Cinemascope

Andy Bui is a Vietnamese-Chinese American filmmaker, producer, and creative entrepreneur based in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is the son of two immigrants. After years of chasing creative ideas, he found his calling in cinematography while earning a BFA in Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media at the University of New Mexico, with a summer of study at Dongguk University in Seoul.

He started Istoria Productions in 2018 and then moved into New Mexico's booming film industry. He worked in camera departments on productions including Netflix's The Harder They Fall and Blumhouse's Vengeance. Alongside that, he...

Otgadahe Whitman-Fox is known for her work in Big Sky, The Clean Lady, Duster, and most recent Marshals on CBS. She has been working  in film since 2015. Contributing her skills behind and in front of the camera. Working her way from production assistant all the way to recurring guest star and everything in between. Directing and producing her own film “We are Still Here" in collaboration with a larger film “Entanglement” produced with Voices of Women of Australia. Her film won “Best Short” in Latino & Native American Film Festival in 2023. She has attended Cannes Film Festival with Women in Film Intern...

Jeremy ReoNason is an actor, martial artist, and stunt performer located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He spent his youth and early adulthood growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania cultivating a deep love for film and on screen performances. During his college years attending The University of Pittsburgh he studied Theatre Arts and Film Studies alongside his major of Forensic Investigation and Behavioral Sciences, all of which contributed to his passion for character study and character driven storytelling. At twenty five years old he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pursue his ambition of becoming a dramatic actor. 

Jeremy a...

Sheypan Draus is a character actor born in Poland. He reads, writes and is fluent in English and Polish. Sheypan and his family moved to the U.S. in the early 80's to pursue a better life. He does not come from a theatrical background, but was given the artistic and creative gene from his mother's side. His grandfather was a painter, and although Sheypan enjoys painting, his favorite mediums to use are colored and charcoal pencils. He designed the artwork for his graduating classes, in the San Fernando Valley, CA.

Growing up, thoughts of being in...

Christian Dalton, better known simply as Dalton nowadays in New Mexico, was born in the heart of London, England. His first professional theater job came as a teenager, where he was cast as the dance captain and lead understudy for a pantomime alongside some of the UK's most loved celebrities in the 90's. That was the moment the acting bug took hold. Shortly after, Christian received a full-scholarship to an acting and musical theater college. 

With family ties to Charlie Chaplin, Christian tested the waters in stage plays, musicals, and murder mysteries across the UK and Australia. I...

Sam Quinn is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, casting director, and acting coach from Taos, New Mexico. Raised by visual artists, he developed a love for storytelling at an early age. After studying musical theatre at the Northeast School of the Arts in San Antonio, Texas, Sam earned a BFA in Acting with a minor in Contemporary Music from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design.

Sam began his career in Chicago's vibrant theater community, performing in numerous stage productions while writing and producing two original rock musicals. He later transitioned to film and television, appearing in...

In this episode, guest host Genevieve Trainor speaks with Santa Fe International Film Festival Artistic Director and Founding Member Jacques Paisner about the festival and his thoughts for independent filmmakers on getting your work seen.

The 18th annual Santa Fe International Film Festival runs October 14–19, 2026. Founded in 2009, the festival is now an Academy Award-qualifying festival for narrative, documentary and animated short films. The full 2026 schedule will be released in September.

Jacques is the former director of programming at the Jean Cocteau Cinema and has served on the Mayor’s Santa Fe Film C...

The 9th Annual Mindfield Film Festival – Albuquerque returns August 27–30, 2026, celebrating independent filmmakers from New Mexico and around the world. The four-day festival will feature an exciting lineup of feature films, short films, music videos, filmmaker networking opportunities, special events, and an awards ceremony. Mindfield is dedicated to giving emerging and established filmmakers a welcoming, professionally curated platform to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and build meaningful relationships within the film community.

Aaron Alexander is a filmmaker, producer, director, and the Executive Director of the Mindfield Film Festival – Albuquerque. As the founder of Silence Fiction Films, he develo...

Named a “2024 Rising Star of Animation” by Animation Magazine, Ashleigh Crystal Hairston is a multi-hyphenate in the truest sense of the word. She is the lead voice actress on Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, a series she also helped co-create. As a writer, story editor, and co-EP on the show, Ashleigh has helped shape its voice since its inception. She ran the writers room alongside Lindsay Katai, crafting the arc of the series and developing entirely new characters and relationships. She even served as lead writer on three episodes! 

Ashleigh is so proud to be intr...

Michael Vincent Berry is a native Houstonian LGBTQIA+ actor best known for his work in Law and Order SVU, Better Call Saul, The Cleaning Lady, Outer Range, THEM and WACO: The Aftermath. In addition to a storied career in the Theatre as an actor, Michael spent 20 years in public education as the Artistic Director and Chair of the School of Theatre at Oakland School for the Arts and The Performing Arts School - Lawrence. Among Michael’s most notable former
students are Zendaya, Bo Burnham, Tati Gabrielle, and Kehlani. Michael was inducted into his alma mater’s Hall of F...

As the Owner and Talent Agent of Mitchell & Associates Talent, Carissa Mitchell is passionate about representing exceptional talent with both heart and strategic business expertise. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a personalized approach to representation, she is committed to helping actors build lasting, successful careers while navigating an ever-evolving marketplace.

Carissa believes that great representation is about more than booking jobs—it's about building trusted relationships, advocating fiercely for her clients, and creating opportunities that align with their long-term goals. Known for combining genuine care with keen business savvy, she leads Mitchell & Associates Ta...

Lissette Nichols is half Dominican, half Panamanian, 1st generation American Actress. She is the owner and proud coach of NM Actor's Film Studio for the youth in the NM market. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a Theatre Arts Degree with an Acting emphasis for Stage acting. From there, she went on to receive her second degree in Elementary Education while she continued to inspire children to bring out their special gifts in performing arts. For years, while growing her family, she wrote, produced, directed, and choreographed children's Christmas musicals. She built an amazing production team using...

Carol Skipwith joined the film community of New Mexico in 2012. Her first introduction was portraying a background actor on Better Call Saul. Her reaction “I was hooked.” She began sharing her talents for photography by shooting pictures at networking events. Word got around about her remarkable eye and her journey providing headshots for actors throughout Albuquerque began and has grown to thousands in her portfolio. According to Skipwith, “Not only did the film industry give me a new direction I never dreamed of, but it would also bless me with so many people who accepted me as family. ”She eventual...

Tara was a bright and vibrant actress, with many friends in the community. She is deeply missed by her family and friends. This episode of Cinema Scope honors her and features a past interview from 2020. 

Tara Levine's extensive experience taught her to be patient and understanding, but never settle for less than excellence. Her deep love and passion for acting and production began in the theatre at the ripe age of 4 years old. She was the featured child in "The King and I", in her hometown in northern California. She briefly put aside her acting pursuits as s...

Theo Avgerinos is a Greek-American filmmaker, director, and photographer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He's been behind a camera since he was a kid with his dad's Super 8mm, and the pattern has been consistent ever since: get interested in someone's story, then figure out how to tell it.

A 2000 graduate of Bucknell University, where he co-founded the school's first student film production company and established its first interdepartmental Cinema Studies major, Theo has directed three independent feature films. His debut, Fifty Pills, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival with a cast including Kristen Bell, Jane...

Nathan Shields is a tutor at St. John's College, Santa Fe. His education and accomplishments include: BM, Music Composition, New England Conservatory of Music, 2006; MM, DMA, Music Composition, the Juilliard School, 2013; Faculty, Department of Music History, the Juilliard School, 2013-16; Associate Faculty, Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, 2013-present; Charles Ives Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Letters, 2014; Fellow, Tanglewood Music Center, 2015; Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, St. Olaf College, 2016-17; Fellow, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, 2022-23; Tutor, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, 2023-present.

Alexandra Boylan is a dynamic award-winning filmmaker, writer, producer, and actress who has been trailblazing through Hollywood for nearly two decades. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Boylan is known for her fearless pursuit of meaningful content. In addition to her numerous acting credits, Alexandra co-created The Boylan Sisters Production Company, a successful film studio that focuses on faith-based, family-friendly content. Their first feature-length film, Catching Faith, streamed on Netflix for two years and has spawned a sequel, as well as paved the way for other critically acclaimed movies such as The Greatest Inheritance and Switched. Their latest venture, Identity...

Hassanen Attabi is an Iraqi-American actor, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and award-winning cinematographer dedicated to bringing bold, underrepresented stories to the screen. Born in Baghdad shortly before the Iraq War, he immigrated to Chicago, where his journey from immigrant to U.S. Marine helped shape the grounded, intelligent presence he brings to every role.

After enlisting in the Marine Corps, he served with distinction and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. During his time in uniform, he honed his storytelling skills behind the camera, earning a Gold Telly Award for his cinematography on the widely praised 247...

Brandon Scott Jensen is a multi-internationally award-winning artist who has worked professionally in film, television, and theatre for more than 20 years with more than 40 credits under his belt. He is also the creator of the graphic novel series Lunaria, as well as the writer, director, composer and lyricist for several brand new musical productions. His website is jensentertainment.com

David Carl holds a Master's Degree in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and has been teaching philosophy, film, and literature as part of the Great Books program at St. John’s College in Santa Fe for the past 26 years.

He is currently the Dean for Graduate Programs at St. John’s and works extensively with the College’s adult education programs. 

He has written and lectured on the films of David Lynch and Film Noir as well as on the poetry of William Blake, Wallace Stevens, and Gertrude Stein and the philosophy of Scho...

J Diego Gonçalves, a talented Brazilian Actor and Filmmaker. His passion for the world of cinema has been a driving force since his early years. In pursuit of his artistic dreams, Gonçalves made the decision to move to Los Angeles in 2013 and immerse himself in English and Film School. This experience not only improved his language skills but also deepened his understanding of filmmaking. Gonçalves actively works in diverse movie productions, showcasing his versatile talents both in front of and behind the camera.

Steven Ray Byrd is an actor, social media influencer, and former U.S. Army medic who has built a loyal audience of over 645,000 followers on TikTok through his relatable humor and authentic storytelling. A devoted father, he brings real-life experience and heart into everything he creates, while also using his platform to make an impact... most notably as a strong voice in the movement to help save the film “Coyote vs. Acme.” 

Gary Mazeffa is a filmmaker and the founder of Q2 Films. He is the writer and director of Asherah: A Love Odyssey, a mythic cinematic experience exploring love, consciousness, and humanity’s role in shaping its own future.

Blending Western and Eastern traditions, his work focuses on experiential storytelling—inviting audiences into stories that are felt as much as they are understood. Asherah marks the beginning of an expanding narrative universe, with future chapters already in development.

Mazeffa is currently based in Florida and is spending time in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on a creative sabb...

We return with an interview with John Morello, who has been on stage as an actor and storyteller for over 20 years. At one time a high-school dropout, he now holds degrees in Theatre Arts and Broadcasting. His performances of the one-man show, Dirt have been critically acclaimed by the New York Times and as an author, he has published a graphic novel and a poetry memoir titled, Buckshot Words. A multi-faceted performer John frequently takes roles in stage plays, films, performs as a poet, and recently was featured on PBS' Stories From The Stage. Most recently he performed a...

John Morello has been on stage as an actor and storyteller for over 20 years. At one time a high-school dropout, he now holds degrees in Theatre Arts and Broadcasting. His performances of the one-man show, Dirt have been critically acclaimed by the New York Times and as an author, he has published a graphic novel and a poetry memoir titled, Buckshot Words. A multi-faceted performer John frequently takes roles in stage plays, films, performs as a poet, and recently was featured on PBS' Stories From The Stage. Most recently he performed a groundbreaking theatrical adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s...

Tantoo Cardinal is an extraordinarily talented Native Canadian actress, with an illustrious career spanning five decades. She is known for the films Dances with Wolves, Legends of the Fall, Smoke Signals, and Killers of the Flower Moon. She is of Cree and Métis heritage. She is a founding member of The Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. In 2009 Tantoo was honored with the Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to the growth and development of Aboriginal performing arts in Canada, as a screen and stage actress, and as a founding member of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company". I...

Greg Farinelli SAG-AFTRA is a Film and Television Actor from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been working in the film industry since 2016. Some of his credits include a recurring role in the TV Series Roswell New Mexico for The CW. Other credits include Outer Range, Macgruber, Duster, and Interrogation. Special thanks to his agent Tina Presley. 

Kirk Ellis won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, a WGA Award, a Peabody and the Humanitas Prize for his work on the HBO miniseries John Adams. The miniseries won a record-breaking 13 Primetime Emmys in total, as well as four Golden Globe awards. Previously, Ellis received an Emmy nomination and won the WGA Award and Humanitas Prize for the ABC miniseries Anne Frank, which he wrote and co-produced. Miniseries on which he has served as writer and producer, including Into the West, and Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows have received more than 50 Emmy nominations. Upcoming feature projects...

Jamie H. Jung is an English-American actor, he is known for his recurring role as Agent Henry Minor on the 2025 HBO Max show "Duster" starring Josh Holloway. Other highlights include work on FX's "Grotesquerie," The CW's "Roswell New Mexico," Prime Video's "Outer Range" and "Them: Covenant," and El Rey Network's "Rebel Without A Crew: The Series." Jung is a screenwriter and producer operating Keep Pushing Pictures Inc in Albuquerque, NM. Visit JamieHJung.com or KPPFilmProduction.com to learn more. He is starring in the play Eureka Day at the Fusion Theatre in Albuquerque.

01/30/2026 with Jeremy ReoNason

Sean Perez started his performing career in 2004 when he first joined his High School's Rock Eisteddfod team. Being part of this dance team set him on his path to performance. He continued his dance training since specialising in L.A. Style Salsa & Latin American/Ballroom (with Karen Rufus & Diane Smedley), Commercial JFH & Music Theatre (jazz/tap/ballet).

In 2007, Sean studied at The Western Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW and graduated with a Cert IV in Musical Theatre. This then allowed him to attend The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Mackay, QLD where he...

Genevieve is a film and media strategist and on-camera and voiceover actor.

In late 2022, she began volunteering in eastern Ukraine — initially as a one-time trip to better understand and document life near the frontline so she could communicate those realities to Western audiences. The experience was life-changing, and she has since split her time between the U.S. and Ukraine.

She is currently hosting and producing the upcoming NMPBS TV series ¡COLORES! Ukraine: Art, Belief and Resistance, which explores the role of arts and culture in Ukraine’s resistance. She also serves as the City of Al...

Drew Lopez is a New Mexican actor and director, known for the short film Sunset and his feature film Riley: You're Never Out the Fight, which he also directed. His short film The Way We Carry Water is in film festivals and will screen at the upcoming Las Cruces International Film Festival.  

Drew is from a small town; Las Cruces, New Mexico. He and his family moved around a lot as a child but eventually they found their way back to Las Cruces. Drew enjoys being outdoors and playing sports. He picked these hobbies because of the c...

Piyush Gupta is an Indian-American actor whose journey has been a bit of a scenic route.
 
 Piyush was born and raised in a small town in India so, obviously, it started with an engineering degree. With no Bollywood connections and only an American dream in his pocket, Piyush moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2016 for graduate school and started building a new life from scratch. In sweet North Carolina, Piyush earned his dual master's in international business, which came with the opportunity to study at a French business school in Paris.
 
 Piyush has pursued acting oppo...

Writer and Executive Producer of recently released A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS, Catherine Fridey was born in Paris and grew up in Chicago. She co-wrote her original story ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS, the first Christmas film on Hallmark with lead Latino characters and actors. Most of her feature and television scripts have placed in notable competitions/festivals. She’s also written and produced several shorts, two of which she directed. OVERTURNED BUCKET is a proof of concept based on an award-winning New Mexico memoir by Rose Spader. Based on her family’s experiences during WWII, she co-produced, wrote, and is the lead...

Anna Elizabeth James is a top director, writer and producer who first caught the filmmaking bug after being given the opportunity to create her own TV show in junior high school. Ever since then Anna has had an insatiable desire to collaborate and bring artists together towards a common goal.  Anna finds great satisfaction in supporting other artists whom she believes in, especially if the project provides an opportunity for her to create dynamic roles for women. 

 Her films include Held Hostage in my House (available now on Netflix) and Deadly Illusions, which was a no.1 hit on...

Born in South Korea, adopted at 3 months where he was raised in Grand Rapids Michigan. Kevin started his martial arts training at the age of 5. At the age of 12, he was first in the state of Michigan for Forms and Sparring. Second in the state of Michigan for weapons. After earning his black belt in Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate, he decided to explore other martial arts including Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do.

In 2008, Kevin decided to move to Los Angeles California for acting. Through his training at LACC Theatre Academy he had the...

Courtney Glass is an English Professor who runs the Pluribus fan group on Facebook and the YouTube channel Courtney's Reviews. She also likes cats!

Alex Quiros is a fan of hard science fiction, and of Vince Gilligan. She has a penchant for analysis, a BA in English Lit, and moderates another fan group on Facebook. She also loves cats, but they make her sneeze.  

George Demetrides is 45 years old. Born and raised in Maryland and have lived there all his life. He works as a project manager during the day but also a musician and a...

Cheri Montesanto is a three-time Emmy Award–winning makeup artist and Makeup & Hairstyling Award honoree whose career in film and television spans decades of innovation, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Entering the entertainment industry at just 17 years old, she quickly established herself as a dynamic creative force, bringing depth, texture, and emotional resonance to every character she touches.

Her diverse body of work reflects both her versatility and her mastery of character-driven design. Her credits range from iconic films such as RoboCop 2 and Forces of Nature to culturally defining television series including The X-Files, CSI: Miami, Better Call Saul, an...

Dr. Paul Heinzelmann is a  Primary Care doctor trained in Public health who was pulled into the world of film sets when tax incentives brought film work to Massachusetts. His observations as an outsider reveal a workplace in need of reform. He produced the movie Safe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry, where he investigates hazardous working conditions in Hollywood, and discovers untold stories of enormous personal sacrifice and life-threatening risks.