BELOW THE LINE PODCAST

Skid - DGA Assistant Director · belowtheline.biz

Welcome to Below the Line, the film industry podcast that looks at moviemaking from the crew’s perspective. My name is Skid — I’m a former Assistant Director and your host. Each week I sit down with production friends, both old and new, to share stories from their time on set.Each episode dives into a specific film, television series, or theme relevant to working in Hollywood. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or browse the episodes below — you might discover something new about one of your favorites.Have thoughts about an episode or feedback on the podcast? I’d love to hear from you: skid@belowtheline.biz

297 episodes

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English language

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Episodes 297

S27 - Ep 7 - Influenced - Assistant Directing
1mo ago · 35:13
The world of Influenced is one of luxury, exclusivity, and Manhattan's Upper East Side. Bringing that world to life on an independent film budget meant balancing creative ambition with production realities: making every location, every shooting day, and every production decision count. This week on Below the Line, Bruce Edward Hall joins Skid to discuss Influenced, the independent comedy directed by Rachel Israel from a screenplay by Jill Kargman. Together, they explore the planning, coordination, and adaptability required to bring an ambitious feature to the screen, and how thoughtful prepara
S27 - Ep 6 - The Boroughs - Screenwriting
2mo ago · 34:56
By the penultimate episode of a serialized mystery, every decision matters. Screenwriter Yona Speidel takes us inside Episode 7 of The Boroughs, where the show's many storylines converge as the season races toward its finale. This week on Below the Line, Yona Speidel discusses her work on The Boroughs, the Netflix sci-fi mystery series created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. Together, she and Skid explore how a modern television writers' room operates, how Yona's specific episode evolved during development, and how real-life experiences helped shape key moments in the series. Among the hi
S27 - Ep 5 - IT: Welcome to Derry - Editing the Pilot
2mo ago · 1:00:27
A station wagon ride. A movie theater. A bathtub drain. In IT: Welcome to Derry, some of the most ordinary places become the source of the show's most memorable nightmares. This week on Below the Line, Film Editor Esther Sokolow joins Skid and co-host Gianni Damaia to discuss editing the pilot episode of IT: Welcome to Derry. Building on the world established in IT Chapters One and Two, Esther breaks down how the creative team crafted the pilot's most memorable scares while exploring an earlier chapter in Pennywise's history. HBO provided four clips from the pilot episode, giving Esther the op
S27 - Ep 4 - FBI - Stunts
3mo ago · 50:06
How do you stage prison riots, cliffside fights, and high-speed chases when you only have a few hours to shoot each sequence? For Stunt Coordinator Victor Paguia, the answer starts with preparation, collaboration, and a willingness to solve problems on the fly. This week on Below the Line, Victor Paguia joins Skid to discuss his work on FBI, the long-running CBS series now heading into its ninth season. Having been with the show since the pilot, Victor breaks down three standout action sequences from Season 8 and explains how his team delivers ambitious stunts under the demanding schedule of a
S27 - Ep 3 - One Piece - Film Editing
3mo ago · 50:25
Adapting manga to live action has defeated more than a few ambitious productions. But somehow, One Piece became one of Netflix’s biggest successes — by embracing spectacle without losing sight of character. This week on Below the Line, Film Editor Eric Litman returns to the podcast alongside regular guest and co-host Christopher Angel to discuss the editorial challenges behind Netflix’s hit adaptation of One Piece. From reshaping major sequences in post to balancing fan expectations with emotional clarity, Eric breaks down how the series found its rhythm — and why grounding the story emotional
S27 - Ep 2 - Sound of Falling - Cinematography
4mo ago · 1:02:36
How do you shoot a film where time doesn’t move forward, but folds in on itself? For Fabian Gamper, the answer was building a visual language that treats every image like a memory — layered, subjective, and deeply tied to place. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Fabian Gamper and co-host David Tuttman to discuss the cinematography behind Sound of Falling, the Cannes Jury Prize-winning film that blends four time periods into a single, interconnected visual experience. From the beginning, Fabian approached the project with a guiding principle: the farmhouse location would dictate th
S27 - Ep 1 - Pretty Lethal - Directing
4mo ago · 35:04
What happens when you build an action movie from the discipline, pain tolerance, and physical language of ballet? For Director Vicky Jewson, the answer became Pretty Lethal — a film where movement isn’t just style, it’s story. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Vicky Jewson and co-host Katie Carroll to go behind the camera on Pretty Lethal, the action thriller now streaming on Prime Video. From the outset, Vicky approached the project with a clear mandate: ballet wouldn’t be window dressing — it would drive everything. That meant immersing herself in the world of professional dance
S26 - Ep 12 - 98th Oscars - Original Song
5mo ago · 1:27:58
Oscar night is almost here, and Below the Line closes out its 2026 Oscar series with a look at the Academy Award for Best Original Song. This week, Skid is joined by returning guests Chris Molanphy, Louis Weeks, and Tom Peyton to break down the five nominees — a lineup that ranges from chart-topping K-pop to blues-infused cinematic spectacle, intimate indie folk, and even a rare operatic outlier. As the ceremony approaches on March 15, the panel weighs not only which song will win, but how each nominee functions inside its film — and what that says about the evolving relationship between movie
S26 - Ep 11 - 98th Oscars - Original Score
5mo ago · 1:20:06
As Oscar night draws near, Below the Line turns to one of the most emotionally powerful — and hotly debated — categories of the year: the Academy Award for Best Original Score. In Episode 11 of our 2026 Oscar series, Skid is joined by returning panelists Chris Molanphy, Louis Weeks, and Jennie Armon to break down the five nominees recognized at the 98th Academy Awards: Bagonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Sinners. With just over a week until the ceremony on March 15, the conversation balances prediction, perspective, and deep craft analysis — examining not only who migh
S26 - Ep 10 - 98th Oscars - Costume Design
6mo ago · 1:18:09
Costume design defines character before a word is spoken — through silhouette, texture, and the quiet language of fabric. For Episode 10 of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series, Skid is joined by Liz Vastola, Austin Wittick, and Allison Choi Braun to examine the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 98th Academy Awards. Drawing on their experience across period drama, contemporary storytelling, and large-scale production, the panel evaluates this year’s field with a focus on research, construction, collaboration, and narrative clarity. As with the rest of this year’s Osca
S26 - Ep 9 - 98th Oscars - Cinematography
6mo ago · 57:09
Cinematography is where intention meets execution — in the choice of lens, the placement of light, and the movement of the camera. For Episode 9 of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series, we turn to the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography at the 98th Academy Awards. Skid is joined by cinematographers Patrick Cady and David Tuttman, who return to examine this year’s field from the inside — balancing technical precision, aesthetic philosophy, and the lived reality of production. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the conversation is available both as an audio podcast an
S26 - Ep 8 - 98th Oscars - Directing
6mo ago · 57:51
Best Director may not be the top prize — but it’s the category that sparks the loudest arguments. In Episode 8 of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series, Skid is joined by Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, and Shaun O’Banionto break down the nominees for the Academy Award for Best Director at the 98th Academy Awards. With years of shared on-set experience and a long-running panel dynamic, the conversation is sharp, occasionally irreverent, and grounded in what it actually takes to steer a production at this level. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the conversation is available both as an audi
S26 - Ep 7 - 98th Oscars - Sound
6mo ago · 43:56
Sound is where performance, environment, and emotion converge — shaped first on set and refined in the mix. In Episode 7 of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series, Skid is joined by Steve Morrow (Production Sound Mixer) and Don Sylvester (Sound Editor) to examine the nominees for Achievement in Sound at the 98th Academy Awards. Together, they explore how production and post-production intersect to support performance, pacing, and dramatic tension. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the conversation is available both as an audio podcast and as a full video episode on YouTube. Our discuss
S26 - Ep 6 - 98th Oscars - Production Design
6mo ago · 40:10
Judging production design means considering not just what we see, but how an entire world was constructed to function on screen. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Bob Shaw (Production Designer), Regina Graves (Set Decorator), and Kerry Weeks (Leadman) to examine the nominees for Achievement in Production Design at the 98th Academy Awards. Representing three distinct roles within the art department, they offer a grounded, practical look at how these films constructed their environments — from large-scale builds to the smallest graphic detail. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar s
S26 - Ep 5 - 98th Oscars - Animated Feature
6mo ago · 55:23
Animated feature filmmaking is defined by endurance — years of development, constant iteration, and creative risks that often aren’t visible on screen. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Kent Seki and Camille Leganza to discuss the nominees for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards. Drawing on their extensive experience in animation, they look closely at how different creative pipelines, production cultures, and storytelling ambitions shape this year’s unusually diverse slate of nominees. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the conversation is available both as
S26 - Ep 4 - 98th Oscars - Makeup and Hairstyling
6mo ago · 51:00
Makeup and hairstyling are among the most visible crafts in filmmaking — shaping how an audience understands age, history, and identity before a word is spoken. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Yvonne De Patis-Kupka, Angela Nogaro, and Lynda Armstrong for an in-depth discussion of the nominees for Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling at the 98th Academy Awards. Drawing on a wide range of experience across film and television, they examine how hair and makeup choices shape character, period, genre, and emotional tone — and how those choices are evaluated within a single, highly c
S26 - Ep 3 - 98th Oscars - Property Mastering
6mo ago · 35:58
This episode begins with a hypothetical question: what would it look like if Property Mastering were its own Oscar category? We explore it as part of Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Scott Buckwald and Gregg Bilson, Jr. for a deep dive into the craft of property mastering through the lens of the 98th Academy Awards. Using a fictional Oscar ballot as a framework, they explore how props function as storytelling tools — shaping character, tone, and authenticity across a wide range of films. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, the convers
S26 - Ep 2 - 98th Oscars - Visual Effects
7mo ago · 52:50
Continuing Below the Line’s 2026 Oscar series, the conversation turns to Visual Effects — a category that sits at the intersection of technology, craft, and storytelling. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Kent Seki and Chris Batty for a focused conversation about the Oscar nominees for Achievement in Visual Effects. Together, they look at how the category has evolved — and what separates technical accomplishment from storytelling impact. As with the rest of this year’s Oscar series, this episode is available both as an audio podcast and as a full video conversation on YouTube, off
S26 - Ep 1 - 98th Oscars - Film Editing
7mo ago · 44:19
As the 98th Academy Awards approach, Below the Line returns for its seventh annual Oscar series — beginning with Film Editing, a category that quietly shapes every other craft recognized on Oscar night. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Amy Duddleston and Christopher Angel to open the 2026 Oscar series with a focused conversation about the nominees for Achievement in Film Editing. Together, they examine how editing choices shape performance, tone, and point of view — and why the category can be difficult to evaluate without understanding what the work actually requires. This episo
S25 - Ep 8 - Slow Horses - Production Design
8mo ago · 36:41
Designing for television isn’t just about building sets — it’s about knowing when to preserve them, when to break them, and how to let them evolve over time. On Slow Horses, that long view shapes every creative decision. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Production Designer Choi Ho Man, with Gianni Damaia returning as co-host, to talk about the fifth season of Slow Horses, the Apple TV+ espionage series starring Gary Oldman. Choi traces her journey on the show from supervising art director to production designer, and how designing across multiple seasons requires long-term thinkin
S25 - Ep 7 - The Chair Company - Costumes and Cinematography
8mo ago · 52:13
The stranger The Chair Company gets, the more seriously it has to be treated. Nothing about the show tells the audience when to laugh — its world looks ordinary, its people feel real, and that restraint is exactly what lets the absurdity land. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Costume Designer Nicky Smith and Cinematographer Ashley Connor to discuss their work on The Chair Company, the HBO series created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin. Together, they break down how a show rooted in off-kilter comedy relies on rigorous visual logic — from wardrobe and camera movement to pacing, tex
S25 - Ep 6 - Books on Film: From Production to the Page
8mo ago · 58:20
Why do people who’ve spent their careers in the trenches of production take everything they’ve learned on set and turn it into something as quiet and lasting as a book? In this episode of Below the Line, three authors with deep roots in the industry talk about translating lived experience into storytelling on the page. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Melanie Ragone, Key Grip and author of Below the Line: A Film Crew Survival Guide; Rob Spera, director, teacher, and author of the Film/TV Director’s Field Manual: Seventy Maxims to Change Your Filmmaking; and Ken Levin, longtime Pr
S25 - Ep 5 - Wicked: For Good - Film Editing and Visual Effects
9mo ago · 1:00:25
What happens when filmmaking becomes a marathon of collaboration — spanning years, thousands of shots, and the world of Oz itself? For Wicked: For Good, that was the daily reality for Film Editor Myron Kerstein and Visual Effects Supervisor Pablo Helman. This week on Below the Line, Skid welcomes back Myron Kerstein and introduces Pablo Helman, who makes his Below the Line debut to discuss their shared journey on Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Jon M. Chu’s Wicked. Together, they reflect on what it means to sustain creative momentum through two interconnected films and the largest project of t
S25 - Ep 4 - Navy Public Affairs in Hollywood
9mo ago · 54:35
Before there were military consultants on movie sets, there were officers like Jon McBride — servicemen who understood how stories shape public perception. On this Veterans Day episode of Below the Line, we look at how the Navy’s storytellers helped connect the worlds of service and cinema. This week, Skid is joined by Jon McBride, a former U.S. Navy officer whose service from 1964 to 1968 led him from the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk to the Navy’s Public Affairs Office in Hollywood — bridging two worlds that rarely meet but often influence one another. We explore: Jon’s path from Yale graduate
S25 - Ep 3 - The Lowdown - Makeup and Production Design
10mo ago · 55:55
What does it take to build a world that feels as authentic as the people it represents? On The Lowdown, that meant storytelling rooted in place — and departments working in harmony. This week on Below the Line, Skid welcomes Makeup Department Head Sharon Tabb and Production Designer Brandon Tonner-Connolly, who reunite after three seasons of Reservation Dogs to discuss their latest collaboration with creator Sterlin Harjo on the FX series The Lowdown, starring Ethan Hawke. The discussion covers: Continuing the collaborative spirit from Reservation Dogs — and how Sterlin Harjo’s leadership fost

Episodes

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BELOW THE LINE PODCAST

Episodes 297

S27 - Ep 7 - Influenced - Assistant Directing

S27 - Ep 6 - The Boroughs - Screenwriting

S27 - Ep 5 - IT: Welcome to Derry - Editing the Pilot

S27 - Ep 4 - FBI - Stunts

S27 - Ep 3 - One Piece - Film Editing

S27 - Ep 2 - Sound of Falling - Cinematography

S27 - Ep 1 - Pretty Lethal - Directing

S26 - Ep 12 - 98th Oscars - Original Song

S26 - Ep 11 - 98th Oscars - Original Score

S26 - Ep 10 - 98th Oscars - Costume Design

S26 - Ep 9 - 98th Oscars - Cinematography

S26 - Ep 8 - 98th Oscars - Directing

S26 - Ep 7 - 98th Oscars - Sound

S26 - Ep 6 - 98th Oscars - Production Design

S26 - Ep 5 - 98th Oscars - Animated Feature

S26 - Ep 4 - 98th Oscars - Makeup and Hairstyling

S26 - Ep 3 - 98th Oscars - Property Mastering

S26 - Ep 2 - 98th Oscars - Visual Effects

S26 - Ep 1 - 98th Oscars - Film Editing

S25 - Ep 8 - Slow Horses - Production Design

S25 - Ep 7 - The Chair Company - Costumes and Cinematography

S25 - Ep 6 - Books on Film: From Production to the Page

S25 - Ep 5 - Wicked: For Good - Film Editing and Visual Effects

S25 - Ep 4 - Navy Public Affairs in Hollywood

S25 - Ep 3 - The Lowdown - Makeup and Production Design

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Episodes 297

S27 - Ep 7 - Influenced - Assistant Directing

S27 - Ep 6 - The Boroughs - Screenwriting

S27 - Ep 5 - IT: Welcome to Derry - Editing the Pilot

S27 - Ep 4 - FBI - Stunts

S27 - Ep 3 - One Piece - Film Editing

S27 - Ep 2 - Sound of Falling - Cinematography

S27 - Ep 1 - Pretty Lethal - Directing

S26 - Ep 12 - 98th Oscars - Original Song

S26 - Ep 11 - 98th Oscars - Original Score

S26 - Ep 10 - 98th Oscars - Costume Design

S26 - Ep 9 - 98th Oscars - Cinematography

S26 - Ep 8 - 98th Oscars - Directing

S26 - Ep 7 - 98th Oscars - Sound

S26 - Ep 6 - 98th Oscars - Production Design

S26 - Ep 5 - 98th Oscars - Animated Feature

S26 - Ep 4 - 98th Oscars - Makeup and Hairstyling

S26 - Ep 3 - 98th Oscars - Property Mastering

S26 - Ep 2 - 98th Oscars - Visual Effects

S26 - Ep 1 - 98th Oscars - Film Editing

S25 - Ep 8 - Slow Horses - Production Design

S25 - Ep 7 - The Chair Company - Costumes and Cinematography

S25 - Ep 6 - Books on Film: From Production to the Page

S25 - Ep 5 - Wicked: For Good - Film Editing and Visual Effects

S25 - Ep 4 - Navy Public Affairs in Hollywood

S25 - Ep 3 - The Lowdown - Makeup and Production Design