Author | Lightnews

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 17m

I have finally found the most epic picture ever.

#film #filmmaking #starwars

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 6h

New on CUT TO BLACK:
The world doesn’t need more thumbnails, it needs filmmakers who give a damn.

Free read.

open.substack.com/pub/josezamb...

THE CHURCH OF INDIE FILMMAKING (and Other Lost Causes)

The world doesn’t need more thumbnails, it needs filmmakers who give a damn.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 2d

New on CUT TO BLACK: How a short Englishman with heartbreak and gated reverb convinced me to express myself.

#music #films #80s #art

TALENT DYING TO BE HATED

How a short Englishman with heartbreak and gated reverb convinced me to express myself.

open.substack.com

2

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 4d

New on CUT TO BLACK:

Link: josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/when-cinem...

Free Read!

#filmmaker #film #director #directorofphotography #create

WHEN CINEMATOGRAPHERS DIRECT

When the DP Gets Tired of Saving the Director and Just Takes the Chair.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 6d

New on CUT TO BLACK. Free to read:)
#films #filmmaking #movies

MOVIES TOO GOOD FOR YOUR STREAMING QUEUE: The Long Good Friday

Karma’s a Bastard — Just Ask Bob Hoskins

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 6d

This year has indeed sucked ass. One of my heroes. No words. RIP Ace Frehley

hashtag#music hashtag#kissarmy hashtag#acefrehley hashtag#icon

1

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 9d

New on Cut To Black:
The man who painted your childhood.

Drew Struzan didn’t just make posters, he made movies iconic.

🎨 Free to read.

#filmart #DrewStruzan #posters

The Guy Who Painted Your Childhood

Before Photoshop. Before AI. One man, a brush, and the entire magic of cinema.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 9d

I know it’s not important, but I liked the new TRON. The Nine Inch Nails soundtrack is insane, the visuals are killer, and I even tolerated Jared Leto in 3D. So yeah, support your local theater and go see it. And if you get bored you can close your eyes and enjoy the music.

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 10d

New on Cut To Black:

Hollywood is dead. Long live Hollywood.

A brutally honest look at what’s left of the dream factory, and why it might still be worth saving. Free to read now.

#filmmaking #hollywood

Hollywood Is Dead. Long Live Hollywood.

The dream didn’t die. It just changed its address.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 10d

Things are so slow in production I started storyboarding my next grocery trip. Wide shots, close-ups, and emotional beats included.

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 12d

New Cut To Black article is live: “YEAR OF TRON (Not the one you’re thinking of.)”.
A trip back to when movies felt like miracles, not algorithms.

#films #80scinema #TRON

YEAR OF TRON

(Not the one you’re thinking of.)

open.substack.com

1

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 16d

New on Cut to Black: Everyone’s a Director. Nobody’s a Filmmaker.

If you’ve ever called “action” before finding your voice, this one’s for you.

#filmmaking #cinema #directing

Everyone’s a Director. Nobody’s a Filmmaker.

Find your damn voice.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 17d

A place to talk film, music, and culture from the inside, the stuff I’ve lived, not just watched.

Part chaos, part confession, all opinion, the kind you didn’t ask for but might actually enjoy.

The scene of the crime:
josezambranocassella.substack.com

Subscribe (it's free) if you dare. #film

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 18d

New Cut To Black article is live, because someone had to remind the world that music didn’t start with a laptop and a ring light.

josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/its-not-fi...

It’s Not F***ing Yacht Rock

Pop once had a brain, a groove, and a pulse.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 19d

“I’m a Producer!”
New on Cut To Black: Some people wake up, stretch, yawn, and decide they’re producers. I wrote them a little reality check. Spoiler: it’s not a compliment.
josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/im-a-produ...

“I’m a Producer!”

Because saying it out loud is apparently all it takes now.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 20d

New article is live!. Free to read. Link below:

josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/file-under...

#film #filmmaking #filmfunding #reality #creator #artist

FILE UNDER: THE CAVALRY ISN’T COMING

Indie Film’s Future: Stop Begging, Start Building.

josezambranocassella.substack.com

1

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 21d

Live now: Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now: Venice, grief, sex, and that little red coat that still haunts me. One of cinema’s cruelest masterpieces.

Link:
josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/movies-too...

Don’t worry…it’s a free read:)

#FilmCommunity #Cinephile #ClassicMovies

MOVIES TOO GOOD FOR YOUR STREAMING QUEUE: Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now

Venice, grief, sex, and a little red coat.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 22d

The first words from the AI actress were ‘What I really want to do is direct.’

#film

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 22d

The Soundtrack to My Own Madness
open.substack.com/pub/josezamb...

Live now on Substack:

#newmusic #music #newmusicalert #musicislife #undergroundartist

The Soundtrack to My Own Madness

Scenes, beats, same addiction, different toys.

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 22d

Just launched www.playpenmedia.com, a site showing my favorite film projects from the past decade, made with Allison Baker (Dir/Prod) & Zach Landreneau (Composer/Sound).
We’re open for new work!
Let’s talk.

#Filmmaking #create

Playpen Media | Media Creation

Playpen Media. Allison Baker, Jose Zambrano Cassella & Zach Landreneau. Creators of award winning media, in all shapes and sizes. Production services big and small.

www.playpenmedia.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 23d

Streaming: The Tostitos Vending Machine of Cinema
New Substack is live:

josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/streaming-...

#film #cinema #streaming

Streaming: The Tostitos Vending Machine of Cinema

Taste is a muscle. Algorithms atrophy muscles. Curiosity builds them

open.substack.com

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 23d

The 80s: more music per square inch. Thomas Dolby proved it. New Substack is live.

LINK: josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/thomas-dol...

#80smusic #synthpop #MusicHistory

THOMAS DOLBY AND THE STRANGE GENIUS OF THE 80’S

When pop music had more guts, more risk, and more actual music per square inch.

josezambranocassella.substack.com

1

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 24d

File under things I should never say: I hate to talk bad about a fellow artist, especially a Latino one. But Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl? That’s one of the signs of the end of the world. Football? Handball. Soccer is real football. #sarcasm #superbowl #funny

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · 25d

MOVIES TOO GOOD FOR YOUR STREAMING QUEUE - Excalibur (1981) by John Boorman
Link: josezambranocassella.substack.com/p/movies-too...

#Excalibur #JohnBoorman #HelenMirren #NicolWilliamson #CultCinema #FantasyFilms #80sMovies #FilmCommunity #CinemaLovers #MovieReview

MOVIES TOO GOOD FOR YOUR STREAMING QUEUE - Excalibur (1981) by John Boorman

The Arthurian legend, but hornier, weirder, and actually unforgettable.

open.substack.com

2

Jose Zambrano Cassella @josezcassella.bsky.social · Sep 23