The BWNC Podcast is the #1 resource for content creators. Every Monday, we share interviews & discussions with industry-leading creatives whose stories will inspire you to follow your passion. Our goal is to provide you with the shortcuts, tips, & advice that will take your career to the next level! Hosted by filmmaker Ben Hagarty – best known for his work with major artists & brands like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Caon, & EA Games.
Photographer Ami Vitale: Protect Your Work, Honor the Story, Trust the Process
In this episode, I sit down with Ami Vitale, an award-winning photojournalist, filmmaker, and conservationist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, TIME, and beyond. Ami shares her journey from covering global conflicts to telling powerful wildlife stories—like the viral image of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino.
We dive deep into the ethics of storytelling, how to protect your work in a digital age, and why Adobe’s Content Authenticity app is a game-changer for creatives, allowing them to digitally “sign their work” by applying Content Credentials. Ami also breaks down what it takes to earn trust with your subjects, the importance of archiving, and the emotional weight of documenting extinction.
If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, or creative navigating the tension between truth and tech, this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven storytelling.
Follow Ami:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amivitale/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/amivitale/?hl=en)
Try the Adobe Content Authenticity App: https://contentauthenticity.adobe.com/ (https://contentauthenticity.adobe.com/)
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro to Ami Vitale & the Art of Honest Storytelling
05:00 - Ami’s Journey into Photojournalism & Curiosity as a Superpower
08:10 - Archiving, NAS Systems, and Lost History
11:06 - Trust, Orphaned Images & Why Metadata Matters
15:36 - Connecting the Local to the Global Through Photography
22:57 - The Danger of Sensationalism & Why She Embeds for Years
30:44 - Ethics, Model Releases & Protecting Your Subjects
32:00 - Ami’s Work Misused in the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign
38:08 - Adobe’s Content Authenticity App: Why It Matters
42:01 - Combatting Misuse in the Age of AI
45:49 - Building Content Credentials Into Your Workflow
48:57 - Seeing the Real vs. Edited: The Before/After Tool
53:16 - The 9-Year Story Behind Her Most Impactful Image
58:52 - Capturing Sudan’s Final Moments With Care & Consent
1:05:03 - Knowing When to Put the Camera Down
1:10:00 - Journalism vs. Advocacy: Where Ami Stands
1:12:57 - The Business of Storytelling & Protecting Your Work
1:17:25 - Why Empathy Is the Root of All Creativity
20 Feb 2025
Parker Laramie: Film Editor for Unfriended, Allen v. Farrow, and A24’s Andre is an idiot
In this episode, I sit down with Parker Laramie, an incredible film editor with two films premiering at Sundance—Andre Is an Idiot and Train Dreams. Parker’s journey from working as a PA to cutting feature films for A24 and Netflix is packed with lessons on resilience, creativity, and navigating the world of film editing. We dive into his experiences editing everything from horror films to award-winning documentaries, the challenges of working on high-profile projects like Allen v. Farrow, and how he balances narrative and documentary storytelling.
If you’re an aspiring editor, filmmaker, or just a fan of behind-the-scenes filmmaking, this episode is full of insights on the craft of editing, the importance of mentorship, and what it takes to get your work onto the big screen. Don’t miss this one!
Join the BWNC Private Community:
www.bwnc.com/join (www.bwnc.com/join)
Follow Parker:
https://www.instagram.com/moorparks (https://www.instagram.com/moorparks/)
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Sundance & Introducing Parker Laramie
00:09 - Parker’s Two Films Premiering at Sundance
00:27 - Editing *Andre Is an Idiot* & *Train Dreams*
00:57 - Breaking into Film Editing & Early Career Struggles
02:15 - Working on *Dancing for the Devil* for Netflix
03:30 - From Short Films to Feature Editing
05:10 - Screening at Sundance for the First Time
07:05 - The Emotional Rollercoaster of Premiere Night
09:30 - The Power of Film Festivals for Distribution
11:50 - Growing Up in LA & Discovering Editing
13:20 - Film School vs. Hands-On Learning
15:05 - Learning Avid & Early Editing Projects
17:30 - Parker’s Journey from PA to Film Editor
19:45 - Editing *Argo* and Learning from the Best
21:55 - The Reality of Long Hours in Editing
24:10 - Working on *Unfriended* & Horror Editing Challenges
26:35 - Transitioning into Documentary Filmmaking
28:50 - Editing *Requiem for a Running Back* & CTE Stories
31:25 - The Importance of Finding Mentorship in Editing
33:10 - How *Ghost Fleet* Led to Editing *Train Dreams*
35:15 - Balancing Documentary and Narrative Films
37:20 - The Challenges of Editing *Allen v. Farrow*
40:00 - The Creative Process in Documentary Storytelling
42:35 - Managing a Career in Both Docs & Narrative Films
45:10 - The Art of Editing for Emotion and Impact
47:50 - Parker’s Workflow & Using Adobe Premiere for Editing
50:20 - What’s Next? Future Projects & Creative Aspirations
52:10 - Advice for Aspiring Editors & Filmmakers
54:00 - Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks
20 Feb 2025
Kinigra Deon: How She Built a 4.7M Subscriber YouTube Empire
In this episode, I sit down with Kinigra Deon, a powerhouse content creator with over 4.7 million subscribers on YouTube. What makes her story incredible is that she started with zero experience in film or content creation—working as a clinical scientist before pivoting into digital storytelling. Now, she runs a full-scale production company, producing scripted episodes three times a week while incorporating her family into the creative process. We dive into how she built her channel from the ground up, the challenges of balancing business and creativity, and the strategies behind her massive success.
Whether you're an aspiring content creator, filmmaker, or entrepreneur, Kinigra’s journey is full of valuable lessons on consistency, risk-taking, and trusting your intuition. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn a passion project into a thriving career, this episode is a must-listen!
Join the BWNC Private Community:
www.bwnc.com/join (www.bwnc.com/join)
Follow Kinigra:
https://www.instagram.com/kinigra (https://www.instagram.com/kinigra/)
Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Sundance & Introducing Kinigra Deon
00:29 - How Kinigra Built a 4.7M Subscriber YouTube Channel
00:52 - The Power of Consistency: Posting 3 Times a Week
01:50 - From Clinical Scientist to Content Creator
02:45 - The Role of Intuition in Kinigra’s Success
03:34 - From Solo Creator to Family Production Team
04:55 - Building a Team & Training Family Members
06:14 - Learning Filmmaking from Scratch
07:05 - The Struggles & Rewards of Involving Family
08:22 - Growing Up in Birmingham & Early Influences
09:30 - Creating Stories for Black Representation
10:50 - The Pivot from Adult to Family-Oriented Content
12:28 - The TikTok Effect on Kinigra’s Growth
14:10 - Learning to Monetize & Making YouTube a Full-Time Job
15:48 - Setting a Posting Schedule & Committing to Growth
17:35 - Balancing Business & Creative Work with Her Husband
19:24 - Handling Burnout & Long-Term Sustainability
21:12 - The Importance of Testing Thumbnails & Titles
23:07 - Developing Episodic Content & Expanding into Series
25:16 - The Creative Process & Writing Family-Friendly Stories
27:04 - Building a Sustainable Business Model for Content Creation
29:10 - Future Plans: Expanding Beyond YouTube
31:45 - The Pressure of Leading a Family Business
34:12 - Managing a Growing Production Team
36:00 - Learning to Adapt Content Based on Audience Feedback
38:22 - The Challenges of Running a YouTube Channel as a Business
41:05 - Balancing Creative Passion with Algorithm Strategies
43:10 - The Power of Serial Content on YouTube
45:00 - Testing New Content Ideas & Storytelling Techniques
47:18 - The Future of Kinigra’s Content & Scaling Her Brand
49:55 - Final Advice for Aspiring Content Creators
52:10 - Closing Thoughts & Where to Follow Kinigra
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
305 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
86
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
67
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