, WIFT-tech, CINEMATOGRAPINNEN, Crew United, Apertura, Primetime, Indian Women of Cinematography, Directoras de Fotografía, DAFB, Lumbre Colectiva. Women and dissidents of Chilean cinematography, & more.Read more hereRecommended Film Book: A History of Narrative FilmSophisticated in its analytical content, current in its coverage, and informed throughout by fascinating historical and cultural contexts, A History of Narrative Film is one of the most respected and widely read texts in film studies. This Fifth Edition features a new chapter on twenty-first century film, and includes refreshed coverage of contemporary digital production, distribution, and consumption of film. Buy hereHat Tip to Jay Holben Support a Friend of The Making Of…Unfortunately, our friend Mark Foley has been diagnosed with cancer. He has started a treatment plan including both chemotherapy and radiation. With that said, he’s facing large medical and day-to-day expenses. It’d be enormously helpful if you could support Mark and his efforts in this battle. Anything you can do would be most appreciated.Please visit herePodcast Rewind:July 2024 - Ep. 39…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to 45,000 filmmakers and industry professionals reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Neil Matsumoto. Neil has a long history in the industry and has worked at Panasonic LUMIX for many years. In our conversation, he shares all about his roots, early independent filmmaking experiences, path into the industry, and current role at LUMIX. Neil also provides insights for filmmakers and other recommendations for cinematographers and creatives today.The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources. Find out more hereOther World Computing Atlas Ultra CFexpress Cards:Experience the unparalleled performance and reliability of Atlas Ultra CFExpress Type B 4.0 cards purpose-built for professional filmmakers and photographers to capture flawlessly, and offload files quickly in the most demanding scenarios.Check it out hereFrom our Friends at Broadfield…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Inquire here Support a Friend of The Making Of: Unfortunately, our friend Mark Foley has been diagnosed with cancer. He has started a treatment plan including both chemotherapy and radiation. With that said, he is facing tremendous medical and day-to-day expenses. It’d be incredibly helpful if you could support Mark and his efforts in this battle. Anything you can do would be most appreciated.To support, visit hereZEISS Conversations with Jack SchurmanJoin us on August 1st LIVE as Matt Duclos of Duclos Lenses interviews cinematographer Jack Schurman live in our showroom. Jack will discuss his most recent work, We Regret to Inform You, shot for Sony on the new ZEISS Nano Lenses.  This event will include live lens demos and a Q&A about the creative and technical aspects of the lenses. You'll definitely want to join us for this one!Register for free herePodcast Rewind:July 2024 - Ep. 38…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to over 40,000 filmmakers and industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Alicia Robbins. Alicia has worked on top television shows such as “Bridgerton” Season 3, “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Quantum Leap,” and “For The People,” as well as feature films including Creed II and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. In our chat, she shares about her early years, path to studying at AFI, experiences working on low-budget projects, on through shooting one of Netflix's most popular titles of all time. Alicia also discusses her favorite films, what keeps her inspired, and other insights from a life on set.The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources. Find out more: hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…Ninja your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max into a 1600nit, 10-bit, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 460ppi, HDR OLED, ProRes monitor-recorder for any pro HDMI camera. Attach the Ninja Phone to your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, plug in an HDMI-equipped camera, and you’ve got the best display on the planet with fast, low-latency connectivity.Take a look hereExplore ZEISS’ Nano Prime LensesZEISS Nano Primes are the first high-speed (T1.5 throughout) cine lenses made specifically for mirrorless full frame cameras – initially available with Sony E-mount. These primes offer a pleasing, versatile look that is adaptable for an extensive range of shooting situations and a compact, lightweight design that makes them easy to use on any set or location. Available in six focal lengths (18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm), this matched set conveniently covers wide-angle to telephoto. Learn more hereFeatured Book: In Rebel Without a Crew, screenwriter and director Robert Rodriguez discloses all the unique strategies and original techniques he used to make his remarkable debut film, El Mariachi, on a shoestring budget. This is both one man's remarkable story and an essential guide for anyone who has a celluloid story to tell and the dreams and determination to see it through. Get a copy herePodcast Rewind:June 2024 - Ep. 37…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To advertise your products or services to over 35,000 filmmakers and industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Christopher Ross, BSC. Chris has worked on critically-acclaimed series including “Shōgun,” “Top Boy” and “Trust” as well as films such as Yesterday, The Great Escaper, Eden Lake, and Room. In our chat, we hear his backstory, how he started in the industry, and about his process prepping and shooting various projects. Chris also takes us behind-the-scenes of “Shōgun” — sharing the techniques and technologies used to create this epic show. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Meet AJA Ki Pro GO2Easily record up to four channels of simultaneous HEVC or AVC to cost-efficient USB drives and/or network storage with flexible connectivity, including four 3G-SDI and four HDMI digital video inputs, to connect to a wide range of video sources. Find out more: here From our Friends at Videoguys…Ninja your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max into a 1600nit, 10-bit, 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 460ppi, HDR OLED, ProRes monitor-recorder for any pro HDMI camera. Attach the Ninja Phone to your iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, plug in an HDMI-equipped camera, and you’ve got the best display on the planet with fast, low-latency connectivity.Take a look here“I of The Lens” Photo Exhibit At Euro Cine Expo 2024 in MunichA unique exhibit showcasing the external and internal expression of a cinematographer.IMAGO Camera, the world’s only analogue, large format camera designed for life-sized, self-portraits, captivated audiences with an extraordinary exhibition featuring stunning black and white portraits of cinematographers from across the globe. This collection, curated by Vika Safrigina, producer and Susanna Kraus, the visionary artist behind IMAGO Camera, is on display at the Euro Cine Expo in Munich, June 27-29.The IMAGO Camera is a true interactive object d’art and transcends traditional photography by allowing cinematographers to step into the spotlight and become authors of their own images. This unique walk-in camera was invented by the physicist Werner Kraus and artist Erhard Hoesle in 1972 in Munich, 20 years before the IMAGO federation was founded. As photographer and subject converge, each sitter transforms into the artist behind the lens, creating captivating self-portraits that reveal a unique perspective of themselves.In partnership with IMAGO — International Federation of Cinematographers’ Diversity and Inclusion Committee, SUMOLIGHT lighting solutions, and Leitz Cine, the exhibition aims to celebrate the diversity of filmmakers who breathe life into the grand canvas of the movie screen.Learn more here Explore ZEISS’ Nano Prime Lenses ZEISS Nano Primes are the first high-speed (T1.5 throughout) cine lenses made specifically for mirrorless full frame cameras – initially available with Sony E-mount. These primes offer a pleasing, versatile look that is adaptable for an extensive range of shooting situations and a compact, lightweight design that makes them easy to use on any set or location. Available in six focal lengths (18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm), this matched set conveniently covers wide-angle to telephoto.Thanks to the integrated electronic interface, metadata such as focal length, focus distance and aperture value are transmitted to the camera in real time. Additional lens data for distortion and vignetting is available in the ZEISS CinCraft ecosystem and thus for post-production (CinCraft Mapper) as well as in the recently introduced CinCraft Scenario camera tracking system. Adding to their versatility, Nano Primes are ready for the simple exchange of additional mounts thanks to the proven ZEISS IMS (Interchangeable Mount System). Learn more hereTips from theC47:Beach Read:The JAWS LogWinner of three Oscars and the highest-grossing film of its time, Jaws was a phenomenon, and this is the only book on how twenty-six-year-old Steven Spielberg transformed Peter Benchley's number-one bestselling novel into the classic film it became.Hired by Spielberg as a screenwriter to work with him on the set while the movie was being made, Carl Gottlieb, an actor and writer, was there throughout the production that starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss. After filming was over, with Spielberg's cooperation, Gottlieb chronicled the extraordinary yearlong adventure in The Jaws Log, which was first published in 1975 and has sold more than two million copies. This expanded edition includes a photo section, an introduction by Benchley, and an afterword by Gottlieb that gives updates about the people and events involved in the film, ultimately providing a singular portrait of a famous movie and inspired moviemaking.Get yours herePodcast Rewind:June 2024 - Ep. 36…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To advertise your products or services to over 30,000 filmmakers and industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Seth Emmons, Director of Communications at Leitz Cine. In our chat, Seth shares his backstory, experiences in the film industry, and about his longtime role at Leitz. He also discusses the evolution in technologies for digital cinematography over the last decade, insights from being on the front lines of serving cinematographers for years — and the state of the industry post-strikes.The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updatesFrom color management to IP video, data management, and beyond, media production pipelines are rapidly evolving. Stay ahead of the curve with AJA’s latest technology updates for production and post professionals, including a new ColorBox release with ACES support and other great improvements, new Desktop software features, and more. Find out what’s new hereVimeo Staff Picks Screening:Thursday, June 27th | Los AngelesJoin Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira as they screen Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo! After the screening, a Networking Party with food, drink, music and swag — supported by our friends at AJA, Audio Network, OWC, and ShotDeck. RSVP for free hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…Atomos Shogun is a 7-inch monitor-recorder with integrated networking for cloud workflows, ideal for DSLR, mirrorless and cinematic cameras. More codecs & monitoring tools than ever before. Today’s Shogun is bolstered by new abilities from AtomOS 11, massive connectivity from integrated networking, more codecs, and compatibility with almost every camera. Shogun is the Atomos dream writ large.Learn more hereRecommended Book: A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 Years in HollywoodThe list of films Irwin Winkler has produced in his more-than-fifty-year career is extraordinary: Rocky, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Right Stuff, and The Irishman. His films have been nominated for fifty-two Academy Awards, including five movies for Best Picture, and have won twelve.In A Life in Movies, his charming and insightful memoir, Winkler tells the stories of his career through his many films as a producer and then as a writer and director, charting the changes in Hollywood over the past decades.This is an engrossing and candid book, a beguiling exploration of what it means to be a producer, including purchasing rights, developing scripts, casting actors, managing directors, editing film, and winning awards. Filled with tales of legendary and beloved films, as well as some not-so-legendary and forgotten ones, A Life in Movies takes readers behind the scenes and into the history of Hollywood. Available hereCSS Music is the go-to production Music Library for Hollywood and the entire Film, TV and AV/Video markets. CSS offers thousands of tracks in every genre and style — helping producers and editors score their productions with licensing to fit any budget, from Royalty-Free or needle drop to Gratis (free) for qualified projects. With its easy-to-use search capability, great service and high-quality music, CSS has continued to serve the community since 1982! Listen here ShotDeck Recreations Contest 2024:Running from June 15 through July 15, 2024, the world's leading visual research library of cinematic imagery, ShotDeck, presents an opportunity for creators to recreate an image from their favorite movie, series, music video, or commercial — using their own tools and ingenuity for a chance to win over $75,000 in prizes. From its inception, the contest has received hundreds of submissions from more than 150 countries across 6 continents.Enthusiasts are once again encouraged to choose their favorite image on ShotDeck, recreate it with friends and family, and enter this 4th edition of the Recreations Contest! Submissions are free but must be received by 12am midnight PDT, July 15, 2024. Check out the announcement below…Podcast Rewind:June 2024 - Ep. 35…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To advertise your products or services to over 28,000 filmmakers, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Producer Keli Price. Keli is an actor, writer, producer and the CEO of Price Productions. In recent years, he’s produced a slate of feature films starring Mickey Rourke, Harvey Keitel, Danny Trejo, Mel Gibson, Penelope Ann Miller, Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert, Jason Patrick, Mena Suvari, Natasha Henstridge, and many others. In our chat, Keli shares about his early days, path into producing, and the various ways he approaches developing projects. In addition, he provides a positive view about the state of independent film today — and for the road ahead. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updatesFrom color management to IP video, data management, and beyond, media production pipelines are rapidly evolving. Stay ahead of the curve with AJA’s latest technology updates for production and post professionals, including a new ColorBox release with ACES support and other great improvements, new Desktop software features, and more. Find out what’s new hereVimeo Staff Picks Screening:Thursday, June 27th | Los AngelesJoin Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira as they screen Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo! After the screening, a Networking Party with food, drink, music and swag — supported by our friends at AJA, Audio Network, OWC, and ShotDeck. Free RSVP hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…Atomos Shogun is a 7-inch monitor-recorder with integrated networking for cloud workflows, ideal for DSLR, mirrorless and cinematic cameras. More codecs & monitoring tools than ever before. Today’s Shogun is bolstered by new abilities from AtomOS 11, massive connectivity from integrated networking, more codecs, and compatibility with almost every camera. Shogun is the Atomos dream writ large.Check it out hereShotDeck Recreations Contest 2024:Running from June 15 through July 15, 2024, the world's leading visual research library of cinematic imagery, ShotDeck, presents an opportunity for creators to recreate an image from their favorite movie, series, music video, or commercial — using their own tools and ingenuity for a chance to win over $75,000 in prizes. From its inception, the contest has received hundreds of submissions from more than 150 countries across 6 continents.Enthusiasts are once again encouraged to choose their favorite image on ShotDeck, recreate it with friends and family, and enter this 4th edition of the Recreations Contest! Submissions are free but must be received by 12am midnight PDT, July 15, 2024. Check out the announcement below…Featured Book: The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola StoryThe New York Times bestselling author of Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. and The Big Goodbye returns with the definitive account of Academy Award–winning director Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long dream to reinvent American filmmaking, if not the entire world, through his production company, American Zoetrope.Francis Ford Coppola is one of the great American dreamers, and his most magnificent dream is American Zoetrope, the production company he founded in San Francisco years before his gargantuan success, when he was only thirty. Through Zoetrope’s experimental, communal utopia, Coppola attempted to reimagine the entire pursuit of moviemaking. Now, more than fifty years later, despite myriad setbacks, the visionary filmmaker’s dream persists, most notably in the production of his decades-in-the-making film and the culmination of his utopian ideals, Megalopolis.As Wasson makes clear, the story of Zoetrope is also the story of Coppola’s wife, Eleanor Coppola, and their children, and of personal lives inseparable from artistic passion. It is a story that charts the divergent paths of Coppola and his cofounder and onetime apprentice, George Lucas, and of their very different visions of art and commerce. And it is a story inextricably bound up in the making of one of the greatest quixotic masterpieces ever attempted, Apocalypse Now, and in what Coppola found in the jungles of the Philippines when he walked the razor’s edge. That story, already the stuff of legend, has never fully been told, until this extraordinary book.Available herePodcast Rewind:June 2024 - Ep. 34…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to over 25,000 filmmakers, TV and video pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer John Matysiak. John has shot acclaimed features such as Old Henry, Acid Man, and Big George Foreman, as well as series including “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” and “Still the King.” In our chat, we hear John’s origins, path into filmmaking, and his experience working on a range of projects. We also learn about his approach to collaborating with different directors, and how he formulates the look for each production. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updatesFrom color management to IP video, data management, and beyond, media production pipelines are rapidly evolving. Stay ahead of the curve with AJA’s latest technology updates for production and post professionals, including a new ColorBox release with ACES support and other great improvements, new Desktop software features, and more. Find out what’s new here From our Friends at Videoguys…Atomos Shogun is a 7-inch monitor-recorder with integrated networking for cloud workflows, ideal for DSLR, mirrorless and cinematic cameras. More codecs & monitoring tools than ever before. Today’s Shogun is bolstered by new abilities from AtomOS 11, massive connectivity from integrated networking, more codecs, and compatibility with almost every camera. Shogun is the Atomos dream writ large.Learn more here Tiffen Tech Day '24, Stabilizer Expo, & Steadicam's 50th with Garrett BrownBurbank | June 9th, 11am - 4pmTiffen welcomes filmmakers to Tech Day '24 featuring the Stabilizer Expo, live equipment demos, and Tech Talks with renowned Operators and Cinematographers.Stabilizer Expo | Tiffen Filters On Set | Steadicam Try & Fly | Tech Talks That Steadicam Shot and I How Got It: Charles Papert moderates Neal Bryant SOC, Andy Schwartz and more. Plus, How I Got that Filter Shot: Richard Crudo ASC moderates Cinematographers Dean Cundey ASC, Alicia Robbins, Shane Hurlbut ASCTall Steadicam Tales: A Conversation with Garrett Brown & Dave ChameidesFree RSVP hereMeet ZEISS At Cine Gear LA Cine Gear is right around the corner! Find ZEISS at Booth #105 where they will be showing the new Nano Prime lenses. More than that, you can check out a demo of the CinCraft Scenario camera tracking system in an outdoor environment.Register hereFeatured NYC Photo Exhibit:Edwin Pagán’s Los Inocentes (The Innocents) is a documentary photoessay that focuses on the resiliency of children who live in urban communities in less-than-ideal circumstances, but who prevail and thrive beyond their environments in the South Bronx, Spanish Harlem (El Barrio), and the Lower East Side (Loisaida).The images compiled in this photographic showcase reveal the untainted splendor of children just being themselves in everyday situations. Individually, they present fleeting tableaux of precise personal incidents. Taken together, they provide a wider understanding of how universal youth resiliency really is. If from the mouth of babes comes the truth, then this metaphoric photo album speaks to the will and tenacity of human beings. More on this exhibit here Steven Poster, ASC Shares About His Latest Feature, "Scared To Death"In this episode of the Digital Cinema Show, DCS Founder James Mathers interviews renowned Director of Photography Steven Poster, ASC about the tools he used on his latest feature, "Scared To Death" — including Canon cinema cameras and lenses, and Tiffen filters. Watch the interview hereUpcoming Event:Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CACine Gear Expo features exhibits, new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, masterclasses, a film competition, and awards ceremony. From June 7-9th, the LA Expo will be held at the historic Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, CA.A fitting backdrop for the Cine Gear industry trade show, visitors can enjoy outdoor booths on Warner Bros Midwest and French Streets, former home to The Music Man, Bonnie and Clyde, and “Gilmore Girls”. Simultaneously, The Friends and Young Sheldon Stages will house indoor booths filled with the latest tech from popular equipment vendors. Warner’s full-service facility also offers state-of-the-art venues like the Steven J. Ross Theatre to accommodate Cine Gear’s hallmark Film Competition, Screening Series, and Presentations.Register hereWomen in Media Announces 2024 WiM ICON Award HonoreeFor landmark achievement in public relations, communications and community building, WiM is honored to award Susan Lewis this year’s highest distinction.Susan Lewis has tirelessly served the cinema and entertainment community for four decades — smoothing the launch and adoption of countless innovative technologies. Her clients have represented industry leaders including Cinema Products, Steadicam, Litepanels, Zeiss, Schneider, Matthews, Tiffen, SmallHD, Teradek, and dozens more.One of her unique roles is being a daily conduit between filmmakers and the companies whose products serve these creatives. Nancy Schreiber ASC shares, “Susan always has her pulse on what’s brand new and about-to-be-newsworthy. She makes sure that we artists & technicians get our hands on this gear immediately.” She’s an Associate Member of the American Society of Cinematographers and a long-time supporter of Cine Gear Expo. The show’s co-founder and WiM’s 2023 ICON Award recipient Juliane Grosso added, “Susan is an irreplaceable gem in the Cine Gear Expo family.” Read more here Podcast Rewind:May 2024 - Ep. 33…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to over 21,000 filmmakers, TV and video pros reading this newsletter, please email us at mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Denson Baker ACS NZCS. Denson has lensed projects including The Colour Room, Ophelia, Mountain Boy, Measure of a Man, “The Luminaries,” “Victoria,” The Black Balloon, The Waiting City, Ukraine on Fire, The Dark Horse, Oranges and Sunshine, and Deck Dogz. In our chat, Denson shares his backstory, early education, cinematic influences, and behind the scenes of working on various films. He also describes how he creates the look for each project, his process for choosing certain filmmaking technologies, and much more. The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updatesFrom color management to IP video, data management, and beyond, media production pipelines are rapidly evolving. Stay ahead of the curve with AJA’s latest technology updates for production and post pros, including a new ColorBox release with ACES support and other great improvements, to new Desktop software features, and beyond. Find out more hereZEISS Conversations with Eszter CsepeliEszter Csepeli, a founding member of the Hungarian Cinematographers' Association (HCA), stands as Hungary's leading female cinematographer and the sole woman on the board. Recognized as a Fulbright Scholar and previously nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, she continues to shine. Honored with the ZEISS + WiM Altitude Awards Main Prize and featured in British Cinematographer, Csepeli's talent knows no bounds. Currently residing between Los Angeles and Budapest, she was selected for the esteemed ASC Mentorship Program in 2022, with Cynthia Pusheck ASC as her mentor. To hear more about her journey, join ZEISS for an exciting conversation with Eszter Csepeli, where she'll also share experiences using ZEISS Supreme Prime lenses for the feature film "Our Blossom," and other favorite projects. Register for this conversation with Eszter Csepeli on Wednesday 5/29 at 10am PDT, 1pm EDT, 7pm CEST hereFeatured Book: American Cinematographer's Shot CraftA collection of Jay Holben’s SHOT CRAFT articles from American Cinematographer magazine. A treasured series of educational pieces on the art and science of cinematography. An extraordinary book for the film student and refresher for the seasoned pro, SHOT CRAFT is written in an easy-to-read tone that explains the technical and complicated in simple language. It is a collection of lessons, tips & techniques that is a must-have for everyone working in the art of visual storytelling in motion pictures.This book features a curated selection from the first five years of this monthly column providing insights on: cinematography fundamentals, formats, exposure, lighting & electricity, optics, travel & locations, filmmaking techniques, relationships, communication & career. Get your copy hereFrom our Friends at Videoguys…V-RAPTOR® [X] 8K VV combines the strengths of RED’s two families of cameras into one powerful all-purpose workhorse. The frame rates, lowlight performance, and resolution of the V-RAPTOR® line combined with the global shutter advancements of KOMODO®, the V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV sensor is the culmination of the latest advancements in digital cinema image making. Using RED’s newest 8K VV sensor, V-RAPTOR [X] leverages the benefits and flexibility of large format, global shutter, high framerate, 8K acquisition, all inside of a compact and feature rich body weighing just over 4lbs.Check it out hereUpcoming Event:Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CACine Gear Expo features exhibits, new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, masterclasses, a film competition, and awards ceremony. From June 6-9th, the LA Expo will be held at the historic Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, CA.A fitting backdrop for the Cine Gear industry trade show, visitors can enjoy outdoor booths on Warner Bros Midwest and French Streets, former home to The Music Man, Bonnie and Clyde, and “Gilmore Girls”. Simultaneously, The Friends and Young Sheldon Stages will house indoor booths filled with the latest tech from popular equipment vendors. Warner’s full-service facility also offers state-of-the-art venues like the Steven J. Ross Theatre to accommodate Cine Gear’s hallmark Film Competition, Screening Series, and Presentations.Free registration hereVirtual Production Basics Workshop:Calling all Directors and Producers in Los Angeles! Don't miss out on the Fearless Productions presents Virtual Production Basics one-day workshop on June 9th at CinePacks Studios. Learn the essentials of virtual production in a hands-on workshop that will take your projects to the next level. Special Coupon Code for $100 off: howOSVP Learn more hereFeatured Film Festival:Mallorca International Film FestivalJoin us at the 13th edition of the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, celebrating the art of cinema in all its diversity! This year marks the 3rd edition of our Cinematography Focus, highlighting the visual storytelling mastery behind the lens. Immerse yourself in a world of creativity through screenings, workshops and networking events on the picturesque island of Mallorca. Come be a part of the evolving narrative of filmmaking.Explore the festival herePodcast Rewind:May 2024 - Ep. 32…The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.To promote your products or services to over 20,000 filmmakers, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe