Shows
The Season - An FYCit PodcastThe Season Salutes & Betting on Hollywood's Big Night w/ Johnny Avello, Oscars Betting Expert, DraftKingsIn this season finale of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich delves into the intricacies of Oscars betting with Johnny Avello, Director of Race and Sports Book Operations at DraftKings. He shares his perspective as an Oscars betting expert on everything from setting odds to when they make adjustments and the significance of precursor awards on the lines. Next up in this special episode is a comprehensive season recap with FYCit Field Agent Tony Miros, highlighting memorable moments, best screening rooms, and receptions. Tony and Ryland hand out the Season Salutes for various categories like Best Q&A and Best...2025-02-271h 03The Season - An FYCit PodcastThe Keys to Documentary Awards Success w/ Chris Albert, Docu Awards Guru & Albert Media, CEOOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews Chris Albert, a documentary awards guru who spent more than 20 years at National Geographic before leaving to found Albert Media Group. Chris discussed his experiences leading Oscar and Emmy-winning campaigns for Free Solo and this year’s nominee, Porcelain War, as well as insights on why craft still matters when it comes to making successful documentaries. The conversation also covers the importance of festival premieres, the role of distribution strategies, and finding champions within the documentary community to advocate for films. This episode offers a little extra awards season pe...2025-02-2051 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastMastering Shadows, Light, & Awards Season w/ Jarin Blaschke, Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer of NosferatuOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich is joined by Jarin Blaschke, Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Nosferatu, to discuss his experiences with awards season as a two-time nominee. Back now after his previous nomination for The Lighthouse, Jarin shares what goes into his acclaimed work with his longtime collaborator, Director Robert Eggers, including some behind-the-scenes insights from the making of this year’s vampire epic. The conversation also covers Jarin’s thoughts on how his meticulous cinematography might be received by awards voters, what other genres he’d like to work in, and why he prefers working on films...2025-02-1329 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastInstrumental Innovation on the Path to Awards w/ Volker Bertelmann, Oscar Winner & Nominated Composer of ConclaveOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich sits down with Volker Bertelmann, Oscar Winner and Nominated Composer of Conclave. Their conversation covers Bertelmann's experience composing for films like Conclave and his winning effort for All Quiet on the Western Front, his collaborations with director Edward Berger, and insights into his creative process. Volker describes the challenges and rewards of awards season, the pressure to meet expectations, and his method of infusing unique instruments and sounds into his scores that have helped lead to his awards success. . Show Notes: 2025-02-0641 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastMPSE's Golden Reel Awards & Promoting Sound in Film w/ David Barber, President of Motion Picture Sound EditorsOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews David Barber, President of Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE), to discuss sound design in film and television. The episode explores the unique peer-voted nature of the Golden Reel Awards, MPSE's efforts to promote sound editing awareness and international expansion, as well as mentoring and support for emerging talent. They also touch on the impact of industry strikes, the role of AI in sound editing, and David's personal dedication to advancing the field via his role as President of MPSE. . Show Notes: (00:00) W...2025-01-1640 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastSounds of Awards Season w/ Will Files, Oscar-Nominated Sound Designer & MixerIn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews acclaimed sound designer, editor, and mixer Will Files. The discussion covers Will's impressive career, his approach to sound design, and his recent work on multiple award-contending films, including Alien: Romulus and Saturday Night. Will shares insights into the technical and artistic aspects of sound design, the challenges of working on legacy franchises such as his Oscar-nominated work in The Batman, and his experiences during past awards seasons. . Show Notes: (01:40) Introducing Will Files (02:29) Will Files on His Busy Se...2025-01-0941 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastHow to Throw an Awards-Worthy Event w/ Jerry Rojas, EVP for Awards & Events at Shelter PRIn this episode, The Season host, Ryland Aldrich, kicks off the new year with Jerry Rojas, EVP at Shelter PR for Awards and Events. He has helped craft campaigns for celebrated films such as The Theory of Everything, Milk, Dallas Buyers Club, American Fiction and many more. Jerry shares invaluable insights into the intricate world of awards events and campaigns, including strategies for Oscar and Golden Globe success, the role of tastemakers, and the evolving landscape of awards campaigning. . Show Notes: (03:05) Jerry Rojas on Awards Campaigns (04:51) The Role of Ta...2025-01-0239 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastCrafting Oscar-Winning Costumes w/ Legendary Costume Designer, Deborah L. ScottOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich hosts an insightful conversation with Oscar-winning costume designer Deborah L. Scott. Known for her work on iconic films like E.T., Heat, and Back to the Future, Deborah discussed her storied career, the evolving role of digital costume design in film, and the impact of technology and social media on the awards season. She shares personal anecdotes from her Oscar-winning work on Titanic and the challenges faced in the production of the Avatar films. Show Notes: (02:03) Introducing Deborah L. Scott (03:10) De...2024-12-1937 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastForecasting Awards Season w/ Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter's Executive Editor for AwardsOn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich delves into the intricacies of predicting awards season with Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter's Executive Editor for Awards. We dive into why he’s been dubbed an 'awards oracle' as Scott explains his methodology for creating the Feinberg Forecast, the influence of various factors on Oscar predictions, and the changing dynamics within the Academy. Additionally, the episode features an analysis of how a global voting body and the rise of streaming platforms are impacting awards and broader industry trends. Show Notes: (02:57) Introducing Scot...2024-12-1247 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastBootstrapping an Awards Campaign w/ Vanessa Hope, Director & Producer, Invisible NationIn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich speaks with director and producer Vanessa Hope about the grassroots awards campaign for her documentary, Invisible Nation. They discuss navigating a challenging festival circuit and the strategy as independent filmmakers behind the doc’s Oscar push. Vanessa also shared her experience gaining unparalleled access to politicians in Taiwan, her filmmaking journey, and how the Academy Awards remain the gold standard across the globe. Show Notes: (00:34) Latest Awards News (01:46) Conversation with Vanessa Hope Begins (03:50) Self Distributing the Documentary ...2024-12-0535 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastThe State of Awards Tech and How to Find Your Screener w/ Vision Media CEO Jason DeadrichThis episode of The Season podcast, hosted by Ryland Aldrich, features a deep dive discussion with Jason Deadrich, CEO of Vision Media, about the evolution of screener distribution and the impact of technology on awards season campaigns. It covers the transition from physical to digital screeners, the role of secure digital media, and how they plan to use their platform, Screener Passport, to create the best possible user experience for awards voters and film aficionados at large. Show Notes: (03:43) The Role of Mailing Houses in Hollywood (06:26) Transition to Digital Sc...2024-11-2743 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastThe 75th Eddie Awards & ACE's Global Support for Editors w/ Jenni McCormick, Exec. Director of American Cinema EditorsIn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich interviews Jenni McCormick, the Executive Director of the American Cinema Editors (ACE). They discuss the upcoming 75th Eddie Awards, the importance of recognizing various film editing categories, and how ACE has evolved over the years to stay current with industry trends. In addition, Jenni shares ACE’s initiatives to grow the next generation of film editors with programs locally and globally to offer mentorship and education opportunities. Show Notes: (00:36) Latest Headlines from the Awards Circuit (02:24) Conversation with Jenni McCormick Begins 2024-11-2139 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastRepresentation in Awards Season w/ John Griffiths, Executive Director, GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics & Producer, Dorian AwardsIn this episode of The Season podcast, host Ryland Aldrich sits down with John Griffiths, Executive Director of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics and Producer of the Dorian Awards. Together, they explore the origins of the Dorian Awards and GALECA's mission to honor diverse voices in entertainment. The conversation delves into the unique challenges queer voices face in a media landscape with shrinking opportunities for sustainable careers. From the strides made to the work that lies ahead, Ryland and John consider what the future holds for GALECA and the ongoing pursuit of authentic representation in entertainment journalism. 2024-11-1432 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastIlluminating Cinematography Awards w/ ASC GM Delphine Figueras & American Cinematographer Editor-in-Chief Stephen PizzelloIn this episode of The Season, host Ryland Aldrich sits down with Delphine Figueras, General Manager of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), and Stephen Pizzello, Editor-in-Chief of American Cinematographer magazine. They delve into the ASC’s influential role in awards season, exploring how their work champions cinematography as an art form. From initiatives like Clubhouse Conversations to their contributions to the ASC Awards, Delphine and Stephen share insights on celebrating the craft. They also discuss the Camerimage Film Festival’s impact in spotlighting exceptional cinematography along the awards trail. Show Notes: (02...2024-11-0734 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastEvolving a Film Festival Into an Awards Circuit Stop w/ SCAD Savannah Film Fest Executive Director Christina RouthierIn this episode, host Ryland Aldrich sits down with Christina Routhier, the Executive Director of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, to explore the festival's evolution over the past two decades. Christina shares how the festival has grown from a platform for SCAD students into a key stop on the awards season circuit, thanks to a conscious effort to position it as a special event for industry insiders and awards voters. She recounts the early challenges of building relationships with studios and agencies, the festival's unique connection to the vibrant SCAD student body, and the personal pride she feels in...2024-10-3127 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastThe Invisible Magic of VFX w/ Award-Winning VFX Supervisor Eric DurstIn this week's episode of The Season, we sit down with Emmy and VES Award-winning visual effects supervisor Eric Durst. Eric shares his journey through some of the most iconic projects in film and television, from working on Bong Joon-ho's Snowpiercer to his award-winning work on the Apple TV+ series Five Days at Memorial. He also reflects on the evolving landscape of VFX campaigning and takes us behind the scenes of the VFX Bake-Off process. Eric offers a unique insider perspective on the world of visual effects and awards season. Show Notes: 2024-10-2436 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastHow to Win Every Time w/ Film & TV Music Awards Strategist Ray CostaIn this episode of The Season, we’re joined by Ray Costa, a Film & TV Music Awards Strategist who has shaped award-winning campaigns for over 30 years. Ray has worked with artists like Billie Eilish, Elton John, and Lady Gaga, crafting unconventional strategies to get their music in front of voters. He shares his unique approach, from organizing one-of-a-kind events to navigating the emotional highs and lows of awards season. Ray dives into the thrill of victories, the sting of setbacks, and how taking risks has been key to his long-term success. With decades of experience, Ray offers a behind-the-scenes lo...2024-10-1726 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastMaking Awards Shows Entertaining w/ Writers Guild Awards EP Hugh FinkOur guest this week is Hugh Fink, Executive Producer of the Writers Guild Awards, stand-up comedian, and Emmy-winning SNL writer. Hugh takes us behind the scenes of producing award shows, sharing insights on navigating comedy in front of live audiences, the challenges of booking the right hosts, and why he believes the Writers Guild Awards is “the most entertaining awards show not on television.” He also reflects on his early days writing for the ESPY Awards, working alongside iconic comedians like David Spade and Dennis Miller, and some thoughts on SNL at 50. Show Notes: 2024-10-1026 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastTIFF, Awards Journalism, and more w/ The Ankler's Katey RichOur guest is Katey Rich, the Awards Editor at The Ankler and host of the Prestige Junkie podcast for this inaugural episode of The Season. We take a dive deep into Katey's recent experiences at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), breaking down audience reactions, standout films, and the ripple effect of the People's Choice Award on the Oscars race. Katey also shares insights on running a TV and film awards-focused podcast, from hosting live events to navigating the challenges of journalism in the awards circuit. Show Notes: (00:06) Welcome to The Season 2024-10-0340 minThe Season - An FYCit PodcastTrailer Announcing the new FYCit Podcast, The Season. If you’re part of the industry—or just curious about how it all works—this is the show that examines the nuts and bolts of the awards machinery. We’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes: the strategies driving campaigns and the personal experiences and challenges of running the awards circuit gauntlet. Featuring highlights from upcoming guests Writer's Guild Awards EP Hugh Fink, Film & TV Music Publicist Ray Costa, and The Ankler Awards Editor Katey Rich.2024-09-2501 min