
Welcome to Below the Line, a film industry podcast where we talk about making movies from the crew perspective. My name is Skid: I'm a former Assistant Director and your host. For the show, I invite my production friends - both old and new - to tell stories from their time on set. Each episode is organized around a specific film, television series or some other theme relevant to working in Hollywood. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or peruse the list below: you might learn something new about one of your favorites.
Thoughts about a specific episode or comments about the podcast? I welcome your feedback: skid@belowtheline.biz
Episodes

2 days ago
S22 - Ep 7 - 97th Oscars - Original Song
2 days ago
2 days ago
Today we’re discussing the Oscar nominees for Original Song. My guests — Chris Molanphy (chart analyst and podcast host), Louis Weeks (score composer), and Tom Peyton (song writer) — offer both analysis and critique of this year’s nominees. Is there a lot of enthusiasm for the musical innovations these songs offer the listening audience? Well, no. Does it make for an interesting discussion? Yes, definitely.
The 2024 Nominees for Original Song:
• “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez”
• “The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
• “Like a Bird” from “Sing Sing”
• “Mi Camino” also from “Emilia Pérez”
• “Never Too Late” from “Elton John: Never Too Late”

5 days ago
5 days ago
Our tour through the technical categories continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Original Score. My guests — Louis Weeks (score composer), Chris Molanphy (chart analyst/pop critic), and Jennie Calendar (founder and music supervisor of Soundbloom) — offer a multi-layered set of insights.
The 2024 Nominees for Original Score:
• “The Brutalist”
• “Conclave”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “Wicked”
• “The Wild Robot”

Thursday Feb 06, 2025
S22 - Ep 5 - 97th Oscars - Visual Effects
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
Thursday Feb 06, 2025
It’s non-stop conversations about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories from now until the Academy Awards, and I hope you'll follow us for the full season. Today, Kent Seki and Chris Batty return to discuss the nominees for Achievement in Visual Effects.
The 2024 Nominees for Visual Effects:
• “Alien: Romulus”
• “Better Man”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
• “Wicked”

Monday Feb 03, 2025
S22 - Ep 4 - 97th Oscars - Directing
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Below the Line continues our Sixth Annual Oscar Series with a discussion of the nominees for achievement in Directing, and I’m joined by a panel of fellow below-the-liners: Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion. (This is the second year we’ve discussed the directors nominated for the Academy Award in lieu of the Directors Guild of America nominees.)
The 2024 Nominees for Directing:
• “Anora”
• “The Brutalist”
• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Emilia Pérez”
• “The Substance”

Friday Jan 31, 2025
S22 - Ep 3 - 97th Oscars - Production Design
Friday Jan 31, 2025
Friday Jan 31, 2025
We’re continuing our deep dive discussions about the Oscar nominees in the technical categories, and today, Production Designer Bob Shaw and Set Decorator Regina Graves - Oscar nominees themselves - offer their insights about the five nominees for Production Design.
The 2024 Nominees for Production Design:
• “The Brutalist”
• “Conclave”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Nosferatu”
• “Wicked”

Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
S22 - Ep 2 - 97th Oscars - Sound
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Tuesday Jan 28, 2025
Our Academy Awards coverage continues, and now we’re into the categories proper. Today, Oscar nominees Steve Morrow (production sound mixer) and Erik Aadahl (sound editor) discuss this year's nominees for Achievement in Sound.
The 2024 Nominees for Sound:
• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Dune: Part Two”
• “Emilia Pèrez”
• “Wicked”
• “The Wild Robot”

Saturday Jan 25, 2025
S22 - Ep 1 - 97th Oscars - Property Mastering
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Saturday Jan 25, 2025
Our Sixth Annual Academy Awards Series begins here! Each episode this season features a panel of Film Industry professionals discussing the nominees in their category of expertise. To kick us off: Achievement in Property Mastering. While the work of the property master is still not recognized with an Oscar, we’re carrying a torch. Gregg Bilson, Jr. (CEO of ISS) and Scott Buckwald (property master and friend of the podcast) propose a hypothetical slate of 2024 films that could have been nominated for their fantastic work with props.
Our 2024 Nominees for Property Mastering:
• “Alien: Romulus”
• “Blitz”
• “A Complete Unknown”
• “Gladiator II”
• ”Horizon: An American Saga”

Sunday Jan 19, 2025
S21 - Ep 12 - Henry Danger: The Movie
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
“Henry Danger: The Movie”, now streaming on Paramount+, is the latest chapter in a storyline that started with the Nickelodeon television series in 2014. Director Joe Menendez joins me alongside an all-star panel of crew, including Costume Designer Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh, Director of Photography Chris Kempinski, Production Designer Bridget McGuire and Makeup Designer Jenn Kaminski. Not only did their collaborative efforts lift this multi-faceted film to another level, but they had a great time doing it.
We've also shared an album of behind-the-scenes photos on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/podcastbelowtheline/

Sunday Jan 12, 2025
S21 - Ep 11 - St. Denis Medical - Camera Operation
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
“St. Denis Medical”, the workplace comedy currently airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock, is the latest show to take a crack at the mockumentary genre. Camera Operators Jacob Pinger, Mande Whitaker and Danny Whiteneck discuss how their extensive experience with unscripted television helps elevate this mockumentary to the next level. Why is it that an actual reality tv production would have fired these operators for filming the way they did, but this show kept pushing them to make the camera movements more obvious? Answers in the podcast.

Sunday Jan 05, 2025
S21 - Ep 10 - Cross - Production Design
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
“Cross”, the eight-episode crime thriller currently available on Amazon Prime, was filmed in Toronto but is set in Washington, DC. The assignment for Production Designer Elisa Sauvé was to venture outside the stereotypical Capitol Hill locations and really give the city it’s due. From the Georgetown neighborhood to Ben’s Chili Bowl, Elisa and her team made sure that DC’s unique vibrancy was an integral part of the series.

Sunday Dec 22, 2024
S21 - Ep 9 - Dune: Prophecy - Film Editing
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
“Dune: Prophecy”, which airs its sixth episode and season finale tonight (!), is the latest example of HBO Max’s commitment to prestige television. This short but ambitious series required an all-hands-on-deck approach, and Film Editors Sarah Reeves and Mark Martzell are here to share the collaborative details. We talk about doing a prequel to the movies, the challenge of the strikes on production, and - spoiler alert - we break down some specific scenes. Insights and laughs guaranteed, or your money back.

Sunday Dec 15, 2024
S21 - Ep 8 - Rumours - Cinematography
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Can “Rumours”, the 2024 comedy horror film written and directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, be both an absurdist take on international politics AND the most accurate depiction of a G7 meeting ever? Cinematographer Stefan Ciupek collaborated with this team of three (!) directors to navigate a tightrope production between farce and truth. While every film project is a challenge, the need to accommodate an ensemble cast of nine (led by Cate Blanchett) while filming in Hungary on an independent film budget definitely spawned some transcendental experiences. This provocative and entertaining film teases both insights and laughs, and it was a lot of fun to talk about. In summary: yes, that’s a giant brain, and yes, it really is on fire.

Sunday Dec 08, 2024
S21 - Ep 7 - Wicked - Choreography and Film Editing
Sunday Dec 08, 2024
Sunday Dec 08, 2024
“Wicked”, the Jon Chu theatrical adaptation of the stage musical, is currently in theaters and continues to dominate at the box office. Choreographer Christopher Scott and Film Editor Myron Kerstein share the challenges of bringing the extensive dance numbers from script to screen, with deep dives into “What Is This Feeling?” (bo staffs!), “Dancing Through Life” (tornado wheels!), and “No One Mourns the Wicked” (tulips!). Chris, Myron and Jon Chu previously worked together on “In the Heights”, and the strength of their collaboration is evident with this movie as well.

Sunday Dec 01, 2024
S21 - Ep 6 - The Penguin - Hair Styling
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Wait, what? You haven’t finished watching “The Penguin”, even though all episodes are now available on HBO Max? Please catch up, because today we’re hosting Hair Department Head Brian Badie, and we’re going heavy on the spoilers. Plus: fellow Batman fan Gianni Damaia returns as co-host!

Sunday Nov 24, 2024
S21 - Ep 5 - Landman - Film Editing and Score Composition
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
“Landman”, the new Taylor Sheridan drama starring Billy Bob Thornton, debuted just last week on Paramount+. Film Editor Chad Galster and Score Composer Andrew Lockington are both veterans of multiple Taylor projects and veterans of the podcast: with a warm welcome, I’m excited to have them make a joint appearance on the show. (Chad was also visiting set when they ran a tanker truck into an airplane parked on the highway - that was a practical stunt!)
UPDATED: Now with score snippets, to enhance your listening experience!

Sunday Nov 17, 2024
S21 - Ep 4 - Rescue: HI-Surf - Cinematography
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
It’s easy to assume that working on “Rescue: HI-Surf”, the Hawaii-based action drama currently airing on Fox, would be akin to a vacation for the crew. Filming on the North Shore of O’ahu, however, is a difficult undertaking even before you mix in the challenge of the ocean itself. Cinematographer Anka Malatynska and Water Unit Director of Photography Don King split the lensing duties at the waterline, and, together, they make this show work. Ready to go behind the scenes? Let’s ride this wave.

Sunday Nov 10, 2024
S21 - Ep 3 - 84 Charlie MoPic and Combat Camera
Sunday Nov 10, 2024
Sunday Nov 10, 2024
This episode - in honor of Veterans Day - is about “84 Charlie MoPic”, the 1989 feature film about small unit operations during the Vietnam War, and our star-studded panel includes Director Patrick Duncan, Cinematographer Alan Caso and Producer Michael Nolin. Joining me as co-hosts are Jim Stayton and Al Gerloff, current friends and former colleagues from my pre-Hollywood days with Combat Camera. This conversation is one that my late father, himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, would have enjoyed very much, and it made for a really special episode. I hope you enjoy it.

Sunday Nov 03, 2024
S21 - Ep 2 - Bottle Rocket - Assistant Directing
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Wes Anderson’s 1996 feature film debut, “Bottle Rocket,” introduced a larger audience to both Wes’s unique filmmaking style and the acting chops of brothers Owen and Luke Wilson. It’s fair to say that the careers of all three received a big assist from this film’s veteran assistant director team — Jim Goldthwait (1st AD), Heather Kritzer (Key 2nd AD) and Jimmy Flowers (2nd 2nd AD) — who helped shepherd this classic film from script to screen over then course of a 40-day shoot. I speak with the team about filming in 90’s Texas, teaching Set Protocols 101, and how the crew knew when the party room at the Hillsboro Days Inn was open for guests.
Interested in the script, the shooting schedule, call sheets, or other materials from the film? The AD team has made all of that and a treasure trove of photos available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1904r6Cgyv4dlhBis5wS9_uzB2uDOHVcu?usp=share_link

Sunday Oct 27, 2024
S21 - Ep 1 - The Penguin - Costume Design
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Costume Designer Helen Huang and Assistant Costume Designer Austin Wittick return to the podcast to discuss their work on “The Penguin”, the eight-episode series currently streaming on HBO/Max. The series is a spin-off and sequel to 2022’s “The Batman”, Director Matt Reeve’s take on the iconic superhero. While the Penguin was a supporting role in the film, played by an almost unrecognizable Colin Farrell, here he is the primary character for more than eight hours of television. Helen and Austin talk about the challenge of wardrobing for an entire series while remaining true to the original concepts.

Sunday Oct 13, 2024
S20 - Ep 10 - The Old Man - Props
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
Sunday Oct 13, 2024
Propmaster and friend of the show Scott Buckwald returns to the podcast with stories about his work on “The Old Man”, the Jeff Bridges-led spy drama currently airing its second season on FX. Two years ago, Scott and I talked about the first season with a focus on the challenges faced by production; this time, adversity is an ongoing theme but we’re more focused on the props. (You would think that Scott was ready for that, but decide for yourself: he kind of comes across as a little surprised.)

Sunday Oct 06, 2024
S20 - Ep 9 - Freelance Camera: MLB, Access Hollywood and Beyond
Sunday Oct 06, 2024
Sunday Oct 06, 2024
And without further delay, the Major League Baseball playoffs are upon us! My guest today, Rick Nyburg, has been a freelance camera operator for more than 30 years. He’s here to share stories not only about his time covering MLB games (Go Dodgers!), but also his multiple backstage interactions with Hollywood talent, the surprising reaction of the NASA team that landed the lander on Mars, and the evolving challenge of working freelance camera across three decades.

Sunday Sep 22, 2024
S20 - Ep 8 - Sugar Studios and Indie Post-Production
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Shepherding an independent film from script to screen is hard: financial constraints don’t change the amount of work to be done. But when it comes to post-production, Jijo Reed, Founder and CEO of Sugar Studios, thinks his company can be part of the solution. Sugar Studios offers everything from Dailies and Editorial to Color, Mix, VFX and Deliverables under one roof: a synergistic opportunity that, for an indie project, can mean the difference between picture lock and post-production limbo. Jijo and I also discuss the state of the Industry, what runaway production means for LA, and the potential impact of AI on the post-production process.

Sunday Sep 15, 2024
S20 - Ep 7 - Casting and the Academy Awards
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
Sunday Sep 15, 2024
Last March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the addition of a new Oscar category: Best Achievement in Casting. Allison Estrin, an NYC-based casting director whose credits include “Billions”, “The Other Two”, “Bupkis”, and a slew of movies, joins me today and graciously answers my questions about the craft. We also talk about the Artios Awards, the honor by which the Casting Society of America has been honoring casting professionals since 1985, and what we might expect for the first slate of Oscar nominations in 2026.

Sunday Sep 08, 2024
S20 - Ep 6 - Food Styling: From Julia to Boba Fett
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Sunday Sep 08, 2024
Today we’re talking about the craft of Food Styling, and I’m joined by two guests with expertise to share. Christine Tobin (“Little Women”, “Julia” and “The Holdovers”) and Melissa McSorley (“Chef”, “Mad Men”, and various Star Wars projects) discuss where Food Styling fits into the larger film set environment, and we compare how period, contemporary and futuristic storylines trigger different food styling challenges.

Sunday Aug 18, 2024
S20 - Ep 5 - What's Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
Sunday Aug 18, 2024
“What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing” is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes stories from former cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, and I’m thrilled to host them on this episode of the podcast and talk about the book (which was just published last week). Our conversation is both a teaser for the release and a chance to explore some of the set stories in more detail, and we discuss how the theme of service runs through the entire endeavor. Since the West Wing is among my assistant director credits, this was also a nice trip down memory lane for me and a wonderful opportunity to catch up.