Cinemapod

What does it take to turn a deeply personal experience into a story that connects with audiences around the world? In this episode of Hannah Ariotti sits down with Queensland writer and director Rachel Maxine Anderson, whose acclaimed short-form series Ina premiered internationally at CANNESERIES. Rachel shares her journey from film school to creating her first fully authored series, exploring how grief, family, and cultural identity have shaped her storytelling. Together, they discuss the development of Ina, navigating rejection and funding challenges, embracing short-form filmmaking, and building a collaborative creative team. Rachel also reflects on the importance of vulnerability, authentic representation, and finding the courage to tell deeply personal stories. An inspiring conversation about trusting your creative voice, embracing your identity, and bringing meaningful stories to the screen. Produced by Deb Van Dieren. Hosted and edited by Hannah Ariotti. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision.

What does it take to keep the magic of cinema alive in a digital world? In this episode of The Cinema Pod, Josh Calder sits down with Rob Murphy, filmmaker, projectionist and passionate advocate for film preservation, who has spent over 20 years working at Melbourne's iconic Sun Theatre in Yarraville, recently named one of Time Out's Top 100 cinemas in the world. From the golden age of Cinerama to the resurgence of 35mm and 70mm film, Rob takes us behind the scenes of an art form that many thought would disappear with the arrival of digital projection. Rob shares the remarkable story behind his documentary Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey, a decade-long journey exploring the history and preservation of film projection. He also recounts how his dedication to cinema helped bring Quentin Tarantino to the Sun Theatre for a special 70mm presentation of The Hateful Eight. The conversation explores the theatre's ambitious project to install a rare VistaVision projector, potentially making it just the fifth operational VistaVision cinema in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. Josh and Rob dive into the technical brilliance of Cinerama, the differences between film and digital projection, the challenges of preserving rare film prints, and why a new generation of audiences is rediscovering the magic of watching movies on film. This episode is a celebration of cinema, the people who preserve its history, and the irreplaceable experience of watching a film projected as it was intended. Produced, hosted and edited by Josh Calder. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision.

What does it take to earn Steven Spielberg's trust behind the camera and keep it for nearly three decades? Mitch Dubin SOC has operated 18 films for Spielberg, including Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, Munich, Catch Me If You Can and West Side Story. In this episode, Mitch takes us inside the craft of camera operating at its highest level. He shares how he developed his instinct for framing, why the relationship between an operator and dolly grip is so important, how the camera can protect an actor's performance, and what it means to truly tell a story through movement. Mitch also takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary collaboration with Spielberg, from earning his trust on The Lost World to the controlled chaos of the D Day sequence in Saving Private Ryan and the elaborate camera choreography of Minority Report. More recently, Mitch has brought that experience to television through his collaborations with Noah Hawley on Fargo, Legion and Alien: Earth. A masterclass in instinct, collaboration and the invisible craft behind some of cinema's most unforgettable images. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision. Produced, hosted and edited by Josh Calder.

What happens when you stop waiting for permission and just make the film? Writer-director Brynn Chainey joins Josh Calder to unpack the journey behind his debut feature Rabbit Trap, starring Dev Patel. From years spent making short films to finding the collaborators who truly connected with his strange, atmospheric vision, Brynn shares how the independently made film eventually found its way to Sundance and Focus Features. They talk candidly about finding your voice as a filmmaker, the struggle of writing, choosing authenticity over what the industry expects, and the realities of bringing an ambitious feature to life in just 20 shooting days. More than a conversation about Rabbit Trap, this is about trusting your instincts, finding your people and realising that sometimes the only permission you need is your own. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision. Produced, hosted and edited by Josh Calder.

How do you create something new inside one of the most recognisable worlds in television? This week, Lucas Tomoana SOC ACO sits down with Emmy nominated cinematographer Gustav Danielsson FSF, whose work spans You the Living, Black Mirror, The Glass Dome and HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Gustav takes us from his beginnings studying architecture in Sweden to collaborating with Roy Andersson, shooting the acclaimed Black Mirror episode San Junipero, before diving deep into the cinematography of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. We explore how Gustav and director Owen Harris created a more intimate and naturalistic corner of the Game of Thrones universe, their use of vintage Panavision anamorphic lenses, dusk and firelight, and the making of the extraordinary battle in Episode Five that earned Gustav an Emmy nomination. A fascinating conversation about cinematography, collaboration and finding the visual language that best serves the story. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision. Produced by Deb Van Dieren. Hosted and edited by Lucas Tomoana SOC ACO.

What if the most important photographs taken on a film set aren't of the actors, but of the people behind the camera? This week, Josh Calder sits down with veteran Unit Stills Photographer Jon Platt, whose career has taken him from Second AC and Focus Puller to Camera Operator and, eventually, behind the stills camera. Across nearly four decades, Jon has worked alongside some of the industry's great filmmakers on productions including Black Robe, Strictly Ballroom and Fly Away Home. He shares stories from a life on set, what a Unit Stills Photographer is really looking for, and why understanding crew, timing and set etiquette can be just as important as knowing where to put the camera. We also explore Jon's book, Observations on Set: A Love Letter to the Crews and Craft Behind the Camera, a photographic celebration of the people who make the movies happen. This podcast is powered by Sony technology. Sponsored by Panavision. Produced, hosted and edited by Josh Calder.

How do two film crews come together to make one seamless blockbuster? In Part 2 of our Mortal Kombat series, 2nd Unit DP Pete McCaffrey takes us inside the relationship between Main Unit and Second Unit, explaining how every shot, every fight sequence and every lighting decision has to feel like it came from the same camera, even when it is being filmed by different crews. We explore the incredible collaboration between Pete, Director Simon McQuoid, DP Stephen Windon ACS ASC, 2nd Unit Director Kyle Gardiner and the hundreds of crew members who make a production of this scale possible. We also dive into the evolution from Mortal Kombat to Mortal Kombat 2, the lessons learned from the first film, how action sequences are planned and captured, why preparation is everything, and the responsibility of matching another cinematographer's visual language shot for shot. Pete also shares stories from The Lord of the Rings, his transition from camera operator to cinematographer, and why building great teams is one of the most important skills in filmmaking. If you've ever wanted to know how Hollywood action films are really made, this episode is your backstage pass to the planning, teamwork and precision that bring them to life. This episode is proudly powered by Sony Technology and sponsored by Panavision Hosted and edited by Lucas Tomoana SOC ACO Produced by Deb Van Dieren

How do you turn a love of movies into a career? This week, Josh Calder sits down with comedian, filmmaker, podcaster and one of Australia's most trusted voices on cinema, Alexei Toliopoulos. From hosting trivia at the iconic Golden Age Cinema to building a career across stand up, documentaries, ABC film reviews and podcasting, Alexei has spent more than a decade helping audiences discover films that truly mean something to them. They chat about building a creative career across multiple passions, why collaboration matters when motivation disappears, and the challenge of balancing creativity with burnout. Alexei shares his thoughts on Australian cinema, why genre films often break through, and how specificity in storytelling can actually become universal. Plus, film school lessons, physical media rabbit holes, why Hook deserves way more love, and the movie recommendations every filmmaker should see. Whether you're a filmmaker, a film lover, or someone trying to turn passion into purpose, this episode is packed with insight, honesty and a genuine love for cinema. Produced, Hosted and Edited by Josh Calder

Stephen Windon ACS ASC has spent more than 50 years behind the camera, building a career that has taken him from the ABC in Sydney to some of Hollywood's biggest productions. A third-generation filmmaker and ACS Hall of Fame inductee, Stephen's credits include seven Fast & Furious films, Star Trek Beyond, The Gray Man, The Electric State and, most recently, Mortal Kombat 2. In Part 1 of our Mortal Kombat 2 series, Stephen joins Lucas Tomoana to discuss his remarkable career journey, the evolution of action filmmaking, and the challenges of leading large-scale productions. The conversation dives into the making of Mortal Kombat 2, including the film's fantasy-inspired visual approach, Unreal Engine previsualisation, massive practical sets, IMAX photography, anamorphic lenses, and the creative decisions behind bringing one of gaming's most iconic worlds to the screen. Powered by Sony technology. Produced by Deb Van Dieren. Hosted & edited by Lucas Tomoana SOC ACO.

She helps hold together some of the biggest films in Hollywood, solving impossible problems with gravity, camera rigs and pure instinct. This week on Cinemapodgrapher, we are joined by legendary Key Grip Tana Dubbe. Starting out taking stills in New York before moving into film, Tanner has spent more than 25 years building a career across some of the industry's biggest productions including Iron Man, The Bling Ring and One Battle After Another. In this conversation, Tanner breaks down the differences between American and Australian grip departments, building high performance grip teams, shaping light with cinematographers, and why gripping is all about problem solving. We also dive deep into the making of One Battle After Another, including the VistaVision camera builds, long lens remote head testing, handheld car work, the Texas dip sequence, and working inside the controlled chaos of Paul Thomas Anderson's process. Powered by Sony technology. Produced by Deb Van Dieren. Hosted by Josh Calder.