Filmmakers Guide to the Industry

08/30/2020

Want to hear from a seasoned vet with an impressive resume in the film industry? Then you need to listen to rigging gaffer, Tom. 🎥

Some of the productions we deep dive into are Mile 22 and Godzilla: King of the Monsters but he has also worked on Black Panther, Sleepy Hallow and Zombieland: Double Tap just to name a few.

One sequence Tom is particularly proud of is a scene that took an entire week just to prep.

Listen to our latest episode with Tom wherever you get your podcasts!

08/27/2020

Thomas Dean relocated from North Carolina to Georgia back when film incentives first came to the state. 🎥

Now in Atlanta, Thomas has built his career as a rigging gaffer, continuously working on some of the largest productions happening in the state. The latest projects being Doctor Sleep, Zombieland: Double Tap and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Hear more from Thomas wherever you get your podcasts!

08/16/2020

Fernando Garcia has been living in Atlanta, GA since 2017. Previous to that, he was living in Tampa, FL where he started as a PA.

He joined IATSE local 479 to pursue work in the grip/electric departments and currently works in the Rigging Electric department for various film and television shows. Fernando also has a background in photography and started in 2011 as a photo assistant.

Tune in to learn his tips on where to get started in the industry. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

08/12/2020

As a rigging electric a main responsibility is getting power properly distributed and prepare first unit for their day. Fernando gives us an inside look of what the rigging team does once onsite and the importance of safety.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

08/05/2020

An Atlanta based Unit Still Photographer, Brian Douglas, has over 40 credits since 2015, most notably Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Strangers: Prey at Night, Miles Ahead, Aftermath and more.

Brian started as a radio host but since 2015 has shifted his hobby of photography to a profession and now is a union member of IATSE Local 600.

Learn more about his journey & the importance of photography for marketing your film in our latest episode!

07/13/2020

Listen to part two of our interview with ! 🎙

As an Executive Producer of The Meg and Cowboys & Aliens he continues to elaborate on contracts and the purpose behind having proper agents and representatives when pitching scripts.

Comment below once you've listened!

07/02/2020

Hustle, grit, and a positive attitude can get you pretty far in life - and the film industry! If you haven't yet, you MUST listen to Shanice Williamson's story in our latest episode.

Shanice gives us the deep dive into how, at age 41, she moved from a 20 year paralegal career to becoming a art department coordinator.

Throughout the conversation she elaborates on how using her past skill set has moved her from accountant to props buyer to art deparment coordinator, most recently on Startgirl (CW) and American Soul (BET).

We end by hearing her take on the Black Lives Matter movement and how it is our collective responsibility to ensure everyone is given a fair chance on set.

06/29/2020

Raised between Queens, NY and Irving, TX, Shanice Williamson, having befriended, engaged with or worked with folks from many different backgrounds, is a cultural shapeshifter type.

By age 18, she’d already worked for Jamaica Savings Bank, Ernst & Young, and GTE. She left a nearly 20-year paralegal career to become a freelance production assistant in the Atlanta film industry - at 41 years old.

Since shifting to the film world she has worked in the art department as a props buyer on The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) before quickly moving up to art department coordinator on The Bobby Brown Story (BET), American Soul (BET) and Stargirl (CW).

This is one episode you don't want to miss - tune in to hear more from Shanice!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

06/28/2020

Continuing on in our Top 10 countdown we have...

🎥 Ep. 4 Brandon Cox, Director of Photography
📸 Ep. 1 Andrew Ortoski, Gaffer & Product Photographer
🎥 Ep. 15 Nick Matthews, Director of Photography
💰 Ep 14. Julie Walker, Greenslate Payroll & Accounting services
📝 Ep. 8 Cat Sullivan, Supervising & Segment Producer

Tune in now before a new episode drops this week!

06/26/2020

Kevin out here shamelessly asking for your subscriptions & reviews! ⭐️

We are stoked about the guests we have coming up - but want to hear your suggestions for who we should be talking to and topics you'd like covered. Drop them in the comments or our DMs!

06/23/2020

We don't have a new episode this week, so let's do a little recap of the top 10 episodes so far!

🎞 Ep. 5: Tyler Martinolich, Film Tampa Bay
🎥 Ep. 18: Michael Dellatorre, Director of Photography
🎬 Ep. 9: Jonathan Chambers, UPM & First AD
🎥 Ep. 23: Seamus Tierney, Director of Photography

Catch up on these 🔥 episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

06/19/2020

In our latest episode with Seamus Tierney, we dive into his current job, and the reason he is in Vancouver - being the cinematographer on the Disney+ reboot of Mighty Ducks.

Hear as he elaborates on the camera set-ups, building an ice rink on a soundstage, and the cinematic look he is striving for.

We're also chatting about his career including: season 2 of You (Netflix), Sarah Silverman: A Speck of Dust (Netflix), and Centigrade (AMC).

06/15/2020

Any You fans out there? 🧢

Hear from Seamus Tierney, an award-winning cinematographer, who shot Season 2 of the popular series.

Hailing from New York, Seamus has paved the way for himself in the film and television industry starting as a gaffer on set in New York to then graduating from AFI in California. His works extends across multiple genres include comedies, thrillers, action and horror.

Listen now anywhere you get your podcasts!

06/13/2020

Need a soundtrack to your weekend? Catch up on these 🔥 episodes you may have missed!

Episode 3: Tony Armer with St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission
Episode 4: Director of Photography Brandon Cox
Episode 8: Producer Cat Sullivan
..just to name a few!

06/11/2020

Everyone's life has changed over the past few months, in large part due to COVID-19. The film industry was impacted immediately - but what does that mean for the future of filmmaking? 🎥

Tune into our latest episode to hear from Kevin & Josh as they discuss what changes they're already seeing in the industry.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

06/09/2020

FGI was created to give a voice to all filmmakers while providing useful educational content.

Throughout the past week it has become clear that diversity is critical. We are working diligently to connect with, and highlight, filmmakers of color. If you know people of color in the industry, please tag them below as we would love to connect with each one and work to make a difference.

06/02/2020

06/01/2020

With almost 30 years of combined experience, Kevin & Josh talk COVID-19 and what changes they are already seeing and hearing.

Set life could very well change for the foreseeable future but more importantly they want to be sure filmmakers are not taken advantage of and also do not inadvertently cause an issue to other production mates.

Tune in to the latest episode: https://www.fgipodcast.com/

05/29/2020

Is Josh throwing shade at Kevin?! 😲

Tune in to find out and listen as Kevin and Josh dive into some of their favorite soundbites from the first 20 episodes of FGI.

This episode is a great refresher on what has been talked about and what FGI is intended to be, a weekly stream of information for all filmmakers to grow and learn about the business side of the industry.

05/26/2020

What are these two laughing about?? 🤔

Kevin & Josh are recapping the first 20 episodes of FGI! Head over to the site or wherever you get your podcasts to listen in & catch up!

https://www.fgipodcast.com/

05/22/2020

Let's chat film marketing, shall we? 🎙

In the latest episode, Stu McLaughlin of The Riot Agency talks the importance of marketing small to medium sized films and some tactics to do so. Stu elaborates on how studios can be successful in their marketing because they have what appears to be an endless supply of funds. 💰

Small to medium sized films need to be strategic, but not shy away from having a marketing budget. Hear some tips on what you can do to successfully market your film!

05/18/2020

Listen to the latest episode to hear from Eric Johnston with Cooke Optics! 🎥

Eric talks the 'Cooke Look' and how Cooke Optics have been on the forefront of filmmaking since the time of silent movies. Since the start of digital sensors within the industry Cooke lenses have further increased the cinematic look and

Eric elaborates how their lenses have only grown in popularity - if that was even possible.

http://www.fgipodcast.com/

05/13/2020

Tune in to the latest episode as we hear from Eric Johnston. 🎥

Eric has over 20 years of industry sales and product management experience with some of the largest brands in the film industry including Cooke Optics, OConnor, and Arri. Eric started his career at Eastman Kodak and is an Associate Member of the American Society of Cinematographers.

Listen at the link in profile or wherever you get your podcasts! 🎧

05/08/2020

On this week's episode Mike D talks about his 18 years at Panavision and how that time enabled him to shoot with some of the premiere lenses in the industry and prepare for his new life as a full time freelance Director of Photography. 🎥

From there he elaborates on Brightburn, the uniquness of shooting at two locations that on screen were shown as one, green vs blue screen usage and the relationship he had with both the director and VFX supervisor in creating some eerie shots.

This is one episode you don't want to miss!

05/05/2020

Get to know this week's podcast guest, director of photography Mike D! 🎙

Mike grew up in South Central Los Angeles and was featured in the Oscar nominated documentary "Colors Straight Up" which followed his participation in the inner city performing arts group, Colors United.

After studying film at Los Angeles Community College he landed a job at the premiere camera house, Panavision, and spent 18 years learning from their engineers on top of the line equipment.

His fourth feature film, "BrightBurn", produced by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) released to theaters across the world Memorial Day 2019.

Have you listened already? Let us know! 👇🏼

05/02/2020

As we finish up our episode recaps we hear from Doug Fox, a writer producuer with an oustanding personality and knack for creating sought after projects, his latest being Black Veil.

05/02/2020

Peep the upgrades to our podcast studio 👀

05/01/2020

Hear from Michael Brown, a partner and producer for Digital Caviar, who solely work on film productions throughout Florida and Louisiana.

04/30/2020

Are you wanting to jump into the industry but maybe you're apprehensive? Scared? Think it's too late? 🎥

Then this episode is for you! Listen as Kevin O'Brien talks about his late start to becoming a filmmaker and since immersing himself in the industry has become a respectable commercial director.

He gives us tips for:
🎬 How to work with actors,
🎥 Collaborating with your DP,
✨ The vibe he brings to set, which is an element he is known for with his projects.

Kevin is not shy about answering all questions and wants to ensure the next filmmaker can get all the guidance they need for success!

04/25/2020

Insurance is topic most filmmakers either ignore or know nothing about. Wrapbook is a resource we HIGHLY recommend all filmmakers at least look into and Adam explains why.

04/24/2020

Being a DGA member means you have had some incredible days on set and JC shows us that a career in filmmaking is not only possible but can be enjoyable at all times.

04/23/2020

Curious how to pitch your TV or film concept? 📺 In this episode Jimmy dives into the nitty gritty of pitching to networks. What makes this unique is how little information you typically find on pitching and Jimmy opens up and answers every question candidly with real world examples - include how some of his own pitches have been flops.

Did we mention that Jimmy is one of Kevin's mentors in the industry? Don't worry - he didn't leave without telling a funny story about Kevin during their time working together.

04/21/2020

James Duke is an accomplished filmmaker, educator, and communicator. As an independent filmmaker, James has almost twenty years experience in film, television, and video production. ⠀
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His credits include writing, producing and directing over a hundred award-winning short films, documentaries, and theatrical productions.⠀
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Give the latest episode a listen for tons of nuggets of wisdom!

Listen at fgipodcast.com or anywhere you get your podcasts!

04/18/2020

LA Producer Cat Sullivan explains how she went from a college classmate of Kevin's at FSU to Seattle and then ending up in LA. Spoiler alert, it was a lot of driving.

04/17/2020

Our good friend Zach stopped by to talk Art Department. This is an eposide everyone should listen to as he elaborates on some of the faults we see on set and how to overcome them.

04/16/2020

Have you tuned in to our latest episode yet?

Raised in the American South, Nick Matthews is a cinematographer, now based in a Los Angeles. He is known for his work on Cuck (2019), which follows an extremist loner's descent into violence, along with Japanese horror drama Makhaliss (2019) and most recently the six part episodic Black Veil (2020).

Listen for a peek inside his creative mind!

04/13/2020

In this episode we hear from Nicholas Matthews, an LA based cinematographer with a remarkable amount of knowledge in his field. 🎥 His use of shadow and methodical planning comes through in this discussion, where you see inside the mind of a true creative.

Nick describes some scenes in his latest project, Black Veil, which episode 1 of 6 has been shot as of this recording.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

04/11/2020

The eposide everyone was waiting for! Kevin and Josh elaborate on how they got started and how they both ended up being business owners and filmmakers.

04/10/2020

We continue the recaps with the Tampa Film Commissioner. His stories, including about how Gasparilla is always asked to be shut down, are both insightful and entertaining.

04/10/2020

Have you listened to this week's episode? Julie Walker of GreenSlate comes in with not only a plethora of industry experience, but also as a podcaster herself! (She operates The Other 50% and Catch a Break for those who want to hear more from Julie).

After our talk you will immediately feel more comfortable with payroll, and learn why and how personability and tech are two elements to look out for.