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PODCAST

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby

Step into the world of independent film with Filmmaking Conversations with Damien SwabyFrom established industry voices to the filmmakers of tomorrow, Damien Swaby opens up conversations that spark ideas, share experiences, and celebrate creativity in all its forms.Each episode offers listeners both inspiration and practical takeaways, leaving them better equipped to bring their own stories to life.With a loyal and growing audience of passionate filmmakers and film lovers, Filmmaking Conversations

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

36:27

Ep 269: Zayn Alexandre: Reclaiming the Arab Narrative...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/10/16

Episode Summary Lebanese-American filmmaker Zayn Alexandre joins us to discuss his journey from a small town outside Beirut to the heart of New York’s independent film scene. Known for his award-winning films Abroad and Manara, Alexandre shares how psychology, identity, and diaspora shape his storytelling. From the Venice Film Festival to the TIFF Filmmaker Lab, Zayn has carved a space for authentic Middle Eastern voices in global cinema. In this conversation, he opens up about cultural identity,

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38:04

Ep 268: North Carolina to Bloomberg: How Victoria...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/10/10

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, host Damien Swaby talks with Victoria Duncan, a filmmaker and Senior Creative Video Producer at Bloomberg Media Studios, about building a career that bridges art, analytics, and authenticity.Victoria shares how she transitioned from post-production and film school at NYU Tisch to producing global branded campaigns at Bloomberg. She opens up about her creative process, directing style, and the balance between data-driven storytelling and emotional

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55:44

Ep 267: Between the Notes: Mark Watters & Eastman’s...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/28

Show Notes In this episode, I sit down with Mark Watters to talk about a life lived in music: from Disney, Pixar, and Olympic scores, to his role today at Eastman School of Music, where he oversees the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media. We get deep into the Eastman Film & Media Festival—how it started, what it’s become, and why Rochester, NY is fast becoming a home for composer communities and cinematic sound.Mark reveals:His early obsession with film music (yes, Star Wars

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58:56

Ep 266: The Food Matrix: Exploring Flavor, Film, and...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/26

📒 SHOW NOTESIn this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien sits down with Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., a food scientist, consultant, and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered.Bryan’s career is a masterclass in curiosity-driven storytelling — one that filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives will find both inspiring and familiar.🎬 What’s inside this episode:A story worth filming: How Bryan’s 2,000-mile walk across America sparked his lifelong obsession with taste,

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33:09

Ep 265: Finding the Funny in Life’s Hardest Stories...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/22

🎙️ Episode IntroWhat happens when comedy collides with life’s most challenging topics? In this episode, host Damien Swaby sits down with Nicole Magerko — a Chicago-based comedy screenwriter, producer, and founder of Pine Grove Productions. Nicole’s work thrives at the intersection of humor and humanity, shining a light on aging, caregiving, and the often-overlooked everyday struggles that bind us together.From the personal turning point that inspired her company, to her evolving voice as a creator

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32:12

Ep 264: Filmmaking, Resilience & Ethical Storytelling...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/18

📝 Show NotesIn this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, we sit down with filmmaker, media strategist, and founder of The Video Mentor, Rene Estes. With a career that spans STEM research, entrepreneurship, and film, Rene brings a bold, emotionally intelligent lens to the power of storytelling.We dive into:The emotional impact of digital narratives and ethical storytelling.How media shapes cultural beliefs around aging, beauty, and resilience.Rene’s journey creating The Video Mentor, a platform

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7:23

Ep 263: Remembering Robert Redford: How a Career...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/16

Episode Summary Recording from the spare room, Damien reflects on Robert Redford’s passing and maps how Redford’s career choices—as star, director, producer, and institution-builder—reshaped the conditions for independent filmmaking. From championing adult, character-driven stories to proving quiet films can win big, this episode translates Redford’s moves into practical takeaways you can use on your next shoot.Key Takeaways:A bankable star choosing adult, idea-forward dramas expands mainstream

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45:19

Ep 262: Alexandra Paul: From Baywatch to Activism — A...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/15

Episode SummaryMost of the world knows Alexandra Paul as one of the stars of Baywatch, where she became a household name on one of the most-watched TV shows in history. But Alexandra’s story runs far deeper than the beaches of Malibu.In this inspiring conversation with host Damien Swaby, Alexandra opens up about how she fell into acting at just 18, the role of storytelling in her life, and what it really took to thrive in the competitive world of Hollywood. She shares candid reflections on the ups

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43:58

Ep 261: From Tehran to Sundance: Naghmeh Farzaneh on...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/14

✨ Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Damien Swaby speaks with Naghmeh Farzaneh, an Iranian-born painter turned animation director, whose work has screened at Sundance and platforms like The New Yorker and Sesame Workshop. Naghmeh shares how she animates memory, navigates identity, and teaches the next generation of artists to embrace animation as more than cartoons — as a powerful storytelling medium. ⏱ Episode Highlights(04:15) How painting led Naghmeh to discover animation by accident(12:30)

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42:56

Ep 260: Redefining Representation: Josiane Faubert on...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/05

Episode Summary In this episode, Damien Swaby sits down with Josiane Faubert, a photographer and creative entrepreneur who has built a platform to showcase authentic, diverse imagery of Africa and the diaspora. From her early life in Gabon to studying in Paris and building a career in London, Josiane shares her journey of redefining representation in visual storytelling.The conversation explores how cultural heritage, lived experience, and determination can shape a filmmaker’s and photographer’s

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25:39

Ep 259: Challenging Stereotypes: Dr. Ali on Building...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/09/03

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, I sit down with Dr. Ali, the visionary founder of Fam Cinema. His platform is more than just a streaming service—it’s a movement designed to empower marginalized voices, provide family-friendly viewing, and give filmmakers fairer opportunities to share their work. We talk about:The childhood experience that inspired Dr. Ali to challenge stereotypes in film.Why representation matters—and how media can heal and empower communities.The values and criteria

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43:12

Ep 258: Finding Stories in Unexpected Places with...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/26

In this episode, Damien Swaby sits down with filmmaker and multi-disciplinary creative Mick Lexington to talk about his journey through art, music, and writing — and how it all led him back to filmmaking. From restless college days in the Midwest to wandering the streets of Paris, playing music in London, and finally honing his craft as a writer and filmmaker, Mick shares a candid look at what drives him to create.They dive into:How Mick’s unconventional path shaped his voice as a storyteller.The

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48:12

Ep 257: The Intersection of Anthropology and Cinema:...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/22

In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby speaks with filmmaker Natalie, whose journey bridges anthropology, culture, and cinema. From her early studies in cultural and social anthropology to her work at the Smithsonian’s International Center, Natalie explains how her background in research and global exploration shaped her filmmaking perspective.The conversation covers:Anthropology to Filmmaking: How cultural and social anthropology informed Natalie’s storytelling and cinematic

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53:59

Ep 256: Jason Walsh: Training Bradley Cooper &...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/21

Guest: Jason Walsh — Strength & Performance CoachMentors & background (as stated in the episode):Worked under Greg Gatz at the University of North Carolina (Olympic athlete S&C environment).Mentored by Luke Richardson (respected strength coach).Selected clients & projects mentioned in the episode:Bradley Cooper — American Sniper: Discussed as a standout “all-in” transformation Jason was involved in (“the transformation that we did in American Sniper”), including addressing tendon

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30:02

Ep 255: From Music to Film: Brian Weaver + The...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/20

In this episode, host Damien Swaby sits down with Brian Weaver, founder of Weaver Films — a Central Arkansas–based company known for its cinematic wedding storytelling and powerful social documentaries.Before stepping behind the camera, Brian was a musician, performing over 300 live shows and even opening for acts like Plain White T’s. His journey into filmmaking began with a deeply personal moment — his own wedding — which showed him the power of preserving meaningful memories.Together, Damien and

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48:08

Ep 254: The Science Behind the Screen: A NASA...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/13

Hello and welcome back to the show. Today, I'm joined by Les Johnson, a NASA technologist, science fiction author, and consultant on films like Europa Report and Lost in Space. We'll be diving into what it takes to bring science to the screen, how to balance scientific truth with a good story, and the real-world passion behind space travel. Stick around, you won't want to miss this!Show NotesWhat is a Science Consultant? Les explains his role as a science consultant on films and TV shows like Europa

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41:08

Ep 253: From Sixteen Candles to Social Films: A Talk...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/12

This podcast episode features a conversation with actress and director Blanche Baker, who discusses her career, her notable roles, and her passion for making films that address social issues.Show Notes:Early Career and the Impact of HolocaustBlanche Baker's debut role was in the Emmy-winning miniseries Holocaust.This role was deeply personal for her because her father, Jack Garfine, was a Holocaust survivor.Before filming, she retraced her father’s journey through the concentration camps, including

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51:48

Ep 252: A Legal Architect’s Journey Through...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/11

Episode Summary:Marc's career is anything but ordinary. Before becoming a powerhouse entertainment attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP, he studied film at the University of Pennsylvania and UCL, made three documentaries—including the Sundance Special Jury Award-winning After Innocence—and helped change legislation in multiple states. In this in-depth conversation, Marc opens up about how he navigated the worlds of law and filmmaking, and the lessons he’s learned from representing clients ranging from

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43:22

Ep 251: Lights, Camera, Climate: Building a Festival...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/08

In this episode, we sit down with Alec, co-founder of the New York Climate Film Festival, to explore how cinema is being used to spark conversations around climate change. From building a community of diverse storytellers to rethinking what climate narratives can look like, Alec shares the journey of starting a film festival focused on one of the most urgent issues of our time. Whether you're a filmmaker, climate advocate, or simply a lover of good stories, this episode uncovers the creative

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43:34

Ep 250: Paul Robinson: Blending Story and Image,...

Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby ·

2025/08/06

Welcome to the show. Today, we're joined by Paul Robinson, a self-taught photographer who began his career in Paris shooting fashion and celebrities. Paul's work, which has been described as blending story and image, has evolved from classic single-frame photography to a focus on abstract, narrative-driven visuals. He's a true creative who has photographed cultural icons like B.B. King. Paul's passion for storytelling and empowering new artists led him to found the NEFTI short film competition, a

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