Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby

Show Notes

Producer, director and Ignite Studios founder Erin Mae Miller joins Damien Swaby for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking and her new feature If I Tell You.

Erin began her career in unscripted television, working across productions for Discovery, TLC, History and VH1. She describes documentary filmmaking as being like sculpting from a block of marble — discovering and shaping a story from the material reality gives you — while scripted filmmaking is more like painting something that first existed in your imagination.

She discusses working on Love & Hip Hop, the importance of extensive pre-interviews when dealing with vulnerable documentary participants, and why filmmakers have a responsibility to ensure contributors retain agency over deeply personal stories.

The conversation then turns to If I Tell You, Ignite Studios' debut feature. Erin first encountered the screenplay while working at Big Indie Pictures and couldn't forget it. After leaving the company, she contacted the writer and began what ultimately became an eight-year journey to get the film made.

Erin discusses adapting Lisa O'Donnell's Closed Doors from its original Scottish setting to northern Minnesota, finding the isolated Boundary Waters community of Ely, casting young lead Etienne Kellici from approximately 3,000 submissions, working with director Tessa Blake and creating the film's carefully controlled visual palette.

She also opens up about the changing economics of independent film, the impact of streaming on traditional international financing, and why producers today need to think about the film they write, shoot, edit, distribute and market.

The conversation also tackles AI and filmmaking. Erin sees possibilities for technologies that could make historically expensive recreations achievable for independent productions, while arguing that documentary filmmakers must be extremely careful not to destroy the audience's trust in the reality they're watching.

Finally, Erin reflects on beginning her career as a stand-in and photo double for Kristen Bell and Isla Fisher, why she ultimately chose producing over acting, and her belief that films can influence our collective cultural narrative.

If I Tell You opens in select AMC cinemas across the United States on August 27.

In this episode
Erin discusses unscripted TV and Love & Hip Hop; ethical documentary interviewing; working at Big Indie Pictures; the eight-year development of If I Tell You; casting a child lead from thousands of submissions; shooting for 25 days in Minnesota; colour as an affordable filmmaking tool; the changing economics of independent film; AI, authenticity and documentary ethics; and why “stories unite us.”

https://www.ignitestudios.tv

https://www.ifitellyoufilm.com

Episode Show Notes

What happens when the dream of becoming an actor collides with the reality of earning a living? In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby sits down with actor Chantelle Levene for an open conversation about ambition, rejection, resilience and what it really takes to keep pursuing a creative career when opportunities become harder to find.

Chantelle reflects on the EastEnders performances that first inspired her to act, how the audition landscape has changed, and why she misses the days when aspiring actors had greater access to open auditions. She also discusses her frustrations with self-tapes and the difficult experience of going four years without booking an acting role.The conversation goes beyond auditions.

Chantelle talks about agents, independent filmmaking and the importance of creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for permission from an industry that may not always make space for you. She and Damien also explore a reality familiar to many working creatives: how do you balance a 9-to-5 job, financial responsibilities and everyday life with a creative purpose that refuses to disappear? It’s a conversation about the less glamorous side of pursuing a career in film and television — and about finding ways to keep moving forward when the phone stops ringing.In this episodeThe EastEnders performances that made Chantelle want to become an actor
Why open auditions seem to have disappeared
The realities and frustrations of self-tape culture
Going four years without booking an acting role
What actors should expect from their agents
Balancing acting with a 9-to-5 career
Independent filmmaking and creating your own work
Staying visible in an increasingly competitive industry
Resilience, reinvention and maintaining a sense of creative purpose
As Chantelle's story demonstrates, the route may change and the industry may change, but the desire to tell meaningful stories can remain.

Follow Filmmaking Conversations for more candid conversations with actors, filmmakers and other creatives about the craft, careers and realities behind working in the film industry.

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.

Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

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/

Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

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
Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:
25% Off More Labs
https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Strong Coffee Company
https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off Tussle
https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Eric Javits
https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

25% Off Quantum Energy Square
https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off Long Table
https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off HyperNatural
https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

20% Off wearplayground
https://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

15% Off STAND+
https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

10% Off Molly Bz
https://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

41% Off Cozy Earth
https://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY

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