Jeff Buchanan — The Art of the Edit: Collaborating With Spike Jonze & Michel Gondry
Release Date: 10/14/2025
Josh Shelton — Inside the Heart of Sundance: Story, Risk, and Vision
We Are Official Podcast
Josh Shelton is a producer, director, and writer dedicated to bringing groundbreaking stories to life. Currently working with Sundance, Josh is helping shape the future of independent film and documentary by supporting visionary creators and projects that push boundaries. Previously, he produced episodes of We Are the Champions and Religion of Sports, acclaimed series that reveal the depth of human passion through competition and culture. Across all his work, Josh has shown a knack for uncovering the extraordinary within the everyday, crafting narratives that spark curiosity and...
info_outline
Dave Bushore — Redefining Storytelling in the Age of VR
We Are Official Podcast
Dave Bushore is a director, producer, and brand creative pushing the boundaries of how we experience stories. With a career spanning film, experiential marketing, and immersive media, Dave has become a pioneer at the cutting edge of immersive storytelling. His work blends cinematic vision with emerging technologies, creating worlds that don’t just entertain—they transport. In this conversation, Dave opens up about his journey from traditional filmmaking to crafting fully immersive virtual experiences, the creative risks and rewards of building stories in 360°, and where he sees the future...
info_outline
Jeff Buchanan — The Art of the Edit: Collaborating With Spike Jonze & Michel Gondry
We Are Official Podcast
Jeff Buchanan’s career as an editor has been nothing short of extraordinary. Known for his long-time collaborations with visionary directors Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze, Jeff has helped shape some of the most inventive and genre-defying films and music videos of our time. His work seamlessly blends artistry, rhythm, and emotion—turning raw footage into unforgettable cinematic experiences. In this episode, Jeff takes us inside his journey from early breaks in the industry to becoming a trusted creative partner to two of cinema’s most original voices. He shares stories from the...
info_outline
Mariana van Zeller — Inside the Underworld with a Peabody Award-Winning Journalist
We Are Official Podcast
Mariana van Zeller has built her career by venturing into some of the world’s most dangerous black markets and criminal underworlds. A Peabody Award–winning journalist and the fearless host of National Geographic’s acclaimed series Trafficked, she has been focused on uncovering the human stories behind global illicit trades. In this episode, Mariana shares harrowing accounts from the field—moments when risk and danger were ever-present—and how she balances personal safety with the pursuit of truth. She also opens up about her unique storytelling approach: building trust with...
info_outline
TRAILER // We Are Official Podcast Season II
We Are Official Podcast
Season II of The We Are Official Podcast is coming! Mariana van Zeller takes us inside the world’s black markets, chasing truth with empathy and grit. Jeff Buchanan shows us how storytelling takes shape in the edit room, drawing from years of collaboration with Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry. Josh Shelton pulls back the curtain on life at Sundance, where he helps independent voices find their audience. And Dave Bushore brings us into the future where storytelling, technology, and imagination collide in his latest VR worlds. It’s a season about curiosity, craft, and the people who...
info_outline
Director Carlyn Hudson
We Are Official Podcast
Commercial and narrative filmmaker Carlyn Hudson swung by the Official studio to talk shop with hosts Mark Rinehart, Tony Franklin, and Matthew Sultan. Carlyn Hudson is a left-of-center comedy director and writer from a little bitty town in Texas who now calls Los Angeles home. Her horror/comedy short WAFFLE premiered in competition at SXSW in 2020 and has since been played on thousands of laptops (and hopefully a few TV screens) across the globe, picking up multiple best director awards in the process. Another reviewer compared her to Jordan Peele but she's too embarrassed to cite that one...
info_outline
Director Sam French
We Are Official Podcast
Director Sam French graced us with is presence at the Official Studios in Atwater Village to talk some shop with hosts @rinestar, @tony_franklin, and @sultanavicci. An Oscar-nominated filmmaker and founding director of the documentary production company Development Pictures, Sam’s work has appeared on HBO, BBC, CNN, Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera, National Geographic, and other broadcast outlets. Sam spent five years in Afghanistan, where he directed the Oscar-nominated narrative short film . His documentary , about two Afghan women fighting for their freedom after being imprisoned for...
info_outline
Director Jordan Brady
We Are Official Podcast
The illustrious director Jordan Brady dropped by the Official studios () in Atwater Village to talk shop with hosts Matt Sultan, Tony Franklin and Mark Rinehart. Jordan began as a stand-up comedian touring nightclubs and colleges across America. A 100% self-taught filmmaker, he’s directed four narrative feature films, three full documentaries and over 1200 national & regional commercials and Maria Bamford’s acclaimed Netflix Comedy Special.. Jordan directs advertising campaigns for brands and agencies from all over the world. Given his background, it’s no surprise he has directed...
info_outline
Director Oren Kaplan
We Are Official Podcast
Commercial and narrative filmmaker Oren Kaplan swung by the Official studio to talk shop with hosts Mark Rinehart, Tony Franklin, and Matthew Sultan. Oren is a commercial and narrative filmmaker that grew up in Israel and now lives in LA. He's directed commercials for some of your favorite things, like Delimex Taquitos, Nestle Drumsticks, Jeeps, Lotteries, Concussions, Tax Firms and even Toasty Quiznos Subs, where he also served as a creative director. On the narrative end he directed a bunch of episodic shows for Disney, Turner, Comedy Central, and Verizon. Oren’s debut feature, THE...
info_outline
Cinematographer Lucas Gath
We Are Official Podcast
Cinematographer Lucas Gath came to the Official Studio to talk shop with hosts Mark Rinehart, Tony Franklin, and Matt Sultan. Lucas Gath is a filmmaker and visual artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina. His work has taken him to more than 80 countries shooting feature films, documentaries, Virtual Reality films, and commercials and working with Spike Jonze, Luca Guadagnino, and Lucy Walker among others. His recent projects have been at the Sundance film festival, SXSW, Cannes, NYT, HBO, BBC, and Netflix.The crisp quality of his camera work has resulted in an extensive and diverse reel,...
info_outlineJeff Buchanan’s career as an editor has been nothing short of extraordinary. Known for his long-time collaborations with visionary directors Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze, Jeff has helped shape some of the most inventive and genre-defying films and music videos of our time. His work seamlessly blends artistry, rhythm, and emotion—turning raw footage into unforgettable cinematic experiences.
In this episode, Jeff takes us inside his journey from early breaks in the industry to becoming a trusted creative partner to two of cinema’s most original voices. He shares stories from the cutting room, insights into the delicate dance between editor and director, and how he approaches storytelling with both precision and playfulness.
Whether you’re a film buff, aspiring editor, or simply curious about the creative process behind iconic work, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a career built on vision, trust, and collaboration.
OFFICIAL is a production company located in Los Angeles. www.weareofficial.com