Ep 279: Xan Aranda on Taste, Opinion, and Creative Decision-Making
Mon Jan 19 2026
In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien is joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker and showrunner Xan Aranda for a wide-ranging discussion on taste, creative authority, and decision-making in filmmaking. Drawing on her experience across film and television — including work with Netflix, HBO, and Amazon — Xan talks about why strong opinions are not optional in creative work, particularly in editing and directing.
She reflects on collaboration, trust, and the dangers of consensus-driven filmmaking, where too many voices dilute responsibility.The conversation touches on her work on Blue Jay, produced with Mark Duplass, her role as Co-Executive Producer on Netflix’s My Love, and her experience navigating creative leadership across independent film and global television productions.
This episode is a grounded, unsentimental look at how films and series are actually made — through taste, confidence, and the willingness to choose.
https://www.xanaranda.com
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In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, Damien is joined by Emmy-nominated filmmaker and showrunner Xan Aranda for a wide-ranging discussion on taste, creative authority, and decision-making in filmmaking. Drawing on her experience across film and television — including work with Netflix, HBO, and Amazon — Xan talks about why strong opinions are not optional in creative work, particularly in editing and directing. She reflects on collaboration, trust, and the dangers of consensus-driven filmmaking, where too many voices dilute responsibility.The conversation touches on her work on Blue Jay, produced with Mark Duplass, her role as Co-Executive Producer on Netflix’s My Love, and her experience navigating creative leadership across independent film and global television productions. This episode is a grounded, unsentimental look at how films and series are actually made — through taste, confidence, and the willingness to choose. https://www.xanaranda.com Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link: 25% Off More Labshttps://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 20% Off Strong Coffee Companyhttps://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 15% Off Tusslehttps://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 20% Off Eric Javitshttps://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 25% Off Quantum Energy Squarehttps://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 20% Off Long Tablehttps://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 20% Off HyperNaturalhttps://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 20% Off wearplaygroundhttps://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 15% Off STAND+https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 10% Off Molly Bzhttps://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY 41% Off Cozy Earthhttps://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABYX (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en