"The Last of Us" Cinematographer Ksenia Sereda on Crafting the Series, Her Filmmaking Career, & More

Happy Holidays, everyone! We hope you enjoy time with friends and family. ☃️In this episode, we welcome cinematographer Ksenia Sereda. Ksenia shot “The Last of Us,” as well as Beanpole, Chernobyl: Abyss, and “The Crowded Room”. In our chat, she shares on her early days, pathway into cinematography, and about lensing “The Last of Us” series. Ksenia also discusses the tools and technologies used to craft her images, and offers filmmaking insights for students and cinematographers today.The Making Of is presented by AJA:ICYMI: AJA’s biggest product releases in 2025From multi-channel HD and 4K/UltraHD IP video solutions, to Mini-Converters for bridging between resolutions, connectivity types, protocols, and codecs, a Mini-Converter frame, and a high-capacity 12G-SDI router, AJA announced several new products in 2025 that address emerging workflow needs across broadcast, production, post, and proAV.Get the full rundown hereSupport The Making Of:Please consider a paid subscription to support our podcast and help this newsletter grow in 2026…Shoot. Store. Secure. Smile.The OWC Guardian is a bus‑powered, portable NVMe SSD featuring 256‑bit AES OPAL hardware encryption and a color touch‑screen for intuitive, secure access. With up to 1,000 MB/s real‑world transfer speeds, platform‑agnostic operation (Mac, PC, iPad Pro), and a rugged anodized aluminum enclosure, it’s built to protect audit‑sensitive media and projects anytime, anywhere. Explore hereInsights on Recording the Sound on “Sinners”:ZEISS Holiday Special:Save 25% on ZEISS Nano PrimesThere’s a whole world of exceptional moments to be captured out there. Make sure you are prepared and save big during the ZEISS Holiday event! Save up to $6,400 off the list price on select ZEISS Nano Prime lenses. Explore hereMeet Stream Deck Studio:Meet Stream Deck Studio, the ultimate control surface designed for professional broadcast and live production environments. Built on the iconic Elgato hardware and powered by Bitfocus software, it offers a hyper-customizable experience that simplifies even the most complex workflows. With compatibility across hundreds of devices from the industry’s top vendors, Stream Deck Studio gives you complete command over your production setup, making it easier than ever to create seamless, high-quality broadcasts. Call Videoguys at 800-323-2325 to learn more and take your production control to the next level today! Browse herePodcast Rewind:Dec. 2025 - Ep. 109…Advertise in this newsletter and reach 250K filmmakers, TV, broadcast and video professionals each week. For more info, please email [email protected] Get full access to The Making Of at themakingof.substack.com/subscribe