Cinematography Salon

Against the backdrop of industry upheaval and the rise of AI, Nicholas Lam joins hosts Ava Benjamin Shorr and David Kruta to explore what it means to future-proof creativity. Lam critiques performative diversity initiatives, warns against chasing trends, and makes a case for human, low-fi storytelling as the antidote to algorithmic content. Taking a personal turn, Lam recounts losing his home in the Los Angeles fires of January 2025, and shares how the filmmaking community rallied to support him, reshaping his priorities and reinforcing the importance of showing up for others. That experience reframes his view of work, stripping away the false urgency of the industry and grounding him in relationships over accolades.Nicholas Lam’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteDavid Kruta’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Director Mike Pecci joins host David Kruta to dissect the chaos of post-COVID Hollywood, the false promises of AI disruption, and the suffocating gatekeeping of the studio system. Pecci lays bare the existential challenges of trying to create authentic work in an industry gripped by fear, algorithmic control, and vanishing opportunities. In a world where pitching feels like shouting into a void, Pecci finds power in simply continuing to create, and the filmmakers who will survive are the ones who know how to make something out of nothing—and do it with heart. For him, AI is not the enemy. Mediocrity is. Mike Pecci’s Instagram | Website | Watch 12 KilometersDavid Kruta’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

As fears mount over AI’s impact on creative labor, cinematographer and technologist Jim Geduldick joins host David Kruta to dissect the frenzy surrounding artificial intelligence and its encroachment into the film industry. As AI-generated imagery floods social media and marketing departments chase cost-cutting automation, Geduldick challenges the doom-and-gloom narrative with a nuanced, insider perspective—arguing that while jobs may shift, human storytelling will remain irreplaceable. However, decades of tech disruption, from DVX100s to LED volumes, won’t change the fact that great filmmaking has always been—and still is—about the people behind the lens.Jim Geduldick’s InstagramDavid Kruta’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

This week, we’re joined by Matt Workman—filmmaker, developer, and creator of Cine Tracer—for a candid look at the shifting landscape of cinematography. We explore how filmmakers can better communicate, justify resources, and protect their creative choices in a rapidly evolving industry, and why futureproofing your skillset now means knowing both a light meter and a game engine. From the emergence of virtual production to the democratization of 3D previsualization, Workman unpacks how technology like Unreal Engine, once reserved for high-budget productions, is becoming a daily tool for working DPs.Matt Workman’s Instagram | YouTubePeter Pascucci’s Instagram | WebsiteLauren Guiteras’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Rachel Clark, BSC, brings a poetic realism to the screen, and in this special edition episode recorded at the Camerimage Festival, she reveals how she constructs that visual language. Joining hosts Ava Benjamin Shorr and Lauren Guiteras to reflect on the making of “Edge of Summer”, a lyrical coming-of-age film set in the haunting landscapes of Cornwall. Clark unpacks her immersive handheld approach, the challenge of lighting with only headlamps, and the deeply collaborative relationship with director Lucy Cohen. Their discussion explores the aesthetics of memory, adolescence, and the subtle power of image-making that trusts the viewer’s emotional literacy.If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.Rachel Clark’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteLauren Guiteras’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Creamsource and Sandisk, with special thanks to Kondor Blue.

What does it mean to carry someone else’s artistic legacy forward? Bianca Cline joins the Cinematography Salon Podcast to share a rare and deeply moving look behind the lens, stepping into the unfinished production of Rust following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, ASC. Bianca discusses the moral and emotional calculus behind accepting the role, her consultations with Hutchins’ family, and the quiet determination to preserve Halyna’s memory. A memorial scholarship has been established in Halyna's name at the AFI Conservatory. Donate here it you wish to contribute to the scholarship fund.Bianca Cline’s Instagram | WebsitePeter Pascucci’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Joining us this week is Zach Kuperstein, a New York-based cinematographer known for his work on "Barbarian" and his collaboration with Anna Kendrick on her highly anticipated directorial debut, "Woman of the Hour". Zach sits down with host David Kruta to discuss why he’s running for office in Local 600, breaking down contract negotiations, leadership stagnation, and why democratic engagement among union members matters now more than ever. With elections looming, Kuperstein outlines a progressive campaign for union leadership - and why the status quo is no longer sustainable for working camera professionals.If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.Zach Kuperstein’s Instagram | WebsiteCREW’s Instagram | WebsiteDavid Kruta’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

Sam Levy’s body of work has helped define contemporary American independent cinema. In this episode, Levy pulls back the curtain on his methodical, deeply personal approach to cinematography, revealing how scripts, performances, and even sleep all shape his lens. Levy revisits career-defining moments with Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, and Kelly Reichardt, and speaks on how technical mastery is often best used in service of disappearing. If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.Sam Levy’s Instagram | WebsitePeter Pascucci’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.

When the realities of censorship made filming in Cuba impossible, production of Los Frikis moved to the Dominican Republic, where cinematographer Santiago González and his team worked tirelessly to create a world that felt authentic down to the sodium vapor streetlights. In this special Camerimage episode, Ava Benjamin Shorr and Lauren Guiteras sit down with Santiago and break down how the film’s color palette, lens choices, and shooting methodology reinforce its themes of rebellion and freedom.Los Frikis will be available to stream beginning March 28th.If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.Santiago Gonzalez’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteLauren Guiteras’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Creamsource and Sandisk, with special thanks to Kondor Blue.

In an age of pristine, digitally clinical imagery, cinematographers are increasingly drawn to imperfection—the swirl of a bokeh, the dreamlike haze of vintage glass. The Soviet-era lenses that once defined an era of photography are experiencing a rebirth through IronGlass, a Ukrainian company turning vintage optics into modern cinema glass. Hosts Peter Pascucci and Ava Benjamin Shorr sit down with Alan Besedin to discuss how IronGlass, despite the challenges of war and supply shortages, has built a dedicated following. From their early rehousings to supplying lenses for The Batman and Dune: Part Two, the conversation explores how artistry, resilience, and innovation converge in the pursuit of the perfect image.If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting our efforts on Patreon.Alan Besedin’s/IronGlass Instagram | WebsitePeter Pascucci’s Instagram | WebsiteAva Benjamin Shorr’s Instagram | WebsiteThis episode is sponsored by Fujifilm, Sandisk and TCP Insurance.