EP 411: The Composer and the Sound Designer

This is the last episode in our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as we have.

We’re already working on season 5 and we have some very interesting episodes lined up for you, so be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss an episode. 

For this final episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Jeff Pitts, the sound designer, and Haim Mazar the composer of Gray Matter. They talked about how the music and sound work together, how they differentiate and it is striking how amazing it is to talk to people who are able to put words to things that are actually very difficult to put into words.

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EP 410: The Post Production Process

We are getting close to the end of our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401.

For this penultimate episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Erica Djafroodi, the post supervisor, and Byron Wong, the editor. We talked about how this was different from other jobs they've done and how it was working with a director who is also an editor.

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EP 409: The Production Sound Mixer and Video Assist Operator

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401.  

In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Savanna Peters who is a video assist operator & Sara Glaser who is a production sound mixer. Both of these women are in very male dominated positions and departments and they share how they’ve navigated that, along with telling us all about the jobs and the challenges of filming a movie within a tv show.

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EP 408: The Costume Designer and Hair Stylist

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. 

In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Rhonda O'Neal, the hair stylist, and Rahimah Yoba the wardrobe designer. Let's just say, it’s a miracle they even took this job, considering the phone call from the UPM seemed very suspicious...but we’ll let them explain. 

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EP 407: The Production Department

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. 

In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with UPM Corey Sklov, Production Supervisor Miranda Pacheco and Assistant Production Office Coordinator (APOC) Fiona Widerman. There was a lot to unpack here, with logistics, night shoots, and contending with another production team on the other side of the wall.

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EP 406: The Cinematographer and the Gaffer

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. 

In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with cinematographer Andrew Jeric and Gaffer Matt Hadley. These guys are going to tell how they did so much with so little to work with, budget-wise. Basically, technology is your friend.

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EP 405: The Locations, Stunts and Transportation Departments

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping new episodes every day, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. 

In this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with location manager Yvette Yurcisin, stunt coordinator Dee Bryant and then later, transportation coordinator Sandra Ninham. These jobs are way more stressful than you might think, and these roles are not typically held by women, but these women came through with flying colors

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EP 404: The Art Department

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes.

In this episode Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Production Designer, Martina Buckley, Set Decorator, Vince Rodriquez, and Set Dresser, Joel Newton. We learn all about Martina’s philosophy of Method Art Department, along with all of their other budget indie adventures in the art department.

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EP 403: The Table Read

This is a real quick bonus episode where you get an inside sneak peek on what really went on at the table read of Gray Matter, from the perspective of Meko Winbush, the director, and Jeanette Volturno and Yolanda T. Cochran, the producers. Let me tell you, it was not typical and not what they expected. 

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EP 402: A Lead Actor and the Casting Director

We are continuing our Project Greenlight series where we talk to the cast and crew of Gray Matter, the film inside of Project Greenlight, and get the real behind the scenes of the behind the scenes. We’re dropping these pretty fast, so if you want to start at the beginning, go back and start with episode 401. 

For this episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with Jessica Frances Dukes who plays Ayla in the film and Seth Yanklewitz, the casting director. This was such a juicy conversation, full of great advice for actors, it will stick with you. You’re in for a treat. 

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EP 401: The Producers and the Director

This season is going to be such a special treat. This is the Catch a Break - Project Greenlight season. Hopefully, as a listener of this show, you are also aware of the show, Project Greenlight, and if not, go watch it now on Max. Project Greenlight is a docu-follow show of the making of an independent film by an emerging director. Well, lucky us, one of our founders, Jeanette Volturno was a producer on this season of the film inside of Project Greenlight, called Gray Matter, along with her producing partner and new friend of Catch a Break, but old friend to all of us, Yolanda T. Cochran. This has given us a front row seat to the behind the scenes of the behind the scenes and all the things the show didn’t show. Very meta.  

These episodes are not directly tied to the series episodes so you can binge both in no particular order, and we just can’t be worried about any spoilers. It’s all out there. Listen at your own risk! 

For this opening episode, Julie Harris Oliver sat down with the Director of Gray Matter, Meko Winbush, along with the Producers Jeanette Volturno and Yolanda T. Cochran. They talk about what it was like to work on this film with cameras in their faces, the challenges of making an indie film, and what they are most proud of through this process.  

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