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
Sunday May 15, 2022
S12 - Ep 6 - Promising Young Woman - Production Design
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
2020’s “Promising Young Woman”, despite its limited budget and short shooting schedule, is a tour de force. My guest today, Production Designer Michael Perry, talks about approaching each set with either “masculine” or “feminine” intentions, and how those intentions subtly contribute to the overall story.
Sunday May 08, 2022
S12 - Ep 5 - The Walking Dead - Grips
Sunday May 08, 2022
Sunday May 08, 2022
“The Walking Dead” will wrap it’s 11-season run on AMC later this year. The series is filmed just outside Atlanta, and my guests today — Best Boy Grip Frankie Zamora and Grip Nicole Higgins — talk about their work on Season 10 of the show. Do Grips on Walking Dead work much harder than the Electric Department? Listen and decide for yourself.
Sunday May 01, 2022
S12 - Ep 4 - 1883 - Film Editing
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
Taylor Sheridan’s “1883”, currently available on Paramount+, is a prequel to the hugely successful “Yellowstone” series (four seasons of which are exclusively available on NBC’s Peacock streaming service). My guest today is the Lead Editor, Chad Galster, who shares stories about how his long relationship with Taylor informs his work on this standalone, attention-getting series.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
S12 - Ep 3 - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Sound
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is both a continuation of and an homage to the original Ghostbusters story. Not only can fans see the tribute on the screen, they can hear it in the soundscape. Today I’m joined by Production Sound Mixer Steve Morrow, Supervising Sound Editor Perry Robertson, and Re-recording Mixer/Supervising Sound Editor Will Files to explore how the iconic sounds of the original are an integral aspect of the new film.
Sunday Apr 17, 2022
S12 - Ep 2 - The Gilded Age - Set Decoration
Sunday Apr 17, 2022
Sunday Apr 17, 2022
“The Gilded Age”, which recently concluded its first season on HBO Max, explores the various social forces at play in the New York City of 1882. The theme of old money vs new money is reflected in the sets themselves, and Set Decorator Regina Graves joins me to discuss the challenges and rewards of bringing this period drama to life.
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
S12 - Ep 1 - Below the Line at the 94th Oscars
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
Sunday Apr 10, 2022
Welcome to Season 12 of the podcast! We’re kicking it off with a look back at this year’s Oscars ceremony, specifically the Academy’s decision to prerecord eight of the 23 awards during the hour preceding the live broadcast, and then air edited segments during the ceremony itself. Set Decorator Rena DeAngelo (nominated this year for her work on West Side Story) tells us what happened during that hour of pre-show taping, and Writer/Director/Editor Christopher Angel (who last joined us to discuss this year’s nominees for Film Editing) analyzes how those early acceptance speeches were censored for the telecast.
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 10 - Oscars - Cinematography
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
Thursday Mar 24, 2022
It’s been 10 episodes of film industry professionals sharing the benefits of their expertise, and we’re concluding our Oscar series with an in-depth look at the nominees for Cinematography. My guests — Patrick Cady and Shawn Peters — are directors of photography with stories to share. Enjoy the Academy Awards this weekend! I hope our insights have prepared you for the ceremony. (Episode 10 of 10).
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 9 - Oscars - Visual Effects
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
The Academy Awards are less than a week away, and we’ve got two episodes to go. Today, we’re discussing the Oscar nominees for Visual Effects. Industry veterans Kent Seki and Chris Batty bring their expertise for a wide-ranging and animated discussion. (Episode 9 of 10)
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 8 - Oscars - Original Score
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Thursday Mar 17, 2022
Music is back! Week Four of our Oscars coverage concludes with an enlightening conversation about Original Score. My returning guests - Louis Weeks, Chris Molanphy, and Mick Coogan - once again offer insights about this year’s nominees that will most definitely wow you. (Episode 8 of 10)
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 7 - Oscars - Film Editing
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Are you following the series? Week Four of our Oscars coverage kicks off with a review of the nominees for Film Editing. My guests - Christopher Angel and Amy Duddleston - are editors with a wealth of experience to share when discussing this year’s Academy Awards nominees. (Episode 7 of 10)
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 6 - Oscars - Makeup and Hairstyling
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Week Three concludes with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Makeup and Hairstyling. My guests — Angela Nogaro (Makeup) and Yvonne Depatis-Kupka (Hairstyling) — have opinions. I think you’ll enjoy them. (Episode 6 of 10)
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 5 - Oscars - Original Song
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Week Three: our tour through the technical categories continues with a discussion of the Oscar nominees for Original Song. My returning guests — Mick Coogan (song writer), Louis Weeks (score composer), and Chris Molanphy (chart analyst and fellow podcast host) — offer a multi-layered set of insights. (Episode 5 of 10)
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 4 - Oscars - Animated Feature
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
This episode of our Oscar series features a discussion of the nominees for Animated Feature. Ready for some behind-the-scenes insights? My guests, Kent Seki and Camille Leganza, bring more than 40 years of animation experience to the panel, and it makes for an informative and lively conversation. (Episode 4 of 10)
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 3 - Oscars - Production Design
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
It’s Week Two of our Oscars coverage, where film industry professionals offer insights in the category of their expertise. Today we’re focused on Production Design, and I’m happy to welcome back Sam Lisenco (Production Designer), Regina Graves (Set Decorator), and Kerry Weeks (Lead Man) to discuss this year’s nominees. (Episode 3 of 10)
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 2 - Oscars - Costume Design
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Our 3rd Annual Academy Awards coverage continues, and today we turn our attention to this year’s Oscar nominees for Costume Design. My panelists, Allison Choi Braun and Helen Huang, are both veteran costumer designers (and returning podcast guests!) with insights to share. (Episode 2 of 10)
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Season 11 - Ep 1 - Oscars - Sound
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Our 3rd Annual Academy Awards coverage starts now! Each episode, a panel of subject-matter experts discuss the nominees in the technical category of their expertise. Today, I'm joined by Steve Morrow (production sound mixer) and Don Sylvester (sound editor) to discuss this year's Oscar nominees for Sound. (Episode 1 of 10)
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 8 - DGA Awards - First-Time Features
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
Thursday Feb 17, 2022
This year, the Directors Guild of America nominated six directors for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film. I’m joined again by Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion to discuss these films from a below-the-line perspective.
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 7 - DGA Awards - Theatrical Feature Films
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Welcome to Awards Season! For the third year in a row, I’ve assembled a panel of fellow below-the-liners — Katie Carroll, Bill Hardy, Roger Mendoza and Shaun O’Banion — to discuss the five directors recognized by the Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film. How did we rank them? Answers at the end of the podcast.
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 6 - Hawkeye
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
The tv shows set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost always have a parallel filming unit focused on the stunts and action sequences, and “Hawkeye” (the latest to stream on Disney+) is no exception. Two members of Hawkeye’s 2nd Unit, 1st Assistant Director Tim Fitzgerald and Cinematographer Darin Moran, discuss how their team aligned with the overall production effort.
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 5 - The Gesture and the Word
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Thursday Feb 03, 2022
Writer/Director/Producer Helen Alexis Yonov and Cinematographer Matt Rodgers join me today to discuss their recent project, “The Gesture and the Word”, a 23-minute short film that was in limited release for most of 2021 (logging 87 festivals and 65 awards). It’s a lively conversation, exploring the complexities of the production and the nuances of the festival circuit. The film is currently streaming for all audiences at Omeleto.com/257318/
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 4 - The Witcher
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
“The Witcher”, currently streaming on Netflix, is a rousing mashup of monsters, mages, and mayhem. My guest today, Cinematographer Romain Lacourbas, talks about his work on the second season and how interdepartmental teamwork is a critical component of the production mix.
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 3 - Invasion
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Apple TV+’s “Invasion”, with storylines spanning four continents, was an epic production in terms of both scale and scope. My guests today — Production Designer Loren Weeks, Leadman Kerry Weeks, and Set Dresser Dan Fisher — discuss how the art department met the challenges of this massive undertaking.
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 2 - The Shrink Next Door
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
“The Shrink Next Door”, currently streaming on Apple TV+, stars Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd as patient/therapist, tracking their dysfunctional relationship over more than three decades. My guest today, Costume Designer Helen Huang, discusses how wardrobe is an important aspect of the storytelling.
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Season 10 - Ep 1 - Planet of the Apes
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
I was the DGA Trainee on Tim Burton’s "Planet of the Apes" (2001), and I’m joined today by some fellow crew members with stories to share: Douglas Noe (Ape Makeup), Kevin Haney (Ape Makeup), Steve Thorp (Electric), and Ryan Miningham (Production Office) reminisce with me about our days together on set.
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Season 9 - Ep 14 - 8-Bit Christmas
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
Thursday Dec 23, 2021
"8-Bit Christmas", currently streaming on HBO Max, is a holiday nostalgia tale reminiscent of "A Christmas Story" but set in the 80s and trading its Red Ryder air rifle for a Nintendo Entertainment System. My guest today is Avery Plewes, the film’s Costume Designer. Happy Holidays!