The FilmUp Podcast

This week we are thrilled to be joined by Michael Wormser!
Michael is a Los Angeles–based producer, writer, director, and creator of Teche™, a film finance modeling platform built to help producers and investors clearly model capital stacks, recoupment waterfalls, and investor returns in real time. He is also one of the founders of Cinemand Pictures. His list of producing credits is extensive, and he previously served as Head of Production at Maker Studios and was profiled in the PGA’s Produced By magazine as a “go-to producer.”
Michael is also a big supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a non-profit hospital with an emphasis on teaching, that’s dedicated to caring for children, teens, young adults, and families as well as making discoveries to enhance the health and lives of these communities, especially the underserved populations of LA.
To learn about ways you can support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, visit https://www.chla.org/

We've got an awesome conversation with an awesome guest this week. Welcome AJ Bleyer to the podcast!
AJ is a high-octane director and the founder of Advent Films, a creative production house known for its visually arresting, high impact work. AJ is also a trusted shooter for many of the world’s most prestigious brands including Ferrari, McLaren F1, Aston Martin, Red Bull, Riot Games, Amazon, and more.
He’s also become a known industry speaker for brands like RED, Adobe, Fujinon, Dell, NVIDIA and more. He’s delivered a TEDx talk, and many on-stage keynotes at events like Adobe MAX and NAB.
AJ is also a big supporter of ManifestWorks, a non-profit that connects those impacted by foster care, homelessness and incarceration with job opportunities and provides ongoing life and professional skills to support long-term success.

To learn more about how you can get involved and support Manifest Works, visit https://www.manifestworks.org/

You may recognize today's guest from one of the many great show's and movies she's been in. This week we have the pleasure of welcoming Ayden Mayeri!
Ayden is an Actor and Director from Northern California. With performances in dozens of shows and movies including Paul Feig’s Jackpot!, Mr. Throwback with Steph Curry, New Girl, and Veep, just to name a few, she has quickly established herself as a star on the rise. Her directorial debut, Summer 2000: The X-Cetra Story, had its world premiere at SXSW Film Festival 2026 and won the Jury Award for Documentary Feature Film.
Most recently she starred in the Tribeca 2025 Untold Stories feature film, Honeyjoon, and can be seen opposite Cameron Diaz in Netflix’s upcoming action comedy Bad Day, and the Rachel Bloom ABC series Do You Want Kids.

Ayden is also a big supporter of The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants to push policies that promote freedom of movement, full human rights, and the vigorous civic action that strengthens this democracy.

To learn about ways you can support CHIRLA, visit https://www.chirla.org

Today’s guest is a true talent who’s work can be seen all over the big and small screen. This week we’re thrilled to be joined by Valerie Weiss!
Valerie is an award winning director, writer, and producer of film and television. After receiving her PhD from Harvard Medical School, she decided to embark into the entertainment industry, and it seems like she made the right choice. Valerie has directed dozens of episodes of some of the most popular shows on television such as Outer Banks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Ginny & Georgia, as well as directed multiple features like Mixtape and The Archer. She is also co-chair of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee.
Valerie is also a big supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, a non-profit dedicated to building a future in which people live in harmony with nature by conserving and restoring biodiversity, reducing humans’ environmental footprint, and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.
To learn more about ways you can contribute to the World Wildlife Fund, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/support

This week we are thrilled to have Paris Schulman on the podcast! Paris began his career as a record producer and film composer. In 2010, he founded RiTE MEDIA, a creative content studio based in Atlanta. Over the years, RiTE has developed and produced hundreds of stories spanning commercials, narrative, and music visuals.
Rite Media’s expertise and resources are on emerging technologies like Virtual Production and Bolt CineBot robotic cameras, and they have deployed these solutions on some of the most notable films and series of the last decade, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 & 3, Stranger Things, and many more.
Paris is also a big supporter of Earth Echo International, a non-profit that collaborates with youth around the world to provide knowledge and develop tools that drive meaningful environmental action to protect and restore our ocean planet. 
You can learn more about ways to support them by visiting earthecho.org