The Wandering DP Podcast The Wandering DP Podcast: Episode #505 – Life Off Set with Persona, Khalid Mohtaseb, & Jon Bregel
Mar 11, 2026
Persona (Mario Lerma & Alex Rapirez), a cinematography duo known for commercials and music videos for brands like Netflix and Audi, discuss building a creative life as a team. They describe how their collaboration formed a distinct identity. They talk about dividing roles, handling disagreements, travel and finances, moving to LA, and balancing friendship with work.
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Prep Deeply So Partners Can Act Independently
- Prep extensively together so each partner can answer on set without constantly checking the other person.
- Build detailed moodboards and plans so gaffers and camera crew know who to approach for quick decisions.
Fast Intercoms And Shared Risk Accelerate Decisions
- Constant short communication (intercoms) gives two perspectives and speeds decisions, while long trust avoids ego clashes.
- They share both successes and failures, which reduces competition and fuels continuous learning.
When A Director Prefers One Partner
- Directors sometimes connect more with one partner due to personality, and the other naturally steps back to support.
- That dynamic can create insecurity for the less-connected partner but they rotate connection across projects.
