Analog Soul. Digital Heart. Real War Stories.

In this episode of Old Guy Tech, Michael Samstag sits down with Chicago industry legend Joe Piscitelli, SOC, to break down a career that spans exactly 40 years behind the viewfinder.

We start at the very beginning: Joe’s first official credit on the 1992 holiday classic Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Joe shares the emotional story of taking his family to the theater to see his name on the big screen and how that experience shaped his "pro-first" mentality.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Artemis 2 Connection: Why NASA is currently orbiting the moon with "Old Guy Tech," including 10-year-old Nikon DSLRs and legacy GoPros.
• Physical Longevity: The secret to staying in "game shape" for 40 years and why your gym routine is just as important as your gear list.
• Relationships Over Reels: Why building a brand based on trust and pre-pro beats a flashy demo reel every single time.
• AI vs. The Human Story: Why the rise of digital avatars will never replace the weight of a human expert telling a human story.

FEATURING:

Special guest co-host Dave McCauley, joining us by phone from a location shoot in Florida to talk NASA ballistics and space-hardened tech.

CORRECTION: In our last segment, we revisit the story of the "Knoxville Bullet." Michael clarifies the urban legend involving a local woman and the 1981 assassination attempt on the Pope—correcting the record on whether she was hit or simply found a "miraculous" shard.

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#OldGuyTech #Filmmaking #HomeAlone2 #SonyFX9 #NASA #Artemis #Cinematography #SetLife #OwnerOperator

Welcome to the premiere episode of Old Guy Tech, the podcast where battle-tested industry insights meet modern production gear. Your hosts, industry veterans Michael Samstag and Dave McCauley, skip the unboxing videos and spec-sheet hype to talk about what actually matters: building a sustainable career, making profitable gear choices, and keeping your creative soul in a tech-obsessed world.

In this first episode, Michael and Dave lay out their manifesto for the show. They share high-stakes "war stories" from thousands of hours on set, discuss their most profitable and regretful gear purchases (FX9 vs. C70?), and offer candid advice for newcomers trying to navigate the business. We also confront the AI elephant in the room and discuss how seasoned pros can adapt to the shifting landscape of production and digital strategy.

Whether you’re a Direct of Photography with 20 years of credits or an owner-operator just getting started, Old Guy Tech is for creators who understand that the business of storytelling is your most valuable piece of gear.