WRAP DRINKS

Larry Fessenden is a producer, director, and the founder of Glass Eye Pix. Above all, he is a lover of cinema and not afraid to get involved in the technical process and do the work. In fact, he prefers it. A performer in his own right, when Larry isn't making films, he's starring in them.

In many ways, Larry is a local legend and icon of the horror genre. His career spans over 40+ years and 20+ films throughout which he has earned a spirit award and acknowledgment from the Criterion Collection. His production company Glass Eye Pix, has not only been a film school of sorts for successful directors like Ti West, he's even invested in their earlier work.

Larry is a fascinating case study of what it takes to make your film when you're up against all the odds. His process is his and he doesn't claim to have the right one either but he'll fight you tooth and nail for it. Literally.

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This episode is brought to you in part by MUBI 

Experience groundbreaking cinema on MUBI with the stunning 4K restoration of Tarsem Singh’s THE FALL. Filmed over four years in 28 breathtaking locations and starring Lee Pace, it's a monumental production that transcends genres. 

For a limited time, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/shittyrigs

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Tony Pettine has worked as a Script Supervisor on 50+ films. Tony is also the co-creator of ScriptE, which is the market leader in Script Supervision software with over 5000 users worldwide. On today's episode, we get to dive down the rabbit hole of what it's like to work as a script supervisor on films and television. We get to hear the ins and outs of being a department of one and learn about how his software ScriptE has improved the workflow for script supervisors around the world. 

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This episode is brought to you in part by MUBI 

Experience groundbreaking cinema on MUBI with the stunning 4K restoration of Tarsem Singh’s THE FALL. Filmed over four years in 28 breathtaking locations and starring Lee Pace, it's a monumental production that transcends genres. 

For a limited time, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/shittyrigs

Let us know if we're doing a shitty job.

Support the show

On this episode, we have a 2 guest segment lined up. First up, Smokey Nelson is back in the studio to co-host. Smokey was the Gaffer on "Half Nelson" and "Blue Valentine". He's also the DP on "Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter". 

Our featured guest is a good friend of Smokey's, Luke Geissbühler. Luke Geissbühler is a Director of Photography best known for his work on Helvetica, The Borat Films, and Robots. 

With the power of these nerds combined, we touch on the differences between working on documentary films VS narrative films and how it can inform their style of cinematopgraphy. We also pick their brains on how they build their teams and hear some of their memorable troubleshooting stories from being on set. 

We can't wait for you to hear these two ramble about their years of experience, conveniently consolidated into a 2 hour window. 

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Visiting all the way from the UK, Director of Photography Spike Morris stopped by the Wrap Drinks set to chat with us about all things cinematography related. Spike's love for photography and working with analogy technology morphed into a passion for filmmaking. Spike's desire for experimentation has led him to work on some exciting projects like Moses Boyd's "Stranger than Fiction" music to video and Lewis Capaldi's "Forget Me" music video - a shot for shot recreation of Wham's "Club Tropicana" music video. He's also had the honor of working as the 2nd unit DP for "Don't Hug Me I'm Scared," a show he describes as Sesame Street on acid. Tune in as we chat with Spike and Christelle de Castro who is back on the show as a lovely co-host.

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Ad agencies, lighting design, non-profit work, special effects, protests, and psychedelic art shows; these two have seemingly done it all. Natalie Cleveland currently finds herself as a Producer & Industry Advocate, while Simon Cleveland is working under the title of Lighting & Effects Wizard.

In this episode of Wrap Drinks we sit down with the industry power couple to talk about understanding the obstacles of a working relationship and how sometimes a change of departments can better suit your lifestyle.

In May of 2024, FREE THE WORK, closed this chapter of the nonprofit. Natalie has since started "Working Insights" with a few of the FTW visionaries, they're working on the same values and crossing over some of the programs.

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Blake's eventual role as a cinematographer didn't happen through the most traditional route. In fact, Blake's stint in the film industry began as a Production Assistant - infamously on the huge sets like "The Dark Knight Rises". Blake's ambitions however took him beyond this when he transitioned to AC work. In recent years, his accomplishments include being the Tech Producer for the NFL featurettes during the pandemic. Today, he is a Trinity Steadicam operator but he hasn't forgotten his roots or the experiences that made him the DP he is today. Join us as we chat with Blake about these experiences and more. 

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Heidi Koleto is a Prop Master with experience working on TV Shows such as Barry, Julia, and Kevin Can Fuck Himself. On today's episode, she gives us insight on what it's like to work on these large productions and how she handles the day to day tasks and responsibilities to keep a show running. Throughout this conversation we also learn about some of her amazing quirks that contribute to her success as a Prop Master as well as some helpful organizations that can contribute to your success.

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Demian Neufeld is a Drone Pilot and the co-owner of Ryders Alley. Before DJI was breaking ground with their cinematic drones, Demian was attempting to fly cameras using RC helicopters. At the age of 12, he started his passion for photography before changing his focus to something more financially secure, pre-med. However, it wasn't long after he graduated that he decided to leave this career and go back into photography. Today his work can be found in TV series, commercials, and feature films. Listen in as Demian shares tips to operating on set and how he handles this specialized role. 

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In the era before digital movie theaters, film projectionists were integral part of the movie theater experience. Adrianne Jorge began her journey as a projectionist in college doing film screening in classrooms before moving to local theaters. Adrianne landed her spot in the union through a film festival after proving her value, and would later work for Woody Allen in his private screening room. After the era of digitization shattered the movie screening industry, Adrianne was fortunate enough to continue her craft working at the Somerville theater in Boston. While being a film projectionist today is considered a niche job, thanks to a few big names in the industry we can still enjoy the human element being connected to the film viewing experience.

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Before Valerie Armstrong was able to sell her show "Kevin Can F**k Himself" (spoilers ahead of you haven't watched yet) to AMC, she worked a number of different jobs to pay the rent. Whether it was being an assistant to the owner of a Pistachio farm, working as an NBC Page, or being a writing assistant on "Masters of Sex", these jobs prepared Valerie for the daunting task of creating her own original series. We talked with her about the highs and lows of making it as a writer, what the inside of a writer's room looks like, and how surrounding yourself with the right people makes everything that much better.

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Jeff Brink might currently be known as the CEO of Blackout Lighting Console, but his exploits as a disruptor in the film industry goes back to his days at NYU. In the days when attaching a cinema camera to a drone was unheard of, Jeff and his team were determined to innovate and find a path, paving the way for drone photography as we know it today. Ultimately, this pursuit reached its end and Jeff found himself back in the lighting department. Seeing the change in LED technology while he was away inspired him to make a mobile console app that would improve the role of a board operator in the field. All of his successes and failures in the film and industry have led to this moment, our couch.

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Mayvis Payne got her start in makeup artistry in retail before transitioning to the film industry. While working at MAC cosmetics, Mayvis got her break when a "regular customer" turned out to be a producer for BET who was impressed by her talents later recommended her for work on network shows. Today, she is a self published author with her book "Lipgloss Chronicles," in which she shares her experiences and "spills the tea without breaking the mug". Mayvis also has her own luxury cosmetics brand LIPLOX/LASHLOX providing quality lip glosses, lipsticks, and eyelashes at affordable prices.

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Steve Giralt is a director, DP, and photographer with a side of engineer. He founded The Garage to push the art of tabletop cinematography forward and empower artists to create the most innovative work. Steve talks about what it took to make his famous "burger drop" video, how much easier it would be for him today, and how brands keep him busy pushing the limits of what motion control technology can produce.

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Director of Photography Fletcher Wolfe spent her time working as a juicer, then a gaffer, before finally moving to cinematography. Fletcher recounts the struggle of having to turn down jobs when making a change in departments. Hear about building her own lights, her favorite tools of the trade, and how hard work all pays off as her time on commercials, documentaries, and narrative films has landed her a spot at Sundance more than once. 

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Director, Editor, and DP Nick Neofitidis shares stories from his days starting out in the MTV News gear closet, shifting into field work, and eventually getting to shoot and travel as a lone DP. The few essential tools he could bring in his kit were only as useful as the street smarts he had to pick up when traveling through places like South Africa, India, and Peru. Nick's experiences along the way prefared him perfectly to shoot "Reincarnated," the documentary film that captured Snoop Dogg's journey to Jamaica to produce his first reggae record. Tune in and find out how his journey as a one man band earned him both an Emmy and the nickname "Slick Nick."

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Joe Bearese is a stunt driver and co-owner Metro Camera Cars, providing specialty tracking vehicles for film, television, and commercials. Joe talks us through the unique challenges faced when using this specialized equipment from coordinating multiple moving vehicles to maneuvering tight city streets. Whether it's pushing these vehicles to their limits filming F1 cars or waiting to change a dead battery, Joe keeps us on the edge of our seats. Seat belt highly recommended.

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Makeup FX artist Brian Spears takes us behind the scenes, sharing insights into the magical process of transforming everyday faces and bodies into extraordinary masterpieces for film, television, and more. From crafting intricate prosthetics to seamlessly blending reality with fantasy, Brian possesses a unique blend of artistic vision and technical prowess. Come along on this captivating journey of wizardry you won't want to miss!

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Dive into the creative brilliance of Christelle de Castro, a renowned commercial Director and Photographer, whose work has made an indelible mark on the industry. Hear how she went from living and working in a dark NYC basement to co-founding the international production company Ground Work. Christelle's visionary touch extends to campaigns for global brands including Nike, Samsung, Supreme, Coach, Lululemon, Calvin Klein, and more, solidifying her as a creative powerhouse in the field.

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Costume Designer Rebecca Hofherr takes us behind the scenes of movies like Winter's Bone and Good Burger 2, unraveling the creative process, and challenges of creating iconic costumes. Whether it's unexpected encounters with with celebrities like Meryl Streep or working closely Jennifer Lawrence, Rebecca goes deep into the nuances of costume design in today's ever-evolving film industry! Hear some of the untold stories of the film world, including a gripping account involving a PA entangled on the wrong side of the law. 

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Chris Ingvordsen is a prolific filmmaker with an incredible career that began during the home video revolution in the 1980s. He produced and directed 24 feature films, working with legendary actors and actresses like Sandra Bullock, Robert Mitchum, Julia Roberts, and more. Ingvordsen's unique approach to filmmaking, influenced by his mentor Larry Cohen, involved tact and resourcefulness, often filming without permits, and making the most of low budgets. Now, as we enter a new digital revolution, Ingvordsen's message to aspiring filmmakers is clear: With affordable digital cameras, accessible editing software, and a multitude of distribution channels, there's never been a better time to bring your filmmaking dreams to life. Learn your craft, gain experience, and when inspiration strikes, have the courage to make your movie.

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