Rounding out this three-part episode on film school is my guest Fernanda Rossi - screenwriter and filmmaker. She explains her unique approach to mentoring and coaching everyone from film students to established filmmakers in her international seminars and workshops.

On Air Off Set podcast

Ep.35 - Who Needs Film School? (Part 3)

In part 2 of this three-part episode I chat with cinematographer and part-time teacher/instructor Jeffrey Hagerman.

Ep.34 - Who Needs Film School? (Part 2)

There’s a lot of mixed feelings about “film school” these days. In this three-part episode I chat with three separate guests about the state of film education and training as well as the industry as a whole. First up in part 1 is Randall Dottin, professor and chairperson of the screenwriting department at New York Film Academy,

Ep,33 - Who Needs Film School? (Part 1)

We all can use therapy these days and if you're a creative/artist, perhaps you can use a professional who understands and even has some experience your field. I chat with two NYC-based therapists to mine the depths of this type of specialization.

Ep.32 - Therapy For Creatives

We continue our conversation with my guests Brian De la Cruz and Derek Stalley in part two of our sprawling conversation about people of color in Hollywood, on and off set. 

Ep.31 - P.O.C. In The Industry (Part 2)

If 2020 didn’t deliver us enough drama with the pandemic and lockdown, along came nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. With this as the backdrop, I recorded an interview back in June over Zoom with fellow freelancers Derek Stalley and Brian De La Cruz about the state of things socially. They open up about their experiences as people of color working in film/television as well as in their day to day personal lives. We further touch upon diversity and minority representation on screen and behind the camera. This is a two-part episode.

Ep.30 - P.O.C. In The Industry (Part 1)

There has always existed the independent factions of any artistic mediums whether it be cinema, music, or fine arts. But does theater has have it’s own established independent scene? Theater guys like Michael Pagano and his mentor and former high school teacher Dave Coonan weigh in as they have carved out their own scene out on Long Island. According to them, their approach parallels garage and punk rock bands in philosophy. They follow their rules when it comes to producing, writing, casting, set building, self-funding, and self-promoting these theater pieces. Adding to the mix is the raw, edgy, sometimes shocking, sometimes dark bite associated with their storytelling and you can see why the term “garage theater” is totally appropriate.

Ep.29 - Garage Theater

Hi this is Rob Albrecht, host of the On Air off Set podcast here to present to you a special personal episode, that has nothing to do with entertainment industry. This one is going be a limited release, just in time for Veteran’s Day. It’s my very first interview, about 14 years ago that I dug out of the archives. This is well before the term podcast even came into play. I chat with my grandfather Arthur Albrecht about his experiences in WW2 as infantryman in the Army. He was about 85 when we recorded this and passed away about a year later. Growing up I remember bits of these stories. He would always try to bring them seemingly randomly at dinner or when we were watching TV. Ofcourse as a child I could never appreciate these moments. It wasn’t until years later when I got into filmmaking, storytelling and war history that I felt compelled to give him a platform hear the whole story. I do hope this brought him some kind of closure, or at least made him happy to see his grandson keep him company in his last year. Thank you for your service Pop. Shout out to all the veterans.  

Arthur Albrecht's Memoirs

Continuing from episode 27, I chat with composer Patrick Kirst. To showcase the collaboration with director on any given film project, we engage in a little creative musical workshop.

Ep.28 - The Score (Part 2)

Film scores are there to enhance a scene at times, and at other times to go above and “beyond the two dimensions of the screen” as composer Patrick Kirst explains, perhaps to convey something the scene cannot. From the classical symphonic heights of John Williams to the jazzier vibes of Bernard Hermann to the modern electronic/orchestral hybrid work of Hans Zimmer, each composer brings their own style to a project. Ultimately though it is the collaboration of directors and composers that bring a film score to life. In this two-part episode, my guest Patrick Kirst shines a light on this process, and shares his philosophy on what makes a great score.

Ep.27 - The Score (Part 1)

For sound mixers/recordists it’s always been a balance of capturing the best location sound possible while dealing with airplanes, police sirens, construction, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, barking dogs, refrigerators, air conditioners, phones ringing……not to mention searching for a clean RF signal in a world of endless wireless interference, avoiding a boom mic in frame, rigging a mic to a complicated piece of wardrobe, pleading with director for one more take, barking at crew people for being chatty. ARGGGGGHHHHH!! If anyone on set has ever wondered why our default facial expression is a look of irritability, now you know why. But hey this is the profession we chose and we accept that these obstacles will always be there. Joining myself in an airing of grievances are fellow sound mixers, Fiona McBain and Alex Sullivan. At this risk of this coming off like a pity party for sound department I hope listeners will at least walk away with an appreciation that without sound there truly is no picture.

Ep.26 - Plight of the Sound People

 The set of horror movie can be exactly that.....a horror show and not in a good way. But don't tell that to filmmaker Jeremiah Kipp and efx makeup artist Tony O'Brien. They love their jobs and they bring that passion and joy to a film set. Fresh off production of their feature film "Slapface", I chat with both about their love of all things gory, scary, fantastical in cinema and their collaboration in bringing monstrous characters to life. 

Ep.25 - Phantasmagorical

 We were not prepared nationwide for this pandemic and the subsequent shutdown. Loss of income, quarantine, the threat of an unknown virus among countless other issues can impact everyone negatively. So what can one do as a creative/artist who works in the Film/TV industry with the all their skills, resources, and connections available? How about starting a charitable organization like Isabella Olaguerra and Jacqueline Patchen did. As members of Feed They Freelancers they help organize delivery of food and other supplies to other freelancers in the NYC area. I chat with both to find out the inner workings of this group, what inspired them to get it off the ground, and what their hopes are for the future. 

Ep.24 - Quarantined Creatives

In this every changing world it is getting more and more complicated trying to discern authentic journalism from click bait and “fake news.” It is important that we recognize those in the media that have integrity and strive to deliver the most unbiased and informed stories. I chat with news segment producers, Titi Yu and Mona Iskander, to catch a glimpse into this world.

Ep.23 - Electronic News Gathering

Alot has changed since those early childhood days for many of us. Only with last 10-15 years of superhero movies do they finally have a definitive place in cinema history……though not without controversy. In the aftermath of Martin Scorcese’s opinion that these movies are not real “cinema” myself and returning guests Lou and Phil try and put some perspective on this comic book movie/tv boom.

Ep.22 - Comic Book Movie Retrospective (part 2)

The film and tv industry can be grueling. Why many of us are still working here may be a testament to our passion for our crafts, aided by an oft repeated slogan in our heads, "at least we’re not working in a cubicle." On Air Off Set is a podcast hosted by Rob Albrecht devoted to providing honest and unique insight from the various professionals that work in this industry, about their respective craft and the challenges they face. With guests ranging from Cinematographers to Script Supervisors, Actors to Extras, Film Teachers to Film students, the topics are endless.

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