Moderator Dylan Brody hosts a Tulsa Film Collective panel with The Lowdown’s crew—sound mixer Royce Sharp, camera loader/DIT Andromeda Johnson, operators Joe Hernandez and Charles Elmore, 1st AC Chris Coppins, 2nd AC Jenna Palermo, gaffer Jake Besnett, grip Jeremy D’Apolito, key grip Tyler Plant, and DPs Chris Norr and Mark Schwartzbard—who introduce their roles and share origin stories and advice on moving up (be early, stay quiet and anticipatory, advocate for yourself, take chances, keep hobbies to avoid burnout).

Tyler describes rising from PA to key grip, working on major units, returning to Oklahoma, and forming Westlane Grip. The panel walks through filming a complex diner-to-street “oner,” detailing blocking, motivated lighting, wind/reflection challenges, safety, monitoring, focus pulling, and sound coverage; both DPs explain differing approaches while maintaining continuity.



Timestamp Menu:

00:00 Meet the Moderator
00:38 Crew Introductions
02:03 Origin Stories Begin
11:41 Breaking In and Moving Up
17:02 Staying Inspired Between Gigs
19:13 Best Early-Career Advice
22:44 Work Life Balance on Set
24:18 DP Continuity Thought Experiment
26:13 Mark’s Oner Plan and Lighting
28:49 G&E Execution in Prep
30:44 Building The Bounce
31:43 Blocking And Safety Dance
33:47 Camera Team Hide And Focus
35:12 B Cam Coverage Strategy
36:19 Steadicam Oner Mindset
37:54 Utility Monitors And Loading
39:44 Sound In A 360 World
44:02 Alternate DP Noir Plan
46:45 Dreams Versus Budget Reality
49:05 Q And A Recording Mistakes
50:51 Q And A Burnout Survival
52:20 Q And A Finding Style
56:37 Closing Thanks And Events

This video features Charles Elmore, co-founder of the Tulsa Film Collective, and a panel of experienced film industry freelancers discussing the realities, challenges, and strategies of pursuing a career in film.

They cover topics such as networking, setting rates, balancing workloads, handling feast-or-famine periods, marketing oneself, and the importance of community support.

The panelists include a sound mixer, a camera department professional, a publicist, and a producer, offering diverse perspectives on successfully navigating and sustaining a freelance career in the evolving film industry of Oklahoma.

Timestamp Menu
00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements
01:11 Series Overview and Purpose
02:33 Freelancing in Oklahoma
03:01 Panelist Introductions
08:25 Freelancing Challenges and Insights
33:55 Navigating Multiple Roles in the Industry
34:49 Freelancing Realities and Financial Strategies
35:59 Avoiding Crisis as a Freelancer
38:42 Understanding the Industry's Ebb and Flow
41:25 The Importance of Saying Yes
53:55 Setting Rates and Negotiating
01:07:42 Marketing Yourself Effectively
01:12:24 Curating Your Resume for Success
01:12:54 Building and Using Your Reel
01:13:32 Networking and Film Festivals
01:14:19 Film School vs. On-the-Job Learning
01:15:00 Freelancing vs. Agency Work
01:16:01 Specializing in Your Craft
01:24:34 The Importance of Unions
01:28:56 Networking and Community Building
01:43:35 Gear and Equipment: What You Need

The third installment of the Pictures Panel series features a discussion led by producer and production manager Dylan Brodie, focusing on various aspects of production design and props. Panel members Tafv Sampson, Brandon Tonner-Connolly, Neosha Pendergraft, and Joe Hagg share their experiences and insights into their respective roles, including set decoration, budgeting, and problem-solving. They discuss the importance of creating emotionally charged environments, overcoming challenges such as losing a set warehouse to fire, and how they prepare and collaborate with directors, actors, and other crew members. The session concludes with advice for those looking to break into the industry and a Q&A session with the audience on maintaining a collaborative and organized set.

Menu:

• 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements
• 00:38 Meet the Panelists
• 01:02 Production Design Overview
• 02:44 Props Department Insights
• 03:46 Origin Stories
• 09:53 Navigating the Industry
• 13:34 Interacting with Talent
• 16:43 Creating Immersive Sets
• 27:13 Overcoming Adversity
• 41:10 Memorable Creations and Collaborations
• 41:33 Sentimental Projects and Emotional Connections
• 43:04 Special Projects and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
• 47:28 The Challenges and Rewards of Film Production
• 49:15 Surprising Aspects of Set Decoration
• 52:03 The Hard Parts of Working in Film
• 57:32 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
• 01:01:17 Creating a Collaborative and Friendly Set Environment
• 01:10:07 Q&A Session with the Audience
• 01:22:01 Closing Remarks and Announcements