Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with 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.

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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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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.
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X (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405
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What role does fear play in shaping political narratives—and who benefits from it? In this episode, Emmy Award–winning investigative producer Andrew Goldberg joins the podcast to discuss his documentary White With Fear, a powerful examination of how racial anxiety has been strategically used in American political messaging over the past half-century. We explore how documentary storytelling can unpack complex national myths, why public television still matters in today’s media landscape, and what it takes to build projects supported by hundreds of institutions and partners worldwide.Along the way, Andrew reflects on:
the research process behind White With Fear
how political messaging around race evolved from the late 20th century to today
why documentary filmmaking remains a critical civic tool
the responsibility of public-interest storytelling
the challenges of making investigative work accessible to broad audiences
what global audiences misunderstand—and do understand—about American politics
lessons from producing long-form journalism for PBS and major broadcast outlets
This conversation looks beyond headlines to examine how narratives are constructed, circulated, and remembered—and why understanding them matters now more than ever.

https://www.whitewithfear.com

Call to Action. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast.
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Episode Guest: Michael Kellman
Host: Damien Swaby

Born in Los Angeles, Michael Kellman has been passionate about storytelling and performance from an early age. With interests spanning film, television, theatre, comedy, and live performance, Michael has spent years developing his voice as a creative storyteller.In this episode, Michael shares insights into his creative journey as a writer, director, and performer, and discusses the making of “Say Less,” his debut feature film.

We explore:
Michael Kellman’s early passion for film and performance
The path to becoming a writer and director
Lessons learned while making a debut feature film
The creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking
The vision and inspiration behind Say Less
Advice for aspiring filmmakers pursuing their first project
About the Film – Say Less
Say Less marks Michael Kellman’s debut feature film, representing years of creative work and dedication to storytelling.

WATCH THE FILM: https://deref-mail.com/mail/client/oXGiw0646Lc/dereferrer/?redirectUrl=http%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0GK2LN25C

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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