In this episode of Crew Tales, Life in the Circus, we sit down with Adrian, an actor and “accidental producer” whose path into the industry took a refreshingly pragmatic route: choir and school productions as a kid, an engineering degree, a full-time IT career, then a deliberate leap into Vancouver after one life-changing question from a coach: “Why not you?”

Adrian shares how producing started as a pandemic-era throwdown, how meeting the right collaborators snowballed into making short films, and why the motion picture world keeps pulling him back: there’s no ceiling, only curiosity, craft, and constant exploration.

We also talk representation and typecasting, the pandemic-era shift in auditions for performers of color, and why building your own creative team can be the difference between waiting and working.

Topics include:

Becoming an “accidental producer” (and why it started with self-tapes)

From engineering and IT to acting in Vancouver

The role of coaches, timing, and taking the leap

Representation in casting and how things changed during the pandemic

Theater that challenges audiences (and the night someone yelled and walked out)

What’s next: a funded 6-episode web series in development

AI and the industry: what Adrien is (and isn’t) seeing so far

https://www.instagram.com/ebonyskygod/?hl=en

In this episode of Crew Tales, Life in the Circus, Dustin Trernard sits down with cinematographer Christopher Charles Kempinski (IATSE 669) to talk about the real job behind “making pretty pictures”: translating script into visuals, servicing a director’s vision, and leading a team with clarity and calm.

Chris traces his path from skate videos and high school projects to major studio sets, commercials, and award-winning web series work. Along the way, we dig into why old movies still hit, what modern filmmaking sometimes loses to formula, and the gear (and principles) Chris keeps coming back to, from the Sony VENICE to lenses with character, to the Hudson Spider REDBACK.

Topics we cover

Turning words into images: what a cinematographer actually does

Coming up through lighting vs camera department (and how it shapes your instincts)

Learning by watching great DPs work (and why you shouldn’t rush to “the chair”)

Spielberg-style audience perspective, and the psychology of framing

Film vs digital: highlight roll-off, shadow detail, and why film still feels like magic

Go-to tools: Sony VENICE internal ND workflow, character lenses, REDBACK, Titan tubes

Guest

Christopher Charles Kempinski

Cinematographer (IATSE 669)

Links

Official website:

- Chris Kempinski | Cinematographer: https://chriskempinski.com/

IMDb:

- Christopher Charles Kempinski: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1922590/

IATSE Local 669:

- International Cinematographers Guild (Local 669): https://www.iatse669.com/

Riese / Streamy reference:

- Streamy Awards (Craft Awards “Best Cinematography” clip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_3w3yD7yY0

- Streamys “Craft Awards” archive (Riese listed): https://www.streamys.org/history/

Subscribe for more conversations with the crew behind the camera: cinematography, lighting, sound, producing, and the wild career paths that keep sets moving.

#Cinematography, #Filmmaking, #FilmCrew, #BehindTheScenes, #IATSE669

What does it really take to put a camera underwater on a film set?

In this episode of Crew Tales, Life in the Circus, Dustin Schnart sits down with Aiden Zanini, an underwater camera operator and cinematographer, to talk about the niche (and wildly technical) world of water work for film and TV.

Aiden shares his long road into the industry, from being an AV kid in the 80s to broadcast school, narrative film work, and years on cruise ships where he earned his dive ticket and started shooting underwater. They dig into what changes when you add water to a set, why it multiplies time and complexity, how actors perform underwater, the safety systems that keep things from going sideways, and the practical “tiny tools” that save massive amounts of time.

They also get into career advice for anyone curious about underwater work in Canada, including the realities of commercial dive training, and why relationships and reputation matter as much as skill.

Guest: Aiden Zanini

Underwater Cinematographer, Camera Operator

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiden_zanini/

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0998401/

#CrewTales, #LifeInTheCircus, #UnderwaterCinematography, #UnderwaterCamera, #UnderwaterCameraOperator, #Cinematography, #FilmCrew, #BehindTheScenes, #FilmIndustry, #VancouverFilm, #BCFilm, #WaterWork, #DiveSafety, #CommercialDiver, #FilmProduction, #OnSet, #IndieFilm

In this episode of Crew Tales: Life in the Circus, Dustin sits down with veteran Production Manager and Producer Mike Magnusson to talk about the real work of turning scripts into shootable reality while keeping the “director’s vision” alive in the fiscal pond.

Mike shares stories from decades in the industry, breaking down the path from PA to AD to Producer, why calm leadership beats chaos on set, and how great crews are built through mentorship, trust, and collaboration. We also get into the challenges of large-scale productions, practical effects days, and keeping long-running shows feeling like a family.

Topics include:

• What a Production Manager / Producer actually does

• Balancing creative ambition with budget reality

• Building healthy set culture in film and television

• Planning for chaos: redundancy, pivots, and backup plans

• Mentorship in the Vancouver film industry

• The unique challenges of period productions

Guest: Mike Magnusson

Known for: When Calls the Heart

Link to the Youtube video

https://youtu.be/tfQHuQOOHIQ

Mike Magnusson (IMDb)

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0536396/

Mike Magnusson (Instagram)

https://www.instagram.com/magnusson1343/

#CrewTales, #LifeInTheCircus, #FilmIndustry, #BehindTheScenes, #ProductionManagement, #FilmCrew, #SetLife, #FilmProduction, #HollywoodNorth, #VancouverFilm, #WhenCallsTheHeart, #FilmMentorship

In this episode of Crew Tales: Life in the Circus, we sit down with Jim Rowe, a veteran Executive Producer with over four decades in the industry, to talk about what it really takes to keep a production running.

Jim breaks down the role in simple terms: hire great people, set them up to succeed, and solve problems before they reach set. We cover his early days in Vancouver, the path from AD work into production management, and the leadership mindset that separates being busy from being effective.

We also dig into how the industry has changed, from digital workflows and endless rolling cameras to the impact on post-production, and why respecting the process still matters.

Topics include:

• What an Executive Producer actually does
• Getting started on set
• Leadership and decision-making
• Budget vs creative reality
• The impact of digital shooting
• AI in production
• Advice for newcomers

Guest: Jim Rowe

Jim Rowe is a Producer and Unit Production Manager, known for "Godzilla" (2014)/Director Gareth Edwards, "Man of Steel" (2013)/Director Zack Snyder, "Sucker Punch"(2011)/Director Zack Snyder, "Red Riding Hood" (2011)/Director Catherine Hardwicke, "Watchmen" (2009)/Director Zack Snyder

Crew Tales: Life in the Circus celebrates the behind-the-scenes professionals who make film and television happen.

#FilmIndustry, #BehindTheScenes, #FilmCrew, #ProductionLife, #ExecutiveProducer, #FilmProduction, #TVProduction, #VancouverFilm, #BCFilm, #HollywoodNorth, #SetLife, #FilmPodcast, #Podcast, #Filmmaking, #ProductionManagement

In this episode, we sit down with Tony Lazarowich, a Mechanical / Practical Special Effects Supervisor, to talk about the real-world craft behind on-set magic: rain, snow, smoke, fire, blood, hydraulics, pneumatics, explosions, and the safety-first mindset that holds it all together.

Tony shares how he went from pulling cable as a teenager to “finding” his way onto sets in Vancouver, learning the trade hands-on, and eventually building a career spanning decades of film and television. We also dig into how practical effects collaborate with stunts and VFX, how technology has evolved, and how AI is changing the landscape.

Tony also discusses working alongside his wife, filmmaker Gina Hole Lazarowich, whose latest film Robert was recently accepted to the prestigious Beverly Hills Film Festival.

Watch the trailer for Robert here:

https://vimeo.com/1165519482?fl=pl&fe=sh

In this episode

• What practical and mechanical special effects actually include (and why it’s more than “blowing stuff up”)

• How Tony broke into the industry (including a legendary shop story)

• Safety culture on set and why it’s non-negotiable

• Breaking down the planning process: script, questions, testing, execution

• Practical vs VFX: where the handoff happens and how departments coordinate

• Favorite career stories (Friday the 13th chaos, Elf snow problem-solving)

• Advice for newcomers: skills that actually get you hired

Check out the video interview here!

https://youtu.be/ymLX95Oo-jk

IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493794/

Pacific West Special Effects:

https://www.pacwestspfx.com/

Pacific West Special Effects – About:

https://www.pacwestspfx.com/about

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pacwestspfx/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pacificwestSPFX/

#CrewTales, #LifeInTheCircus, #PracticalEffects, #SpecialEffects, #FilmCrew, #IATSE891, #BehindTheScenes

In this episode of Crew Tales, Life in the Circus, Brad sits down with filmmaker, producer, and entrepreneur Gina Hole Lazarowich, whose career has taken an unconventional path through fashion, film, and business.

Gina’s journey spans four decades in fashion and more than thirty years in the film industry. She began as a self-taught makeup artist in the late 1970s, worked her way through fashion, celebrity, and Hollywood, and eventually built one of Western Canada’s leading artist agencies from the basement of her home. Years later, a story she couldn’t ignore pulled her back into filmmaking.

That story became the award-winning documentary Krow’s TRANSformation, a three-year project following a young trans male model. The film premiered internationally, opened the Raindance Film Festival in London, screened around the world, and won Best Documentary in Mallorca. Gina shot much of it herself using whatever tools were available, including iPhones, iPads, and donated gear, proving that powerful storytelling doesn’t depend on expensive equipment.

Since this interview was recorded, Gina’s latest film Robert has been officially selected for the prestigious Beverly Hills Film Festival.

In the conversation, we talk about impostor syndrome, learning on the job, the realities of producing today, how film funding actually works, the shift from film to digital, and why Gina believes fear has no place in creativity. From running a special effects company to mentoring young filmmakers and advocating for the industry, Gina embodies what it means to wear many hats and keep moving forward.

Check out the video interview here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3-o7xIaNQw

Links

Gina Hole Lazarowich

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ginaholelaz

Pacific West Special Effects

https://pacificwestsfx.com

Film – Krow’s TRANSformation

https://filmfreeway.com/KrowsTRANSformation

Film – Robert Trailer

https://vimeo.com/1165519482?fl=pl&fe=sh

#CrewTales, #LifeInTheCircus, #FilmIndustry, #BehindTheScenes, #Producer, #FilmProducer, #Director, #DocumentaryFilm, #IndieFilm, #VancouverFilm, #BCFilm, #CanadianFilm, #WomenInFilm, #SpecialEffects, #PracticalEffects, #Storytelling, #Filmmaking, #FilmPodcast, #PodcastInterview, #OutTV

Discover the fascinating world of still photography in the film industry through the eyes of a passionate professional.

Hear from Kailey Schwerman as she shares her journey as a unit photographer in Vancouver. Explore her insights on what it means to capture the essence of a production through still images, the importance of creativity in film, and how she balances her work and personal life. Learn about the vital roles photographers play in marketing shows, the drive needed to succeed, and how personality is key on set. Get a glimpse into the heartwarming and challenging experiences that come with preserving moments in time.

Life in the Circus Podcast

Website: https://circuspodcast.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeInTheCircusPodcast

Podcast Hosting: https://hubhopper.com/podcast/life-in-the-circus/449372

Email: Lifeinthecircuspodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeinthecircuspodcast

Relevant Hashtags

#Photography #FilmIndustry #CreativeJourney #WomenInFilm #Production