Rough Cut

Step courtside with Los Angeles Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez! In this episode of Rough Cut, hosted by producer Lauren Mahoney, Alicia shares her journey from cinematography and film production to capturing the energy of the WNBA. Hear how she leveraged unpaid gigs to land her dream job, the pressures of being a one-person crew shooting everything from promos to practices, and the amazing experience of having the best view in the house. Alicia talks gear, her busy in-season workweek, building trust with the team, and where she hopes to go from here. Consider this episode the final, satisfying swish of the net as we successfully close the book on another incredible season.Show LinksLauren Mahoney: https://videoconsortium.org/members/lauren-mahoneyAlicia Ramirez: https://www.aliciasramirez.com/LA Sparks Instagram: www.instagram.com/la_sparksLA Sparks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLosAngelesSparks/CreditsHost Lauren MahoneyGuests Alicia RamirezExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium 

SHOW NOTES:Documentary filmmaker Nicholas Bruckman, along with guest host Jarod Neece, senior programmer at the Tribeca Festival, take a deep dive into the surprising intersections between activism, art, and industry. From disability rights in Not Going Quietly to NFT art in Minted, and the surprising government power plays behind The Price of Milk, Nick shares how he navigates storytelling, ethics, and business in the modern doc world. Along the way, the two pull back the curtain on film festivals, funding, and the fine line between passion and pragmatism.This is a candid, funny, and eye-opening look at what it takes to fund nonfiction films that matter, and get them seen.Show LinksJarod Neece: https://jarodneece.comNicholas Bruckman: https://videoconsortium.org/members/nicholas-bruckman and https://nickny.comPeoples TV: https://peoples.tvCreditsHost Jarod NeeceGuests Nicholas BruckmanExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode, Rough Cut dives deep with journalist and video creator Dave Jorgenson, co-founder of Local News International and the mastermind behind the Washington Post’s unexpected TikTok success. Host Ryan Kellett unpacks Dave’s journey from producing YouTube sketches in college to pioneering a new wave of media literacy—armed with humor, a journalist’s commitment to accuracy, and a phone. Since launching his independent outlet, LNI, Dave has stepped into a bigger creative space, exploring a broader editorial range with transparency and nuance. From bold language choices to a collaborative, evolving style guide, he's prioritizing clarity, accuracy, and accessibility. Dave proves that trusted journalism isn’t about institutions—it’s about people. Now, with full ownership of his platform and vision, he’s building something bigger: an honest, informative, and entertaining space for the next generation of news consumers.This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how meaningful storytelling—and a good editor—can reshape the way we consume the news. Tune in now for insights, laughs, and a masterclass in creative adaptation.Show LinksRyan Kellett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankellettDave Jorgenson and Local News International: https://lni.mediaCreditsHost Ryan KellettGuest Dave Jorgenson Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzClick here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this episode of Rough Cut, Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert from Multitude Films—an independent production company dedicated to transformative culture change through nonfiction storytelling—dive deep into how Multitude is building a values-driven model that prioritizes sustainability, fairness, and humanity both on set and behind the scenes.Key takeaways include: sharing production budgets when hiring crew to establish fair standards across the industry and recognizing care as a crucial component of ethical filmmaking — not just an afterthought.Listeners will gain practical insights on reshaping budgets, negotiating with transparency, and redefining compensation beyond just money. If you’re committed to changing the culture of filmmaking for the better, this is an episode you can’t miss.This episode is a collaboration between Video Consortium and Brown Girls Doc Mafia to bring attention to The Pay Transparency Project, a resource built in collaboration with VC and BGDM to promote and highlight the importance of pay transparency in documentary and nonfiction film production. Show LinksSweta Vohra: ​​www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohraEmma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpertMultitude Films: www.multitudefilms.comBrown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.orgPay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.orgCreditsGuests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude FilmsExecutive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat VecchioProduced by Audrey HorwitzMusic by Zack WrightClick here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Caitlin Boyle sits down with filmmaker Rebecca Davis to discuss the journey behind Join or Die, the powerful documentary that reimagines Robert Putnam’s landmark book Bowling Alone for the screen. Rebecca shares how the team behind the film not only brought Putnam’s ideas on the decline of community life to a broader audience, but also charted an ambitious and intentional path for its distribution. From grassroots community screenings to a Netflix release, and even a theatrical run for Oscar qualification, the filmmakers prioritized meaningful engagement and peer collaboration over mass exposure. This episode offers an honest look at the time, strategy, and heart that went into building impact around Join or Die—a film about community that practiced what it preached.Rough Cut Podcast is brought to you by the global nonfiction video community the Video Consortium.Be sure to subscribe and leave a rating or a comment to help this podcast reach more filmmakers around the globe!◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Episode Credits:Host: Caitlin BoyleGuest: Rebecca DavisExecutive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat VecchioProducer: Audrey HorwitzMusic: Zack Wright◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Episode Resources:▶  Join or Die: https://www.joinordiefilm.com▶ Rebecca Davis: https://rebeccadavis.co and https://videoconsortium.org/members/rebecca-davis▶ Caitlin Boyle: https://caitlinboyle.co◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠◠Get involved and follow the action:Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/joinSupport the community: https://videoconsortium.org/donate Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718 https://www.instagram.com/videoconsortium/https://www.linkedin.com/videoconsortium/