In this episode, we have a conversation with the Director of Photography and Director Rick Page. We talk about his first editing hack, the harmony between Cinematography, Lighting, and Production Design, what NBC executives got wrong about 'Brooklyn 99,' the polar roles of rabid fans in entertainment, where to cut corners on a budget (and where not to), the importance of joining a union, and a life-threatening heart surgery changed his life and purpose forever.
More on Rick Page Rick Page is a Director of Photography in television and film known for recent TV shows Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021, NBC, Emmy & Golden Globe), The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO max), Grand Crew (NBC), and multi-award winner An Uncandid Portrait (2021, Tribeca Film Festival). Starting 30 years ago as a camera assistant, Rick's extensive career spans television, feature films, commercials, IMAX, music videos, documentaries, and web series.
As a member of both the International Cinematographers Guild and the Directors Guild of America (DGA), his past films have won numerous awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Shorts. In 2002, his short film Water With Food Coloring was shown in limited theatrical release. He's also earned several Tellys, CINE Golden Eagle, and Golden Aurora awards for directing. His recent film Snow Globe & The Cat is currently touring the 2022 festival circuit. Feature film credits (assisting/operating) include The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Grudge Match, Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, and High School Musical 3. Network TV includes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Benched, Up All Night, Go On, A Lyon in the Kitchen, Promised Land, and Touched By An Angel. He is currently shooting the new Netflix series Blockbuster. In 2014, Rick co-created the web series Made Right Here, produced in partnership with Maxwell House Coffee. He shot, directed, and co-produced the 10-part series that featured American-made products, artisans, and communities across the country. The series garnered 5.6 million views across aol.comand YouTube. After growing up in Buffalo, NY, Rick started making films in high school in Columbia, MD, and later graduated with a BA in Film Studies from the University of Utah, earning scholarships and awards for his student films. Concurrently, he learned lighting, camera operating, and directing while working at the PBS affiliate, KUED, in Salt Lake City.
About the MAKE IT Podcast
The MAKE IT podcast is a platform for the voice of independent filmmaker. We offer a variety of educational, aspirational, and entertaining content that promotes the success of creatives across the filmmaking community and the film industry.
Our Conversations with filmmaking professionals are dedicated to sharing the advice, knowledge, and insights of experienced filmmakers while exploring what it truly means to be an independent creative in the highly competitive world of filmmaking. Each filmmaker conversation is backed by thoughtful research that allows us to uncover the raw, authentic truths behind each filmmaker's journey.
Through our Indie Talks, we share our thoughts and perspectives on navigating independent film from the perspective of Advisory and Executive Producers. We discuss topics that are relevant to filmmakers across a wide spectrum of filmmaking perspectives, and we do our best to uncover hidden truths and new developments in the film industry. Our goal is to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls and obstacles on the business side of film so that their filmmaking creativity can thrive.
Our Industry Insights provide bite-sized actionable advice that filmmaking professionals and creatives of all kinds can use to keep their heads up as they continue their filmmaking journeys. With advice sourced from the filmmaking community, we build upon the wisdom of our filmmaking guests to provide our audience with truly aspirational and inspirational content.
The Mistakes in the Making series gives our filmmaking friends an opportunity to speak directly to our filmmaking audience to share a specific lesson they've learned through a mistake they've made. We are firm believers that mistakes can be the gateway to success when we open our hearts and minds to learning from them, sharing them, and using them to Be Better.