In Love with the Process Podcast

In this special episode of In Love with the Process, filmmaker Mike Pecci is joined by Academy Award–nominated VFX Supervisor Michael Ralla, whose work on Sinners helped shape one of the most visually and emotionally striking films in recent memory.The two go deep into how Sinners was actually made, breaking down the collaboration between the VFX department and director Ryan Coogler, and how Coogler’s clarity, trust, and creative leadership inspired the entire team. Michael demystifies what a VFX supervisor really does, how visual effects serve story rather than spectacle, and how restraint can often be more powerful than excess.As always on this show, music finds its way into the conversation. Michael’s background as a drummer plays a surprising role in how he approaches rhythm, pacing, and visual flow in his work. And yes, there’s an incredible moment you won’t believe, involving who played drums on the film’s score and their unexpected connection to Metallica.But the most fascinating part of the episode is a bold new theory that could change how we think about cinema entirely. Mike and Michael explore the idea that films projected on actual film may hold an audience’s attention longer and more deeply than digital projection, digging into the psychology, texture, and subconscious impact of the medium itself.Is it true? And if it is, could it reshape how movies are shown in theaters going forward?This episode is a must-listen for filmmakers, cinematographers, VFX artists, musicians, and anyone obsessed with how movies really work.►Michael's IG► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Big Black Delta, Code Elektro——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

On today’s catch up episode of In Love with the Process, Mike checks in to talk about two things that have absolutely hijacked his brain this month.Olympic curling and Batman.Mike breaks down how he somehow fell headfirst into Olympic curling and why it might be the most quietly intense, brutally strategic sport on the planet. Precision, patience, teamwork, and zero margin for error. Basically a nightmare for anyone who likes chaos, which makes the obsession even more confusing.From there, things spiral into comics, specifically how hard Mike has fallen for the Absolute Batman series. He talks about why it hits, how the visuals punch you in the chest, and why comics still teach better storytelling than half the movies being made right now.This episode is less about sports or capes and more about obsession, curiosity, and letting yourself like what you like without apologizing for it. No trends, no productivity hacks, just falling in love with things again and letting that fuel the work.It’s loose, nerdy, slightly unhinged, and exactly the kind of check in this show was built for.► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Mitch Murder——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

In this episode of In Love with the Process, filmmaker and cinematographer Mike Pecci sits down with BAFTA Breakthrough cinematographer Nathalie Pitters, known for her work on Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, to explore how personal life experience shapes visual storytelling.Mike opens with a deep dive into the real challenge of cinematography: translating vision into image. Not copying references. Not chasing trends. But blending naturalism with subtle surrealism in a way that feels lived in and emotionally honest.Nathalie shares how her background in art history and journalistic photography sharpened her instincts behind the lens. She talks openly about confronting insecurity and imposter syndrome, and how learning to trust and lean on the talented artists around her ultimately made her a stronger cinematographer.The conversation takes an unexpected turn as they discover a shared love of metal music. Nathalie explains how the intensity, rhythm, and emotional catharsis of metal has influenced her visual style, teaching her to embrace contrast, atmosphere, and bold emotional swings in her work.If you’ve ever wondered how to make your images feel personal instead of polished, or how to inject your life experience into your craft, this episode is essential listening.Cinema isn’t just what you see. It’s who you are.► Nathalie's IG► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Code Elektro , Mitch Murder, Ron Cannon——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

On today’s episode of Right Place Right Time, Mike Pecci and Lance A. Williams hang out in the studio for one of those episodes that starts chill and slowly goes off the rails.Lance shares how a painful rejection as an actor didn’t end the road, but somehow turned into a completely different role in a film. A perfect reminder that timing and perspective can flip disappointment into opportunity. Mike talks about experiencing Blade Runner with a full orchestra performing the score live, and how it completely rewired the way he thinks about cinema and sound.The conversation shifts to Oscar nominations, industry frustrations, and why the guys believe Guillermo del Toro deserved a Best Director nomination. Opinions are strong. Feelings are felt.Then things get dangerous.Their friendship is put to the ultimate test with a round of Last Film Standing, where a shocking truth is revealed. Lance has apparently been lying to Mike for years about which films he has actually seen. Trust is questioned. History is rewritten. The friendship may never recover.Will this end the podcast. Will this end the friendship. You’ll have to tune in to find out.Watch the full episode on YouTube at @inlovewiththeprocess and join the ride as Right Place Right Time continues to grow every week.👉Watch at 3PM on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Ok8Xe0ojvhw👉 More podcasts at inlovewiththeprocess.comMike Peccihttps://www.mikepecci.com/https://www.instagram.com/mikepecci/Lance A. Williamshttps://www.instagram.com/golancegoTheme song by: https://www.instagram.com/big_black_delta/Show produced directed by Mike Pecci & ILWP PodcastsSound mix by https://www.instagram.com/dj_voltran/Sound Effects from https://soundmorph.com/Cameras from https://fujifilm-x.com/Edit Support http://puget.systems/go/ILWTPVisit https://www.inlovewiththeprocess.com/right-place-right-time-podcastMerch: https://www.inlovewiththeprocess.com/store

One of the best parts of In Love with the Process is getting to skip the gatekeepers. No agents. No managers. Just real conversations with actors Mike genuinely loves watching right now. These are the performers who shine on screen, who feel dangerous, curious, and alive, and who represent the next generation of talent taking us to strange new worlds through film.On today’s episode, Mike sits down with Taylor John Smith (Warfare, The Outpost). As part of the show’s Genuine Human Experience initiative, the two get deeply nerdy about acting, process, and what actually motivates a performance.They talk about how Taylor gets his hands on material through his team, what he looks for in scripts, and how he prepares emotionally and physically for demanding roles. Taylor flips the script and asks Mike the questions actors actually want to ask directors, leading to an instant bond over the performances, films, and filmmakers that excite them both.Taylor also goes deep into how the brutally intense film Warfare was made, what the experience demanded of him, and how he ultimately landed the role. It’s an honest, thoughtful conversation about craft, trust, and the work behind performances that truly stick with you.If you care about acting, filmmaking, and real conversations with artists who are shaping the future of cinema, this episode is essential listening.► Taylor's IG► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Code Elektro , Mitch Murder, Betamaxx——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

On today’s episode of In Love with the Process, host Mike Pecci dives deep into the medium that has single handedly shaped his life as a storyteller, photographer, and director. Comic books.From the first day he cracked open a comic, Mike understood the raw power of visual storytelling. How the human brain can look at two separate images and subconsciously fill in everything that happens between them. How a strong silhouette can communicate more about a character than pages of dialogue. And how movement, posture, and framing often say everything words cannot.To get properly nerdy about it, Mike is joined by John Amor, Eisner nominated artist and creator of Urban Animal. John is known for drawing iconic characters at an epic scale and distilling them down to their most essential shapes and gestures. His work proves that storytelling lives in posture, weight, and intent.The two break down why comics remain one of the most powerful storytelling tools ever created, how artists guide emotion between frames, and why filmmakers have so much to learn from the medium. This episode is a love letter to visual language, composition, and the art of saying more with less.If you love film, illustration, comics, or storytelling in any form, this episode is essential listening.► John's IG► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Code Elektro , Mitch Murder——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

Mike jumps on real quick from a parking garage to drop some fresh thoughts on lighting, creativity, and the new project he just wrapped with Gina for Entertainment Weekly. From shaping mood with light to pushing visual storytelling even further, this quick hit is a behind the scenes look at how their latest shoot came together and what inspired the choices on set. A fast, honest creative check in straight from the field.

On today’s episode of In Love with the Process, host Mike Pecci goes deep into one of the most powerful and artistic roles in filmmaking, Production Design.Joining Mike is Academy Award winning production designer James Price (Speak No Evil, Poor Things, Bugonia) whose work on Poor Things earned him an Oscar for creating one of the most visually rich and emotionally immersive worlds in modern cinema.Together they break down what a production designer actually does on a film, how James collaborates closely with directors and cinematographers, and why production design is the backbone of tone, mood, and storytelling. This is the department that quietly shapes how you feel in every scene.James walks through his full creative process, from building miniatures and custom sets, to why he often insists on constructing ceilings for realism and lighting control, to how he creates detailed mood books the moment he reads a script. These books are a collection of sketches, images, textures, and thematic references that guide the entire visual identity of a film.They talk about going to war creatively, solving impossible problems, and turning words on a page into living, breathing worlds.If you love film craft, visual storytelling, or want to understand how movie worlds are truly built, this is a must listen episode.► James IG► Mike's IG ► ILWP's IG Music: Code Elektro , Betamaxx Mitch Murder——SPONSORS——► FujiFilm 10% off Accessories (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/) and Merch (https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/) Promo code PROCESS10► Puget Systems► Blackmagic Design Inlovewiththeprocess.com

On this episode of Right Place Right Time, hosts Mike Pecci and Lance A. Williams recount an unforgettable Hollywood story: attending a private screening of Gladiator 2 with none other than Ridley Scott himself. Invited by Scott Free to a close-knit screening for friends and collaborators, the experience was nothing short of life-changing for two filmmakers chasing their dreams. From the awe of being in the room with a cinema legend to the unexpected twists of the night, this story is one for the ages. Join Mike and Lance as they share the magic of being at the right place at the right time in their quest to make it in the film industry.---------------------------------Music by Mitch Murder►Mike Pecci's IG: instagram.com/mikepecci►Lance's Instagram: www.instagram.com/golancego/►ILWP's IG: instagram.com/inlovewiththeprocesspod