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 GO2

Easily 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…

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 Amazon

Meet 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 here

Introducing 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 here

Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer Cox

Jennifer 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

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 GO2

Easily 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

Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer Cox

Jennifer 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 here

Featured Book:

Images: My Life in Film

In 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 here

Podcast 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

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 updates

From 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 Brown

Burbank | June 9th, 11am - 4pm

Tiffen 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 ASC

Tall Steadicam Tales: A Conversation with Garrett Brown & Dave Chameides

Free RSVP here

Meet 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 here

Featured 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 here

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CA

Cine 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 here

Women in Media Announces 2024 WiM ICON Award Honoree

For 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

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 updates

From 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 here

ZEISS Conversations with Eszter Csepeli

Eszter 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 here

Featured Book:

American Cinematographer's Shot Craft

A 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 here

From 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 here

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CA

Cine 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 here

Virtual 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 here

Featured Film Festival:

Mallorca International Film Festival

Join 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 here

Podcast 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

In this episode, we welcome Tony Wisniewski. Tony is the Sr. Marketing Manager for Cinematography and Photography divisions at ZEISS. Having supported creatives in both communities for many years, he has his pulse on the latest movements in each market. In our chat, we hear Tony’s backstory, career evolution into the world of optics, and all about the latest products from ZEISS — including their solutions for Virtual Production. In addition, we hear his predictions for the filmmaking industry for the second half of 2024 and into next year.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updates

From 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 here

Brendan Steacy ASC, CSC Shoots CSC-Nominated "Rabbit Hole" with ZEISS Supreme Prime Lenses, Creating a Visual Masterpiece

Brendan Steacy ASC, CSC, a virtuoso of visual language, trusted ZEISS Supreme Primes once again. Read the full interview on the ZEISS Lenspire blog to find out how he achieved the modern visual aesthetic that complements the film's cyber-spy-privacy-invasive narrative.

Read here

From 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.

Browse here

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CA

Cine 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 here

Featured Film Festival:

Mallorca International Film Festival

Join 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.

Visit us here

Featured Book:

Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York

Scenes from the City: Filmmaking in New York is a celebration of the rise of New York-shot films, particularly after the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting was formed in 1966. This revised and expanded edition, edited by James Sanders, includes a new decade of filmmaking in NYC, a section on women filmmakers and rare, behind-the-scenes shots directly from studio archives. It also explores the recent growth of the City's television industry with more episodic series being produced in New York City now than ever before. Today's the City's entertainment industry employs 130,000 New Yorkers and contributes more than $7 billion to the local economy each year.

Check it out here

Podcast Rewind:

May 2024 - Ep. 31…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If interested in promoting your products to over 14,500 leading film, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome producer Mark Skelton. Mark is currently at work on a feature-length documentary about the infamous Cannonball Run car race across America. He has a long history of producing films, documentaries, and other content. In our conversation, Mark shares his path into filmmaking, prior projects he’s worked on, and artists that have inspired him. He also shows us under the hood about how he’s producing this documentary, Cannonballer, that’s currently in production.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Uplevel your pipeline with AJA’s latest updates

From 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 here

Brendan Steacy ASC, CSC Shoots CSC-Nominated "Rabbit Hole" with ZEISS Supreme Prime Lenses, Creating a Visual Masterpiece

Brendan Steacy ASC, CSC, a virtuoso of visual language, trusted ZEISS Supreme Primes once again. Read the full interview on the ZEISS Lenspire blog to find out how he achieved the modern visual aesthetic that complements the film's cyber-spy-privacy-invasive narrative. Available to read here

From 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.

Inquire here

Vimeo Staff Picks Screening:

Tuesday, May 7th | Toronto

A night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary! Join Vimeo curator Ina Pira as she screens recent and upcoming Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo. Free RSVP here

Featured Industry Event:

Cine Gear Expo | Burbank, CA

Cine 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.

Learn more here

Movie List of the Month:

John Carpenter’s Top 10

Check out The Master of Horror’s list here

Podcast Rewind:

April 2024 - Ep. 30…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If interested in promoting your products to over 13,700 leading film, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome Vimeo curators Meghan Oretsky and Ina Pira. This pivotal team at Vimeo leads the curation of the platform’s celebrated Staff Picks and engages with the filmmaking community on a constant basis. In our chat, we hear their back stories, how they got involved with Vimeo, and their unique roles with curation. In addition, they share insights on the state of independent film today — and what’s coming for Staff Picks events throughout 2024.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

As productions grow in complexity, access to on-set displays for monitoring is crucial. With ample routing inputs and outputs, it’s easy to achieve greater monitoring flexibility and redundancy on-set. Check out this Q&A with DIT Kevin Shiramizu to learn how he’s leveraging AJA KUMO SDI routers to do just this across projects.

Vimeo Staff Picks Screening:

Tuesday, April 23rd | San Francisco

A night of inspiring Vimeo Staff Picks + live filmmaker commentary! 

Join Vimeo curator Meghan Oretsky as she screens a handful of exceptional Staff Picked films with live, unscripted commentary from some of the best creators on Vimeo. After the screening, grab some swag and mingle with other filmmakers over apps and drinks. This event is free to attend.

RSVP here

From our Friends at Videoguys…

Media Composer is the most acclaimed and trusted collaborative video editing software solution across the media and entertainment industry. With options for all types of content creators—from students and independent video editors to creative teams, high-level post-production teams and broadcasters, Media Composer provides the most powerful storytelling tools in the industry. From AI-powered timesaving features, flexible workflow options, to customizable UI and remote collaboration tools, Media Composer makes it easy to create and deliver content from anywhere and turn around more projects faster. In the highest quality. On time and on budget.

Learn more here

ZEISS Wins Multiple Awards at NAB 2024

Congratulations to ZEISS for taking home three awards at NAB 2024 for Nano Primes and CinCraft Scenario camera tracking solutions. Check out these award-winning products and more here

Featured Book:

Stanley Kubrick and Me: Thirty Years at His Side

This intimate portrait by his former personal assistant and confidante reveals the man behind the legendary filmmaker—for the first time.

Stanley Kubrick, the director of a string of timeless movies from Lolita and Dr. Strangelove to A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Full Metal Jacket, and others, has always been depicted by the media as the Howard Hughes of filmmakers, a weird artist obsessed with his work and privacy to the point of madness. But who was he really? Emilio D'Alessandro lets us see. A former Formula Ford driver who was a minicab chauffeur in London during the Swinging Sixties, he took a job driving a giant phallus through the city that became his introduction to the director. Honest, reliable, and ready to take on any task, Emilio found his way into Kubrick's neurotic, obsessive heart. He became his personal assistant, his right-hand man and confidant, working for him from A Clockwork Orange until Kubrick's death in 1999.

View here

Podcast Rewind:

April 2024 - Ep. 29…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If you’d like to promote your products to 12,600 leading film, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome filmmaker Chris Kentis. Chris is a writer, director, producer and editor, who achieved great success with his independent film, Open Water, in 2003. In our chat, we hear his backstory, path into filmmaking, and process making this movie. Chris also shares about his cinematic inspirations, other projects he’s worked on, and what's next for him.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

As productions grow in complexity, access to on-set displays for monitoring is crucial. With ample routing inputs and outputs, it’s easy to achieve greater monitoring flexibility and redundancy on-set. Check out this Q&A with DIT Kevin Shiramizu to learn how he’s leveraging AJA KUMO SDI routers to do just this across projects.

From our Friends at Videoguys…

Media Composer is the most acclaimed and trusted collaborative video editing software solution across the media and entertainment industry. With options for all types of content creators—from students and independent video editors to creative teams, high-level post-production teams and broadcasters, Media Composer provides the most powerful storytelling tools in the industry. From AI-powered timesaving features, flexible workflow options, to customizable UI and remote collaboration tools, Media Composer makes it easy to create and deliver content from anywhere and turn around more projects faster. In the highest quality. On time and on budget.

Learn more here

Visit ZEISS at the NAB Show:

NAB is around the corner, and you don't want to miss what's new at the ZEISS Booth #7312 in Hall C! Come discover the cinematic look of the Nano Prime lenses and check out live demonstrations of the ZEISS CinCraft Scenario camera tracking solution. ZEISS' knowledgeable Product Specialists are excited to discuss your upcoming camera tracking needs and offer their expertise. Whether you're working in indoor or outdoor settings, on film sets with green and blue screens, or in LED volumes, they have the solution for you.

If you're looking to save time on lens calibration, come and see how Scenario can accelerate your workflow. Plus, you can explore the complete lineup of ZEISS cinema lenses — including Supreme Prime, Supreme Prime Radiance, CZ.2 Cinema Zoom lenses, CP.3 Primes, and more! Use ZEISS' guest pass code NS7892 to register for free admission and click the link below to add ZEISS to your planner. 

To add ZEISS to your Show Planner, click here

Vimeo Staff Picks Screening:

April 23, 2024 | San Francisco

Join us for this free screening of recent Vimeo Staff Pick favorites, handpicked and hosted by our curators. Short films will be accompanied by live commentary from featured local filmmakers. After the screening, there’ll be a Networking Party with drinks, snacks, music and swag!

RSVP for free here

Podcast Rewind:

March 2024 - Ep. 28…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If you’d like to promote your products to over 12,500 leading film, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Esteban Toro. Esteban also serves as Adobe’s Sr. Community Relationship Manager and is based in New York City. In our chat, he shares his origin story, how he learned photography, on through becoming an ambassador for brands such as Sony and BenQ. He also talks about his role at Adobe supporting the creative community of filmmakers and editors — and sheds light about recent developments in post workflows, A.I., and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Versatile color management and conversion with AJA ColorBox

From film to live production, color is an art. Achieving the right look requires a combination of talent and access to tools like AJA ColorBox. The color management and conversion box has quickly become a favorite among DITs with camera log, HDR, and WCG support, 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 connectivity, and unparalleled color processing. Find out why.

ZEISS Conversations with Meena Singh

Join the ZEISS Conversations webinar featuring renowned Director of Photography Meena Singh on Thursday, March 28th at 12pm PST / 3pm EST. Hear her insights about using ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses to create the look for the notable romantic comedy film, "Wedding Season." They will also discuss how she created the visual language for Sundance 2024 selected short film “Guts” and several documentary projects.

Sign up for free here

From 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.

Check it out here!

Book of the Month:

Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History of The Sopranos

Expanding on their hit Talking Sopranos podcast with exclusive interviews for the book with the cast, crew, producers, writers, directors and creators, stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa deliver the definitive oral history of the landmark television series and streaming hit The Sopranos. Packed with untold stories from behind the scenes and on the set, they’re spilling all the secrets.

Get a copy here

Podcast Rewind:

March 2024 - Ep. 27…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If you’d like to promote your products to over 12,000 leading film, TV and video industry pros reading this newsletter, please email us: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-nominated Composer, Score Producer and Musician Chris Ruggiero. Chris has worked on films such as Emily the Criminal, Swallow, The Martha Mitchell Effect, Minding the Gap, Hooligan Sparrow, “Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music,” One Child Nation, Plan C, Camp Courage, episodes of “American Masters" and “American Experience” — and Resynator, which is premiering at SXSW this month. In our chat, we hear Chris’ backstory, his path from working at MTV, to creating jingles for brands, on through scoring many of today’s top independent films and documentaries.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Versatile color management and conversion with AJA ColorBox 

From film to live production, color is an art. Achieving the right look requires a combination of talent and access to tools like AJA ColorBox. The color management and conversion box has quickly become a favorite among DITs with camera log, HDR, and WCG support, 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 connectivity, and unparalleled color processing. Find out why.

ZEISS Conversations with Meena Singh

Join the ZEISS Conversations webinar featuring renowned Director of Photography Meena Singh on Thursday, March 28th at 12pm PST / 3pm EST. Hear her insights about using ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses to create the look for the notable romantic comedy film, "Wedding Season." They will also discuss how she created the visual language for Sundance 2024 selected short film “Guts” and several documentary projects. Sign up for free here

Movie Book of the Month:

Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece

This is the definitive story of the making of 2001: A Space Odyssey, acclaimed today as one of the greatest films ever made, including the inside account of how director Stanley Kubrick and writer Arthur C. Clarke created this cinematic masterpiece.

Author Michael Benson explains how 2001 was made, telling the story primarily through the two people most responsible for the film, Kubrick and science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke. Benson interviewed Clarke many times, and has also spoken at length with Kubrick’s widow, Christiane; with visual effects supervisor Doug Trumbull; with Dan Richter, who played 2001’s leading man-ape; and many others.A colorful nonfiction narrative packed with memorable characters and remarkable incidents, Space Odyssey provides a 360-degree view of this extraordinary work, tracking the film from Kubrick and Clarke’s first meeting in New York in 1964 through its UK production from 1965-1968, during which some of the most complex sets ever made were merged with visual effects so innovative that they scarcely seem dated today. A concluding chapter examines the film’s legacy as it grew into it current justifiably exalted status. Available here

From our Friends at Broadfield…

The Atomos Ninja bundled with Atomos Connect combines the newest 5" monitor/recorder & playback device with the latest Atomos Cloud features enabled by Atomos Connect. The free 6-month subscription to Atomos Cloud Studio enables camera-to-cloud, remote collaboration and review, cloud editing, live production and streaming. This complete solution will even include an accessory kit with rechargeable batteries, fast-charger, screen protector, travel case and more!

Browse here

Resource of the Month:

The Daily Drop

“The Daily Drop” is all about the tech, craft and business of producing content. The ongoing daily series (Mon-Fri) from Jem Schofield of theC47 focuses on video production and filmmaking with a core focus on education.

Here’s a recent episode that give’s Jem’s initial thoughts on OpenAI’s Sora and how it might impact our industry…

More episodes available here

Upcoming L.A. Event:

Cinelease Open House

Cinelease, known for providing the industry's most extensive array of grip, electrical and lighting equipment and full-service studios, opens its doors for a day of talks, tech, live music, games, food truck favorites, drafts & sodas, and out of this world presentations. The festivities run from noon to 8pm on March 16, 2024 at Cinelease headquarters in Los Angeles.

Cinelease has lined up something for everyone at their let-your-hair-down Open House: Cutting-edge tech from AC Lighting, ACT (AC Power), Aputure, ARRI, Camera Car, Creamsource, Elation, Illumination Dynamics, INDU, InnerCircle, Jagoteq, JL Fisher, K5600, Kino Flo, KOTO, LA North Studios, LiteGear, Leitz, Lightscape, LRX, Maccam, Matthews Studio Equipment, NBCUniversal / Cineo, Nanlux, Osram, Power Gems, Roe Visuals, Rosco, RST Visions in Color, Sony, Sumolight, TRP, RT Pro, TMB and more.

Learn more here

Featured NYC Event:

Cine Gear NY | March 14-16, 2024

Mark your calendars for March and head on out to the thriving Industry City complex along the Brooklyn Upper Bay waterside. Cine Gear’s studio-style event is gathering steam as state-of–the-art technology brands are preparing to reveal their latest & greatest gear in the historic Paper Factory Hall. New this year is Photo Focus, a one-day educational event dedicated to the art and craft of Still Photography.

Get your Free Passes here

Podcast Rewind:

Feb. 2024 - Ep. 26…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If you’d like to promote your company to over 11,500 leading film & TV pros reading this newsletter, please email us at: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-winning Cinematographer and Producer Ben Staley. Ben has worked extensively on the popular series “Deadliest Catch” — as well as “Ice Road Truckers,” “Lost Gold of the Aztecs,” “Alaskan Bush People,” “Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante,” “Shark Week” and “Pirate Gold of Adak Island”. In our chat, Ben shares all about growing up in Alaska, his path to filmmaking, and tales from shooting in extreme environments all over the world.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Maximize the production power of AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, multi-cam backhaul, field contribution, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, or ABR ladder profiles, AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports many streaming and contribution codecs, including NDI, H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, JPEG 2000, and now JPEG XS. The device also includes support for RTMP, ST2022-7 hitless redundancy, and input auto-reconfiguration for video and audio formats.

Learn more at www.aja.com/bridge-live

ZEISS Nano Primes

Introducing ZEISS Nano Primes - cinema lenses designed for modern full-frame mirrorless cameras - initially available with Sony E-mount. These lenses offer the highest performance and cinematic look in a small package. 

With six focal lengths ranging from 18mm to 100mm, all featuring a consistent high speed of T1.5, the Nano Primes are the go-to choice for diverse cinematic needs. The lenses come with a small and robust real cine lens housing with professional ergonomics, and also have an interchangeable mount, facilitated by the trusted ZEISS IMS. And with a small and lightweight design, they're perfect for shooting on the go or in tight spaces. ZEISS Nano Primes are the go-to lenses for everyday: True Cinema. For All.

Learn more HERE

ASC Members Focus On Lighting At “The Art Of Cinematic Lighting” Event 

The NY filmmaking community gathered at Foto Care Rentals in Manhattan on November 30th to hear ASC cinematographers dive deep into the art of cinematic lighting. The conversation was moderated by Dejan Georgevich ASC and featured Mauricio Rubinstein ASC and Vanja Cernjul ASC. The trio broke down scenes and described how they employed lighting techniques to achieve desired cinematic looks and feels. This edition of Foto Care’s Education & Networking Series was made possible by Nanlux and Nanlite with additional support by ShotDeck. 

From our Friends at Broadfield…

The Atomos Ninja bundled with Atomos Connect combines the newest 5" monitor/recorder & playback device with the latest Atomos Cloud features enabled by Atomos Connect. The free 6-month subscription to Atomos Cloud Studio enables camera-to-cloud, remote collaboration and review, cloud editing, live production and streaming. This complete solution will even include an accessory kit with rechargeable batteries, fast-charger, screen protector, travel case and more!

Take a look HERE

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Expo NY | March 14-16, 2024

Mark your calendars for March and head on out to the thriving Industry City complex along the Brooklyn Upper Bay waterside. Cine Gear’s studio-style event is gathering steam as state-of–the-art technology brands are preparing to reveal their latest & greatest gear in the historic Paper Factory Hall. New this year is Photo Focus, a one-day educational event dedicated to the art and craft of Still Photography.

Get your Free Passes here

For this podcast episode, Special Thanks to Neil Matsumoto.

Podcast Rewind:

Jan. 2024 - Ep. 25…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

Interested in promoting your products to over 11K film & TV industry pros reading this newsletter? Send an email to: mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcome Emmy-winning Documentary Editor Arielle Amsalem. Arielle has worked on docs including By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, “The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth,” Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, Whose Streets?, The Education of Dee Dee Ricks, Coming Back with Wes Moore, and They Called Him Mostly Harmless. In our chat, Arielle shares about her upbringing, path into film editing, education at NYU, and mentorship by legendary editor Sam Pollard. She also talks about her creative process on projects — and offers insights on the art of non-fiction storytelling.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Maximize the production power of AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, multi-cam backhaul, field contribution, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, or ABR ladder profiles, AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports many streaming and contribution codecs, including NDI, H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, JPEG 2000, and now JPEG XS. The device also includes support for RTMP, ST2022-7 hitless redundancy, and input auto-reconfiguration for video and audio formats.

Learn more at www.aja.com/bridge-live

From our Friends at Broadfield…

Now through Feb 15, 2024, you can buy your RED camera from a Broadfield Authorized Dealer and get a FREE Memory Card!

Buy RED KOMODO-X or V-RAPTOR Brain and get a Free 325GB OWC CFExpress - $399.99 value.

Buy RED KOMODO and get a Free 256GB SanDisk CFast Card - $329.99 value.

Find your Broadfield & RED dealer Here

ZEISS Conversations with Curren Sheldon

Thursday, February 1st

Join ZEISS Conversations to explore coal country and discuss the ASC Award Nominated documentary, “King Coal.” Filmmakers Elaine McMillion Sheldon and Curren Sheldon have received accolades including an Oscar nomination and Emmy Award for their documentary filmmaking which frequently seeks to shine a light on their home state of West Virginia. The pair’s latest film is the 2023 Sundance premiering “King Coal,” a lyrical tapestry focused on the complex history of the coal industry and the communities that have grown up in its embrace. The filmmakers chose to mix verité with magical realism to stylistically honor the Appalachians who make up the story.

Sheldon selected ZEISS CP.3 lenses with a Canon C300 and a C70 as his primary camera package throughout filming. We are excited hear more about Curren’s novel approach to the cinematography of “King Coal.” Register below to join a virtual Q&A with Curren this Thursday, February 1st at 12pm PST, 3pm EST.

Register for Free Here

Featured Book:

In the Blink of an Eye is celebrated film editor Walter Murch's vivid, multifaceted, thought -- provoking essay on film editing. Starting with what might be the most basic editing question -- Why do cuts work? -- Murch treats the reader to a wonderful ride through the aesthetics and practical concerns of cutting film. Along the way, he offers his unique insights on such subjects as continuity and discontinuity in editing, dreaming, and reality; criteria for a good cut; the blink of the eye as an emotional cue; digital editing; and much more. In this second edition, Murch reconsiders and completely revises his popular first edition's lengthy meditation on digital editing (which accounts for a third of the book's pages) in light of the technological changes that have taken place in the six years since its publication.

Get a copy here

Podcast Rewind:

Jan. 2024 - Ep. 24…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

If you’d like to be considered as a guest, or to promote your products to over 10K top film & TV production pros reading this newsletter, email us: mvalinsky@me.com

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 GO2

Easily 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

Talking 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 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.

Read more here

Featured Book:

To the Temple of Tranquility... and Step on It!: A Memoir

Beloved 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 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 here

Upcoming 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 here

Podcast 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

In this episode, we welcomed James Mockoski, Film Archivist and Restoration Supervisor at American Zoetrope. Over the last twenty years, James has worked on and restored The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, One from the Heart, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, The Cotton Club, and The Conversation for its 50th Anniversary in 2024. In addition, James restored the Talking Heads concert film “Stop Making Sense” for its 40th Anniversary last year — and is producing Mike Figgis’ documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. In our chat, James shares his backstory, how he entered the field of film restoration, his cinematic inspirations, and his perspectives on preservation.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems.

Maximize the production power of AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, multi-cam backhaul, field contribution, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, or ABR ladder profiles, AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports many streaming and contribution codecs, including NDI, H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, JPEG 2000, and now JPEG XS. The device also includes support for RTMP, ST2022-7 hitless redundancy, and input auto-reconfiguration for video and audio formats.

Check it out here

From our Friends at Videoguys…

The Atomos Ninja bundled with Atomos Connect combines the newest 5" monitor/recorder & playback device with the latest Atomos Cloud features enabled by Atomos Connect. The free 6-month subscription to Atomos Cloud Studio enables camera-to-cloud, remote collaboration and review, cloud editing, live production and streaming. This complete solution will even include an accessory kit with rechargeable batteries, fast-charger, screen protector, travel case and more!

Learn more here

ZEISS CinCraft Scenario

Meet the only real-time camera tracking system that works indoors and outdoors, on film sets, with green and blue screens and in LED volumes. That uses natural markers, reflective markers, and even digital markers on LED screens. That provides camera tracking data for real-time use and records it for post-production. And that integrates lens characteristics to skip the cumbersome lens calibration process. Meet ZEISS CinCraft Scenario.

New Life Cine is a marketplace committed to getting specialized, professional cinema equipment into the hands of creators and provides a safe, transparent, solution to sell gear that no longer has a place on your set. 

NLC is known for their technical expertise and consultations, intimate knowledge of used and resale values, and friendly ‘white glove’ service.  They offer financing + escrow services for new and used gear. NLC believes that taking the uncertainty out of buying and selling used cinema equipment makes for happier filmmakers and lets the creativity flow!

Check out the gear here

Podcast Rewind:

Jan. 2024 - Ep. 23…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products to over 8,500 leading film & TV industry pros, email us at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcomed our friend Steve Bannerman, Head of Post for International Features at Amazon Studios. Steve’s career includes many years at Apple, GenArts, Assimilate, Silverdraft Supercomputing, as well as running Local Hero Post, now REAL by FAKE, in Santa Monica, CA. In our chat, we hear Steve’s backstory and his insights from working for decades for top technology companies and in Hollywood. Topics discussed include evolving technologies, production tax incentives, A.I. in post workflows, and the road ahead for 2024.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Maximize the production power of AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, multi-cam backhaul, field contribution, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, or ABR ladder profiles, AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports many streaming and contribution codecs, including NDI, H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, JPEG 2000, and now JPEG XS. The device also includes support for RTMP, ST2022-7 hitless redundancy, and input auto-reconfiguration for video and audio formats.

Learn more at www.aja.com/bridge-live

New Life Cine is a marketplace committed to getting specialized, professional cinema equipment into the hands of creators and provides a safe, transparent, solution to sell gear that no longer has a place on your set. 

NLC is known for their technical expertise and consultations, intimate knowledge of used and resale values, and friendly ‘white glove’ service.  They offer financing + escrow services for new and used gear. NLC believes that taking the uncertainty out of buying and selling used cinema equipment makes for happier filmmakers and lets the creativity flow!

Check out all the gear here

From our Friends at Broadfield…

Now through Jan 15, 2024 you can buy your RED camera from a Broadfield Authorized Dealer and get a FREE Memory Card plus 10% off additional RED accessories with RED's BACK ON SET promotion.

Buy RED KOMODO-X, V-RAPTOR or XL and get a FREE 325GB OWC Atlas CFExpress Card - a $399.99 value.

Find your Broadfield & RED dealer at https://www.broadfield.com/redbackonset 

ZEISS CinCraft Scenario

Meet the only real-time camera tracking system that works indoors and outdoors, on film sets, with green and blue screens and in LED volumes. That uses natural markers, reflective markers, and even digital markers on LED screens. That provides camera tracking data for real-time use and records it for post-production. And that integrates lens characteristics to skip the cumbersome lens calibration process. Meet ZEISS CinCraft Scenario.

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Expo NY | March 14-16, 2024

Mark your calendars for March and head on out to the thriving Industry City complex along the Brooklyn Upper Bay waterside. Cine Gear’s studio-style event is gathering steam as state-of–the-art technology brands are preparing to reveal their latest and greatest gear in the historic Paper Factory Hall. Registration is now open for the event including educational Panels and Seminars.

Learn more and free passes here

Podcast Rewind:

Dec. 2023 - Ep. 22…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your brand or products to over 8,500 leading Film & TV industry pros reading this newsletter, contact us at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcomed producer/director, DP and educator Jem Schofield. Jem has been a fixture in the industry for over twenty years — helping educate filmmakers about cinematography, lighting, cameras, lenses, producing, and much more. He’s also created content for leading groups such as NAB, LinkedIn Learning, AbelCine, Apple, B&H, Canon, RØDE, Sony, Westcott, and ZEISS. In our chat, Jem shares all about his journey into the business, what types of projects he works on, his educational content — and other insights on production workflows and technology.

Check out Jem’s YouTube series here

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Maximize the production power of AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Whether facilitating remote production, two-way interviews, live event streaming, multi-cam backhaul, field contribution, confidence monitoring, collaborative production, or ABR ladder profiles, AJA BRIDGE LIVE supports many streaming and contribution codecs, including NDI, H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, JPEG 2000, and now JPEG XS. The device also includes support for RTMP, ST2022-7 hitless redundancy, and input auto-reconfiguration for video and audio formats.

Learn more at www.aja.com/bridge-live

New Life Cine is a marketplace committed to getting specialized, professional cinema equipment into the hands of creators and provides a safe, transparent, solution to sell gear that no longer has a place on your set. 

NLC is known for their technical expertise and consultations, intimate knowledge of used and resale values, and friendly ‘white glove’ service.  They offer financing + escrow services for new and used gear. NLC believes that taking the uncertainty out of buying and selling used cinema equipment makes for happier filmmakers and lets the creativity flow!

Check out all the gear here

ZEISS CinCraft Scenario

Meet the only real-time camera tracking system that works indoors and outdoors, on film sets, with green and blue screens and in LED volumes. That uses natural markers, reflective markers, and even digital markers on LED screens. That provides camera tracking data for real-time use and records it for post-production. And that integrates lens characteristics to skip the cumbersome lens calibration process. Meet ZEISS CinCraft Scenario.

Featured Industry Event:

Women in Media’s Annual Holiday Toast

Women In Media, a leading organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the entertainment industry, announces that its Annual Holiday Toast to Legendary Women in the Industry is being held on Dec 16, 2023 at the renowned Hotel Sofitel in Beverly Hills.

2023 Honorees include Natasha Foster-Owens, SVP, Production at HBO (Insecure, Divorce, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Staircase, Wizard of Lies) Jen Underdahl, VP: VFX at Marvel Studios (Loki, WandaVision, The Avengers), Stephanie Filo, Editor (2023 three-time Emmy Nominee for Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, A Black Lady Sketch Show, History of the World: Part II) and Dianne Farrington, Camera Operator on Moesha, Mad About You, The Nutty Professor, and Cinematographer on Making the Five Heartbeats.

Learn more and reserve tickets here!

Film Book of the Month:

In the first ever behind-the-scenes story of Goodfellas, film critic Glenn Kenny chronicles the making and afterlife of the film that introduced America to the real modern gangster—brutal, ruthless, yet darkly appealing, the villain we can’t get enough of. Featuring interviews with the film’s major players, including Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Made Men shines a light on the lives and stories wrapped up in the Goodfellas universe, and why its enduring legacy is still essential to charting the trajectory of American culture thirty years later. Browse here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Visit here

CSS Music is the go-to production Music Library for the Film, TV and A/V markets. CSS offers thousands of tracks in every genre and style — helping producers and editors score their latest projects 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. Browse the collection: cssmusic.com 

Any questions? Email info@cssmusic.com

Podcast Rewind:

Nov. 2023 - Ep. 21…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products to over 8,200 film & TV industry pros reading this newsletter, contact us at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we spoke with Emmy-nominated Cinematographer Martina Radwan. Martina has shot award-winning documentaries including The Last Year, Food and Country, The Social Dilemma, How to Survive a Pandemic, Hot Coffee, Arthur Miller: Writer, Saving Face, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and episodes of American Masters, Frontline, Independent Lens, and P.O.V. On the narrative front, her films include The Killing Floor, Personal Velocity, Love Liza, Nico Icon, and Wim Wenders’ Until the End of The World. In our chat, she shares her journey shooting projects all over the world, how she learned her craft, and insights on the art of documentary filmmaking today.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA ColorBox: A powerhouse for color conversion

Perform LUT-based color transformations with powerful video processing using AJA ColorBox in live, on-set, and post production environments. The compact device, which features 12G-SDI in/out and HDMI 2.0 out, provides advanced-level color science via the AJA Color Pipeline, as well as support for Colorfront, ORION-CONVERT, BBC, and NBCU color management approaches. Learn more here: www.aja.com/colorbox

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem. Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use. Learn more here

Film Book of the Month:

The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood

Chinatown is the Holy Grail of 1970s cinema. Its twist ending is the most notorious in American film and its closing line of dialogue the most haunting. Here for the first time is the incredible true story of its making.

Looming over the story of this classic movie is the imminent eclipse of the '70s filmmaker-friendly studios as they gave way to the corporate Hollywood we know today. In telling that larger story, The Big Goodbye will take its place alongside classics like Easy Riders, Raging Bulls and The Devil's Candy as one of the great movie-world books ever written. Get a copy here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Browse here

Great Film & TV Music at No Cost to You!

All you need to do is provide music cue sheets for your qualified projects. It’s Really That Simple.  In addition to most TV Shows and Feature Films, even TV Pilots can qualify. We're not talking about music that sounds like it should be free, this is cutting-edge underscore used daily on a global basis by Hollywood's Major Film & TV Studios. Visit us here

Podcast Rewind:

October 2023 - Ep. 20…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products or services to over 7,700 leading film & TV industry pros reading this newsletter, email us at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we spoke with Decentralized Pictures Co-Founders Leo Matchett and Mike Musante. Along with Roman Coppola, these three founded the innovative film production company that’s helping to fund many independent projects, as well as provide a home for mentorship and other support for emerging filmmakers. Mr. Matchett serves as CEO of the company and Mr. Musante as its Head of Production. In our conversation, Leo and Mike share their backstories and pathways into producing — plus the complete story of Decentralized Pictures. We also discussed the state of the independent film industry, and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Exciting new solutions and updates from AJA

AJA rolled out powerful new products and updates this fall – from KONA X, its next-gen I/O card for ultra-low latency video capture/playback and Desktop Software v17 to a feature-packed AJA HDR Image Analyzer 12G update, and new 12G-SDI openGear conversion solutions. Get acquainted with the latest from AJA via the What’s New Page.  

ZEISS Conversations:

Gather round, horror fans! Join us for ZEISS Conversations on Halloween as we explore the spine-chilling work of Cinematographer James Kniest! Be sure to register now to get the inside scoop on his projects such as the iconic Annabelle, which is the second installment of The Conjuring universe, and his spooky work on The Haunting of Bly Manor and American Horror Stories. Plus, get an exclusive look at what went into crafting Mike Flanagan’s 2022 “The Midnight Club,” including Kniest’s strategic selection of ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses. 

Don't miss out on the chance to learn from a master filmmaker who’ll share how he employs various camera techniques, lensing, lighting and composition for creating the most frightening scenes. Halloween has never looked scarier! Register now for an unforgettable and interactive virtual event on Oct 31st at 12pm PST. Sign up Here

Film Book of the Month:

American Cinematographer's Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography

A collection of Jay Holben’s SHOT CRAFT column 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 must-have for everyone working in the art of visual storytelling in motion pictures.

A curated selection from the first five years of SHOT CRAFT providing insights on: cinematography fundamentals, formats, exposure, lighting & electricity, optics, travel & locations, filmmaking techniques, relationships, communication and career.  

Available from Adakin Press: here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Check it out here

Great Film & TV Music at No Cost to You!

All you need to do is provide music cue sheets for your qualified projects. It’s Really That Simple. 

In addition to most TV Shows & Feature Films, even TV Pilots can qualify. We're not talking about music that sounds like it should be free. This is cutting-edge underscore used daily on a global basis by Hollywood's Major Film & TV Studios. Browse here

Podcast Rewind:

October 2023 - Ep. 19…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products or services to over 7,270 top film and TV industry pros receiving this newsletter, please email mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcomed New York-based Cinematographer Wolfgang Held, ASC. Wolfgang has shot over 100 documentaries and feature films including The Andy Warhol Diaries, Joan Baez I Am a Noise, This Stolen Country of Mine, All In: The Fight for Democracy, The Fourth Estate, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, Particle Fever, Brüno, Teeth, and the Oscar-nominated documentary Children Underground. In our chat, Wolfgang shares about his early days, his journey into documentary filmmaking, his mentorship with Albert Maysles, thoughts on cinema verité, and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Exciting new solutions and updates from AJA

AJA rolled out powerful new products and updates this fall – from KONA X, its next-gen I/O card for ultra-low latency video capture/playback and Desktop Software v17 to a feature-packed AJA HDR Image Analyzer 12G update, and new 12G-SDI openGear conversion solutions. Get acquainted with the latest from AJA via the What’s New Page.  

Film Festival This Week:

Mallorca Film Festival — October 18-24th

The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival enters its 12th edition this week. This year marks the 2nd Annual Cinematography Focus, which includes Educational Panels, Workshops, Networking and Awards. Erik Messerschmidt, ASC will accept the festival’s Cinematography Icon Award this year — and ARRI joins as an official sponsor. The Mallorca Film Festival is recognized as "One of Europe's 10 Most Exciting Film Festivals" by The Guardian, as MovieMaker’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” and appears on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on FilmFreeway! Learn more here

Film Book of the Month:

American Cinematographer's Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography

A collection of Jay Holben’s SHOT CRAFT column 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 must-have for everyone working in the art of visual storytelling in motion pictures.

A curated selection from the first five years of SHOT CRAFT providing insights on: cinematography fundamentals, formats, exposure, lighting & electricity, optics, travel & locations, filmmaking techniques, relationships, communication & career.  

Available from Adakin Press: here

ZEISS Conversations with James Kniest

Gather round, horror fans! Join us for ZEISS Conversations on Halloween as we explore the spine-chilling work of Cinematographer James Kniest! Be sure to register now to get the inside scoop on his projects such as the iconic "Annabelle," which is the second installment of "The Conjuring" universe, and his spooky work on “The Haunting of Bly Manor” and “American Horror Stories.” Plus, get an exclusive look at what went into crafting Mike Flanagan’s 2022 “The Midnight Club”, including Kniest’s strategic selection of ZEISS Supreme Prime Radiance lenses. 

Don't miss out on the chance to learn from a master filmmaker who will share how he employs various camera techniques, lensing, lighting, and composition for creating the most frightening scenes. Halloween has never looked scarier! Register now for an unforgettable and interactive virtual event on October 31st at 12pm PST.

Sign up Here

Great Film & TV Music at No Cost to You!

All you need to do is provide music cue sheets for your qualified projects. It’s Really That Simple. 

In addition to most TV Shows and Feature Films, even some TV Pilots can qualify. We're not talking about music that sounds like it should be free. This is cutting-edge underscore used daily on a global basis by Hollywood's Major Film and TV Studios.

Visit Zero Fee Music

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories.

Check it out here

Podcast Rewind:

Sept. 2023 - Episode XVIII…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products or services to over 6,700 top film, TV and video industry pros receiving this newsletter, email mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we spoke at length with filmmaker Scott Ressler. Scott is an industry veteran who’s worked on projects including Barton Fink, Scream, Lost Highway, Who’s Harry Crumb?, Austin Powers, The End of Violence, The Straight Story, The Cider House Rules, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, I Heart Huckabees, Jarhead, Jurassic Park III, “Dexter” and “Twin Peaks” S3. Scott was also DP on David Lynch’s short film What Did Jack Do? featured on Netflix in 2020 — and is currently Chair of Cinematography at UNC School of Arts, a Top 10 film school in the U.S.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA ColorBox: A powerhouse for color conversion

Perform LUT-based color transformations with powerful video processing using AJA ColorBox in live, on-set, and post production environments. The compact device, which features 12G-SDI in/out and HDMI 2.0 out, provides advanced-level color science via the AJA Color Pipeline, as well as support for Colorfront, ORION-CONVERT, BBC, and NBCU color management approaches. Learn more here: www.aja.com/colorbox.

NYC Cinematography Event:

A Documentary DP Conversation

On Sept. 28th, Foto Care Rentals will open its doors for the first of a brand-new Education & Networking Series in NYC. This evening event will focus on Documentary Cinematography. Moderated by filmmaker David Leitner, award-winning DPs Wolfgang Held ASC, Matt Porwoll and Martina Radwan will take us behind-the-scenes of shooting their latest projects. Join for the Panel, enjoy food & drink, and catch up with filmmaker friends — more info here!

Film Book of the Month:

Room to Dream

In this unique hybrid of biography and memoir, David Lynch opens up for the first time about a life lived in pursuit of his singular vision, and the many heartaches and struggles he’s faced to bring his unorthodox projects to fruition. Lynch’s lyrical, intimate, and unfiltered personal reflections riff off biographical sections written by close collaborator Kristine McKenna and based on more than one hundred new interviews with surprisingly candid ex-wives, family members, actors, agents, musicians, and colleagues in various fields who all have their own takes on what happened. Room to Dream is a landmark book that offers a onetime all-access pass into the life and mind of one of our most enigmatic and utterly original living artists.

Check it out here

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem. Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use. Learn more here

CSS Music is the go-to production Music Library for the entire Film, TV and A/V markets. CSS offers thousands of tracks in every genre and style — helping producers and editors score their latest 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. Visit cssmusic.com 

Have questions? Contact us at info@cssmusic.com

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 6-7, 2023

The industry’s most-renowned southern community event will return in October to Atlanta’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars and screenings! It's the event to attend to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators. Learn more and free passes here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Take a look here

Podcast Rewind:

Sept. 2023 - Episode XVII…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your products or services to over 6,500 leading film, TV and video industry pros, email mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcomed workflow technology expert and entrepreneur, Michael Cioni. Michael has launched or played key roles at companies such as Plaster City Digital Post, Light Iron, Frame.io and Adobe — and is now building a brand-new startup, Strada. In our conversation, Michael shares his origin story — from growing up in Chicago, on through all his business and career chapters. Michael also sheds light on his latest venture — and how he plans to harness the power of A.I. to serve the production and post communities.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA ColorBox: A powerhouse for color conversion

Perform LUT-based color transformations with powerful video processing using AJA ColorBox in live, on-set, and post production environments. The compact device, which features 12G-SDI in/out and HDMI 2.0 out, provides advanced-level color science via the AJA Color Pipeline, as well as support for Colorfront, ORION-CONVERT, BBC, and NBCU color management approaches. Learn more here: www.aja.com/colorbox.

Upcoming NYC Event:

A Documentary DP Conversation

On September 28th, Foto Care Rentals will open its doors for the first of a brand-new Education & Networking Series in NYC. The focus is Documentary Cinematography. Moderated by filmmaker David Leitner, award-winning DPs Wolfgang Held, ASC and Martina Radwan will take us behind-the-scenes of shooting their latest projects. Join for the Panel, enjoy local food and drink, product raffle, and catch up with filmmaker friends — learn more + register here!

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem.

Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use. Learn more here

CSS Music is the go-to production Music Library for the entire Film, TV and A/V markets. CSS offers thousands of tracks in every genre and style — helping producers and editors score their latest 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. Visit cssmusic.com 

Have questions? Contact us at info@cssmusic.com

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Take a look here

Parrot Pro: The Ultimate On-the-Go Smartphone Teleprompter

Made by the team at Padcaster, the ALL NEW Parrot Pro is a patented, ultra-compact, rugged, simple to use Teleprompter that transforms any IOS, Android smartphone into a storytelling powerhouse. Learn more here

Podcast Rewind:

August 2023 - Episode XVI…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your product or service to over 6,500 leading film, TV and video industry professionals, please contact mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we were fortunate to welcome Mr. James Mathers. James is both a longtime Cinematographer and is the founder of the Digital Cinema Society. In our conversation, James shares his story — from child actor, to meeting Walt Disney, his experiences working on the original “Frost/Nixon” interviews in the late-1970s, to shooting dozens of independent films and documentaries over the years. Some of the projects James has shot include The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of ‘Smile’, How Bruce Lee Changed the World, Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?), and The Chicago 8. In addition to his films and the formation of the Digital Cinema Society, James talks about evolving technologies, recommendations for today’s filmmakers — and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Validating IMF Packages with the Oxagile Plug-in for AJA Diskover Media Edition

AJA Diskover Media Edition provides a powerful, intuitive sustainable data management solution that integrates with a range of plug-ins, including Oxagile’s IMF Validator plug-in. With it, users can scan and validate IMF packages before final delivery from anywhere, cuing content creators and providers into when content is ready to share. For more information, visit here

Upcoming Event

Mallorca Film Festival — October 18-24th

The Evolution Mallorca Int’l Film Festival enters its 12th edition this October. This year will also mark the 2nd Annual Cinematography Focus — including Educational Panels, Workshops, Networking and Awards. In addition, ARRI has joined as a lead festival sponsor. The Mallorca Film Festival is recognized as "One of Europe's 10 Most Exciting Film Festivals" by The Guardian, as MovieMaker’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” and appears on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on FilmFreeway! More at evolutionfilmfestival.com

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem.

Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use. Learn more here

CSS Music Boosts Its Library Service with Revolutionary A.I. Technology 

CSS Music has announced a brand-new feature for the community looking to score their projects. This new state-of-the-art A.I. technology powers search like never before — with incredible speed, accuracy and creativity.

CSS Music President Michael Fuller shared, “I’ve been in this industry for over forty years and I’ve never quite seen anything like this. This will not only revolutionize the way we run our business, but it will change the way producers and editors search for music and handle their post workflows. Simply put, it’ll save everyone a lot of time and energy... and we are proud to offer this solution to the creative community.”  To browse this new search tool, visit here

In addition, CSS Music has announced their 1st Annual "Summer Post Special" for end-users working in post now. For only $199, creatives can acquire a 200-track “You Pick ‘em Plan” to score an unlimited number of projects with no restrictions. And as a bonus, they'll receive a copy of Tom Hanks’ new book, “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece” absolutely free with their purchase! This is with fulfillment by Amazon. To inquire, call Mike Fuller at 1-800-468-6874.

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Take a look here

CSS 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 latest 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. Visit cssmusic.com 

Any questions? Contact us at info@cssmusic.com

Podcast Rewind:

August 2023 - Episode XV…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To promote your product or service to over 7,000 leading film, TV and video industry pros, reach out to mvalinsky@me.com

The Making Of is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

On this episode, we were joined by one of the most talented DIT’s in the business, Mr. Eli Berg. Eli has worked on films including The Invitation, Sleepless, The Hate U Give, Jojo Rabbit, The Harder They Fall, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. He’s also worked on tons of music videos, episodic series, and commercials for top brands. In our chat, Eli shares all about his journey from Denver to building a career in Hollywood. We also learn about his role as a DIT, the technologies he uses, his keys to successful collaboration, and other perspectives from years on set…

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Validating IMF Packages with the Oxagile Plug-in for AJA Diskover Media Edition

AJA Diskover Media Edition provides a powerful, intuitive sustainable data management solution that integrates with a range of plug-ins, including Oxagile’s IMF Validator plug-in. With it, users can scan and validate IMF packages before final delivery from anywhere, cuing content creators and providers into when content is ready to share. For more information, visit here

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem.

Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use. Learn more here

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 6-7, 2023

The industry’s most renowned southern filmmaking community event will return this October to Atlanta’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars and screenings! It's the event to attend to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators. Check it out here

Book of the Month:

Masters of Light: Conversations with Contemporary Cinematographers

Through conversations held with fifteen of the most accomplished contemporary cinematographers, the authors explore the working world of the person who controls the visual look and style of a film. This reissue includes a new foreword by cinematographer John Bailey and a new preface by the authors, which bring this classic guide to cinematography, in print for more than twenty-five years, into the twenty-first century. Get a copy here

CSS 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 latest 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. Browse at cssmusic.com 

Any questions? Contact us at info@cssmusic.com

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Take a look here

Podcast Rewind:

August 2023 - Episode XIV…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To feature your product or service, reach out to mvalinsky@me.com

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 GO2

Easily 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.

Read more here

Featured Book:

To the Temple of Tranquility... and Step on It!: A Memoir

Beloved 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 here

Talking 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 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.

See here

Filmmakers 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 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’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 here

Podcast 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

In this episode, we spoke at length with cinematographer Richard Crudo, ASC. Richard has worked on an impressive list of projects including Raising Arizona, American Pie, American Buffalo, Presumed Innocent, Jungle Fever, Donnie Darko, Federal Hill, Outside Providence, “Justified” and “Jane the Virgin”. He also served for years as President of The ASC. In our chat, Richard shares about growing up in Brooklyn and his path to becoming a Hollywood cinematographer. We also learn about his cinematic influences, mentors, thoughts on technologies old and new — and insights from decades of making movies…

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Validating IMF Packages with the Oxagile Plug-in for AJA Diskover Media Edition

AJA Diskover Media Edition provides a powerful, intuitive sustainable data management solution that integrates with a range of plug-ins, including Oxagile’s IMF Validator plug-in. With it, users can scan and validate IMF packages before final delivery from anywhere, cuing content creators and providers into when content is ready to share. For more information, visit here

ZEISS introduces their new camera tracking system

With CinCraft Scenario, ZEISS presents a new, powerful and flexible camera tracking system as part of their CinCraft ecosystem.

Built upon NCAM’s unique tracking technology and ZEISS’ expertise in lens data, the camera tracking system introduces a user experience designed to match the film crew’s workflow and ease of use.

Learn more here

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 6-7, 2023

The industry’s most renowned southern filmmaking community event will return this October to Atlanta’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars and screenings! It's the event to attend to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators. Check it out here

Book of the Month:

Masters of Light: Conversations with Contemporary Cinematographers

Through conversations held with fifteen of the most accomplished contemporary cinematographers, the authors explore the working world of the person who controls the visual look and style of a film. This reissue includes a new foreword by cinematographer John Bailey and a new preface by the authors, which bring this classic guide to cinematography, in print for more than twenty-five years, into the twenty-first century. Get a copy here

CSS 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 latest 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. Browse at cssmusic.com 

Any questions? Contact us at info@cssmusic.com

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Take a look here

Podcast Rewind:

July 2023 - Episode XIII…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To feature your products or services, contact mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we spoke with actor, producer and founding director of the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Sandra Lipski. We heard Sandra’s story beginning with her early days in Europe, her solo journey to America to pursue acting — on to Los Angeles where much of her career took shape. On the festival front, we learned how she built the event from an idea to one of the most popular European film festivals in action today. An inspiring conversation to check out…

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Flexible color management and conversion with AJA

As color strategies evolve, AJA is advancing its tools to meet modern demands. Recent firmware updates bring ColorBox users an optional add-on license to expand Colorfront Engine processing options, and other improvements, while FS-HDR users gain Colorfront TV Mode and updates that support ARRI LogC4 transforms. Both solutions now support v1.6 BBC HLG LUTs. Visit aja.com

ZEISS Conversations

Aaron McLisky, ACS joins ZEISS Conversations on Thursday, August 3rd at 7pm EST. Aaron will share his expertise on cinematography, especially on his latest film "Talk To Me" that was filmed using ZEISS Supreme Primes!

Aaron has also worked on a number of other projects, including the star-studded action thriller "Poker Face" and Seasons 2 & 3 of the acclaimed television drama "Mr. Inbetween" for Blue Tongue Films, Jungle Entertainment, Foxtel, and FX. The series garnered multiple AACTA Award nominations and worldwide praise, with critics praising Aaron's cinematography. Don't miss out on hearing Aaron's take on working with brothers Danny & Michael Philippou, directors of the film "Talk To Me"!

Free registration here!

Featured Event Preview:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 6-7, 2023

The industry’s most renowned southern filmmaking community event will return this October to Atlanta’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars and screenings! It's the event to attend to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators.

Stay tuned for more updates here!

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories.

Check it out here

CSS 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 latest 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! Browse at cssmusic.com 

Podcast Rewind:

July 2023 - Episode XII…

The Making Of is produced by Michael Valinsky.

To feature your brand or products, reach out to mvalinsky@me.com

The Making Of is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, we welcomed an industry veteran and trusted thought-leader, Mr. Derick Rhodes. Derick is Vimeo’s VP of Marketing and is involved in a lot of initiatives including helping shape the platform’s engagement with the creative community. In our conversation, we learn about Derick’s roots, his early inspirations, path to making films — on through his current role at Vimeo. We also chat about Vimeo’s latest solutions, his perspectives on A.I., and much more!

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Flexible color management and conversion with AJA

As color strategies evolve, AJA is advancing its tools to meet modern demands. Recent firmware updates bring ColorBox users an optional add-on license to expand Colorfront Engine processing options, and other improvements, while FS-HDR users gain Colorfront TV Mode and updates that support ARRI LogC4 transforms. Both solutions now support v1.6 BBC HLG LUTs. Visit aja.com

Reprise! 2023 HBO Camera Assessment Series Screening

Saturday, July 29th, 2023

ZEISS Cinematography, SMPTE Hollywood Section and the Digital Cinema Society invite you to a special screening of the HBO Camera Assessment Series. The HBO Camera Assessment Series, started over 10 years ago, was created to assist producers, directors, and cinematographers across the entire Warner Brothers Discovery family to select the most appropriate capture system for their productions. The goal of these highly objective and format agnostic tests is not to determine which camera system is “best”, but which best matches the needs of each individual production. 

DCS Founder James Mathers will moderate a Q&A following the screening with the HBO CAS team including: Suny Behar, Director/DP, HBO Camera Assessment Series, 2011-2023, Stephen Beres, HBO SVP of Production Operations – HBO CAS Executive Producer 2011-2023, (WB-Discovery), & Erik Hansen, HBO VP Media & Production Services - (WB-Discovery).

Register for free here!

9:00 AM Networking Reception, 10:00 AM Program Begins.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Linwood Dunn Theater

Featured Film Book:

Behind the Lens: Dispatches from the Cinematic Trenches, compiles nearly 100 of filmmaker Jay Holben’s best articles from American Cinematographer, Digital Video and TV Technology on everything from camera technology and lenses to tips and techniques for better lighting. This collection provides the tools you need to take your work to the next level and succeed in the world of cinematic motion imaging.

Take a look here!

CSS 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 latest 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! Browse at cssmusic.com 

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories.

Check it out here

Featured Event Preview:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 6-7th, 2023

The industry’s most renowned southern filmmaking community event will return this October to Atlanta’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars and screenings! It's the event to attend to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators.

Stay tuned for more updates here!

Podcast Rewind:

July 2023 - Episode XI…

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we spoke with Emmy-award winning Cinematographer Matt Porwoll. Matt has worked on an impressive list of Documentaries including Cartel Land, Catching Lightning, LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy, Once Upon a Time in Uganda, Tiger, The Trade, Tigerland, At the Fork, The First Wave, The Way I See It, City of Ghosts, and By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. In our conversation, Matt shares all about his upbringing, his path to becoming a working cinematographer, experiences shooting all over the world, tips for new filmmakers, and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Flexible color management and conversion with AJA

As color strategies evolve, AJA is advancing its tools to meet modern demands. Recent firmware updates bring ColorBox users an optional add-on license to expand Colorfront Engine processing options, and other improvements, while FS-HDR users gain Colorfront TV Mode and updates that support ARRI LogC4 transforms. Both solutions now support v1.6 BBC HLG LUTs. https://www.aja.com/family/color

Film Book of the Month:

In Hitchcock, film critic François Truffaut presents fifty hours of interviews with Alfred Hitchcock about the whole of his vast directorial career, from his silent movies in Great Britain to his color films in Hollywood. The result is a portrait of one of the greatest directors the world has ever known, an all-round specialist who masterminded everything, from the screenplay and the photography to the editing and the soundtrack. Hitchcock discusses the inspiration behind his films and the art of creating fear and suspense, as well as giving strikingly honest assessments of his achievements and failures, his doubts and hopes. This peek into the brain of one of cinema’s greats is a must-read for all film aficionados. Learn more here

CSS 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 latest 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!  Browse at www.cssmusic.com 

ZEISS Acquires Camera Tracking Pioneer Ncam Technologies

ZEISS has acquired UK-based camera tracking pioneer Ncam Technologies Ltd. With this acquisition, ZEISS is expanding its technology portfolio specifically for the cinema, broadcast, and visual effects industries. Ncam's multi-award-winning hybrid camera tracking technology is an excellent complement to ZEISS' cinema product lineup of cine lenses and lens data related services in the CinCraft ecosystem.Together, ZEISS and Ncam are aiming to deliver outstanding, easy to use tracking and VFX solutions for professional production workflows. Read more here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Check it out here

Podcast Rewind:

June 2023 - Episode X…

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we welcomed one of the most talented Gaffers in the business, Mr. Jeff Murrell. Jeff joined us to share about his life and work on films including True Lies, Get Shorty, Men in Black, Gone in 60 Seconds, Lords of Dogtown, Live Free or Die Hard, Ted, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Seberg, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Tomorrow War, and Megalopolis! We learned about how Jeff got started in the business, how he learned his craft, his thoughts on the latest lighting technologies, and advice for new filmmakers.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

As color pipelines evolve, the AJA FS-HDR and ColorBox keep pace. At NAB 2023, AJA announced support for the latest ARRI LogC4 color science along with updated Colorfront Live and TV Modes for real time SDR / HDR color space conversions. More information at www.aja.com/family/color

Remembering Bryce

It was just one month ago, on May 19th, 2023, that we lost a longtime friend and colleague, Bryce Button. Bryce was an incredibly smart, warm and generous person — and helped provide priceless advice over the years and as we launched this podcast. A heartfelt Thank You to Bryce for all your support and friendship. We will miss you.

Film Festival of the Month:

Mallorca Film Festival — October 18-24, 2023

The Evolution Mallorca Int’l Film Festival enters its 12th edition with a clear mission — Bridging Cultures, Bridging People. The festival is recognized as "One of Europe's 10 Most Exciting Film Festivals" by The Guardian, as MovieMaker’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” six years in a row, and appears on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on FilmFreeway.com! EMIFF is helping shape a creative community, encouraging independent filmmakers to network and thrive in this idyllic Mediterranean island paradise. More at evolutionfilmfestival.com

ZEISS Conversations with Jonathan Ingalls

The next installment of ZEISS Conversations is coming up on Thursday, June 29 at 12pm PDT/ 3pm EDT! Their latest exciting episode is with Jonathan Ingalls, the renowned expert in the field of Documentary Cinematography. They'll start the conversation with his latest project: "100 Years of Warner Bros.," shot on ZEISS CP.3 and CZ.2 Cinema Zooms. At the end, they’ll have time to cover other favorites such as “Blackfish,” “The Imagineering Story,” and they’ll take questions from the audience. Register here

Film Book of the Month

To kick off our summer book series, we begin with Easy Riders, Raging Bulls.

“When the low-budget biker movie Easy Rider shocked Hollywood with its success in 1969, a new Hollywood era was born. This was an age when talented young filmmakers such as Scorsese, Coppola, and Spielberg, along with a new breed of actors, including De Niro, Pacino, and Nicholson, became the powerful figures who would make such modern classics as The Godfather, Chinatown, Taxi Driver, & Jaws. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls follows the wild ride that was Hollywood in the '70s — an unabashed celebration of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll (both onscreen and off) and a climate where innovation and experimentation reigned supreme. Based on hundreds of interviews with the directors themselves, producers, stars, agents, writers, studio executives, spouses, and ex-spouses, this is the full, candid story of Hollywood's last golden age.” Pick up a copy here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Browse here

Podcast Rewind:

May 2023 - Episode IX…

Note: photo in thumbnail taken by Phil Caruso. On set of Megalopolis.

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

On this episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with veteran Film and TV Cinematographer Jendra Jarnagin. Jendra has worked on an extensive list of top shows and films including “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City,” “Law & Order,” “Gotham,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,” David Mamet’s Spartan, Spike Lee’s She Hate Me, Noah Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale, Asking For It, and “East New York”! An amazing conversation covering her roots, education at NYU, experiences on a variety of independent film sets and large-scale television shows, on through her lensing the series “East New York”. An inspiring and educational chat; thank you Jendra for joining us.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA Introduces FS HDR v4.2 and ColorBox v2.0 Updates

Announced at NAB 2023, ColorBox 2.0 and FS-HDR 4.2 both feature updated camera support including Arri LogC4 and Sony S-Log3. Other updates include an expanded Colorfront TV mode, and a new gamma compensation control in the Orion-Convert color pipeline. BBC HLG Luts have been updated to v1.6 and ColorBox 2.0 adds the ability to overlay framelines for shot framing or .png files for branding or watermarking needs. www.aja.com

Featured Event of the Month:

Cine Gear LA — June 1-4, 2023

Cine Gear is the premier event for professionals engaged in the film & entertainment technology industry. Taking place June 1st – 4th with exhibits June 2nd – 3rd at The Studios at Paramount, Cine Gear features exhibits, new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, and ample opportunity to network with peers. Learn more here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Browse here

Workshop of the Month:

Small to No Crew: Cinematic Video Lighting Workshop with Jem Schofield of TheC47

This one-day hands-on workshop with Jem Schofield of theC47 will take attendees through how to light for documentary, in-house & corporate based projects. This will include going through the process of planning & lighting using largely low-key, cinematic techniques and will feature lighting, lighting control, composition and camera set-ups to teach you how to light for a wide range of projects. Jem will also discuss and demonstrate certain "rules" that can be followed to help you consistently shoot great and natural looking one & two-camera interviews in different shooting environments. The workshop will be delivered in a conversational style that will allow Jem to work effectively with his crew (attendees of the workshop), while still teaching process & craft. Exactly like being on an actual, working set!

June 1, 2023 — 9:30am - 5:00pm PDT | AbelCine Los Angeles

Click here for more info and to register.

Film Festival of the Month:

Mallorca Film Festival — October 18-24, 2023

The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival enters its 12th edition with a clear mission: Bridging Cultures, Bridging People. Recognized as "One of Europe's 10 Most Exciting Film Festivals" by The Guardian, MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” six years in a row, and appearing on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on FilmFreeway.com, EMIFF shapes a creative community, encouraging independent filmmakers to network and thrive in this idyllic Mediterranean island paradise.  Visit evolutionfilmfestival.com

Submission Discount Code: “ThemakingofMallorca” on Filmfreeway. Link here

Podcast Rewind:

May 2023 - Episode VIII…

The Making Of is created & hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

On this episode, we were lucky to welcome Mr. Phil Caruso, one of the industry’s most talented Still Photographers. Phil has shot on-set images on projects including Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Parenthood, Backdraft, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, A Bronx Tale, Forrest Gump, Clockers, Casino, 12 Monkeys, The Rainmaker, Wag the Dog, Analyze This, Meet the Parents, Game Change, Sinister, Megalopolis, “Bull,” “Poker Face” and “White House Plumbers.” In our conversation, Phil shares all about growing up, learning photography, his trajectory in the movie business, the unique role of an on-set photographer, and much more.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA Introduces FS HDR v4.2 and ColorBox v2.0 Updates

Announced at NAB 2023, ColorBox 2.0 and FS-HDR 4.2 both feature updated camera support including Arri LogC4 and Sony S-Log3. Other updates include an expanded Colorfront TV mode, and a new gamma compensation control in the Orion-Convert color pipeline. BBC HLG Luts have been updated to v1.6 and ColorBox 2.0 adds the ability to overlay framelines for shot framing or .png files for branding or watermarking needs. www.aja.com

Film Book of the Month:

Martin Scorsese: A Retrospective

Since his emergence in the early 1970s, Scorsese has become one of the most respected names in cinema. Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas are regularly cited as being among the finest films ever made. This lavish retrospective is a fitting tribute to a remarkable director, now into his seventh decade in cinema and showing no signs of slowing up. Leading film writer Tom Shone draws on his in-depth knowledge and distinctive viewpoint to present refreshing commentaries on all twenty-six main features, from the rarely shown Who's That Knocking at My Door (1967) to the latest release, The Irishman (2019), as well as covering Scorsese's notable parallel career as a documentarian. Impeccably designed and copiously illustrated with more than two hundred stills and behind-the-scenes images, this is the definitive celebration of one of cinema's most enduring talents. View on Ebay

ZEISS Conversations with Ernesto Lomeli

Duclos has announced the first in-person event in the Duclos Demo Space featuring ZEISS Conversations with Ernesto Lomeli, moderated by Matthew Duclos! The talk and hands-on demos are taking place at their new space and registration is required. Test out the entire ZEISS lens lineup and mingle with fellow cinematographers. There will be complimentary food and beverages available.  Register here

Featured Event of the Month:

Cine Gear LA — June 1-4, 2023

Cine Gear is the premier event for professionals engaged in the film & entertainment technology industry. Taking place June 1st – 4th with exhibits June 2nd – 3rd at The Studios at Paramount, Cine Gear features exhibits, new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, and ample opportunity to network with peers. More info here

OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Browse here

Film Festival of the Month:

Mallorca Film Festival — October 18-24, 2023

The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival enters its 12th edition with a clear mission: Bridging Cultures, Bridging People. Recognized as "One of Europe's 10 Most Exciting Film Festivals" by The Guardian, MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” six years in a row, and appearing on the 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival list on FilmFreeway.com, EMIFF shapes a creative community, encouraging independent filmmakers to network and thrive in this idyllic Mediterranean island paradise.  Visit evolutionfilmfestival.com

Submission Discount Code: “ThemakingofMallorca” on Filmfreeway. Link here

Podcast Rewind:

March 2023 - Episode VII…

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

In this episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with veteran filmmaker Hugo Perez. A New York-based writer, director and producer, Hugo is most-recently known for “Omara” — a documentary about legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo as well as for producing the award-winning feature documentary “Once Upon a Time in Uganda.” In our conversation, Hugo shares about his roots in Miami, education, cinematic inspirations — and his path to building a filmmaking career.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

ColorBox from AJA with LUT Color Transforms

AJA ColorBox is the modern LUT box that simplifies conversion between SDR, HDR, and WCG through a LUT-based and algorithmic color transformation. AJA ColorBox offers 12G-SDI input/output and HDMI 2.0 output for up to 4K/UltraHD 60p 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 and 30p 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 signal support. www.aja.com/colorbox

Film Book of the Month:

The Stanley Kubrick Archives

Now available as part of the Bibliotheca Universalis series, The Stanley Kubrick Archives borrows from the director’s philosophy. From the opening sequence of Killer’s Kiss to the final frames of Eyes Wide Shut, it allows the masterful visuals of Kubrick’s films to impress through a sequence of compelling, mesmerizing stills. It uncovers Kubrick’s creative process through fascinating archival material, including set designs, sketches, correspondence, documents, screenplays, drafts, notes, and shooting schedules. Check it out here

Join ZEISS Cinematography at SXSW as we present A Conversation with Robert McLachlan, ASC, CSC on Sunday, March 12. We’ll talk with him about his extensive body of work, including GAME OF THRONES, SHINING GIRLS, RAY DONOVAN, WESTWORLD and the reboot of AMERICAN GIGOLO.  We’ll also be on hand with a variety of ZEISS lenses for you to demo.  Looking forward to seeing you in Austin!

Partner Event of the Month:

Cine Gear NY — March 10-11, 2023

Cine Gear Expo New York is taking place this week at historic Industry City, on the Brooklyn waterfront. Visitors will get to experience over 50 technology and service exhibits as well as attend seminars and panels hosted by filmmakers and industry leaders. cinegearexpo.com

The OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first of its kind, full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply and 11 ports, for additional ease and connectivity while on the Go. It’s a one-dock solution that works with all past, present and future Thunderbolt and USB devices and accessories. Learn more here

Podcast Rewind:

Dec 2022 - Episode VI…

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

In this new podcast, we spoke at length with the legendary Daniel Pearl, ASC. Mr. Pearl is the artist who nearly fifty years ago (in 1973) shot his first feature film, the masterpiece “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” — which changed the face of horror cinema forever. In the years that followed, Daniel also pioneered the music video genre — lensing videos for artists including The Police, U2, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen. In our talk, we learn about his early days and unique path to becoming a prolific, award-winning Director of Photography. Enjoy hearing from the master himself…

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA ColorBox: Advancing color accuracy in live production, on set and in post

A versatile algorithmic and LUT processing device, AJA ColorBox ensures precise color space conversions in live productions, on set, and in post. The portable unit enables HDR and SDR colorspace conversions and includes 12G-SDI in/out and HDMI 2.0 out for up to 4K/UltraHD 60p 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 and 30p 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 signal support, and more. www.aja.com/colorbox

Film Book of the Month:

Cinema Speculation

The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino. Browse here

Whether you are shooting a commercial where exquisite color rendition and high contrast is important, or a tense, dramatic sequence in low light situations for a feature film, ZEISS cinematography lenses offer you the performance you need to get the scene right. With a wide range of focal lengths in twelve different lens families each tailored for your needs, ZEISS cinematography lenses give you always the best quality to make your project stand out. Learn more here

From 4K HDR zero-delay wireless monitoring, to cloud-based production streaming, and premium lens control, Teradek solutions are used around the world by professionals and amateurs alike to capture and share compelling content. Our mission is to modernize workflows for creators by developing leading edge tools that allow them to expand the possibilities of how they tell their stories.

Discover Teradek online at www.teradek.com or in-person at Creative Solutions Los Angeles (CSLA).

Podcast Rewind:

Nov 2022 - Episode V…

The Making Of is created and hosted by Michael Valinsky.

Reach out anytime at mvalinsky@me.com

In this special episode, we were fortunate to welcome an industry veteran and thought leader, Mr. Bryce Button. During our chat, we hear Bryce’s story - from his early beginnings on set, to years working in post, and on through his position today as Director of Product Marketing at AJA Video Systems. Bryce sheds light on all the changes the industry has seen over the years — changing formats, evolving workflows, and where things might be heading. It’s a fun and fascinating talk with one of our favorite industry friends.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

AJA ColorBox: Advancing color accuracy on set and in post

AJA ColorBox features algorithmic and LUT processing capabilities for delivering precise color space conversions on set and in post. The powerhouse device enables HDR and SDR conversions and includes 12G-SDI in/out and HDMI 2.0 out for up to 4K/UltraHD 60p 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 and 30p 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 signal support. Visit aja.com/colorbox

Film Book of the Month:

AC Manual - 11th Edition

The revised 11th edition of this essential technical reference is now exclusively available from The ASC. Containing entirely new chapters and substantial rewrites of entries from the previous edition, this hardback book designed for on-set use is a must-have for cinematographers and other motion-imaging professionals.

Edited by M. David Mullen, ASC and ASC associate member Rob Hummel, contributors to this edition include Society members Bill Bennett, Christopher Chomyn, Richard Crudo, Richard Edlund, John C. Hora, Levie Isaacks, Dennis Muren, James Neihouse, Sam Nicholson, Steven Poster, Christopher Probst, Pete Romano, Roberto Schaefer and David Stump. Browse here.

Whether you are shooting a commercial where exquisite color rendition and high contrast is important, or a tense, dramatic sequence in low light situations for a feature film, ZEISS cinematography lenses offer you the performance you need to get the scene right. With a wide range of focal lengths in twelve different lens families each tailored for your needs, ZEISS cinematography lenses give you always the best quality to make your project stand out.

Explore here: ZEISS

Featured Event of the Month:

One World Open House

Band Pro’s Guest of Honor this year will be Emmy Award winning cinematographer Checco Varese, ASC. Checco’s work includes Dopesick, It: Chapter 2, The 33, Daisy Jones & the Six, Them, The Strain, & much more. Band Pro’s Open House combines the best television and cinema technology, along with fine food & drink, and attendees comprising a who’s-who of the global cinematography community. Exhibitors this year include Sony, Canon, Angenieux, Fujinon, ZEISS, 16X9 Inc., Litepanels, ORCA Bags and many more.

December 8, 2022 | RSVP at Open House

Wooden Camera designs and builds professional camera accessories to outfit any motion picture camera rig with gear tailored for evolving production needs. With R&D based in Los Angeles, CA and a Dallas, Texas-based headquarters, Wooden Camera produces real-world camera solutions demands of everyday production.

Discover Wooden Camera products online at woodencamera.com or in-person at Creative Solutions Los Angeles (CSLA).

Podcast Rewind:

Sept 2022 - Episode IV…

The Making Of is published by Michael Valinsky.

To inquire about partnership opportunities, email mvalinsky@me.com

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 GO2

Easily 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 here

Talking 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 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 here

Filmmakers 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 here

Recommended Film Book:

A History of Narrative Film

Sophisticated 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 here

Hat 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 here

Podcast 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

We are excited to share this new conversation with the one and only Jay Holben. Jay wears a few hats in our industry, including writer, director and producer. He also serves as the contributing technical editor for American Cinematographer Magazine, is co-author of The Cine Lens Manual, co-chairs The ASC’s Motion Imaging Technology Council Lens Committee, and moderates many of the industry’s leading educational panels on cinematography and filmmaking.

In this podcast, Jay shares about growing up in Arizona, his early film-going experiences, and his path to making movies. We learn about his start in Los Angeles in the mid-90’s and how things evolved from there. An inspiring conversation, Jay also sheds light on the many challenges and lessons learned along the way.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Streaming and Recording with Powerful Multi-Input Video Processing

AJA HELO Plus is a cost-efficient H.264 streaming and recording device that includes many standout features, including dual streaming outputs, multi-input processing; SRT support; advanced encoding/decoding; improved scheduling options, and more. A “Layouts'' feature lets users combine SDI/ HDMI inputs into a single output and easily add graphic overlays to the composite. https://www.aja.com/products/helo-plus

Film Book of the Month:

In this volume, made with the full cooperation of Lucasfilm, Lucas narrates his own story, taking us through the making of the original trilogy―Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI Return of the Jedi―and bringing fresh insights into the creation of a unique universe. Complete with script pages, production documents, concept art, storyboards, on-set photography, stills, and posters, this is the authoritative exploration of the original saga as told by its creator. Visit here at Taschen

SmallHD designs and manufactures monitoring solutions for professional cinematographers, videographers, post-production professionals, and photographers worldwide. Creators of the world’s first high definition on-camera monitor, SmallHD continues to innovate new on-camera solutions and 4K HDR Production monitors. All SmallHD monitors are powered by PageOS 5, a unique software user experience offering more tools, more speed, and more creative control than ever before. 

Discover SmallHD online at smallhd.com or in-person at Creative Solutions Los Angeles (CSLA).

Partner Event of the Month:

The industry's most renowned southern industry event will return to Atlanta Georgia’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars, screenings, and world-class hobnobbing. It's the place to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators.

Sign-ups for attending the Hollywood-meets-southern-hospitality Cine Gear Expo are free at: cinegearexpo.com 

Resource of the Month:

The Digital Cinema Society is a format agnostic educational cooperative dedicated to informing the entertainment industry about the integration of new technology.  Member benefits include access to educational seminars and networking events, DCS “Streaming Knowledge-on-Demand”, and a monthly eNewsletter featuring unbiased coverage of the latest motion picture technology. DCSonline.org

Podcast Rewind:

July 2022 - Episode III…

The Making Of is created by Michael Valinsky.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please email mvalinsky@me.com.

We are pleased to share this mid-summer conversation with a very talented cinematographer, Mr. Mihai Malaimare Jr. Mihai has worked on an impressive slate of films since the year 2007, where he shot the first of three features for Francis Ford Coppola, Youth Without Youth. Since then, he’s lensed Tetro and Twixt for Coppola, The Master for Paul Thomas Anderson, A Walk Among the Tombstones, Nina, Sleepless, November Criminals, The Hate U Give, Jojo Rabbit, The Harder They Fall, and this year’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” HBO series. Currently, Mihai is in pre-production on Coppola’s ambitious feature, Megalopolis.

In our conversation, Mihai shares about his upbringing and education in Romania, how he began his longtime collaboration with Mr. Coppola, his approach to prepping projects, and how he selects filmmaking technology. We also learn about his collaboration on the amazing series, “Winning Time.” Thank you Mihai for sharing so much with us.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Synchronous Multi-Channel/Multi-System Transport with AJA BRIDGE LIVE

Synchronous multi-channel/multi-system transport has arrived in AJA’s latest BRIDGE LIVE v1.13 update. The feature-rich release for the multi-channel UltraHD and HD live video solution for remote production, contribution, collaboration, streaming, and delivery also includes features like dual-channel UltraHD support; and multichannel end-to-end HDR support over SDI. https://www.aja.com/products/bridge-live

Film Book of the Month:

Making Movies

Written by one of America's greatest directors, Sidney Lumet shares about his career and provides insights into the art, craft, and business of the motion picture industry. Lumet credits include 12 Angry Men, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Pawnbroker, Fail Safe, Serpico, Murder on the Orient Express, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and Before the Devil Knows Your Dead.

Get your copy from The Strand.

From 4K HDR zero-delay wireless monitoring, to cloud-based production streaming, and premium lens control, Teradek solutions are used around the world by professionals and amateurs alike to capture and share compelling content. Our mission is to modernize workflows for creators by developing leading edge tools that allow them to expand the possibilities of how they tell their stories.

Discover Teradek online at www.teradek.com or in-person at Creative Solutions Los Angeles (CSLA).

Partner Event of the Month:

Cine Gear Atlanta — October 7-8, 2022

The industry's most renowned southern industry event will return to Atlanta Georgia’s Trilith Studios with its hallmark exhibits, seminars, screenings, and world-class hobnobbing. It's the place to reconnect with colleagues, friends and collaborators.

Sign-ups for attending the Hollywood-meets-southern-hospitality Cine Gear Expo are free at: www.cinegearexpo.com/atl-expo/atl-registration/ 

Resource of the Month:

ProductionHUB is a global network of local crew and vendors that serves the film and video production industry. Find and hire anyone you need, whether it's a cameraman for a day, a video editor for one month, or a full-time producer. Since launching in 1999, we've grown beyond a simple directory into the most-trusted resource for finding qualified and experienced crew, vendors and employees. We're your film and video production partner.

Browse the site at productionhub.com

Podcast Rewind:

June 2022 - Episode II…

The Making Of is created by Michael Valinsky.

To inquire about partnership opportunities, please contact mvalinsky@me.com.

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We are pleased to share Episode II of The Making Of, where we talked shop with Oscar-nominated Cinematographer Larry Sher, ASC.  Larry is an amazing DP with a long list of successful films including The Hangover series, Garden State, Kissing Jessica Stein, I Love You Man, Dan in Real Life, Due Date, Paul, The Dictator, War Dogs, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Joker.

In our conversation, Larry shares much about his backstory, filmmaking beginnings, and his real-world education about cinematography.  We also hear about his longtime collaboration with director Todd Phillips and we do get confirmation that he’s working away on Joker 2. Check out our conversation at the link above.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

The HELO Plus Production Advantage

HELO Plus is a cost-efficient H.264 streaming/recording device for traditional and virtual production monitoring applications. It delivers efficient bandwidth, provides high quality imagery to inform practical production decisions, and supports a wide range of streaming platforms, as well as streaming over a private CDN for added security. https://www.aja.com/products/helo-plus.

Film Book of the Month:

The Godfather Notebook

The most important unpublished work on one of the greatest films of all time, The Godfather, written before filming, by the man who wrote and directed it—Francis Ford Coppola, then only thirty-two years old—reveals the intense creative process that went into making this seminal film. With his meticulous notes and impressions of Mario Puzo’s novel, the notebook was referred to by Coppola daily on set while he directed the movie. The Godfather Notebook pulls back the curtain on the legendary filmmaker and the film that launched his illustrious career. Complete with an introduction by Francis Ford Coppola and exclusive photographs from on and off the set, this is a unique, beautiful, and faithful reproduction of Coppola’s original notebook. Get the book.

Partner Event of the Month:

The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival has created a creative community to network, be inspired, & thrive in this Mediterranean island paradise. Included in the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” by MovieMaker magazine, 100 Best-Reviewed Film Festivals on FilmFreeway, and as a 10 Best European Film Festivals by The Guardian. https://www.evolutionfilmfestival.com/

Resource of the Month:

Founded by Lawrence Sher, ASC (Joker, The Hangover), ShotDeck is the world’s largest library of fully searchable film and tv stills. A celebration of the moving image, each of their 300K shots are meticulously tagged in dozens of categories - from color to composition, lens and camera information, shooting location, and much more. This essential research tool is perfect for creatives and ad folks working on pitch decks, as well as filmmakers, students, and educators looking to discover images for inspiration on their next projects. From Pitch to Post - ShotDeck. We celebrate film, one beautiful shot at a time. www.shotdeck.com

Podcast Rewind:

May 2022: Episode I…

Sneak Preview

This Summer expect fresh episodes with friends including Mihai Malaimare, Scott Ressler, plus some directors, producers, veteran actors, and more.  Stay tuned!

The Making Of is created by Michael Valinsky.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact mvalinsky@me.com.

Forty-five years ago in a galaxy far, far away a little science-fiction film called Star Wars hit cinemas nationwide and in an instant, the industry was changed forever. So, it is on this anniversary that we are excited to launch The Making Of… a fresh newsletter and podcast shining a light on the artists behind the scenes of the most innovative, influential, and iconic films in recent history.

In this first issue, we’re pleased to share a conversation with an industry legend, Mr. Bruce Logan, ASC, who worked on Star Wars (in which he blew up the Death Star). Bruce was also cinematographer of the landmark film TRON in 1982, and has worked on a long list of epic films including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Airplane!, Batman Forever, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Blade Runner (via Zabriskie Point), The Incredible Shrinking Woman, and so many others. Over the years, Bruce has worn many hats — cinematographer, writer, director, producer, visual effects supervisor, editor, colorist, and is an esteemed member of The ASC, The Academy, & DGA. We are grateful to Bruce for all of his creative contributions and for talking shop with us here.

The Making Of is presented by AJA Video Systems:

Advanced H.264 Streaming and Recording

Introducing the new HELO Plus, a compact, next-gen H.264 streaming and recording device. Portable and feature-rich, HELO Plus offers powerful production capabilities, including dual streaming outputs and multi-input processing, SRT support, advanced encoding and decoding, improved scheduling options and device operation, and more. www.aja.com/products/helo-plus.

What’s Ahead:

In the coming months, we’ll share a variety of inspiring and insightful conversations with talented cinematographers, producers, directors, post pros, & other hard-working members of the community. In every discussion, we’ll be focusing on each artist’s unique creative process…

Film Book of The Month:

The Cine Lens Manual is a comprehensive examination of cinema optics. Written in clear, easily-digestible language, and extensively illustrated. It is not just for cinematographers, but for directors, visual effects artists, camera assistants, animators, journalists, historians, students, rental house technicians and more. It covers everything you could ever want to know about cinema style lenses. Learn more at www.cinelensmanual.com.

Partner Event of the Month:

LAPPG - June 2022

Join LAPPG online on June 8, 2022 at 2pm PST for their 14th Anniversary meeting with a presentation on "Remote Video Workflows with HELO Plus." AJA’s Product Marketing Manager, Andy Bellamy, will be joining LAPPG again this year and giving away a T-TAP Pro! For more, visit www.lappg.com.

Special thanks to our friends at CSS Music for their support.

Cutting-edge underscore used daily by major Film Studios. Redi-Trax lets you find music faster with waveform analysis. Choose from thousands of tracks of production music (needle drop, royalty free, gratis licenses). A Playlist Utility lets you keep track of music scene by scene. Choose from single track downloads or save with a "You Pick 'Em" plan or 450+ virtual CDs. Browse the library at www.cssmusic.com.

The Making Of is created by Michael Valinsky.

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact mvalinsky@me.com.

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 GO2

Easily 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

Other 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 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.

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 here

ZEISS Conversations with Jack Schurman

Join 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 here

Podcast 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

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 GO2

Easily 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

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.

Learn more here

Featured 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 here

Podcast 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

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 GO2

Easily 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 Munich

A 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 here

Tips from theC47:

Beach Read:

The JAWS Log

Winner 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 here

Podcast 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

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 updates

From 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

Vimeo Staff Picks Screening:

Thursday, June 27th | Los Angeles

Join 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 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

Recommended Book:

A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 Years in Hollywood

The 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 here

CSS 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

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 updates

From 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

Vimeo Staff Picks Screening:

Thursday, June 27th | Los Angeles

Join 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 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.

Check it out 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…

Featured Book:

The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story

The 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 here

Podcast 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

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 GO2

Easily 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

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 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 Amazon

From 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

Honoring a Pioneer: Nancy Schreiber ASC Receives the Trailblazer Award

The 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 here

Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer Cox

Jennifer 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

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 GO2

Easily 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…

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

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 here

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.  

Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer Cox

Jennifer 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

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 GO2

Easily 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

ZEISS Cinema & The Making Of present: A Conversation with Lawrence Sher, ASC

ZEISS 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 here

From 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

Upcoming Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5th

Thousands 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 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.

Check it out here

Podcast 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

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 GO2

Easily 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 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.

Check it out here

From 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 Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5th

Thousands 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 here

Featured Book:

Cronenberg on Cronenberg

Cronenberg 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

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 GO2

Easily 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…

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

Igelkott Studios Offers World Class In-Camera Visual Effects

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.

Visit us here

Featured Event:

Cine Gear Atlanta | October 4-5th

Thousands 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 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.

Check it out here

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:

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

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 Horror

Join 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 here

From 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 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 KIND

Pickup an instant copy at KISS ME QUICK BEFORE I SHOOT Kindle Ebook Amazon

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 here

Vimeo 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 here

Post|Production World New York

Join 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 here

Talking Cinematography with Documentarian Jennifer Cox

Jennifer 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