Rough Cut

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