Cinematographer behind Wilde's The Invite and Firstman's Club Kid makes Variety artisans list

One cinematographer shot two films where the lead actor also called the shots from behind the camera.

Newport-Berra has earned a place on Variety's 2026 Artisans to Watch list for that double run, according to Variety. A cinematographer leads the camera and lighting teams and shapes how a film looks on screen. The list, published on 14 October, turns its spotlight on craft workers whose work is drawing wider attention.

The first film is The Invite, directed by and starring Olivia Wilde. It takes place over one night. The story follows two couples inside one apartment, a tight setup where the camera stays close and every move across a room matters.

The second film is Club Kid, directed by and starring Jordan Firstman. Firstman plays Peter, who learns he has a 10-year-old son, Arlo, played by Reggie Absolom. That father-and-son setup opens the story outward, beyond a single room.

Two films. One camera eye. Doing both jobs means shifting from a contained night piece to a story built around a new family tie. For viewers, that contrast is the interesting part. It asks for different pacing, different framing and a different way of following the actors.

Doubling as director and star is demanding in itself. Wilde and Firstman each had to perform in front of the lens while guiding the film behind it. In that kind of setup, the cinematographer becomes a key partner, holding the visual plan steady while the director is in the scene.

People who want to hear more about that craft can find Variety's 10 Artisans to Watch listed as Panels and Workshops programming in the SCAD Savannah Film Festival schedule, according to SCAD. A festival box-office listing puts the session at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, according to SCAD Box Office. The panel format usually means a short talk about working methods rather than a screening, with time for questions from the audience.