Behind the Scenes of "The REDACTED States of America"

An executive look behind the curtain, documented by Andrew Schaut

Dec 05, 2025

THE ~~REDACTED~~ STATES OF AMERICA is a satirical short film about the President of America auctioning off the “united” states one territory at a time, turning national policy into a prime-time spectacle. It stars C.J. Guzan as President Brande, a figure directly inspired by J.D. Vance and the rise of MAGA media culture. The film is adapted from a story Adam Smith wrote in 2019 at Southeast Missouri State University and later revised to match the current political climate.

The following behind the scenes photographs were captured by Andrew Schaut, a Green Bay native whose work brings a grounded, behind the curtain perspective to the set of “the New White House.” His high contrast, black and white approach helped shape a nostalgic press room that feels both authentic and appropriately heavy for the subject.

Schaut is a Wisconsin based photographer and cinematographer with nearly a decade of camera experience. After training alongside some of the state’s leading imaging specialists, he founded Schaut Co., producing photo and video work across the Midwest. His continued work on commercial and narrative sets further refined his eye and has led to D.O.P. and Gaffer roles across the state.

Please tag @schautco on Instagram for any BTS uploads.

For optimal viewing, please enjoy the following tune (by Jesse Welles) as you scroll:

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