Filmmaker U, New York, NY (2025)

12/12/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

Supervising Sound Editor & Re-Recording Mixer Paul N.J. Ottosson discusses his work on "A House of Dynamite." Paul discusses the film's tone, the sound design process, and the role of silence. He also shares insights on collaboration with director Katherine Bigelow and the impact of sound effects on the film's themes. Paul also covers the challenges of sound design, the importance of realism, and the evolving nature of creativity in filmmaking.

00:00 Introduction & Paul Ottosson
01:08 Film Tone & Sound Design
31:19 Film Endings & Reflections
32:23 Nuclear Concerns & Impact
33:45 Sound Design Challenges
42:11 Psychology & Art of Sound

A three-time Academy Award® winner, Paul Ottosson brings exceptional creative talent to every project, from blockbusters such as "Men in Black" (2012) to independent films such as "The Hurt Locker "(2008) and "Zero Dark Thirty "(2012). Ottosson has earned respect as a sound supervisor, sound designer, and re-recording mixer by focusing on telling the movie's story. He received Academy Awards® for The Hurt Locker (2008) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012), and earned a nomination for "Spider-Man 2" (2004).

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

12/12/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

"Bad Man" Cinematographer Garrett O'Brien discusses the filmmaking process of 'Bad Man', focusing on its unique challenges and creative aspects. O'Brien shares experiences of shooting within tight schedules, the significance of a strong script, and teamwork. He also delves into the film's blend of drama and comedy, improvisation, and cinematography techniques.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:43 Insights on 'Badman'
05:18 Cinematography and Style
28:58 Film to Digital Transition
33:46 Color and Set Dynamics
58:06 Audience Engagement and Farewell

Garrett O’Brien’s most recent projects of note include "Bad Man" (In Select Theaters & On Digital Sept. 5) and "Waltzing with Brando" (In Theaters Now).

"Bad Man," an action-comedy set in a small Tennessee town, stars Seann William Scott and Rob Riggle. Shot in just 18 days, O’Brien crafted a nostalgic 1970s-inspired look influenced by films like White Lightning. He employed a mix of single- and two-camera setups, Kodak 16mm digital emulation, and ¼ Black Pro Mist diffusion to balance gritty drama with sharp comedy. The climactic standoff sequence, shot over two half days, showcased O’Brien’s precision in lighting and choreography. He also oversaw VFX integration to maintain a seamless visual tone.

"Waltzing with Brando", starring Billy Zane as Marlon Brando and Jon Heder as architect Bernard Judge, dramatizes Brando’s 1960s plan to build the world’s first ecological retreat in Tahiti. Filmed largely on location in Tahiti, O’Brien captured the openness of island life with wide lenses, while contrasting Judge’s

Los Angeles home life through more constricted long-lens compositions. Inspired by Judge’s archival photography, O’Brien developed a digital-to-film emulation workflow for period authenticity. O’Brien shot more than 90 percent of the film’s principal photography.

Previously, O’Brien lensed Hulu’s feature "Crush" starring Megan Mullally, Rowan Blanchard, and "Auli’i Cravalho," which earned a GLAAD Award nomination. He also shot the 12-part live-action series "Golden Revenge," produced by Conaco, Warner Bros. Blue Ribbon Content, and Retrofit Films, a story of three pets on a quest for bloody vengeance wrapped in a deceptively heartwarming animal tale.

His feature credits include "Adolescence" (Elizabeth Rohm, Tommy Flanagan, India Eisley), a dark coming- of-age drama about love and addiction with worldwide distribution; "Deserted" (Mischa Barton, Jake Busey, Lance Henriksen), a Death Valley survival story now streaming on Amazon Prime; and his debut feature "Gone Doggy Gone," which screened at 15 festivals, winning six audience choice awards and three grand jury awards.

O’Brien has also shot high-profile music videos and commercials. His video for Theory of a Deadman’s Rx” has amassed over 100 million views. His commercial clients include Alfa Romeo, Clorox, Nissan, HOKA, and Foot Locker, among many others.

Further online work includes the award-winning web series "Lowlife," starring Claire Van Der Boom, which earned him Best Cinematography nominations at both the Bilboa and Raindance Webfests. He also won Best Cinematography at the International Independent Film Festival for the short sci-fi "Anamnesis."

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

12/12/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

Editor Marco Costa talks about the editing process of "After the Hunt," which showcases the collaboration between editor and director Luca Guadagnino. Marco highlights their evolving relationship and their unique editing style, which emphasizes storytelling from multiple perspectives. He also shares key elements, including balancing humor and drama, the importance of character backstories, and creating a neutral space for audience interpretation.

00:01 Introduction & Collaboration
03:13 Editing & Storytelling
14:26 Balancing Drama & Humor
23:52 Aspirations & Conclusion

Marco Costa is known for "Challengers" (2024), "Bones and All" (2022), and "Q***r" (2024).

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

12/12/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

Cinematographer Mattias Nyberg shares insights on building tension across six episodes, using a unique visual tone and a 2.39 aspect ratio. He notes how water symbolizes threat, while cranes and drones enhance the storytelling, reflecting a strong collaboration with director Robin Wright.

00:00 Introduction & Cold Opens
00:15 Color & Visual Style
00:48 Interview with Mattias
06:24 Psychological Thriller Build
09:33 Aspect Ratio & Motifs
23:31 Career & Collaboration
26:38 Techniques & Aspirations

Mattias Nyberg, BSC, is an award winning Swedish-born director of photography. He recently shot Amazon’s "The Girlfriend" (2025), directed by and starring Robin Wright, which released in September 2025.

Nyberg is best known for his work on Netflix’s "The Decameron" (2024), "War of the Worlds" (2021) and "Two Weeks to Live" (2020). His filmography also includes "Mammals" (2022), "Catastrophe" (2019), "Traces" (2019) and "Detectorists" (2017). On two occasions, his work has been featured in The Turner Prize exhibition, a prestigious modern art installation in the United Kingdom.

While attending film school in 2000, Nyberg won a cinematography award in a national competition sponsored by Fujifilm. He received the award from esteemed cinematographer Jack Cardiff, BSC OBE.

At the 2015 FilmQuest Film Festival, his project "Superbob" (2015) starring Brett Goldstein received a nomination for Best Cinematography, kickstarting his cinematography career. Nyberg is a member of the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) and also sits on its Board of Governors. Before his career in cinematography, he played professional hockey for Sweden’s Championship division and proudly holds dual British and Swedish citizenship.

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

12/03/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

"The Girlfriend" Editors Mark Davis, Mags Arnold, Marc Richardson & Alex Mackie, ACE discuss the challenges of storytelling, particularly in critical episodes, and the role of music in enhancing narratives. They highlight the importance of honest feedback in the editing process between editors working on different episodes and reflect on the unique satisfaction found in editing compared to other film roles.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact jason@filmmakeru.com for information and inquiries.HBO Max's "IT: Welcome To Derry...

12/03/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

HBO Max's "IT: Welcome To Derry" series is set in 1962, serving as a prequel to the "IT" movies. Editor Esther Sokolow shares her editorial experience on "IT Chapter Two," focusing on human connection and suspense. She discusses the importance of audio, pacing, and the balance between practical effects and CGI.

00:12 Introduction & Welcome
01:18 Editing IT & Approach
04:37 Suspense & Effects
18:51 Personal Insights

Esther Sokolow is a Los Angeles-based editor. Her work bridges studio tentpoles and independent character dramas, with a personal joy for shaping horror and psychological thrillers.

She recently edited HBO’s "IT: Welcome to Derry" for Andy Muschietti. This creative collaboration began with "IT: Chapter Two," where she served as First Assistant Editor, and continued on "The Flash," where she was promoted to Additional Editor.

Originally from Atlanta, she moved to California to study Film Editing at Chapman University. In 2015, she was selected as an honorary intern for American Cinema Editors (ACE), an experience that shaped her early career and inspired a deep commitment to both the craft of editing and the spirit of mentorship.

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

12/03/2025

Exploring Editing Techniques in "Daredevil: Born Again" with Editor Stephanie Filo, ACE

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

Editor Stephanie Filo, ACE, discusses her work on "Daredevil: Born Again." She highlights the challenges of portraying Matt Murdoch's dual identity while ensuring visual and auditory cohesiveness. Filo emphasizes collaboration with directors to enhance storytelling and shares insights on action sequences, along with her personal guilty pleasure films, showcasing the fun and creativity involved in film editing.

Stephanie Filo, ACE is a three-time Emmy and Peabody Award-winning TV/Film Editor and activist based in Los Angeles, CA and Sierra Leone, West Africa. She serves on the board for Girls Empowerment Sierra Leone, a social impact and feminist-based organization for Sierra Leonean girls aged 11-16. She is one of the co-founders of End Ebola Now, an organization created in 2014 to spread accurate information and awareness about the Ebola Virus and its impact through artistic community activism.

Aside from editing television and film, Stephanie spends much of her spare time producing and editing social action campaigns and documentaries, primarily focused on the rights of women and girls worldwide. Some of her notable campaigns include her work with the United Nations, International Labour Organization, and the Obama White House Task Force's It's On Us campaign to combat campus sexual assault. Her charitable work has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Telegraph UK, Yahoo, Al Jazeera, XWhy Magazine, and various others. Her work on the news documentary series "Mental State" earned her an Emmy nomination for the episode "Aging Out" about youth aging out of the American foster care system. She earned an Emmy win for her editing on the Mental State episode "Separated" which covered ICE deportations, making herself and Nzinga Blake the first Sierra Leonean women to ever win an Emmy award. In 2021, she won a Primetime Emmy award for her work on HBO's "A Black Lady Sketch Show", making her team the first all-Women of Color editing team to take home the award for Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming. Most recently, she made history again as a member of the first all-black editing team to be nominated for and win an Emmy and an ACE Eddie for "A Black Lady Sketch Show".

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

Manhattan Edit Workshop's mission is to provide the highest-quality education for filmmakers and editors, focusing on the art and technology inherent to our craft. We foster a "learn by doing" approach in an atmosphere where mistakes are encouraged as part of the process and the only "silly" question is the one that isn't asked.

Please go to https://www.mewshop.com for more information.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry. Please join us weekly to ask your questions live with our guest, or watch our vast catalog of a talented lineup of past interviewees on our YouTube page or page.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

08/27/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" VFX Supervisor Jason Smith shares insights on camera setup, project selection, and his experience at ILM. Smith discusses the importance of diverse skills in career paths and the challenges of maintaining Tolkien's vision in The Rings of Power. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration among visual effects artists and the influence of Peter Jackson's films on creativity, while also revealing his passion for makeup artistry and creature design.

Throughout his career, Smith has effectively led and collaborated with teams, working on groundbreaking visual effects in notable projects such as TRANSFORMERS, THE AVENGERS, THE REVENANT, and BUMBLEBEE. In 2012, he served as ILM's Associate Visual Effects Supervisor on Marvel's blockbuster THE AVENGERS, which grossed over one billion dollars worldwide and earned him a Visual Effects Society Award nomination for his character work on THE HULK. His role as ILM Visual Effects Supervisor on THE REVENANT brought him a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photorealistic Feature and an Academy Award Nomination for Best Visual Effects. Most recently, as Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Smith played a significant role in the visual design of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER series for Amazon.

--

Filmmaker U Chats is sponsored by Manhattan Edit Workshop

Manhattan Edit Workshop is a New York Film Editing School offering a full range of basic to advanced training courses, from Avid, Autodesk, Assimilate, Blackmagic, and Apple products to the complete suite of Adobe applications.

For more information, please visit https://www.mewshop.com.

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry.

Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

08/27/2025

https://www.filmmakeru.com/, Contact [email protected] for information and inquiries.

Cinematographer M. David Mullen, ASC, and Choreographer Marguerite Derricks share insights from their work on "Étoile." They discuss the intricate relationship between choreography and camera movements, the use of mirrors in rehearsals, and the unique cinematography challenges in cities like Paris and New York. They also highlight the importance of capturing ballet's beauty and the creative adjustments made during the filming process.

M. David Mullen, ASC, won three Emmy Awards for his work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and was nominated for two others. He was nominated for the IFP Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography in 2000 for “Twin Falls Idaho” and again in 2004 for “Northfork,” both films by Michael and Mark Polish.

Marguerite Derrick's most recent television credit includes Amazon’s “Étoile,” where she worked as the producer and choreographer of the series. Marguerite’s other television credits include Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Apple TV+’s “Roar,” Starz’s “Party Down,” Apple TV+’s “High Desert,” Amazon’s “Them: Covenant,” Amazon’s “The Fallout,” Showtime’s “The Affair,” HBO’s “Westworld,” Netflix’s “Glow,” Netflix’s revival of “Gilmore Girls,” Starz’s “Blunt Talk,” the Emmy-winning “Behind The Candelabra,” FX’s “American Horror Story,” and HBO’s hit series “True Blood.”

--

Every week, Filmmaker U is joined by award-winning filmmakers and creatives from the film and television industry.
,
Go to https://www.filmmakeru.com for more information on our courses and past interviews.

Follow, like, and share on Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/company/filmmaker-u
https://www.facebook.com/FilmmakerU/
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker_u/
https://www.twitter.com/filmmaker_u
https://www.youtube.com/FilmmakerU

Filmmaker U

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

12/03/2025

12/03/2025

12/03/2025

08/27/2025

08/27/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category