Step into the world of independent film with Filmmaking Conversations with Damien SwabyFrom established industry voices to the filmmakers of tomorrow, Damien Swaby opens up conversations that spark ideas, share experiences, and celebrate creativity in all its forms.<br /><br />Each episode offers listeners both inspiration and practical takeaways, leaving them better equipped to bring their own stories to life.With a loyal and growing audience of passionate filmmakers and film lovers, Filmmaking Conversations has become a trusted space for authentic dialogue and fresh perspectives on the art of storytelling.<br /><br />Join us—and discover why this podcast is resonating with the community shaping the future of film.<br /><br />Proud Member of the <a href="https://indiefilmhustle.com/podcasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IFH Podcast Network </a>
Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby
Claim This Podcastby Damien Swaby
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Podcast Overview
Step into the world of independent film with Filmmaking Conversations with Damien SwabyFrom established industry voices to the filmmakers of tomorrow, Damien Swaby opens up conversations that spark ideas, share experiences, and celebrate creativity in all its forms.<br /><br />Each episode offers listeners both inspiration and practical takeaways, leaving them better equipped to bring their own stories to life.With a loyal and growing audience of passionate filmmakers and film lovers, Filmmaking Conversations has become a trusted space for authentic dialogue and fresh perspectives on the art of storytelling.<br /><br />Join us—and discover why this podcast is resonating with the community shaping the future of film.<br /><br />Proud Member of the <a href="https://indiefilmhustle.com/podcasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IFH Podcast Network </a>
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Publishing Since
7/17/2017
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Recent Episodes
July 5, 2026
Ep 290: Liz Moughon: Turning Type 1 Diabetes into Art
<b>Show Notes</b><br /><br />What does it really mean to film something that can't be seen?<br />In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, I sit down with award-winning documentary cinematographer Liz Moughon to explore the emotional and technical craft of visual storytelling.<br />Liz has worked with ProPublica, Blue Chalk Media and some of the world's leading documentary filmmakers, creating films that explore grief, illness, identity, hope and resilience. From documenting families affected by stillbirth to investigating one of the largest medical device recalls in history, her work demonstrates how cinematography can reveal emotional truth through observation rather than spectacle.<br /><br />We discuss why perspective matters just as much as composition, how documentary filmmakers earn trust during intimate moments, and the importance of knowing when to keep filming—and when to simply listen.<br /><br />Liz also opens up about living with Type 1 diabetes, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal experience into an artistic project by photographing an entire year's worth of the medical supplies that kept her alive. Rather than seeing them as waste, she began seeing them as evidence of resilience, creativity and survival.<br /><br />This is a thoughtful conversation about empathy, collaboration, vulnerability, emotional landscapes, and why the most powerful stories are often found in the quiet moments people overlook.<br />In this episode we discuss:<br /><br />• How Liz discovered filmmaking through photojournalism<br />• Why documentary cinematography is about perspective rather than simply beautiful images<br />• Capturing grief, hope and emotional truth on camera<br />• Filming intimate moments ethically<br />• The visual language of documentary filmmaking<br />• Working with ProPublica and investigative documentaries<br />• Turning Type 1 diabetes into an artistic project<br />• Why details and visual metaphors create emotional impact<br />• The importance of collaboration in filmmaking<br />• Why curiosity is a filmmaker's greatest strength<br /><br /><b>Mentioned in this episode</b><br />• Liz Moughon's website <a href="https://lizmoughon.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://lizmoughon.com/about</a><br />• Before a Breath<br />• With Every Breath<br />• Blue Chalk Media<br />• ProPublica<br /><br /><b>From Liz Moughon</b><br /><br /><b>A to Z music video </b><a href="https://tennmore.com/atoz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://tennmore.com/atoz/</a><br />Inspired by movement, identity, Baltimore street culture, discipline, and emotional transformation, the film blends intimate visuals with a reimagined performance of Ludovico Einaudi’s “Experience.”<br />Filmed across Baltimore with a focus on texture, motion, stillness, and human connection, A to Z represents the beginning of a larger body of work from TennMore Studios – combining documentary sensibilities, cinematic filmmaking, and emotionally grounded storytelling. <br /><br /><b>Team Type 1 </b><a href="https://lizmoughon.com/teamtype1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://lizmoughon.com/teamtype1</a><br />Type 1 Diabetes is full of routines no one sees, especially the supplies that pile up quietly in the background. Most of the time, those supplies get thrown away. What if we turned them into something cool?<br /><br />For one year I saved every pod, sensor, alcohol wipe, etc. that helped keep me alive, and I made a self-portrait surrounded by all of it. I'm inviting you to do the same thing – your way. Save your supplies for a few months, a year or whatever feels right. Then create something: a photo, video, sculpture, collage, anything. This is your invitation. <br /><br /><br /><b>Support Independent Filmmaking</b><br />Please check out the links below to support two previous Filmmaking Conversations guests.<br /><br /><b>🎬 A Life Together </b><a...
May 27, 2026
Ep 289: Minkie Spiro: Crafting Emotion, Suspense & Cinematic Television
Show Notes Award-winning director Minkie Spiro joins Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby for a deeply personal and insightful conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the emotional responsibility of directing. Minkie reflects on her unconventional journey into film and television, revealing how growing up in a highly academic household — where television was rarely allowed — unexpectedly shaped her artistic instincts. She discusses studying graphic design at Central Saint Martins and how visual communication, photography, and composition became the foundation of her directing style. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Minkie opens up about her early years as a reportage photographer, documenting war zones including Bosnia during the conflict. She shares the emotional impact of photographing child landmine victims and explains how those formative experiences changed the way she observes humanity, emotion, and truth on screen. Damien and Minkie also explore:<br /><ul><li>How photography trained her eye for cinematic storytelling</li><li>The transition from still images to directing actors and movement</li><li>The emotional intelligence required to direct performance</li><li>Why vulnerability and trust matter on set</li><li>The evolution of television into a cinematic art form</li><li>Working across British and American productions</li><li>Directing acclaimed series including Dead to Me, Pieces of Her and All Her Fault</li><li>Collaborating with actors including Sarah Snook</li><li>Building tension, atmosphere, and emotional realism on screen</li><li>The difference between “coverage” and true visual storytelling</li><li>Why directing is as much about listening as it is leading</li></ul>Minkie also discusses balancing instinct with preparation, finding authenticity in performances, and how her life experiences continue to shape the kinds of stories she wants to tell. This episode is an honest and fascinating look inside the mind of a filmmaker whose work consistently blends emotional depth with cinematic scale. If you’re passionate about directing, storytelling, cinematography, performance, or the creative process behind prestige television, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.minkiespiro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>W:</b> https://www.minkiespiro.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><ul><li><b>Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:</b><br /><ul><li><b>25% Off More Labs</b></li><li><a href="https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Strong Coffee Company</b></li><li><a href="https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>15% Off Tussle</b></li><li><a href="https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Eric Javits</b></li><li><a href="https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>25% Off Quantum Energy Square</b></li><li><a href="https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Long Table</b></li><li><a href="https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off HyperNatural</b></li><li><a href="https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer...
May 9, 2026
Ep 288: Stuart Dryburgh, ASC-The Poetry of Cinematography
<b>Podcast Show Notes </b><br /><br />In this expansive and intimate conversation, Damien Swaby welcomes legendary cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh for a masterclass in visual storytelling, collaboration, and creative longevity.Born in the UK in 1952 and raised largely in New Zealand, Stuart’s early life was shaped by both migration and discipline.<br /><br />He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Auckland, a foundation that continues to inform his sensitivity to structure, space, and composition within the frame.Stuart began his career working on early New Zealand films such as Goodbye Pork Pie and Smash Palace, before spending several years as a gaffer — an experience he credits with giving him a deep, practical understanding of light.<br /><br />By the mid-1980s, he transitioned fully into cinematography, shooting short films, music videos, and commercials.A pivotal turning point came with his collaboration with director Jane Campion on the television miniseries An Angel at My Table, followed by The Piano — a film that earned Stuart an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in 1994 and cemented his international reputation.<br /><br />The conversation traces his move from New Zealand to the United States after projects like Once Were Warriors, and his evolution into a globally sought-after cinematographer. His credits include The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and more recently high-profile series such as Fallout for Jonathan Nolan at Amazon and East of Eden as a limited series for Netflix.Throughout the episode, Stuart speaks candidly about:<br /><ul><li>How architecture shaped his visual thinking</li><li>Why working as a gaffer was essential to his development</li><li>Building trust-based relationships with directors</li><li>Resisting the urge to impose a “signature style”</li><li>Letting emotion, performance, and light guide the camera</li></ul>At its core, this episode is a meditation on restraint, intuition, and the quiet decisions that shape unforgettable images. A must-listen for cinematographers, directors, and anyone drawn to the invisible art of cinema.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.stuartdryburgh.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.stuartdryburgh.com</a><br /><ul><li><b>Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:</b><br /><ul><li><b>25% Off More Labs</b></li><li><a href="https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Strong Coffee Company</b></li><li><a href="https://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>15% Off Tussle</b></li><li><a href="https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Eric Javits</b></li><li><a href="https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>25% Off Quantum Energy Square</b></li><li><a href="https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off Long Table</b></li><li><a href="https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off HyperNatural</b></li><li><a href="https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY</a></li></ul><br /><ul><li><b>20% Off wearplayground</b></li><li><a...
300 total episodes available
Recent guests on Filmmaking Conversations Podcast with Damien Swaby
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Christian Mahne
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Suha Araj
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Don Worley
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Olivia Deitch
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Moses Ssebandeke
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Alice Abrams
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Toni Jannotta
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Sunni Valentine
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This podcast updates daily.
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