Take 13 - Brittany Benedict

Brittany Benedict joins us to discuss directing her first feature film, 5683. We talk about what pre production looked like, how she was empowered by her cast and crew, and some lessons she learned during the process.

Runtime: 75 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 12 - Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson joins That's a Take to discuss how he got started as a 1st AC, best practices for running the camera department, and how to best prepare to be on set. Andrew has been a mainstay in my camera department for the last few years, and this is a must listen for anyone trying to find a place within that department.

Runtime: 94 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 11 - Season One Wrap Up

Host Bruce James Bales wraps up Season One by revisiting all 10 episodes to see what was learned. Bruce also takes those lessons and relates them to his own career for further understanding.

Runtime: 29 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 10 - Case Study: The Valley of the Devil with Chase Stine

Chase Stine joins us to dissect his short film The Valley of the Devil which was independently produced in 2024. We discuss how Chase made this project a reality, how he went about casting, and how he took things into his own hands a built a set for the film. We also talk about the genesis of the story, and I think Chase provides some really valuable insight into how to get a project across the finish line.

Runtime: 62 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 8 - Ben Schmidt on Producing a No Budget Feature Film

Ben Schmidt joins us to discuss his experiences producing, directing, and shooting a no budget feature film, Ellie and Xavier. We discuss how he approached the production, what obstacles he overcame to finish the film, and how he relied on his community to assist him. Ben gives a lot of great advice for anyone trying to produce a no budget film of any size.

Runtime: 65 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 7 - Josh Goodell on Transitioning to a Larger Market

Josh Goodell joins us to discuss his experiences transitioning from Iowa to Los Angeles. From still photography to a rental house to getting on set with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Josh helps us dissect his journey West. We discuss how he approached networking in LA, how he found his way to the moving image, and what best practices he employed to stay positive and focused. Josh is a good friend of mine, and I think you'll find his story helpful if you are looking to move to a bigger market.

Runtime: 93 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 6 - Kaitlyn Busbee on Advantages of Graduate Film School

Kaitlyn Busbee joins us to discuss her experiences at Graduate Film School. From start to finish, Kaitlyn lays out the advantages of a graduate film school program and how the program helped her to grow as a filmmaker. We also discuss how New York City inspired her, what it was like having access to top of the line gear, and how the program began with simplicity and grew from there.

Runtime: 58 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.

Take 5 - Case Study: Chiefsaholic

Director Dylan Sires and Producer Kristian Day join the podcast to talk about their experiences making Amazon Studio's Chiefsaholic: A Wolf in Chiefs Clothing. We talk about how the story first came to Dylan's attention, what is was like to follow Xaviar around, how the film came together in post production, and what it was like chasing this story from a producer's perspective.

Runtime: 77 minutes

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That's a Take is an educational filmmaking podcast focused on specific topics and projects. That's a Take is comprised of conversations with experts, case studies, and topic focused episodes. The podcast is hosted by Cinematographer Bruce James Bales.