The FilmUp Podcast

Today, we sit down with the talented producer, Jonathan Hsu, for one of our most poignant discussions about the cathartic and healing power of filmmaking. Jonathan Hsu is an award-winning producer and founder of Hsubox Productions Inc.. He built his career with no cash, no contacts, and no shortcuts. From NYU student films and no-budget music videos to award-winning films and commercial campaigns for global brands. He learned what it takes to get hired, stay hired, and grow from passion projects into a sustainable film business. Now he shares the playbook for doing the same. He has partnered with global brands including Apple, Netflix, Meta, and more. His Oscar qualified work has been selected and awarded at Sundance, Slamdance, Berlinale, Busan, and Tribeca. Jonathan is dedicated to both the craft and business of filmmaking, and is excited to see the stories of the next generation of creators. Jonathan is also a big supporter of Caring Across Generations , a non-profit dedicated to changing the culture and policy of care in America. You can learn more by visiting CaringAcross.org . Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

This week’s guest is a powerhouse producer with dozens of incredible credits under her belt. Beyond her myriad of award-winning films, she is a professor at Columbia University and a vocal advocate pushing back against the growing challenges in the producing profession. Please welcome Mynette Louie! Mynette is a Spirit Award-winning, Emmy and Critics Choice-nominated producer. Her credits include Suzanne Andrews Correa’s Sundance 2026 selection THE HUNTRESS, Eric Lin’s Locarno-winning Tribeca 2025 selection ROSEMEAD (Vertical), Heidi Ewing’s Sundance-winning, Spirit Award-nominated I CARRY YOU WITH ME (Sony Pictures Classics), Carlo Mirabella-Davis’ Tribeca-winning, Gotham-nominated SWALLOW (IFC Films), Jennifer Fox’s Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Spirit Award-nominated THE TALE (HBO), Karyn Kusama’s THE INVITATION (Drafthouse/Netflix), and Martha Stephens & Aaron Katz’s Spirit Award-winning LAND HO! (Sony Pictures Classics). Louie serves on the Board of Directors of Film Independent, the Producers Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is a member of Producers United and the Television Academy. She was named one of Business Insider’s “12 Movie Producers at the Top of Their Game to Watch in 2020 and Beyond,” Ted Hope’s “21 Brave Thinkers of Truly Free Film,” and Indiewire’s “100 Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter.” She is also an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice and Co-Head of Creative Producing at Columbia University’s graduate film program. A native New Yorker, Louie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard University, where she studied Chinese literature and film. Mynette has chosen to support The Jed Foundation for this episode. Learn more about ways to support them at jedfoundation.org. Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp’s initiatives!

Welcome back to Season 7 of The FilmUp Podcast! We're kicking the season off with a very special guest. Emmy award-winning cinematographer, Adam Newport-Berra, ASC! Adam is an Emmy and ASC Award–winning cinematographer born and raised in the woods of Oregon—where he continues to live. A graduate of New York University, Adam has lensed a range of acclaimed features, shorts, television, music videos, and commercials. In 2019, Variety named him one of its “Artisans Elite.” His work on The Last Black Man in San Francisco led to a premiere at Sundance and competed at the Camerimage Film Festival. His films have competed at Cannes, Telluride, NYFF, SXSW, TIFF, and beyond. In television, Adam shot the pilot of FX’s The Bear and the final two episodes of HBO’s Euphoria (Season 1). He won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Half-Hour Series for his work on The Studio, for the episode “The Oner.” Adam’s commercial work has also earned multiple Cannes Lions, and his music video collaborations include Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Miley Cyrus, and Kanye West, earning multiple VMA nominations for cinematography. Adam has chosen to support The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR for this episode. Learn more about ways to support them at hollywoodtheatre.org. Check out filmup.co/filmup-podcast for more information about the podcast and all of FilmUp's initiatives!

This week we are thrilled to be joined by Michael Wormser! Michael is a Los Angeles–based producer, writer, director, and creator of Teche™, a film finance modeling platform built to help producers and investors clearly model capital stacks, recoupment waterfalls, and investor returns in real time. He is also one of the founders of Cinemand Pictures. His list of producing credits is extensive, and he previously served as Head of Production at Maker Studios and was profiled in the PGA’s Produced By magazine as a “go-to producer.” Michael is also a big supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a non-profit hospital with an emphasis on teaching, that’s dedicated to caring for children, teens, young adults, and families as well as making discoveries to enhance the health and lives of these communities, especially the underserved populations of LA. To learn about ways you can support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, visit https://www.chla.org/

We've got an awesome conversation with an awesome guest this week. Welcome AJ Bleyer to the podcast! AJ is a high-octane director and the founder of Advent Films, a creative production house known for its visually arresting, high impact work. AJ is also a trusted shooter for many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Ferrari, McLaren F1, Aston Martin, Red Bull, Riot Games, Amazon, and more. He’s also become a known industry speaker for brands like RED, Adobe, Fujinon, Dell, NVIDIA and more. He’s delivered a TEDx talk, and many on-stage keynotes at events like Adobe MAX and NAB. AJ is also a big supporter of ManifestWorks, a non-profit that connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness and incarceration with job opportunities and provides ongoing life and professional skills to support long-term success. To learn more about how you can get involved and support Manifest Works, visit https://www.manifestworks.org/

You may recognize today's guest from one of the many great show's and movies she's been in. This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Ayden Mayeri! Ayden is an Actor and Director from Northern California. With performances in dozens of shows and movies including Paul Feig’s Jackpot! , Mr. Throwback with Steph Curry, New Girl , and Veep , just to name a few, she has quickly established herself as a star on the rise. Her directorial debut, Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story , had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2026 and won the Jury Award for Documentary Feature Film. Most recently she starred in the Tribeca 2025 Untold Stories feature film, Honeyjoon , and can be seen opposite Cameron Diaz in Netflix’s upcoming action comedy Bad Day , and the Rachel Bloom ABC series Do You Want Kids . Ayden is also a big supporter of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants to push policies that promote freedom of movement, full human rights, and the vigorous civic action that strengthens this democracy. To learn about ways you can support CHIRLA, visit https://www.chirla.org

Today’s guest is a true talent who’s work can be seen all over the big and small screen. This week we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Weiss! Valerie is an award winning director, writer, and producer of film and television. After receiving her PhD from Harvard Medical School, she decided to embark into the entertainment industry, and it seems like she made the right choice. Valerie has directed dozens of episodes of some of the most popular shows on television such as Outer Banks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Ginny & Georgia, as well as directed multiple features like Mixtape and The Archer. She is also co-chair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee. Valerie is also a big supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, a non-profit dedicated to building a future in which people live in harmony with nature by conserving and restoring biodiversity, reducing humans’ environmental footprint, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. To learn more about ways you can contribute to the World Wildlife Fund, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/support

This week we are thrilled to have Paris Schulman on the podcast! Paris began his career as a record producer and film composer. In 2010, he founded RiTE MEDIA, a creative content studio based in Atlanta. Over the years, RiTE has developed and produced hundreds of stories spanning commercials, narrative, and music visuals. Rite Media’s expertise and resources are on emerging technologies like Virtual Production and Bolt CineBot robotic cameras, and they have deployed these solutions on some of the most notable films and series of the last decade, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & 3, Stranger Things, and many more. Paris is also a big supporter of Earth Echo International, a non-profit that collaborates with youth around the world to provide knowledge and develop tools that drive meaningful environmental action to protect and restore our ocean planet. You can learn more about ways to support them by visiting earthecho.org

This week Aryeh is sitting down to talk with the talented and accomplished director, Justin Jarrett! Justin is an Emmy Award-Winning writer, director, and producer based in Philadelphia. He has written and directed over 200 television shows, commercials, shorts, and feature-length documentaries across five different continents while acting as the Principal Director of JTWO, a full service production house based out of Philly and Chicago. Justin is also a big supporter of Fred’s Footsteps, a non-profit that provides financial relief to working families in the Philadelphia region who find themselves in a crisis due to the costs associated with caring for seriously ill, injured, or disabled children. To learn more about ways to support Fred's Footsteps, visit https://fredsfootsteps.org.

This week we're excited to be joined by Dale "Rage" Resteghini. He's a legendary Music Video and Feature Film Director who's worked with some of the biggest names in both Hollywood and the music industry. Dale was born into a blue-collar Boston family, and traded a future in labor for a legendary career in film and television. He got his start on the set of School Ties and spent his early years in New York City, working alongside masters like Alfonso Cuarón and Sidney Lumet. Driven by a relentless 'Balboa' work ethic, Dale has helmed countless iconic music videos—amassing over 10 billion views for artists like Fall Out Boy, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, Guns N’ Roses, and so many more. With more than 200 feature film credits to his name, including a Co-Executive Producer role on Al Pacino’s Lear Rex, Dale continues to bridge the gap between gritty independent storytelling and global cinematic spectacles. Dale is also a big supporter of Father John’s Animal House, a non-profit dedicated to providing quality, humane care to the cats and dogs at our shelter, to find loving homes for otherwise homeless animals, and facilitate spay/neuter procedures to reduce the over-population and suffering of unwanted or homeless animals. To learn more about ways to help Father John's Animal House, visit https://www.fatherjohns.org.

This week we're excited to introduce Nathan Presley! Nathan is a Los Angeles-based director, writer, and cinematographer known for his dark visual style and emotionally intuitive storytelling across music videos, narrative films, and commercial work. He hosts the Art & Faith podcast and his most recent narrative project FLESH & BLOOD has earned official selection for many film festivals including SIFF & Screamfest. Some of his clients include: SONY, NIKE, FILA, Tommy Hilfiger, WEEZER, J Lo, etc. He is also, most importantly, a husband and father of two boys. Nathan is a big supporter of Serve LA, a non-profit that serves people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Los Angeles by providing meals, hygiene services, and essential resources. Rooted in dignity and compassion, the organization partners with volunteers and local groups to help people move from crisis toward stability and flourishing. To learn more about ways to contribute, visit https://servela.org/community-impact

This week, we’re excited to be joined by the hilarious commercial and short film director, Taso Alexander. Taso graduated with a film degree in acting for film and television. And that's how serious he is about his craft. After lighting up the screen in a recurring role as the Pizza Hut delivery guy, he dove into the world of casting before finding his place in the director's chair, cementing his status as a true actor's director. Thanks in part to his performance background, he is known to have a keen eye for pitch perfect casting. His dry comedic sensibility and absurdity played straight styling consistently delivered the unexpected and mildly unsettling. Taso is also a big supporter of the Sick Kids Foundation, a nonprofit that is improving health outcomes for children and families in a compassionate and innovative, responsible and efficient manner. Learn more by going to https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/.

We finally hit 100 episodes! To celebrate the occasion we have the truly revolutionary Paul Scanlan! Paul’s consistently at the forefront of innovation in the film industry. He is an Emmy Award–winning cofounder and CEO of Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company. He also cofounded MobiTV, the trailblazing streaming service that earned an Emmy Award and transformed how people consume entertainment. Paul is also a big supporter of The Bob Woodruff Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families have stable and successful futures. You can learn more by going to bobwoodrufffoundation.org and as always, all the details are listed in the description of this episode. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who's been with us on this journey to 100 episodes. We wouldn't be here without all of the support we've received over the years and especially not without all of the listeners who tune in every week. We love you guys, and we can wait to keep bringing you great stories from great people in the film and television industries!

Today we're excited to be joined by Valentina Vee! Valentina Vee is an LA-based director and cinematographer, originally from Kazakhstan. She started her career as an assistant director for movies like Eric England’s “Get the Girl” and has directed and shot a variety of film and video projects, including "Dracula's Ex-Girlfriend," a Nebula Original. She has also directed and shot two seasons of famed photographer Elia Locardi’s travel show “Moments in Time.” Her commercial clients include Google, Meta, Nike, Adobe, Sony Pictures, and Dell. Valentina likes to create content that raises awareness for causes, encourages positivity, and promotes diversity in front of (and behind) the camera. Valentina is also a big supporter of the Entertainment Community Fund , a non-profit that provides a vital safety net and resources for professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry, including actors, dancers, musicians, and behind-the-scenes workers. It offers emergency financial aid, affordable housing, healthcare counseling, career development, and senior care, ensuring stability and supporting the cultural vibrancy of the U.S. by addressing the unique challenges faced by these creative professionals. It provides financial assistance, housing, and healthcare to more than 17,000 individuals each year. You can learn more by going to entertainmentcommunity.org

A masterful storyteller, Henry Hobson is known for his epic narratives that challenge and engage the senses. From concept to edit, he creates richly cinematic story worlds that explore the depths of the human psyche using powerful character-driven performances. His award-winning body of work includes spots and campaigns for Adidas, Apple, Audi, Gillette, Pepsi, PlayStation, Reebok, the Marines, Under Armour, Xbox, and others. He has earned awards ranging from Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils, AICP awards, and One Show accolades to a Director of the Year nomination by Shots magazine. Henry’s feature directorial debut, Maggie co-starting Arnold Schwarzenegger and Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin, received praise at the Toronto, Tribeca, and Berlin Film Festivals. Henry is a big supporter of the non profit Women for Afghan Women. It’s a grassroots civil society organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women. To learn more about ways to help, visit https://womenforafghanwomen.org .

Welcome back to The FilmUp Podcast - we are excited to kick off Season 6 with the talented Enora Hope. Enora is a 25-year-old French-American filmmaker, writer, and director. Self-taught, she began using digital platforms as her entry point into the film industry. Her short film The Last Wave , which explores domestic violence and the silence surrounding abusive relationships, received an award at the Nikon Film Festival. She also directed Kallisti , a near-future anthology short examining technology, control, and emotional dependency. Enora is currently developing her first international feature film and a television series, with work focused on social issues and the impact of technology on human relationships. With a combined following of over 2 million users. Enora Hope is also a big supporter of the Malala Fund, a non-profit dedicated to championing every girl’s right to 12 years of education. By investing in civil society organisations who are challenging the systems, policies and practices that prevent girls from going to school in their communities, the Malala Fund complements their efforts by advocating to expand and protect girls’ right to secondary education and secure resources for education. You can learn more by going to malala.org

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Azazel Jacobs! Son of filmmaker/artist Ken and Flo Jacobs, Azazel was raised in New York City surrounded by important and innovative artists. He received his Bachelor’s and his Master’s from the American Film Institute. Notable credits include directing two episodes of the Facebook series Sorry For Your Loss starring Elizabeth Olsen, and three episodes of Amazon’s Golden Globe winning series Mozart in the Jungle, for which he was a consulting producer in its final season. He recently directed an episode of Amazon’s upcoming series “The Better Sister”, starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. He’s had multiple films premiere at sundance including Momma’s Man in 2008, Terri starring John C Reily in 2011. He has wrote and directed a film called The Lovers for A24 starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts. His film “French Exit” had it’s world premiere as the closing night film for the New York Film Festival and it’s international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival. Released domestically by Sony Pictures Classics in 2021, it earned a Golden Globe nomination for Michelle Pfeiffer’s lead performance, which Variety proclaimed is “the role which she will be remembered for And his latest film, “His Three Daughters”, was released by Netflix in September of 2024 in select theaters before streaming globally. The film- which he wrote, directed, edited, and was a producer on- stars Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon in performances that have been widely hailed as amongst their best. Our Guest today is a big supporter of Planned Parenthood., a non-profit that provides sexual health care in the United States and globally. You can learn more by going to https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Nicholas Jacobson-Larson is a Los Angeles-based musician and screenwriter. He is is Michael Buble’s musical director, arranger and conductor. With Michael, he has collaborated with a diverse array of artists and producers including Paul McCartney, Jon Batiste, Jason Derulo, Willy Nelson, Hannah Waddingham, Jimmy Fallon, Leon Bridges, Greg Wells and Bob Rock. As a film composer, he has written scores for the Oscar-winning QUEEN OF BASKETBALL, and dozens of other films directed by Ben Proudfoot for Breakwater Studios and the New York Times. He has also composed scores for Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, Annapurna Pictures, FX, Syfy, Now This, Funny or Die, Red Bull, Unity, Stept Studios, Microsoft, Oakley, The North Face, Columbia, Charles Schwab, and others. As a conductor, Nicholas has led recording sessions for LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (Netflix), AMERICAN CRIME STORY (FX), THE HATE U GIVE (Twentieth Century Fox), and many other film and television projects, as well as live concerts As a screenwriter With his writing partner Dalton Leeb, Nicholas wrote the screenplays for ENDURANCE (Netflix), HOT WHEELS (Warner Bros), THE FALL (Amblin), and THE FISHERWOMAN (Stampede) directed by Brian Kirk and starring Emma Thompson, Judy Greer and Marc Mancheca. THE FISHERWOMAN is currently in production for a 2025 release. The duo also wrote the 2017 Blacklist script, STRONGMAN, and have multiple other film and television projects in development. Nick is also a big supporter of the LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION specifically the arts and music education, a non-profit that is committed to equitable arts access. Supporting the expansion of music and arts programs changes students' lives. You can learn more by going to https://lausdedfoundation.org/

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Michael J Ferns! Michael J Ferns has been obsessively making films since he was just 12 years old… with a “Best Director” Scottish BAFTA already under his belt by the age of 16. Starting out in TV entertainment and drama, (with two further BAFTA nominations) He has a natural ability to tell performance-led stories that has translated into his commercial work, having directed global campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands (Dove, Wren, Domino's, Budweiser, LinkedIn, Johnny Walker to name just a few). Blending cinematic photography with dynamic camera movements, he’s quickly becoming a very sought after name in the world of commercials in both the UK and beyond. He also has a feature film in development with some exciting people attached. Michael is also a big supporter of the The Weekend Club a non profit which organizes community and connection events for refugees and asylum seekers in his home city of Glasgow Scotland

American internet celebrity, filmmaker, VFX artist, podcaster, and competitive gamer, Freddie Wong! He is an award-winning film and television director with over a decade of experience behind the camera, specializing in action, comedy, and the occasional horse. He is best known for creating the viral, three-season cult classic Video Game High School, as well as the Hulu productions Dimension 404 and the incredible sRocketJump: The Show. Most recently, his feature film We’re All Gonna Die premiered at SXSW in 2024. Additionally, he can be heard on the popular tabletop RPG podcast Dungeons & Daddies. Freddie is a big supporter of - NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. You can learn more by going to https://www.nami.org/