Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - payhip.com/b/kCZGd
In this interview, Film Courage speaks with Illya Friedman on if it's okay to offer a no pay cinematography gig?
Illya Friedman is an entrepreneur, inventor, cinema technologist, studio builder, podcaster and producer. A renowned camera technologist spanning the eras of film, video and digital cameras, he worked on the team that invented the world's first 4K cinema camera. Illya got his start working professionally in the camera department in Hollywood in the early 1990s, and is the inventor of camera, lighting and optical products used by filmmakers of every level. Upon opening his company, Hot Rod Cameras, Illya became widely credited as a pioneer in the 'DSLR Filmmaking Revolution' and his L.A. based brick and mortar store sells cameras, lenses, lighting, grip and workflow tools to professionals and aspiring professionals alike. Hot Rod is a primary supplier to both the traditional entertainment industry, the new creator economy, and even performs full studio build outs. Along with co-host Ben Rock, Illya created the weekly Cinematography Podcast, which features interviews with hundreds of cinematographers, directors and filmmakers. Notable guests include Academy Award-winning DP’s, such as Robert Richardson, Linus Sandgren, Robert Elswit and Vitorrio Storaro. The show also features prominent directors like Ron Howard, Antonie Fuqua, Ruben Fleischer and Randall Einhorn. Many guests of the podcast are also clients of Hot Rod Cameras. Occasionally, Illya produces feature films, his most recent is a fictional story about young skateboarders in Los Angeles, entitled Concrete Kids. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime, Vudu, Roku, Tubi and other platforms.
CONNECT WITH ILLYA FRIEDMAN
hotrodcameras.com
imdb.com/name/nm0295233
instagram.com/hotrodcameras
youtube.com/c/Hotrodcameras
twitter.com/hotrodcameras
LISTEN TO ILLYA'S CINEMATOGRAPHY PODCAST
camnoir.com
facebook.com/cinepod
instagram.com/thecinepod
twitter.com/shortendz
MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS
Honest Advice On Being A Professional Cinematographer - youtu.be/GdIcUV-F6sQ
Cinematographer Greig Fraser Interview - Story Behind The Imagery - youtu.be/NFmABajxBjs
Pro Cinematographer On How The Movie JOKER Was Made - youtu.be/MRHBLOvelis
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
FilmCourage.com
twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
patreon.com/filmcourage
LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time
payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - amzn.to/3XEMK6F
NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Ultra High Power - amzn.to/3XX57VK
►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – buff.ly/3rWqrra
►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – amzn.to/2tbFlM9
►Stuff we use:
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post amzn.to/425k5rG
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/3WEuz0k
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - amzn.to/2u5UnHv
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#cinematography #filmmaking #filmindustry
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - payhip.com/b/kCZGd
In this interview, Film Courage speaks with Illya Friedman on if it's okay to offer a no pay cinematography gig?
Illya Friedman is an entrepreneur, inventor, cinema technologist, studio builder, podcaster and producer. A renowned camera technologist spanning the eras of film, video and digital cameras, he worked on the team that invented the world's first 4K cinema camera. Illya got his start working professionally in the camera department in Hollywood in the early 1990s, and is the inventor of camera, lighting and optical products used by filmmakers of every level. Upon opening his company, Hot Rod Cameras, Illya became widely credited as a pioneer in the 'DSLR Filmmaking Revolution' and his L.A. based brick and mortar store sells cameras, lenses, lighting, grip and workflow tools to professionals and aspiring professionals alike. Hot Rod is a primary supplier to both the traditional entertainment industry, the new creator economy, and even performs full studio build outs. Along with co-host Ben Rock, Illya created the weekly Cinematography Podcast, which features interviews with hundreds of cinematographers, directors and filmmakers. Notable guests include Academy Award-winning DP’s, such as Robert Richardson, Linus Sandgren, Robert Elswit and Vitorrio Storaro. The show also features prominent directors like Ron Howard, Antonie Fuqua, Ruben Fleischer and Randall Einhorn. Many guests of the podcast are also clients of Hot Rod Cameras. Occasionally, Illya produces feature films, his most recent is a fictional story about young skateboarders in Los Angeles, entitled Concrete Kids. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime, Vudu, Roku, Tubi and other platforms.
CONNECT WITH ILLYA FRIEDMAN
hotrodcameras.com
imdb.com/name/nm0295233
instagram.com/hotrodcameras
youtube.com/c/Hotrodcameras
twitter.com/hotrodcameras
LISTEN TO ILLYA'S CINEMATOGRAPHY PODCAST
camnoir.com
facebook.com/cinepod
instagram.com/thecinepod
twitter.com/shortendz
MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS
Honest Advice On Being A Professional Cinematographer - youtu.be/GdIcUV-F6sQ
Cinematographer Greig Fraser Interview - Story Behind The Imagery - youtu.be/NFmABajxBjs
Pro Cinematographer On How The Movie JOKER Was Made - youtu.be/MRHBLOvelis
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
FilmCourage.com
twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
patreon.com/filmcourage
LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time
payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - amzn.to/3XEMK6F
NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Ultra High Power - amzn.to/3XX57VK
►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – buff.ly/3rWqrra
►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – amzn.to/2tbFlM9
►Stuff we use:
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post amzn.to/425k5rG
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/3WEuz0k
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - amzn.to/2u5UnHv
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#cinematography #filmmaking #filmindustry
![9 Things Every Writer Should Know Before Publishing A Book - Desireé Duffy [FULL INTERVIEW]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R7XCqBCVrjo/mqdefault.jpg "9 Things Every Writer Should Know Before Publishing A Book - Desireé Duffy [FULL INTERVIEW]
Find Your Voice Writers Workshop this Sunday September 7th! (Buy our book, Get the class free!)
https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx8sgioo6IYEfKmywHw-cRKVSAWd87xMs2
0:00 - 3 Ways To Publish A Book... What New Writers Should Know
12:28 - The Most Powerful Marketing Tool For Authors
25:29 - 5 Stages Of Editing A Book
39:19 - Finding The Magic In Your Writing
49:19 - What Writers Realize That Nobody Else Does
58:06 - Practical Advice To Authors On Selling Their First Book
1:07:12 - 5 Biggest Mistakes Authors Make When Releasing A Book
1:15:28 - This Is The Best Way For An Author To Identify Their Brand
1:27:34 - What Every Aspiring Author Should Know... Before Quitting Their Day Job
1:39:01 - How Does An Author Write A Book That The Market Wants?
Desireé Duffy is the founder of Black Château, a marketing and public relations agency; Books That Make You, a Webby Award-winning multi-media brand that promotes books and authors through its website, podcast, and radio show; and The BookFest® Adventure, a biannual online event uniting book lovers worldwide.
A passionate advocate for spreading stories, Desireé serves as the executive producer for the Beach-Bound Book Bash, Jingle Books, and the Books That Make You Show. Her memberships and board positions include the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) and the Writers and Publishers Network (WPN). She holds degrees in English, communication, art, and marketing. Desireé splits her time between Southern California, Oklahoma, and wherever bookish events happen and booklovers gather.
MORE VIDEOS WITH DESIREE DUFFY
https://tinyurl.com/c6yxzewh
BUY THE BOOK: Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place
https://amzn.to/42UUg0b
CONNECT WITH DESIREE DUFFY
https://www.blackchateauenterprises.com
https://booksthatmakeyou.com
https://www.thebookfest.com
https://x.com/Desiree_Duffy
https://www.youtube.com/@BooksThatMakeYou
MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS
What Writers Realize That Nobody Else Does - https://youtu.be/zEf8Nww7RWU
What New Authors Should Expect From A Publisher - https://youtu.be/VUI-2g0Qerc
Ive Written 4 Novels... Heres Everything Ive Learned - https://youtu.be/jWd0E5mzYIo
3 Harsh Truths For Anyone Who Wants To Be An Author - https://youtu.be/IyB0K2qXe8s
What Stops New Authors From Writing Their First Book - https://youtu.be/230Lppu4cvA
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
http://www.FilmCourage.com
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
https://www.facebook.com/filmcourage
https://www.instagram.com/filmcourage
http://filmcourage.tumblr.com
http://pinterest.com/filmcourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
http://bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
https://ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
https://www.patreon.com/filmcourage
LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
https://soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time
https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting https://amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
http://amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting Youll Ever Need
https://amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
http://amzn.to/2h6W3va
THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING - Lajos Egri
https://amzn.to/3jh3b5f
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - https://amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - https://amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - https://amzn.to/3TEnLiE
►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra
►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – http://amzn.to/2tbFlM9
►Stuff we use:
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Rode VideoMic Pro - The Rode mic helps us capture our backup audio. It also helps us sync up our audio in post https://amzn.to/425k5rG
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - https://amzn.to/3WEuz0k
LIGHTS - Although we like to use as much natural light as we can, we often enhance the lighting with this small portable light. We have two of them and they have saved us a number of times - http://amzn.to/2u5UnHv
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#writing #authors #books")
![9 Truths About The Movie Business - Craig Caton-Largent [FULL INTERVIEW]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RrmKkDlprnI/mqdefault.jpg "9 Truths About The Movie Business - Craig Caton-Largent [FULL INTERVIEW]
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd
0:00 - The Truth About Finding Work In The Movie Business
13:29 - How The Dinosaurs In Jurassic Park Were Created
24:29 - How Telling The Truth... Led To A 20 Year Job With Steven Spielberg
35:07 - Day I Realized That CGI Was Taking Over Hollywood
49:32 - How Filmmaking Is Better Today Than It Was 30 Years Ago
1:02:47 - 12 Principles Of Animation (According To Disney)
1:31:59 - Best Movies To Watch To Learn The Craft Of Filmmaking
1:38:00 - Big Reason Why Many People Quit The Movie Business
1:46:28 - Best Way To Teach Students Filmmaking
With over 40 years in the film industry, Craig Caton-Largent is a legendary visual effects artist and the current Chair of 3D Animation & VFX at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles. He has worked on over 100 films, creating some of Hollywoods most iconic creatures, including the Slimer ghost in Ghostbusters (1984), the penguins in Batman Returns (1992), and the raptors in Jurassic Park (1993). Craig has collaborated with top directors like Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, earning six Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects. A pioneer in digital effects, Craig co-founded Digital Domain and developed groundbreaking VFX software like Animservo, used by top studios and theme parks. As the Chair of the Visual Effects and Animation Department at NYFA, Craig is dedicated to helping his students develop animation and storytelling skills that will lead to success in the industry. Craig is also a sought-after speaker on motion capture technology at film festivals and universities worldwide.
CONNECT WITH CRAIG CATON-LARGENT
https://www.nyfa.edu/3d-animation-school
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146253
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFAs global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
https://www.nyfa.edu
https://www.nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
http://www.FilmCourage.com
http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
http://bit.ly/18DPN37
PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
https://ko-fi.com/filmcourage
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join
SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
https://www.patreon.com/filmcourage
(Affiliates)
►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time
https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting https://amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
http://amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting Youll Ever Need
https://amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
http://amzn.to/2h6W3va
►FILMMAKER STARTER KIT
BLACKMAGIC Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - https://amzn.to/4gDU0s9
ZOOM H4essential 4-Track Handy Recorder - https://amzn.to/3TIon6X
SENNHEISER Professional Shotgun Microphone - https://amzn.to/3TEnLiE
NEEWER CB300B 320W LED Video Light - https://amzn.to/3XEMK6F
NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 Dimmable Ultra High Power - https://amzn.to/3XX57VK
►Stuff we use:
LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq
AUDIO
Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - https://amzn.to/3WEuz0k
*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!
#filmmaking #filmmaker #filmindustry")
