
Filmmakers Academy Podcast
Filmmakers Academy presents two of the film industry’s most unique and reliable podcasts for professionals who work behind the camera. We explore the latest trends, interview industry leaders, and offer leadership and lifestyle guidance tailored to fit the needs of filmmakers.
Stop what you’re doing this very moment and subscribe to Filmmakers Academy to watch LIVE episodes for free on the FA Platform! While full audio episodes are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, you can watch past episodes on the FA platform as a member of Filmmakers Academy.
The Inner Circle Podcast is Filmmakers Academy’s flagship podcast hosted by Lydia and Shane Hurlbut, ASC. Together the duo chats with everyone from industry leaders in the film industry to health experts and beyond, spotlighting subjects useful to filmmakers pursuing successful and sustainable careers. *In addition to new episodes is a robust archive containing a wealth of knowledge.
Finding the Frame is not so much an interview series as it is a lounge-sesh with your favorite filmmakers. Hosted by Brendan Sweeney, prominent filmmakers from ASC cinematographers to Oscar winners visit the studio to dish about their careers and approach to the craft.
BAFTA Breakthrough Cinematographer Aaron Reid praises Filmmakers Academy as “a valuable learning resource for film craft” that “pushes learning film into the future.” Online Filmmaking Courses rates Filmmakers Academy 5/5 stars as the best-advanced filmmaking training platform! A trusted partner of Academy Gold Rising, British Cinematographer, RED Digital Cinema, and many other industry titans, visit FilmmakersAcademy.com to see how filmmakers like you are scaling successful careers in the film industry.
We also keep past SIC episodes in our archive dedicated to cinematography, how to navigate your career, and leadership, hosted by Filmmakers Academy CEO Lydia Hurlbut and cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC
Filmmakers Academy is a subscription-based streaming platform developed to educate and inspire filmmakers to enrich their storytelling and technical skillset. Through on-demand lessons, podcasts, and courses across multiple disciplines, filmmakers at any level of experience will learn from our elite team of industry-leading professionals.
Latest episodes

Aug 25, 2018 • 58min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.10 – What it Takes to be a Cinematographer
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for this month’s Inner Circle podcast. Just a reminder that you can submit more questions here- http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2014/08/submit-your-podcast-questions/This month we cover:My path to becoming a DP, getting an agent, crafting your reel, self-negotiatingVintage lens recommendations, Rokinon vs Canon EF, diffusion filters and other optionsA discussion about lens barrel distortion and sharpness, Cooke vs Leica camera testLighting with LED: My recommendation for choosing LEDs with “soul”Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakers_academyLearn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Aug 11, 2018 • 52min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.09 - Setting Up Your Camera for Cinematic Vision
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for this month’s Inner Circle podcast. Just a reminder that you can submit more questions here- http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2014/08/submit-your-podcast-questions/This month we cover:Mastering color temperature, choosing picture styles and exposure tips for specific camerasIn depth discussions of DSLR, C100, C300, C500, 1DC, Alexa, BMCC and Red DragonMy camera tests, how I shoot them and what I look for in lenses, sensors and color spaceChoosing shutter speed vs shutter angleFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakers_academyLearn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Jul 28, 2018 • 54min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.08 - Finding Your Visual Rhythm
Hello Inner Circle team from our tests on my new project. It’s time for the March podcast, where I answer your questions. This month we cover:Visual Style or SignatureInspiration and InfluencesTechnical Tools: Frame Rates, Key Framing a Scene, Choreographing complex movementFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakers_academyLearn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Jul 14, 2018 • 49min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.07 - Large Day Interiors, DIY, Essentials
The podcast this month focuses on taking your lighting technique to the next level, including commentary on light quality and essential tools, lighting large spaces, powering your lights, Chimera soft banks, Rosco LitePads and DIY lighting. You can find the questions down below. Be sure to submit your own questions for future podcasts. Thanks.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakers_academyLearn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Jun 30, 2018 • 49min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.06 – Filmmaking Tips & Tricks
Hello from Sundance, an amazing experience this year. Below you will find our January podcast, where I answer your questions. You can either stream it or download the file, whichever works best for you. You’ll also see that we’ve provided the questions, along with the timecode for each question. You asked, and we’ve added it! Soon, we will add that retroactively to the older podcast posts as well.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmmakers_academyLearn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Jun 18, 2018 • 48min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.05 – Collaborating with Directors in Pre-Production
Happy Holidays everyone! My family and I are off to Thailand until the beginning of January. We will be back and ready to rumble around January 10th. Enjoy the December podcast, answering your questions.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Learn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

Jun 4, 2018 • 37min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.04 – Light Quality and Lighting in Layers
It’s time for the November Inner Circle podcast, where I answer your questions. This month, the podcast is themed around lighting questions, and I’ve included the actual questions below. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Learn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

May 21, 2018 • 53min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.02 – Mastering Lighting Challenges
It’s time for the September Inner Circle podcast, where I answer your questions. This episode focuses on lighting, and I will try to answer as many questions as possible in an hour. We’ll go into specific scenarios and some low budget alternatives.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Learn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2

May 21, 2018 • 41min
Shane's Inner Circle Podcast, Ep.03 – Understanding Your Camera, Lenses, and Sensor
It’s time for the October Inner Circle podcast, where I answer your questions. This month, the podcast is themed around camera questions.Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmmakers_academy/Learn filmmaking from artists at the top of their game. Try Filmmakers Academy and become a member today: https://bit.ly/302orWvCheck out our blog filled with career advice, free assets, gear talk, and on set stories: https://bit.ly/3CzwFn2