Inspire Design Create with David Lee

EPISODE 192: Health Is Not Over-rated

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0800

Getting older has all kinds of pros to it. You get a little wiser, you experience life more, you grow in different ways but the one thing no one ever tells you is how to stay healthy as you grow older. I'm sure many of you have gone through a few injuries and maybe reoccurring injuries. I for one have been through my fair share of injuries through martial arts and competition that I still work through even to this day. If you want to stay healthy so you can stay on set then this episode was made for you.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 191: Work Life Balance A Thing?

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0800

Have you heard of that golden phrase, "You need work-life balance". I used to think a lot of that phrase as most of my life i've never had any type of work-life balance. Life itself was practically work no matter how you spun it, I just never cared to go on vacations like 99% of the population. However, the 8 years of running my business i've found the value of work-life balance in terms of when work is drowning my creativity down the drain. If this is you or has been you in the past then I hope this episode speaks to you.

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EPISODE 190: YEAR END REVIEW 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0800

Here we go, end of the year and my oh my has it been a whirlwind of a year for me. A lot of changes and a huge insight I hope I can share with you all.

Enjoy this episode and have an amazing rest of the year fam!

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EPISODE 189: Sony A7V - Five Years Too Late?

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:22:15 -0800

Today Sony released the A7V - a hybrid mirrorless camera that many, including myself, were looking forward to as it could have been a solid competitor to the Lumix S1II and Canon R6 III. But in classic Sony fashion in the last 5 years, the camera leaves me with a lot more to be desired. A LOT...Let's chat about it shall we?

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EPISODE 188: Staying with Sony BUT...

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:07:05 -0800

It seem that every 4-5 years a ground breaking camera sensor comes out. In 2020 Sony released the A7S III which completely changed the game for filmmakers across the board with the technology and features it offered. 5 years later we haven't really seen anything ground breaking from Sony and I know there are certain people who may be looking at jumping ship to Canon, Nikon, Blackmagic or Lumix. I don't blame them as every other manufacture has pound for pound way more tech and features than Sony's current line up. So why am I sticking with Sony? Give this episode a listen and find out.

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EPISODE 187: Starting Over In Business

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0800

If there were 3 things I would do differently with my business from the beginning it would:

#1. Choose a specific goal

#2. Treat the business as a business

#3. Not be married to equipment

I hope that this episode brings new light and awareness to how you're currently running your business and some ways you might want to start implementing change in your own business.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 186: Kofi Yeboah

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Today we have Kofi Yeboah on the podcast sharing his story of how he got into the business of video production, starting his YouTube channel that has grown to over 60k subscribers, and where the line is being drawn between Filmmakers and YouTubers.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 185: They Wanted Mini LF, I Hated It

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Recently I was brought on to shoot a short internal campaign for Amazon Fulfillment Services and the agency wanted to shoot on the ARRI Mini LF with rehoused Leica R lenses. Sounds exciting and fun right?! If your idea of "fun" is lugging around a 30lb camera package on a Easyrig for 10 hours. Shall we chat about it? MMMHMMM!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 184: Cancelation Policies? ABSOLUTELY!

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:11:51 -0700

If you're ever faced in the future with a shoot that is canceled, what do you do? Do you have a cancelation policy in place or if you're working with an agency do they have a cancelation policy in place? These are absolutely critical question to ask for the health if your business when those situations do come up. So...let's chat about it!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 183: Founder Jamie Maitland

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Founder of The Office 954 and The Office Health in Ft. Lauderdale, Jamie is a self-made health and wellness entrepreneur whose journey in providing a unique and boutique experience and certified organic protein has provided her with opportunities and creating a life that she truly loves. A little different podcast than usual but trust me when I say that this episode will provide you with a mindset shift regarding your business and health that will only support you if you choose to make that pivotal choice.

https://theoffice954.com/

https://www.theofficehealth.com/

Jamie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jamiemaitland

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 182: Director Matt Garvin

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Today we have Director and Writer Matt Garvin on the show. Matthew brings years of directing and writing across multiple genres and his experiences are invaluable. If you've been looking for inspiration and perspective through the lens of a director, then this episode is certainly for you.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 181: Mid Year Review

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Shall we? I think so!

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EPISODE 180: Director Sabine Kahwaji

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0700

Today I was blessed to have my friend and director Sabine Kahwaji along with her producer Jonathan Akkawi to share their latest film "Altisal" that's making its way on the film festival circuit. From the words of Sabine, "I wrote this film after the tragic Beirut explosion in Aug 2020. Sadly, the completion of the film fell with my dad in South Lebanon when the conflicts erupted this Sept. I was living out my film’s story. It was and still remains a difficult time for many". We spoke a lot about their pre-production process, challenges during their production days including a total 100% reshoot as well as what their experience has been taking Altisal on the film festival circuit where it's been very well received.

Sabine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCaWsh9xlCZ/

Jonathan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejakkawiarab

Austin's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwkaustin

Link to Alitisal Trailer: https://youtu.be/vhSEmD4DLG4?si=vhZfuZ6NfnOCOBle

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EPISODE 179: Content CEO Roger Rojas

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0700

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Roger Rojas. Roger has made his career and brand around supporting CEOs, brands and businesses with their content strategy and production. He offered a ton of gems in this episode that I believe a lot of you listening can learn from and take into your own creative agency for growth.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 178: Creator Anson and Co

Tue, 27 May 2025 10:00:00 -0700

I had the pleasure of sitting down, virtually, with Anson & Co for this episode. Some of you may know him from this YouTube channel where Anson offers gear reviews for Sigma and Lumix oriented content, but like with anyone I have on the podcast I want to know their story first and foremost. What inspired them at an early age and how that inspiration for stories led them on the journey they currently are.

You can check out Anson's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Ansonandco

as well as his Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ansonandco

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 177: Director Sarah Hays

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Today we have the pleasure of having Sarah Hays on the podcast. Sarah owns a creative agency in Washington state and provides creative strategy as well as directs brand stories in the outdoor-adventure space. We talk about aspects of working on yourself, imposter syndrome, loving what you do and where Sarah hopes to move towards with her agency.

Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_hays_/

Sarah's website: https://haysmediaco.com/

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EPISODE 176: Cinematographer Jason Anthony

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Today we have creative director and agency owner Jason Anthony on the podcast! I've known Jason for a few years now and it's been long overdue to have him on the podcast to share his story and journey into the industry. Jason was kind enough to give his time and provide key insights to how he went from solo/freelance work to building and growing his creative agency he operates today.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 175: Producer April Mendoza

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Today we have Producer April Mendoza on the show! April has produced several shorts along with directing credits for commercials and working heavily as a 1st AD across a plethora of music videos in her career. I wanted to have her on the podcast to share how she started in the industry, what she's seen and advice she can offer to aspiring filmmakers looking to grow their career path.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 174: When Clients DON'T PAY...

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0700

Has a client failed to pay you for a project? What were some of the indicators you potentially saw or didn't see that led to the results of the client either never paying or taking an extremely long time to pay? Lucky for you I have been in those situations before and through experience I can provide you THE BEST WAYS to avoid this from happening all together.

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EPISODE 173: Tariffs...Let's Talk About It

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 08:51:17 -0700

With new Tariffs being placed on every country starting early April 2025, how will the increase in prices effect you? Might be the time to start looking at snagging up some particular pieces of gear before the prices surely increase as well as having conversations with your clients if you've been underselling your services.

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EPISODE 172: Small Business's THINK SMALL, Switch Their Perspectives!

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:46 -0800

We've all been approached by small businesses looking for content creation or advertising campaigns am I right? The struggle though is that many of them have a "Lacking Mindset" meaning they attribute value to content creation but they say don't have the capital or funds to respectfully pay for the content. That's where we come in to bring light to their "Lacking Mindset" and show them that by looking at the Glass Half Full and paying for high-value content, that their sales and brand equity will grow when they put money BACK into their business.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 171: AI Tools Cost What?!

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:47:00 -0800

I recently tried one of the new AI Generative Apps called Invideo AI to see where the landscape of AI tools is at for video centric businesses. What I learned so far is that the cost to value ratio isn't worth it, yet...

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EPISODE 170: Wishlist for 2025

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:08:24 -0800

It's the first day of 2025, LFG! As we're in a brand new year I know many of you are wondering what equipment and gear you'll need for 2025. What gear am I looking to get in 2025? The answer might shock ya.

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EPISODE 169: Course Reopen FREE

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 11:56:22 -0800

Click bait? Nope, i'm re-opening my course on How to Create Compelling Stories for free. However, i'm only opening it up to the first 20 people as it's easier for me to support and answer questions to 20 people rather than 50 or 100 people.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISDOE 168: Set A Light 3D

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:21:15 -0700

Of all the pre-production tools I have, Set A Light 3D has been a literal game changer for me. Think of it as a much more user friendly version of Cinetracer. I wanted to share my thoughts on it after using it for the last year, I hope it supports you!

You can check out the software with the link below:

https://www.elixxier.com/en/set-a-light-3d/

And for those who stuck around to the end, here's what i've been up to the last 2 months:

www.class46yoga.com

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EPISODE 167: Diminishing Returns

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:41:02 -0700

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

https://create-compelling-stories.teachable.com/p/how-to-tell-compelling-stories

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EPISODE 166: Create Compelling Stories Course Is Out!

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:22:00 -0700

Link to the Course Fam!

https://create-compelling-stories.teachable.com/p/how-to-tell-compelling-stories

USE CODE SAVE50 to Save 50% for the first 24 hours only. The filmmaking course will be available to purchase from 9/08/2024 - 10/01/2024 only, so please don't wait.

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EPISODE 165: Retainers Revisited

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:01:15 -0700

And hereeee weeeee gooooooo! Talking about retainer clients and some ways you can negotiate the price and duration for your retainers.

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EPISODE 164: Passion Projects - Has Your Passion Died Out?

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:07:42 -0700

When we decided we wanted to become filmmakers I know all of us had dreams and goals of producing and writing original ideas that inspired us. At the same time we all had businesses to grow and maintain and along the way we put our passion projects to the sidelines only to be forgotten as time passed on. However, I still feel that as filmmakers we need to create at least one passion project every year in order to fuel our hearts but also to grow as creatives. What are your thoughts?

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EPISODE 163: Do Clients Care About Quality???

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0700

An interesting question is it not? As creatives we all certainly care about quality but do our clients and the agencies we work with care just as much? If not, is there a world where we can utilize much more affordable equipment for those projects and still offer a competitive rate to do so? I think so, let's chat about it.

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EPISODE 162: Rates in 2024 - IATSE

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:16 -0700

Have you wondered what others are charging? How about the big boys under unions? Today we're talking just that, RATES. What are the actual rates for those who are under IATSE and working in the commercial space? There's a great breakdown of them all which you can find here https://www.mediaservices.com/showbiz-software/showbiz-labor-guide/#tab-which-union-rates-are-included - the PDF is free to download once you register some basic information about you. With that said, let's get into the episode!

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EPISODE 161: Pros & Cons - Working Direct to Client

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:44:56 -0700

When working directly with clients compared to being brought on by a production company or agency there are some pros to that path along with some cons. What are the pros and cons that can help better inform you of which path in your career you'd like to take? Let's chat about it!

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EPISODE 160: They Wanted A TVC...

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:31:22 -0700

Today we're breaking down a recent commercial project that was three-fold; part TVC, part testimonial and part 30 sec promo. Rather than making this episode an hour long i'll just breaking down one scene that is a day interior with the challenge of white walls and no direct window to light from. Make sure to check use the companion web page on my website for the visual breakdowns.

https://atdavidlee.com/episode-161-they-wanted-a-tvc/

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EPISODE 159: Camera to Cloud Experience

Sun, 05 May 2024 12:06:50 -0700

On a recent shoot for the First Omen Premiere in Santa Monica, CA the production company had a quick turn around time for the deliverable and chose to use a Atomos Shogun with Atomos Connect to get the footage uploaded ASAP to their remote editors. Did it work? What issues did we run into? Listen to this week's podcast episode to learn more!

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EPISODE 158: New Camera, Sort Of

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:55:00 -0700

On the cusp of NAB 2024 (I was working so I wasn't there) there were so many new release from cameras, lenses, AI integration with NLEs and more. Although I haven't made the purchase of any brand new release, yet, I did purchase a new camera package. Well the camera isn't new but listen to the rest of this episode to find out what I did end up buying for the business.

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EPISODE 157: Fake It Til You Make It

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:00:28 -0700

Imposter syndrome can be a real thing especially in our business. Perhaps you're asked to do a project that you've never done before, how do you respond to that? Should you "FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT" in order to get the job? What impact will that have for your future career if you do it too much? Let's talk about the thing!

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EPISODE 156: Start Positioning Your Services

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:01:00 -0700

As we're already heading into the middle of 2024 have you asked yourself, "man I really need to start leveling up my business but i'm stuck..". Perhaps you feel you should be charging more as the cost of living has gone up and you've been charging the same rates for the last 5 years. For some of us the thought raising our rates brings anxiety through the fear of our clients and network not wanting to work with us anymore. That will happen with some clients but the vast majority of them will level up with you but that only happens when you take action to make the change first.

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EPISODE 155: I Made This Netflix Quality....

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:25:28 -0700

Did I or am I BSing you? Hard to tell especially when other content creators on YouTube are creating videos with click bait titles as well! Today's episode is more about perspective and honesty, virtues that apparently content creators still value less than the views they get on their videos but hey who am I to judge? I hope you enjoy this episode as always and if you do please rate the podcast on Apple podcast it would certainly help out!

EPISODE 154: Your Network Is WHERE You Work

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 14:36:01 -0800

Have you wondered how to branch into new industries? Perhaps you've been doing your regular bread and butter type shoots but have always dreamt of doing fashion videos? Your network is where 99% of your leads come from and if it's comprised of directors and producers within a very specific genre, well that's the type of work you'll get. In today's episode I talk about ways to reach out to producers/directors in order for you to start doing the type of projects you truly want to be involved with.

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EPISODE 153: Why Shooting Coverage Matters

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:51:00 -0800

When I first started my career it was a lot of verite/documentary style coverage. Which usually meant going hand held and running around grabbing what I felt were interesting shots. As my career progressed and working on larger sets with more demand for a structured approach, I soon realized that my approach was had too many faults. There was a lack of coverage that not only made my time on set longer than needed but in the edit there were a lot of gaps in where I could have told a more thoughtful story. Today i'd like to explore the concept of coverage and why it matters to you as a cinematographer.

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EPISODE 152: Is Everyone Leaving YouTube?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:06:00 -0800

Question Mark ?!

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EPISODE 151: Awkward Moments On Set

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:37:00 -0800

Last year on a commercial production I was there was a very awkward moment on set that. One of those situations where you have to ask yourself, "if I were in that position what I would do?". I wanted to share that experience so that if you ever find yourself in a similar situation you'll be prepared to respond in the best way possible.

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EPISODE 150: A Case for Hard Light

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:41:00 -0800

The last few years we've seen a huge cross over from photography to cinematography, with many adopting the ultra soft light look. Nothing wrong with soft light at all, give me a 12x12 of magic cloth with a grid all day! However, there are instances where balancing between having both hard and soft light has created a new paradigm shift away from your traditional soft source lighting. Today I wanted to talk about how i've been incorporating both types of light and how you might find it beneficial as well.

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EPISODE 149: GEAR SESSIONS - CRD BAGS

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:45:00 -0800

Today I wanted to provide a brief review of the CRD Bags and if they're worth it. I own a few of them including the Medium and Large size CRD bags along with their velcro labels which I really love. So...are they worth it??? I think they are, but i'll let you decide after listening to this episode!

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EPISODE 148 - Time to Renegotiate Rates

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:44 -0800

A brand new year means the potential for new rates and budgets. In this episode I wanted to talk about some ways to communicate with your clients the increase of your rates whether that be your day rates, rentals or the entire budget itself.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 147: BUY, KEEP, SELL...

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:32:03 -0800

It's that time of the year friends, where all the pre NAB and Cinegear hype is coming in! New equipment to water our mouthes and to delete our bank accounts with. However, I believe the beginning of the year is the best time to start to look at the equipment you have right now in order to identify which you need keep, sell and what business purchases make sense for your in 2024. Let's chat!

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EPISODE 146: YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE IN 2024

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:17:00 -0800

Should you still be posting to Instagram these days? What about YouTube, is it still worthwhile creating video content on a very saturated platform? I believe it is, but you also should have a very specific goal in mind otherwise your time and effort might not be put towards the best areas in your life. In today's episode i'll be covering some of the reasons people shy away from posting more on social media and ways we all can get over the initial hump to growing our personal brands and thus our businesses.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 145: YEAR IN REVIEW 2023

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 15:15:06 -0800

HEREEEEE WEEEEEEE GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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EPISODE 144: FIGHTING THE FLATNESS - NIGHT INTERIORS

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:20:00 -0800

Today we're breaking down a scene from the feature film I was on earlier this year. We'll take a look at one of the night interior scenes and the approach I took for fighting against what could otherwise be a very flat and dark image. Link to the breakdown images will be right here for you to follow along!

https://atdavidlee.com/breakdowns/

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 143: TOOLS FOR SUCCESS, NOT GEAR RELATED

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:47:00 -0800

Is this a joke? What do you mean tools for success without gear?!?! Clickbait??? Nope, just real talk on how to set yourself up for success when it comes to the business aspect of being an owner/operator. Things like communication, team management, client expectations vs your own person needs are skillsets that will help you grow your business year in and year out.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 142: HOW AI WILL CHANGE THE INDUSTRY

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:49:38 -0800

With the recent strikes in the industry concerning mostly the use of AI, I felt it was time to make this episode as some crew members i've spoken to this year have been concerned around AI taking away jobs from practically every department of production. From working on virtual production sets to speaking with union members I can honestly say that you don't need to be worried about AI taking away jobs. At least for the foreseeable future...

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EPISODE 141: SELLING THE KOMODO

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 11:45:00 -0800

Yup, she's gone boys but she had a great run for the last two years. As 2024 is approaching i've already started my business purchase sheet for next year and the Komodo would have been sitting in a pelican probably for the rest of the new year. So let's have a little chat and why I decided to let the Komodo, go.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 140: ART VS GETTING PAID

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:06:00 -0800

Is Cinematography an Art or more of a structured approach to the visual arts? How do we reconcile our drive to "create art" but also get paid and be able to earn a living doing what we love? Let's a little heart to heart conversation shall we?

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 139: AFRAID OF BEING UNDERCUT???

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:15:00 -0800

One fear many owner/ops hate being in the middle of is the fear of being undercut by others and missing out on a job. Now I totally understand that getting paid is way better than not being paid at all, however when you do too many jobs where you intentionally undercut yourself, not only do you continue a pattern of losing out on overall income but you soon start to realize (or I hope you start to realize) that you're not getting paid what you're actually worth. So let's talk about it!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 138: PRICING YOUR RENTALS

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:04:00 -0800

Short episode today but one I think many of you might need. We're talking all about rentals, how to price your rentals, ways to keep things organized and resources online to get the information you need.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 137: ARE LIGHT METERS RELEVANT???

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 08:35:00 -0700

In today's age of digital and quick to access exposure tools, are light meters still useful? What benefits are there from using a light meter compared to false color and other monitoring tools we have? Let's have a nice discussion about it shall we!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 136: THE CREATOR FILM FOOLED US...

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:45:00 -0700

Let's talk about the FX3, PRORES RAW, Gimbals and why would a $80 million dollar budget used a YouTuber friendly camera.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 135: SMALLHD OR ATOMOS MONITORS???

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 10:06:00 -0700

In 2023 are SmallHD monitors still worth it? What type of productions are you consistently on that might require the purchase of a SmallHD or Atomos monitor? As I own both monitors from both brands I wanted to share my own experiences on set with what I see more of and what I would recommend for you to look into.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 134: GEAR SESSIONS - NANUK CASES

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0700

Long time Pelican owner? Maybe you've been using only SKB cases for a time. Well as someone who owns all three but over the years i've only been buying Nanuk cases. Why is that? Let's find out!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 133: PLEASE CALIBRATE YOUR MONITORS...

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:18:00 -0700

Wonder why your monitor looks vastly different than your viewfinder? Can't figure out why your display is too blue or warm and it's been driving you crazy? Chances are you most likely need to calibrate your monitors, both your onboard monitors and post production monitors. In today's podcast episode we talk all things calibration related included what tools and software I use to keep my monitors looking color accurate and to help match them all as closely as possible.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 132: HALF VS FULL DAY RATES

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 09:23:00 -0700

There's a fine line between charging a half day or a full day and many times we're stuck with deciding on which to charge. Is a half day for you 4 hours, 5 hours, maybe 6 hours? Is a full day for you 8 or 10 hours? And when the time comes when you're met with a potential or confirmed half day, how do you approach charging for it? Let's talk about it!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 131: UNION VS NON-UNION JOBS

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:18:00 -0700

The great debate between owner/ops, free lancers and film school graduates; should you join your Local under IATSE? Whether you're camera department or G&E, heck even HMU and Wardrobe have their own union should you wish to join! What are the advantages and disadvantages of joining your local union? The last year i've met with colleagues of mine on various shoots and have catalogued their answers. These are working professionals who are Local 600 or who have been in the industry over 10 years so needless to say, they got some experience with working no both sides of the entertainment hemisphere.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

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EPISODE 130: LOWER ISO FOR NIGHT SHOOTS

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:36:00 -0700

With so many dual native ISO cameras out on the market it can be easy for many of us to lean into cranking up the ISO for a cleaner image. However, there's a difference between having a clean image but still a flat looking image and a clean image with depth and contrast. In this episode I talk about how I approached a recent feature film I was on by going with a lower ISO and utilizing all the lighting tricks my team could put together to still create a dynamic looking image.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 129: LOW BUDGET FILMMAKING, DON’T FALL FOR IT!

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:19:00 -0700

So you've watched some video or listened to an interview with someone saying, "Gear Doesn't Matter" or "Just go out and make the thing" right? Now that's partially true but the one thing many people leave out of the equation is the goal you have for your project. Without the goal how do you know how to get to where you want to be or what you wish to achieve? In today's episode I want to break down the difference between low budget filmmaking with a goal behind it and the opposite where you see little no ROI.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 128: THE ROI ON EQUIPMENT

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:28:00 -0700

The return on your investment for cameras, lights, lenses and everything in between is a huge factor in the growth and potential success for your business. In this episode I go over my top business assets to focus on with regards to a sustained ROI as well as what category of equipment to consider based upon your geography and the market you work in. I know, it's not a gear review or something that might inspire you but let's face it, if we can't pay the bills and protect our future we won't be in business for long and thus won't be able to live our dreams for long as well.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 127: HDR WITHOUT THE HDR?!?!

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0700

No it's click bait, but in actuality if you're working in Resolve 17 or 18 I found out that the new HDR wheels can be applied with great results to SDR content. I'm not 100% sure how it works but with new technology, algorithms and of course "AI" we now have the ability to manipulate our images even more so with regard to remapping certain parts of our dynamic range. I may start making YouTube videos again because some of the content on the podcast I feel can benefit from a video version along with also uploading the podcast first. Let me know if that's something you'd want!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 126: GEAR SESSIONS - WALL SPREADERS

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 11:22:31 -0700

Ever used a wall spreader? More importantly, WHY haven't you used a wall spreader? They're fantastic! Especially when you don't have any windows to light from and are looking to create your room tone from over head rather than from the ground. In this episode i'll be going over why Wall Spreaders are so handy and especially for the price they will instantly be a part of your G&E kit.

WALL SPREADER ON AMAZON

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 125: MATCHING SONY FX AND ALPHA CAMERAS

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 11:33:44 -0700

Looking to match your Sony FX and Alpha line cameras? Perhaps you're in the market for a B-Camera and want to know how you can match your existing Sony camera to another that isn't the same model as your current camera. I own a Sony FX9 and Sony A7IV which honestly has been the closet match in terms of color and white balance matching. I've also used the FX6, FX3 and A7SIII alongside my FX9 and they're all a little different. The one constant that has helped me match all the cameras in post are the Phantom LUTs. I'm not sponsored by Joel and have purchased his Phantom LUTs dating back to the FS7. This episode isn't just talking about the LUT but the differences between the sensors to give you a better idea of what to expect when matching your cameras.

Link to Phantom LUTs: https://www.joelfamularo.com/colour

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 124: SHOOT FOR THE EDIT - FIGHT SCENES

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 07:00:38 -0700

We're back! Can you believe it! Yes I am alive and well, though I would lying if I said the last two weeks of the feature film haven't been rough. Rewarding but tough, anyways! Today we're talking about how to approach shooting fight scenes with the theme of "Shoot for the edit". The main take aways from this episode to help you with your next fight scene are the following:

1.) Know your location so you can know the blocking

2.) Work with your director and fight designer on the specifics (focal length, composition, camera movement etc) so you can start working on your lighting diagrams

3.) Light the space, then use fixtures you can setup fast to keep the flow going for the actors.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 123: LIGHTING 2 CAMERA DIALOGUE

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 17:11:16 -0700

Well well well, looks whose back! Me...no one special *sigh* BUT we have a breakdown of a scene from my recent Kickstarter project "A Drowning Heart" that we had to shoot two cameras at the same time in this dialogue scene for the sake of staying on schedule. I could ramble on about why and what we used or you could take a few minutes to listen to the episode instead! Shooting multi camera is something we all do from time to time but it's never without its challenges which I hope after today you can take what I did and do way better for your next two camera setup!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 122: IT’S NEVER BEEN BETTER

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 05:59:32 -0700

Post Cinegear episode, although I wasn't able to attend Cinegear due to unforeseen circumstances I did make it to a pre-event that week which will be the precursor to this episode. It's really never been better for us as filmmakers, whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned professional. The quality and quantity of gear from lighting fixtures to lenses to gimbals, all at various price ranges, have truly opened up the doors of possibilities and opportunities for all of us. I hope you enjoy today's episode, the insights I offer as it's my way of supporting all of you guys and gals out there.

LINK TO MY KICKSTARTER IS HERE:

http://kck.st/46yCxfU

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 121: WHERE AM I?!?!

Mon, 29 May 2023 08:43:37 -0700

Little life update for you all who have been wondering where the podcast episodes have been! Well, life has been extremely busy juggling things between my film, the kickstarter for said film, a feature film i'll be on in July and client work. So here's a short update on all of that before we head into Cinegear LA weekend!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 120: BREAKDOWN - PLAYMAKERLIFE

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 09:27:19 -0700

And we're back! Another breakdown video for a sports water commercial that was part product part lifestyle. We had exteriors to shoot as we ll as interiors that required us to create the light ourselves since we had no option to motivate light coming through any type of window/doorway. The gym itself was active with a lot of customers throughout the day so we had to work around that along with a overcast day during our day exteriors. The biggest thing when it comes to overcast is since the light is already soft you still need to do your best to create some level of contrast or variance in the image and using neg/solids with the combination of diffusion and bounces can be your best friend. For the interiors I feel we did a pretty good job creating the mood and tone and since the cuts were going to be super fast in the edit I didn't want to spend so much extra time as we had roughly 13 setups to do throughout the day.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 119: VIRTUAL PRODUCTION 101

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:18:34 -0700

Apologies for the late episode upload but I had to wait until the full product was delivered before I could release this episode. So here we are! First virtual production and my experience working with the volume wall. We had a curved wall we were working on about 20ft tall by 40ft wide. There was a mixture of video playback occurring on the wall as well as live tracking for one of the scenes. Overall I had a great experience with volume technology and I can certainly see it's application over green/blue screen but like everything when it comes to technology there will always be issues both on the hardware and software side of things which I talk about in this episode.

Link to the BTS images and videos:

https://atdavidlee.com/breakdowns/

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 118: ALL ABOUT BRANDED DOCS WITH STORY OVER EVERYTHING

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:16:51 -0800

What's good friends! Today we have a long one but it's an interview episode I was on with the good folks Aaron and Chaz from Story Over Everything:

Link to their Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/story-over-everything/id1437280815?l=en

Link to their Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5f6PL89RJ7jL8Eey6G3yIN

Aaron ask's a lot of great questions when it comes to pitching, production, post production and client relations with regard to Branded Documentary projects. If anything you can hear me rant about things for an hour as well if you fancy that!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 117: DO WE NEED THAT PERSON HERE???

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 09:01:00 -0800

When the client/agency says, "Do we need all these people here today?" you look without hesitation and say a big, "YES". I'm sure you've been in that position at least once in your career, it's an awkward place to be because you feel inclined to defend your reasoning for why you have the amount of crew you have. We all know it's not about flexing, especially since we're dealing with money, it's about ensuring that everything the client/agency needs is captured on the day and that means efficiency. Without the proper crew on the day you have to sacrifice something (amount of shots, amount of ads etc). In today's episode I wanted to talk about ways you can tackle these conversations on the day as well as during the pre-production phase so that we can get the crew we need based upon business goals for the client.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 116: NETWORKING IN 2023

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 11:01:20 -0800

I was having a conversation with someone recently and the topic of, "how do I find more work?" kept reoccurring. I felt it would be a great topic especially with a brand new year underway so here we are! For the most part, networking is still the best way to continually get work. The hard part is building your network first, and that takes time. What I wanted to do in this episode is provide some insight on how I built my network, the tangible things I did that led to a desired outcome.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 115: EOY REVIEW

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:26:45 -0800

It's that time of year again, although i'm late by a few days, with the end of the year review for 2022! I'm going to cover my income numbers, days on set, most used equipment, least used equipment and some lessons learned from 2022.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 114: 3 TIPS FOR WORKING WITH ACTORS

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 09:26:00 -0800

Not directly related to Cinematography but an important toolset to have when working with talent. Whether it's a narrative project or a commercial these are 3 of the best tips i've learned when working with actors that can support you through getting the lighting you were hoping for as well as ensuring both the director and talent can work in your favor to achieve the pre-production plans you made.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 113: WHAT JOBS DO YOU LIKE TAKING???

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 14:26:34 -0800

Bit of a random question but what jobs do you like taking as an owner/operator? Do you enjoy camera operating a lot and take a good amount of those jobs throughout the year? Perhaps its Gaffing or being a 1st AC? I remember when I first started out I was taking anything job I could get my hands on. As my career progressed and working more as a Cinematographer there were still jobs coming my way. Even to this day i'll take select camera operating jobs and gaffing jobs when I feel I could be useful to the production as well as increasing my yearly income. So my question to you is what jobs do you like and why? Don't feel bad if you're ALWAYS working as a DP because that day will come. Instead find two or three roles you enjoy and mix them all to keep your financial goals steady as well as growing your skill set.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 112: UPGRADE YOUR RATES

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:39:00 -0800

One of the most important questions a owner/operator can ask of him/herself is, "How do I increase my rates?". When I first started out making $200/$300 to shoot AND edit a project was huge! However, we all know we can't realistically stay in that space forever especially those of us who are looking to make cinematography our specialty and thus a career for ourselves. How do you start increasing/upgrading your rates? In today's podcast I attempt to answer that question with one of those most important elements to know in our business - talk to your clients with a business mindset first and not a creative mindset. Listen to the podcast for the whole story though!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 111: WE TOOK HOME THE WIN! Commercial Breakdown

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:53:39 -0700

Celebrations are in order as my latest commercial "Mentor for Change" took home Best Commercial at the Oniros Film Awards of New York AND at the Cannes World Film Festival! On top of that I'm grateful that we also won Best Cinematography at the Oniros Film Awards, that definitely so great to have industry recognition for a commercial piece of all things. That being said I'm breaking down the commercial for you all and hopefully you can take some of these tricks I use to better your pre-production, cinematography and add to your own lighting arsenal.

Link to the commercial: Mentor for Change

Website for Still Images: https://atdavidlee.com/breakdowns/

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 110: LONG LENS TRANSFORMATION

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:48:08 -0700

Not it's not click bait but a practical way to use a longer focal length as your wide shot. There's times when you're stuck with a not so ideal location or perhaps having to shoot at the worst time of day and you need a wide shot for a particular scene. One trick I picked up on last year which I used was to use a longer lens, bring the camera back and have more options for shaping light. Think it's BS? Try it out, you'll find that many times you'll be able to get away with better lighting options which in the commercial realm can make a huge difference.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 109: LIGHT DOMES OR FRAMES, PICK YOUR POISON

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0700

There's pros and cons to using light domes for lighting as well as using 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 frames etc. To think that one is better than the other shows a lack of experience in the game and to be quite honest shows a great weakness in your lighting capability if you only stick to one. In this episode I offer my pros and cons and when each tool can benefit you depending on the type of project you have. If you're still working your way up the cinematography ladder I hope this episode better informs you on what's available and how it can help you.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 108: CAN WE MAKE IT BRIGHTER???

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 09:22:43 -0700

One of, if not the, most challenging things you could hear on the day is, "hey can we make it brighter?". Sure we can! The trick is, not actually making what's being captured brighter but just the monitor output itself! The easiest and safest way to do it is by using a slightly modified version of your standard REC709 LUT. In this podcast episode I explain why you want to have two versions of your LUT, how much to adjust your copied LUT version and my workflow on set when monitoring the image for both myself and client/agency.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 107: CLIENTS DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:48:27 -0700

Have you ever been on set when the client/agency wants to change the schedule? You've spent a good month on pre production, or less, working with the director and agency on lighting setups, what time of day to shoot certain parts of the boards only to have it all blow up in your face? Well maybe not all the time BUT I know you've been there before! Today i'm sharing with you how I approach these discussions, how I used to deal with them and potential ways to create a better on set experience for you and your crew.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 106: ATLAS ANAMOPRHICS, YAY OR NAY???

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 13:19:20 -0700

I recently rented the A-Set Anamorphics from Atlas and wanted to provide my review of them for those who are looking at renting them for future projects or possibly purchasing them for your own rental business. Overall the optics are clean, the flares i'm not a huge fan, shooting wide open at a T2 is rough and the lenses don't have a lot of character to them. However, these could all be reasons why you want them for your next project so I hope this episode supports you in that endeavor!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 105: VALUE YOUR WORK, CLIENT PERSPECTIVE

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 10:41:00 -0700

One of the most prominent qualities i've seen from high level cinematographers in the commercial space has been that clients value their work, A LOT. What does that mean? Simply put, clients have a higher value perception of their work. The level of cinematography, communication and professionalism they bring on set as well as to the visual language of the project have propelled such cinematographers to not only ask but demand the higher rates. In today's episode I want to talk about how important it is for a client/agency to value your overall work in order for you to start growing the business side of your career. And yes, a part of that is leveling up your skills as a cinematographer!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 104: HOW MUCH TO CHARGE FOR POST???

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:41:21 -0700

Do you charge hourly for post production? What about fixed rates, is that easier and more efficient for you/your agency? These are the two most common ways to charge a client for post production services and in today's episode I want to go over both. One may be better for your type of company and I always find it best to compare and contrast two methods rather than believe in one ideology off the bat.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 103: LET’S JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0700

One thing I feel gets neglected is happiness, not just ours but everyone involved in a production. As the Cinematographer/DP part of your responsibilities is to set the tone for the day, along with the Director. If you make sure everyone else is happy they'll do the exact same thing for you and that my friends is a great way to usher in a healthy and successful production. On top of that the more good energy you bring the more times your crew, client and agency will want to work with you in the future. Our job isn't just to ensure we're supporting the director with their vision and to create beautiful photography, it's to ensure the entire team, unit, production is successful and if you can pull it off while having a good time on set then I think you've found a recipe for success.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 102: FALSE COLOR REWORKED

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0700

False color isn't anything new but the way you look at false color can change over time, I know it has for me. When I first started using false color it was to get a sense of where my key was in the IRE spectrum and if my high lights were clipping. I didn't look at anything else because I wasn't at the level where I could do anything about the rest of the image. Fast forward to 2022 the way I use false color on set to help gauge my ability to create a denser image has changed and I wanted to share that method today!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 101: CINEGEAR 2022 LULL

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 13:39:42 -0700

Another year, another Cinegear! Though I honestly haven't seen anything worthwhile since Cinegear 2018/2019, this year the turn out was definitely more than last year but the majority of booths are Cinegear already had their time to shine at NAB so nothing "new". The one thing that stood out was the amount of budget friendly equipment from stabilizers, support rigs, lenses etc which is opening up avenues to still create great images at any budget level.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 100: ASKING FOR MORE (PRODUCTION BUDGET)

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 11:23:50 -0700

Two episodes ago we spoke about how to ask for more Post Production budget, today we're flipping it around and talking about Production Budget (crew, logistics, equipment etc) and two scenarios where you might find yourself needing to ask for more cash. The biggest piece of advice I can give is be 100% firm that you need the extra cash for production. If you are (and likewise confident that you actually need the additional crew member, dolly grip, light etc) you'll be able to transfer that confidence to the client/agency who ultimately says Yes or No.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 99: OVERSHOOTING, PROS AND CONS

Sun, 22 May 2022 12:58:32 -0700

It's hour number 7 of a 10 hour day, the director asks you to go get some b-roll or inserts knowing that he/she doesn't have enough variety of shots and it's up to you to deliver. What if it were the other way around? What if the time taken for pre production was actually utilized to mitigate the random shots that end up never looking good from a photography stand point? That's what we're talking about today, OVERSHOOTING. What it is, why many directors default to it and how you can make your life just a little bit easier through it all.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 98: ASKING FOR MORE BUDGET (POST PRODUCTION)

Mon, 16 May 2022 13:42:03 -0700

A question I received from Instagram recently that I felt could be an awesome episode as I know many of you have been in this situation before. The short version of the question asks, "How can I ask for $1000 to edit a 15min video when I only charged $500 for the last video?". Amazing question! Let's see how I would tackle it and in your mind ask yourself what you would do differently.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 97: PERSONAL BRANDING - DO YOU STILL NEED TO POST?

Fri, 06 May 2022 14:00:09 -0700

Tired of posting the same things with the same captions everyday for little to no return? Is it even necessary as owner/operators and freelance Cinematographers to need to post daily, weekly or even monthly? In my experience as well from other colleagues I know, I haven't seen anything in the form of actual jobs or projects come my way from posting on social media. Now that being said there still is great value in building your audience as a personal brand because it's another subset of your network you can build out. Crew members who may know a friend of yours starts to follow you and that's another person you add to your network list, but posting IG reels or BTS photos etc won't get you more work directly. So don't feel bad if you're still at 100 followers and some of your friends have 20,000 or more - work is work and if your career is still progressing every year you're doing it right!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 96: MAKE HIGH KEY LIGHTING LOOK GOOD

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 10:40:44 -0700

You might be thinking to yourself, "I can make high key looking good pshhh" and you're probably right! However, the thing that I always lean towards is how do I actually make it look good consistently rather than mimicking what I see from others? What actually is it about great cinematographers and their approach to making high key lighting look good? The answer to that is ratios, the difference between a key side a shadow side. There's also the location, set design, hair and make up etc but if we're just focusing on the talent you can create beautiful images by knowing what ratio you like for high key and ensuring you create both a key and shadow side.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 95: CREATE NATURAL LIGHT WITHOUT WINDOWS???

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 12:35:35 -0700

Ever been in a situation where the location you have is less then ideal? You were hoping for a row of windows to bring light in from but instead are stuck in a 4x4 room with overhead florescent lights...yeah...not a fun time, or is it??? Today let's explore the realm of overhead lighting and how it can best serve you to create natural but polished looking light for your next project.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee

EPISODE 94: MANAGING EXPECTATIONS - CREW TO AGENCY

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:32:38 -0700

One of the key responsibilities as a Cinematographer is managing expectations. Yes you are there to ensure the visual aesthetic is fulfilled but without the collaboration and support from your crew the production day can go any and all ways, sometimes not to your liking. How do you manage expectations from your crew to ensure they're delivering their best for you and the project? What does it take to please the agency folks while you're juggling a hundred different things on set? Lucky for you we're covering this topic today in the hopes that is serves you in the future and for the rest of your career.

EPISODE 93: YOUR RATE IS YOUR RATE, FIGHT FOR IT!

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:38:00 -0700

The most challenging aspect of being a owner/operator is truly fighting for our rates. The technical parts and artistic ventures of our career is an on-going journey but we can't survive unless we can fight for the rates we deserve. Below is a link to current 2022 Union rates which I use to help gauge where the industry is and to structure my day rates accordingly.

https://www.mediaservices.com/showbiz-software/showbiz-labor-guide/#tab-which-union-rates-are-included

At the end of the day you have to make the decision for yourself to say Yes or No to certain projects and knowing what the fair market value day rates are is extremely helpful as it provides you with the data necessary when justifying your rates to a production.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Follow the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee