The FilmUp Podcast

Please welcome the amazing Brandon Dermer to The FilmUp Podcast! Brandon is an incredibly talented writer and director who has directed for Showtime, MTV, Comedy Central, Adult Swim and many others. He's directed music videos that have amassed hundreds of millions of views online for artists including Dillon Francis, Panic! At The Disco, Diplo, The Jonas Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Julia Michaels, Noah Cyrus, and many others. His debut feature film and sci-fi comedy I’m Totally Fine was acquired out of the Cannes market earlier this year which will be released in theaters this fall. We cover things including mental health, how to make it in the industry, and so much more. This is such a powerful and informative episode, and you do not want to miss it! Brandon is also a big supporter of Paws for Patrick, a non-profit that is dedicated to connecting young people with Emotional Support Animals to aid them as they live with mental illness. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to pawsforpatrick.org.

Get ready for an amazingly unique and creative filmmaker story from Jay Christensen, the drone flying king!  Jay is a Cinematographer and Drone Wizard from Minneapolis who has created some of the most epic drone shots of all time. Many of you have probably seen his work and don’t even know it, including one of his claims to fame, where he flies a drone for 87 seconds through a local bowling Alley in Minneapolis.    He has worked with clients like HBO Max, NHL, and GoPro to name a few. His content has garnered national attention and tens of millions of views across social media and he continues to redefine what is possible with aerial videography.    Jay is also a supporter of Community Conservation Inc, a nonprofit organization that empowers local people to manage and conserve natural resources. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn about how to get involved by going to communityconservation.org.

Please welcome this amazing up and coming Director Eliana Alcouloumre to The FilmUp Podcast.   Eliana is a Director, Writer, and Creator who has been working her way up through the industry. Her recent credits include Set Production Assistant, Art Department Researcher, and Sound Utility, on productions including the Emmy Award winning series Euphoria, Mindhunter as well as feature films like Don't Worry Darling and Amsterdam.    Eliana is a supporter of Blaze It Forward also known as the Blaze Bernstein Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization which provides support to charities that work to protect children from violence and foster emotional health. The fund was set up in memory of Blaze Bernstein, who was murdered in 2017 by a neo-nazi, and it aims to keep his charitable spirit alive. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn how to get involved by going to blazebernstein.org

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, you are in for a real treat. For today's episode we are thrilled to be joined by the one and only Josh Harmon.    As featured on the tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon, Josh is a musician, comedian, and the most viewed drummer on the internet. He is the creator of the internationally renowned viral video series “Rhythms of Comedy,” in which he uses the drums to analyze moments of good comedic timing in standup and sitcom routines.  Modern Drummer magazine calls him “perhaps the world’s most creative percussionist.  His videos have received billions of views, garnered millions of followers, and have received praise from some of the world’s biggest drummers and comedians alike. And his grandma is also very proud of him.   Josh is also a big supporter of Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit that provides access to instruments and music lessons to kids in under-funded schools. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to savethemusic.org.

Today we are thrilled to be joined by incredibly creative and hilarious filmmaking wizard, Ashley Xu. Ashley is a producer, creator and full time undergrad student at Northwestern University with a knack for filming product commercials in her dorm room.    She is known for her creative and comedic filmmaking approach to making creating saterical videos romaticizing various foods as well as her incredible filmmaking tutorials. All of which can be found on her social media. Her videos have garnered tens of millions of views across platforms, many of which you may have likely seen in your feed.    Ashley is also focused on promoting the presence of minority filmmakers in the entertainment industry and uses her platform to catalyze societal change.   Ashley is a supporter of The Saint Francis Center, a nonprofit organization that helps families in need become self-supporting members of the community. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn how to get involved by going to  stfrancisrwc.org.

We are so excited for this weeks episode as we have been holding back on this one for a while!! Please welcome the incredible duo behind Gran Berta, Augustin  Stegmann and Guido Boetsch.    Augustin and Guido have known eachother for years, and with their extensive backgrounds in VFX and filmmaking, they founded Gran Berta, an Argentina based digital production company and VFX community.    Gran Berta has worked with incredible clients including The Rock, Zach King and some notable brands including Disney, Amazon Prime, Nike, and many more. They have a community of over 2 million followers and more that 300 million views across their social media platforms.  Their main goal is to connect VFX Artists and create the biggest VFX community in Latin America, and the world.   Both Augustin and Guido are big supporters of ecohouse, an Action for Sustainability non-profit whose main objective is to promote sustainable development. So they are dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to ecohouse.org.ar.

Our next guest, LeaMotion, is responsible for some of the most viral social media VFX work you may not have even known was from her. Lea is a self-proclaimed Digital Content Creator.  She was born in France and is currently living in New York City.  Lea balances her life as a mom, programmer, and as a talented VFX artist.   After getting her start in film in 2016 on Instagram, her work in video effects garnered significant attention in the influencer community and attracted work opportunities with celebrities including Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chance the Rapper, and Jessica Chastain.   Lea is a supporter of Save The Children, a nonprofit that helps transform the lives of children in the U.S. and worldwide. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization.   You can learn more by going to savethechildren.org.

Get ready to learn from one of the most talented Miniature Scultpor VFX Artists, creating cinematic worlds you didn't even know were possible. We are excited to welcome Sebastian Jern to The FilmUp Podcast. Sebastian works as a Director, Miniature Sculptor, VFX Artist, Cinematographer, Editor, and Lighting Wizard who is based in Sweden. He has garnered over 300,000 followers in 2 years on Instagram where he showcases his creations. He’s worked with global brands including Netflix, Discovery, 9gag, Unilad, and more. This is an incredibly fun episode, and you do not want to miss it!   Sebastian is a supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, a nonprofit organization that works to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn how to get involved by going to worldwildlife.org.

Welcome to Season 3 of The FilmUp Podcast! We are kicking this season off with an incredibly special guest, Sofie Dossi. Sofie is a globally renowned YouTuber and live performing artist.  She got her start on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent becoming both a finalist and Golden Buzzer recipient. Shortly after Sofie launched her YouTube channel – which has garnered over 1.6 billion views and 7 million subscribers.    She  has been featured on Nightline, The Ellen Show, ESPN, People Magazine and more. She has collaborated with major content creators including Mr. Beast,  Zach King, Logan Paul, and Sean Johnson.    Most recently she debuted her first single, “Bunny”, which can now be streamed and downloaded on digital platforms worldwide.   Sofie is a big supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a leading hospital that treats the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases. So she is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn more by going to stjude.org.

We are thrilled to release The FilmUp Podcast Season 2 Finale starring Zach King! Zach doesn't really need an introduction, but for the very small percentage of people who don’t know him, Zach is an LA based filmmaker known for his clever magic tricks. He is one of social media’s most prominent content creators with a combined social reach of over 105+ million followers and billions of views.   Zach has been featured on The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, Adweek, and People. His company, King Studio, has partnered with brands including Disney, Apple, Sony, Nike, Coca-Cola, and many others.   Zach is also a supporter of Kids in the Spotlight, a Los Angeles based non-profit that helps foster youth heal and grow from trauma through the power of storytelling and filmmaking. So he is dedicating this episode to their organization. You can learn how to get involved by going to www.kitsinc.org. Thank you to ARRI for making this episode possible and being one of the leading providers of cinema and lighting for the film industry. You can learn more at www.arri.com.