Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby

Show Notes

What does it really mean to film something that can't be seen?
In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, I sit down with award-winning documentary cinematographer Liz Moughon to explore the emotional and technical craft of visual storytelling.
Liz has worked with ProPublica, Blue Chalk Media and some of the world's leading documentary filmmakers, creating films that explore grief, illness, identity, hope and resilience. From documenting families affected by stillbirth to investigating one of the largest medical device recalls in history, her work demonstrates how cinematography can reveal emotional truth through observation rather than spectacle.

We discuss why perspective matters just as much as composition, how documentary filmmakers earn trust during intimate moments, and the importance of knowing when to keep filming—and when to simply listen.

Liz also opens up about living with Type 1 diabetes, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal experience into an artistic project by photographing an entire year's worth of the medical supplies that kept her alive. Rather than seeing them as waste, she began seeing them as evidence of resilience, creativity and survival.

This is a thoughtful conversation about empathy, collaboration, vulnerability, emotional landscapes, and why the most powerful stories are often found in the quiet moments people overlook.
In this episode we discuss:

• How Liz discovered filmmaking through photojournalism
• Why documentary cinematography is about perspective rather than simply beautiful images
• Capturing grief, hope and emotional truth on camera
• Filming intimate moments ethically
• The visual language of documentary filmmaking
• Working with ProPublica and investigative documentaries
• Turning Type 1 diabetes into an artistic project
• Why details and visual metaphors create emotional impact
• The importance of collaboration in filmmaking
• Why curiosity is a filmmaker's greatest strength

Mentioned in this episode
• Liz Moughon's website https://lizmoughon.com/about
• Before a Breath
• With Every Breath
• Blue Chalk Media
• ProPublica

From Liz Moughon

A to Z music video https://tennmore.com/atoz/
Inspired by movement, identity, Baltimore street culture, discipline, and emotional transformation, the film blends intimate visuals with a reimagined performance of Ludovico Einaudi’s “Experience.”
Filmed across Baltimore with a focus on texture, motion, stillness, and human connection, A to Z represents the beginning of a larger body of work from TennMore Studios – combining documentary sensibilities, cinematic filmmaking, and emotionally grounded storytelling. 

Team Type 1 https://lizmoughon.com/teamtype1
Type 1 Diabetes is full of routines no one sees, especially the supplies that pile up quietly in the background. Most of the time, those supplies get thrown away. What if we turned them into something cool?

For one year I saved every pod, sensor, alcohol wipe, etc. that helped keep me alive, and I made a self-portrait surrounded by all of it. I'm inviting you to do the same thing – your way. Save your supplies for a few months, a year or whatever feels right. Then create something: a photo, video, sculpture, collage, anything. This is your invitation. 

Support Independent Filmmaking
Please check out the links below to support two previous Filmmaking Conversations guests.

🎬 A Life Together https://seedandspark.com/fund/a-life-together-short-film#story — Michael Ferrell and Devin Sanchez's heartfelt comedy-drama about family, ambition and unexpected relationships. The film is currently raising funds as both a festival short and proof-of-concept feature.

🎬 The Deer https://www.shelterfilm.com/thedeerfilmcampaign— Julia Campanelli's powerful short film exploring PTSD through the eyes of a first responder following the aftermath of a school shooting, helping shine a light on the often unseen emotional cost carried by emergency workers.

If you're able to pledge, share either campaign or simply follow their journeys, you'll be helping independent filmmaking continue to thrive.

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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en 
Also, you can check out my documentary The People of Brixton, on Kwelitv here: https://www.kweli.tv/creator/damien-swaby

Show Notes

Award-winning director Minkie Spiro joins Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby for a deeply personal and insightful conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the emotional responsibility of directing. Minkie reflects on her unconventional journey into film and television, revealing how growing up in a highly academic household — where television was rarely allowed — unexpectedly shaped her artistic instincts. She discusses studying graphic design at Central Saint Martins and how visual communication, photography, and composition became the foundation of her directing style.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Minkie opens up about her early years as a reportage photographer, documenting war zones including Bosnia during the conflict. She shares the emotional impact of photographing child landmine victims and explains how those formative experiences changed the way she observes humanity, emotion, and truth on screen.

Damien and Minkie also explore:
How photography trained her eye for cinematic storytelling
The transition from still images to directing actors and movement
The emotional intelligence required to direct performance
Why vulnerability and trust matter on set
The evolution of television into a cinematic art form
Working across British and American productions
Directing acclaimed series including Dead to Me, Pieces of Her and All Her Fault
Collaborating with actors including Sarah Snook
Building tension, atmosphere, and emotional realism on screen
The difference between “coverage” and true visual storytelling
Why directing is as much about listening as it is leading
Minkie also discusses balancing instinct with preparation, finding authenticity in performances, and how her life experiences continue to shape the kinds of stories she wants to tell. This episode is an honest and fascinating look inside the mind of a filmmaker whose work consistently blends emotional depth with cinematic scale. If you’re passionate about directing, storytelling, cinematography, performance, or the creative process behind prestige television, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

W: https://www.minkiespiro.com/

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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en 
Also, you can check out my documentary The People of Brixton, on Kwelitv here: https://www.kweli.tv/creator/damien-swaby

Podcast Show Notes

In this expansive and intimate conversation, Damien Swaby welcomes legendary cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh for a masterclass in visual storytelling, collaboration, and creative longevity.Born in the UK in 1952 and raised largely in New Zealand, Stuart’s early life was shaped by both migration and discipline.

He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Auckland, a foundation that continues to inform his sensitivity to structure, space, and composition within the frame.Stuart began his career working on early New Zealand films such as Goodbye Pork Pie and Smash Palace, before spending several years as a gaffer — an experience he credits with giving him a deep, practical understanding of light.

By the mid-1980s, he transitioned fully into cinematography, shooting short films, music videos, and commercials.A pivotal turning point came with his collaboration with director Jane Campion on the television miniseries An Angel at My Table, followed by The Piano — a film that earned Stuart an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in 1994 and cemented his international reputation.

The conversation traces his move from New Zealand to the United States after projects like Once Were Warriors, and his evolution into a globally sought-after cinematographer. His credits include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and more recently high-profile series such as Fallout for Jonathan Nolan at Amazon and East of Eden as a limited series for Netflix.Throughout the episode, Stuart speaks candidly about:
How architecture shaped his visual thinking
Why working as a gaffer was essential to his development
Building trust-based relationships with directors
Resisting the urge to impose a “signature style”
Letting emotion, performance, and light guide the camera
At its core, this episode is a meditation on restraint, intuition, and the quiet decisions that shape unforgettable images. A must-listen for cinematographers, directors, and anyone drawn to the invisible art of cinema.

https://www.stuartdryburgh.com
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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

🧾 Episode Show Notes

In this episode, Damien sits down with filmmaker and creative studio founder Darren Rayner to explore how action-sports filmmaking shaped modern social media storytelling — and how brands can scale content without losing their voice.

Darren discusses:

🎬 The origin of Magnafire
Why a serious snowboarding accident changed his career direction
Moving from athlete to filmmaker
Building a studio focused on outdoor sport and wellness storytelling
Transitioning from feature-length action-sports films to short-form digital content
📱 Social-first storytelling for brands
What brands still misunderstand about TikTok and Instagram video
Why discovery strategy comes before production
Helping organisations grow audiences without losing authenticity
Turning brand identity into performance-driven social content
📈 Scaling audiences on social platforms
Growing Arc’teryx from zero to hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers
Balancing trend-driven content with long-term brand positioning
Why social storytelling shouldn’t feel like advertising
🧗 Filming athletes and working with global brands
Producing content with limited access windows (sometimes just 25 minutes)
Why preparation is everything when directing elite athletes
Lessons learned from a 12-year collaboration with Red Bull
Why athletes are culture drivers — not just subjects
🎥 Documentary instincts inside branded filmmaking
Capturing real stories vs constructing marketing narratives
Why audiences respond more strongly to observed storytelling
Human-led content in the age of generative AI video
🤖 AI inside modern filmmaking workflows
Using AI for pre-production speed and clarity
Removing unwanted visual elements during post-production
Cleaning audio captured in outdoor environments
Why Magnifier avoids fully generative video pipelines
📐 Vertical vs cinematic framing challenges
Shooting simultaneously for horizontal and vertical formats
Practical strategies directors can apply immediately
Why filmmakers must adapt to social-first viewing behaviour
W: https://www.magnafiremedia.com/about/

🎙️ About the PodcastFilmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby explores the craft, business and creative journeys behind today’s filmmakers, directors, editors and visual storytellers working across cinema, broadcast and digital platforms.

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
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https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en

Episode Show Notes:

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien speaks with Domenic Angelino, an exercise science specialist, public health expert, and digital fitness innovator working at the intersection of research, technology, and human performance.Currently serving as Chief Fitness Scientist at FitCraft, Domenic leads the science behind gamified fitness experiences while continuing to push forward the integration of AI and digital health tools into everyday training and wellness.With experience spanning academic research, startup consulting, curriculum development, public health programs, and global fitness media, Domenic has contributed to projects reaching millions—from education systems to fitness apps and YouTube channels generating over 50 million views.In this conversation, Domenic shares insights into:
How science is reshaping the future of fitness
The growing role of AI in training and health tracking
Working across research labs, startups, and public health initiatives
Consulting for fitness platforms and performance organizations
Writing textbooks, children’s books, and educational curriculum
Supporting underserved communities through physical activity programs
Bridging academia and industry innovation
Why evidence-based training matters more than ever
This episode explores how fitness science, storytelling, education, and technology intersect to shape healthier futures worldwide.

https://domenicangelino.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/domenichealth.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenicangelino/
https://www.instagram.com/domenichealth/

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
Follow Damien Swaby for more filmmaker interviews and insights into the craft and business of storytelling.
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
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20% Off Strong Coffee Company
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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby
https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en