On this episode of Rough Cut, VC Executive Director, Sky Dylan-Robbins, talks with filmmaker Anthony DiMieri about his unconventional path across nonfiction, fiction, and political campaigns. They discuss Anthony's projects, including Subway Takes and Keep the Meter Running, which blend documentary storytelling, comedy, and social media to reach audiences where they are, as well as his iconic Melted Solids collaboration with Debbie Saslow on the viral social videos for Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign. Anthony shares his thoughts on the future of filmmaking, vertical versus horizontal video, building audiences online, and why community might be the antidote to nihilism.

Show Links: 

Anthony DiMieri

Melted Solids

Zohran Halalflation

Fix the MTA: campaign precursor, early use of doc style for Zohran media

Claire Valdez + Zohran

Zohran Polar Plunge 

Zohran Donors (our favorite from the primary)

Zohran Nightclub Documentary

KTMR x Zohran

Subway Takes Ep 1

Credits

Host Sky Dylan-Robbins 

Guest Anthony DiMieri

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio 

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Leonard Cortana, the Inclusion Program and Strategic Partnerships Manager at EURODOC joins Rough Cut, with guest host Keisha Knight, founder of Sentient.Art.Film and Solidarity Media Network, for a wide-ranging conversation on documentary filmmaking, collective care, and the future of global nonfiction storytelling. Leonard reflects on how documentaries can serve as tools for restorative justice, why producers need spaces built on empathy and shared values, and how initiatives like BIPOC EURODOC are challenging the inequities embedded in the international film ecosystem. Together, Keisha and Leonard explore everything from visa inequities and festival culture to burnout, representation, and the radical generosity needed to create a more inclusive documentary ecosystem.

Show Links

EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com

BIPOC EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com/bipoc

Solidarity Media Network: https://www.solidaritymedianetwork.org

Credits

Host Keisha Knight

Guest Leonard Cortana

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this episode of Rough Cut, we explore the powerful intersection of professional duty and personal history with Emmy-nominated journalist Katie G. Nelson. After more than a decade reporting on conflict and human rights across East Africa, Katie found herself back in her hometown of Minneapolis just as it became the epicenter of a global movement. We dive into the importance of local journalism and the shifting climate of on-the-ground reportage. Join us for an insightful conversation on the art of nonfiction storytelling and what it means to fight for meaningful change when the front line is only a mile from your childhood home.

Show Links: 

Katie G. Nelson: https://videoconsortium.org/members/katie-g-nelson

Katie’s substack: https://substack.com/@katiegnelson

www.katiegnelson.com

Far on Foot Productions: faronfoot.com

Stories Discussed 

ICE Took Liam Conejo Ramos. His Classmates Have Something to Say.

Minneapolis Precinct Fire: How A Night Of Chaos Unfolded

In The Middle Of Chaos: Living With The Daunte Wright Protests At The Front Door

How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody

Credits

Host Sky Dylan-Robbins 

Guests Katie G. Nelson

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this compelling episode of Rough Cut, esteemed journalist and VC Board member Kevin Merida, former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sits down with the visionary Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief of PBS Frontline, Raney Aronson-Rath, to explore the profound responsibility of documenting history as it unfolds. The  2024 Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol anchors Raney’s reflections about the "bittersweet" reality of investigative journalism—balancing the celebration of critical storytelling with the sobering fact that the conflicts they cover often continue long after the cameras stop rolling. Together, they discuss why documentaries are essential tools for navigating our modern, turbulent world and why, despite the heavy toll, journalists must "keep the faith" that their work serves as an indispensable record for the future.

Show Links: 

Frontline: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/ 

Kevin Merida: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kevinmerida

Credits

Host Kevin Merida

Guests Raney Aronson-Rath

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Andrea Arauz sits down with Mexican filmmaker and SSP fellow Viviana Zuñiga to deconstruct the evolving identity of Latin American film. The two discuss the "guerrilla mode" of production—the art of fulfilling every role to bring a dream to life with limited resources. Viviana shares how her work is inspired by the "beauty in the wound" found in the films of Tatiana Huezo and the rule-breaking spirit of Lola Arias.

This conversation is a masterclass in cinematic resistance. It’s a powerful exploration of why Latin American filmmakers must stop apologizing for their "chaotic" reality and instead embrace the grit, the shadows, and the radical honesty that define their craft.

Show Links

Andrea Arauz: https://videoconsortium.org/members/andrea_arauz

Viviana Zuñiga: https://videoconsortium.org/members/viviana-zuniga

Credits

Host Andrea Arauz

Guest Viviana Zuñiga

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, we sit down with the award-winning filmmaking duo Brandon Kramer and Lance Kramer. Through stories from their acclaimed films City of Trees, The First Step, and their Oscar-shortlisted feature Holding Liat, the brothers reflect on community, collaboration, and the ethical responsibility of nonfiction storytelling. Guest hosted by Kristin Feely, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, the brothers explore how their work is a reflection of the communities and intimate relationships they’ve built over three feature films.

Show Links

Holding Liat - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com/holdingliat

Meridian Hill Pictures - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com

Credits

Host Kristin Freely

Guests Lance Kramer and Brandon Kramer

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

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 Links

Lauren Mahoney: https://videoconsortium.org/members/lauren-mahoney

Alicia Ramirez: https://www.aliciasramirez.com/

LA Sparks Instagram: www.instagram.com/la_sparks

LA Sparks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLosAngelesSparks/

Credits

Host Lauren Mahoney

Guests Alicia Ramirez

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click 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 Links

Jarod Neece: https://jarodneece.com

Nicholas Bruckman: https://videoconsortium.org/members/nicholas-bruckman and https://nickny.com

Peoples TV: https://peoples.tv

Credits

Host Jarod Neece

Guests Nicholas Bruckman

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click 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 Links

Ryan Kellett:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankellett

Dave Jorgenson and Local News International: https://lni.media

Credits

Host Ryan Kellett

Guest Dave Jorgenson 

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Click 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 Links

Sweta Vohra: ​​www.multitudefilms.com/sweta-vohra

Emma Alpert: www.multitudefilms.com/emma-alpert

Multitude Films: www.multitudefilms.com

Brown Girls Doc Mafia: www.browngirlsdocmafia.org

Pay Transparency Project: www.paytransparencyproject.org

Credits

Guests: Sweta Vohra and Emma Alpert of Multitude Films

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click 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!

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Episode Credits:

Host: Caitlin Boyle

Guest: Rebecca Davis

Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio

Producer: Audrey Horwitz

Music: Zack Wright

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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

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Get involved and follow the action:

Join VC: https://videoconsortium.org/join

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Listen to Rough Cut: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rough-cut/id1441930718 

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