Megan Masur: We're All Alright, Short Term 12

Episode #29 - Meet Megan Masur, a Brooklyn-based Director of Photography and Steadicam operator. She’s an incredible utility person with a ton of technical experience having worked in animation, as a DIT, and as a camera assistant while building towards her career as a cinematographer. Fourwind Films has had the pleasure of hiring Megan for a number of projects, including as a Camera Op for Prologue.

Megan chose a short film she shot called We’re All Alright, which she fell in love with as soon as she finished reading the script. She talks about the film’s central themes of depression and female friendship, what it was like working with a majority female team, and the challenges of filming on a fire escape.

For the feature film, Megan stuck to the theme of mental health with Short Term 12, about young staff members working at a foster care facility. It’s an independent film that continues to find fans years after its release (2013) and is also known for its phenomenal ensemble of now critically acclaimed actors including Lakeith Stanfield, Brie Larson, Kaitlyn Dever, John Gallagher Jr., and Rami Malek.

Megan’s advocacy for films and open discussion about mental health is evident in her curation for this podcast. We appreciate her coming on for this episode during a time where so many people can benefit from viewing and discussing these kinds of stories. Follow Megan’s work on Instagram, and by watching Prologue at the IndieBOOM festival from Dec. 21 - Jan. 3, 2021.

Megan Masur at the fully-masked, limited capacity, Feature & a short podcast recording. If voices sound a tad muffled, now you know why!

Credits for podcast:

Production Company - Fourwind Films

Appointed Contributor - Megan Masur

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Sound Mixer & Additional Music - Brian Trahan

The theme song of Season 4 is Loopster by Kevin MacLeod.

Andi Obarski: Overslept, Thelma

Episode #13 - Andi Obarski is a cinematographer who brings a great mixture of lightheartedness and practical insight to us not only on this podcast, but also on set. She is a hard worker and a team player more knowledgeable than most.

For her short film Andi chose “Overslept” which is part of an internet series called “Countdown.” The unifying element between each short in Countdown is a character dealing with a serious time constraint. Andi describes the series as “scrappy, Brooklyn indie filmmaking at its finest.” She chose this 4 ½ minute short because there is no dialogue which created a welcome challenge for her as the film's cinematographer. The audience talk with Andi about the type of lighting used, bystanders who didn’t know they were on a film set, Andi’s feelings about what ended up on the cutting room floor, and more.

The feature film is Thelma, an LGBTQ supernatural thriller directed by Joachim Trier. Andi chose the film for its stunning cinematography, and also because “it’s kinda gay. I like that. I like gay things.” We do too, Andi. We do too.

RSVP or inquire at info@fourwindfilms.com about hosting Feature & a short or attending one of our podcast viewing parties. 

Episode hosted by Justin Joseph Hall.

Andi Obarski - Cinematographer

Credits:

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Production Company & Location - Fourwind Films

Bruce Lithimane: Échappé, Postman Blues

Episode #8 - Creative director and cinematographer from Iowa and a film buff, Bruce Lithimane presents at Fourwind headquarters. Échappé was his choice for the short.  It stars Olesya Senchenko and was directed by Allison Mattox.  Bruce was Second Assistant Camera and Steadicam Operator for the short which is a visually incredible Russian ballet story.  Bruce takes us through the struggle with a camera rig and dance with ballerinas.  Next he took us through the Japanese mixed genre feature film, Postman Blues.  It is a funny and sometimes disturbing flick that Bruce wants to rewrite into a modern Brooklyn based adaptation.

Follow Bruce's vision through his lens on instagram.  Also shout out to VidMob who let us borrow Bruce from his normal duties in the office as lead talent acquisition.

Credits:

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Location & Production Company - Fourwind Films

Bruce Lithimane - Camera Operator/Cinematographer, photo by Daria Huxley

Gary Jaquez: Abuela's Luck, Children of Men

Episode #7 - Gary Jaquez is a freelance Cinematographer based in Los Angeles.  He shoots with Fourwind often.  He was the Cinematographer on our last 2 short films.  Gary chose to present Fourwind's latest release, Abuela's Luck.  He takes us through wearing multiple hats and creative decision making on set.  He also flips the table during the event discussion and asked other people present about their roles in Abuela's Luck.  He then takes us through his hero Emmanuel Lubezki's famous Children of Men and gives us further explanation on why he's an important role model for a Latino in Hollywood.

To follow Gary's future set escapades, check out his instagram for Behind The Scenes shots on his major projects.  The next short film he worked on, Prologue, will be released by Fourwind Films later this year.

Credits:

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Location & Production Company - Fourwind Films

Gary Jaquez - Cinematographer, photo by Daria Huxley