SHOTLIST

About SHOTLIST

This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of.

Publisher

Marshal Chupa

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

15 Sept 2022

Latest episode

25 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 45 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   25 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Cold Outreach That Actually Works for Filmmakers & Photographers - 045

   Creative producer Chris Whitten interviews host Marshal Chupa about authentic outreach strategies that build genuine relationships and secure work for creatives.

2. 

   26 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How to Build a Filmmaking Business That Thrives - 044

   Most creatives dream of building a sustainable career behind the lens, but few understand what it actually takes to turn talent into a real business. As a filmmaker, production company founder, and creator of Financially Free Filmmaker, Timothy Fare-Matthews shares how to move beyond trading time for money and start building systems that create retention, profitability, and long term freedom. Alongside host Marshal Chupa, they break down sales, positioning, financial clarity, and the mindset shifts filmmakers need to survive in a rapidly evolving industry. 🎙️ Episode Sponsor: Lorne Lapham Sales & Rentals ⚡️ 20% Off Rentals at Lorne Lapham - ⁠⁠llsr.com/shotlist⁠⁠ (http://llsr.com/shotlist) 📞 Coaching Call with Tim - Click HERE (https://financiallyfreefilmmaker.com/booking-page/#book-discovery) 🎬 Free Workshop - 3 Ultimate Steps for Filmmaker Growth HERE (https://financiallyfreefilmmaker.com/freeworkshop/) 📄Download the LAPS framework + Tutorial HERE (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ok0z-k0Jz7V3HdKs5cGrYS6YuLYszbKjWXfw2HLQ6kY/edit?gid=1453086959#gid=1453086959) 💸Financially Free Filmmaker financiallyfreefilmmaker.com (http://financiallyfreefilmmaker.com) 🟠 SHOTLIST Substack | ⁠Resources & Tools Straight into your Inbox  (https://shotlist.substack.com/) Key Topics Discussed The difference between having a hobby that pays you and building a scalable filmmaking business Tim’s 4P framework and why most filmmakers stop at production instead of thinking about planning, publishing, and promotion How to sell without feeling salesy by focusing on serving, discovery, and retention Why retention and referrals compound faster than chasing new clients The financial metrics filmmakers should track to understand profitability, not just revenue If you're a filmmaker or photographer chasing long term creative freedom, this episode offers raw insight, real strategy, and a grounded look at what it takes. If you’re a filmmaker or photographer chasing long-term creative freedom, this episode offers raw insight, real strategy, and a grounded look at what it takes. Episode Highlights 07:45 – Hobby that pays vs real business Tim explains the difference between staying busy as a freelancer and building a scalable business with real leverage and longevity. 12:10 – The 4P framework for filmmakers Planning, Producing, Publishing, Promoting. He breaks down why most creatives stop at production and leave revenue and retention on the table. 23:50 – Selling without feeling salesy Sales is reframed as service. Tim shares how discovery calls and asking better questions lead to higher close rates and stronger client relationships. 28:40 – The five client acquisition channels From networking to partnerships, Tim outlines the five ways filmmakers generate work and why word of mouth and retention often outperform content. 39:10 – Why networking still wins Confidence is a skill. Tim shares how learning to work a room transformed his trajectory and why in person relationships still convert the fastest. 51:15 – Structuring proposals strategically Instead of sending one number, Tim explains how offering structured options opens dialogue and improves negotiation outcomes. 01:05:10 – Gear purchases vs real ROI Tim challenges the obsession with cameras and shares how to evaluate investments based on profitability, not ego. 01:14:30 – Measuring profit, not just revenue Why most filmmakers do not truly know their margins, and how tracking profit per project changes everything. 🔗 CONNECT WITH TIMOTHY 📸 Instagram | @timf.mathews (https://www.instagram.com/timf.matthews/) 🖥️ Coaching | www.financiallyfreefilmmaker.com (http://www.financiallyfreefilmmaker.com) 🖥️ Website | ⁠⁠ (http://www.zacharymoxley.com)www.timothyfarematthews.com (https://www.timothyfarematthews.com/) 🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL 📸 Instagram |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/marshalchupa/)⁠⁠@marshalchupa⁠⁠ (http://www.instagram.com/marshalchupa) 💻 Website |⁠⁠ www.marshalchupa.com⁠⁠ (https://www.marshalchupa.com/) 🔗 LinkedIn |⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8/)⁠⁠Marshal Chupa on LinkedIn⁠⁠ (http://www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8) 🟠 Substack | ⁠⁠Substack Article⁠⁠ (https://shotlist.substack.com/) 🗂️The Contact Sheet - A Simple Client Tracking System for Filmmakers & Photographers - shotlist.substack.com/p/the-contact-sheet (https://shotlist.substack.com/p/the-contact-sheet)

3. 

   8 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Staying Booked in a Changing Industry: DOP, Keaton Nye on Mindset, Relationships, and Problem Solving - 043

   The filmmaking world is changing fast, budgets are tighter, crews are smaller, and adaptability has never mattered more. As a commercial cinematographer and YouTuber, Keaton Nye shares how staying booked in today’s market comes down to mindset, problem-solving, and understanding the business behind the craft. Alongside host Marshal Chupa, they break down the habits, strategies, and client relationships that keep filmmakers thriving when the industry shifts beneath them. 🎙️ Episode Sponsor: Lorne Lapham Sales & Rentals ⚡️ 20% Off Rentals at Lorne Lapham - ⁠⁠llsr.com/shotlist⁠⁠ (http://llsr.com/shotlist) 🗂️ Get your copy of The Contact Sheet - A Simple Client Tracking System for Filmmakers & Photographers - shotlist.substack.com/p/the-contact-sheet (https://shotlist.substack.com/p/the-contact-sheet) Key Topics Discussed The difference between skill and mindset, and why problem solvers stay booked Navigating shrinking budgets and crew sizes while maintaining production quality Balancing projects “one for the meal, one for the reel” Building trust, simplifying business for clients, and thinking like a business owner How to think like both an artist and a business owner to build a sustainable long-term career Episode Highlights 00:25 – Why Problem Solvers Stay BookedReliability, curiosity, and initiative create more opportunity than technical skill alone. 00:27 – Adapting to a Changing IndustrySmaller crews and tighter budgets are reshaping production work and what clients expect. 00:36 – Craft Meets CommerceThinking in terms of ROI helps bridge the gap between artistry and business. 00:42 – One for the Meal, One for the ReelBalancing creative fulfillment with financial sustainability without burning out. 00:46 – The Money GapUnderstanding what separates lower-paid shooters from high-value professionals. 00:54 – Make Business Easy for ClientsClear communication and simple pricing structures lead to repeat bookings and trust. 00:57 – The Power of RelationshipsHigh-value work comes from genuine relationships, not cold outreach. 01:02 – Staying Top of MindPractical ideas for building outreach systems and keeping your network engaged. 🔗 CONNECT WITH KEATON NYE 📸 Instagram | @keatonnye (https://www.instagram.com/keatonnye/) ▶️ Youtube | www.youtube.com/keatonnye (http://www.youtube.com/keatonnye) 🖥️ Website | ⁠ (http://www.zacharymoxley.com)www.keatonnye.com (http://www.keatonnye.com) 🔗 CONNECT WITH MARSHAL 📸 Instagram | ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/marshalchupa/)⁠⁠@marshalchupa⁠⁠ (http://www.instagram.com/marshalchupa) 💻 Website  | ⁠www.marshalchupa.com⁠⁠ (https://www.marshalchupa.com/) 🔗 LinkedIn | ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8/)⁠⁠Marshal Chupa on LinkedIn⁠⁠ (http://www.linkedin.com/in/marshal-chupa-99a7921a8) 🟠 Substack | ⁠⁠Substack Article⁠⁠ (https://shotlist.substack.com/) 🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST This podcast is all about helping emerging cinematographers, photographers, and directors navigate the challenges of making a life and a living behind the lens. From workflow to personal growth, creative vision to marketing, finances to production—every episode is packed with a wide range of topics to support visual storytellers in their pursuit of building a business and growing a career they are proud of. 🎧 LISTEN 🟢| ⁠⁠Spotify ⁠⁠ (https://open.spotify.com/show/3m5203Y5yQ7wNXQhZBOmNV?si=f46bc0e937bf40c1&nd=1&dlsi=259c283f224545f3) 🟣| ⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/shotlist/id1645435800) 🖥️| ⁠⁠shotlistpodcast.com⁠⁠ (http://shotlistpodcast.com) 👊 SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A REVIEW Please help me bring you more future episode by subscribing and leaving a review 📱GET IN TOUCH You can also drop me a DM instagram @marshalchupa or email marshal@marshalchupa.com

Inside a recent episode

Cold Outreach That Actually Works for Filmmakers & Photographers - 045

Published 25 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] That's literally human nature. So that's like what we do for a living. It's the best. So coming back to the cold outreach piece, you actually wrote, I guess, a playbook. And you recently I saw you post that I've read through it. And then there's some really incredible pieces in there. I'd love to kind of unpack a little bit of the framework you talked about in that playbook. And there's five things. The first one being see them before you sell them. Can you talk to me a little bit about that? Yeah, it's kind of what we talked about earlier. I think just understanding the person that you're reaching out to's world and letting them know that, hey, I saw the work you did or seeing people for what they are and what they work on and honoring that. […]

Who has been a guest on SHOTLIST

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chris Whitten
• Hubert Kang
• Darren Rayner
• Alex Strohl

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

44 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 27 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

23

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77