What do West Side Story, combat cameras, and Tubi films have in common? 🎥

In this episode of Balancing Acts Podcast, host Roy Wanguhu sits down with Ben Dennis, a Bay Area cinematographer and artist, to explore his remarkable journey, from serving in the military’s combat camera unit to building a career in independent filmmaking.

Ben opens up about:

⚡ The realities of indie filmmaking and Tubi distribution

⚡ Lessons from film school and the 9/11 GI Bill

⚡ Balancing creativity with burnout in corporate and union gigs

⚡ How fatigue impacts safety and storytelling on set

⚡ AI’s growing role in filmmaking — and why emotion still wins

Ben also shares his philosophy on filmmaking as a daily craft, not a race — and why finishing projects, not chasing perfection, builds longevity in the industry.

🎬 Balancing Acts: Passion. Pixels. Resilience. In this episode, cinematographer DeKeydrick Curry (DK) shares his journey from Memphis to the big screen. From childhood storytelling with toys and quoting movie lines with his dad, to navigating film school struggles, first feature experiences, and building resilience through community, DK’s story is one of persistence, creativity, and vision.

Hear how he turned setbacks into stepping stones, found his voice through cinematography, and why his passion for filmmaking is his Plan A through Z.

What happens when a Division I athlete trades the basketball court for the film set?

🎬 In this episode, Roy Wanguhu sits down with Brittany, a documentary filmmaker who turned her sports background into a powerful foundation for storytelling.

Brittany opens up about the lessons she carried from athletics, teamwork, adaptability, leadership, and how they shaped her craft as a cinematographer in the unpredictable world of documentaries. She shares the highs and hurdles of self-funded passion projects, including her recent trip to Guyana, and her long-term vision of giving back to her home community in Maryland.

The conversation also dives into self-criticism, navigating social media, and the role of AI in today’s filmmaking, both its potential and its limits. Brittany leaves aspiring filmmakers with practical advice: reach out, get on set, learn by doing, and embrace “failures” as stepping stones.

This is a story about resilience, chasing stories that matter, and finding balance between passion, craft, and survival in the creative industry.