
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby
150 episodes listed below
Film craft, body, business, and story.
The gist
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby is a guest-led film craft series built around practical creative conversations. Recent episodes move from brand storytelling and AI anxiety to acting, entertainment law, body transformation, food, and the emotional work of directing.
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About Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby is an interview series about the lived mechanics of making film, short-form work, and screen performance. The show is grounded in admiration for working creatives, but it keeps returning to practical realities. How does a first feature get made? What does a director actually say to actors? Why do audiences respond differently to observed human moments than to polished synthetic content? Recent episodes show the range clearly. Darren Rayner talks about Magnifier, brand storytelling, and the renewed appetite for human craft as AI video becomes easier to produce. Dominique Angelino brings exercise science into the frame, connecting biomechanics, recovery, alcohol, stress, and body transformation to the images audiences see on screen. Michael Kellman discusses the path to Say Less and the vulnerability of putting a debut feature in front of others. Rachel Deutsch speaks about emotional truth, director preparation, actor collaboration, and the meaning behind Carelessly There. Lauren Hanson moves the conversation into entertainment, technology, and media law, including separated rights, first opportunity terms, passive payments, and pay-or-play negotiations. Ashlie Burgun adds a performer’s perspective, tracing acting back through childhood creativity, music, alter egos, comedy influence, and the pleasure of serving another person’s vision. Swaby’s style is open and enthusiastic. He tends to spotlight the guest’s work, then asks for the concrete story underneath it. The pacing feels conversational rather than overly produced. It often leaves in the texture of encouragement, gratitude, and discovery. That looseness gives the show its value. It sounds like a working filmmaker asking other working creatives how they got from idea to execution, not like a seminar pretending every process is tidy. The subject matter also stretches beyond standard film-interview lanes. Food, stress, fitness, contracts, AI, brand work, independent production, and emotional performance all sit beside camera-facing craft. That makes the show especially useful for creatives who understand that filmmaking is never only about story. It is also bodies, schedules, money, rights, trust, stamina, and taste. For film lovers, the appeal is access to the process behind lesser-known projects and people. For makers, the appeal is more direct: practical conversation from guests who have had to solve the work in public.
Made for: Best for independent filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, directors, producers, and film fans who like process-rich interviews. It also suits creatives curious about performance training, entertainment law, AI-era storytelling, and the personal strain behind screen work.
What sets it apart: The show connects film craft to areas many filmmaking interviews leave outside the frame: physical transformation, recovery, food, contract language, brand storytelling, and AI’s pressure on human-made work. Swaby’s warm interview style keeps those subjects accessible without flattening the guest’s expertise.
In their own words
Step into the world of independent film with Filmmaking Conversations with Damien SwabyFrom established industry voices to the filmmakers of tomorrow, Damien Swaby opens up conversations that spark ideas, share experiences, and celebrate creativity in all its forms. Each episode offers listeners both inspiration and practical takeaways, leaving them better equipped to bring their own stories to life.With a loyal and growing audience of passionate filmmakers and film lovers, Filmmaking Conversations has become a trusted space for authentic dialogue and fresh perspectives on the art of storytelling. Join us—and discover why this podcast is resonating with the community shaping the future of fi…
As heard by us
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Damien Swaby makes the practical machinery around filmmaking legible through patient, detail-minded conversations with people doing the work.
Damien Swaby treats filmmaking as a chain of practical decisions, using one-to-one interviews to connect screen performance, directing, contracts and branded production.
Why you'd press play
Damien Swaby's conversations stretch from separated rights to muscle nuclei, if your filmmaking curiosity has range.
Press play if you want
- to hear how a director prepares ideas for actors, then makes room for theirs
- to understand what a writer may retain when their story becomes a production
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Episodes
- 1
Ep 250: Paul Robinson: Blending Story and Image, Empowering New Voices
·44m - 2
285: Inside White With Fear: Emmy-Winning Producer Andrew Goldberg on Media and Politics
·58m - 3
Ep 284: From Imagination to Screen: Michael Kellman’s Path to Say Less
·57m - 4
Ep 283: Shirley Billigmeier on Food, Creativity, and the Body’s Natural Signals
·52m - 5
Ep 282: The Emotional Language of Film: Rachel Deutsch in Conversation
·57m - 6
Ep 281: Lauren Hansson of Sheppard on Navigating Entertainment Law
·51m - 7
Ep 280: Stepping Into the Frame: Ashlie Burgun's Journey to Acting
·45m - 8
Ep 279: Xan Aranda on Taste, Opinion, and Creative Decision-Making
·1h 3m - 9
Ep 278: Inside Rebel Safety with Richard Bradshaw: Creativity Without Compromise
·35m - 10
Ep 277: Itunu Olowo: The Editor Who Rebuilt Her Creative Life from the Ground Up
·53m - 11
Ep 276: Rob Reiner and the Lost Art of Making Films Like Sleepless in Seattle
·5m - 12
Ep 275: How One Filmmaker Made a Studio-Level Fantasy on a $100K Budget
·51m - 13
Ep 274: Caprice on Fame, Films, and Creating Feel-Good Christmas Stories
·40m - 14
Ep 273: Cutting the Story: Juli Berg on Documentary Editing, TV Post, and a Life in Film
·47m - 15
Ep 272: Barbara Niven: A Masterclass in Craft, Courage & Career Longevity
·48m - 16
Ep 271: Inside the Neighborhood: Seth Zvi Rosenfeld’s Guerrilla Filmmaking & NYC Stories
·46m - 17
Ep 270: The Paper Bear: Arix Zalace Blends Animation and Nature for Conservation
·49m - 18
Ep 269: Zayn Alexandre: Reclaiming the Arab Narrative — From Beirut to New York
·36m - 19
Ep 268: North Carolina to Bloomberg: How Victoria Duncan Balances Art and Analytics
·38m - 20
Ep 267: Between the Notes: Mark Watters & Eastman’s Soundtrax Vision
·56m - 21
Ep 278: Inside Rebel Safety with Richard Bradshaw: Creativity Without Compromise
·35m - 22
Ep 266: The Food Matrix: Exploring Flavor, Film, and Creativity with Dr. Bryan Quoc Le
·59m - 23
Ep 265: Finding the Funny in Life’s Hardest Stories with Nicole Magerko
·33m - 24
Ep 264: Filmmaking, Resilience & Ethical Storytelling with Rene Estes
·32m - 25
Ep 263: Remembering Robert Redford: How a Career Rewired Indie Filmmaking
·7m - 26
Ep 262: Alexandra Paul: From Baywatch to Activism — A Journey of Storytelling and Purpose
·45m - 27
Ep 261: From Tehran to Sundance: Naghmeh Farzaneh on Storytelling Through Animation
·44m - 28
Ep 260: Redefining Representation: Josiane Faubert on Building PICHA
·43m - 29
Ep 259: Challenging Stereotypes: Dr. Ali on Building a Muslim-Led Streaming Platform
·26m - 30
Ep 257: The Intersection of Anthropology and Cinema: Natalie Zimmerman’s Approach
·48m - 31
Ep 256: Jason Walsh: Training Bradley Cooper & Transformation Truths
·54m - 32
Ep 255: From Music to Film: Brian Weaver + The Arkansas Love Story Giveaway
·30m - 33
Ep 254: The Science Behind the Screen: A NASA Consultant's Hollywood Adventures
·48m - 34
Ep 253: From Sixteen Candles to Social Films: A Talk with Blanche Baker
·41m - 35
Ep 252: A Legal Architect’s Journey Through Hollywood, Integrity, and Innovation
·52m - 36
Ep 251: Lights, Camera, Climate: Building a Festival for a Warming World
·43m - 37
Ep 286: Translating Human Performance for the Camera: Fitness and the Future of Storytelling
·58m - 38
Ep 249: Lee Romaire: Building Worlds for Disney and Spielberg’s War of the Worlds
·50m - 39
Ep 248: From Ohio to Netflix: Maria Timonina’s Breakout in “Gringo Hunters”
·47m - 40
Ep 247: Sunday Nights, Theo Huxtable, and the Legacy of Malcolm-Jamal Warner
·9m - 41
Ep 239: Big Vision, Small Gear: Making a Feature on an iPhone
·6m - 42
Ep 246: From Tom Cruise’s Inner Circle to Indie Film Powerhouse: Kerry David’s Story
·56m - 43
Ep 245: Vision, Leadership, and Legacy: Ramon Velez on Shaping Stories That Last
·1h 14m - 44
Ep 244: Craft, Clarity & Creativity: A Conversation with Director Rob Spera
·1h 14m - 45
Ep 243: The Mahne Narrative: From Doctor Who to Corporate Storytelling
·1h 18m - 46
Ep 242: Suha Araj on Storytelling, Identity & Representation
·41m - 47
Ep 241: From Courtroom to Camera: Don Worley’s Journey into Independent Film
·47m - 48
Ep 240: Reel Ambition: How Olivia Deitch Cut Her Way Into the Industry
·44m - 49
Ep 238: From BBC to Bold: Moses Ssebandeke on Crafting New Cinematic Voices
·43m - 50
Ep 237: The Art of Color Grading: Alice Abrams on Shaping Emotion Through Color
·44m - 51
Ep 236: Narrative Truths: Producing Impactful Documentaries with Nicole Noren
·48m - 52
Ep 235: Art Meets Film: Isabel Riley on Bridging Canvas and Cinema
·36m - 53
Ep 234: 30 Years at ABC — Executive Director Doug Looney Takes Us Behind the Broadcast
·1h 1m - 54
Ep 233: The Audience is the Strategy: Caitlin Boyle on Purpose-Driven Distribution
·45m - 55
Ep 232: From Baywatch to Emmy Wins – Karina Michel P.G.A. The Art of Reinvention
·35m - 56
Ep 230: Beyond the Turmoil: Isabelle Mecattaf's Lens on Lebanon
·36m - 57
Ep 228: From I Love Lucy to Ally McBeal: Amy Castle's Path to Stardom and Music
·55m - 58
Ep 227: From Dentistry to Emmy Gold: The Cinematic Journey of Michael Fitzer
·42m - 59
Ep 226: The Art of Music Law: Navigating the Industry with Sarah Falzon
·24m - 60
Ep 225: Mastering the Art of Cinematography with Quenell Jones, SOC
·1h 5m - 61
Ep 224: Breaking Barriers in Hollywood with Diane Strand
·19m - 62
Ep 223: The DocuStoryteller: Behind the Lens with Ann Rogers
·33m - 63
Ep 222: Breaking In: Class, Rejection & Resilience with Helen Tompson
·28m - 64
Ep 221: Cutting Through the Story: Amelia Allwarden’s ACE Journey
·31m - 65
Ep 220: Arkansas Roots, NYC Dreams: Joe Lusby's Journey
·45m - 66
Ep 219: Reinvention, Collaboration, and Storytelling: Diane Lansing
·42m - 67
Ep 218: Anna Toomey: Fighting for Dyslexic Students in Left Behind
·33m - 68
Ep 217: Shaping Stories with Helen De Michiel
·39m - 69
Ep 216: Alexsiya Flora Empowers Filmmakers to Fund Their Dreams
·31m - 70
Ep 215: From Art to Impact: Linda Royal's Documentary Tales
·40m - 71
Ep 214: From West Indian Roots to Black Cinema: Curtis Caesar John
·51m - 72
Ep 213: Dance Films, Diversity, and Tech at Lincoln Center
·48m - 73
Ep 212: From High School Multimedia to LA Filmmaking: Jess Linderman
·40m - 74
Ep 211: The Art of Acting from the Inside Out with Shelley Mitchell
·38m - 75
Ep 210: Hollywood’s Legal Architect: Sky’s Journey from Taxation to Blockbuster Deals
·31m - 76
Ep 209: Conviction and Craft: Jia Rizvi on Documentary Filmmaking
·36m - 77
Ep 208: Interdisciplinary Magic: Jessica Ray's Artistry in Dance and Film
·57m - 78
Ep 207: Crafting Impactful Stories with Leah Warshawski
·29m - 79
Ep 206: The Evolution of Cindy Chupack: From Sex in the City to Netflix's Otherhood
·33m - 80
Ep 205: Christi Cooper Chases Change: From Neuroscience to Documentaries
·39m - 81
Ep 204: Beyond the Frame: Conversations with Natalie Schwan
·36m - 82
Ep 203: Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Alexis Neophytides: Capturing the Heart of Human Stories
·39m - 83
Ep 202: Safety Reform Urged by Emmy-Nominated Producer
·44m - 84
Ep 201: Insights with Lisa A. Callif: Safeguarding Your Creative Work in Filmmaking
·40m - 85
Ep 200: Mastering the Art of Film Editing with Eddie Hamilton: Top Gun: Maverick
·57m - 86
Ep 199: From Novels to Screenwriting: A Journey with Ben H. Winters
·32m - 87
Ep 198: Crafting Narratives with Emily Hardy: A Glimpse into Life, Art, and Growth
·50m - 88
Ep 197: Films for Thought: Jennifer Fischer’s Educational Crusade
·44m - 89
Ep 196: Heroes Unseen: The Journey of APACHE BLUES: Welcome Home
·41m - 90
Ep 195: Pamela Uzzell: 'Welcome To The Neighborhood' – A Bay Area Battle
·53m - 91
Ep 194: Navigating Filmmaking Through the Law with Katherine Imp
·39m - 92
Ep 193: Melinda Dahl's Mosaic: Interweaving Music, Moments, and Images
·37m - 93
Ep 192: Crafting Auditory Narratives with Emmy Award winner James David Redding III
·1h 4m - 94
Ep 191: Indie Film Trails: From Colorado Peaks to ISA Honors
·40m - 95
Ep 190: Worlds & Tales: Maggie Mahrt's Filmmaking Journey
·41m - 96
Ep 189: Navigating Life's Labyrinths with Mike Nowicki
·45m - 97
Ep 188: Indie Visions with Richard Bakewell
·46m - 98
Ep 258: Finding Stories in Unexpected Places with Mick Lexington
Filmmaker Mick Lexington discusses his journey from music and writing into filmmaking, sharing practical advice on script development, production workflow, and festival strategies for independent filmmakers.
·43m - 99
Ep 229: Protecting Creativity: Navigating IP & Entertainment Law with Kennington Groff, Esq.
Kennington Groff shares his journey from working on film sets in Georgia to specializing in intellectual property and entertainment law, discussing his experiences with major studios.
·32m - 100
Ep 231: The Art of Video Editing with Emmy Winner Cybele Policastro
Emmy-winning video editor Cybele Policastro discusses her career journey and passion for documentary editing.
·34m - 101
Ep 287: From Snowboarding Injury to Global Brand Storytelling with Darren Rayner
Hidden gem["Darren Rayner says a 10-meter snowboarding fall on Grouse Mountain in Vancouver broke his back and pushed him from action sports into filmmaking.", "Damien Swaby hosts Rayner, the founder of Magnifier, a Canadian studio making short-form storytelling for outdoor, sport, and wellness brands.", "Rayner says Magnifier helped Arc'teryx go from zero to 450K TikTok followers and later built a content pyramid system around one hero asset and eight shoulder assets.", "He also says AI is useful for pre-production, brief writing, and cleanup in Adobe, ChatGPT, and Claude, but audiences still respond better to real human craft from athletes and product developers."]
Apr 12, 2026·47m·3 clips - 102
Ep 286: Translating Human Performance for the Camera: Fitness and the Future of Storytelling
Hidden gemFilmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby interviews Dominique Angelino about exercise science, biomechanics, acting, and the physical transformations expected in film and television.
Apr 3, 2026·58m·4 clips - 103
285: Inside White With Fear: Emmy-Winning Producer Andrew Goldberg on Media and Politics
Actor and exercise scientist Dominique Angelino discusses the science behind dramatic body transformations in film and TV.
Mar 26, 2026·58m - 104
Ep 284: From Imagination to Screen: Michael Kellman’s Path to Say Less
Host Damien Swaby interviews filmmaker Michael Kellman about his debut feature film 'Say Less', discussing its inspiration, the realities of independent filmmaking, and the creative journey.
Mar 10, 2026·57m - 105
Ep 283: Shirley Billigmeier on Food, Creativity, and the Body’s Natural Signals
Shirley Billigmeier discusses how creative professionals can improve their relationship with food and health by listening to their body's natural signals.
Mar 9, 2026·52m - 106
Ep 282: The Emotional Language of Film: Rachel Deutsch in Conversation
Hidden gemFilmmaker Rachel Deutsch and Damien Swaby center the conversation on emotional truth, actor collaboration, and the practical choices behind scenes in her shorts, including "Carelessly There" and her AFI project.
Feb 24, 2026·57m·2 clips - 107
Ep 281: Lauren Hansson of Sheppard on Navigating Entertainment Law
Hidden gemDamien Swaby interviews Lauren Hanson of Sheppard Mullen, who works in entertainment, technology, and advertising law on film, television, podcasts, VR, and digital media.
Feb 18, 2026·51m·2 clips - 108
Ep 280: Stepping Into the Frame: Ashlie Burgun's Journey to Acting
Hidden gemAshlie Burgun says self-tapes can lead to "overanalyzing" and that live streaming helped her stop over-rehearsing.
Feb 17, 2026·45m·2 clips - 109
Ep 279: Xan Aranda on Taste, Opinion, and Creative Decision-Making
Jan 19, 2026·1h 3m - 110
Ep 278: Inside Rebel Safety with Richard Bradshaw: Creativity Without Compromise
Jan 3, 2026·35m - 111
Ep 277: Itunu Olowo: The Editor Who Rebuilt Her Creative Life from the Ground Up
Dec 17, 2025·53m - 112
Ep 276: Rob Reiner and the Lost Art of Making Films Like Sleepless in Seattle
Dec 15, 2025·5m - 113
Ep 275: How One Filmmaker Made a Studio-Level Fantasy on a $100K Budget
Dec 10, 2025·51m - 114
Ep 274: Caprice on Fame, Films, and Creating Feel-Good Christmas Stories
Dec 6, 2025·40m - 115
Ep 273: Cutting the Story: Juli Berg on Documentary Editing, TV Post, and a Life in Film
Nov 29, 2025·47m - 116
Ep 272: Barbara Niven: A Masterclass in Craft, Courage & Career Longevity
Nov 25, 2025·48m - 117
Ep 271: Inside the Neighborhood: Seth Zvi Rosenfeld’s Guerrilla Filmmaking & NYC Stories
Nov 3, 2025·46m - 118
Ep 270: The Paper Bear: Arix Zalace Blends Animation and Nature for Conservation
Nov 2, 2025·49m - 119
Ep 269: Zayn Alexandre: Reclaiming the Arab Narrative — From Beirut to New York
Oct 16, 2025·36m - 120
Ep 268: North Carolina to Bloomberg: How Victoria Duncan Balances Art and Analytics
Oct 10, 2025·38m - 121
Ep 278: Inside Rebel Safety with Richard Bradshaw: Creativity Without Compromise
Sep 28, 2025·35m - 122
Ep 267: Between the Notes: Mark Watters & Eastman’s Soundtrax Vision
Sep 28, 2025·56m - 123
Ep 266: The Food Matrix: Exploring Flavor, Film, and Creativity with Dr. Bryan Quoc Le
Hidden gemFilmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby centers Dr.
Sep 26, 2025·59m·4 clips - 124
Ep 265: Finding the Funny in Life’s Hardest Stories with Nicole Magerko
Sep 22, 2025·33m - 125
Ep 264: Filmmaking, Resilience & Ethical Storytelling with Rene Estes
Sep 18, 2025·32m - 126
Ep 263: Remembering Robert Redford: How a Career Rewired Indie Filmmaking
Sep 16, 2025·7m - 127
Ep 262: Alexandra Paul: From Baywatch to Activism — A Journey of Storytelling and Purpose
Sep 15, 2025·45m - 128
Ep 261: From Tehran to Sundance: Naghmeh Farzaneh on Storytelling Through Animation
Sep 14, 2025·44m - 129
Ep 260: Redefining Representation: Josiane Faubert on Building PICHA
Sep 5, 2025·43m - 130
Ep 259: Challenging Stereotypes: Dr. Ali on Building a Muslim-Led Streaming Platform
Sep 3, 2025·26m - 131
Ep 258: Finding Stories in Unexpected Places with Mick Lexington
Aug 26, 2025·43m - 132
Ep 257: The Intersection of Anthropology and Cinema: Natalie Zimmerman’s Approach
Aug 22, 2025·48m - 133
Ep 256: Jason Walsh: Training Bradley Cooper & Transformation Truths
Aug 21, 2025·54m - 134
Ep 255: From Music to Film: Brian Weaver + The Arkansas Love Story Giveaway
Aug 20, 2025·30m - 135
Ep 254: The Science Behind the Screen: A NASA Consultant's Hollywood Adventures
Aug 13, 2025·48m - 136
Ep 253: From Sixteen Candles to Social Films: A Talk with Blanche Baker
Aug 12, 2025·41m - 137
Ep 252: A Legal Architect’s Journey Through Hollywood, Integrity, and Innovation
Aug 11, 2025·52m - 138
Ep 251: Lights, Camera, Climate: Building a Festival for a Warming World
Aug 8, 2025·43m - 139
Ep 250: Paul Robinson: Blending Story and Image, Empowering New Voices
Aug 6, 2025·44m - 140
Ep 249: Lee Romaire: Building Worlds for Disney and Spielberg’s War of the Worlds
Aug 3, 2025·50m - 141
Ep 248: From Ohio to Netflix: Maria Timonina’s Breakout in “Gringo Hunters”
Aug 1, 2025·47m - 142
Ep 247: Sunday Nights, Theo Huxtable, and the Legacy of Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Jul 22, 2025·9m - 143
Ep 246: From Tom Cruise’s Inner Circle to Indie Film Powerhouse: Kerry David’s Story
Jul 19, 2025·56m - 144
Ep 245: Vision, Leadership, and Legacy: Ramon Velez on Shaping Stories That Last
Jul 14, 2025·1h 14m - 145
Ep 244: Craft, Clarity & Creativity: A Conversation with Director Rob Spera
A conversation with director Rob Spera about his book on filmmaking craft, creativity, and practical directing tips.
Jul 12, 2025·1h 14m - 146
Ep 243: The Mahne Narrative: From Doctor Who to Corporate Storytelling
Jul 5, 2025·1h 18m - 147
Ep 242: Suha Araj on Storytelling, Identity & Representation
Jun 27, 2025·41m - 148
Ep 241: From Courtroom to Camera: Don Worley’s Journey into Independent Film
Jun 26, 2025·47m - 149
Ep 240: Reel Ambition: How Olivia Deitch Cut Her Way Into the Industry
Jun 19, 2025·44m - 150
Ep 239: Big Vision, Small Gear: Making a Feature on an iPhone
Jun 17, 2025·6m