The Making Of

In this episode, we welcome Zach Kuperstein, cinematographer of films such as Barbarian, Woman of the Hour, Don’t Move, The Eyes of My Mother, and Buddy, that just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In our chat, Zach shares on his early days, filmmaking education, career path, and about the making of Barbarian and Woman of the Hour. He also talks about his approach for shooting each film, camera technology choices, as well as many insights for younger filmmakers today.
The Making Of is presented by AJA:
From cinema to proAV: gaining a competitive edge with streaming knowledge
The worlds of cinema production and proAV are converging. Cinema-grade equipment is making its way into more stadiums, houses of worship, and concert venues. Because of this, professionals that understand the tools and disciplines powering both will stand out. Get ahead of the curve with the latest streaming insights and gear from AJA.
Imax Closes Out 2025 With $1.28 Billion At Global Box Office, Up 40% And Its Best Year Ever
Imax ended 2025 with a record $1.28 billion grossed worldwide, the best year it’s ever had. The slate grew overall and local language films busted out with two of its top five films for the year — Ne Zha 2 ($167 million) and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle ($95.9 million) — coming from beyond Hollywood.
Read more here
Now with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 Speed
The OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it’s perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work.
Browse here
Introducing the LiveU Solo PRO:
Deliver an outstanding live video experience with the LiveU Solo PRO. Designed for creators and professionals alike, the Solo PRO video encoder provides one-touch, wireless live streaming directly from your camera to popular online platforms and any web destination. Stream with confidence using bonded 4G/5G connectivity and enjoy superior reliability and image quality up to 4K resolution. To learn more, contact Videoguys at 800-323-2325.
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Donate to Help The Digital Cinema Society Survive:
DCS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to keeping filmmakers current on motion picture technology is currently in dire financial straights. We are trying to make the best of a tough situation and asking those who can afford it to help keep us afloat.
Please consider donating to DCS here
Podcast Rewind:
Feb. 2026 - Ep. 117.
Feature your products or services in this newsletter and reach 250K film and TV industry professionals. To activate a sponsorship, contact [email protected]


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In this episode, we welcome Skip Lievsay, CAS. Skip is an Oscar-winning Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer who has worked on films including Blood Simple, The Color of Money, Raising Arizona, Goodfellas, The Silence of the Lambs, Cape Fear, Malcolm X, Casino, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, I Am Legend, Gravity, The Hunger Games, Birdman, Roma, Uncut Gems, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Marty Supreme. In our chat, he shares on his early days, about working with the Coen Brothers, and his creative approach to crafting sound in post. In March, Skip is being honored with the Cinema Audio Society Career Achievement Award in Los Angeles, CA.
The Making Of is presented by AJA:
From cinema to proAV: gaining a competitive edge with streaming knowledge
The worlds of cinema production and proAV are converging. Cinema-grade equipment is making its way into more stadiums, houses of worship, and concert venues. Because of this, professionals that understand the tools and disciplines powering both will stand out. Get ahead of the curve with the latest streaming insights and gear from AJA.
Sony’s Breakthrough Audio, Imaging and Sports Technologies Raise the Bar for the NFL’s Super Bowl LX in San Francisco
Sony’s New Coach’s Headsets, 175+ Cameras and Hawk-Eye Tracking and Video Technologies Capture Every Angle, Split‑Second Decision and High‑Speed Moment of the NFL’s Biggest Game
Sony, an official technology partner of the NFL, announced today that its technology ecosystem will play an expanded role in Super Bowl LX, marking the company’s most advanced presence at the NFL’s championship game to date.
Read more here
Now with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 Speed
The OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it’s perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work.
Browse here
Donate to Help The Digital Cinema Society Survive
DCS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to keeping filmmakers current on motion picture technology is currently in dire financial straights. We are trying to make the best of a tough situation and asking those who can afford it to help keep us afloat.
Please consider donating to DCS here
Meet LiveU Solo PRO:
Deliver an outstanding live video experience with the LiveU Solo PRO. Designed for creators and professionals alike, the Solo PRO video encoder provides one-touch, wireless live streaming directly from your camera to popular online platforms and any web destination. Stream with confidence using bonded 4G/5G connectivity and enjoy superior reliability and image quality up to 4K resolution. To learn more, contact Videoguys at 800-323-2325.
Learn more here
Podcast Rewind:
Feb. 2026 - Ep. 116.
Feature your products or services in this newsletter and reach 250K+ film and TV industry professionals. To learn more, please email [email protected]


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Matt Porwoll, cinematographer of the Oscar-nominated Documentary Short, All the Empty Rooms. In our chat, Matt shares on the making of this project, his creative approach, and the technologies used to capture the film. He also offers insights into the art of documentary filmmaking, the current state of the business, and offers invaluable recommendations for up-and-coming storytellers.
The Making Of is presented by AJA:
From cinema to proAV: gaining a competitive edge with streaming knowledge
The worlds of cinema production and proAV are converging. Cinema-grade equipment is making its way into more stadiums, houses of worship, and concert venues. Because of this, professionals that understand the tools and disciplines powering both will stand out. Get ahead of the curve with the latest streaming insights and gear from AJA.
Sundance Says Thank You, and Goodbye, to Park City
“It’s hard not to feel a disturbance in the force,” said Ethan Hawke, whose acting career took off after his early movies appeared at the Utah festival in the 1990s.
The actor Ethan Hawke wouldn’t be Ethan Hawke without the Sundance Film Festival. The director Cathy Yan might have given up her filmmaking dreams without it. And the producer Matthew Greenfield may not have become president of Searchlight Pictures if Sundance had not accepted his first film, “Star Maps,” into the festival in 1997.
Read more here
Now with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 Speed
The OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it’s perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work.
Browse here
Meet LiveU Solo PRO:
Deliver an outstanding live video experience with the LiveU Solo PRO. Designed for creators and professionals alike, the Solo PRO video encoder provides one-touch, wireless live streaming directly from your camera to popular online platforms and any web destination. Stream with confidence using bonded 4G/5G connectivity and enjoy superior reliability and image quality up to 4K resolution. To learn more, contact Videoguys at 800-323-2325.
Learn more here
Podcast Rewind:
Jan. 2026 - Ep. 115.
Showcase your products or services in this newsletter and reach 250K film and TV industry professionals. To learn more, please email [email protected]


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Amy Vincent, ASC. Amy is the cinematographer of Song Sung Blue, that’s playing in theaters nationwide. In our chat, she shares on her journey, collaboration with director Craig Brewer, and about her work shooting this extraordinary film. Amy also talks about her role in the ASC, and provides invaluable advice for up-and-coming creatives and filmmakers today.
The Making Of is presented by AJA:
ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025
From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV.
Get the full rundown here
Now with Massive 8TB Capacity—Thunderbolt 5 Speed
The OWC Envoy Pro Ultra now comes in a new 8TB capacity, pairing enormous space with next‑generation Thunderbolt 5 performance. With real‑world speeds over 6000 MB/s and a rugged, bus‑powered design, it’s perfect for 4K/8K workflows, on‑location shoots, and fast media offloads. High‑speed, high‑capacity, and ready for serious creative work.
Browse here
Advertise in this newsletter and reach 250K film and TV industry professionals each week. To learn more, please email [email protected]
BAFTA Film Awards Nominations: ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ Dominate as ‘I Swear’ Leads the Charge for British Indies
The escalating “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners” duel is heading to the U.K., with the two films — both from Warner Bros. — emerging atop the pack of BAFTA Film Award nominees.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, Paul Thomas Anderson’s political satire leads the way with 14 nominations overall, just two shy of the record set by “Gandhi” and leveling with “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Atonement,” “The King’s Speech” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
Read more here
Meet LiveU Solo PRO:
Deliver an outstanding live video experience with the LiveU Solo PRO. Designed for creators and professionals alike, the Solo PRO video encoder provides one-touch, wireless live streaming directly from your camera to popular online platforms and any web destination. Stream with confidence using bonded 4G/5G connectivity and enjoy superior reliability and image quality up to 4K resolution. To learn more, contact Videoguys at 800-323-2325.
Learn more here
Shooting David Fincher’s Early Masterpieces with Jeff Cronenweth, ASC:
Podcast Rewind:
Jan. 2026 - Ep. 114.
Sponsor this newsletter and reach 250K film and TV industry professionals each week. For more information, please email [email protected]


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In this episode, we welcome Charlie Polinger and Lucy McKendrick. Charlie wrote and directed the new critically-acclaimed thriller, The Plague, and Lucy served as the film’s producer. In our chat, they share about the inspiration, path, and production of the film— how they approached financing, casting, the visual storytelling, and more. In addition, they offer a variety of recommendations for up-and-coming filmmakers.
The Making Of is presented by AJA:
ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025
From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV.
Get the full rundown here
Cinema Audio Society Announces 62nd CAS Awards Nominations Honoring Excellence in Sound Mixing
The Cinema Audio Society today announced its nominees in seven categories for the 62nd Annual CAS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing, honoring work released in 2025. The 62nd CAS Awards will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
Read more here
Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile.
The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere.
Explore here
Meet LiveU Solo PRO:
Deliver an outstanding live video experience with the LiveU Solo PRO. Designed for creators and professionals alike, the Solo PRO video encoder provides one-touch, wireless live streaming directly from your camera to popular online platforms and any web destination. Stream with confidence using bonded 4G/5G connectivity and enjoy superior reliability and image quality up to 4K resolution. To learn more, contact Videoguys at 800-323-2325.
Learn more here
WorshipStreamTV
Feb. 24-26, 2026 | Virtual
WorshipStreamTV is a 3-day virtual event series being hosted from Feb 24th-26th, 2026, that is designed for live production in Houses of Worship of all sizes. Live production in a religious context can offer various benefits for engaging congregations and expanding the reach of religious services. We are here to provide you with the tips, tricks, and tools you need to live stream for your House of Worship. Your one-time, FREE, registration gains you access to three days of informative webinars, interviews with industry guests, live demos, chances to win great prizes, and more!
Visit here
Podcast Rewind:
Jan. 2026 - Ep. 114.
Advertise in this newsletter and reach 254,000 filmmakers, broadcast production pros, and content creators each week. For more info, email [email protected]


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe