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In this episode of Rough Cut, we sit down with the award-winning filmmaking duo Brandon Kramer and Lance Kramer. Through stories from their acclaimed films City of Trees, The First Step, and their Oscar-shortlisted feature Holding Liat, the brothers reflect on community, collaboration, and the ethical responsibility of nonfiction storytelling. Guest hosted by Kristin Feely, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, the brothers explore how their work is a reflection of the communities and intimate relationships they’ve built over three feature films. Show Links Holding Liat - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com/holdingliat Meridian Hill Pictures - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com Credits Host Kristin Freely Guests Lance Kramer and Brandon Kramer Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Step courtside with Los Angeles Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez! In this episode of Rough Cut, hosted by producer Lauren Mahoney, Alicia shares her journey from cinematography and film production to capturing the energy of the WNBA. Hear how she leveraged unpaid gigs to land her dream job, the pressures of being a one-person crew shooting everything from promos to practices, and the amazing experience of having the best view in the house. Alicia talks gear, her busy in-season workweek, building trust with the team, and where she hopes to go from here. Consider this episode the final, satisfying swish of the net as we successfully close the book on another incredible season. Show Links Lauren Mahoney: https://videoconsortium.org/members/lauren-mahoney Alicia Ramirez: https://www.aliciasramirez.com/ LA Sparks Instagram: www.instagram.com/la_sparks LA Sparks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLosAngelesSparks/ Credits Host Lauren Mahoney Guests Alicia Ramirez Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

SHOW NOTES: Documentary filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman, along with guest host Jarod Neece, senior programmer at the Tribeca Festival, take a deep dive into the surprising intersections between activism, art, and industry. From disability rights in Not Going Quietly to NFT art in Minted, and the surprising government power plays behind The Price of Milk, Nick shares how he navigates storytelling, ethics, and business in the modern doc world. Along the way, the two pull back the curtain on film festivals, funding, and the fine line between passion and pragmatism. This is a candid, funny, and eye-opening look at what it takes to fund nonfiction films that matter, and get them seen. Show Links Jarod Neece: https://jarodneece.com Nicholas Bruckman: https://videoconsortium.org/members/nicholas-bruckman and https://nickny.com Peoples TV: https://peoples.tv Credits Host Jarod Neece Guests Nicholas Bruckman Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode, Rough Cut dives deep with journalist and video creator Dave Jorgenson, co-founder of Local News International and the mastermind behind the Washington Post’s unexpected TikTok success. Host Ryan Kellett unpacks Dave’s journey from producing YouTube sketches in college to pioneering a new wave of media literacy—armed with humor, a journalist’s commitment to accuracy, and a phone. Since launching his independent outlet, LNI, Dave has stepped into a bigger creative space, exploring a broader editorial range with transparency and nuance. From bold language choices to a collaborative, evolving style guide, he's prioritizing clarity, accuracy, and accessibility. Dave proves that trusted journalism isn’t about institutions—it’s about people. Now, with full ownership of his platform and vision, he’s building something bigger: an honest, informative, and entertaining space for the next generation of news consumers. This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how meaningful storytelling—and a good editor—can reshape the way we consume the news. Tune in now for insights, laughs, and a masterclass in creative adaptation. Show Links Ryan Kellett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankellett Dave Jorgenson and Local News International: https://lni.media Credits Host Ryan Kellett Guest Dave Jorgenson  Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this episode of Rough Cut, Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert from Multitude Films—an independent production company dedicated to transformative culture change through nonfiction storytelling—dive deep into how Multitude is building a values-driven model that prioritizes sustainability, fairness, and humanity both on set and behind the scenes. Key takeaways include: sharing production budgets when hiring crew to establish fair standards across the industry and recognizing care as a crucial component of ethical filmmaking — not just an afterthought. Listeners will gain practical insights on reshaping budgets, negotiating with transparency, and redefining compensation beyond just money. If you’re committed to changing the culture of filmmaking for the better, this is an episode you can’t miss. This episode is a collaboration between Video Consortium and Brown Girls Doc Mafia to bring attention to The Pay Transparency Project, a resource built in collaboration with VC and BGDM to promote and highlight the importance of pay transparency in documentary and nonfiction film production.  Show Links Sweta Vohra: ​​www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohra Emma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpert Multitude Films: www.multitudefilms.com Brown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.org Pay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.org Credits Guests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude Films Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Caitlin Boyle sits down with filmmaker Rebecca Davis to discuss the journey behind Join or Die, the powerful documentary that reimagines Robert Putnam’s landmark book Bowling Alone for the screen. Rebecca shares how the team behind the film not only brought Putnam’s ideas on the decline of community life to a broader audience, but also charted an ambitious and intentional path for its distribution. From grassroots community screenings to a Netflix release, and even a theatrical run for Oscar qualification, the filmmakers prioritized meaningful engagement and peer collaboration over mass exposure. This episode offers an honest look at the time, strategy, and heart that went into building impact around Join or Die—a film about community that practiced what it preached. Rough Cut Podcast is brought to you by the global nonfiction video community the Video Consortium. Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating or a comment to help this podcast reach more filmmakers around the globe! ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Episode Credits: Host: Caitlin Boyle Guest: Rebecca Davis Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio Producer: Audrey Horwitz Music: Zack Wright ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Episode Resources: ▶  Join or Die: https://www.joinordiefilm.com ▶ Rebecca Davis: https://rebeccadavis.co and https://videoconsortium.org/members/rebecca-davis ▶ Caitlin Boyle: https://caitlinboyle.co ◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠ Get involved and follow the action: Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/join Support the community: https://videoconsortium.org/donate  Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718  https://www.instagram.com/videoconsortium/ https://www.linkedin.com/videoconsortium/

On this episode of Rough Cut, host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros sits down with archival producer Stephanie Jenkins, whose work with filmmaker Ken Burns has uncovered rare historical gems like early footage of a young Muhammad Ali. Stephanie also shares insights into the art of bringing history to life on screen, and discusses co-founding the Archival Producers Alliance, which recently released groundbreaking guidelines on the use of generative AI in documentary filmmaking. From preserving the integrity of primary sources to navigating legal and ethical concerns, this episode explores how the rise of AI is reshaping the way we tell true stories—and why filmmakers must tread carefully. Show Links Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros: https://videoconsortium.org/members/dchavezontiveros Stephanie Jenkins: https://videoconsortium.org/members/stephanie-jenkins Archival Producer Alliance APA: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/ APA GenAI Best Practices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WS4iZ2Wi_wft5x54RG-hYb45sf10W8nV/view APA GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit: https://www.archivalproducersalliance.com/tool-kit-for-documentaries Credits Host Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros Guests Stephanie Jenkins Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Michael Werner returns to Rough Cut and sits down with filmmaker Ondi Timoner to discuss the unique challenges involved in making documentaries involving one's own family. Ondi talks with Michael about her recent films "Last Flight Home" and "All God's Children," which explore deeply personal subjects like her father's final days and her sister’s religious and social justice work. She candidly shares the emotional and ethical dilemmas she navigated and the delicate nature of making films focused on deeply personal experiences and relationships.   Show Links Interloper Films: https://www.interloperfilms.com/ Michael Werner: https://videoconsortium.org/members/michael-werner  Credits Host Michael Werner Guests Ondi Timoner Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

On this episode of Rough Cut, artist and filmmaker Dennis Scholl speaks with Elan Golod about his new documentary Nathan-ism, and the complicated work of making art about artists. Dennis and Elan discuss their film’s impact on artist's legacies, how to make canvases and sculptures compelling on film, and the complexities of working with a subject who is used to having creative control. This nuanced conversation will resonate with filmmakers who have navigated relationships with complex film participants and faced challenging artistic choices when working with archival materials and other nontraditional media.  Show Links Dennis Scholl: https://schollcreative.com/about/ Elan Golod: https://videoconsortium.org/members/elan-golod Nathan-ism: https://www.nathan-ism.com/ Credits Host Dennis Scholl Guests Elan Golod Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

On this episode of Rough Cut, filmmaker and editor Ann Collins talks to director Sandra Luckow about her new feature doc, Vanishing: A Love Story, shot entirely on an iPhone. Ann and Sandra discuss how smartphones have made filmmaking more accessible than ever before — but it’s not as simple as pulling a phone out of your pocket and recording. Tune in to hear from Sandra about the additional gear and apps she used to film the deeply personal story of author Cai Emmons’ end-of-life journey.  Show Links Vanishing: A Love Story - www.vanishingalovestory.com Credits Host Ann Collins Guest Sandra Luckow Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz  Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

On this episode of Rough Cut, Brandon Graves and Kamaria Roberts—Video Consortium’s Newsroom Collective team—unpack video as a crucial tool for newsrooms. They also share their personal journeys through the industry, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing local journalism today, and explore why VC’s Newsroom Collective is a game-changer for newsrooms integrating video storytelling into reporting. If you’re curious about where journalism is headed (hint: video is the future), this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Show Links Brandon Graves: https://videoconsortium.org/members/bgraves  Kamaria Roberts: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kamarialeyla The Newsroom Collective: https://videoconsortium.org/newsrooms Credits Host Brandon Graves Guest Kamaria Leyla Roberts Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this episode of Rough Cut, esteemed journalist and VC Board member Kevin Merida, former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sits down with award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter for a wide ranging conversation, including her latest documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, the art of weaving archival footage into compelling narratives, and the vital role of local journalism. Kevin and Dawn offer deep insights into the power and possibilities of nonfiction video storytelling. Tune in for an enriching exploration of the evolving landscape of nonfiction video. Show Links Kevin Merida: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kevinmerida Dawn Porter: https://www.trilogy-films.com/ Luther: Never Too Much: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10850320/ Credits Host Kevin Merida Guest Dawn Porter Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

On this episode of Rough Cut, filmmaker and writer Michael Werner talks to Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman, who shook up the documentary landscape with their film Cocaine Cowboys. The bold documentary launched their careers and solidified their reputation as daring storytellers who push against industry norms.  Billy and Alfred, who have been collaborators since high school, talk to Michael about their dedication to telling Miami stories, and how they approach documentaries with genre-bending ideas and outside-the-box thinking. A must listen episode about the art of pushing limits and unfiltered storytelling. Show Links Michael Werner: https://videoconsortium.org/members/michael-werner Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman https://www.rakontur.com Credits Host Michael Werner Guests Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Audrey Horwitz Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

This week on Rough Cut we’re joined by animators and filmmakers Lizzy Hogenson and Zach Dorn, who, with host Sean David Christensen, delve into how animation lends itself to emotional intensity in nonfiction stories. All three filmmakers use a myriad of artistic mediums in their films. For Lizzy it’s needle-felting and claymation, among other mediums. For Zach it’s puppets and illustrations, and for Sean it’s miniature sets and other unique storytelling techniques.  Sean talks with Lizzy and Zach about their creative processes and how these mediums and techniques evoke emotional intimacy for the viewer.  Show Links Sean David Christensen: https://videoconsortium.org/members/seandchristensen Zach Dorn: https://zachdorn.com Lizzy Hogenson: www.lizzyhogenson.com Lizzy’s film “Dani”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWH8iDhkwbs Credits Host Sean David Christensen Guests Lizzy Hogenson and Zach Dorn Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Monica Gokey Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Quincy Ledbetter and Mito Habe-Evans met on NPR’s video desk, when Mito hired Quincy after a refreshingly casual and candid interview. On this episode of Rough Cut, Quincy, an independent filmmaker and artist, and Mito, a Creative Director and Supervising Video Producer at NPR, talk about what it takes to build a creative team and foster a positive work culture. We dive into the “vibe check,” how the punk scene shaped Mito’s creative outlook, and other ways Mito thinks about creating teams and connecting with collaborators.  Show Links Quincy Ledbetter: https://videoconsortium.org/members/qledbetter Mito Habe-Evans: https://videoconsortium.org/members/mito-habe-evans NPR Video: https://www.npr.org/series/718730324/video Credits Host Quincy Ledbetter Guests Mito Habe-Evans Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio Produced by Monica Gokey Music by Zack Wright Click here to join or support the Video Consortium