Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they dive into the visual poetry of A24’s Opus. Cinematographer Tommy Maddox-Upshaw takes us behind the lens — from capturing shots in the freezing cold to crafting color stories that speak louder than dialogue. He opens up about the artistry behind Opus and how his journey from growing up in Boston to shaping cinematic worlds continues to fuel his creative fire. You can keep up with Tommy Maddox-Upshaw on his instagram @themaddo...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they get the inside scoop on the making of the sci-fi thriller Companion (2025) and the intricacies of the work of the film's First Assistant Director, Siena Brown. In this episode, Zoey & Heather try not to fangirl too hard while Siena recounts her philosophy on running a successful set, collaborating with the director & crew, and pivoting when the plan inevitably goes sideways. You can keep up with Siena Brown on ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they step into the world of production management with Joanna Osborn as their guide. With years of experience balancing the demands of high-level productions and the realities of motherhood, Joanna has become both a steady hand on set and a passionate advocate for working moms in the UK film industry. In this episode, Zoey & Heather learn all about Joanna’s time managing the intricate moving parts of Black Doves while also ch...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they embark on a sonic journey through the land of Music Supervision with Jillian Ennis as their guide. With an early love for pairing stories & meaningful music, Jillian was destined for a career in the music side of filmmaking and brings a reverence & thoughtfulness to each project. In this episode, Zoey & Heather learn all about Jillian's collaboration with Anna Kendrick on Woman of the Hour & Ti West on MaXXXi...

Join hosts Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson as they explore the art of still photography on set with their guest, Elise Lockwood. From her early days as a ballerina to capturing cinematic moments behind the lens, Elise brings a unique eye, boundless enthusiasm, and genuine care to every project she touches. You can follow Elise on Instagram here: @eliselockwoodphoto A big thank you to Lee Walls (@Unapologetical.lee on Instagram and @Lee_FinalVer on Twitter) for our amazing Logo, M.L. ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they dive into the world of location management with Julian Bivol as their guide! From his early days as a Location Marshall on Wonderwoman to his more recent work as an Assistant Location Manager on the third season of Heartstopper, Julian approaches each set with kindness, curiosity, and gratitude. With 10+ years in the locations department, Julian's career has been the very definition of those last to leave set. You can fo...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they step inside the heart of Sing Sing, a quietly radical, deeply human film starring Colman Domingo and a cast of formerly incarcerated men telling their own story. In Part Two of our two-part Sing Sing special, we’re joined by Second Assistant Director, Taylor Harris-Butler (@taylorharbu), who leads us through the 15,000 steps she took on set each day. With charm and good humor, Taylor has perfected the art of rushing peop...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they step inside the heart of Sing Sing, a quietly radical, deeply human film starring Colman Domingo and a cast of formerly incarcerated men telling their own story. In Part One of our two-part Sing Sing special, we’re joined by costume designer Desira Pesta (@desirapesta), who helps us unpack the film’s layered beauty, one look at a time. From sourcing prison uniforms to designing theatrical dreamscapes, Desira reveals how s...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they fall headfirst into the distorted dreamlands of Osgood Perkins' films, Longlegs & The Monkey. In this episode, Zoey and Heather are guided by the co-editors of both movies, Greg Ng & Graham Fortin, on a journey to the heart of these twisted and oh so creative horror films. Whether you're a horror fanatic or just love to get into the weeds on building a sequence, this interview is definitely a gift from the church! You ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they dive headfirst into the lush, chaotic, and achingly beautiful world of The Buccaneers—a show that stuns on every level, from its sweeping score to its corset-clad costumes and sun-drenched cinematography. And who better to lead the way than the sonic sorceresses behind the music? Composers Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer—also known as the dream duo AVAWAVES—stop by to talk about building the show’s romantic, rebellious sound f...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they sit down with David Schlesinger (Set Decorator) and Jeanelle Marie (Assistant Set Decorator) to explore the worlds they helped build in the second season of Apple TV's hit show, Severance. In this episode, Zoey and Heather get a peek behind the curtain at the triumphs and challenges of the set decoration department while creating the look of Lumon's testing floor, the Eagan mansion, and one very tricky vending machine. Y...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they sit down with Sam Strauss (writer, creator, and showrunner) and Sylvia Warmer (post production supervisor) to dive into the making of Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar — the sharp, satirical series inspired by the wild true story of Belle Gibson. In this episode, Zoey and Heather get the inside scoop on how the show was developed from concept to screen and the writing process behind it, building a full-fledged social media bible, ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they chat with Philip Messina about his vision for creating the physical manifestation of Mr. Reed's darkest thoughts as the Production Designer on Heretic. In this episode, Zoey and Heather learn all about Philip's dedication to championing a good story throughout his career on films like Erin Brockovich, Ocean's 11, The Hunger Games Franchise, Mother!, and of course, his first foray into horror - Heretic. A big thank you to...

Welcome back for Season FOUR, film nerds! If you’ve been with us since the beginning, thank you — we appreciate you SO much. And if you’re new here, welcome! We’re so happy to have you. This is a safe space for film lovers of all kinds. Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson, as they kick off the season with a conversation with Bianca Butti (website, IMDB), the A Camera Operator behind the iconic visuals of Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers. In this episode, Zoey and Heather d...

Join hosts Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson as they sit down with cinematographer Andrea Gavazzi to discuss his work on the Oscar-nominated short film A Lein! A Lein pulls you into the high-stakes intensity of a green card interview—one that could change three lives forever. Directed by critically acclaimed filmmakers Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, this award-winning short is both a love story and a powerful commentary on a system built to divide rather than unite. In this episode, ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they reminisce about all of the incredible popcorn buckets that came into their lives this past year... oh and all of the films too! That's right! It's time for an end of the year yap session about the movies that hit for Zoey & Heather in 2024. Films Discussed: Dune: Part Two, The Watchers, Challengers, Inside Out 2, Woman of the Hour, The Outrun, Trap, Longlegs, Civil War, Anora, Late Night with the Devil, A Real Pain, Wic...

Join hosts Heather Elaine Abbott and Zoey Danielson as they explore the chilling depths of ghostly cinema in this special bonus episode of Last to Leave. From the terrifying reflections of Oculus (2013) to the submerged horrors of The Deep House (2021), these films have left a haunting mark. Dive in as Zoey and Heather share spine-tingling encounters, insights into the 'King of Ghosts' Mike Flanagan, and essential survival tips for facing the paranormal. Dare to listen... if you can handle th...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they chat with Gabriella A. Moses, the director, and Cecilia Delgado, the editor, all about their new indie drama/coming of age film, Boca Chica! In this episode, Zoey & Heather dive into the world of international independent filmmaking and learn all about the process of bringing this beautiful film to life. Filmed in the Dominican Republic and championed by a powerhouse team of female filmmakers, Boca Chica follows Desi, ...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they chat with James Philpott about his work as the Production Designer on Death and Other Details! In this episode, Zoey and Heather explore the intricacies of bringing a luxury cruise ship to life, delve into the essence of Art Deco, and discuss how to dream like a Production Designer. A big thank you to Lee Walls (@Unapologetical.lee on Instagram and @Lee_FinalVer on Twitter) for our amazing Logo and to M.L. Abbott (@ML...

Join your hosts, Heather Elaine Abbott & Zoey Danielson, as they chat with Leah Katznelson about her work as the Costume Designer on the newest LTL Pick for Favorite Christmas Movie, Genie! A Christmas movie in July, you ask? That's right! We are bringing a bit of holiday cheer to this hot summer. In this episode, Zoey & Heather dive into Leah's inspiration and process for creating the incredible looks worn by Melissa McCarthy's Genie while bonding over their shared predisposit...