In this episode, I sit down with Ami Vitale, an award-winning photojournalist, filmmaker, and conservationist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, TIME, and beyond. Ami shares her journey from covering global conflicts to telling powerful wildlife stories—like the viral image of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino.

We dive deep into the ethics of storytelling, how to protect your work in a digital age, and why Adobe’s Content Authenticity app is a game-changer for creatives, allowing them to digitally “sign their work” by applying Content Credentials. Ami also breaks down what it takes to earn trust with your subjects, the importance of archiving, and the emotional weight of documenting extinction.

If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, or creative navigating the tension between truth and tech, this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven storytelling.

Follow Ami:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amivitale/?hl=en

Try the Adobe Content Authenticity App: https://contentauthenticity.adobe.com/

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro to Ami Vitale & the Art of Honest Storytelling

05:00 - Ami’s Journey into Photojournalism & Curiosity as a Superpower

08:10 - Archiving, NAS Systems, and Lost History

11:06 - Trust, Orphaned Images & Why Metadata Matters

15:36 - Connecting the Local to the Global Through Photography

22:57 - The Danger of Sensationalism & Why She Embeds for Years

30:44 - Ethics, Model Releases & Protecting Your Subjects

32:00 - Ami’s Work Misused in the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign

38:08 - Adobe’s Content Authenticity App: Why It Matters

42:01 - Combatting Misuse in the Age of AI

45:49 - Building Content Credentials Into Your Workflow

48:57 - Seeing the Real vs. Edited: The Before/After Tool

53:16 - The 9-Year Story Behind Her Most Impactful Image

58:52 - Capturing Sudan’s Final Moments With Care & Consent

1:05:03 - Knowing When to Put the Camera Down

1:10:00 - Journalism vs. Advocacy: Where Ami Stands

1:12:57 - The Business of Storytelling & Protecting Your Work

1:17:25 - Why Empathy Is the Root of All Creativity

In this episode, I sit down with Parker Laramie, an incredible film editor with two films premiering at Sundance—Andre Is an Idiot and Train Dreams. Parker’s journey from working as a PA to cutting feature films for A24 and Netflix is packed with lessons on resilience, creativity, and navigating the world of film editing. We dive into his experiences editing everything from horror films to award-winning documentaries, the challenges of working on high-profile projects like Allen v. Farrow, and how he balances narrative and documentary storytelling.

If you’re an aspiring editor, filmmaker, or just a fan of behind-the-scenes filmmaking, this episode is full of insights on the craft of editing, the importance of mentorship, and what it takes to get your work onto the big screen. Don’t miss this one!

Join the BWNC Private Community:

www.bwnc.com/join

Follow Parker:

https://www.instagram.com/moorparks

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to Sundance & Introducing Parker Laramie

00:09 - Parker’s Two Films Premiering at Sundance

00:27 - Editing *Andre Is an Idiot* & *Train Dreams*

00:57 - Breaking into Film Editing & Early Career Struggles

02:15 - Working on *Dancing for the Devil* for Netflix

03:30 - From Short Films to Feature Editing

05:10 - Screening at Sundance for the First Time

07:05 - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Premiere Night

09:30 - The Power of Film Festivals for Distribution

11:50 - Growing Up in LA & Discovering Editing

13:20 - Film School vs. Hands-On Learning

15:05 - Learning Avid & Early Editing Projects

17:30 - Parker’s Journey from PA to Film Editor

19:45 - Editing *Argo* and Learning from the Best

21:55 - The Reality of Long Hours in Editing

24:10 - Working on *Unfriended* & Horror Editing Challenges

26:35 - Transitioning into Documentary Filmmaking

28:50 - Editing *Requiem for a Running Back* & CTE Stories

31:25 - The Importance of Finding Mentorship in Editing

33:10 - How *Ghost Fleet* Led to Editing *Train Dreams*

35:15 - Balancing Documentary and Narrative Films

37:20 - The Challenges of Editing *Allen v. Farrow*

40:00 - The Creative Process in Documentary Storytelling

42:35 - Managing a Career in Both Docs & Narrative Films

45:10 - The Art of Editing for Emotion and Impact

47:50 - Parker’s Workflow & Using Adobe Premiere for Editing

50:20 - What’s Next? Future Projects & Creative Aspirations

52:10 - Advice for Aspiring Editors & Filmmakers

54:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks

In this episode, I sit down with Kinigra Deon, a powerhouse content creator with over 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube. What makes her story incredible is that she started with zero experience in film or content creation—working as a clinical scientist before pivoting into digital storytelling. Now, she runs a full-scale production company, producing scripted episodes three times a week while incorporating her family into the creative process. We dive into how she built her channel from the ground up, the challenges of balancing business and creativity, and the strategies behind her massive success.

Whether you're an aspiring content creator, filmmaker, or entrepreneur, Kinigra’s journey is full of valuable lessons on consistency, risk-taking, and trusting your intuition. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn a passion project into a thriving career, this episode is a must-listen!

Join the BWNC Private Community:

⁠www.bwnc.com/join

Follow Kinigra:

https://www.instagram.com/kinigra

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to Sundance & Introducing Kinigra Deon

00:29 - How Kinigra Built a 4.7M Subscriber YouTube Channel

00:52 - The Power of Consistency: Posting 3 Times a Week

01:50 - From Clinical Scientist to Content Creator

02:45 - The Role of Intuition in Kinigra’s Success

03:34 - From Solo Creator to Family Production Team

04:55 - Building a Team & Training Family Members

06:14 - Learning Filmmaking from Scratch

07:05 - The Struggles & Rewards of Involving Family

08:22 - Growing Up in Birmingham & Early Influences

09:30 - Creating Stories for Black Representation

10:50 - The Pivot from Adult to Family-Oriented Content

12:28 - The TikTok Effect on Kinigra’s Growth

14:10 - Learning to Monetize & Making YouTube a Full-Time Job

15:48 - Setting a Posting Schedule & Committing to Growth

17:35 - Balancing Business & Creative Work with Her Husband

19:24 - Handling Burnout & Long-Term Sustainability

21:12 - The Importance of Testing Thumbnails & Titles

23:07 - Developing Episodic Content & Expanding into Series

25:16 - The Creative Process & Writing Family-Friendly Stories

27:04 - Building a Sustainable Business Model for Content Creation

29:10 - Future Plans: Expanding Beyond YouTube

31:45 - The Pressure of Leading a Family Business

34:12 - Managing a Growing Production Team

36:00 - Learning to Adapt Content Based on Audience Feedback

38:22 - The Challenges of Running a YouTube Channel as a Business

41:05 - Balancing Creative Passion with Algorithm Strategies

43:10 - The Power of Serial Content on YouTube

45:00 - Testing New Content Ideas & Storytelling Techniques

47:18 - The Future of Kinigra’s Content & Scaling Her Brand

49:55 - Final Advice for Aspiring Content Creators

52:10 - Closing Thoughts & Where to Follow Kinigra

In this episode, I sit down with Ernie Gilbert, a Grammy-winning editor and director known for his work on Childish Gambino’s This Is America, Beyoncé’s Renaissance, and A24’s latest film Opus. Ernie shares his journey from touring with bands and directing music videos to breaking into Hollywood as an editor and filmmaker. We dive into his experience working on major projects, the creative challenges of editing, and what it’s like premiering a film at Sundance.

Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, a music video fanatic, or just love behind-the-scenes stories from the industry, this episode is packed with insights on building a career in film, taking creative risks, and navigating the highs and lows of success. Don't miss this deep dive into Ernie’s journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way!

Join the BWNC Private Community:

⁠www.bwnc.com/join

Follow Ernie:

https://www.instagram.com/erniebyernie

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to Sundance Film Festival

00:11 - Introducing Ernie Gilbert

00:27 - Ernie’s Grammy Win and Filmmaking Journey

00:46 - Working on Beyoncé’s *Renaissance* Film

01:24 - Ernie’s Background in Editing & Directing

02:23 - The Struggle with Taking Compliments

03:10 - The Surreal Nature of Success

04:29 - Finding the Best Shots in Post-Production

06:25 - Editing A24’s *Opus* and Premiere at Sundance

07:45 - How Ernie Got Started in Filmmaking

09:11 - From Political Aspirations to Filmmaking Passion

10:58 - Early Music Video Work & Touring with Bands

13:15 - Working with Bayside & Touring Insights

15:12 - Moving to L.A. & Breaking into the Industry

16:26 - Balancing Night Jobs with Creative Work

18:43 - Breaking into Union Editing

20:18 - Transitioning from Reality TV to Narrative Work

22:13 - The Importance of Building a Network

24:31 - Learning from Showrunners and Editors

27:43 - Emotional Intelligence in Filmmaking

30:26 - Balancing Multiple Creative Paths

32:57 - The Rise of Multi-Skilled Filmmakers

35:36 - The Leap to Lead Editor & *This Is America*

37:51 - Behind the Editing of *This Is America*

40:36 - The Importance of Taking Career Risks

42:17 - Reflecting on Career Milestones

44:06 - Working with Bo Burnham & Jerrod Carmichael

46:24 - First Feature Film *On the Count of Three*

48:45 - Self-Funded Short Films and Creative Risks

50:30 - Ernie’s Experience with Sundance & Indie Filmmaking

52:10 - The Evolution of Filmmaking in the Digital Age

54:20 - Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers & Editors

56:05 - How to Find Your Unique Voice as a Creator

58:12 - Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts

Season Finale - Today's guest is Coodie & Chike! You won't want to miss this. Thank you guys for joining us! Follow Them: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coodierock https://www.instagram.com/cozah https://www.instagram.com/officialcoodieandchike Audio Version Available: http://www.bwnc.com/podcast ---------- Join the BWNC Community! This is a private space where you can learn from industry-leading creatives, gain insights to advance your skills, receive answers to tough questions, find collaborators, and land job opportunities. ‍ By becoming a member, you will build a valuable network of peers that you can lean on to support you, motivate you, hold you accountable, give you constructive feedback, and so much more! It’s completely FREE to join! http://www.bwnc.com/join Also want to give a HUGE shout out to Canon for supporting this podcast. We love ya’ll! Want to show more love? Do these things: Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/blackwithnocream Follow Ben on instagram: http://www.instagram.com/benrealvsworld Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/theBWNCnewsletter Download our ‘How To Charge A Client’ guide: http://www.bwnc.com/shop

Today's guest is Sam Newton. Sam is a travel filmmaker who has grown an audience on his YouTube channel sharing inspiring stories and visuals.

Thank you Sam for joining us!

Follow Sam:

Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/samnewton

----------

Join the BWNC Community!

This is a private space where you can learn from industry-leading creatives, gain insights to advance your skills, receive answers to tough questions, find collaborators, and land job opportunities.

‍

By becoming a member, you will build a valuable network of peers that you can lean on to support you, motivate you, hold you accountable, give you constructive feedback, and so much more!

It’s completely FREE to join!

http://www.bwnc.com/join

Also want to give a HUGE shout out to Canon for supporting this podcast. We love ya’ll!

Want to show more love? Do these things:

Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/blackwithnocream

Follow Ben on instagram: http://www.instagram.com/benrealvsworld

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/theBWNCnewsletter

Download our ‘How To Charge A Client’ guide: http://www.bwnc.com/shop

Today we have Director and Photographer, Kaito on the Podcast! Kaito has directed massive campaigns with the top brands and has shot some of the biggest celebrities and artist.

Thank you Kaito for joining us on the show! Appreciate you! Follow Kaito: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/Kaito ---------- Join the FREE BWNC Creator Community! This is a private space where you can learn from industry-leading creatives, gain insights to advance your skills, receive answers to tough questions, find collaborators, and land job opportunities. ‍ By becoming a member, you will build a valuable network of peers that you can lean on to support you, motivate you, hold you accountable, give you constructive feedback, and so much more! Join for FREE at: http://www.bwnc.com/join Also want to give a HUGE shout out to Canon for supporting this podcast. We love ya’ll! Want to show more love? Do these things: Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/blackwithnocream Follow Ben on instagram: http://www.instagram.com/benrealvsworld Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/theBWNCnewsletter Download our ‘How To Charge A Client’ guide: http://www.bwnc.com/shop