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The Cinematography Podcast

The Cinematography Podcast

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 Art, Business, Craft and Philosophy of the Moving Image2026 Art
Episodes
  • The scrappy, indie production of Hunting Matthew Nichols

    The scrappy, indie production of Hunting Matthew Nichols
    Apr 24 2026
    Hunting Matthew Nichols is an indie horror film that’s shot as a mockumentary/found-footage movie about a documentary filmmaker investigating her brother's disappearance 20 years earlier on Vancouver Island. Writer/producer Sean Harris Oliver and DP Justin Sebastian shot the horror film in 12 days, then independently released it into theaters. Key Podcast Highlights: -How cinematographer Justin Sebastian used Sony FX9 cameras on autofocus, shot archival footage scenes on period-correct cameras, and then physically digitized the tapes for documentary authenticity. -Keeping the camera crew small and the lighting natural, so that the film’s characters could realistically pull off the documentary. -Detailed scriptwriting by Sean Harris Oliver, such as specifying who holds the camera in each scene. Sean scripted the film with cleaner, more deliberate camerawork that degrades into chaotic, survival-mode footage as events progress. -How the team pushed hard for theatrical release against distributor pressure to go straight to streaming. They self-funded distribution and budgeted for marketing from the very beginning. Find where to watch Hunting Matthew Nichols in theaters and play the interactive game on the website: https://www.huntingmatthewnichols.com/ Find Sean Harris-Oliver: https://www.seanharrisoliver.com/ Instagram: @SeanHarrisOliver Find Justin Sebastian: https://www.justinsimonsebastian.com/ Instagram: @JustinSebastianDP Listen to our episode with producer Ted Hope, who discusses similar approaches indie filmmakers can take to understand and control the entire filmmaking process from budget to shoot to distribution: https://www.camnoir.com/ep352/ Show Rundown: 02:45 Close Focus 13:04-01:02:59 Sean Harris Oliver and Justin Sebastian interview 01:03:19 Short ends 01:12:42 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Two horror films, one DP: They Will Kill You, Faces of Death

    Two horror films, one DP: They Will Kill You, Faces of Death
    Apr 17 2026
    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 353: Isaac Bauman Cinematographer Isaac Bauman captured the visual identities of two different horror movies in They Will Kill You and Faces of Death. Both films are currently in theaters. Bauman discusses the intricate technical gymnastics required to give each film a distinct, cinematic feel. Key Podcast Highlights: -Carefully developing the look of They Will Kill You and Faces of Death with each film’s director. -Solving big lighting challenges for They Will Kill You's climax, using a massive 18K light that had to be repeatedly moved. -Working with practical puppeteering effects for the crawling eyeball in They Will Kill You, which gave the scene a higher sense of realism. -Shooting on 35mm film for Faces of Death and intentionally reducing the camera’s visual capabilities. Isaac used wider lenses, stopped down, and embraced darkness to enhance the gritty, filmic quality of older movies. Find Isaac Bauman: Instagram @isaacbauman See They Will Kill You and Faces of Death in theaters. Hear our previous interview with Isaac Bauman: https://www.camnoir.com/ep242/ Show Rundown: 02:12 Close Focus 10:28-01:00:24 Isaac Bauman interview 01:00:45 Short ends 01:07:34 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Ted Hope, Hope For Film: the rebirth of independent cinema

    Ted Hope, Hope For Film: the rebirth of independent cinema
    Apr 11 2026
    The Cinematography Podcast Episode 352: Ted Hope Producer Ted Hope has worked in the film business for over 40 years, producing dozens of features with several Academy Awards nominations and wins. After leaving Amazon Studios in 2020, Hope went back to his roots as an independent producer and began writing his Substack blog, Hope For Film. He argues that the independent film ecosystem as we know it has reached its final days. However, far from being a tragedy, Ted definitely has hope for film. He sees what's happening in the industry today as a necessary seismic shift. Hope has a vision for a more “punk rock” future of cinema, with a decentralized, artist-owned future that prioritizes "freak flags" and human empathy over corporate consolidation. Key Podcast Highlights: -How filmmakers should stop trying to emulate "mini-Hollywood" productions and embrace a DIY, experimental approach with room to fail. -How the streaming era has killed the anticipatory joy of seeing a film when it’s simply dropped on a homepage, making it harder for the longer-term cultural engagement that helped independent films thrive. -Why ownership is the new path forward, paired with self-financing and total IP control. -Film’s best defense against AI is embracing cinema that mimics life and human complexity, with scripts that contain ambiguity rather than payoffs. -Why filmmakers must understand and control the entire filmmaking process, from budget and shoot to distribution. **A special note to our listeners: We have an exclusive discount link to subscribe to Ted Hope’s substack, Hope For Film! Get 50% a 1 year subscription at https://tedhope.substack.com/cinepod. This offer does expire on April 20 (4/20) at 4:20 PM PT. Yep, that’s on 4-20 at 4:20. Don’t miss out!** You can also find the discount link in our shownotes for this episode at www.camnoir.com Show Rundown: 03:07 Close Focus 06:44-01:13:14 Ted Hope interview 01:14:04 Short ends 01:25:42 Wrap up/Credits The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social
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    1 hr and 11 mins
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