Slamdance 2026: Jessica Barr and Ryan Simpkins on Their Stunning Single-Take Film, “The Plan”
The sun is just beginning to set as the twenty-something characters in Jessica’s Barr’s mesmerizing new film, “The Plan,” start to congregate in an East LA apartment. The calmness of the setting gradually proves to be deceptive, as the mounting tension within these friends—particularly Evan (Ryan Simpkins)—threatens to erupt. With the helicopter blades of an […]
Ashley Connor, Sole Cinematographer on “The Chair Company”
The Chair Company follows Ron, who investigates a conspiracy after an embarrassing incident at work. How did you get started in cinematography? I grew up a big film lover. I watched movies constantly, and I grew up in Los Angeles. I was also a serious athlete for a long time, but I blew out my […]
Simona Susnea on Bringing Light, Emotion, and Cinematic Depth to “The Buccaneers” Season 2
Simona Susnea, the cinematographer behind four of the eight episodes of The Buccaneers Season 2—including the season premiere—brings a striking visual evolution to the Apple TV+ period drama. As the series airs weekly through August 6, Susnea’s work plays a vital role in deepening the tone of the show, visually reflecting the characters’ growing maturity […]
It Was All a Miracle: Embeth Davidtz on “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight”
I was ten years old when Danny DeVito’s euphoric screen adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel Matilda arrived in theaters. I had read the book so many times that the cover had fallen off, and in the character of Miss Honey, I found an embodiment of all the teachers who had been an invaluable, nurturing […]
Hannah Welever on shaking things up with her sex positive short “Soirée”
Hannah Welever is a queer filmmaker based in New York, but her roots are Midwestern. In her newest short, “Soirée,” Welever creatively holds space for women’s bodies, and how often they are misunderstood. After an unfortunately awkward hookup gone awry, Reed (Naomi Walley) takes a literal trip inside her body, and meets the personification of […]
Behind the Camera with Charlotte Hornsby, cinematographer of Mariama Diallo’s Sundance 2022 feature debut, “Master”
The surprising horror film “Master” directed by Mariama Diallo debuted at Sundance 2022. I’ve never seen the Black female experience so intimately told in this setting. We are brought into the world of a mostly white elite east coast private college that has been around since practically the beginning of our US history. As the […]