MakingOf is a behind-the-scenes Web destination, founded by Natalie Portman and Christine Aylward, that provides an intimate, fresh look into the process of creating entertainment by the insiders themselves. Our mission is to champion the art and craft of entertainment creation. We started MakingOf because we realized that so much of what goes into entertainment creation is unavailable to the people who love and consume it the most. We wanted to give fans a way to experience that creation and learn from the insiders and thus MakingOf was born. When you visit MakingOf you will experience behind-the-scenes content, exclusive access to industry insiders, and an interactive, entertainment-focused community forum.  It is your all-access pass to learn from and interact with actors, directors, producers, writers, and more.  Film school for everyone! And film is just the start. Stay posted as we add additional features.

MakingOf has three main features:

Movies: Come backstage and explore behind-the-scenes content captured during the creation process.  We’ll bring you on set, where you’ll learn about everything from casting to editing.  This section of the site offers interviews, movie trailers, photos, and unseen clips. 

Insider Interviews: Hear exclusive interviews with leading industry insiders. Learn about your favorite filmmakers’ passions and inspirations. And — if you’re interested in the profession of filmmaking — get advice from the people who live and breathe film.

Community: MakingOf is an interactive network for you to engage with industry experts and to exchange ideas, gain knowledge and connect with your fellow fans. Register now.

A Glimpse at Our Team

 Christine Aylward, Co-Founder and CEO

I love film, music, and theater, and always have. I'm the girl who spent my childhood singing and dancing around the house, just as my seven-year-old daughter does today. I vividly remember the first movie I saw in a movie theater (Pippi Longstocking), and my first Broadway show (A Chorus Line). I always thought my love of entertainment would lead me to a career in that field, but first life and school took me in a different direction. I found myself working for a Fortune 100 company in marketing and public relations, an amazing job that allowed me to travel all over the world launching products and divisions. Next I landed in Silicon Valley, working with start-up companies and venture capitalists. I relished this opportunity to work with some of the brightest entrepreneurs and to “learn and live” building businesses. But movies kept calling, and I followed my heart and started a film development company with some friends and former colleagues.  My focus was on trying to translate books to screen, develop compelling characters and great stories, and find the right directors.

It was then that I realized the magnitude of what really goes into making movies. I wished there were more people to give me insight and direction. Several treatments, screenplays, and pitches later, I met Natalie on a film set. We became dear friends, and soon the idea for MakingOf was born. Now I have a dream job. I get to meet and talk with the most amazing filmmakers and hear their insights, path, and advice. What is most exciting is that all of us at MakingOf then get to share that wisdom and experience with you! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. As William Goldman writes in his book Adventures in the Screen Trade,  "Movies help mark out our lives." We agree with Mr. Goldman and believe that in some way each one of us has a deep relationship to movies. They allow us to experience things that we otherwise might not. We hope that MakingOf brings you closer to your favorite movies and sheds some insight on how the world's greatest filmmakers create the movies that touch our lives.

Natalie Portman, Co-Founder

Having started acting in films at 11 years old, when friends visit me on set, I am always reminded how intriguing and lucky it is to get to experience filming up close.  There are so many members of the team that create a film — from the writers to the production designers to the camera team and cinematographers, to the electricians to the makeup artists to the editors and the sound team, to the special effects to the marketing specialists and more! And all of these contributors are put into an intense and intimate environment for several months to create a cinematic work together, with the director at the helm of the undertaking and the actors becoming the public faces for the entire industry. 

When friends come to the set, they always want to know: Who are the many individuals who take part in the making of a film? What do they do? How do they do what they do? How did they get the chance to do what they do? And often: how can I do that too?

These questions led me to believe that there was a desire for this inside look, especially from the vast majority of people who don’t have friends who can take them on set.   With the ever-increasing number of self-taught filmmakers, who find audiences for their films using new opportunities for video-sharing online, I thought there would be an additional audience for our content among those who want an experienced filmmaker’s advice as to how to light a certain type of scene or how to achieve a particular makeup effect, and so on. 

When I first discussed the idea with my friend Christine Aylward, she immediately matched my enthusiasm for the concept and passionately devoted herself to creating this site as you see it today.  It is our goal to create a centralized source for the type of filmmaking insights often found on DVD extra features, with additional features catered toward the film enthusiast and filmmaking enthusiast alike.  

I love what I do, and feel grateful to have the opportunity to share it with those who find the filmmaking world as exciting as I do.  

If you are interested in becoming an intern at MakingOf, let us know! Contact intern@makingof.com for more information.