Scenic Painter: Rut Villamagna

Gaffer: Julian White

In this episode, Christina sits down with gaffer Julian White. Julian started out as a painter. Thirty years later, he's lit films for Werner Herzog, Ridley Scott, Robert Eggers, and John M. Chu — including The Martian, Crazy Rich Asians, and Rescue Dawn. He walks us through it all: three months of chaos in Thailand with Werner Herzog on Rescue Dawn, what it's like to light fire-only sets for Robert Eggers, Ridley Scott's "tinsel on a fan" trick on The Martian, and why he believes filmmaking (like cooking) should be done by intuition. Julian's credits include: WERWULF (2026) THE MIDNIGHT SKY (2020) ARTEMIS FOWL (2020) CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018) MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017) GAME OF THRONES (2016) THE MARTIAN (2015) CINDARELLA (2015) LOCKE (2013) OFFENDER (2012) CONTROL (2007) RESCUE DAWN (2006) And many more… Follow Julian and his work below: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925030/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodandlight66/?hl=en

Concept Artist: Brandon Oldenburg

In this episode, Christina sits down with Oscar-winning filmmaker and concept artist Brandon Oldenburg. After watching Raiders of the Lost Ark in third grade, Brandon went home, bought a used Super 8, and started making movies. Decades later, he co-founded Reel FX in 1995, Moonbot Studios in 2009, and Flight School in 2017 — picking up an Academy Award along the way for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, an Emmy for the Chipotle short The Scarecrow, and credits across some of the most beloved animated films of the past two decades. He walks us through it all: the cosmic sign that pushed him out of Hollywood, what conceptual design really is, why two-dimensional animation is having a moment again, and the David Needham advice that defined every major pivot of his career — if you're ever going to bet on anything, bet on yourself. Brandon’s credits include: LOST OLLIE (2022) RISE OF THE GUARDIANS (2012) THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE (2011) THE SCARECROW (2013) SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS (2002) PIXEL PERFECT (2004) HALLOWEENTOWN II: KALABAR'S REVENGE (2001) TAKING FLIGHT (2015) MANIFEST 99 (2017) And many more… Follow Brandon and his work below: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099141/?ref_=fn_t_1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deptofwonderbrandon/ Website: https://weareinbetween.com

Scenic Painter: Rut Villamagna

In this episode, Christina sits down with scenic painter Rut Villamagna to explore the meticulous craft behind some of cinema's most iconic creatures, props, and worlds. After getting her start on Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth in Madrid and later relocating to London, Rut has spent two decades transforming raw materials into believable reality — sculpting chrome for Star Wars, painting marble for Gladiator II, and most recently leading the paint work on Rocky, the alien co-star of Project Hail Mary that's captured audiences worldwide. She breaks down what it takes to bring a non-existent creature to life, why the team built seven or eight Rockies, and how she uses color theory to make a stone-like alien feel cute and alive instead of aggressive. Rut also opens up about the role of failure in a creative career, what it means to work for hands-on directors like del Toro, Wes Anderson, and Tim Burton, and how AI and 3D printing are reshaping the practical effects industry. Rut's credits include: PROJECT HAIL MARY (2026) MICKEY 17 (2025) THE FLASH (2023) THE BATMAN (2022) TOM & JERRY (2021) STAR WARS: EPISODE IX - THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019) FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (2018) ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN ( 2016) WARCRAFT (2016) DRACULA UNTOLD (2014) FRANKENWEENIE (2012) PAN'S LABYRINTH (2006) And many more…

Graphic Coordinator: Bob Joyce

In this episode, Christina sits down with large-format printing expert Bob Joyce of Underground Visuals to unpack the invisible craft behind some of the most iconic sets in television. With decades in the industry and credits spanning from Saturday Night Live to Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Kelly Clarkson Show, Bob shares what it really means to work in high-speed, large-scale production. He breaks down how he approaches every file that comes through the shop, what it takes to execute massive designs at scale, and how his work acts as the final step between concept and reality. From last-minute fixes hours before rehearsal to entire sets that may never even make it to air, Bob offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the pace and precision required to keep live production moving. Bob’s credits include: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE HAPPY GILMORE 2 THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS AMERICAN SPORTS STORY THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY TEEN MOM ELSBET And many more…

Script Supervisor: Steve Gehrke

In this episode, Christina sits down with legendary script supervisor Steve Gehrke to unpack the invisible craft that holds films together. With over 40 years in the industry and credits spanning from Memento to The Dark Knight, Tenet, and Euphoria, Steve shares what it really means to be a script supervisor — and why he considers himself a filmmaker first. He breaks down how he approaches a script, what it takes to protect story and continuity on set, and how his role acts as the “safety net” for directors, actors, and every department involved. From navigating the complexity of Tenet to collaborating with directors like Christopher Nolan and Ryan Coogler, Steve offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how great films are actually made. The conversation also explores: – Why script supervision is something you “fall into” – The balance between speaking up and knowing when not to – What makes certain directors elevate everyone around them – His old-school commitment to pencil and paper in a digital world – And why, even after decades in the industry, every day on set still feels like a scavenger hunt Steve’s credits include: SINNERS (2025) OPPENHEIMER (2023) BARBIE (2023) TENET (2020)  MINDHUNTER (2019) YELLOWSTONE (2018) DUNKIRK (2017)  WHY HIM? (2017) INTERSTELLAR (2014) THE MAZE RUNNER (2014)  INCEPTION (2010)  17 AGAIN (2009) THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) MEMENTO (2000)  And many more… Follow Steve and his work below: IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0311826/