Producer/Director, Director of Photography - Vox (Thrillist)

First Class" was a series I made for Vox's brand Thrillist to give their audience a taste of more than just food and fun.

It was pitched to me as a "chat" show, but as a Director who finds it fun to take everything seriously, I couldn't help but make the format of the show a full on "conversation."

I gave talent topics ahead of time instead of questions, prompted them with ideas and follow-ups rather than hopping in as an interviewer, and I had the episodes edited to feel like a single uninterrupted 5-10 minute thought.

To make sure the visuals matched that, I worked with the production designer to rearrange the entire restaurant into a roundtable in the style of the 1920s Jazz Age dining halls the talent referenced in our pre-production calls. I had the gaffer light it like we were surrounded by candles, and put every camera on a dana dolly or slider so no shot was ever the same.

It was also one of Thrillist's biggest non-travel productions, which ironically created an intimate end product that literally sparkles on screen.