19. Palonia Blue

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Model turned creative designer, Palonia dishes on the modeling life, what teens don’t know, her love of films and the 80’s, the hard life lessons, and L.A. being quite a character itself.

15. DC Cassidy - Part 1

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My podcast series is back! This is my “screw you” to Covid-19. My friend and mentor, Michael Fisk, introduced me to a man named DC Cassidy. Man, he’s got some incredible stories. Originally from the tech and start up world, he transitioned into storytelling. But it wasn’t easy. DC experienced a harrowing journey of injustice and incredibly unfair events that we call law and order. This is part 1 of 2.

Janelle Monáe Published

January 6, 2021 - I was hired out of the blue, again, by the wonderful team of Little Cinema to shoot stills and BTS of Janelle Monáe. The location was this beautiful one-story house with different sections and rooms like a mini complex, surrounding a small pool in the center. I wasn’t sure what I was shooting exactly but when I stepped on set, they told me it’ll be a music video. I instantly became excited. Moments later, they told me that the set is so tight and that they’ll be using a steadicam, there’s no room for me to capture stills. Damn, okay.

Take after take, Janelle Monáe was killing it with her song, ‘Turntables.’ She moved with kinetic passion, swaying around the highly ornate set without hitting her knees, jumping on the couch with ease, and expressing her fearless lyrics with her hands and eyes. It was late at night, too. I kept thinking, “what would my mentor David James say to me right now?” and “what would my mom say to me?” So I just asked the lead producer if I could just dive in there to shoot stills in less than sixty seconds.

It worked. I knew Janelle Monáe was tired. That made me extra nervous. Hopped in the set, spoke to her manager, who is really sweet, and then Janelle Monáe entered the set. Introduced myself and said I only need a minute and then I’ll run — you know, just to make her feel at ease. Then to my surprise, Janelle was super lovely, normal, and amiable. She even asked social questions. Shot her sitting on the sofa, some mediums, and closeups. I waved thank you and fled. Treaded carefully around the pool, the lights, cables, and then sat down by the craft service table. I exhaled greatly through my stupid mask and was about to tilt my head back until…Someone shouted my name, “Billy! Billy!” I thought, “oh no, I’m fired. Or I’m in trouble. Or I dropped something. Or someone thinks I farted!”

In a big twist, I was summoned back on the set because Janelle wanted to shoot more photos. She’s really pretty by the way. Easy to shoot. The DP Idan Menin and his crew lit the set beautifully. Janelle made me feel at ease quickly. I did some adjustments, asked her to hold out her hand in the foreground because it looked powerful, and was out of there after a few minutes. If you’re still reading this, you’d be happy to know Janelle is very cool. It was a great experience. Even greater to tell my parents the next night.

Then Deadline published a sibling article! What!

Deadline x Rolling Stone February 2021 issue. Page 6 and 16. Can’t believe it. My thanks to Little Cinema for the job opportunity.

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Jewel brand, Jennifer Meyer, licenses one of the photos.

The Hollywood Reporter, Feb 2021 issue. Was stunned to see online at first. Then, am I going to buy the physical issue from a store? I did, and gave it to my parents. My thanks to Little Cinema for the still photography opportunity.

14. David Luner

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Executive Vice President of MGM Studios for television, David Luner, generously dives into the world of marketing television shows to networks, distributors, and territories. He hails from Mattel to Fremantle, four years at Lionsgate, and now at MGM Studios. His in-depth knowledge and experience will break down how the business of selling and advertising a show works. Push play and take notes!

David Luner

13. Sarah Heath

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A dazzling soul, Reverend Sarah Heath and I have a delightful ping pong banter where she openly shares how she became a pastor, that it is a real job, the catches, her secret desire to be an actor, our heartbreaks of old loves, creating space to unite others, the cost of being a pastor, and describing what our “perfect day” is.

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When I got to know Sarah back in 2010, she said she’s very happy but not satisfied. That resonated with me till this day and always will. At the time, she really wanted to act in films. So, I cast her in my short film and she nailed it. Give it a watch.

12. Hojo Shin

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Actor, Hojo Shin, shares about her love of performing different characters from a super early age, growing up in multiple countries, becoming a skillful linguist, dishing on musicals, opening up about the uncertainty of a movie career, and her surprising passion for a certain movie genre that excites her and her future.

11. David James

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David James is a legendary photographer and mentor who I’ve had the great fortune of him sharing just a fraction of amazing stories during his time as a still photographer for small and big films. Born during World War II, he knew he wanted to photograph movies since he was a kid. He reveals some fun, warm, and anecdotal memories when he worked with Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Daniel Day-Lewis, his daughter, Chiabella James, and many others.

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10. Amanda Tataryn

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Amanda Tataryn is a model & development coach! She shares her early life as a working model in multiple countries, openly reveals the true tenacity, grit, diligence, mental health of social media, and passion models need to succeed, and that they're also imperfect beings behind their beauty.

Amanda Tataryn

9. Miles Crist

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'Mindhunter' still & behind-the-scenes photographer, Miles Crist, shares his incredible path from knowing the right person at the right time to winning the 8-month job of photographing BTS of 'Mindhunter' for Netflix, jumping from Columbia to Art Center, the demanding surprises of the profession, his passion for films, learning from David Fincher, and working for him again this winter. Check out his website at milescrist.com!

@milescrist

@milescrist

Photographer, David James

Yesterday, I was lucky to sit down with the great David James in a cafe in Thousand Oaks for over two hours. He is a renowned unit still photographer in Hollywood who has shot numerous studio films like Schindler’s List, Minority Report, The Last Samurai, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Nine, and most recently, the sequel to Top Gun. He’s 78 years old and photographed throughout his entire life. An Englishman, you would never think he’s 78. He looks like he’s 55. He stands up straight, without a belly, brown hair, and doesn’t need glasses. Sharp, articulate, and passionate. He told some incredible on-set stories that were riveting to listen and soak in. Mostly about Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg. I first contacted him on Instagram months ago, asked him some photography questions, and then we finally met. All the waiting and patience paid off. I packed my iPad with my online portfolio the night before. I was nervous. I kept telling myself not to ask him for a job or an easy entry to work on a studio film. I didn’t. He criticized my unit stills honestly and effectively. I was very pleased. I wanted to listen to every word he said. That was the main focus more than fearing of my feelings getting stung. He planted me with fresh eyes behind mine. He offered a perspective I never thought of and that discovery was thrilling. It’s like a magic trick you see. When you frame a shot, the angle, the action, and most importantly, where you want the viewers’ eyes to see, is the key. I was able to see what he saw. Distractions I never noticed. Ugly empty space you don’t need. Many more. He is retiring this year. Deservedly so. But he won’t stop shooting.

7. Michael Fisk

Coming from USC, a director of marketing, rising as a senior executive, then as vice president in international marketing for Sony Pictures and Executive Vice President for Lionsgate Studios, and founding and partnering in other companies like local-language distribution studios, studio marketing executive, Michael Fisk, is generously offering his insight and strategic advice on how to sell your film to a broad market.

6. Angie Chavez

Entrepreneur, fashionista, and dog lover. Angie Chavez sits down and drops a shocking account of sexual assault from a well-known, now infamous, powerful figure. She shares her stories of broken relationships, being taken advantage of, passion for traveling, the funniest pickup line at the gym, social media, and the laws of attraction.