Art vs. Commerce

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Episode 63 - Salvatore Totino, ASC, AIC Mar 17, 2020

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Salvatore Totino, ASC, AIC is currently one of the foremost recognized cinematographers in cinema. He approaches each project with a unique visual style, and seamlessly translates each story’s unique concept into breathtaking moving images. Born and raised in Brooklyn New York, Salvatore is a regular fixture on director Ron Howard’s team. In addition to Inferno, the duo collaborated on films such as The Missing, Cinderella Man, Frost/Nixon, The Dilemma, Made In America, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. Salvatore Totino began building his reputation as one of the finest commercial and music video DOPs of his generation. Today, he has over 500 commercials on his resume, having contributed to high profile campaigns like Jack Daniels, Nike, Jaguar, The GAP and H.I.S. Jeans, winning a Clio Ward for the latter. He lit the music videos for such celebrated bands as Radiohead, REM, Bruce Springsteen, Sound Garden U2, and many others.

Episode 62 - Armando Salas, ASC Mar 03, 2020

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Armando Salas is a director of photography who’s work spans features, episodic and commercials. Early on in his career, Armando won an ASC Award for best cinematography with a short film he made in college. In 2017 Armando DP’d the feature, BITCH, which got into Sundance and also The Most Hated Woman in America got into SXSW. Most recently Armando just wrapped filming season 3 of Ozark.

Episode 61 - Colin Watkinson, ASC, BSC Feb 18, 2020

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Colin Watkinson, ASC, BSC combines an exquisite eye for detail with a flair for colour and a sense of movement that brings a unique freshness and excitement to his work. As a cinematographer his first feature, “The Fall.” was described by renowned film critic Roger Ebert as “One of the most astonishing films I have ever seen.” Colin’s instinctive ear for dialect and nuance makes him a much sought after collaborator whether the project to hand is Film, Television or across the advertising spectrum and his willingness to throw himself into every venture no matter how bizarre is famous throughout the industry.

Quick Update Dec 03, 2019

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Episode 60 - Carmen Cabana Nov 26, 2019

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Carmen Cabana is a cinematographer of Afro-Hispanic descent. Fresh off a DP seat on Starz TV show "Vida S1 and S2", Netflix's show "Narcos Season 2", Amazon's pilot "Los Angeles", HBO Access pilot "Sterling" and TNT/Refinery 29 short "French Fries". Carmen's years of experience and ability for understanding story, capturing emotion and visual dynamism has catapulted her towards the top choices for female cinematographers. She has shot over 23 features around the world, with many name talents and screenings at many renowned festivals. Carmen's work on "Vida S1" was featured in ICG Magazine (October 2018); she was also listed in the magazine American Cinematographer under the "Rising Stars of Cinematography" article (February 2017 issue); was also listed in Variety's 2016 Below the Line report "Up Next" as one of the most promising filmmakers. Quickly to adapt and collaborate with locals, Carmen has filmed features in 15 US states and in Mexico, Cuba and Colombia. She teaches cinematography workshops around the world as well as women empowerment talks. Her past appearances include: HBO Access; NAMIC's "Latino Creatives in Entertainment"; HRTS Women of the West "Diversity on Television Panel", Erman Baradi’s Industry Panel; "Seen and Heard": Women Empowerment Panel-DTLA Film Festival; STAGE 32 "Women in Entertainment Panel"; Arri and Film Independent Project Involve Cinematography workshop; "The 8th Annual Masters in Motion" Film Conference in Austin-Texas; Rule the Set "Cinematography for episodic TV" workshop-Atlanta; ENFOCUS Cinematography workshop-Costa Rica , Litepanels workshop-Vegas. Carmen is a Film Independent Project Involve Fellow (2010), A Sundance Director's Lab Crew Participant (2008) and a member of the Friends of the ASC educational program.

Episode 59 - Igor Martinovic Nov 19, 2019

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Igor Martinovic is a Croatian cinematographer based in New York. Igor photographed the Academy Award winning documentary, Man On Wire, which also won the BAFTA for Best British Film as well as the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award of 2008. Igor was the Director of Photography for the Netflix original series House of Cards as well as Wormwood and The Night Of. He was nominated for an Emmy in 2014 for his work on the series House of Cards.

Episode 58 - Alex Buono Nov 12, 2019

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Alex Buono is Director/EP of the Emmy-nominated IFC comedy series DOCUMENTARY NOW!. He is also the Writer/Producer of the documentary feature BIGGER STRONGER FASTER*, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. In 2003, Alex received an Oscar nomination for the short film JOHNNY FLYNTON, which he produced and also shot. Alex repeated the dual role of producer/cinematographer on GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS that won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2005 South by Southwest Film Festival. Alex was also the Director of Photography for the SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Film Unit from 1999-2016, where he shot hundreds of short films, including Farewell, Mr. Bunting, The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders, Santa Baby, Matthew McConaughey for Lincoln and the 40th Anniversary Season title sequence, to name a few. Alex was educated at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he double-majored in Film Production and Still Photography. His early post-collegiate years were spent on the camera crews of studio films including Twister, Conspiracy Theory and Armageddon, learning from top cinematographers and personal mentors including Conrad Hall, Dean Cundey and John Schwartzman. Alex is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, the Writer’s Guild of America, the International Documentary Association and the International Cinematographer’s Guild.

Episode 57 - Robby Baumgartner Nov 05, 2019

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Robby Baumgartner began his film career 28 years ago in New York City. His interest in lighting inspired him to choose the unconventional route to DP via Gaffing. This career path allowed him to light films and learn from some of the most talented DP’s in the business: Rodrigo Prieto, Chris Menges, Robert Elswit, Dante Spinotti, Darius Khondji, Janusz Kaminski, and Emmanuel Lubezki. Some of the films include: “8 Mile”, “25th Hour”, “21 Grams”, “Babel”, “Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”, and “There Will be Blood”. In between Gaffing gigs he took every opportunity to DP or camera-operate on feature films, 2nd-unit photography, commercials, and shorts. Then in 2008 “There Will be Blood” shot by Robert Elswit, won the Oscar for Best Cinematography; the highest honor for any DP/Gaffing team. That event was the impetus for Robby to stop gaffing and DP exclusively. In 2009 Robby joined the International Cinematographers Guild as a DP. Since then he has gone on to shoot 2nd unit on both “Hunger Games” l and ll, “Water for Elephants”, and “Argo” amongst other films. For the last 5 years he has been concentrating on shooting main unit for films such as “The Guest”, “Blair Witch (2016)” and now “Blindspotting”, which has been selected for competition in the US Dramatic category at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Episode 56 - Craig Wrobleski Oct 29, 2019

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In his 30 years behind the camera Craig Wrobleski csc has served as cinematographer on productions of nearly every description. Craig’s drama credits include the feature films In the Tall Grass, Rufus and 45 RPM. Television work includes The Umbrella Academy for Netflix, the acclaimed FX Networks series Fargo and Legion, the legendary series The X-Files, the hit series Zoo for CBS, more than 100 episodes of the popular CBC Television series Heartland and numerous TV movies. Craig has lensed documentaries all over Canada, the US and into Europe on a wide variety of subjects. In addition, Craig has photographed hundreds of commercials and promos broadcast all over North America for directors from across Canada and the US. Many of the spots have garnered awards internationally. His love of music has fused with his cinematography on music videos and live concert specials for MTV, MuchMusic, CMT, MuchMoreMusic, CBC, PBS and Bravo!. He has recently shot collaborations between the Alberta Ballet, k.d. lang and Joni Mitchell. His work has garnered Craig two wins and two nominations at the CSC Awards as well as 16 wins and many nominations at the Alberta Film Industry Awards. Craig lives south of Calgary with his wife, Monica, their three dogs and three horses. He is represented by Ralph Berge at APA in Beverly Hills.

Episode 55 - Adam Newport-Berra Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Adam Newport-Berra is a director of photography with a reel that includes features, commercials and music videos. Most recently Adam was the cinematographer on Euphoria and The Last Black Man In San Francisco which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won awards for Best Directing and a Special Jury Prize for Creative Collaboration. In the music realm he has worked with Chance the Rapper, Francis and The Lights, Kanye West and many more. Adam’s commercial work delves into true storytelling with compelling and unique ads that can feel more like short films.

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