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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
29 Mar 2022
Filmmaker Bruce LaBruce
00:44:43
Bruce LaBruce is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, photographer, writer, and artist based in Toronto. His latest film is "St. Narcisse" a comedy-drama starring Félix-Antoine Duval as a pair of identical twins who were separated at birth and did not previously know of each other's existence, but who fall in love and begin a twincest relationship with each other after being reunited. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
LaBruce's earlier film Gerontophilia won the Grand Prix at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal in 2013, and Pierrot Lunaire, which won the Teddy Award Special Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2014. As a visual artist he is represented by Peres Projects in Berlin, and has had numerous gallery shows around the world, the latest of which, called Obscenity, a photography exhibit, caused a national ruckus in Spain in 2011.
His feature film L.A. Zombie was notably banned in Australia in 2010 after having been programmed at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It later premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland that same year.
LaBruce has written and directed three theatrical works at the Hau Theater in Berlin, including a production of Arnold Schoenberg’s avant-garde piece Pierrot Lunaire at the legendary Hebbel am Ufer Theater. He adapted the latter project into an experimental film, incorporating footage from the stage production combined with additional material shot on location in Berlin. He has also directed theatrical works at the Theater Neumarkt in Zurich, Switzerland, and he participated as a director in the Hau Theater’s ambitious X-Homes project in Johannesburg, South Africa.
LaBruce has written a premature memoir called The Reluctant Pornographer, and has had two books published about his work: Ride, Queer, Ride, from Plug-In Gallery in Winnipeg, and Bruce(x)ploitation, a monograph from his Italian distributor, Atlantide Entertainment. LaBruce has contributed to a variety of international magazines, newspapers and websites as both a writer and photographer, including index magazine, for which he also acted as a contributing editor, Vice, The National Post, Purple Fashion, The Guardian UK, and many others. He has also been a regular columnist over the years for Eye, Exclaim! and Vice magazines.
Additionally, LaBruce has directed a number of music videos, two of which won him MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada. Most recently, LaBruce has been honoured with film retrospectives at both TIFF/Bell Lightbox 2014, and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, 2015. The MoMA retrospective featured all nine of LaBruce’s features as well as a program of short films. All of the films have now become part of MoMA’s permanent film collection.
Dr. Joseph Suglia dissects "Alchemy of the Spirit"
00:50:16
Season Two is officially here! For our premiere episode, Philosopher and Author Dr. Joseph Suglia dissects Steve Balderson's new art film ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT which stars Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, and cult icon Mink Stole. The film premieres in Europe at Fantasporto (the Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal) where it is in the main competition (1-10 April, 2022). In the discussion today: the illusion of time, ancient religions, archaic religiosity, life and death, resurrection, the regeneration of time, the birth of the cosmos, the end of the world, Alan Watts, David Lynch, Shakespeare, and consciousness. (Correction: At one point, Dr. Suglia misnames the character Leontes by calling him "Leonatus.")
Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said “Poetry Store” and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, “What do you need a poem about?” To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian’s poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life.
In The Poetry of Strangers, Brian tells the story of his cross-country journey in a series of heartfelt and insightful essays. From Minnesota to Tennessee, California to North Dakota, Brian discovered that people aren’t so afraid of poetry when it’s telling their stories. In “dying” towns flourish vibrant artistic spirits and fascinating American characters who often pass under the radar, from the Mall of America’s mall walkers to retirees on Amtrak to self-proclaimed witches in Salem.
In a time of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, Brian’s journey shows how art can be a vital bridge to community in surprising places. Conventional wisdom says Americans don’t want to talk to each other, but according to this poet-for-hire, everyone is just dying to be heard.
Thought-provoking, moving, and eye-opening, The Poetry of Strangers is an unforgettable portrait of America told through the hidden longings of one person at a time, by one of our most important voices today. The fault lines and conflicts which divide us fall away when we remember to look, in every stranger, for poetry.
Davey Wavey is an American Producer who covers LGBT topics related to sex, relationships, and coming out. His YouTube channel has over 1.4 million subscribers. Wavey is also the creator of Himeros.TV - a site that pushes the boundaries of sex, sexuality, and new ways to experience pleasure, discover desires and express oneself in ways that bring joy and ecstasy.
Wavey described Himeros.TV to The Advocate saying, "We don't market it as educational porn or porn that's good for you, but it kind of is. It's porn, that when you watch it, you see either a technique that's being demonstrated or a concept that you feel like you can apply to your life. As gay men in a vacuum of sex education, we learned about sex by doing what? Watching porn." At Himeros.TV there's even a porn star bill of rights! Wavey discusses the policy to provide his models with post-filming mental health support and free counseling. He also pays livable wages, creates drug-free filming sets, and ensures a fully consensual environment. The wide-ranging content on Himeros.TV is co-created with a team of sex coaches, tantric instructors, psychotherapists, sexologists, world-class directors, talented cinematographers, and models who embody ecstasy.
Elliott Hunter is an international award winning magician and sleight of hand artist. Elliott began magic after seeing his first magic show at the local library, and then reading all of the magic books he could to learn the craft. As he progressed, he sought professional mentorship and training. In 2011 he had the opportunity to train at the most prestigious magic school in the world, and learn from the best of the best. Over the years, Elliott has been able to combine his skills in other aspects of entertainment, such as drama, dance, theatre, sleight of hand, comedy and grand illusion to create a truly multifaceted show that appeals to all audiences young and old alike.
Elliott aims to create an authentic evening of entertainment… which is kind of ironic, considering that a magician’s job is to deceive… however, Elliott uses this to his advantage by skillfully combining magic and storytelling. When you watch Elliott’s show, it’s more than just a magic show. Elliott aims to connect with his audiences by sharing personal and socially relevant stories that elicits certain emotions in the audience. Everything is Elliott’s show stems from his own personal reality… meaning what you are seeing is true, authentic, and real... He uses magic to remind his audiences that even the seemingly impossible can be made possible, and no matter the obstacle, it can be overcome.
As his mentor told him… “You can have the best production value, the most expensive equipment, and even be the best performer in the world, but if you fail to connect with the audience, then you lose all aspects of entertainment.”
JAMES OSELAND travels extensively in search of the world’s best restaurants, street food stalls, markets, and home cooks. Long before he was a judge on Top Chef Masters, he was a teenage rebel growing up in the pre–Silicon Valley, California, suburbs, yearning for a taste of something wild. His remarkable memoir Jimmy Neurosis captures the quest that led him from the mosh pits of San Francisco to the pop world of Andy Warhol’s Manhattan.
He is most recently the author and editor of World Food: Mexico City and World Food: Paris, part of World Food, a new book series from Ten Speed Press. He was the editor-in-chief for nine years of Saveur, America’s most acclaimed food magazine, where his work garnered many accolades, including seven James Beard Awards and three awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors. His cookbook Cradle of Flavor was named one of the best books of 2006 by the New York Times and Good Morning America. Additionally, James’s writing has appeared in Gourmet, Vogue, Food and Wine, and the Wall Street Journal, where he writes the “Cook’s Playbook” column. He has appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, the Today Show, Iron Chef America, and was a permanent judge on all five seasons of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. James is a popular cooking teacher and has taught at the Institute for Culinary Education, the New School, and New York City’s Natural Gourmet. He has lectured at culinary institutes and food societies around the world; in 2011, he delivered the keynote speech for the International Food Bloggers Conference. In 2013, he starred as himself in a series of Wendy’s commercials. He has lived in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, and now calls Mexico City home.
Iris Berry is the co-founder of Punk Hostage Press. She is the author and editor of several books and has a vast fan base for her unique voice and formidable writing style. She’s an L.A. Pop culture historian, actress, and musician. She’s appeared in numerous films, TV commercials, documentaries, and iconic rock videos.
In the 1980s & 90s, she sang, performed, wrote songs and recorded with the Lame Flames, the Ringling Sisters, the Dickies, the Flesh Eaters, and Pink Sabbath. She served four years on the Board of Directors for Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center. In 2009 she received her 2nd Certificate of Merit Award from the city of Los Angeles for her contribution as a Los Angeles writer, and for her extensive charity work. Iris continues to champion and advocate for original voices.
“There are far too few writers today who write from the heart about the damned. Far too few who let lost souls scream from the page once more. Iris Berry is one of these writers. Her words are haunting and her imagery cinematic. Iris Berry is a straight Razor wrapped in a garter belt. She leaves nothing but her blood on the page." - Edaurdo Jones
Kristian Hoffman ran away from his boyhood home in Santa Barbara, California, to New York City where he and his high school friend, Lance Loud, formed a band called The Mumps. This was quite soon after both had made dramatic appearances in what is now known as the first reality TV series: PBS' award winning "An American Family".
Flourishing in the New York club scene in the late '70s, Lance and Kristian became obsessed with the New York Dolls and lead to Kristian drawing the infamous "Bendover Girl" which was included as an insert in the Doll's first LP.
While still performing as Mumps, Lance and Kristian subsequently appeared in a show called "New Wave Vaudeville" , produced by Ann Magnuson, who was to prove a life-long collaborator with Kristian. Thus they met met the headliner Klaus Nomi, the eccentric legendary German counter-tenor mutant glam virtuoso visionary. Kristian approached Klaus Nomi about forming a band. Kristian's collaboration with Klaus included writing several songs for him, including "Total Eclipse."
Kristian made his mark on rock and roll history as the first musical director for chamber pop singer Rufus Wainwright's touring band, has played keyboards and written songs for the atmospheric torch band Congo Norvell, has produced, toured with, and written songs for punk/cabaret singer Abby Travis, toured and recorded as keyboardist for El Vez, the Mexican Elvis all over the U.S., and toured for five years with and played on several albums with Kinks founder and lead guitarist Dave Davies.
Kristian's third solo album, called & because it consists mainly of duets with other musicians (including Russell Mael of Sparks, Rufus Wainwright, Maria McKee, El Vez, Paul Reubens, Anna Waronker, Lydia Lunch, Stew, and Ann Magnuson), was released to great critical acclaim. "Uncut" Magazine called it a "spectacular, operatic art rock power-pop album." Aquarian Weekly called it a "flawlessly crafted, ornately embellished pop opera," and the L.A. Weekly said "& is the record that every fan of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Kinks and great songcraft in general has been pining for. Frighteningly Excellent!"
As for where this multifaceted singer/songwriter, musician, poet and artist will be headed next, it's a safe prediction that he has a surprise or two in store.
Susan Traylor is an award-winning actress, writer and film director. She was born in New York and raised in Los Angeles in and around the theater. Her parents were legendary acting teachers Peggy Feury and William Traylor who worked with the likes of Sean Penn, Meg Ryan, Anjelica Huston, Nicolas Cage, and Michele Pfeiffer. Their school, the Loft Studio, served as a second home to Susan. At fifteen she insisted on officially studying with her parents. She continued her formal education by going to film school at NYU and while in New York she studied acting with Rochelle Oliver.
Susan’s breakthrough role came in Robert Redford’s A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Susan also starred in HEAT with Robert DeNiro, in Gus Van Sant’s TO DIE FOR, GREENBERG with Ben Stiller, and numerous television series. In 2005 she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in an amazing film called WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA. She was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in VALERIE FLAKE. She has also appeared in a number of Steve Balderson's films.
This special Season Two finale features producer/director Anthony Pedone. Pedone has produced, written, directed, or shot over 24 features, documentaries, and short films.
In 2015, he produced THE STRONGEST MAN, which premiered at Sundance and was released theatrically and on VOD by Film Buff and Sundance Global. In 2018, his directorial debut AN AMERICAN IN TEXAS won the Dutch Golden Stone Award at the Scenecs Film Festival in Hilversum, Holland and was distributed by Gravitas Worldwide.
Most recently, he produced HBO's ONE NATION UNDER STRESS, with director Marc Levin and Dr. Sanjay Gupta; STOCKTON ON MY MIND (HBO) and MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO (TRIBECA 2020).
Clara Ritger grew up in the small town of Huntington Beach, California, where she learned what real Mexican food tastes like and how to cut the line at Disneyland. At the ripe old age of two she ran as far ahead of her parents as her child leash would take her on the Yosemite trails to ask random strangers questions about why they were hiking and if they would be her friend. Since then, she has continued to ask why but usually refrains from asking subjects during interviews if they want to be her friend.
She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Film, Television and Theatre in May 2013. She also has a minor in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy, because why do college if you can’t do it all?
Clara is a freelance video director and producer based in New York, NY. She works across mediums in digital, TV and film, and has recently worked with NBC News, the Wall Street Journal and PBS. Her curiosity about the world has led her to tell stories across industries, including finance, health, food, travel, fashion, and the environment. She partners with media companies, brands, and nonprofits to create emotional, shareable stories.
Prior to moving to NYC, Clara was based in the Washington, D.C. area as a Producer at Green Buzz Agency, where she created documentary style videos for major brands and nonprofits, including Upworthy and Make-A-Wish. She has also written and/or done multimedia work for National Journal, The Indianapolis Star, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Patriot-News, Morning Call, Capitolwire, Northern Virginia Magazine, 88.1 WVPE NPR, the Reno Gazette-Journal, NDtv News and the oldest collegiate publication in the United States, Scholastic magazine.
Clara really likes coffee, and once bought everything on the menu at Starbucks because she had extra monopoly money at school and wanted to find out what her favorite drink actually was. It cost her $134.80. She also enjoys cooking and a good book. She is not one of those freak people who enjoys running, but she does it anyway, because it is good for you, or something like that. Her middle name is Lucille, which invariably comes up in conversation, so now you know.
Clara does not feel that autobiographies – especially at her age – should be taken seriously.
Felix Jones is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a Magician Member of the Academy of Magical Arts and a regular performer in the Magic Castle showrooms in Hollywood, California, where he performs his acclaimed comedy magic and mind-reading show. Felix has been a featured performer at Jeff McBride's Wonderground and MINDvention. His many corporate clients include Amazon, Pratham USA, Talego Country Club, 21st Century Experience, John Hancock Investment, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Felix unlocks everyone's inner magical self in his fast-paced, funny, and mystifying show that will leave you wondering "how did he do that?"
Austin Young is from Reno, Nevada and currently lives and works in Los Angeles. The foundation of his career is from studying at Parsons in Paris. Early in his career, Austin transferred his interests from traditional portrait painting towards a long celebrated career in portrait photography. In many ways, Austin is more accurately described as an image-maker: his projects illustrate the sublime qualities of character that make celebrated people unique. Based on a nuanced visual language of pop-culture iconography, his trademark style and techniques have captured a broad palette of musicians, artists and celebrities including Debbie Harry, Leigh Bowery and Margaret Cho, among others. In multiple bodies of work, Austin confuses personality and identity issues in confrontational and unapologetic image making about people who often split gender roles, stereotypical constraints and socially-constructed identities.
Austin is co-founder and artist of Fallen Fruit, artist duo Austin Young and David Allen Burns, a contemporary art collective that uses fruit as a material for projects that investigate the hyper- qualities of collaboration.
“Austin Young reconstructs tropes of pop art and pop culture into alarmingly brilliant new icons” - Shana Nys Drambot
"Working with Austin Young is like being alone in a room with a spirit who wants to meet you. He is not interested in your mortality: he is interested in your immortality. [...] He reminds me of the great Hollywood portrait photographers from another era, of George Hurrell, in particular, who was interested in the painting, not the snapshot. There is always a place for the secular in journalism. Thankfully that place will not be in Mr. Young's studio." - Diamanda Galás
"Austin Young is the best artist working in photography today. His work captures beauty at its most vital, carnal, visceral, alive! His exuberant intensity is matched by his innate sense of balance and upmost respect for glamour, in all of its many decent and indecent forms. His work will be seen as important historical reference for our times, and his name will be legend." - Margaret Cho
"Austin's images are, like me, the best of both worlds. Flawless and perfect, they are dreamily artificial -- while somehow simultaneously remaining organic, genuine and very real." - Jackie Beat
“I was beyond thrilled when Austin Young expressed interest in photographing Peaches Christ, not only because I knew Austin would create a gorgeously iconic Peaches image (which he did) but because it meant I’d be included in a brilliant body of work I’ve admired for years. Austin Young’s subjects are my idols and his portraits pay glamorous tribute to the often over-looked world of dark divas, drag superstars, and underground film icons." - Peaches Christ
“I’m pretty unabashed in my enthusiasm for Austin Young’s work. I think he’s the most original photographer to emerge in America since David LaChapelle.” -Richard Metzger
John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists." He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films. Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats.
Peaches Christ (aka Joshua Grannell) is "All About Evil"
00:56:38
Peaches Christ (aka Joshua Grannell) is a filmmaker and cult leader living in San Francisco. Her infamous movie events at the Castro Theatre regularly draw over 1,000 attendees to each new production before they tour. Events have featured special guest stars John Waters, Cloris Leachman, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Linda Blair, Bruce Campbell, Apollonia, Barry Bostwick, Pam Grier, and more. Peaches is the alter- ego of Joshua Grannell, the writer and director of the feature film All About Evil. The award-winning dark comedy gore film stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole, and Peaches Christ herself. Peaches Christ has been featured in the films Milk, I Am Divine, Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Mansfield 66/67, Tura!, Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street, You Don’t Nomi, and more.
All About Evil is a wild ride that’s as horrific as it is hilarious. It’s been called “a riotous experience” (Horror News), “clearly ahead of its time” (Geekscape) and “made for lovers of horror by someone who loves the genre” (Daily Dead). Now the “demented, outrageous and hysterical” (PopOptiq) debut feature from writer/director Joshua Grannell can finally be experienced by audiences everywhere: When a mousy librarian (Natasha Lyonne of RUSSIAN DOLL) takes over her late father’s struggling movie theater, a series of grisly murders caught on camera will transform her into the new queen of indie splatter cinema. Thomas Dekker (TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), Cassandra Peterson (ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK), Noah Segan (DEADGIRL), Mink Stole (FEMALE TROUBLE) and drag legend Peaches Christ co-star in this “huge fun nod to forgotten horror and exploitation via loads of blood and black humor” (Yell! Magazine) produced by Darren Stein (JAWBREAKER).
You can see All About Evil now streaming on Shudder.
BONUS: "Alchemy of the Spirit" release week revisits cult icon Mink Stole
00:33:56
To celebrate the release of our film "Alchemy Of The Spirit" this week we revisit Mr. Balderson's discussion with cult icon Mink Stole! Mink co-stars in "Alchemy" alongside Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke
Watch "Alchemy Of The Spirit" on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8RLM38M
Alchemy of the Spirit stars Xander Berkeley (Candyman, “24”), Sarah Clarke (“24”, “Covert Affairs”), and cult icon Mink Stole (Female Trouble, Pink Flamingos). The film premiered in Europe at Fantasporto in April, 2022, picking up a nomination for Best International Feature, and went on to screen around the globe to critical acclaim, including the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (taking home Best Feature Film Science Fiction), the Atlanta Underground Film Festival (taking home Best Director) and the International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival (dominating the awards with Best in Show, Best Director for Balderson, Best Actor for Berkeley, and Best Actress for Clarke).
Mink Stole is best known for her work in the films of John Waters. Her film career began as a party guest in Waters' film Roman Candles. Since then, she has appeared in all of John Waters' feature films from Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Cry Baby, and Serial Mom (opposite Kathleen Turner) to name a few. She has appeared in a number of films and television shows, such as Stuck! directed by Steve Balderson, and is the lead singer of Mink Stole and Her Wonderful Band, of which musicians Kristian Hoffman, George Baby Woods, and Brian Grillo have been members.
For more information, visit: https://www.dikenga.com/alchemy-of-the-spirit
BONUS: "Alchemy of the Spirit" release week revisits Dr. Joseph Suglia
00:51:00
To celebrate the release of our film "Alchemy Of The Spirit" this week we revisit Mr. Balderson's discussion with Dr. Joseph Suglia, who offers his analysis of the film.
Philosopher and Author Dr. Joseph Suglia dissects Steve Balderson's new art film ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT which stars Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, and cult icon Mink Stole. The film premiered in Europe at Fantasporto in April, 2022, picking up a nomination for Best International Feature, and went on to screen around the globe to critical acclaim, including the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (taking home Best Feature Film Science Fiction), the Atlanta Underground Film Festival (taking home Best Director) and the International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival (dominating the awards with Best in Show, Best Director for Balderson, Best Actor for Berkeley, and Best Actress for Clarke).
In the discussion today: the illusion of time, ancient religions, archaic religiosity, life and death, resurrection, the regeneration of time, the birth of the cosmos, the end of the world, Alan Watts, David Lynch, Shakespeare, and consciousness. (Correction: At one point, Dr. Suglia misnames the character Leontes by calling him "Leonatus.")
Watch "Alchemy Of The Spirit" on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8RLM38M
For more information, visit: https://www.dikenga.com/alchemy-of-the-spirit
In a world that constantly demands innovation and originality, finding and nurturing your creative potential has never been more crucial. “Accessing Creativity: Unlock Your Inner Genius” by award-winning filmmaker Steve Balderson is a profound exploration into the heart of creativity, designed to help you break free from limiting beliefs and embrace a life of boundless imagination.
Through engaging monologues, philosophical insights, and practical exercises, Balderson guides you on a journey to discover the endless source of creativity within. From understanding the power of intent and effective communication to navigating the intricacies of judgment and preference, this book offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be creative in today’s world.
But creativity isn’t confined to the arts alone. As highlighted in the thought-provoking afterword by Steve’s father, a seasoned expert in manufacturing and industrial commerce, the principles laid out in this book are universally applicable. Whether you’re developing groundbreaking technology, solving complex business problems, or simply seeking to enrich your daily life, “Accessing Creativity” provides the tools and inspiration you need to thrive.
Discover how to:
Reframe limiting beliefs and decisions to unlock your true potential
Cultivate a mindset that nurtures continuous creative growth
Use the Three Perspectives strategy to evaluate and enhance your work
Embrace the idea that there is no failure, only feedback
Apply these timeless principles across all areas of your life
Join Steve Balderson as he shares his unique insights and experiences, showing you how to tap into the infinite creativity that lies within us all. With “Accessing Creativity,” you’ll learn to see the world through new eyes and transform your ideas into reality.
In a world that constantly demands innovation and originality, finding and nurturing your creative potential has never been more crucial. “Accessing Creativity: Unlock Your Inner Genius” by award-winning filmmaker Steve Balderson is a profound exploration into the heart of creativity, designed to help you break free from limiting beliefs and embrace a life of boundless imagination.
Through engaging monologues, philosophical insights, and practical exercises, Balderson guides you on a journey to discover the endless source of creativity within. From understanding the power of intent and effective communication to navigating the intricacies of judgment and preference, this book offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be creative in today’s world.
But creativity isn’t confined to the arts alone. As highlighted in the thought-provoking afterword by Steve’s father, a seasoned expert in manufacturing and industrial commerce, the principles laid out in this book are universally applicable. Whether you’re developing groundbreaking technology, solving complex business problems, or simply seeking to enrich your daily life, “Accessing Creativity” provides the tools and inspiration you need to thrive.
Discover how to:
Reframe limiting beliefs and decisions to unlock your true potential
Cultivate a mindset that nurtures continuous creative growth
Use the Three Perspectives strategy to evaluate and enhance your work
Embrace the idea that there is no failure, only feedback
Apply these timeless principles across all areas of your life
Join Steve Balderson as he shares his unique insights and experiences, showing you how to tap into the infinite creativity that lies within us all. With “Accessing Creativity,” you’ll learn to see the world through new eyes and transform your ideas into reality.
In a world that constantly demands innovation and originality, finding and nurturing your creative potential has never been more crucial. “Accessing Creativity: Unlock Your Inner Genius” by award-winning filmmaker Steve Balderson is a profound exploration into the heart of creativity, designed to help you break free from limiting beliefs and embrace a life of boundless imagination.
Through engaging monologues, philosophical insights, and practical exercises, Balderson guides you on a journey to discover the endless source of creativity within. From understanding the power of intent and effective communication to navigating the intricacies of judgment and preference, this book offers a fresh perspective on what it means to be creative in today’s world.
But creativity isn’t confined to the arts alone. As highlighted in the thought-provoking afterword by Steve’s father, a seasoned expert in manufacturing and industrial commerce, the principles laid out in this book are universally applicable. Whether you’re developing groundbreaking technology, solving complex business problems, or simply seeking to enrich your daily life, “Accessing Creativity” provides the tools and inspiration you need to thrive.
Discover how to:
Reframe limiting beliefs and decisions to unlock your true potential
Cultivate a mindset that nurtures continuous creative growth
Use the Three Perspectives strategy to evaluate and enhance your work
Embrace the idea that there is no failure, only feedback
Apply these timeless principles across all areas of your life
Join Steve Balderson as he shares his unique insights and experiences, showing you how to tap into the infinite creativity that lies within us all. With “Accessing Creativity,” you’ll learn to see the world through new eyes and transform your ideas into reality.
Emmy winning Cinematographer Hanuman Brown-Eagle visits with Steve about motion picture photography and his interest in light and space. Hanuman also offers insight and tips about the best cameras, lenses, and the importance of the Close-up. As a Director of Photography and Cinematographer, Hanuman has filmed more than 300 commercials in over 50 cities from Los Angeles to New York. He’s also filmed more than 60 short films and music videos as well as numerous features. His work has garnered over 40 awards and has been screened at festivals worldwide, including the Cannes Film Festival in France.
SUBSCRIBE, RATE and tell us what you like about the podcast.
The Enigma, completely tattooed from head to toe in blue jigsaw puzzle pieces, is a legendary performer cultivating audiences for over 20 years around the globe. A founding member of Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, The Enigma has toured with Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and opening for David Bowie. His Prime Time television acting debut came in 1995 on the X-files. His feature film acting debut came in 2005's Firecracker starring opposite screen legend Karen Black and rock star Mike Patton (Faith No More and Mr. Bungle).
Coming from a background of classical piano and stage magic, The Enigma's live show includes the best possible traditional stunts. Being an innovator of the bizarre, The Enigma also produces stunts none has ever seen. All of the original music backing the show and the odd humor allow audiences to breathe and adds to The Enigma as an identifiable character. The Enigma has been on the cover of many tattoo magazines, setting the example for extreme body modification. Featured twice in National Geographic Magazine, 1995 and 2004, The Enigma gets hard news stories about his shows published in advance of his debuts. The Enigma has not stopped covering new ground, breaking into the comic book arena as well as monster truck rallies and school anti bully lectures.
When you think of extreme, wild, out of this world entertainers, The Enigma stands out as the leader of his art form. He is an historic legend in body modification, circus sideshow, and tattooing, and leads the pack in that “do it yourself” renaissance style. As a refined talent of over 20 years in the business you can see that he continues to amaze and inspire. The Enigma's cult status and huge following will grow organically over the years as he constantly gives to the art world.
Join Steve for a dialog with New York Times #1 Bestselling Comic Book and television writer Amanda Deibert. Amanda is currently writing for the animated series He-Man and The Masters Of The Universe for Netflix. Her comic book writing includes DC Super Hero Girls, Teen Titans Go!, The Doomed And The Damned, Wonder Women of History, Flash Facts, Wonder Woman ’77, Batman and Harley Quinn, Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, and Love is Love (NYT #1 Bestseller) for DC Comics, stories in John Carpenter’s Tales for A Halloween Night volumes 2, 3, 4, 5 , & 6 for Storm King Comics among others. Other TV credits include work for CBS, SyFy, OWN, PIVOT, HULU and 4 years as writer for former Vice President Al Gore’s international climate broadcast, 24 Hours of Reality.
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Legendary director Lloyd Kaufman is president of New York-based production and distribution company Troma Entertainment, which he and partner Michael Herz founded in 1974 shortly after they graduated from Yale University. Troma is a bastion of true independence with a strong consumer brand through a visionary body of work that has had a huge impact on pop culture and today's mainstream filmmaking. New York Post film critic Lou Lumenick recently wrote that Mr. Kaufman has been cited as a major influence by Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino and Takashi Miike, among others. Other writers and directors who have cited Mr. Kaufman as a major influence include Sam Raimi, James Gunn, Kevin Smith and Eli Roth, to name a few. In addition, Mr. Kaufman has mentored many young independent filmmakers and Troma movies or releases have given numerous now-famous talent their first start in the film industry, including Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Costner, Oliver Stone, Marisa Tomei, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Jenna Fisher. Other major figures whose first work appears in a Troma film include Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman and Carmen Electra.
In addition, Mr. Kaufman has been honored by various international film festivals and Troma retrospectives across the globe, including the San Sebastian Film Festival, the British Film Institute, the Cinematheque Francaise, the American Cinemetheque, the Chicago International Film Festival and the UCLA Film Archives. Fluent in French and able to "get around" in Mandarin, he has also served on the Board of Trinity School and ECO, the environmental foundation.
Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hollywood Pleasant Gehman is a true renaissance woman: best-selling author and journalist, international dance performer and instructor, punk rock historian, blogger, Tarot card reader, and a critically acclaimed actor, musician and painter. A Hollywood icon, her multi-disciplinary creative output is nothing short of staggering.
During the 1970's, she was one of the first punks in Los Angeles, documenting the music scene she helped create in her fanzine Lobotomy, which lead to her writing for mainstream music and entertainment publications. From the age of 16 onwards, Pleasant worked as a journalist and cultural commentator with literally thousands of articles published nationally and internationally on everything from the arts and entertainment to Hollywood stuntwomen, sex workers and homeless teenage runaways. She has worked as a staff writer for LA Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, Variety, And The Hollywood Reporter and often free-lanced for Billboard, Spin and Rolling Stone. Her alternative city guide book The Underground Guide To Los Angeles spent nine weeks on The LA Times Best Sellers List.
In the early 1980's, Pleasant collaborated with producer/director Max Tash on a script based on her all-girl band The Screaming Sirens, called The Runnin' Kind (which she also starred in) released theatrically by MGM in 1989. The Screaming Sirens toured extensively throughout North America and released two albums on Enigma Records, Fiesta and Voodoo, as well as many singles. Concurrent with The Screaming Sirens, Pleasant and life-long friend Iris Berry founded The Ringling Sisters, a writing and spoken word group made up of female lead singers from popular LA bands. The Ringling Sisters soon morphed into a band, and were signed by Ode/ A&M Records, releasing the spoken word and music LP Sixty Watt Reality, produced by Lou Adler.
Under the stage name Princess Farhana; Pleasant has been an icon in the fields of belly dance and burlesque since the early 1990's. She is the author of The Belly Dance Handbook, considered by many to be the definitive resource. She has headlined both belly dance and burlesque festivals all over the world, appearing to perform and teach in Egypt, Turkey, Australia and China, toured many times across Europe and The UK, Mexico and Canada as well as throughout the USA. As a belly dancer, she has judged numerous competitions, and appeared on the covers of every belly dance trade publication. As a burlesque artist, she has been featured on the covers of numerous mainstream publications and on the cover of the London, UK Sunday Review's feature on American Burlesque.
Under the names Pleasant Gehman and Princess Farhana, she has acted and danced in music videos-for Madonna, Ricky Martin, Margaret Cho, and many others- and network television shows, including The Nanny. She was the principle dancer in comedian Margaret Cho's touring burlesque show, The Sensuous Woman and also appeared dancing and being interviewed in segments in Margaret Cho's DVD Assassin and her television series The Cho Show.
Sally Kirkland is a film, TV, and theater veteran since the 1960s and is probably best known for the film "Anna," for which she garnered the Best Actress Oscar nomination and won the Best Actress Golden Globe, the Independent Spirit Award, and the LA Film Critic's Circle Award. Sally has appeared in over 200 films.
Feisty and hard-working, Sally has made an indelible mark on Hollywood history. Born in New York City, her mother was the fashion editor at Vogue and LIFE magazine. Sally began her career on the off-Broadway circuit and trained under Lee Strasberg.
Sally's first director in 1964 was Andy Warhol in "13 Most Beautiful Women." In 1968 she became the first nude actress in American history performing in "Sweet Eros" by Terrence McNally.
Her notable films include: "The Sting," "The Way We Were," "Coming Apart," "Cold Feet," "Best of the Best," "Revenge," "JFK," "ED TV," "Bruce Almighty", "Coffee Date" and "Archaeology of a Woman". In the past couple of years she has starred in "Buddy Solitaire", "Gnaw" and "The Most Hated Woman in America" co-starring with Melissa Leo and Peter Fonda. She was nominated for Best Actress in a TV movie by the Hollywood Foreign Press for "The Haunted- A True Story." Her television credits include: guest starring on "Criminal Minds," recurring on "Head Case" and "the Simple Life." She guest starred on "Resurrection Blvd," and in the TV movie, "Another Woman's Husband." Sally had a recurring role on "Felicity," starred on the TV movie, "Brave New World," "Song of Songs" and was a series regular on the TV show "Valley of the Dolls."
Sally is also an exhibited painter, poet, renowned acting coach and ordained minister in the Church of The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA).
Marek Probosz is a preeminent film, television and stage actor in his native Poland, and likened across Eastern Europe as "the DeNiro of Poland,” Probosz has more than 50 starring roles to his credit. Many of his films have competed in key international festivals including Venice (Jerzy Skolimowski’s 30 Door Key, 1991), Cannes and Karlovy Vary (Jirí Svoboda’s award-winning End of the Lonely Farm Berghof, 1984) and San Sebastian (Frantisek Vlácil’s The Shadow of the Ferns, 1984). Probosz’s theatrical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Salome, which he wrote, directed and starred in, was cited by the Czech National Critics Poll as the No. 2 artistic event of 1986, after Sir Richard Attenborough’s Oscar-winning film Gandhi (1983) and ahead of Ingmar Bergman’s Oscar-winning Fanny and Alexander (1982).
In 1987, Probosz came to the United States at the invitation of American Cinematheque. Since that time, he has collaborated with such Academy Award winners and nominees as F. Murray Abraham, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Don Cheadle, Katharine Hepburn; cinematographers Conrad Hall, Ryszard Lenczewski and Matthew Libatique; composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek; directors Darren Aronofsky, Todd Field, Agnieszka Holland, Scott Silver and Andrzej Wajda; costume designer Theodor Pistek and art director Ewa Braun.
Probosz’s film and television career spans roles in Polish, Czech, German, French, Italian and American productions and co-productions. In the United States, he most recently guest-starred on CBS' Scorpion. He has also had guest-starring roles on ABC’s Scandal, CBS’ Numbers, NBC’s JAG and USA’s Monk. He received strong reviews from The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for his portrayal of Roman Polanski in the 2004 CBS miniseries Helter Skelter.
From 2004-2009, Probosz portrayed the first homosexual character featured on Polish national television, Grzegorz Gorski, in the highly rated Polish drama L Like Love. In 2006, Probosz starred as the Polish WWII hero Witold Pilecki in The Death of Captain Pilecki, which garnered the Special Jury REMI Award at the 2007 WorldFest-Houston International Independent Film Festival and had screenings at consulates, universities and embassies throughout the world. In 2012, he recorded the audiobook The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery, about Pilecki, for Audible.com, which received an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award in 2013 and a Prose Award in 2012.
Probosz is the author of two books published in Poland: The novel Eldorado (2009) and Call Me When They Kill You (2011), a collection of short stories.
In 2011, Probosz was awarded the Mortui Sunt Ut Liberi Vivamus Bronze Medal in London and the Gold Medal Knight of Humanity in Auschwitz for his portrayal of Witold Pilecki and in recognition of his outstanding services in sharing Pilecki’s ideals of heroism beyond religion, race and time around the world. In Spring 2017, Probosz starred as Pilecki in a multimedia stage production of The Auschwitz Volunteer at American Jewish University and UCLA.
Desh Amila is a documentary filmmaker and serial entrepreneur. Originally from Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia in 2000. With a desire to inspire, Desh is on a mission to educate, entertain and enhance the lives of those he connects with. Currently he is the founder and CEO at This is 42 and is about to release his second feature film, Better Left Unsaid, a documentary that examines political extremis. In 2018, he released his film called Islam: Future of Tolerance. It featured Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz and became the #1 iTunes download worldwide (Documentary Category).
In 2011, Desh founded Think Inc. a first of its kind ‘edutainment’ company that tours intellectuals throughout Australia and New Zealand. The company featured speakers such as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, historian of science Michael Shermer, political activist Dr Cornel West, and the late social-political critic Christopher Hitchens. Desh has had quite the walk of life and loves to push social and political boundaries.
Garrett Swann is a Santa Barbara native, now New Yorker, full-time realist, gym rat, go-getter, and a wannabe millennial. Obsessed with great convos over coffee, he spends his days inspiring younger generations with his personal style, poise and panache. A role model and GQ Insider, Garrett travels the world as a model in campaigns for IBM, T-Mobile, Amazon/Oprah Magazine, Brooks Brothers, Allen Edmonds, Michael Kors, Belk, Billionaire (Phillipe Plein), Phonak, Dodge, Chrysler, Loews Hotels, SLH Hotels, Indochino, 2xist Underwear, Mr. Turk, Moscot, among others. Last year, he laughed when he made the “Silverfox” lists for Buzzfeed, Huffpost and OUT Magazine. He's guessing #daddyisthenewblack. Through his social media platform “The Sterling Compass,” garrett circumnavigates the world, giving positive lifestyle direction to those across the globe. He is also a CEO of an app company called Production Assistant Liaison (paL) in New York City, former star of several TV shows (Fashion House, Unusually Thicke) and questionable indie films (The Casserole Club), and his motto in life is “have swimsuit, will travel.”
The Asylum is one of the world's leading brand-oriented motion picture and television studios. With a focus on high-concept, market-driven entertainment, like the SHARKNADO franchise and the popular BLACK SUMMER and Z NATION TV series. The Asylum finances, produces and releases 25 films per year through its direct pipeline to the nation's top retailers and its network of international partners. Since its founding in 1997, The Asylum has released more than 500 films and has built a library of over 250 original productions, including top-rated programs for Netflix, SYFY, Lifetime, Ion Television, Animal Planet, as well as Hallmark Channel, Sony Television, BET, and Universal TV. The Asylum's apocalyptic thriller BLACK SUMMER was the #1 scripted series on its Netflix release and Season 2 is underway. And its critically acclaimed action-horror series, Z NATION, is one of SYFY's longest-running and highest-rated. In 2018 the company launched THE ASYLUM MOVIE CHANNEL -- an ad-supported entertainment network. With over three million hours watched per month, THE ASYLUM MOVIE CHANNEL is one of the top-rated OTT entertainment networks.
Like many film hopefuls, Ronni started making films at about 9 years old when his father bought one of the first camcorder backpack units that had come on the market. He remade classics such as Faces of Death and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with his Brooklyn neighborhood friends. Since then, his films have screed at festivals around the world as well as museums and institutions ranging from Carnegie Hall and The MET in NY to the Horniman Museum in the UK. They've been Honored by BAFTA, Tribeca Film Institute, Raindance Film UK, The British Independent Film Awards and many other prestigious venues. Ronni got his official start in film at Troma in 2000, producing DVD content for the legendary horror outfit. From there, he teamed up with underground maverick Lech Kowlaski (DOA, The Boot Factory) and together they made Hey Is Dee Dee Home with Punk icon Dee Dee Ramone. Eventually he found his place in short film and digital content working heavily with Morbid Anatomy and the now defunct Brooklyn Observatory. His award winning short narrative Radio Girl featured collaboration with long time composer and friend Stephen Coates (The Real Tuesday Weld) and The Witch director, Robert Eggers. His Midnight Archive web series went on to critical acclaim both on the small and big screens, garnering praise from Time.com to boingboing and io9, to Forbes magazine, before being co-opted for Discovery Channel's digital network. His short doc Walter Potter : The Man Who Married Kittens, would be nominated for best short at the prestigious Tribeca Film festival, Raindance Film Fest, and Hot Springs International and wind honors at Morbido fest Puebla, Mexico. His AMC digital series ‘The Broken and the Bad’ is a 6 film docu-series on the real-life themes of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and features Giancarlo Esposito.
Mink Stole is best known for her work in the films of John Waters. Her film career began as a party guest in Waters' film Roman Candles. Since then, she has appeared in all of John Waters' feature films from Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Cry Baby, and Serial Mom (opposite Kathleen Turner) to name a few. She has appeared in a number of films and television shows, such as Stuck! directed by Steve Balderson, and is the lead singer of Mink Stole and Her Wonderful Band, of which musicians Kristian Hoffman, George Baby Woods, and Brian Grillo have been members. www.FilmmakingConfidential.com
By the early 1990s, Debbie was working with multiple theatre companies in NYC including The Tribeca Lab where she played multiple characters in Stephen DiLauro’s play The Secret Warhol Rituals. In 1993 Debbie began her career in radio co-producing and co-hosting Oblique Strategies on the terrestrial channel WBAI. 1994 was the beginning for Debbie to land lead roles in film. Abducted II: The Reunion would be the first and in 1995 she co-stared in her first Troma produced film Tromeo and Juliet co-directed by James Gunn and Lloyd Kaufman. This would also be the year Debbie would be given her first writing column which appeared in The Job Bob Report, published by Joe Bob Briggs. She would also pen for numerous genre publications including The Phantom of the Movies’ Videoscope magazine which she still writes for today. Of the multiple roles she would portray by decade’s end it would be Hellblock 13, co-staring Gunnar Hansen, that would begin the wheels turning for a new type of role she would soon be known for. During the 1996-1998-time frame Debbie would co-produce and co-host Illumination Gallery for the internet’s first on-line radio station Pseudo Radio.
In 2000 director Jon Keeyes cast Debbie in the now cult classic American Nightmare which garnered much acclaim with legit reviewers and audiences alike. Her role as Jane Toppan would solidify her as a go-to actor for roles of the off-kilter and intense kind. By 2002 Debbie began working for Full Moon Entertainment, starring in four feature films with the company. She continued to write for genre publications and contributed chapters to horror themed books. In 2005 Debbie joined forces with what was then known as Scream TV. The company bought Fangoria magazine and Debbie began producing short documentaries including Fangoria Presents Slither Behind the Scenes. In 2006 they launched Fangoria Radio for Sirius/XM where she co-produced and co-hosted the show with Twisted Sister front-man Dee Snider until 2010. The following year Debbie was granted her own column in the magazine called Diary of the Deb, the first column written by a woman for the publication, it was nominated for three Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards for best column, winning the esteemed statue in 2014. During this decade Debbie also gave critically acclaimed turns in works inspired by some of her favorite classical writers; The Tell Tale Heart (Edgar Allan Poe), Mark of the Beast (Rudyard Kipling) and Colour From the Dark (H.P. Lovecraft).
Debbie appeared on the VH1 reality TV show Scream Queens as a guest judge in 2010. In 2012 she served, with Mira Sorvino, Gabrielle Miller, Tamar Simon-Hoffs and Lana Morgan, as part of the first all-female jury at the Oldenburg International Film Festival in Germany. The same year Debbie had her directorial debut with the extreme body-horror film Model Hunger. ETonline.com hailed Debbie as one of the “40 Top Scream Queens of the Past 40 Years” in 2018. Debbie’s current writing column, Debbie Rochon’s Bloody Underground, appears in the Italian published magazine Asylum. She is currently acting in feature films, writing her book and prepares for
Elliot Diviney began editing for Best Buy and the Minnesota Orchestra. In 2009, Elliot directed his first feature film, an indie crime comedy called “Paper-Maché.” Between 2011 and 2012, Elliot directed two sequels, “Potpourri” and “American “Rescue Squad.” After those films were released, Elliot moved to Los Angeles where he continued to pursue editing and writing. His editing clients include Netflix, the NFL, Doritos, and Sun-maid Raisins. In addition to his own films, Elliot’s screenwriting credits include The Dawn (2019), Rise Against The Fall (2017), and several short films for Red 23 Films.
Nathan Adloff's feature film “Miles” is semi-autobiographical and centers on a high school senior who joins the girls volleyball team in hopes of winning a college scholarship after his father's untimely death. It stars Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Missi Pyle, Tim Boardman, Annie Golden, Yeardley Smith and Stephen Root. “Miles” won the Audience Choice Award in Outfest Los Angeles, received theatrical and digital distribution and is streaming on Netflix.
Nathan Adloff Directed/Co-Wrote/Produced his feature film debut with “Nate & Margaret.” It sold for worldwide distribution prior to completion. The film stars Natalie West, Tyler Ross and Gaby Hoffmann. Roger Ebert praised the film as “A smart, observant movie about two very particular people, and its casting is pitch-perfect.” The New York Times called it “Fragile and simple in the best possible way.”
Nathan acted in Joe Swanberg's early films and IFC series, "Young American Bodies," in addition to making a handful of award-winning short films. Both of his “Cock N’ Bull” short films, which he also acted in, screened in festivals around the world. Both shorts received distribution on multiple platforms, including Seed & Spark, Revry, Dekkoo and Amazon.
Eric Himan is an award-winning nationally-touring soulful/folk/rock artist. His music has been featured on Sirius/XM's Coffeehouse radio station. Eric has toured with Leon Russell and Ani DiFranco. He has shared the stage with Patty Griffin, India.Arie, Edwin McCain, and many more. He has appeared in the The Advocate, Huffington Post, OUT, newspapers nationwide, won the Singer/Songwriter Awards in London and is endorsed by Fender Guitars.
Eric's most recent album CONTENDERS is his most ambitious album to date. In addition to Himan on lead vocals and guitar, the album features musicians Fiawna Forte (lead guitar and vocals), Phillip Hanewinkel (bass) and Brandon Holder (drums). Produced, recorded and mixed by Bixby’s Kendal Osborne at his Closet Studios, the album was mastered by Chris Wiley with Buffalo Hide Mastering.
Eric's previous album, GRACEFULLY was recorded with Eric on piano. A horn section was brought in and arranged by saxophonist Ryan Tedder, with Dave Johnson on trumpet. Eric was able to bring in some heavy hitters such as drummer, Brandon Holder (drummer for Leon Russell) and bassist Matt Hayes (Jacob Fred Jazz Odessey, Wayne Newton) thanks to the support of his many generous listeners. The album was recorded in Eric’s hometown of Tulsa, OK by Rockwell Ripperger (of the platinum selling band, Stephen Speaks) and Brandon Holder, mixed by Ripperger, and mastered by the grammy-award winning Chris Bellman (Alanis Morissette, Ani DiFranco, Katy Perry) at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles, CA.
Starina Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist who can be seen in award-winning films such as “West Hollywood Motel”, “More Scenes from a Gay Marriage”, “A Measure of the Sin”, “Stuck!”, “Casserole Club”, “Watch Out”, and “Roundball.” Theatre projects include Hollywood Fringe darlings Piñata, directed by Stan Zimmerman, complex[ion] woman, directed by Ebony Gilbert, as well as numerous Towne Street Theatre and NEO Ensemble Theatre productions. She also AD/Co-Produced the revival of Justin Tanner's Heartbreak Help. Starina’s play Border Towns won SLAM Boston's Diverse Voices in Theatre competition. And her short plays have been produced in theatres across the country.
In an industry where the word "Producer" is misused and overused, it's nearly impossible to tell what it means anymore. Amazon Studios Social Producer Rebecca Breithaupt discusses the different kinds of producers (Executive, Co, Creative, Associate, and so on) along with the different roles producers play in various fields within entertainment (film, TV, commercial and music industries).
Adrian is an Australian film director, screenwriter and editor. His film BROLGA is a short film which has just completed a successful international festival run, and has been released for streaming online. The response to the film across the world has been wonderful, and the story of the project's journey to the screen is both unique and full of interesting lessons for those interested in indie filmmaking.
Adrian's work has screened in cinemas across the globe, including the 69th Venice Film Festival, where his film ‘Scruples’ screened as part of a competition spearheaded by Sir Ridley Scott, Michael Fassbender and YouTube, and where Scott commented that Adrian and his fellow finalists were "all clearly talents for the industry to watch". In 2013, Adrian completed work as co-director, co-writer and editor on the WWI feature 'Forbidden Ground', which was released worldwide (including distribution in the U.S. via Lionsgate).
He has edited thirteen feature films, including 'Skin Deep' (officially selected for the 2014 Austin Film Festival), ‘Rip Tide’ (officially selected for the 2017 Sydney Film Festival) and ‘Romance on the Menu’ (released by Netflix in 2020), as well as the acclaimed TV series ‘Starting From…Now’ and ‘A Chance Affair’. In 2020, Adrian co-wrote four episodes of the upcoming Netflix series, ‘Dive Club’.
As both an editor and director, Adrian has also worked on hundreds of commercials, music videos, corporate videos and documentaries. He has produced content for some of the biggest brands in the world, including Apple, QANTAS, TED, Universal Music, Salesforce, Woolworths, The Guardian, ING, Westfield, Lonely Planet, Volvo, Telstra and Google. His latest short film, ‘Brolga’, which he wrote, directed and edited, has been successful at festivals both at home and internationally, and has garnered multiple ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Director’ awards.
William Clift, a Hollywood native, started his career as a Make-up and Hair man for the fashion, film, television and Music Video industry. In mid 2000 he decided to follow his life long dream of becoming a director, writer and produced his first short film, The Fairy Tale, soon after a documentary, The Pure Eccentrics; San Francisco. This led to his first feature film Baby Jane? shot on a shoestring budget, receiving rave reviews from Variety, Fangoria and the Examiner to name a few. Baby Jane? was on Netflix streaming in 2012 and bought by HERE TV. Billy's next project was I Want To Get Married, which was distributed all over the globe. Billy's next feature was his follow up to Baby Jane?, Hush Up Sweet Charlotte, starring a cast of cult icons ( Mink Stole, Varla Jean Merman).
Join film directors Elizabeth Spear & Steve Balderson as they discuss the sometimes insane behavior and on-set antics of other Directors, Primadonnas, Assistant Directors, Explosive Producers, Egomaniacs, and how one can navigate all this and still manage to have a creative, warm, and welcoming film set.
Elizabeth Spear is an award winning filmmaker from Austin, Texas. She earned her M.A. in Media and Communication from European Graduate School in Switzerland and has studied under Terrence Malick, Wim Wenders, D.J. Spooky and Slavoj Zizek. Her films have screened all over the world including France, Germany, Norway, Egypt, Ireland and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Awards HELL TOWN (2015) Best Feature, Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest ROUNDBALL (2014), Best Romantic Comedy, WorldFest THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW (2012), Best Feature Film, 60 Degrees Norway FORWARD/BACKWARD (2009), People’s Choice, Different than What? HANGING (2002), Grand Prize, 72HFP Gene Siskel Theater
Today's special Season One finale is The One & Only Betti O! Betti O. has appeared on stage from New York to Japan, performing with incredible people including Sally Struthers, Ben Vereen and Sandy Duncan. In 2008 she opened for Hillary Rodham Clinton at a political rally in Iowa and was the lead in the Asian tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Her soulful voice has appeared on music projects worldwide, such as on a hit single released in Europe. Her legendary performance on “Showtime at The Apollo” brought down the house and ended in a standing ovation from the audience, naming her the winner. She also appeared in several of Steve's films.
Today's guest is Preston Taylor - an American comedian, actor, producer and writer from Gatesville, Texas. Preston started his illustrious career in Los Angeles with a brief appearance as himself on RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009) as part of the pit crew. He also appeared as an outlaw and stuntman in the award winning short film Valley of the Scorned (2011), as well as, his unbelievable one line, one scene as Keith in Parallels (2013). Preston started his comedy career in 2010 with his first ever live performance at the Palm in west Hollywood. He was fortunate as his second show would be downtown in front acting and comedic heavyweight Garrett Morris, who would tell him that night- “Kid if this is show two, you are going to be okay out here”. Preston has since enjoyed the life of traveling as a comic and performing shows mostly in the shadows until now. Before his coming out party with Farm to TV (2021), he performed for years at Hollywood staples such as The Ice House, The World Famous Comedy Store, & Jon Lovitz Comedy Club where in 2012 he was dubbed runner-up in the L.A.’s Best Comic competition for up and comers. As an homage to one his favorite comics Rodney Dangerfield, who was meticulous about the timing when on stage, Preston set out to nail his set for the special at 65 minutes on the dot. Farm to TV was shot and performed one time through, one night only, and originally stamped at exactly 65 minutes with no stage clock.
Adam Barnick attended New York's School of Visual Arts for filmmaking, while assisting in production and special effects for theater and independent films. Afterwards he began his career assisting on commercials produced locally for Japanese television.
As a writer/director, Adam’s short film MAINSTREAM has played seven international festivals and opened the New York City Horror Film Festival’s theatrical screenings its year of release. Fangoria Magazine and Koch Vision acquired it for worldwide distribution on their FANGORIA BLOOD DRIVE II: America's Best Short Horror Films DVD, sold worldwide. MAINSTREAM was voted one of the top 5 horror films of the year by the editor of Horror-Movies.ca, as well as being featured in numerous print, radio and online articles in the top genre websites.
His company Wicked Tree Films has collaborated with Shout! Factory, IFC Midnight, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Home Entertainment, Ariescope Pictures, Crimson Films, A Bigger Boat, Glass Eye Pix, Dire Wit Films and Red Shirt Pictures.
In the arena of BTS documentaries and Blu-Ray/online content, he was edited, directed and shot featurettes in the past several years on the short film and feature-length versions of Paul Solet's award-winning GRACE; the horror prequel Malevolence: Bereavement, the true-story drama Aaron Bacon, Adam Green's survival thriller FROZEN, and Solet's followup to GRACE, DARK SUMMER. The DVD extras/documentaries for GRACE have received acclaim from horror fans and reviewers the world over, with the DVD winning "Best Indie Disc" at the 2010 Reaper Awards. FROZEN's Extras were nominated for "Best DVD Extras" in the 2011 Reaper Awards, alongside such heavyweights as The Walking Dead, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Alien Anthology. FROZEN recently became Anchor Bay's top-selling original Blu-Ray and DVD. Recent documentary projects include a series of featurettes celebrating and exploring Larry Fessenden's Glass Eye Pix, which has just hit a milestone 30th anniversary, as well as featurettes on the upcoming Blu-Ray releases of the genre films ITSY BITSY, the 80's horror comedy LITTLE MONSTERS, and Larry Fessenden's DEPRAVED.
As a music video director, he has collaborated with artists John Presnell, Rivulets, Barbiana Complex, and Kathy Zimmer. His striking and bizarre video for Presnell's PILLS was reviewed as "the creepiest, most on-fucking-point music video I've ever seen" by the influential music blog SYFFAL. His current music video, THE LOOK for Barbiana Complex, repurposes fan-shot footage into a candy-colored, electrified palette.
Recently, Adam founded the company Wicked Tree Creative, to rebrand and expand his editing services as a boutique post production company, delivering solutions for clients worldwide.
Today's guests are Renny Grames and Boston McConnaughey - the team behind the new film ALIEN COUNTRY.
Boston McConnaughey - Director, Writer With a background in filmmaking and next generation VR storytelling, Boston and Renny have 30 million views on their sci-fi action YouTube series and have created short films online for Sony Pictures, Google, Coca-cola, Nokia, and more... Alien Country’s baby daddy.
Renny Grames - Actor, Producer An indie film actress with numerous film and television credits. Renny’s work has shown up in dozens of festivals including Napa Valley FF and Heartland FF. She’s produced dozens of films and commercials and is Alien Country’s sugar momma.
Today's guest is photographer, writer, and filmmaker Emma Elizabeth Tillman. Her family lived on a sailboat from the time she was born. Tillman grew up on the water in Southern California, and the ocean has informed and engaged her work in its symbolic attributes; as well as her own confrontation with mystery, intimacy and fear.
She graduated with an Masters of Fine Art in Film Directing from UCLA in 2014 and since has worked across several disciplines, including her most recent solo exhibition of ten years of intimate writing and photography at Gallery 46 in London in 2017 entitled Disco Ball Soul, along with a book by the same name. She is currently at work on a television pilot and several feature length scripts. Tillman and her husband, Josh currently live and work in Los Angeles.
Today's guest is filmmaker and actor Doug Hurley. Doug is originally from Kansas, lived in New York City for a while, and now calls Los Angeles home. As a writer/director, his most recent short film, Suicide Date, premiered at the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles, winning the Audience Award for its category as well as the Overall Audience Award for the entire fest, qualifying it for the Academy Awards. As a writer/writer, he's currently developing two TV shows. As an actor, you can see him in MGM's upcoming The Baxters as Dr. Peter West, as well as Brooklyn 99, Lucifer, and many other tele-visual programs. Somehow evidently, he is also an award-winning poet and a painter. He is also very skilled at mailing random parcels to people.
Today's guest is the fabulous Rena Riffel. Rena is an American actress, singer, dancer, model, writer, producer, and director. She is best known for her supporting roles in films such as Showgirls, Striptease, and Mulholland Drive.
Riffel landed her breakthrough role in the 1995 film Showgirls starring Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, and Kyle MacLachlan. Initially reading for the lead role of Cristal Connors, Riffel was cast in the supporting role of Penny/Hope after director Paul Verhoeven decided that she was too young to play an aging showgirl.
While on the set of Showgirls, Riffel approached the music supervisor with a song she recorded, "Deep Kiss". The music supervisor tested the song on the production office (without telling them it had been written by one of the actresses) to determine if it was suitable for the film. Director Paul Verhoeven listened to the song and decided to include it in the lap dance scene at the Cheetah strip club.
Although an initial box office failure, Showgirls enjoyed success in the home video market, generating more than $100 million in video rentals and became one of MGM's top 20 all-time best sellers.
For the 2004 re-release as a DVD limited edition box set, Riffel, along with cast members Lin Tucci and Patrick Bristow, had their hand prints and names put in cement in front of the Hollywood Vista Theater at the red carpet event where they were also interviewed by Access Hollywood. Riffel and Bristow were also special guests at Peaches Christ's Midnight Mass midnight screening of Showgirls in 2008 in San Francisco, California. They were interviewed on stage after the live performance of the Goddess volcano dance performed by drag queens in gold lamé and featuring Peaches Christ as Goddess.
When asked if she expected Showgirls to produce such a cult legacy, Riffel replied, "No. I went into it thinking it would be a really erotic, serious, shocking exposé. People would be sitting on the edge of their seats from suspense. [... But] some people were trying to play straight comedy – I played my character with comedy; I was hoping to get a laugh – but no one was acting with tongue in cheek. I know that everyone went into it thinking it would be like Basic Instinct. [...] Maybe it's Verhoeven. Even [Basic Instinct] seems kind of campy now [...] I think it's something with European filmmakers. I think – and this is my theory – [...] that there's something that European filmmakers have, a punched-up, extreme vibe. Everything's extreme."
Following her role in Showgirls, Riffel was cast in Striptease with Demi Moore and Burt Reynolds. Showgirls was generally disliked and the filmmakers feared people would pre-judge Striptease for that reason. To avoid any association between the two films, advertisements projected Striptease as more comedic than Showgirls, which had been marketed as a drama. Aside from a common context, Striptease and Showgirls shared two notable connections: Marguerite Derricks choreographed both films, and Rena Riffel played a prominent role in each.
Today's guest is actor Aaron Dean Eisenberg. He is best known for portraying "Todd Lang" in HBO Series The Deuce alongside James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal; and "Richard Kane" in Ed Burns' series Public Morals.
Eisenberg made his acting debut in 2006, Nathaniel Nose-directed comedy, Talent. The following year he was seen as "Aaron Dean" in Reggie Bannister and Jason Carter-starrer horror film, The Final Curtain. He was seen in various films such as Stuck, The Ghostmaker, Gossip Girl, Royal Pains, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Unforgettable.
In 2017, he landed his most memorable role of "Todd Lang" in the HBO series The Deuce. In 2017, Eisenberg made his debut as producer with a 23-minute short comedy, Bagdad, Florida. The film was directed by Matthew Fifer and starred Margot Bingham and Jason Greene. The following year, he produced Night Tales directed by Randy Rubin.
In May 2019, he released Carlie Hanson: Back in My Arms, directed by Danilo Parra and starring Carlie Hanson. In 2020, he produced Cicada (starring Cobie Smulders and Scott Adsit), The Big Ask (starring Kelli Barrett and Sathya Sridharan), and Carrol Lynn (starring Annie Golden and Anna Russell).
Today's guest is actress and writer Jennifer Grace. Jennifer received her BA from Kansas State University in 1997. She has been working as a professional actor since, most notably in a record-shattering run as Emily Webb in Tony award-winning director David Cromer’s critically acclaimed production of OUR TOWN, which she performed in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, opposite actors such as Michael Shannon, Helen Hunt and Michael McKean, and for which she was recognized with a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway debut. Other New York theatre credits include: NIKOLAI AND THE OTHERS (Lincoln Center Theatre, world premiere, with Blair Brown, Michael Cerveris, John Glover and Kathryn Erbe) and THE 4TH GRADERS PRESENT AN UNNAMED LOVE SUICIDE (59E59). Selected regional credits: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, TIME & THE CONWAYS, 4.48 PSYCHOSIS, BALM IN GILEAD, ARCADIA, JACK OR THE SUBMISSION, THE SEA GULL, MARAT/SADE, BLOOD WEDDING, and ANGELS IN AMERICA. Film: I SEE YOU (w/Helen Hunt), THE CASSEROLE CLUB (w/ Susan Traylor, Jane Wiedlin), KELLY & CAL (with Juliette Lewis) Television: ”Inside Amy Schumer,” “VEEP,” “Billions,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “The Red Line.” She is also an audiobook narrator, VO artist, and a writer. Proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor’s Equity.
BONUS 1/3: Reading From "Filmmaking Confidential" The Book
00:35:20
While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the Introduction, followed by the chapters: "Finding Your Perception," and "The Floor Plan" (with some secret screenwriting tips!). For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books https://www.amazon.com/dp/173545690X
BONUS 2/3: Reading From "Filmmaking Confidential" The Book
00:36:21
While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the chapters: "Marketing: You vs The Big Boys" "How to Read a Screenplay" "Musicians are Famous Too!" "Waiting to Work" For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books https://www.amazon.com/dp/173545690X
BONUS 3/3: Reading From "Filmmaking Confidential" The Book
00:34:42
While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the chapters: "Distribution Middlemen" "You Don't Need to Yell" "What Festival Premieres Mean" "A Chair is a Chair is a Chair" For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books
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