Welcome to Cinematic Alchemy, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of transforming ideas from page to screen.
Join me, Srishti Chhabria and my co-host, Amber Payne, as we unravel the mysteries of video production, sharing the gritty, honest insights we've gathered from years in the industry.
Whether you're an entrepreneurial spirit or just curious about what goes on behind the camera, we're here to demystify the process and equip you with the knowledge to create visual masterpieces.
We can’t wait for you to join us on this exciting journey!
Produced and Hosted by Srishti Chhabria & Amber Payne.
Music by Samuel GR Morgan
Artwork by Ellie Costello
One Year, 50 Episodes: What We’ve Learned Along the Way
We’ve hit 50 episodes, and exactly one year since the podcast launched.
This episode is a bit of a heart to heart.
No guests, no case studies, just us reflecting on the wild ride of building this show, growing our careers, and learning (a lot) along the way.
We talk about how the podcast helped us grow more confident, figure out what we actually want to do in the film world, and stay connected during some tough times.
We also share the advice that stuck with us from our guests, from making bold moves to starting over at 40, and chat about the media that really made an impact.
Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just found us now, thank you. This one’s for you.
Here are the highlights
(06:08) Our Guests
(07:26) Building Confidence
(11:11) No Time Limit
(20:09) Simon's Advice
(26:03) Panda Cheese
(31:00) Editing Magic
Srishti Instagram: @srishq
Amber Instagram: @amberlillianpayne
Connect with us here:
Website: www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk (http://www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk/)
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast (https://www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast/)
www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse (https://www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse/)
www.instagram.com/srishq (https://www.instagram.com/srishq/)
www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne (https://www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne/)
LinkedIn:
Gunpowder House LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gunpowder-house/posts/?feedView=all)
Srishti LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/srishti-chhabria-994b10170/)
Amber LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-lilly-payne/)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
9 Jul 2025
Telling a story in 5 to 10 seconds? We’ve got this
In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of our latest project.
We explain what an ident is (those quick sponsor clips before a TV show), why they’re harder to make than they look, and how we managed to tell a mini story in just five to ten seconds.
This was also our first time working closely together on set, and it came with tight deadlines, strict rules, and a few creative challenges.
If you're curious about the real work that goes into high-profile content like this, tune in!
Here are the highlights
(05:07) Building the demographic
(10:16) James Patterson
(17:48) Working with tight deadlines
(21:14) What is a “Video Village”?
(27:00) Having a short timeframe
(30:00) Keeping it fun
The James Patterson Sponsorship Press Release:
https://lbbonline.com/news/Penguin-Random-House-Sky-James-Patterson-True-Crime (https://lbbonline.com/news/Penguin-Random-House-Sky-James-Patterson-True-Crime)
https://sponsorship.org/havas-play-launches-penguin-random-houses-first-tv-channel-sponsorship-for-james-patterson-on-sky-crime-investigation/ (https://sponsorship.org/havas-play-launches-penguin-random-houses-first-tv-channel-sponsorship-for-james-patterson-on-sky-crime-investigation/)
https://www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2025/07/03/penguin-james-patterson/ (https://www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2025/07/03/penguin-james-patterson/)
Link to view the idents:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL77Ov6f56vL0GbSz5RW8K17Gb9yfNxBKS (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL77Ov6f56vL0GbSz5RW8K17Gb9yfNxBKS)
Connect with us here:
Website: www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk (http://www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk/)
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast (https://www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast/)
www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse (https://www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse/)
www.instagram.com/srishq (https://www.instagram.com/srishq/)
www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne (https://www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne/)
LinkedIn:
Gunpowder House LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gunpowder-house/posts/?feedView=all)
Srishti LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/srishti-chhabria-994b10170/)
Amber LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-lilly-payne/)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
2 Jul 2025
Don't Let Him In: Behind the Book Trailer
In this episode, we’re diving into the behind-the-scenes of creating promotional book trailers for Lisa Jewell’s Don’t Let Him In.
We share how our team turned this gripping crime thriller into cinematic teasers without giving away any spoilers, and the unexpected production challenges we faced - including last-minute casting changes and shooting 48 slates in one day.
We also chat about communicating with clients under pressure, what makes book trailers so uniquely tricky, and how to visually capture mystery and menace.
If you’ve ever wondered how books come alive on screen before their release, this one’s for you.
Here are the highlights:
Challenges and Creative Process (4:01)
Production Details and Team Collaboration (9:56)
Client Communication and Problem-Solving (12:37)
Marketing Strategy and Audience Engagement (15:35)
Technical Challenges and Solutions (26:13)
Advice for Creating Book Trailers (26:30)
Connect with us here:
Website: www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk (http://www.gunpowderhouse.co.uk/)
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast (https://www.instagram.com/cinematicalchemypodcast/)
www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse (https://www.instagram.com/gunpowderhouse/)
www.instagram.com/srishq (https://www.instagram.com/srishq/)
www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne (https://www.instagram.com/amberlillianpayne/)
LinkedIn:
Gunpowder House LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gunpowder-house/posts/?feedView=all)
Srishti LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/srishti-chhabria-994b10170/)
Amber LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-lilly-payne/)
This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio (https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call)
Who has been a guest on Cinematic Alchemy
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Harry Norton
Eleanor Fineston-Robertson
Amie Paige
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
77
Social presence
91
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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