Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast

Subscribe to The Fourth State on Apple Podcasts. In this episode of The Fourth State podcast, Bailey explores the link between sleep and longevity, emphasizing the importance of adequate rest for a healthier and longer life. She shares insights on sleep mechanisms and offers practical tips for improving sleep hygiene, introducing her comprehensive Insomnia Toolkit as a valuable resource for optimized sleep.

Matthew Libatique, Academy Award® Nominee cinematographer, shares his approach to cinematography and insights from his work on notable movies like "Inside Man," "Black Swan," "Straight Outta Compton," and "A Star Is Born." Matthew emphasizes understanding the story and screenplay before meeting the director, having a visceral and intellectual reaction to the script, and visualizing scenes in collaboration with the director. He highlights the importance of flexibility and adaptability in cinematography. The collaborative environment at AFI allowed Matthew and his classmates to learn their respective disciplines while understanding the intersection of cinematography and directing in filmmaking. Additionally, Matthew discusses his musical influences, engaging film characters, and bonds with Madhav over road trips, music, and international cinema. Toward the end, he provides career advancement guidelines for international filmmakers. Follow Portbox on Instagram.

Academy-Award Winner, Erik Messerschmidt (MANK), is an American cinematographer. Erik chats with Portbox about his transition into cinematography with Netflix Original Series: Mindhunter. Madhav inquires about how Erik studies human behavior, both professionally and personally. Erik highlights how working with great cinematographers and highly disciplined directors has informed his workflow and why director-cinematographer relationships work across different films. He also breaks down one of Madhav's favorite scenes from the second season of Mindhunter while giving us details on his next project with David Fincher, Mank.

Anurag Kashyap (Dev.D, Gangs of Wasseypur, Ugly, Lust Stories) is an Indian director, writer, and producer. Anurag chats with Portbox about the importance of independent films and their rise in India during the early 2000s.  Madhav asks about the appeal of psychologically disturbed characters in Anurag's films and realism behind his dialogues. Anurag recounts the lessons he learned from when his movies did not get released early in his career. Additionally, the two talk about Anurag's management style and the expectations he has from his crew.  Taking accounts from his personal and professional life, Anurag takes us on a journey about his process, creating a community of artists, and creating a new-age movement in India. During this conversation, Madhav and Anurag bond over their love for Indian movies, yoga, and single-screen exhibitors (who are, to this date, a walking recitation of film history). 

Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan, Lootera, Sacred Games) is an Indian director, writer, and producer. Vikramaditya chats with Portbox about the global influence of Indian cinema while sharing notes from the beginning of his career. Madhav inquires about the inspiration behind Vikram's characters, and Vikram comments on the events that shaped independent films in Indian cinema. The two talk about the business of Indian cinema and how it has evolved over the years. Vikram highlights the importance of theatrical film releases and examines the future of independent cinema. They bond over the Mumbai vada-pavs, old Bollywood music, and their mutual heritage. This episode is a heavy-hitting cultural lesson. 

Academy Award® winner Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Transcendence) is an American cinematographer, director, and musician. Wally chats with Portbox to discuss the preservation of art as an individual, and the origins of his cinematic career. Madhav asks about an artist's need to have control over one's craft, and Wally expands on his decision to become a director. The two talk about how this pandemic will change filmmaking, while Wally continues to share wisdom from his accumulated experiences in the industry. They bond over the love for music and Bob Dylan. On Wally's side, some rice gets overcooked, and later, he jams on his guitar while Madhav shuffles through the questions from the audience.  Madhav's partner, Bailey, also makes a brief appearance on this episode.

Ben Kutchins (Ozark, Legion, Mozart in the Jungle) is an American, Primetime Emmy Award® nominated cinematographer. Ben chats with Portbox about his creative process and his approach to developing the visual language of Netflix's Ozark with Director Jason Bateman. Madhav wonders if the darker tone of a show can affect its critical success. Madhav and Ben discuss the distinction between 'the right image' and 'a good looking image.' Ben explains how character psychology influences his work as a cinematographer and puts further emphasis on the collaborative effort of filmmaking by saying, "we are all here for the story."

Academy Award® Nominee, Phedon Papamichel (Walk The Line, Nebraska, Ford v Ferrari) is a Greek cinematographer, director, and painter. Phedon chats with Portbox about his career, from his early collaborations with Jon Turteltaub, followed by frequent collaborations with directors like Alexander Payne (Sideways) and James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari). Madhav asks Phedon about Phedon's approach to interpreting a screenplay, and Phedon tells the story of how collaborating with directors who have a similar taste as he shaped his career. The two talk about how influences can elevate one's storytelling; Phedon recalls how Johnny Cash's roadie informed his decisions while shooting Walk The Line. 

Our second season is here, featuring some of the greatest minds in film. 

For our seventh episode of Let's Get To It, Cinematographer Jon Chema brings us closer to his journey of creating a career as a cinematographer. He also talks to us about how travel and access influence his process of storytelling through camera-movements. He talks about building character-driven camera movements, insights into the changes in light depending on where you are in the world and how he uses it. We touch on subjects of anxiety and stress and an artist's relationship with Instagram.  Some of Jon's credits include:  FAIS x Afrojack- Used to have it all Dan + Shay- Tequila Noah Cyrus x ONE BIT- My Way Julia Michaels- Worst in me All Time Low- Dirty Laundry Linkin Park- Good Goodbye Big Sean - Light and Single Again Commercials for Coca Cola, Nike, New York Times x Google, Vice, BMW, StateFarm, PlayStation, and eBay. Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to s

For our sixth episode of Let's Get To It, Singer-Songwriter Hailey Knox brings us closer to how the songs on her mixtape came into being. She also talks to us about self-expression in music, the importance of it, and how certain feelings translate into songs when she starts to write about them. We touch on insecurity and how it's not a negative space. In this conversation, Hailey brings us to a closer understanding of who she is.  Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For our fifth episode of Let's Get To It, Singer-Songwriter Mogli expands on the story behind her track- Patience, which is also the name of her latest EP. She also talks about her depression and how sharing with friends and family along with her decision to get better brought her out of it. Additionally, she brings us closer to her creative process and enlightens us with her thoughts on unconditional love. Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For the fourth episode of Let's Get To It, Cinematographer Steve Annis expands on his on-set experiences across commercials, promos, and feature films. He shares his feelings about the impacts of digital streaming on global cinema and how it has changed how we interact with cinema; with deeper insights into his creative process, the film industry and some stories from his personal life. Some of Steve's selected credits are:  I Am Mother - Netflix England Lost - Mick Jagger Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran What Kind of Man, Lover to Lover, & Saint Jude - Florence and the Machine Every Breaking Wave, Song for Someone - U2 Feels so close - Calvin Harris Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

For the third episode, with guest Cinematographer Bryce Fortner, we explore the topics of artistic identity, the difference between an artist and a technician, the challenges of ego in creative pursuits, and the importance of separating self-worth from external validation. Bryce shares his discomfort with labeling himself as an artist, despite recognizing the creativity and artistry behind his work. Bryce reflects on his initial motivations driven by ego and the need for validation but emphasizes the need to detach from ego and focus on the pure experience of filmmaking. The discussion also touches on the allure of external validation and the difficulties of maintaining a meditative and introspective approach in a competitive industry, and how memory can sometimes be mistaken as imagination. Some of Bryce's selected credits are: Stargirl (Feature) Ingrid Goes West (Feature) Professor Marston & The Wonder Women (Feature) Flaked (Series) Too Legit (Short) House of Cards (Promos) Thank you for tuning into

For the fourth episode of Let's Get To It, Director Andrew Donoho talks to us about his experiences with lucid dreaming and his understanding of human subconsciousness. By taking instances from his personal life, he indulges us in an insightful conversation about memories, mental health, and what makes something original; and how on-set set-backs can be dealt with ease and become bridges of creativity. Some of Andrew's selected credits are: Lose My Mind, Indian Summer - Jaif Wolf Better - Khalid Levitate, Heathens, Nico And The Niners - Twenty One Pilots DJango Jane - Janelle Monáe  Free - 6LACK Thank you for tuning into Let's Get To It: An Arts & Culture Podcast. We request you to review and subscribe to our channel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you choose to stream. 

We begin our show with supremely talented filmmaker and editor, Dionna McMillian. In this episode, we talk about the basics of editing and how editing influences the overall tone of a scene and a film holistically. We also dive into what Dionna's process is like as a filmmaker and what her influences are and what she does to keep herself grounded when the ideas of creation take over her psyche. We don't tiptoe around anything, so before you forget what we are all here for, let's get to it.

Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, Sip. Breathe. Listen. Transform.