Explore every episode of the podcast The FilmUp Podcast

Today, we're thrilled to be joined by the incredibly talented director, Nick Martini! Nick proves that going all in on your passion can take you to places you never imagined.

Nick is the founder of Stept Studios, one of the fastest-growing creative and production companies in advertising, alongside Lockt Post and Vault Rentals. What started as a passion for skiing and making films with his brother grew into a global creative business with more than 80 team members across Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto. After years as a professional skier, Nick transitioned into commercial filmmaking, landing his first major production with Under Armour and a young Steph Curry. Since then, he has directed campaigns for Apple, Toyota, Ford, and The North Face, working with athletes like Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, and Coco Gauff. His work has taken him across six continents, earned recognition at the Sundance Brand Storytelling Awards, and expanded into documentaries and feature films. Through it all, Nick has continued to push the boundaries of filmmaking, turning ambitious ideas into stories that make people feel something.

Nick is also a big supporter of Yellowstone Forever, a non-profit dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Yellowstone National Park through education and philanthropy. 

You can learn more by going to yellowstone.org.

 Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

This week, we're joined by underwater photographer, filmmaker, and visual storyteller Jennifer Idol, who in 2015 became the first woman to dive in all 50 U.S. states after a five-year, 72,000-mile journey. She chronicled the experience in her book An American Immersion, and her work has since appeared in DIVER, Scuba Diving, and BBC Earth.

Jennifer first discovered her passion for the underwater world at just 14 years old when she took her first dive in Cozumel. Today, she's a PADI AmbassaDiver, Explorers Club Fellow, and co-host of the Protected Waters film series. She's also preparing to co-lead Sea Americas, a 14-member, all-female expedition and documentary following divers from Canada through Central and South America.

Beyond documenting the underwater world, Jennifer is passionate about protecting it. She's a strong supporter of the Coral Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring endangered coral reefs and empowering coastal communities to protect their marine ecosystems.

You can learn more about the Coral Restoration Foundation at coralrestoration.org.

For more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp's initiatives, visit filmup.co/filmup-podcast.

This week, we have one of our greatest conversations to date with the incredible producer, Andy Horwitz. He is proof that hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of persistence  can turn your dreams into reality. We cover his entire career, from starting out on The Dark Knight, to producing American Hustle, to founding his own independent production company and producing his first two features in one year. 

Andy Horwitz is a film and television producer and entertainment executive with over 19 years of experience in the entertainment business. He is the founder and CEO of Big Swell Entertainment, a next-generation production company built to navigate the evolving Hollywood landscape. Prior to launching Big Swell in 2023, Horwitz spent 15 years at Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment, most recently serving as Executive Vice President. During his time at Atlas, he helped produce tentpole films, independent features, television series, and podcasts across the studio and independent film systems, with the company’s productions collectively generating over $8.5 billion worldwide. 

His producing credits include J.C. Chandor’s TRIPLE FRONTIER, David O. Russell’s AMERICAN HUSTLE, and David Ayer’s SUICIDE SQUAD, as well as THE HOLLOW POINT and MOJAVE. His work spans the full filmmaking process, from development and financing through production and release, and he has built a deep network of creative relationships throughout the industry.

Since launching Big Swell Entertainment, Horwitz has established the company as a home for the next generation of producers and filmmakers. The company currently has several high-profile projects in development, with two films in post-production and another slated to begin production in 2027.

Andy is also a big supporter of Angel City Pitbulls, a non-profit dedicated to changing the public perception of pit bulls through rescue, adoption, foster care, education, and owner support in the Los Angeles area.

You can learn more by going to AngelCityPits.org.

Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

Today's guest is the hardworking, insightful, and inspiring producer, Siena Oberman, whose accomplishments and staggering body of work make it hard to believe she hasn't been working in the industry for decades. We have a fascinating conversation about how Siena founded and continues to run a successful production and financing company, how filmmakers can finance and produce their films in an ever-evolving industry, and the exciting signs of growth we're seeing across the film industry.

Siena is the founder of Artemis, a production finance company focused on audience-driven visionary filmmakers. She’s been involved in producing and financing over 25 features, including COMPANY, DEAD MAN’S WIRE, FAIRYLAND, THE GOOD MOTHER, and MAINSTREAM, and has executive produced projects including SUNNY starring Angelina Jolie and SKIN directed by Guy Nattiv. With experience across development, production, and financing, her films have screened at Sundance, Tribeca, Telluride, Venice, and Berlinale. She is a Variety Producer to Watch, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and NextGen Leader in the Creative Coalition.

Siena is also a big supporter of Prevent Child Abuse America, a non-profit dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens.

You can learn more by going to preventchildabuse.org.

Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

Today, we sit down with the talented producer, Jonathan Hsu, for one of our most poignant discussions about the cathartic and healing power of filmmaking. 

Jonathan Hsu is an award-winning producer and founder of Hsubox Productions Inc.. He built his career with no cash, no contacts, and no shortcuts. From NYU student films and no-budget music videos to award-winning films and commercial campaigns for global brands. He learned what it takes to get hired, stay hired, and grow from passion projects into a sustainable film business. Now he shares the playbook for doing the same. He has partnered with global brands including Apple, Netflix, Meta, and more. His Oscar qualified work has been selected and awarded at Sundance, Slamdance, Berlinale, Busan, and Tribeca. Jonathan is dedicated to both the craft and business of filmmaking, and is excited to see the stories of the next generation of creators.

Jonathan is also a big supporter of Caring Across Generations, a non-profit dedicated to changing the culture and policy of care in America. You can learn more by visiting CaringAcross.org.
Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

This week’s guest is a powerhouse producer with dozens of incredible credits under her belt. Beyond her myriad of award-winning films, she is a professor at Columbia University and a vocal advocate pushing back against the growing challenges in the producing profession. Please welcome Mynette Louie!
Mynette is a Spirit Award-winning, Emmy and Critics Choice-nominated producer. Her credits include Suzanne Andrews Correa’s Sundance 2026 selection THE HUNTRESS, Eric Lin’s Locarno-winning Tribeca 2025 selection ROSEMEAD (Vertical), Heidi Ewing’s Sundance-winning, Spirit Award-nominated I CARRY YOU WITH ME (Sony Pictures Classics), Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Tribeca-winning, Gotham-nominated SWALLOW (IFC Films), Jennifer Fox’s Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Spirit Award-nominated THE TALE (HBO), Karyn Kusama’s THE INVITATION (Drafthouse/Netflix), and Martha Stephens & Aaron Katz’s Spirit Award-winning LAND HO! (Sony Pictures Classics). Louie serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Producers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is a member of Producers United and the Television Academy. She was named one of Business Insider’s “12 Movie Producers at the Top of Their Game to Watch in 2020 and Beyond,” Ted Hope’s “21 Brave Thinkers of Truly Free Film,” and Indiewire’s “100 Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter.” She is also an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and Co-Head of Creative Producing at Columbia University’s graduate film program. A native New Yorker, Louie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University, where she studied Chinese literature and film. Mynette has chosen to support The Jed Foundation for this episode. Learn more about ways to support them at jedfoundation.org. Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

Welcome back to Season 7 of The FilmUp Podcast! We're kicking the season off with a very special guest. Emmy award-winning cinematographer, Adam Newport-Berra, ASC!

Adam is an Emmy and ASC Award–winning cinematographer born and raised in the woods of Oregon—where he continues to live.
A graduate of New York University, Adam has lensed a range of acclaimed features, shorts, television, music videos, and commercials. In 2019, Variety named him one of its “Artisans Elite.” His work on The Last Black Man in San Francisco led to a premiere at Sundance and competed at the Camerimage Film Festival. His films have competed at Cannes, Telluride, NYFF, SXSW, TIFF, and beyond.
In television, Adam shot the pilot of FX’s The Bear and the final two episodes of HBO’s Euphoria (Season 1). He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series for his work on The Studio, for the episode “The Oner.”
Adam’s commercial work has also earned multiple Cannes Lions, and his music video collaborations include Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Miley Cyrus, and Kanye West, earning multiple VMA nominations for cinematography.
Adam has chosen to support The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR for this episode. Learn more about ways to support them at hollywoodtheatre.org.

Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp's initiatives! 

This week we are thrilled to be joined by Michael Wormser!

Michael is a Los Angeles–based producer, writer, director, and creator of Teche™, a film finance modeling platform built to help producers and investors clearly model capital stacks, recoupment waterfalls, and investor returns in real time. He is also one of the founders of Cinemand Pictures. His list of producing credits is extensive, and he previously served as Head of Production at Maker Studios and was profiled in the PGA’s Produced By magazine as a “go-to producer.”

Michael is also a big supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a non-profit hospital with an emphasis on teaching, that’s dedicated to caring for children, teens, young adults, and families as well as making discoveries to enhance the health and lives of these communities, especially the underserved populations of LA.
To learn about ways you can support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, visit https://www.chla.org/

We've got an awesome conversation with an awesome guest this week. Welcome AJ Bleyer to the podcast!

AJ is a high-octane director and the founder of Advent Films, a creative production house known for its visually arresting, high impact work. AJ is also a trusted shooter for many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Ferrari, McLaren F1, Aston Martin, Red Bull, Riot Games, Amazon, and more.

He’s also become a known industry speaker for brands like RED, Adobe, Fujinon, Dell, NVIDIA and more. He’s delivered a TEDx talk, and many on-stage keynotes at events like Adobe MAX and NAB.

AJ is also a big supporter of ManifestWorks, a non-profit that connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness and incarceration with job opportunities and provides ongoing life and professional skills to support long-term success.

To learn more about how you can get involved and support Manifest Works, visit https://www.manifestworks.org/

You may recognize today's guest from one of the many great show's and movies she's been in. This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Ayden Mayeri!

Ayden is an Actor and Director from Northern California. With performances in dozens of shows and movies including Paul Feig’s Jackpot!, Mr. Throwback with Steph Curry, New Girl, and Veep, just to name a few, she has quickly established herself as a star on the rise. Her directorial debut, Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story, had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2026 and won the Jury Award for Documentary Feature Film.

Most recently she starred in the Tribeca 2025 Untold Stories feature film, Honeyjoon, and can be seen opposite Cameron Diaz in Netflix’s upcoming action comedy Bad Day, and the Rachel Bloom ABC series Do You Want Kids.

Ayden is also a big supporter of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants to push policies that promote freedom of movement, full human rights, and the vigorous civic action that strengthens this democracy.

To learn about ways you can support CHIRLA, visit https://www.chirla.org

Today’s guest is a true talent who’s work can be seen all over the big and small screen. This week we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Weiss!

Valerie is an award winning director, writer, and producer of film and television. After receiving her PhD from Harvard Medical School, she decided to embark into the entertainment industry, and it seems like she made the right choice. Valerie has directed dozens of episodes of some of the most popular shows on television such as Outer Banks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Ginny & Georgia, as well as directed multiple features like Mixtape and The Archer. She is also co-chair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee.

Valerie is also a big supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, a non-profit dedicated to building a future in which people live in harmony with nature by conserving and restoring biodiversity, reducing humans’ environmental footprint, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.

To learn more about ways you can contribute to the World Wildlife Fund, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/support

This week we are thrilled to have Paris Schulman on the podcast! Paris began his career as a record producer and film composer. In 2010, he founded RiTE MEDIA, a creative content studio based in Atlanta. Over the years, RiTE has developed and produced hundreds of stories spanning commercials, narrative, and music visuals.

Rite Media’s expertise and resources are on emerging technologies like Virtual Production and Bolt CineBot robotic cameras, and they have deployed these solutions on some of the most notable films and series of the last decade, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & 3, Stranger Things, and many more.

Paris is also a big supporter of Earth Echo International, a non-profit that collaborates with youth around the world to provide knowledge and develop tools that drive meaningful environmental action to protect and restore our ocean planet. 

You can learn more about ways to support them by visiting earthecho.org

This week Aryeh is sitting down to talk with the talented and accomplished director, Justin Jarrett!

Justin is an Emmy Award-Winning writer, director, and producer based in Philadelphia. He has written and directed over 200 television shows, commercials, shorts, and feature-length documentaries across five different continents while acting as the Principal Director of JTWO, a full service production house based out of Philly and Chicago. 

Justin is also a big supporter of Fred’s Footsteps, a non-profit that provides financial relief to working families in the Philadelphia region who find themselves in a crisis due to the costs associated with caring for seriously ill, injured, or disabled children.

To learn more about ways to support Fred's Footsteps, visit https://fredsfootsteps.org.

This week we're excited to be joined by Dale "Rage" Resteghini. He's a legendary Music Video and Feature Film Director who's worked with some of the biggest names in both Hollywood and the music industry.

Dale was born into a blue-collar Boston family, and traded a future in labor for a legendary career in film and television. He got his start on the set of School Ties and spent his early years in New York City, working alongside masters like Alfonso Cuarón and Sidney Lumet.

Driven by a relentless 'Balboa' work ethic, Dale has helmed countless iconic music videos—amassing over 10 billion views for artists like Fall Out Boy, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, Guns N’ Roses, and so many more. With more than 200 feature film credits to his name, including a Co-Executive Producer role on Al Pacino’s Lear Rex, Dale continues to bridge the gap between gritty independent storytelling and global cinematic spectacles.

Dale is also a big supporter of Father John’s Animal House, a non-profit dedicated to providing quality, humane care to the cats and dogs at our shelter, to find loving homes for otherwise homeless animals, and facilitate spay/neuter procedures to reduce the over-population and suffering of unwanted or homeless animals. To learn more about ways to help Father John's Animal House, visit https://www.fatherjohns.org.

This week we're excited to introduce Nathan Presley!

Nathan is a Los Angeles-based director, writer, and cinematographer known for his dark visual style and emotionally intuitive storytelling across music videos, narrative films, and commercial work. He hosts the Art & Faith podcast and his most recent narrative  project  FLESH & BLOOD  has earned official selection for many film festivals including SIFF & Screamfest.  

Some of his clients include: SONY, NIKE, FILA, Tommy Hilfiger, WEEZER, J Lo, etc. 

He is also, most importantly, a husband and father of two boys.

Nathan is a big supporter of Serve LA, a non-profit that serves people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Los Angeles by providing meals, hygiene services, and essential resources. Rooted in dignity and compassion, the organization partners with volunteers and local groups to help people move from crisis toward stability and flourishing. To learn more about ways to contribute, visit https://servela.org/community-impact

This week, we’re excited to be joined by the hilarious commercial and short film director, Taso Alexander.

Taso graduated with a film degree in acting for film and television. And that's how serious he is about his craft. After lighting up the screen in a recurring role as the Pizza Hut delivery guy, he dove into the world of casting before finding his place in the director's chair, cementing his status as a true actor's director. Thanks in part to his performance background, he is known to have a keen eye for pitch perfect casting. His dry comedic sensibility and absurdity played straight styling consistently delivered the unexpected and mildly unsettling. 

Taso is also a big supporter of the Sick Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that is improving health outcomes for children and families in a compassionate and innovative, responsible and efficient manner. Learn more by going to https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/.

We finally hit 100 episodes!

To celebrate the occasion we have the truly revolutionary Paul Scanlan!

Paul’s consistently at the forefront of innovation in the film industry. He is an Emmy Award–winning cofounder and CEO of Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company. He also cofounded MobiTV, the trailblazing streaming service that earned an Emmy Award and transformed how people consume entertainment. 

Paul is also a big supporter of The Bob Woodruff Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families have stable and successful futures.

You can learn more by going to bobwoodrufffoundation.org and as always, all the details are listed in the description of this episode. 

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who's been with us on this journey to 100 episodes. We wouldn't be here without all of the support we've received over the years and especially not without all of the listeners who tune in every week. We love you guys, and we can wait to keep bringing you great stories from great people in the film and television industries!

Today we're excited to be joined by Valentina Vee!

Valentina Vee is an LA-based director and cinematographer, originally from Kazakhstan. She started her career as an assistant director for movies like Eric England’s “Get the Girl” and has directed and shot a variety of film and video projects, including "Dracula's Ex-Girlfriend," a Nebula Original. She has also directed and shot two seasons of famed photographer Elia Locardi’s travel show “Moments in Time.” Her commercial clients include Google, Meta, Nike, Adobe, Sony Pictures, and Dell. Valentina likes to create content that raises awareness for causes, encourages positivity, and promotes diversity in front of (and behind) the camera. 

Valentina is also a big supporter of the Entertainment Community Fund, a non-profit that provides a vital safety net and resources for professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry, including actors, dancers, musicians, and behind-the-scenes workers. It offers emergency financial aid, affordable housing, healthcare counseling, career development, and senior care, ensuring stability and supporting the cultural vibrancy of the U.S. by addressing the unique challenges faced by these creative professionals. It provides financial assistance, housing, and healthcare to more than 17,000 individuals each year.

You can learn more by going to entertainmentcommunity.org

A masterful storyteller, Henry Hobson is known for his epic narratives that challenge and engage the senses. From concept to edit, he creates richly cinematic story worlds that explore the depths of the human psyche using powerful character-driven performances.

His award-winning body of work includes spots and campaigns for Adidas, Apple, Audi, Gillette, Pepsi, PlayStation, Reebok, the Marines, Under Armour, Xbox, and others. He has earned awards ranging from Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils, AICP awards, and One Show accolades to a Director of the Year nomination by Shots magazine. 

Henry’s feature directorial debut, Maggie co-starting Arnold Schwarzenegger and Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin, received praise at the Toronto, Tribeca, and Berlin Film Festivals. 

Henry is a big supporter of the non profit Women for Afghan Women. It’s a grassroots civil society organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women. To learn more about ways to help, visit https://womenforafghanwomen.org.

Welcome back to The FilmUp Podcast - we are excited to kick off Season 6 with the talented Enora Hope. Enora is a 25-year-old French-American filmmaker, writer, and director. Self-taught, she began using digital platforms as her entry point into the film industry. Her short film The Last Wave, which explores domestic violence and the silence surrounding abusive relationships, received an award at the Nikon Film Festival. She also directed Kallisti, a near-future anthology short examining technology, control, and emotional dependency. Enora is currently developing her first international feature film and a television series, with work focused on social issues and the impact of technology on human relationships. With a combined following of over 2 million users.

Enora Hope is also a big supporter of the Malala Fund, a non-profit dedicated to championing every girl’s right to 12 years of education. By investing in civil society organisations who are challenging the systems, policies and practices that prevent girls from going to school in their communities, the Malala Fund complements their efforts by advocating to expand and protect girls’ right to secondary education and secure resources for education.

You can learn more by going to malala.org

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Azazel Jacobs!
Son of filmmaker/artist Ken and Flo Jacobs, Azazel was raised in New York City surrounded by important and innovative artists. He received his Bachelor’s and his Master’s from the American Film Institute. Notable credits include directing two episodes of the Facebook series Sorry For Your Loss starring Elizabeth Olsen, and three episodes of Amazon’s Golden Globe winning series Mozart in the Jungle, for which he was a consulting producer in its final season. He recently directed an episode of Amazon’s upcoming series “The Better Sister”, starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks.
He’s had multiple films premiere at sundance including Momma’s Man in 2008, Terri starring John C Reily in 2011. He has wrote and directed a film called The Lovers for A24 starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts.
His film “French Exit” had it’s world premiere as the closing night film for the New York Film Festival and it’s international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Released domestically by Sony Pictures Classics in 2021, it earned a Golden Globe nomination for Michelle Pfeiffer’s lead performance, which Variety proclaimed is “the role which she will be remembered for
And his latest film, “His Three Daughters”, was released by Netflix in September of 2024 in select theaters before streaming globally. The film- which he wrote, directed, edited, and was a producer on- stars Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon in performances that have been widely hailed as amongst their best.
Our Guest today is a big supporter of Planned Parenthood., a non-profit that provides sexual health care in the United States and globally. You can learn more by going to https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Nicholas Jacobson-Larson is a Los Angeles-based musician and screenwriter. He is is Michael Buble’s musical director, arranger and conductor. With Michael, he has collaborated with a diverse array of artists and producers including Paul McCartney, Jon Batiste, Jason Derulo, Willy Nelson, Hannah Waddingham, Jimmy Fallon, Leon Bridges, Greg Wells and Bob Rock.

As a film composer, he has written scores for the Oscar-winning QUEEN OF BASKETBALL, and dozens of other films directed by Ben Proudfoot for Breakwater Studios and the New York Times. He has also composed scores for Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, Annapurna Pictures, FX, Syfy, Now This, Funny or Die, Red Bull, Unity, Stept Studios, Microsoft, Oakley, The North Face, Columbia, Charles Schwab, and others.

As a conductor, Nicholas has led recording sessions for LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (Netflix), AMERICAN CRIME STORY (FX), THE HATE U GIVE (Twentieth Century Fox), and many other film and television projects, as well as live concerts

As a screenwriter With his writing partner Dalton Leeb, Nicholas wrote the screenplays for ENDURANCE (Netflix), HOT WHEELS (Warner Bros), THE FALL (Amblin), and THE FISHERWOMAN (Stampede) directed by Brian Kirk and starring Emma Thompson, Judy Greer and Marc Mancheca. THE FISHERWOMAN is currently in production for a 2025 release.

The duo also wrote the 2017 Blacklist script, STRONGMAN, and have multiple other film and television projects in development.

Nick is also a big supporter of the LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION specifically the arts and music education, a non-profit that is committed to equitable arts access. Supporting the expansion of music and arts programs changes students' lives.

You can learn more by going to https://lausdedfoundation.org/

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Michael J Ferns!

Michael J Ferns has been obsessively making films since he was just 12 years old… with a “Best Director” Scottish BAFTA already under his belt by the age of 16. Starting out in TV entertainment and drama, (with two further BAFTA nominations) He has a natural ability to tell performance-led stories that has translated into his commercial work, having directed global campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands (Dove, Wren, Domino's, Budweiser, LinkedIn, Johnny Walker to name just a few). Blending cinematic photography with dynamic camera movements, he’s quickly becoming a very sought after name in the world of commercials in both the UK and beyond. He also has a feature film in development with some exciting people attached.

Michael is also a big supporter of the The Weekend Club a non profit which organizes community and connection events for refugees and asylum seekers in his home city of Glasgow Scotland

American internet celebrity, filmmaker, VFX artist, podcaster, and competitive gamer, Freddie Wong!

He is an award-winning film and television director with over a decade of experience behind the camera, specializing in action, comedy, and the occasional horse. He is best known for creating the viral, three-season cult classic Video Game High School, as well as the Hulu productions Dimension 404 and the incredible sRocketJump: The Show. Most recently, his feature film We’re All Gonna Die premiered at SXSW in 2024. Additionally, he can be heard on the popular tabletop RPG podcast Dungeons & Daddies.

Freddie is a big supporter of - NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. You can learn more by going to https://www.nami.org/

Are you a fan of Mr. Beast or his latest show on Amazon, Beast Games? Well then you are going to love our next guest! Please welcome Jason Elliott to The FilmUp Podcast.

With 21 years of industry experience, he started from the ground up as a cable wrangler and worked his way through nearly every aspect of video production. His expertise spans live events, ENG, multicam, sports, commercial, food, short and long-form narratives, reality, and IRL content.

In late 2021, he joined MrBeast when the channel had 65 million subscribers. At the time, there was no formal camera team—only freelancers. He became the head of Camera for MrBeast’s main YouTube Channel where built and led the team, introducing new techniques and technology that helped shape its evolution. By the time of his departure, the channel had grown to 353 million subscribers.

His latest accomplishment was serving as the Series DoP for Beast Games which is the largest competition show ever created. He worked to redefine competition TV, blending genres and crafting something entirely new.

Jason is a big supporter of - Sharing Excess a non-profit that is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that uses surplus food to address food insecurity. You can learn more by going to: https://www.sharingexcess.com/

Arielle Zakowski is a film editor whose most recent movie, Sean Wang’s DÌDI (弟弟), won the Audience Award at its Sundance Film Festival premiere and was released theatrically to much critical acclaim. Arielle’s previous film, Sony Pictures’ screen-life thriller MISSING, was a massive creative editorial undertaking that earned nearly $50 million at the box office. Arielle also has extensive experience in documentary editing - she cut Dan Chen’s Emmy-nominated feature doc ACCEPTED, as well as David Gelb’s WOLFGANG for Disney - both of which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. She has also edited episodes of the Netflix shows CHEF’S TABLE, MAKING A MURDERER, and TRIAL BY MEDIA. Arielle has spent over a decade in the commercial/music video world where she was named a Rising Star in the industry by Shots Creative. Her short form work has been recognized by the Cannes Lions, the Emmys, and film festivals around the world.

Arielle is also a big supporter of the Our Big Kitchen LA which makes and distributes meals to the food insecure around Los Angeles.

You can learn more by going to https://woodstocksanctuary.org/

Jordan Brady has directed four feature films, (“Dill Scallion”, “Waking Up In Reno”) three full-length documentaries (“I Am Comic” trilogy), one Netflix comedy special (Maria Bamford) and 1300 commercials.

A stand-up comedian in a prior life, he’s credited with originating the now-ubiquitous phrase “Bow Chicka Bow Wow” in the 80’s. In the 90’s, he hosted game shows on MTV, NBC and Comedy Central. His short return to stand-up was in 2016 to perform in Afghanistan for our U.S. troops while filming ""I Am Battle Comic."" Brady donated 100% of the profits from the film to veterans and military families.

He’s the founder of both True Gent & Commercial Directing Film School and hosts the filmmaking podcast "Respect The Process."

Jordan is also a big supporter of the Team Rubicon - a non-profit that is an all veteran/all volunteer disaster response team.

You can learn more by going to https://teamrubiconusa.org/

In 2021 Alex Disenhof proudly joined the ranks of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), making him the youngest active member.

Since his first breakthrough in the industry as the cinematographer for Michel Gondry’s 2012 Cannes Film Festival feature THE WE AND THE I, Alex has lensed over a dozen feature films and television shows spanning diverse genres. Highlights include the biggest budget television show in history - THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RINGS OF POWER, the cultural phenomenon WATCHMEN for HBO, an ASC Award nomination for his work on the pilot episode of THE EXORCIST, two Camerimage nominations (2020, and the 2014. His work in independent cinema has also featured films screened at the aforementioned Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, Camerimage, and SXSW.

In recognition for his work, Alex was named in Variety's ""Below the Line Impact Report"" in both 2014 and 2016, and in 2021 he became the youngest active member of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers.

Alex is a passionate storyteller who thrives in a collaborative environment. He believes that the values of respect, empathy, and kindness are just as important as artistic excellence in every project that he takes on. When he isn’t on location, Alex enjoys reading, snowboarding, hiking and biking with his wife Jacqueline and their children Abe and Juno and their two dogs Prim and Escobar.

Alex is also a big supporter of the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary which is the Hudson Valley's home for rescued farm animals.

You can learn more by going to https://woodstocksanctuary.org/

"Sklenar is best known for his breakout role as ‘Spencer Dutton’ in Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 for Paramount+ (the second prequel to Yellowstone), in which he stars opposite Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. The show broke records as the most-watched premiere ever on Paramount+. Most recently, Sklenar can be seen in Sony’s film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us in the role of Atlas Corrigan. The film released on August 9, 2024 and grossed over $300 million at the global box office. Up next, Sklenar will be seen in Blumhouse and Universal’s upcoming thriller, Drop, and in the highly anticipated season 2 of 1923.

In 2022, Sklenar won the “Best Actor” award at the Vienna Independent Film Festival for his role as Sean Graves in Futra Days. Additional credits include playing the role of Burt Reynolds in the series The Offer opposite Miles Teller; Adam McKay’s films Vice as Bobby Prentace; and Midway as George Gay.
Brandon is also a big supporter of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence ., a non-profit that is dedicated to to leading, mobilizing and raising their voices to support efforts that demand a change of conditions that lead to domestic violence.
You can learn more by going to https://ncadv.org/

A man of many faces, Chris Bartlett has been a professional actor for 18 years. He’s known for featured and main characters in the Star Wars Disney+ universe: The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka and has appeared on LegoMasters, The Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel and The Orville.

As a television actor, Bartlett has also specialized in performing through challenging costumes.

His most notable character is the iconic C-3PO, originally played by Anthony Daniels.

As an adult, he built a career in video games as a User Experience Director in such games as Gears of War, Call of Duty, Tomb Raider as well as several Star Wars projects.

Chris is also a big supporter of the The Movember Foundation for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate cancer

You can learn more by going to https://www.movember.com/

Some might know him for his work on HBO's Def Poetry.Rafael Casal is a critically acclaimed Writer, Producer, Actor, and Poet. He made his Feature debut in "Blindspotting," which he wrote, produced, and starred in. The celebrated film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where Lionsgate won a major bidding war for the film. The movie was later turned into a series for Starz and Rafa was the Showrunner, Co-Creator, Writer and reprised his film role of Miles.

He acted opposite Hugh Jackman in the Emmy-winning HBO film "Bad Education" and Ethan Hawke in Showtime's "The Good Lord Bird." He wrote music for the Apple series "Central Park". And you can see him most recently in Loki on Disney+.

Rafa is also a big supporter of the BAVC - Bay Area Video Coalition, a non-profit that is an evolving coalition of passionate creators, activists, independent makers of all mediums and everyday people, effecting change one story at a time.

You can learn more by going to www.bavc.org.

Welcome to The FilmUp Podcast, Your Home For All Things Filmmaking. I'm Aryeh, founder of FilmUp and with Co-host Nick Mahar, we we explore the journey of accomplished filmmakers and their road to success.

Each podcast episode is dedicated to a non-profit of our guest’s choosing to both highlight our interviewee’s passion outside of filmmaking and bring awareness to a good cause. Our goal is to use Film to move the world Up - FilmUp.

Come join us for this week's episode and let's explore the world of filmmaking together.

Bryan is a Grammy Nominated and award winning Brooklyn based director. He is a director, editor and writer working with artists like The Black Keys, James Bay, and James Arthur. He's gained notoriety for his original creative direction with artists and brands and has had work featured on CBS, Funny or Die, NPR, NOWNESS, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Bryan was also nominated for a People's Choice Country Award for "In Your Love" which is the first country music video to portray gay love on screen. Bryan is also a big supporter of The Trevor Project, an organization focussed on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people. Providing information & support to LGBTQ 
young people 24/7, all year round. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Please welcome the fitness legend himself, Don Saladino to The FilmUp Podcast! Don has coached actors, athletes, & musicians for over 20 years. He has developed a reputation for training some of the biggest names in Hollywood for the big screen. Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, Sebastian Stan, Liev Schreiber, Hugh Jackman, & David Harbour are among his roster of clients. He has been tapped as a fitness expert in publications such as Muscle & Fitness, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, & Men’s Fitness. He has also been featured in People, US Weekly, Origins, In Touch, Cosmo, & Shape; and has made appearances on The Today Show, Page Six TV, People NOW, E News, & WebMD. He sits on the advisory board of Men’s Health Magazine. Don lives in New York with his wife, Mel, and their two children, Amelia and Donny Jr. - & their pups Rigatoni & Sambuca. Don is also a big supporter of The Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation, an organization focussed on easing the pain and suffering of their patients, to help their families at a time of great need and ultimately to find a cure for all cancers... So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to https://www.donmontifoundation.org/

Get ready for a fun episode to kick off the new year!! Please welcome Wendy Kurtzman to The FilmUp Podcast!
Wendy is an Emmy-nominated casting director who has helped launch the careers of many well known actors including such notables as Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey and Evan Rachel Wood. She has more than 30 years of experience in feature films, movies for television, mini-series and theater and has worked with many distinguished directors such as Paul Schrader, Diane Keaton, Sally Field and Roland Emmerich, for whom she cast the blockbuster “Independence Day,” starring Will Smith.
Prior to starting her own casting business, she was a casting executive at Lifetime and NBC. She began her career as an actress in musical theater and graduated with a degree in theater from UCLA. In 2013 Wendy launched College to Career Acting, to help emerging BFA/MFA artists navigate the transition from Academia into the Entertainment Industry. Her experience as both a performer and a casting director afford her a unique perspective into what it takes to succeed as a performer. Recently, Wendy joined PhilmCo Media as Head of Casting while also serving as Faculty at UCLA and Pace University where she teaches personal narrative, audition technique and transition to the Industry. Wendy is also a big supporter of ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND COMBATS ANTISEMITISM. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to adl.org

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Keaton Heinrichs, Chris Williams, & Gary Marshall. Keaton, Chris, & Gary are some of the incredible executives behind Nant Studios. NantStudios is a state-of-the-art full service production ecosystem comprised of traditional, broadcast and virtual production stages. The company is based in Los Angeles with two campuses in Culver City and El Segundo. Past projects including,Avengers Endgame, Deadpool, WestWorld Season 1, and much more. A bit more on our Guests: Keaton - Before his tenure at NantStudios, Keaton honed his skills while working full-time at BoulderLight Pictures, a production and foreign sales company celebrated for its recent success BARBARIAN (2022). During his time at BoulderLight, Keaton assumed the roles of Creative Executive and Director of Foreign Sales. His responsibilities encompassed discovering talented directors and writers, nurturing feature- length scripts, overseeing nationwide film productions, and orchestrating international sales at renowned markets such as Cannes and AFM. Chris - With over 25 years industry experience, Chris started his career in visual effects as a Digital Artist, then moved to become a Digital Effects Supervisor working on various projects including, Sky Captain and World of Tomorrow. He later became the co-founder of Unit Eleven where he served as a Previs Lead (previsualization lead) on the Transformers franchise with Michael Bay. With a wealth of previsualization supervising experience under his belt, he moved onto The Mandalorian series where he has been developing revolutionary virtual production tools and utilizing real time technology to create innovative workflows for LED volume content. Working as Virtual Production Supervisor on over 40 projects at Nant Studios the further push for innovation contnues as Head of Production. Gary - Hailing from London, Gary has enjoyed a 20+ year multi award-winning career spanning feature film, commercials, games and location based entertainment. Coming up through the ranks of the 2000’s Soho post scene at MPC London, Gary went on to join the “Avatar” crew in 2009 at Weta Digital, New Zealand, where the first virtual production (VP) revolutions were taking place. That immersion in ground breaking production techniques eventually lead Gary back to London, where alongside luminaries of the industry Alfonso Cuaron, Chivo Lubezki and Tim Webber, Gary would lead the Framestore VP effort for “Gravity”. Here, he accelerated the adoption of real-time technology both as a visualization tool, and as an in-camera VFX solution. These novel workflows would sow the seeds of contemporary ICVFX LED workflows. Going all-in on real-time rendering, Gary relocated to NYC and led Framestore’s 2016 “Field Trip to Mars'' project - the single most awarded campaign at Cannes Lions ever. Answering the siren song of Hollywood, Marshall moved to Los Angeles and spent the next 4 years at Disney’s Advanced Research Group and leading The Third Floor’s global R&D team building bleeding edge real-time theme park attractions and VP tools, before joining NantStudios in 2020 to build the VP studio campus of the future. Nant Studios is also a big supporter of Walk to End Alzheimer’s through the Alzheimer’s Association. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. So they are dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to ACT.ALZ.ORG.

With a community of over 2M followers and 25M+ likes, The People’s Paparazzi aka Johnny Cirillio, takes some time off from snapping fashion shots on the streets of NYC and joins on, The FilmUp Podcast.
Johnny Cirillo was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, in 1980 to a father who delivered UPS packages in the Garment District of Manhattan and a very creative stay-at-home mom. During high school on Long Island, he developed a passion for photography when his mom gave him his first 35mm and shared with him some of her black-and-white photo- graphic work from the sixties. Film and photography became an obsession. He rolled his own film, built his own darkroom, and bugged every one of his friends to sit for him as he explored all facets of the medium. Johhny is also a big supporter of Mythic Bridge Inc. NYC. Using the transformative power of film-making, Mythic Bridge provides disconnected youth with a safe path towards practical film education and entertainment employment opportunities.. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to mythicbridge.org/.

Please welcome the one and only, Tonya Lewis Lee to The FilmUp Podcast! Tonyis a director, producer, author and entrepreneur whose work often explores the personal impact of social justice issues.
Most recently, the film she co-directed and co- produced, exploring the US maternal mortality crisis, AFTERSHOCK (HULU) has received numerous awards including a 2023 Peabody Award , a 2022 Sundance Special Jury Impact for Change Award, an NIHMC Award and a 2023 Emmy Award nomination. As a television producer, Tonya served as Executive Producer on the episodic series She’s Gotta Have It (NETFLIX) and wrote and produced The Watson’s Go To Birmingham (AMAZON). As a film producer, Lee produced Monster (NETFLIX) which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Tonya is currently serving as an Executive Producer on a documentary film about seven time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix. As an author, Tonya’s children’s books, co-written with her husband Spike Lee, Please Baby Please, Please Puppy Please and Giant Steps to Change the World have sold over one million copies. As an entrepreneur Tonya founded Movita Organics an organic vitamin supplement company to provide a premium vitamin supplement to the marketplace and to continue the conversation with women about how to access and achieve one’s optimum health.Tonya has received numerous awards and recognition for her work including being named to the 2023 Forbes 50 Over 50 list. Tonya is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, The University of Virginia School of Law and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America, the Producer’s Guild of America, a member of the Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes and a Board Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Tonya is also a big supporter of March of Fimes. Each day over 1000 babies are born too soon. Their organization focus on preventing preterm birth and supporting those families. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to marchofdimes.org/

Get ready for a hilarious and fun interview with the incredible Dangerbean aka Ben Christensen. Ben is a Canadian comedy influencer with over 700,000 followers cross platform. Known for his hyper-dramatized and absurd sketch comedy, as well as the odd Owen Wilson impression, Ben's fans look to his content for laughs, epic outdoor adventures, and existential crises. In addition to his online presence, Ben has also worked creating indie television for names like Roku, Adult Swim, and Canada's CBC. Ben is also a big supporter of Image Native a non profit that is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to https://imaginenative.org

Have you ever wondered what it takes to get a film financed? What are financiers looking for before investing in a film? Or once you have the funds, what it takes to make a film? Well our next guests guests answer all of those questions and more. Please welcome Dave Liu and Elisa Gambino to The FilmUp Podcast! Dave and Elisa have been collaborating for quite some time now on their wildly successful production Every Day After. A 35-minute documentary that provides a more nuanced look at the complexities of the healing process due to a cleft-lip that we don’t often see. And honors the invisible labor of a sister whose love and action make it possible for Jary to experience the everyday joys and struggles of growing up. More on Dave and Elisa - get ready for this.. Dave Liu is a 30-year veteran of Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood. He is an advisor, author, entrepreneur, investor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. He started his career on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs and then joined Jefferies where he rose from the entry level to executive ranks of Managing Director and Co-Head of the Digital Media and Internet investment banking. He worked on $15 billion of transactions for hundreds of companies. One of his companies reached $200 million in revenue and 1,000 employees. Through his merchant bank, he is CEO advisor and investor to tech companies, many of which have achieved multi-billion dollar status. He is a member of Catalyst, the Sundance Institute’s film financing program, SF FILM Invest, SF FILM’s film financing program, and started Liucrative Media to invest in Asian American and other underrepresented filmmakers. He was previously CEO advisor to ProSiebenSat.1 Media, one of the largest media companies in Europe. Dave is also a “perspiring” artist and writer who loves to draw and write funny. Dave completed the Management & Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania where he received a BS in Engineering and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School. He attended Harvard Business School where he received his MBA. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Management & Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania and on the Trust Advisory Committee of Tau Beta Pi, the oldest national engineering honor society. He is Chairman of the Philanthropic Advisory Council of Smile Train, the largest cleft-focused organization, and Vice Chairman of AsAmNews, one of the top news sites for Asian America. Elisa brings to bear an extraordinary journalistic foundation to her film productions. Based first in Rome and then Moscow, Elisa spent her early career chronicling world events. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the Gulf War in 1990 and from the collapse of the Soviet Union, to the wars in the former Yugoslavia and Somalia, Elisa was there. Her work in Somalia was recognized with a News and Documentary Emmy Award. She interviewed Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, refugees in Bosnia, war criminals in Serbia and South Africans celebrating their first free vote. Elisa believes in the power of short films and has executive produced award-winning shorts on issues related to human rights, global public health and the arts. Dave & Elisa is also a big supporter of Smile Train, So they are dedicating this episode to their organization. Every 3 minutes a child is born with a cleft-lip. Smile train is a non-profit dedicated to supporting those children and their families who are suffering from this hardship. You can learn more by going to smiletrain.org

Our next guest is such a fan of cinema that he uses his skills to re-creating it. Please welcome William Baker to The FilmUp Podcast. Based in West Michigan, William, a self-proclaimed Indie Filmmaker and (Pro-IMproviser) is an influencer on TikTok and Instagram with over 600K followers and millions of views., His work focuses on showcasing lighting breakdowns and recreating shots from movies and TV shows. William is also a big supporter of CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD). They work to help those with ADHD get education and support for it. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to chadd.org.

Stop motion is oftentimes an overlooked art form. It is something that takes considerable time, patience, and perseverance. Our next guest exudes all of those qualities and more! Please welcome Ben Treat to The FilmUp Podcast! 

Ben is the visual artist behind the TikTok channel Franticframes with over 1.6M and 47M likes. Beyond that, he is a stop motion animator, working on projects for brands such as Toyota, Irish Spring, Adobe, Netflix and Samsung. While stop-motion has existed on the internet since its inception, Treat creates animations that are purposefully intricate, involving things like fluid and complicated movement. Almost all animations are followed by a behind-the-scenes TikTok and since each project takes so long to produce, his behind-the-scenes looks are shared as time-lapses.

Ben is also a big supporter of Doctors Without Borders, So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to doctorswithoutborders.org.

We have a special episode for you today, folks. Please welcome Jeremy Garelick & Will Phelps to The FilmUp Podcast. Jeremy and Will are the co-founders of American High, an innovative production company specializing in provocative teen comedies. Jeremy is a director, writer, and producer. He made his feature screenplay debut with the Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston vehicle The Break-Up and quickly followed its success by teaming up with Todd Phillips to pen the production draft of The Hangover. He also recently directed Murder Mystery II starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston which quickly claimed the top spot in Netflix's movie chart with 64.42 million hours viewed in its first three days. And then Will is a writer and producer who gained experience at MJZ, working on music video and commercial sets. He later worked for Paradigm Talent Agency, writing scripts before transitioning to become an assistant to Jeremy. Will also produced the first five films for American High allowing them to secure a deal with HULU to produce an additional eight. Jeremy and Will are also supporters of the Academy at American High, a nonprofit that is dedicated to helped develop a local crew here in Liverpool, NY and has evolved into a community home for film education experiences. So they are dedicating this episode to that organization. You can learn more by going to syracusestudios.com/academy/

Get ready for an exciting episode, featuring a self-made creator on his way to towering heights. Please welcome Brandon Baum aka BrandonB to The FilmUp Podcast. 

BrandonB is one of the most creative and popular content creators in the business. He’s currently the largest VFX video creator in the UK, thanks to a mix of mind-blowing special effects, light-hearted comedy, and how-to videos which expose the method behind his madness. 

He has grown a cross-platform audience of over 13 million followers and reached over 7.5 billion views. His VFX-driven content draws in high-end branded pieces and collaborations with stars such as Tom Holland, Tyson Fury, Jake Gyllenhall, among many others.  Brandon is also the CEO of StudioB, a digital-first production company creating social content for some of the biggest brands in the world, like Disney, Netflix, Meta and many more. 

Obsessed with the ‘Science of Social’, Brandon and his team of social-first creatives at StudioB live and breathe the world of social media and understand exactly how to create those magical viral moments that propel brands and faces to the masses. 

Brandon is also a big supporter of Children In Need, So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/

Today we have a special episode for you, with a long time friend and incredible filmmaker. Today we are thrilled to be joined by Canon Brownell

Canon is a Director and Editor living in Los Angeles, CA and the co-founder of RadFox films, a production company specializing in music videos, commercials, and other branded content. 

Past work includes ad spots with major brands like Armani Beauty and Tidal to behind-the-scenes content with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. More recently, Canon also has been directing and editing video game ads for Scout House, a production company specializing in VR-related content. 

Canon is dedicating this episode to the Los Angeles Education Partnership. You can learn more by going to https://www.la

Please welcome our next guest, the founder of Hound Content and an absolute legend in the music video world, Missy Galanida. To date, Missy has served as an executive producer on some of the most notable projects in music video history, such as Shakira's "Whenever, Wherever" (2009), Britney Spears's "Slave 4 U" (2009), Rihanna's "Work" (2016), Fifth Harmony's "Work From Home" (2016) and so many more. She has played an essential role in the highly prosperous careers of directors like Director X, Marc Webb, Frances Lawrence, Liz Friedlander and Rich Lee. Missy is also a big supporter of the Julie Shulman Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to helping Breast Cancer survivors have an easier experience on their journey. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to js-bcf.org/

Straight from the VMA's, our next guest joined us on The FilmUp Podcast! We are thrilled to share our interview with the one and only Christian Breslauer. Christian is an award winning Director. He cuts his teeth on telling authentic and compelling stories and has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music including The Weeknd, Marshmello, Doja Cat, Roddy Ricch, Jonas Brothers, John Legend and so many more. His insane visual for Roddy Ricch – “The Box” earned him a MTV VMA nomination for Best Hip-Hop video and two BET Award nominations. And the internet smashing “Industry Baby” visual earned him a CANNES LIONS Silver Award for excellence in music, 3 MTV VMA Awards including “Best Collaboration” Christian is also a big supporter of the Make a Wish Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to helping fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness . So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to wish.org.

Learn about the remarkable journey of a professional rollerblader's transition from acting to achieving recognition as an award-nominated camera operator! We are excited to welcome John Lyke to The FilmUp Podcast. John is an American actor and filmmaker from Cheshire, Connecticut. At the age of thirteen, his life took an exciting turn when his neighbor, Emmy Award-winning Cinematographer Bruce Taylor, became his mentor. Fast forward two decades, and John found himself as part of Todd Banhazl's Emmy-nominated cinematography team, earning him a SOC Camera Operator of the Year nomination. His versatile talents have taken him from stunt doubling for actors like Ben Stiller to editing for major networks like NBC, Hulu, and Netflix. John is also a big supporter of Foster Love, a non-profit that is dedicated to making the foster care experience better for the 430,000 children going through it. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to fosterlove.com

You may have seen our next guest in quite a few films without even realizing it. Her work has been prominently showcased in major feature films you're familiar with, and countless more! Please welcome Aurélia Agel, an incredibly talented stunt performer lending her talents to blockbuster hits like Fast and Furious X, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, John Wick 4, Halo, Black Widow, and many more. Aurélia is also a supporter of Fit Kids, a non-profit that is dedicated to providing structured physical fitness activities to underserved youth. . So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to fitkids.org

Please welcome Savannah Steiner to The FilmUp Podcast! Savannah is an American based stop motion animator. She has animated on many stop motion productions including Guillermo Del Toro's Oscar winning 'Pinocchio' (2022) and Aardman's 'Chicken Run 2: Dawn of the Nugget' set to release this December (2023). She has animated on the Emmy winning children's show Tumble Leaf, Netflix projects like Chef Show, Katy Perry’s ‘Cozy Little Christmas’ music video, as well as for streaming platforms like, Apple TV, YouTube, Hulu, Crackle, and Amazon Prime. Savannah is also a big supporter of the P.S. Arts , a non-profit that is dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for children and youth by providing arts education in systemically under-resourced schools and communities. You can learn more by going to psarts.org