The Making Of

In this episode, we welcome four-time Emmy Award winner David X. Cohen, co-creator, executive producer and head writer of Futurama. David takes us inside the making of the iconic animated series, from its origins and his longtime collaboration with Matt Groening on The Simpsons, to the creative process behind Futurama and its new season. He also shares insights and advice for today’s writers and creators developing their own original work.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
Tackle production problems head-on with AJA’s latest products
From FS8 to OG-FiDO-4, AJA’s newest products address modern production demands. A 12G-SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 Media Processor, FS8 delivers powerful tools for navigating mismatched frame rates, rasters, and color spaces, streamlining audio routing, and more. OG-FiDO-4 openGear four-channel SDI/Fiber conversion cards let teams extend SDI infrastructure over fiber. Explore here
Vimeo Announces 2nd Annual Short Film Grant
Launched in 2025, this initiative supports the production of artistically driven short films by awarding five emerging filmmakers with money, mentorship, and access to gear for the production of their next short film projects.
Following this open call for submissions, a dream team jury featuring Koganada, Josephine Decker, Pete Ohs, Sarah Winshall, and Jomo Fray, ASC will select five winners to each receive a $60,000 cash production grant, access to select Panavision camera packages and OWC storage, one-on-one mentorship with the jury, screenings, distribution and promotion on Vimeo, and more.
With support from Panavision, OWC, AJA Video Systems, and ShotDeck.
Explore here
Post|Production World New York
Oct. 20-21 | New York, NY
Post|Production World New York returns to NAB Show New York, Oct 20-21 at the Javits Center. Two days of high-impact training in editing, motion graphics, AI workflows, & visual storytelling, taught by the industry’s leading trainers in Premiere, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Cinema 4D. Discount Code: PPWTMO
Visit here
Build Your RAID. Save While You Do It.
The OWC Express 4M2 gives video and post professionals a flexible four-slot NVMe RAID solution with speeds up to 3200MB/s, support for up to 32TB today, and near-silent adaptive cooling. Choose your own NVMe drives and configure the storage your workflow needs. Right now, the Express 4M2 enclosure is on sale starting at just $178.99
Explore here
Cineverse
Oct. 16-17 | Rome, Italy
Cinematography, technology, and the next generation - at the iconic Cinecittà Studios, Rome. Join us for Cineverse from 16–17 October 2026. Two days of exhibition, technology, AIC IMAGO panels, Frame Bar sessions and networking. Discover the people, ideas and innovations shaping the future of cinematography, from established industry voices to the next generation of talent.
Visit here
What’s Better Than Royalty Free Music?
Music That Enhances Your Creative Experience.
Unlimited music. Unlimited productions. One straightforward license.
CSS Music gives filmmakers and content creators access to music from human composers, backed by a broad standard license with unlimited uses, unlimited productions, and no time limits.
Find the right track faster with 8 powerful search options, then customize it for your production with custom-length and stem extraction tools. Plus, easily create playlists and generate cue sheets—all designed to make music licensing and production simpler.
No hassles. No surprises. Just great music and tools built for creators.
Explore here
ZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology Platform
ZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.
Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Visit here
Meet G-RAID PROJECT 2
G-RAID PROJECT 2 delivers high-performance storage for demanding video workflows. With dual 7200RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class drives, Thunderbolt 3, and capacities up to 52TB, it’s built for 4K, 8K, VR, and content-intensive projects. Shop at Videoguys or call 800-323-2325 for expert advice. Visit here
Podcast Rewind:
Sept. 2026 - Ep. 151.
Partner with The Making Of:
Reach 275,000 film industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this newsletter. To explore advertising opportunities, please email mvalinsky@me.com


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Making Of, we’re joined by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writer-director team behind Vacation, Game Night, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, to go behind the scenes of their latest film, Apple TV’s MAYDAY, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. John and Jonathan take us inside the making of MAYDAY, reflect on the creative partnership they’ve built across more than a decade, and share advice for the next generation of filmmakers.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
Tackle production problems head-on with AJA’s latest products
From FS8 to OG-FiDO-4, AJA’s newest products address modern production demands. A 12G-SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 Media Processor, FS8 delivers powerful tools for navigating mismatched frame rates, rasters, and color spaces, streamlining audio routing, and more. OG-FiDO-4 openGear four-channel SDI/Fiber conversion cards let teams extend SDI infrastructure over fiber.
Explore here
What’s Better Than Royalty Free Music?
Music That Enhances Your Creative Experience.
Unlimited music. Unlimited productions. One straightforward license.
CSS Music gives filmmakers and content creators access to music from human composers, backed by a broad standard license with unlimited uses, unlimited productions, and no time limits.
Find the right track faster with 8 powerful search options, then customize it for your production with custom-length and stem extraction tools. Plus, easily create playlists and generate cue sheets—all designed to make music licensing and production simpler.
No hassles. No surprises. Just great music and tools built for creators.
Explore here
Post|Production World New York
Oct. 20-21 | New York, NY
Post|Production World New York returns to NAB Show New York, October 20-21 at the Javits Center. Two days of high-impact training in editing, motion graphics, AI workflows, and visual storytelling, taught by the industry’s leading trainers in Premiere, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Cinema 4D.
Discount Code: PPWTMO
Register here
A Solution Built Around Your Workflow
The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is available in a range of configurations to fit your workflow and budget. Choose from ready-to-run solutions with up to 32TB of high-performance NVMe storage, giving you the speed, capacity, and reliability needed for everything from multi-camera editing to demanding VFX and finishing workflows. Available now. Explore here
ZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology Platform
ZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.
Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Visit here
Meet G-RAID PROJECT 2
G-RAID PROJECT 2 delivers high-performance storage for demanding video workflows. With dual 7200RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class drives, Thunderbolt 3, and capacities up to 52TB, it’s built for 4K, 8K, VR, and content-intensive projects. Shop at Videoguys or call 800-323-2325 for expert advice. Visit here
Podcast Rewind:
Sept. 2026 - Ep. 150.
Partner with The Making Of:
Reach 275K film industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this newsletter. To explore advertising opportunities, please email mvalinsky@me.com


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker Carlson Young to discuss her latest feature, The Last Sunrise, and her evolution from actor to director. Carlson reflects on her early years in front of the camera, including Scream: The TV Series and Emily in Paris, and how those experiences shaped her instincts as a filmmaker. She also takes us inside the making of The Last Sunrise, her collaboration with cinematographer Rob Givens, and shares advice for emerging filmmakers building their own careers.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
Tackle production problems head-on with AJA’s latest products
From FS8 to OG-FiDO-4, AJA’s newest products address modern production demands. A 12G-SDI/SMPTE ST 2110 Media Processor, FS8 delivers powerful tools for navigating mismatched frame rates, rasters, and color spaces, streamlining audio routing, and more. OG-FiDO-4 openGear four-channel SDI/Fiber conversion cards let teams extend SDI infrastructure over fiber.
Explore here
OWC @ IBC 2026
OWC is bringing new storage and connectivity built for demanding video workflows to IBC 2026, including the Thunderbolt 5 Dock with Dual HDMI and the USB4 Hub. Stop by the booth to go hands-on with the gear and talk shop with the team.
Learn more here
SportStream
Sept. 15 | Virtual
SportStream is a three-day event featuring vendors and experts focused on the impact of live streaming and production in today’s dynamic world of sports. Discover tips, tricks, and tools for remote production, live video streaming, professional graphics, and instant replay — all designed to help you capture the action and excitement of every game. From schools to pro leagues, we’re here to provide you with everything you need to elevate your sports productions and live streams. Join us September 15 – 17th, 2026! Your FREE one-time registration gains you access to three days of informative webinars, interviews with industry guests, live demos, chances to win great prizes, and more!
Register here
ZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology Platform
ZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.
Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Visit here
Meet G-RAID PROJECT 2
G-RAID PROJECT 2 delivers high-performance storage for demanding video workflows. With dual 7200RPM Ultrastar enterprise-class drives, Thunderbolt 3, and capacities up to 52TB, it’s built for 4K, 8K, VR, and content-intensive projects. Shop at Videoguys or call 800-323-2325 for expert advice.
Visit here
Podcast Rewind:
Aug. 2026 - Ep. 149.
Partner with The Making Of:
Reach 275,000 film industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this weekly newsletter. To explore advertising opportunities, please email mvalinsky@me.com



Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Sara DeWitt, SVP & GM of PBS KIDS and Education, for a wide-ranging conversation about her background and career, her leadership role at PBS KIDS, and the organization’s mission to educate and inspire children nationwide. We discuss current and back-to-school programming, supporting early literacy, and how PBS KIDS is navigating funding challenges while continuing its educational mission. Sara also shares her perspective on the future of children’s media, education, and much more.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
Futureproofing with IP video
As production workflows rapidly evolve, IP video is key to building more scalable, future-ready pipelines. To get up to speed on the IP fundamentals and gain insights into the various IP paths – like ST 2110, NDI, Dante AV, and SRT – download AJA’s free IP video white paper today.
SportStream
Sept. 15 | Virtual
SportStream is a three-day event featuring vendors and experts focused on the impact of live streaming and production in today’s dynamic world of sports. Discover tips, tricks, and tools for remote production, live video streaming, professional graphics, and instant replay — all designed to help you capture the action and excitement of every game. From schools to pro leagues, we’re here to provide you with everything you need to elevate your sports productions and live streams. Join us Sept 15–17th! Your FREE registration gains you access to three days of informative webinars, interviews with industry guests, live demos, chances to win great prizes, and more!
Register here
A Solution Built Around Your Workflow
The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is available in a range of configurations to fit your workflow and budget. Choose from ready-to-run solutions with up to 32TB of high-performance NVMe storage, giving you the speed, capacity, and reliability needed for everything from multi-camera editing to demanding VFX and finishing workflows. Available now.
Explore here
Elgato Prompter XL
The Elgato Prompter XL is a professional all-in-one teleprompter with a 15.6” removable display and a reading range of up to 15 feet. Featuring USB 3.2 connectivity and broad compatibility, it’s ideal for live productions and content creation. Available now at Videoguys.com—call 800-323-2325 to learn more.
Learn more here
ZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology Platform
ZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.
Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Explore here
Podcast Rewind:
Aug. 2026 - Ep. 148.
Partner with The Making Of:
Reach 275,000+ film production industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this weekly newsletter. To explore advertising, please email mvalinsky@me.com


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we welcome Sophie Darlington ASC, an award-winning cinematographer whose remarkable career has taken her around the world capturing wildlife and the natural world. In our conversation, she takes us behind the scenes of LION, sharing how she filmed the documentary over the course of four years in the wild, and what went into bringing the Jon Favreau–executive-produced project to life. She discusses the technologies used to craft the film’s stunning imagery, along with the challenges of this type of production.
“The Making Of” is presented by AJA:
Futureproofing with IP video
As production workflows rapidly evolve, IP video is key to building more scalable, future-ready pipelines. To get up to speed on the IP fundamentals and gain insights into the various IP paths – like ST 2110, NDI, Dante AV, and SRT – download AJA’s free IP video white paper today.
Post|Production World New York
Oct. 20-21 | New York
Sharpen your edit, your motion graphics, and your AI workflow in two days. Post|Production World New York brings certified trainers and working pros to NAB Show New York, October 20-21, with hands-on sessions in Premiere, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve, and Cinema 4D. Registration includes show floor access.
Discount Code: PPWTMO
Register here
A Solution Built Around Your Workflow
The OWC Express 4M2 Ultra is available in a range of configurations to fit your workflow and budget. Choose from ready-to-run solutions with up to 32TB of high-performance NVMe storage, giving you the speed, capacity, and reliability needed for everything from multi-camera editing to demanding VFX and finishing workflows. Available now. Explore here
Elgato Prompter XL
The Elgato Prompter XL is a professional all-in-one teleprompter with a 15.6” removable display and a reading range of up to 15 feet. Featuring USB 3.2 connectivity and broad compatibility, it’s ideal for live productions and content creation. Available now at Videoguys.com—call 800-323-2325 to learn more.
Explore here
ZEISS Introduces Horizon Anamorphic: Full-Frame 2x Anamorphics with a New Lens Technology Platform
ZEISS unveils the Horizon Anamorphic series, a new lineup of full-frame 2x anamorphic cinema lenses designed to deliver a distinctive cinematic look along with a new lens technology platform that answers the need for speed and precision demanded by contemporary production workflows.
Spanning 35mm to 200mm across seven focal lengths, Horizon lenses combine their anamorphic look—incorporating a pronounced oval bokeh and stretched sense of spatial depth—with a lightweight, fully integrated motorized system that eliminates the need for external focus or iris motors. Read more here
Podcast Rewind:
July 2026 - Ep. 147.
Partner with The Making Of:
Reach 275,000+ film industry, broadcast pros, and content creators reading this weekly newsletter. To explore advertising, please email mvalinsky@me.com


Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe