Making the Transition from Unscripted to Narrative

This four part series will feature camera operators who have successfully moved from careers in unscripted, reality and documentary to scripted episodic television and narrative feature films. Operators in the series have worked as full-time operators on Captain Marvel, Shameless, Insecure, Chicago Fire, Little Fires Everywhere, Snowfall, The Rookie, Mayans, Gotham, Succession, GLOW, Entourage, The Office, Parks & Rec, Brooklyn 99 and more.

 
Each week will feature three operators who will share their story of making the shift as well as offer insightful tips and information they learned along the way. Week three will include the DP’s perspective. During the 90 minute session, there will also be ample Q&A time to ask questions.
Recordings of these sessions will be made available soon through Vimeo.

Live sessions are open and recorded for future use for membership, in the member portal.

Stephen Coleman

Unscripted Credits:
CBS: The Amazing Race
ABC: Wipeout

CW: Americas’s Next Top Model

Scripted Credits:

BET: The Real Husband’s of Hollywood
Tru TV: Those Who Can’t
Facebook Watch: The Real Brothers of Simi Valley

Sarah Levy, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
NBC: Apprentice
ABC: The Bachelor
CW: America’s Next Top Model
 
Scripted Credits:
Feature: Captain Marvel
Hulu: Little Fires Everywhere
Netflix: GLOW

Gretchen Warthen, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
Netflix: Circus of Books
Lifetime: Project Runway
Showtime: The Real L Word
 
Scripted Credits:
ABC: Splitting Up Together
BET: Kevin Hart’s Real Husbands of Hollywood
Comedy Central: Another Period

Live sessions are open and recorded for future use for membership, in the member portal.

Alan Pierce, SOC

Unscripted credits:
CBS: Survivor
A&E: Paranormal State
CW: America’s Next Top Model
 
Scripted Credits:
Feature: Winter’s Bone
FOX: Gotham
HBO: Succession

Matt Valentine, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
NBC: Get Out Alive w/Bear Grylls
Bravo: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Showtime: The Circus
 
Scripted Credits:
Showtime: Shameless
NBC: Chicago Fire
USA: Queen of the South

Mande Whitaker, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
NBC: Fear Factor
ABC: Wipeout
FOX: LEGO Masters
 
Scripted Credits:
FX:  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
TruTV: Those Who Can’t, Season 3
Nickelodeon: Ryan’s Mystery Play Date

Live sessions are open and recorded for future use for membership, in the member portal.

Pauline Edwards, SOC

Unscripted credits:
Disney+: Encore!
Netflix: Rhythm + Flow
Lifetime: Bring It
 
Scripted credits:
FX: Snowfall, S4
Netflix: On My Block, S2
Netflix: Huge In France, S1

Vanessa Joy Smith, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
Netflix: Dave Chappelle: The Bird Revelation
MTV: Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory

SyFy: Destination Truth

 
Scripted Credits:
FX: Mayans MC
NBC: Chicago Fire
ABC: Stumptown

Maddox Upshaw

Unscripted Credits:
TV One: R&B Diva LA
Bravo: Queer Eye For the Straight Girl
YouTube: No Budget Gourmet
HBO: When The Levees Broke
 
Scripted DP Credits:
FX: Snowfall
FOX: Empire
Netflix: On My Block

Live sessions are open and recorded for future use for membership, in the member portal.

Brian Freesh, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
Oxygen: The World According To Paris
NBC: American Ninja Warrior
HGTV: Natural Born Sellers
 
Scripted Credits:
MTV: Faking It
ABC: The Rookie
Film: All The Bright Places

Kenny Niernberg, SOC

Unscripted Credits:
Food Network: Beat Bobby Flay
Lifetime: Project Runway
NBC: Making It
 
Scripted Credits:
HBO: Insecure
ABC: The Rookie
NBC: Better Late Than Never

Lauren Peele

Scripted Credits:
Quibi: Dummy, A Cam 1st AC
Tribeca: Marvelous and the Black Hole
ABC: The Rookie

Unscripted Credits:
Travel Channel: Portals to Hell, Season 1
We tv: Marriage Bootcamp: Reality Stars, Seasons 9,10,11
Animal Planet: Crikey! It’s the Erwins!

Live sessions are open to the community and recorded for future use for the membership in the member portal. For membership information, categories and costs.