24 years between feature films? Talk about resilience. Mark Bristol, my guest today, has worked for the top directors of the last few decades. And now he's tied all of that together with his second feature film, ACCIDENTAL TEXAN. But nothing accidental about his success. In this episode, he'll give you a masterclass on indie filmmaking. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• how his Little League Baseball Coach made an enormous difference in his life (his coach was the extraordinarily Bill Wittliff);
• the importance of mentorship and "paying it forward" in his success;
• what he learned from having 24 years between feature films;
• his experience working as a storyboard artist with some of the best directors of the last few decades, including Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and more;
• he also points out he learns from everyone, demonstrating a humility that is rare, and from Ken Kwapis, how to "bring the joy of filmmaking";
• he recommends Ken's book, "But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera";
• his thoughts on audiences' reaction to ACCIDENTAL TEXAN, of just going for a pleasurable experience -- "you'll laugh, you'll cry, it's beautifully shot";
• he encourages people to watch ACCIDENTAL TEXAN to watch the trailer to understand the film;
• how he used coloration to tell the story;
• what he would tell gearheads about the importance of telling the story;
• his thoughts on the future of comedic indie films;
• what he learned from Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise working on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE films about how to listen to audiences;
• how he'll define success for the ACCIDENTAL TEXAN;
• the importance of efficiency and preparing for an mid-budget indie film (this is where the masterclass kicks in);
• advice he'd give young filmmakers just starting out -- how "nothing is precious...and rely on your own creativity to solve it"
• what's next for this utterly exciting and unique filmmaker -- a late 80s based film called GENERATION X which I will be first in line to see.

Links:

ACCIDENTAL TEXAN Trailer (https://youtu.be/Cvalr_gHRDk)

Mark Bristol's Website (http://markbristol.squarespace.com/)

Everything that my guest, Khaula Kai Mahmood, makes sounds easy is actually really, really hard. Making films is hard. Speaking Pashto and Farsi is hard. Making a film about veterans is extremely difficult. But she does all of these things...so easily.

Khaula has lived around the globe, gotten a degree in architecture, worked in tech, but she's now a filmmaker and on this podcast, talking about raising money for her film FRAYED FLAGS. She shares her experience growing up the daughter of a veteran and how that sheds light on the stories she wants to tell about minority veterans in the United States.

It's a story mostly untold, and why we need filmmakers like Khaula more than ever before.

Khaula's Indie Film Highlight: Aisha T Kumari https://www.instagram.com/its_aishakumari/

Links:

FRAYED FLAGS Seed & Spark (https://seedandspark.com/fund/frayedflags#story)

Khaula's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/khaulakai/)

FRAYED FLAGS' Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/frayedflags)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE SWEET EAST (2023)

Director: Sean Price Williams

Written by: Nick Pinkerton

Cast: Talia Ryder; Earl Cave; Simon Rex

SYNOPSIS

A high school senior from South Carolina gets her first glimpse of the wider world, picturesque cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard on a class trip to Washington, D.C.

Practically lives in a film theater? Develops films based around sex workers? Who does this sound like? It sounds like the brilliant Angel Fernandez, who wowed me with a tour-de-force discussion about the history of filmmaking and his current film, THE TIMES OF MELANCHOLY.

In this episode, we talk about how he got his start in filmmaking; his decision making process about whether to go to film school; how his Mexican-American heritage influences his work; how THE TIMES OF MELANCHOLY came about and his decision to use Indiegogo for crowdfunding; how supporting the crew is so important to his work; and what's next for this unique and talented voice.

Angel's Indie Film Highlight: THE PLACE WITHOUT LIMITS (1978) dir. by Arturo Ripstein

Links:

THE TIMES OF MELANCHOLY Indiegogo

THE TIMES OF MELANCHOLY Instagram

Angel Fernandez' Instagram

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FIRE ISLAND (2022)

Director: Andrew Ahn

Screenplay: Joel Kim Booster

Cast: Joel Kim Booster; Bowen Yang; Conrad Ricamora; James Scully

SYNOPSIS

A group of queer best friends gather in the Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter, but when a sudden change of events jeopardizes their summer in gay paradise, their bonds as a chosen family are pushed to the limit.

You know what our algo told us? Have Joe back on the podcast.

I welcome back our favorite Philadelphian Joe Amodei to find out how things are going in 2024. We discuss what the post-strike landscape looks like for indie filmmakers; whether your social media brand matters -- yes, Joe says, in general, but not to algo-dependent streamers; what the streamers are looking for in terms of indie films; the importance of independent studios like A24 and Neon; and a chance for Joe to look smart by predicting the Oscars.

Not a surprise -- Joe looked smart. I look forward to welcoming him back for round three to talk about his directorial debut in more detail this winter.

Joe's Indie Film Highlight: IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT (2023) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21936526/

Links:

Virgil Films (http://www.virgilfilms.com/)

Joe Amodei S1 E4 (https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/99429057-3d2c-4e6f-98da-0a93bb94278b/stream.mp3)

A note on the use of generative AI for the podcast cover art: It was meant as a fun lark, a way to offer visual consistency, but there's nothing fun about destroying the jobs of creators...when you are a podcast built around helping creators. I am certain there are people who didn't listen or didn't appear on the show because of it; I'm not sure anyone chose to be here because of it. So that's an easy call.

The partying cat of Episode 20 seems like the time to end using generative AI in any way for the podcast. I hope that we can find a relationship with a cover artist in the future.

Almost as soon as I finished watching Zarrar Kahn's film IN FLAMES, I emailed Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films, asking: how did you find this gem of a film? In this episode, Todd tells me.

The discussion is wide-ranging, all-encompassing, and fun. When we finished taping, I felt like I knew so many things about how independent film works that I never knew before. Todd answers every question about film production and distribution with authority, knowledge, and clarity.

In this episode, Todd and I talk about:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• how film festivals can be a proving ground of sorts to showcase your ability as a film executive;
• the success going from old horror film blogs to filmmaking because they know how "stories are supposed to work" and an "understanding of market forces";
• is he genre specific or does he have a wide range of tastes in film?;
• what questions is he asking when he reads a script?;
• his feelings about the state of independent film;
• the brilliance of the film TALK TO ME;
• his thoughts on film school;
• how XYZ takes on new directors, and the difference between the United States and pretty much everywhere else on that;
• DON'T MORTGAGE YOUR HOME TO FUND YOUR FILM -- really, it needs to be in caps, Todd says;
• his view on the international markets, calling Gen Z the most global generation ever -- "the subtitle barrier does not exist for them";
• does he want people to know it is an "XYZ film" or genre-agnostic?
• the beauty of IN FLAMES, which premiered at Cannes as the debut title for New Visions, XYZ's new label for microbudget horror films by emerging directors;
• how the firm nurtures new directors;
• what's next for this visionary film and production company.

Todd's Indie Film Highlight: FROM BEYOND, dir. by Fredrik S. Hana (https://vimeo.com/879750659)

Links:

XYZ Films (https://www.xyzfilms.com/)

XYZ Films Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/xyzfilms/?hl=en)

MAYA is opening in several theaters and VOD on January 26th, so I thought it would be fun to re-release this episode. Social impact films are increasingly more common, something I imagine that I'll highlight more as we go through season 2, and MAYA is a good example of a film touching on an important issue. You can here for more information on screenings: https://www.artists4change.org/

Enjoy and see you on Tuesday, January 23rd.

Ben

I talk with Julia Verdin, the multi-hyphenate writer and director of the new film MAYA.

When you think of a social impact film, you may think school project. But in your her new film MAYA, Julia put in the research and the dedication to her craft to make sure you'll learn something and be deeply entertained. MAYA had its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London in October, and opens in select theaters and video in demand in late January, 2024. It deals gently with the topic of sex trafficking, and some of the acting performances, especially Rumer Willis, has stuck with me, along with the score and certainly the direction.

We discuss her career, how to break into social impact filmmaking, the challenges of casting real-life, say, police officers, and the importance of keeping a positive attitude. As you'll hear from Julia, changing the world for the better is certainly difficult, but it doesn't mean it can't be fun. 

Links:

• Artists for Change (https://www.artists4change.org/)
• MAYA Website (https://www.artists4change.org/filmprojects/maya/)
• Julia Verdin Rough Diamond Productions (https://www.roughdiamondproductions.net/julia-verdin/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FORTY SHADES OF BLUE (2005).

Director: Ira Sachs

Screenplay By: Ira Sachs; Michael Rohatyn

Cast: Dina Korzun; Rip Torn; Darren Burrows

SYNOPSIS

After moving from Moscow to Memphis, Tenn., Laura (Dina Korzun) feels isolated living a new, privileged life with her boyfriend, Alan James (Rip Torn), a famous music producer. As time passes, Laura becomes increasingly lonely, while James carries on numerous affairs. When James's estranged son, Michael (Darren Burrows), visits for the first time in years, Laura's need for companionship and Michael's strained relationship with his father pull them into a tumultuous affair.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE DELINQUENTS (2023)

Director: Rodrigo Moreno

Written by: Nick Pinkerton

Cast: Daniel Elias; Esteban Bigliardi; Margarita Molfino

SYNOPSIS

Bank employee Morán steals enough money to never work again, then offers his colleague a cut if he hides the cash while Morán confesses and does what he calculates will be a short jail sentence. Soon under investigative pressure, accomplice Román meets a woman who transforms him forever.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/hjnYiITu6xg

Watch THE DELINQUENTS On Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/los-delincuentes

I can say with certainty I've never laughed more when discussing dead bodies than I did with P.D. (Phil) Viner, currently crowdfunding for LAST NIGHT TOGETHER on Kickstarter. You can tell straightaway Phil is a born storyteller, whatever the medium.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• whether crazy trips to film school in Moscow was part of a concerted plan to get "out there" or not (it was not);
• "write what you know" -- Phil considers it bollocks;
• his career on stage, in fiction, and as a filmmaker;
• why he values a collaborative relationship with his co-director -- it allows each person to accentuate their particular gifts;
• his thoughts on his hometown of Brighton, United Kingdom;
• the crazy story of LAST NIGHT TOGETHER and why it's a feature film;
• his next novel and film.

If you hear moments of muffled noises or just flat-out laughing, well, I couldn't help myself. I'm guessing you won't be able to, either. From his delivery to his sense of humor, this conversation is one to remember. And if it did make you laugh, head over and give a few pounds to LAST NIGHT TOGETHER.

(Harrison Ford and Jesus...probably the only time you'll hear them talked about together on the podcast.)

Phil's Indie Film Highlight: JANUARY (2021) dir. by Andrey Paounov; VINDICATION SWIM (2022) dir. by Elliott Hasler

Links:

LAST NIGHT TOGETHER Kickstarter

P.D. Viner Website

Follow P.D. Viner on Instagram

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THAT EVENING SUN (2009).

Director: Scott Teems

Screenplay: Scott Teems

Cast: Hal Holbrook; Ray McKinnon; Walton Goggins; Mia Wasikowska

SYNOPSIS

Vowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner's son has leased the property to ne'er-do-well Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon) and his boorish family. Abner suspects that the Choats will not be able to afford the farm, and he moves into a shack to await their departure. Tensions escalate between Abner and Lonzo, each determined not to yield.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/79jJr2Fzzeg

Watch THAT EVENING SUN (2009) on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100016183/that-evening-sun?start=true&tracking=google-feed&utm_source=google-feed

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: RED ROCKET (2021).

Director: Sean Baker

Writers: Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker

Cast: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son

SYNOPSIS

Mikey Saber -- charismatic con man and washed-up porn star -- plots his return to the big time from small-town Texas in this story of an American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.aten to burn the tower down if the developer does not pay their wages.

Watch the episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING (2023)

Director: Rachel Lambert

Screenplay: Stefanie Abel Horowitz; Kevin Armento; Katy Wright Mead

Cast: Daisy Ridley; Dave Merheje; Bree Elrod; Megan Stalter

SYNOPSIS

A lonely and socially awkward woman tries to make a connection with a friendly new co-worker who takes her out on a date..

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/OEChI8H7Sp8

Translating life to art and art to life is the subject of my discussion with Venezuelan director, screenwriter, film producer, and Golden Lion recipient Lorenzo Vigas.

There's just something about Lorenzo's deeply moving films -- he refers to his three feature films as a trilogy about fathers and sons -- that makes a viewer think more deeply about...well, more deeply about everything. And the same thoughtfulness you see in his films is on full display here: his thoughts on film school and film festivals; tackling hard issues in service of art; the state of film in Latin America; and what's next for this extraordinarily talented filmmaker.

Lorenzo's Indie Film Highlight: Gustavo Rondon Cordova (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2271584/)

Links:

Lorenzo Vigas' IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1729237/)

Watch THE BOX on Mubi (https://mubi.com/en/us/films/the-box-2021-lorenzo-vigas)

Five Films That Inspired My Career (https://aframe.oscars.org/what-to-watch/post/lorenzo-vigas-five-films-that-inspired-my-career)

After listening to all five finalists of the Bloomberg Green Docs, be honest -- there's no way you can tell who won. They are all that good. In part 1, I talked to the judges and today, you'll hear from the five finalists.

• LIFE WITH BATS by David Luff
• CLIMATE DIARIES: HEATHER'S STORY by Berit Anderson and Ali Scattergood
• FINDING HOME by Maria Stanisheva
• GROVE OF GIANTS by Bree Sanders
• SAVING GLACIERS by Ciril Jazbec

And you'll hear who won. But as David Luff says, they all won by being a part of this process. Thanks again to Bloomberg Climate for helping make these interviews happen.

Links:

Bloomberg Green Docs

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018).

Director: Boots Riley

Written by: Boots Riley

Cast: LaKeith Stanfield; Tessa Thompson; Jermaine Fowler

SYNOPSIS

In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, Calif., telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads to material glory. As Green's career begins to take off, his friends and co-workers organize a protest against corporate oppression. Cassius soon falls under the spell of Steve Lift, a cocaine-snorting CEO who offers him a salary beyond his wildest dreams.

Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/fQ1c7w-zknE

Available on MUBI now: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/sorry-to-bother-you

I talk with Daniel Brown, director of YOUR LUCKY DAY, arriving in theaters November 10th.

We talk about the amazing work of Angus Cloud; the wild story of turning down people who wanted to make the film into a feature 13 years ago; the shorts v. feature debate (of course); the virtue of quick run-times for marriages; what indie filmmakers should do for their second act; and how this wonderful feature came to life. What a story he has to tell.

Daniel's Indie Film Director & Highlight: Satoshi Kon; Korean film

Links:

YOUR LUCKY DAY Screenings (https://drafthouse.com/show/fantastic-fest-presents-your-lucky-day-advance-screening)

YOUR LUCKY DAY Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xMsdJvY0gk&t=5s)

Pre-Order YOUR LUCKY DAY Now On Apple (https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/your-lucky-day/umc.cmc.3xbthl9m5ossgqvswdldfzwsh) -- it helps demonstrate an audience and supports independent filmmakers.

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BLEEDING LOVE (2023).

Director: Emma Westenberg

Story: Ruby Caster; Clara McGregor; Vera Bulder

Cast: Clara McGregor; Ewan McGregor; Jake Weary; Kim Zimmer

SYNOPSIS

A father takes his estranged daughter on a road trip to get her out of trouble, leading to their strained relationship being tested as they meet all types of strangers along the way.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

If you like filmmaking with film, “slice of life”/character studies, and 1980s camp party films, you’re welcome to join our club. In today’s episode, I talk with filmmaker Will Mustin about all these things and his new film currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, WHILE THE SUN SHINES.

In this episode, we talk about how he got his start; the importance of building your team, whether it's at film school or not; how utilizing film makes him a more disciplined filmmaker; the importance of mood, especially in a stylish 1980s film like WHILE THE SUN SHINES; and what's next for this unique and supremely talented filmmaker.

Will's Indie Film Highlight: THE TASTE OF THINGS (2023) dir. by Tran Anh Hung

Links:

WHILE THE SUN SHINES Kickstarter

Will Mustin's Website

Will Mustin's Instagram

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Normally, I aim for 30 minute episodes, but with Tina Carbone, the legendary -- okay, we can use that word if you've helped make, produce, whatever word you want to use for being a part of over 70 films in 11 years -- the conversation flows.

This is a masterclass of indie film producing and we cover hopefully most of the topics on your mind of what you would ask this amazing, prolific indie filmmaker.

In this podcast, we talk about:

1:21 Welcome, Tina Carbone! Where does the kindness come from? Her family from New Orleans.

2:52 Where did she get her love for filmmaking?

4:39 Directing, editing, producer. Does she have more love for one of those than another?

6:38 We discuss the importance of learning by doing

7:22 We talk about whether it's possible to get a formal education in producing; Tina learned by doing.

9:11 We talk about the generosity that almost comes from being honest and transparent about where you're at in film.

12:18 Her work ethic is crazy amazing. Since 2013, Tina has helped produce over 70 short films. Probably more! She has worked so unbelievably hard to help other people make their films.

17:11 She talks about the short that she directed and how so many people came and gave of their time because Tina is Tina.

19:00 Tina talks about how she manages around 7 projects at the same time -- by drinking a lot of coffee.

21:00 Does she recommend creating a short first? We talk about Bridge Stuart pushing forward to make a feature versus a short and whether she'd recommend that. She says a first feature is like a half-marathon and that indie filmmakers should be thinking about 5ks (shorts).

25:40 Does a director's experience come up when raising money for a feature? Even for shorts, Tina says things like your shot list matters a lot to getting your film funded.

27:49 How do you balance work-life culture and getting ahead in indie films? She talks about how she is a big believer of running sets that take care of people on set.

33:07 Snacks for everyone! "I am an Italian girl from New Orleans. There is no way I'm not going to feed people on set."

33:47 Do the unions have a role to play in managing a set so that directors can focus on their craft? She says learning all the other jobs actually help her to be a better director.

** 36:20 Why do we see so many director's second films "not feel like them"? According to Tina, it's because everybody else gets their say on their sophomore effort. **

38:14 How do I watch a film produced and/or made by Tina Carbone?!

40:29 Are top festivals getting it right for emerging film festivals? Tina says they are great for networking but she isn't sure they are elevating true indie films.

47:30 Does she see a big jump of females in the indie film space? She says yes. To her, it used to feel like females had to gatekeep their own piece of the pie; it's not like that anymore, thankfully.

53:45 Indie Film Highlight: H.P Mendoza (https://www.hpmendoza.com/)

Links:

Tina Carbone (https://www.tinacarbonefilms.com/)

Tina Carbone's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/tina_carbone_films/)

There's something so inspiring about somebody who knows how the system is supposed to work and says, nah, I'm doing it my way anyway. That's Madeline McLaughlin, who is currently crowdfunding for her debut feature, NOT A GOOD PERSON.

I know Todd Brown said a few episodes ago, specifically, don't mortgage your house to make your indie film, but I kind of want to get this made?

In this podcast, we talk about:

2:29 Friendship breakups?

3:43 How did she get involved in filmmaking?

4:27 She came from a theater family.

5:42 Is she the only person in history whose parents were excited that she switched from pre-med to film at NYU?

6:18 Thoughts on going to film school

9:17 Community benefits of film school

** 10:34 The Quality Of Projects From Film School -- "it's going to feel different at different times and generations" **

12:00 This is actually Madeline's second Kickstarter campaign; she was the producer on the successfully funded YES, NO, GOODBYE

14:15 Raising a realistic amount of money for a feature versus a short

14:38 The story behind NOT A GOOD PERSON and actually raising the proper amount for the film

17:12 The joys of editing actual film

18:45 How manageable is it for a director to produce or do things that she may not love as much as filmmaking?

20:08 The logline for NOT A GOOD PERSON

20:28 Write what you know; how should filmmakers start?

24:22 Is she living the indie filmmakers' dream by just creating her first feature, even knowing how the system is supposed to be work?

26:54 The amazing team she assembled for NOT A GOOD PERSON

28:49 You want somebody to work on your film? You have to ask.

31:05 What has she learned for her festival stratregy?

33:10 Madeline's Indie Film Highlight: Guy Maddin

Links:

NOT A GOOD PERSON Kickstarter Campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/madelinejmclaughlin/not-a-good-person)

Madeline McLaughlin Website (https://www.madelinemclaughlin.com/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: WILDLIFE (2018).

Director: Paul Dano

Screenplay By: Paul Dano; Zoe Kazan

Cast: Carey Mulligan; Ed Oxenbould; Bill Camp; Jake Gyllenhaal

SYNOPSIS

14-year-old Joe is the only child of Jeanette and Jerry—a housewife and a golf pro living in a small town in ’60s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages, and when Jerry loses his job, he decides to join the cause of fighting it, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BARBECUE (2014).

Director: Éric Lavaine

Written By: Éric Lavaine; Hector Cabello Reyes

Cast: Lambert Wilson; Franck Dubosc; Florence Foresti; Guillaume de Tonquedec; Lionel Abelanski

SYNOPSIS

On his 50th birthday, a man who's been watching his weight, health and temper all his life suffers a heart attack. He's been doing everything he was told he should do and it still didn't help. He decides to turn the page and let loose.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE VISITOR (2007).

Director: Tom McCarthy

Written by: Tom McCarthy

Cast: Richard Jenkins; Haaz Sleiman; Danal Gurira

SYNOPSIS

When professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) travels to New York for a lecture, he's stunned to find illegal immigrants Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) living in his apartment. It comes out that it was rented to them by a swindler, and Vale feels sufficiently sorry for them that he invites them to stay. They get on well until Tarek is accused of jumping a subway turnstile and lands in a detention center. He risks being deported, and Vale does everything he can to prevent it.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (2010).

Director: Lisa Cholodenko

Story: Ruby Caster; Clara McGregor; Vera Bulder

Cast: Julianne Moore; Annette Bening; Mark Ruffalo

SYNOPSIS

Lesbian couple Nic and Jules have been together for twenty years, bringing up two children thanks to the contributions of a anonymous sperm donor. As 18-year-old daughter Joni prepares to leave for college, she and younger brother Laser get curious about their heritage. Making contact with Paul, the laid-back restaurateur whose sperm bank deposit helped bring them into the world, the two set off a chain reaction.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

I talk with writer/director/actor Nardeep Khurmi about his film LAND OF GOLD and his commitment to diverse storytelling.

I don't think anybody wants to hear me chuckling the entire podcast but excuse me for coming close. Although the subject matter of his films are often serious, there are moments in regards to the dialogue and writing in LAND OF GOLD that make you realize...this is a man coming at storytelling in a way you haven't seen before.

And we give props to the AT&T Untold Stories Program in collaboration with the Tribeca Film Festival. I'm not necessarily a fan of hyping corporate brands, but if you want to give a million bucks to indie filmmakers to make their visions come true, I'll say your name as many times as you want, AT&T.

Submissions are open until February 6, 2024.

In this episode, we talk about:

• his unique start into filmmaking, combining comedy and filmmaking as a way to fit in;
• how his love for travel allows him to tell diverse stories;
• how LAND OF GOLD was written as a response to the heavily politized US immigration policy;
• the story behind winning the 2021 AT&T Untold Stories Grand Prize;
• how he actively fights against including stereotypes into his art;
• the importance of Untold Stories in the film ecosystem; he calls it "the best program out of all";
• the danger of separating categories in film festival and other programs specifically by diversity;
• what he wishes he knew before applying for Untold Stories;
• what's next for this exciting, unique...have to say it, funny as hell filmmaker;

Nardeep's Indie Film Highlights: The Untold Stories' films (NIGERIAN PRINCE; LUCKY GRANDMA; MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE; LAND OF GOLD; SMOKING TIGERS) https://tribecafilm.com/attuntoldstories

STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF, directed by Law Chen (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23329452/)

OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL, directed by Ellie Foumbi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUF-bi-BPQQ)

Links:

AT&T Untold Stories: An Inclusive Film Program in Collaboration with Tribeca (https://tribecafilm.com/attuntoldstories)

LAND OF GOLD (in 4k) (https://www.hbomax.com/bs/en/feature/urn:hbo:feature:GZO9BrwG_jcMrwwEAAAg8)

Nardeep Khurmi's Website (https://www.nardeepkhurmi.com/)

Nardeep Khurmi's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nardeepthoughts/?hl=en)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (2017).

Director: Ritesh Batra

Adapted Screenplay: Nick Payne

Cast: Jim Broadbent; Charlotte Rampling; Michelle Dockery; Emily Mortimer

SYNOPSIS

A middle-aged business owner who lives a quiet life in London reunites with his first love after his mother unexpectedly receives a letter from his ex-girlfriend from school which forces him to confront the past.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Happy Fourth of July! As the podcast enters its second year, I can't think of a better person to spend it with than Corey Deshon. In this episode, he breaks down exactly how he went about making his first feature, DAUGHTER (2022); how he got involved in filmmaking; whether you can see a through-line in his work from short films to feature; how much you should take into consideration the genre's reaction to your film; and what's next for Corey.

Corey talks about how DAUGHTER is a calling card for his filmmaking. To me, this is the calling card for the podcast -- remarkable insight and breakdown of how he accomplished what so many dream to do.

Corey's Indie Film Highlight: THEY CLONED TYRONE (2023), dir. by Juel Taylor

Links:

Corey Deshon's Instagram

I talk with Katrina Jackson, director/writer/editor of AROMCOM, and Catherine Bobalek, the producer. In this episode, we talk about:

• how they got involved in filmmaking and created the idea for AROMCOM;
• creating a wholly original genre of films as well as a trope-free romantic comedy;
• showing representation for aromantic and asexual individuals in film;
• what people should expect to see when they turn on AROMCOM;
• what the response if when they pitch their film;
• how the script was written and they chose Seed & Spark for crowdfunding;
• the lack of control associated with crowdfunding;
• when you can see AROMCOM;
• the amazing response for their casting call;
• how the film ZUCCHINI references an important term in aromantic and asexual lives; (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyRwBJppNG0)
• the challenges and excitement of filming in the District of Columbia.

The story of AROMCOM is the story of bravery from two amazing filmmakers and giving people who don't normally see themselves in a romcom the ability to be seen.

Indie Film Highlight: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE, dir. by Celine Sciamma (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8613070/)

Katrina's Indie Film Highlight: YOU & I, YOU & ME dir. by Gabriel Dunn (https://seedandspark.com/fund/you-and-i-you-and-me-film#story)

Links:

AROMCOM Seed & Spark (https://seedandspark.com/fund/aromcom#story)

AROMCOM Instagram

(https://www.instagram.com/aromcomfilm/)

AROMCOM YouTube Channel

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfw7HXDy3ZbgmnpBjDLaV8g)

Hey, y'all, it's Ben -- I re-released this episode because FREEDOM'S PATH just got picked up by Paramount starting on February 1 -- and it's fantastic. It's on Showtime, a bunch of other places. It was streaming before but now it's in front of a larger audience.

Check it out if you can and then listen to the interview I did back in September with Brett Smith. See you next week.

I talk with Brett Smith about his feature directorial debut, FREEDOM'S PATH. In our conversation, we discuss:

• how he came about filmmaking -- it wasn't the usual way;
• the boldness of making a first feature film a military period piece;
• how he worked to get the racial component of the film right;
• where he shot the film;
• and whether he would make a short first or a feature if he could do it again.

Brett Smith's story shows the level of determination and resilience required to be a successful indie filmmaker.

Brett's Indie Film Director Highlight: J.A. Bayona

Links:

• FREEDOM'S PATH (https://freedomspathfilm.com/)
• Brett Smith's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brettttsmith/?hl=en)
• Freedom's Path Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/freedomspathfilm/?hl=en)

I mean this in the best possible way: Nathan Schiltz doesn’t give a fuck. About chasing laurels for your short films. The professors at Woodbury. THE FABELMANS saying you are going to get the girls by becoming a film geek.

What he does care a lot about is the quality of his art. This is what made the episode so much fun for me. If you think I’m describing somebody with a nihilistic point of view, that’s not what I’m saying. He’s that dedicated to his art that he’s tuning out everything else and concentrating on what matters for him. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• how he got started, with the help of a big Catholic family;
• his indecision about the value of film school (to him, it's all about getting to use the equipment);
• going on Backstage to create shorts when he was 16;
• the vintage 1980s look of his film HERSHEL and what the film is about -- he currently crowdfunding for it on Indiegogo;
• the requirements of an emerging filmmaker in regards to brand management;
• the value of internships;
• what's next for this blunt filmmaker.

I did promise I would delete this or allow questions about its authenticity if he wants to work with certain directors. All good. What a fun conversation.

Nathan's Indie Film Highlight: ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA (2011) dir. by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Links:

HERSHEL Indiegogo campaign

Follow Nathan Schiltz on Instagram

Support the Podcast Through Membership

To kick off season two, I speak with Zarrar Kahn, the writer and director of the new film, IN FLAMES.

I'll repeat this a couple times in the episode but IN FLAMES is a masterpiece. The shooting, the direction, the storytelling. I had to watch a couple of times to pick up on the nuances of the shots and the direction. 

We talk about when it will screen: it's showing at the Palms Springs International Film Festival the weekend of January 6, 2024, so if you're listening to this when the episode premieres, you can buy a ticket and watch this film tomorrow -- but this is a film you'll want to see a couple of times. It streams worldwide in April, 2024.

Zarrar is executive producing short films and doing everything he can to give back, especially in his home countries of Canada and Pakistan. Our conversation winds from the warmth of Pakistan, the beauty of IN FLAMES, the importance of hotel partners to indie filmmakers (who knew?!), crowdfunding, and how the independent film community can support filmmakers that elevate the genre into true art.

I feel so proud and lucky to have this conversation with somebody that is actively making independent film better. I hope you enjoy this episode...and truly, seriously: go see IN FLAMES. 

Zarrar's Indie Film Highlight: DIASPORA directed by Tyler Mckenzie Evans (https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2023/11/02/diaspora/)

Links:

• Palm Springs International Film Festival Screenings of IN FLAMES (https://www.psfilmfest.org/film-festival-2024/film-finder/in-flames)
• Zarrar Kahn’s Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kahn.zarrar/)
• IN FLAMES' Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/inflamesmovie/)
• IN FLAMES' Variety Review (https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/in-flames-review-1235831644/)
• Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE LONELIEST PLANET (2011).

Director: Julia Loktev

Screenplay By: Julia Loktev

Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal; Hani Furstenberg

SYNOPSIS

An incident on the trail tests two lovers' (Gael García Bernal, Hani Furstenberg) relationship as they take a guided hiking tour through the Caucasus Mountains.

Watch the episode on YouTube

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I talk with South African filmmaker Lola Aikins, who is currently crowdfunding for her film NALEDI on Kickstarter through May 27, 2024.

Lola is a one of a kind artist -- literally, I mean, 1 out of 7 billion type artist -- who is blazing a trail in independent film in the medium of animation and bringing people along with her. In this conversation, we talk about her start; how she looks for representation in front of AND behind the cameras; her challenge to Christopher Nolan; how the next big filmmaker for a studio project should be African; animation in film; the role of short films in her career; how she comes up and develops new ideas; and when you can expect to see NALEDI.

I don't think you can aurally tell the difficulties we had in recording this episode -- Riverside kept wanting me to refresh -- but that's because Lola is the ultimate game time filmmaker; she didn't miss a beat.

You should be able to tell easily, though, how excited I was to hear her story. I think you will be, too.

Lola's Indie Film Highlight: Uzo Ngwu (https://uzongwu.com/)

Links:

NALEDI's Website (https://www.naledimovie.com/home)

NALEDI Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aosv/naledi-animated-short-film)

NALEDI's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/naledifilm/?hl=en)

The film PORCELAIN WAR (2024), opening in New York City today (November 22nd, 2024), won the 2024 Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize, among numerous other plaudits. And I asked the directors -- Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo -- whether the awards matter to them, and in one of the many heart-aching answers in this interview, Slava responded: I am here instead of my friends. Sharing this film is the main mission in my life.

The film offers hope in a sea of hopelessness against Russian aggression, and its extraordinary depiction of Ukrainian characters, images, and music is like no other documentary you'll see this year. Go watch it in a theater -- it has a rolling release for the rest of the year, and expect to see it praised by critics and awards shows over the next few months.

In this episode, we talk about:

• whether Russian apologists attend their screenings;
• how they met and got involved in filmmaking -- Brendan had no idea Slava served in the Ukrainian Special Forces;
• what people should expect to see when they go see PORCELAIN WAR in a theater -- "you won't see this on the news";
• their framing of the characters in the documentary and the aiming for "emotional truth" -- it was about "de-labeling" people;
• if there's more stories out there like the one in PORCELAIN WAR;
• what stories look like in the first hybrid battlefield + information war and how Slava made it with a focus for the Western audience;
• how Ukrainians saw the film as inspirational and as a "historic responsibility";
• the importance of sound and music as part of the film -- "if there's no image on the screen, you should be able to understand the story" -- and how lovely the work of DakhaBrakha is;
• how Slava destroyed sound equipment with his AK (really);
• what kind of advice the filmmakers would give documentary filmmakers -- "you are waking up in the very best day to become a filmmaker, which is today";
• the release strategy of showcasing the film in theaters and the competition of documentaries on streamers;
• the deep focus and "tunnel vision" going forward on sharing this film.

Indie Film Highlight: MARIUPOL. A HUNDRED NIGHTS (2023) dir. by Sofiia Melnyk

Links:

PORCELAIN WAR (2024) Website

Gratitude is the operative word with filmmaker Adam Kinyon, founder of Best Dressed Films and producing two independent features in 2024. How do you get your short made? What's the state of play for producers in independent film? If you're an indie director looking for a producer or a producer looking for a director, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how Adam got started and the importance of mentorship;
• the importance of "relentless positivity". how he takes that attitude into his work, and it keeps him working constantly;
• what he's working on now, producing films with a lot of moving parts without having a lot of money;
• how he sees the disconnect between money and creators;
• crowdfunding's place in indie filmmaking;
• what kind of films, genres, and directors he's looking for.

And he's "Delta till he dies." So are we, Adam. (Check out on the indie films on your next Delta flight.)

Adam's Indie Film Highlights: THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2021) dir. by Joachim Trier; PAST LIVES (2023) dir. by Celine Song

Links:

Best Dressed Films

Follow Adam Kinyon

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I talk with Sam Jones, Irish filmmaker and director of MY LOST RUSSIAN MOTHER. We talk about how he got into filmmaking, this incredible saga of man chasing down his birth mother and finding out so much about his own life. How did Sam make this film? What was his thought process regarding consent? How does he feel about the current state of documentary filmmaking?

Special thanks to the director of the Capital Irish Film Festival, Solas Nua, Maedhbh Fiona Mc Cullagh, for making this podcast happen. (https://www.solasnua.org/news/ciff2024-thats-wrap)

Sam's Indie Film Highlight: Alison Millar (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3921316/)

Links:

MY LOST RUSSIAN MOTHER Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mylostrussianmother/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BEFORE MIDNIGHT (2013)

Director: Richard Linklater

Written by: Richard Linklater; Ethan Hawke; Julie Delpy

Cast: Ethan Hawke; Julie Delpy

SYNOPSIS

On the last night of their idyllic Greek vacation, longtime lovers Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) reminisce about their lives together and what different choices might have brought.

Speeding in a Mini and filming it for a short? Aussie-born? That's our podcast gold, and Dan Lesser blew away all expectations, as he crowdfunds for his film ONE TWENTY SIX.

In this episode, we talk about how he got his start in film as an Australian in Los Angeles and how his commercial work influences his narrative style. We get into the state of comedy; the weeds of what it's like, technically, casting child actors and filming a moving car; whether he views brand activations as possible in his films (his answer: not if they want final cut); and what's next for this astonishingly talented filmmaker.

Dan's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Danny Madden; Vimeo and Instagram

Links:

ONE TWENTY SIX Kickstarter

Dan Lesser's Website

Dan Lesser's Instagram

Support the Podcast Through Membership

There is no other filmmaker working today that personifies being the "man in the arena", as Theodore Roosevelt so eloquently put it, than Matthew Heineman. His films have ranged from the frontlines of wars to the sweet and touching portrayal of Jon Batiste in AMERICAN SYMPHONY (2023). Just making one such film could be a career pinnacle -- Matthew has directed 14 wholly original, extraordinary special artistic contributions to the medium -- and he's here to share the details.

In this episode, we discuss:

• you don't just walk onto the stage of Radio City Music Hall, in a special operations team room, or in a emergency room during COVID -- these are remarkably unique places. How did he manage that?
• how he is comfortable in such a wide array of different topics;
• whether he would recommend his path (he says it's important to have a "curiosity about the world");
• how his first film, OUR TIME (2009) was in a way his film school;
• how he sees the difference between journalism and documentary;
• his process regarding trust between filmmaker and subject ("trust is everything"), and he talks about how he earned the trust for the closeups in AMERICAN SYMPHONY;
• the story behind the creation of AMERICAN SYMPHONY;
• his reaction to the whiplash of the media regarding its chances at the Oscars and how he views awards as a filmmaker; Matt talks movingly about his relationship with awards as his career has evolved;
• "why do we make art and who do we make art for are questions that we constantly need to be asking";
• his relationship with the art of filmmaking, his friendship with Roger Deakins, and the importance of sound;
• what's next for one of the most talented filmmakers we have in both the narrative and documentary world and how he is able to toggle between both successfully.

Matt's Indie Film Highlight: MURDERBALL (2005) dir. by Dana Adam Shapiro; Henry-Alex Rubin; SHERMAN'S MARCH (1986) dir. by Ross McElwee

Links:

Our Time Projects

Follow Matthew on Instagram

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: Ex Machina (2014).

Director: Alex Garland

Screenplay: Alex Garland

Cast: Alicia Vikander; Oscar Isaac; Domhnall Gleeson; Sonoya Mizuno

SYNOPSIS

Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) a programmer at a huge Internet company, wins a contest that enables him to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), his firm's brilliant CEO. When he arrives, Caleb learns that he has been chosen to be the human component in a Turing test to determine the capabilities and consciousness of Ava (Alicia Vikander), a beautiful robot. However, it soon becomes evident that Ava is far more self-aware and deceptive than either man imagined.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Watch on YouTube now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEPqEti32KE&t=2s

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SYNONYMS (2019).

Director: Nadav Lapid

Screenplay By: Nadav Lapid; Haim Lapid

Cast: Tom Mercier; Quentin Dolmaire; Louise Chevillotte

SYNOPSIS

A young Israeli man, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary, travels to Paris to flee his nationality.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

I talk with film director Patiparn Boontarig about his debut film, SOLIDS BY THE SEASHORE. Described as a "tender, atmospheric debut...set in a coastal town in southern Thailand", the reviewer wrote that the film "uniquely tackles climate change, tradition, identity, and LGBT love."

I felt the same way -- it's a gorgeous meditation best seen in a theater. And if you live in the Pacific Northwest, you can on July 10th -- the podcast is hosting its first film screening at the Beacon Cinema that night.

In this episode, Patiparn and I talk about his deeply personal story and the filming of his debut feature; the genre of climate films; what it's like to be a filmmaker in Thailand; and what's next for him.

We do agree -- it's best to see SOLIDS BY THE SEASHORE in a theater.

If you are an alumni guest of the podcast and wish to attend for free, please reach out to firstgopod@gmail.com for the code.

Links:

July 10th, 2024 Seattle Screening of SOLIDS BY THE SEASHORE (https://lu.ma/p592rce0)

LG OLED Movie Club Interview of Patiparn Boontarig (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNvQoVCiU8k&t=3s)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: PLUS ONE (2019)

Directors: Andrew Rhymer, Jeff Chan

Written by: Andrew Rhymer, Jeff Chan

Cast: Maya Erskine; Jack Quaid; Ed Begley Jr.

SYNOPSIS

Longtime friends Ben and Alice agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they're invited to during a busy summer of wedding fever.

Check out the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/tq3uXr445yk

AI is the most controversial topic in filmmaking right now. I talk about it with the directors' duo of Julien Vallée and Eve Duhamel, artists who are now exploring the medium in the best possible way -- as an extension of their own art.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how they got started in filmmaking and their exceptional career, which has included jobs for top corporate clients including Apple;
• their thoughts on AI filmmaking;
• the reaction to critics, who in many cases they said haven't even used an AI tool;
• should AI films be segregated into their own category?
• the very thin line between CGI and AI;
• what's next for these innovative filmmakers and how to modernize theaters (which I absolutely love)
• what Montreal, Canada is like for filmmakers;
• the innovations these ultra-talented artists have coming our way.

Julien's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Olivier Labonté LeMoyne

Eve's Indie Film Highlight: Le Festival International du Film sur l'Art

Links:

Vallée Duhamel Website

Vallée Duhamel Vimeo

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019).

Director: Celine Sciamma

Screenplay: Celine Sciamma

Cast: Adele Haenel; Noemie Merlant; Luana Bajrami; Valeria Golino

SYNOPSIS

On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman. 

Check out the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Jh2M1Pn5vlw

The UnShushed! Film Festival is coming to Washington, DC on October 13th, 2024 for its inaugural year. In this episode, I talk with its founder, filmmaker Tanya Upshur.

The UnShushed! Film Festival is a "festival for fantasy, horror noire, Southern Gothic and Afrofuturism films by Black women and emerging filmmakers creating genre films with Black women protagonists."

Tanya brings so much energy to the conversation, talking about how she got started in film; her work as a filmmaker and the projects she's working on now; how to get more Black films and artists both in front and behind cameras; the role UnShushed! Film Festival will play in highlighting people that are typically not seen; what it's like being a District filmmaker and her wish for the community. Instead of talking about doing "something", Tanya is bringing art into the world, through her personal work and the unique UnShushed! Film Festival.

Tanya's Indie Film Highlight: HELL-BOUND TRAIN (1930) dir. by Eloyce Gist and James Gist

Letterboxd

Links:

Watch Birth! Place

Attend UnShushed! Film Festival

Submit to UnShushed! Film Festival

Support the Podcast Through Membership

From leading the way in Asian-American romcoms to the brilliant 26.2 TO LIFE, I talk with filmmaker Christine Yoo about her career, how to depict marathons and prisons on film, the state of rom-coms and Asian-American filmmaking, and more. Just by those categories alone you should know you are hearing from a wildly original filmmaker. And that's before the CIA gets namedropped.

In this episode, we discuss:

• prison films and film festivals;
• how she got started as a filmmaker, starting in Iowa as a Korean-American, and while she was expected to be a "doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer", she ended up being interviewed by the CIA (!) and fell into film as a "complete fluke and accident";
• her decision to attend film school;
• her decision to do both narrative and docs was influenced by the advent of digital filmmaking and how 26.2 TO LIFE was originally conceived as a narrative;
• why she made WEDDING PALACE (2013), the first Asian-American rom-com;
• how she feels about some of the seemingly personal reviews of what I thought was a fun, highly enjoyable film;
• how a filmmaker should think about reviews of their work within the larger construct of the review process and if reviewers feel more comfortable attacking a first-time director;
• what kind of advice she'd give a new filmmaker facing a similar situation;
• how she led the way in making Asian-American romcoms;
• the story behind 26.2 TO LIFE and why she depicted the characters in a more truthful way than you would expect;
• her decision regarding the innovative formatting of the film;
• how the unique environment of filming a documentary in prison presented opportunities and challenges;
• the challenges of independent film and how she felt so strongly about the story of 26.2 TO LIFE;
• what her success says about the ability for Asian-American filmmakers to tell their stories now;
• what's next for her -- "sports provides such a great narrative structure."

Christine's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Jennifer M. Kroot

Links:

Follow Christine Yoo On Instagram

26.2 TO LIFE Streaming

26.2 TO LIFE Website

WEDDING PALACE Streaming

I talk with Matthew Baren, Creative Director of LP Films, about the struggles and ultimate triumph of Michelle Garnaut in creating M ON THE BUND, a restaurant in Shanghai. He’s speaking about a documentary of the same name currently raising money on Kickstarter. The film is directed by Luo Tong.

My discussion with Matthew comes across as an amazing story of female empowerment universally, whether it’s in Australia, Hong Kong, or Shanghai. We discuss what life is like for Chinese filmmakers; the wildly original M ON THE BUND documentary, why the team chose Kickstarter over other avenues for crowdfunding, and the power of resilience in the face of challenges.

When you hear Matthew’s description of the documentary, you want to cheer for the amazing women involved, yes, but they aren’t making it just about themselves. They are bringing us along, too

Matthew's Indie Film Highlight: DOOM GENERATION by Gregg Akari

Links:

• M ON THE BUND Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1591996995/m-on-the-bund-a-documentary)
• LP Docs (https://www.lpdocs.net/)
• LP Films, the parent of LP Docs (http://www.lpfilms.net/)
• LP Films Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lostpensivosfilms/)
• M ON THE BUND Documentary (https://www.instagram.com/monthebunddocumentary)
• LP Films X Account (x.com/lpfilmsshanghai)
• LP Films Facebook Account (https://www.facebook.com/lpfilms/)

Step 1. Listen to this episode.

Step 2. Buy passes to the Sedona International Film Festival (https://sedonafilmfestival.com/)

Step 3. Buy plane tickets, train tickets...BUS tickets?! to Sedona.

Step 4. Watch A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP on February 25th, the film's world premiere.

I'm joined today by the film's director, writer, actor, comedian, former YouTube star, man of infamy, not obscurity, relative or otherwise, Bridge Stuart.

In this episode, we talk about:

01:38 Intro/The Concept Of Anticipatory Jokes & Laughter

02:58 The World Premiere at Sedona International Film Festival On February 25, 2024...In A Theater!

03:15 Early Career and Journey Towards Filmmaking (this part of the conversation refers to the very complimentary article by Simon Owens on Bridge https://simonowens.medium.com/its-impossible-to-reverse-engineer-bridge-stuart-s-sketch-comedy-videos-23caa88c5964)

05:46 Discovering His Talent for Comedy

06:40 Discussing Putting A Joke Early On To See If The Audience Is With You (this was an idea pointed out by Matthew Robinson https://www.firstgopod.com/vault/matthew-s-robinson)

08:03 Crafting Moments of Comedy Payoff

08:35 How Did A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP Came To Be?

11:30 The Goal of A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP

13:54 How Should You Decide On Including Contemporary Jokes?

15:25 Timeline and Festival Strategy

18:16 Tricks For Low Budget Indie Films

18:40 The Sedona International Film Festival, a filmmakers' film festival

20:30 How Do You Make The Decision To Act In Your Own Indie Film?

23:42 Is It Harder For Someone To Direct And Act Without Writing The Script?

24:35 The State of Comedy in Indie Film

26:57 Expanding into Different Genres; Are We Going To See a Bridge Stuart Horror Film? (Yes, we are.)

28:11 The Pigeonholing of Indie Directors

29:58 Focus on Writing and Directing

31:32 Bridge's Upcoming Projects

33:45 Indie Film Highlight: Jim Cummings (Follow Jim https://www.instagram.com/jimmycthatsme/?hl=en); Danny Madden (Follow Danny https://www.instagram.com/stuffbydanny/)

36:29 Close/Time To Fly To Sedona To Watch A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP

Links:

Follow Bridge On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bridgeofstuart/?hl=en); X (https://twitter.com/BridgeofStuart); YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/BridgeStuart)

Conversation With Patrick Schweiss, executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival Season 1, Episode 21 (https://www.firstgopod.com/vault/patrick-schweiss)

Follow The Sedona International Film Festival (https://sedonafilmfestival.com/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOY NERO (2016).

Director: Rafi Pitts

Written By: Rafi Pitts; Razvan Radulescu

Cast: Rory Cochrane; Khleo Thomas; Michael Harney

SYNOPSIS

Nero, a deported Mexican, eventually succeeds in making it back to Los Angeles. Unsatisfied with being an undocumented worker, Nero joins the U.S. Army to obtain citizenship.

Watch the episode on YouTube

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow us on Letterboxd

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on X

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on TikTok

Follow us on LinkedIn

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: NANNY (2022).

Director: Nikyatu Jusu

Written By: Nikyatu Jasu

Cast: Anna Diop; Michelle Monaghan; Sinqua Walls; Morgan Spector

SYNOPSIS

An African woman hopes her new job as a nanny will help bring her young son to the United States. However, when a violent presence begins to invade both her dreams and reality, it threatens to destroy everything she's fought for.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

If the best documentaries are made by outsiders observing a cultural phenomenon -- and then filming it -- consider watching FANCY LIKE, available for streaming on November 19th, 2024.

Filmed by "French guy" filmmaker Matt Beurois, it shows the life behind country music star Walker Hayes in an intimate way and the story behind the song "Fancy Like" going viral (i.e. the Applebee's song). And all Matt had to do was ask.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking -- the writing was not as big of a deal as you would think;
• how important marketing and being a "modern producer in the modern world" helped him in his own projects;
• horror's role as a way to start your independent film career;
• how he got connected with Walker Hayes -- he just emailed saying he was a "French guy interested in his story";
• how he built trust with the country music star and his family;
• why he takes on directing, writing, and especially editing;
• what he's learned from founding two film festivals, one in California and one in France, and how the experiences are so different in each place;
• whether he'd recommend starting a film festival -- "no";
• when you can expect to see FANCY LIKE (it's available now);
• what his next feature, AMERICAN GAME, is about;
• AI -- he doesn't think he'll be using it;
• and what's next for this inquisitive, thoughtful filmmaker.

Links:

Matt Beurois' IMDb

Matt Beurois' Instagram

In celebration of this holiday, I re-released one of my favorite episodes of last year: my conversation with Jake Fallon & Nick Craven. Their film, CRYING ON COMMAND, is hitting the festival circuit over the next few months. I had a blast re-listening to this episode. Enjoy.

In this episode, we talk about...

• how the duo got involved in filmmaking;
• whether you can start out just making films or if you can start high-minded;
• the reasons behind the success of their Seed & Spark campaign(s) for CRYING ON COMMAND;
• the watershed (see what I did there) short v. feature debate;
• Brett Kavanaugh (you have to listen);
• the run time of Martin Scorsese' latest film (again...makes sense after you hear);
• the importance of improv in indie film;
• and the depths of their new film, which packs a lot into nine minutes.

As you can see (or hear) from their indie film highlights, these two are ingrained into the independent film community and spend a good part of the episode supporting other peoples' projects. These are the kind of people I want to find for the show.

Jake's Indie Film Highlight: Cameron Gallagher, director; Armon Mahdavi, director, MOSS BEACH; Liza Renzulli ; Alexander Spenser Gould; Greg Case; Lee Schatzman

Nick's Indie Film Highlight: Dillon Schohr; Taylor Silk; Ricardo Burgos; Christian Petzold's AFIRE; Annie Baker; Eliza Hittman; Trey Edward Shults, dir. WAVES (2019)

Links:

• CRYING ON COMMAND Seed and Spark
• CRYING ON COMMAND Instagram
• Nick Craven's Instagram
• Jake Fallon's Instagram

Peter Kimball is an inspiration for many reasons -- and not just for what you might think. For me, it's helping people feel seen -- some of his films, for instance, feature an all-Deaf cast and are entirely in American Sign Language -- without explaining why. Because it doesn't need explanation. It's bold only because more people aren't willing to do it, but I'm lucky enough to talk with one guy who is.

We talk about how he got his start; the state of documentary and independent film; how an academic career is a way forward for filmmakers and what he thinks the strengths (and weaknesses) of current students are; and how (and why) he makes such original, bold choices.

Peter's Indie Film Highlight: STAY AWAKE (2022) (https://boxd.it/w7zg) dir. by Jamie Sisley; THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS (2020) (https://boxd.it/oiN8) dir. by Robert Machoian

Links:

Don't Matter Media (https://www.mybrotherisdeaf.com/home)

Peter's Faculty Profile (https://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/pkimball.cfm)

Washington, DC's Filmmaker of the Month February 2024 (https://entertainment.dc.gov/release/fotm-february-2024)

I talk with Eric Leja, writer, director, filmmaker, Marine redleg.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how much artillery folks love Lawton, Oklahoma (all love -- really);
• transitioning from the military to Hollywood, including helping The Hallmark Channel with military protocol;
• the value of the Veterans Writing Project from the Writers Guild Foundation, accepting applications until February, 12, 2024 by 11:59pm PST;
• what qualities veterans bring to filmmaking;
• the occasional negative elements of being a veteran in Hollywood;
• Generation Kill is the most authentic Iraq/Afghanistan war series/film (open for arguments);
• the exciting future for this writer and filmmaker

Eric's filmmaking story is one of hard work, helpful programs, and his eye and talent for unique storytelling. I am excited to share his story and post this fun conversation. (And if it's too much artillery talk...apologies. Trust me, there was more.)

Eric's Indie Film Highlight: director Sebastian Rist, Lovaganza: La Grande Illusion (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21994356/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk)

Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content)

Links:

Veterans Writing Project (https://www.wgfoundation.org/programs/the-veterans-writing-project)

Generation Kill (https://play.max.com/show/d24904ad-9b39-4117-abf1-e22496ba98a9)

Eric Leja's IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5498628/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Eric's X Account: https://twitter.com/EricLeja

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE HYPNOSIS (2023).

Director: Ernst De Geer

Writers: Ernst De Geer; Mads Stegger

Cast: Asta Kamma August; Herbert Nordrum; Andrea Edwards

SYNOPSIS

Young entrepreneurial couple André and Vera get the chance to pitch their female health app at a prestigious competition. Before going there, Vera tries hypnotherapy to quit smoking and her attitude changes. André starts to behave unexpectedly.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

The film is available now on Mubi.

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Love letter to New York City? Check. A humble, kind, smart filmmaker? Check. A bold name and a bold film on Kickstarter? Check, check, check.

In this episode, I talk with Louis Momméja about his new film, REFUCTORING; his journey from Paris to New York, with a stop in Los Angeles; the realities of trying to keep up with a filmmaking career while also making money; the challenges of highlighting darker topics in one's work (no lie -- Wendy Corn's episode was the most downloaded last year); the international value of living and working in New York City; and the exciting future for Louis and his film.

If a guy named his film REFUCTORING and makes it work, I'm betting on that guy to go a long way.

Louis' Indie Film Highlight: THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED (2023) dir. by Joanne Arnow

Links:

REFUCTORING Kickstarter

Louis Momméja Instagram

REFUCTORING Instagram

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMEWHERE (2010).

Director: Sofia Coppola

Screenplay By: Sofia Coppola

Cast: Stephen Dorff; Elle Fanning

SYNOPSIS

While recuperating from an injury at Beverly Hills' famed Chateau Marmont, bad-boy actor Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) receives a visit from his young daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning). Though his mind is not on parenting, she has a way of inserting herself into her father's daily routine. Slowly, the two bond, forcing Johnny to re-examine his life of excesses and his relationship with Cleo.

Watch the episode on YouTube

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Follow us on Letterboxd

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on X

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on TikTok

Follow us on LinkedIn

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: WEREWOLF (2016)

Director: Ashley McKenzie

Written by: Ashley McKenzie

Cast: Andrew Gillis; Bhreagh MacNeil

SYNOPSIS

Two methadone users in a small town try to survive by mowing lawns, bound together in their desperation.

The film is available now on MUBI. https://mubi.com/en/us/films/werewolf-2016

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (2016).

Director: Richard Linklater

Screenplay: Richard Linklater

Cast: Glen Powell; Tyler Hoechlin; Zoey Deutch

SYNOPSIS

In 1980 Texas, a college freshman meets his new baseball teammates, an unruly group of disco-dancing, skirt-chasing partyers, and they navigate their way through the freedom and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.

Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/krhyTGFexng

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

You can see the artistic talent of Christian Kamaal in the vivid way he describes his life -- he borrowed a camera from his father, who used it to film funerals for his community ("unfortunately, in the city I come from, a lot of funerals"); his power of observation earned him a spot at USC's film school; and he utilized his power of observation, of visual artistry, to make BLACKIFIER, a powerful short that hits you with more thoughts about our world than most features. And that's only half of it. In this episode,

• we talk about the reaction of BLACKIFIER at film festivals;
• why people don't pursue controversial social topics;
• how he thinks we can change festivals to hear more diverse stories ("it starts at the top") and stresses the importance of ownership of your own stories;
• his thoughts on AI in filmmaking;
• are there enough films programs at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)?
• and what this extraordinarily talented filmmaker is working on next.

Christian's Indie Film Highlight: Letia Solomon

Links:

Christian Kamaal’s Website

American Black Film Festival

Support the Podcast Through Membership

In the works is a film I've been looking for my entire life -- a climate romcom. And it couldn't be in better hands.

In this episode, I talk with Kim Steele, a narrative climate storyteller with an amazing background in acting, filmmaking, and Broadway theater. We talk about utilizing LinkedIn for filmmaking connections (who knew?!); the transition from Broadway; the importance of climate films -- but in an engaging way and the need for a Bechdel test for climate; the benefits of seeking nontraditional financing in indie films; filmmaking in Georgia and the value of networking laterally; and what's next for this trailblazer in filmmaking.

I'll spoil it: the climate romcom...and I can't wait.

Kim's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Yellow Dot Studios (https://yellowdotstudios.com/)

Links:

Kim Steele's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/heykimsteele/)

"Now There's a Bechdel Test for Climate Change in Film" https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/bechdel-test-climate-change-film-good-energy-1234958880/)

I talk with filmmaker Sierra Urich about her film JOONAM, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023 and has gone on to win several awards as well as nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

In this episode, we talk about the deeply personal film she made; how to make a documentary film stand out in the crowded doc landscape; the fact that making Sundance is only the start of your journey, not the end; what you should be doing at any film festival you attend; and the importance of making a story that's true to you rather than trying to figure out what to sell.

Sierra engaged with the tough questions, and what emerges from this conversation is an extraordinarily thoughtful examination of what it's like as a documentary filmmaker today.

Check the link to the film on Instagram for screening times and locations.

Sierra's Indie Film Highlight: Camden International Film Festival; True/False Film Fest

Links:

JOONAM Website

JOONAM on Instagram

"It's not about me, it's about my films." When you get awards for your filmmaking at 15, you can either become arrogant about it or you can become reflective, humble, and brilliant, and from listening to this episode, I think you can tell which path filmmaker Ava Bounds chose.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how the "natural successor to David Lynch" got started;
• watching a lot of films on her iPad at 11 and 12 and what that meant for her filmmaking;
• how that kind of passion for filmmaking can be channeled in a positive direction for kids and her advice for parents;
• her experience at the BFI Future Film Festival;
• her work writing and directing her first feature; what it's like running into major film festivals with gatekeepers possibly decades older than her; the importance of telling female-centric films which are often "completely dismissed" if it's judged by an all-male panel;
• the perspective of 18 year old filmmakers, or at least, her perspective; the future of filmmaking outside of London; and what's next for this groundbreaking filmmaker.

Ava's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Luna Carmoon

Links:

Ava Bounds' Instagram

Ava Bounds' Vimeo

Support the Podcast Through Membership

I talk with Justine Martin, director of the Oscar shortlisted documentary OASIS.

We talk about:

• how she developed a love for film growing up in Montreal;
• what people should expect to see when they watch her debut film;
• her vision of what a documentary should look like;
• how to handle issues regarding consent, especially when making a documentary with children;
• what it was like for her debut film to make such a splash;
• what's it like as an independent filmmaker in Montreal
• what's next for this extraordinarily talented Canadian filmmaker.

Justine made a superlative film in OASIS and especially for her debut film, she deserves all the praise she's receiving for creating a beautiful piece of art. And as striking as that is, what's more amazing to me is how grounded she is about the success of her film. 

What she did is not a common occurrence. You're not supposed to make a documentary short as your first film and have it shortlist for the Oscars. But the main takeaway from the conversation is she trusted herself and she trusted her vision for the film. She took steps to make an excellent documentary, with high quality sound and shots. The playground, the crunchiness of the forest, the lake in the rain, these are all things that will be with you for a long time ago. The link to the film is below; I hope you're able to watch it before listening to this episode.

And that you'll be joining me in cheering for Justine in the year ahead.

Justine's Indie Film Highlight: Cameraperson, directed by Kirsten Johnson (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5375040/)

Links:

OASIS (https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000009022484/oasis.html)

OASIS Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/C12wDv8LzjO/?img_index=1)

Justine Martin's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/justi.marti/)

Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BARNEY'S VERSION (2010).

Director: Richard J Lewis

Story by: Mordecai Richler

Screenplay: Michael Konyves

Cast: Paul Giamatti; Rachelle Lefevre; Rosamund Pike; Dustin Hoffman

SYNOPSIS

Toward the end of his life, Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) looks back on his triumphs and tragedies, beginning with an ill-fated relationship with Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), whom he marries when she becomes pregnant. When that falls apart, he moves back home to Montreal and gets married twice more, finally finding contentment with Miriam (Rosamund Pike), his third wife. Through it all, Barney is sustained by his work in television, raising children and the advice of his father (Dustin Hoffman).

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Support the Podcast Through Membership

If your film makes it to number one on Netflix, you get a re-release of your podcast episode. Congratulations to Joshua on the success of this film.

From 2023: I talk with Joshua Caldwell, director of MENDING THE LINE. We talk about making films in high school, the film school of just making films, and how he brought MENDING THE LINE to life in an industry that doesn’t fund military and veteran films.

How did he do that? What choices did he make to appeal to the widest audience? Every director who wants to film post traumatic stress scenes should listen to the care Joshua gives the topic in his film. It's a must-listen.

We talk short films, film school, crowdfunding, and what he calls live environment filmmaking.

In an uncertain environment for emerging filmmakers, he offers hard-won lessons in the trenches of independent film.

Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content)

Links:

• Watch MENDING THE LINE on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/81768966)
• MENDING THE LINE (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/mendingtheline)
• Joshua Caldwell Website (https://www.meyd-ent.com/)
• Joshua Caldwell, 6k Filmmaker Site (https://www.6kfilmmaker.com/enroll)

Imagine the most incredible indie film story you've ever heard. It would have to involve a guy or gal in high school making a short, it premieres at a top film festival and then he takes on making a film touching upon challenging subject matter like, maybe...immigration and 9/11? So you can't rank stories but the story of Emilio Vazquez Reyes is close to as unbelievable as it gets. He's in his first year of film school, and he's earned everything he's gotten.

He is currently crowdfunding on Seed & Spark for TOY PLANES DON'T CRASH.

How exciting is the future of filmmaking?

Links:

Emilio Vazquez Reyes' IMdB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13464541/

TOY PLANES DON'T CRASH Seed & Spark (https://seedandspark.com/fund/toy-planes-dont-crash#story)

TOY PLANES DON'T CRASH Website (https://www.toyplanesdontcrash.com/toy-planes-dont-crash)

I’m re-releasing one of my favorite episodes of the pod, my conversation with Scott Monahan, director of ANCHORAGE.

Until July 18th, you can vote for ANCHORAGE on Decentralized Pictures — here's the link — and their team can win $2500 for their next project.

Given that this is one of my favorite episodes, and one of my favorite dudes, how could I not re-release to support?

So go vote for ANCHORAGE now. (This is assuming you've seen this great indie film. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?)

Scott is a phenomenal actor, sure, but I feel like the kindness is genuine.

Enjoy this episode, it’s one of my absolute favorites, and see you in Anchorage.

In this episode, we talk about Scott growing up with his U.S. Marine-turned middle school guidance counselor family in Japan to crowdfunding for ANCHORAGE at the beginning of the pandemic. We talk about his journey through the film festival circuit and distribution; Film Independent's role in independent film, the multi-hatting necessary for so many independent filmmakers, Scott's larger philosophy in what projects he chooses to be a part of, and what he wants to do next.

Go vote on Decentralized Pictures, and I hope you enjoy revisiting my conversation with one of indie film's good guys: Scott Monahan.

Scott's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Pete Ohs

Support the Podcast Through Membership

Links:

Vote now for ANCHORAGE

Watch ANCHORAGE

ANCHORAGE Movie Instagram

Scott Monahan's Instagram

Dakota Loesch's Instagram

I could have clipped about twenty parts of this. Thirty. Fifty. THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS is blowing up your screen on Mubi right now, IndieWire (https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-last-year-of-darkness-review-documentary-1234963718/) gave it an A, which I’ve never seen. And Ben Mullinkosson shares how he made it happen. He gives his rules for making a documentary and then talks about how they decided to break them. Ben is breaking the mold of what it means to film a documentary.

Ben's Indie Film Highlight: Pasqual Gutierrez (https://www.pasqualgutierrez.com/); QUEENDOM by Agniia Galdanova (https://www.instagram.com/agni__ia/?hl=en); KNIT'S ISLAND by Ekiem Barbier (https://squareeyesfilm.com/features/knits-island/)

Links:

THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS, streaming now on Mubi (https://mubi.com/en/us/films/the-last-year-of-darkness)

THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS IndieWire Review (https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-last-year-of-darkness-review-documentary-1234963718/)

Ben Mullinkosson's Website (https://benmullinkosson.com/)

Ben Mullinkosson's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/benmullinkosson/?hl=en)

YouTooCanWoo Sound Engineers (https://youtoocanwoo.com/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE PERFECT CANDIDATE (2019).

Director: Haifaa al-Mansour

Screenplay: Haifaa al-Mansour; Brad Neimann

Cast: Mila Al Zahrani; Khalid Abdulrahman; Nojoud Ahmed; Reem Fahad

SYNOPSIS

A determined young doctor runs for city council after the incumbent repeatedly ignores her request to fix the muddy road leading to her clinic. Despite the community's struggle to accept her as the town's first female candidate, her creative and ambitious campaign becomes a symbol for a larger movement.

Watch The Episode on YouTube.

Watch THE PERFECT CANDIDATE on MUBI

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

I talk with filmmaker Jason Adam Maselle, the graduate winner of the 2024 First Run Film Festival. The First Run Film Festival is hosted "by the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. It is the longest continuously running film festival in New York City, dedicated to showcasing the advanced work of NYU graduate and undergraduate film students."

His award-winning film, PUNTER, is phenomenal but so is his own story -- growing up in South Africa and betting on himself by applying to NYU Tisch. The bet paid off, with his films being shown in as diverse locations as SNY and now taking home the top prize at his school's film festival.

PUNTER is a great film for several reasons: he establishes his characters within two minutes, the place of South Africa soon after, and the story is free from the stereotypical portrayals that we are all so used to seeing.

In this conversation, we talk about Jason's journey; what it's like to win at the First Run Film Festival; how best to describe South African cinema; the ruthlessness required to create a wonderful short film; the role of stereotypes in film; casting kids in film -- and getting the absolute best performance out of them; what the process of shooting in South Africa was like; the role of short films in independent film; and what's next.

And we both agree -- chess is a sport. What a fun time.

Jason's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Oliver Hermanus (https://letterboxd.com/director/oliver-hermanus/)

Jason's Indie Film Highlight: ABOUT ELLY (https://boxd.it/18Ry), dir. by Ashghar Farhadi.

Links:

Jason Adam Maselle's Website (https://jasonadammaselle.com/)

PUNTER on First Run Film Festival's Website (https://tisch.nyu.edu/first-run-film-festival/more-2024/Punter)

Let's throw it back to how things used to be -- date night movies, romcoms, leaving the theater feeling good about what you just watched.

I don't want to get too nostalgic about the past because right now we have access to so many great films from so many new creators than we ever had before, but we can all agree (I hope) that we need more films like HANGDOG (2023) in theaters. And thanks to filmmakers Matt Cascella (director + writer) and Jen Cordery (writer), we can.

I would go see HANGDOG in a theater, but if circumstances don't permit that, it's available for streaming starting today...on October 22, 2024.

In this conversation, we discuss:

how the couple got started in filmmaking;

what it's like for couples to work together in indie filmmaking and the importance of setting boundaries;

the importance of understanding relationship dynamics led to a fresh authenticity in HANGDOG that you rarely find and how they decided to make the film;

their indie film release plan, with a significant theater run before its streaming release on October 22, 2024;

how many people miss these types of films.

And if you took a date to HANGDOG, let me know. I think it's the right move.

Jen's Indie Film Highlight: Kelly O'Sullivan

Matt's Indie Film Highlight: Corey Gegner; Rob Bone

Stream HANGDOG now

Links:

HANGDOG Website

Follow HANGDOG On Instagram

Big Shins Films

It's a full-on British Week on the podcast. In this episode, I talk with Aleks Dimitrijevic, and on Friday, you'll hear from filmmaker Ava Bounds. What an exciting week to discover the future of filmmaking.

The British Film Institute's Future Film Festival is accepting late submissions until September 13th. As you hear from program director Aleks Dimitrijevic, the program is unique globally and if you qualify within the age range -- 16-25 -- you should certainly want to participate. Aleks does an amazing job on selling the program that only needs its facts to sell.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how her "heart has always been in film festivals";
• her work at the British Film Institute and the qualifications to participate in the Future Film Festival;
• how 16 year olds are graded differently than 25 year old participants and the unique way in which they judge participants -- it's conducted by a team of young programmers "who are themselves within this age range."
• London (and the UK at large) as a hub for filmmakers;
• what she sees about Generation Z and Generation Alpha as creators and their technical skills;
• how their unique model feeds into their careers as filmmakers;
• and all the ways you can apply for the Future Film Festival.

We conclude by talking about what the future of the festival looks like and Aleks amazing work at Carousel. This is a whirlwind, couldn't be brighter look at the future of global filmmaking.

Aleks' Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Charlotte Regan; Nida Manzoor; Will Wightman; Radheya Jegatheva;

Film Highlight: HOARD (2023) dir. by Luna Carmoon

Links:

BFI Future Film Festival

BFI Future Film Festival On Film Freeway

Aleks Dimitrijevic

NFFTY Film Festival

Carousel

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Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SWEAT (2020).

Director: Magnus von Horn

Written by: Magnus von Horn

Cast: Magdalena Kolesnik; Julian Swiezewski; Aleksandra Konieczna

SYNOPSIS

Sylvia Zajac, a fitness motivator-influencer surrounded by admirers and loyal employees, searches for true intimacy.

Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/Yq9SFKkY3QE

Available on MUBI now: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/sweat-2020

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BERGMAN ISLAND (2021).

Director: Mia Hansen-Løve

Screenplay: Mia Hansen-Løve

Cast: Vicky Krieps; Tim Roth; Mia Wasikowska

SYNOPSIS

Two American filmmakers retreat to Fårö Island for the summer and hope to find inspiration where Bergman shot his most celebrated films. As the days pass by, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and the couple is torn apart.

Available on MUBI now: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/bergman-island-2021

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 5 TO 7 (2014)

Director: Victor Levin

Written by: Victor Levin

Cast: Anton Yelchin; Berenice Marlohe; Olivia Thirlby; Glenn Close; Frank Langella

SYNOPSIS

A young writer (Anton Yelchin) begins an affair with an older woman (Bérénice Marlohe) from France whose open marriage to a diplomat (Lambert Wilson) dictates that they can meet only between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/E1ZHf2geN2M

There's not been another episode like it. And maybe that's because I've never had a Brazilian filmmaker on the show. But that changes with Pedro Freire, director of Sundance favorite MALU.

It's stunning the amount of ground and insight we cover in this episode, and a recap feels a little inadequate to the brilliance of Pedro's mind, but here goes: we talk about how he got his start in filmmaking (watching films with an obsession for years); teaching film in Cuba; the state of Brazilian filmmaking; the unique way in which he shot MALU that should resonate for all independent filmmakers; how to use color in service to the story; how work doesn't mean a film will be successful.

And that's not all, not even close: the versatility of directors; his "personal relationship" with the Sundance Film Festival; if his film resonates specifically in Latin America because of his portrayal of families; what he would go back and tell himself at the beginning of his career; what's next for him and MALU. His next film is a love story, "two women who fall in love...but they are in their 80s."

Whenever we talk about the most promising filmmakers of the future, Pedro Freire has to be on the list.

Pedro's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Gabriel Mascaro; HEARTLESS (2023) dir. by Nara Normande; Eduardo Nunes

Links:

Pedro Freire's Instagram

MALU On Letterboxd

Support the Podcast Through Membership

On July 24, 2024, I recorded this episode live with several of the 2024 Straight 8 winners. Check back soon for our next live episode.

Straight 8 is a filmmaking challenge that invites anyone to make a film on a single cartridge of super 8mm film without editing or post production.

If you're reading this and haven't seen the Straight 8 films, go see them. And here are the five films we'll be talking about. I'll wait.

Ready? Shocked? I was -- by how amazing these films are. In this episode, we talk about the background of each of these filmmakers and their films; whether the medium of Straight 8 is well suited for horror and fantasy; the difficulty of sound production for these films; how they learned to use film and shoot without a net (Vasco calls it "planning to the extreme"); AI filmmaking; and the next projects for these visionary filmmakers.

I cannot wait for the 2025 Straight 8 competition, but until then, let's celebrate the original filmmaking that Straight 8 has given us for the last 25 years.

Here are the guests for the show:

Jamie Hearing (SHOOTING FOR THE MOON)

Vierira Vasco (KILLJOY)

Tom Brandhorst (RIDERS)

Layne Willis (MOUILLER)

Edwin Brooks (MANUS II)

Links:

Live YouTube Episode

BTS of SHOOTING FOR THE MOON

Straight 8 Competition Website

S2 E37: Brennan Hershock, 2024 Straight 8 Top 8

HEAVY BOOTS Production Company

Tom Brandhorst's Website

Win Brooks' Website

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Filmmaker Hyejin "Grace" Park has such incredible range as an indie filmmaker: she's directed everything from sci-fi to gangster films and made them her own in a way that's utterly enchanting and unique. Her Vimeo page is a testament to her range as a filmmaker.

In this episode, we discuss how she got started in filmmaking; her goal of making sure minority filmmakers feel seen; how life experiences have made her a better filmmaker; the depth of the story behind her genre-breaking film COMET ORPHAN; what made her decide to use Seed & Spark for the film ("we were way short because we had to built a spaceship"); where you can expect to see the film; and what's next for Grace.

If there's a Grace Park fan club, I'm the first member. Go to her Vimeo and see for yourself. It's truly incredible what she's accomplished and I cannot wait to see what's next.

Grace's Indie Film Highlight: Christian Kamaal

Links:

Grace Park's Vimeo Page

Meet Hyejin "Grace" Park

Hyejin "Grace" Park's Website

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There's been (roughly) 100 episodes of the podcast. So when you hit on topics you haven't talked with anybody about before (IRAs, 401(k)s, faith-based organizations), you know you are in for something special.

But I knew that already from his trenchant social media posts. In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Kyle Prohaska about perseverance, resilience, and becoming a jack of all trades in the filmmaking business. We talk about his start as a filmmaker and working in the faith-based sector; the problems with expensive short films that just have to make festivals; the lack of QC in indie filmmaking; and where you should expect to see Kyle in a couple of years. "Prepare for your future" is Kyle's main advice; if yours is indeed in filmmaking, chances are you'll see Kyle Prohaska there.

Kyle's Indie Film Highlight: (the first time we ever had a recommendation for a film that has been an episode on the podcast): YOUR LUCKY DAY (2023) dir. by Daniel Brown; THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY (2023) dir. by Francis Galluppi; MASS (2021) dir by Fran Kranz

Links:

Prohaska Studios

Kyle Prohaska's Threads Account

Kyle Prohaska's X Account

Kyle Prohaska's Instagram

I talk with Jessica Lappin, president of the Alliance for Downtown New York and...film executive! The Alliance manages the country's largest Business Improvement District (BID) and recently came out with a Filmmaker In Chief program.

Jessica is modest on this podcast, but she's knows great films and Lower Manhattan.

Here are the details on the Filmmaker in Chief program:

One filmmaker will win up to $50,000, plus two months in a paid luxury Mint House apartment and two months’ stipend to produce, direct and edit a short film in New York City’s Lower Manhattan neighborhood.

Applications close February 16, 2024 at 11:59 pm.

To enter:

• Create a one-minute video uploaded to YouTube explaining why you should be our Filmmaker in Chief.
• Submit a 3-5 page film treatment outlining your unique concept and links to samples of your past completed films.
• Your short film can run between 8-40 minutes, with the sweet spot between 8-15 minutes.



More information can be found on their website: https://downtownny.com/filmmaker/

In this podcast, Jessica and I discuss:

• how much we both love Lower Manhattan;
• the judges behind the program;
• what it REALLY means to be the Filmmaker in Chief (are you producing? do you have final cut? what are the standards?)
• what happens to the film after you finish;
• the indie film highlight of this amazing leader in the NYC community.

Jessica could have very well put up the resources devoted to this project to an advertising agency, but she didn't. And an indie filmmaker wins.

Jessica's Indie Film Highlight: Rob Peace (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10740926/)

Links:

The Filmmaker In Chief Program (https://downtownny.com/filmmaker/)

Jessica Lappin (https://downtownny.com/people/jessica-lappin/)

Alliance for Downtown New York Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/downtownnyc/)

In a first for the First Time Go podcast, I talk with a filmmaker in person -- Ibrahim Nash'at, the multi-award winning Egyptian documentary filmmaker who made HOLLYWOODGATE, which premiered at DC/DOX 2024.

(Let me apologize upfront about audio quality. It's not the standard I expect of myself and I'll do a better job with in-person interviews next time. Thanks for understanding and being supportive.)

We talk about how he got involved in filmmaking; his journey to Afghanistan to make this film while everybody else was leaving; what makes a good documentary filmmaker; the portrayal of the Taliban and women in Afghanistan; issues surrounding access for documentarians; and what's next for Ibrahim.

A documentary is frequently labeled important even when it isn't but that isn't the case at all with HOLLYWOODGATE; the film is an extremely moving cinéma vérité style look at a world that Ibrahim risked his life for us to get to see.

Ibrahim expressed an interest in screening the film for military and veteran audiences -- I look forward to that, too. In sum, his work is the best kind of filmmaking: it shows you not what you may want to see, or what you expect, but what is.

Links:

HOLLYWOODGATE Trailer

HOLLYWOODGATE Review

Ibrahim Nash'at Instagram

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SHITHOUSE (2020)

Director: Cooper Raiff

Written by: Cooper Raiff

Cast: Cooper Raiff; Dylan Gelula

SYNOPSIS

A lonely college freshman feels alienated from his peers, but forges a strong connection with his resident assistant during a fraternity party

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BEGINNERS (2010).

Director: Mike Mills

Screenplay: Mike Mills

Cast: Ewan McGregor; Christopher Plummer; Mélanie Laurent

SYNOPSIS

After his mother dies, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is stunned when his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, comes out of the closet. When Hal passes away a few years later, Oliver grows depressed, struggling with his failing career as an artist while constantly remembering his childhood and time spent with his dad. Oliver's loneliness is eased when he meets actress Anna (Mélanie Laurent), but their relationship is threatened by their mutual fear of commitment.

Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/wr3Xa-d5uGc

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 45 YEARS (2015).

Director: Andrew Haigh

Screenplay: Andrew Haigh

Cast: Charlotte Rampling; Tom Courtenay; Geraldine James

SYNOPSIS

Kate Mercer and her husband are excitedly planning a party to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. However, one week before the celebration, a letter arrives for her husband. The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps. As the party nears, there might not be a marriage left to celebrate.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/mLXpuSJZw30

Watch 45 Years On Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/45-years

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN (2022)

Director: Rebecca Zlotowski

Written by: Rebecca Zlotowski

Cast: Virginie Efira; Roschdy Zern; Chiara Mastroianni

SYNOPSIS

Rachel, 40 and childless, loves her life. When she falls in love with Ali, she becomes attached to his 4 year old daughter, Leila, and thus reassesses her life choices.

The film is available now on MUBI. https://mubi.com/en/us/films/other-people-s-children

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: WEDDING PALACE (2013).

Director: Christine Yoo

Written By: Derek Draper; Robert Gardner; Christine Yoo

Cast: Brian Tee; Kang Hye-jeong; Bobby Lee

SYNOPSIS

Jason finds the woman of his dreams online and tries to make it work in person.

Watch This On YouTube

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In a first for the show, we talk with the director (Nathan Rigaud) and the executive producer (Mark Sunderland) about an animated short, a beautiful film called SPLASH!

Nate also serves as a creative executive at Whale Animation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how they got a love for filmmaking (Lord Of The Rings is probably up there with James Cameron for the podcast's guests);
• how the story of SPLASH! and the production company, Whale Animation, came to be;
• can a four minute story touch your heart? SPLASH! proves that it can, thanks to the amazing work of the director and his team;
• how do you make an animated short? how is it different than live action? Nathan tells you;
• the market for animated shorts and how it can help build a production company;
• the disconnect between what creators are making daily and hourly (shorts, reels, TikToks, perhaps even short films) and what can be monetized;
• why Georgia is a great market for filmmaking, and how it compares to Los Angeles and other well-known areas;
• when you can expect to see SPLASH! -- shout out to Kids First Film Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico (https://filmfreeway.com/KIDSFIRSTFilmFestival) among soon to be certainly many others;
• the leadership philosophy of their company (not a surprise it comes back to military training);
• what's next for this exciting and unique production company.

The logline for SPLASH! is a young Harp Seal pup must find his courage to overcome his fear of the water he was born to play in. No problem here with courage for Nate and Mark…I hope you enjoy our first episode about an animated film. 

Mark's Indie Film Highlight: Jack & Ava directed by Michael Pollard (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18566780/)

Nate's Indie Film Highlight: Freeman Hospitality, directed by Michael Cooke (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9818820/)

Links:

Whale Animation Studios (https://www.whaleanimationstudios.com/)

Whale Animation Studios' Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whaleanimationstudios/)

The debut feature, TO NOWHERE (2020), of Sian Astor-Lewis is one of the best films I've seen this year, and she's here to talk about it. It's available now for streaming on Amazon, Tubi, and Apple.

The story of how she directed such a moody, original, character-driven film is an extraordinary one. The sets and vision are big, bold, and she's here to talk about it.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how she got a start in filmmaking;
• what it's like when the distance between what you dreamed about and what you're doing (making your first feature) close to zero;
• how you create characters that come across as amazingly authentic;
• the importance of casting in character study filmmaking;
• how she made the universe of TO NOWHERE so large even with a lower budget;
• ** the problems with trusting the wrong producer in indie films (this happens more often than we know) **
• what it's like being a female director;
• the environment in the UK for an indie filmmaker;
• and what's next for this character-driven filmmaker.

Sian's Indie Film Highlight: FEMME (2023) dir. by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping; LA CHIMERA (2024) dir. by Alice Rohrwacher

Links:

Watch TO NOWHERE (2020) Now On Amazon

TO NOWHERE Website

Follow Sian Astor-Lewis on Instagram

I talk with Cara Yeates about her new film, GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES, and her tremendous career spanning film festivals, one woman shows, running her own production company, and making gorgeously moody films.

In this episode, we talk about the intentionality behind her films, including GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES; balancing corporate work and creative work; the financial viability of short films; festival strategy; and the benefits of owning a production company. If you feel like we have a lot of Canadian and Canadian-Americans on the show, there's a good reason for that -- they are creating valuable, unique art. The beautiful filmmaking of Cara Yeates is no exception.

Cara's Indie Film Highlight: Totem dir by Lila Aviles (https://www.limerenciafilms.com/en/archivos/61)

Links:

GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES Website (https://www.gonebeforeyoureyes.com/)

Cara Yeates' Website (https://www.carayeates.com/)

Trigger Creative (https://www.triggercr.com/)

To all my guests, subscribers, and listeners:

thank you so much. I am so grateful every time you press play or choose to talk with me about your art. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

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Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE (1989).

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Screenplay: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Andie MacDowell; Peter Gallagher; Laura San Giacomo; James Spader

SYNOPSIS

Ann (Andie MacDowell) is trapped in a sexually and emotionally unfulfilled relationship with her husband, John (Peter Gallagher), a successful but unpleasant lawyer who is sleeping with her sister, Cynthia (Laura San Giacomo). The underlying tensions in the couple's marriage rise to the surface when Graham (James Spader), a friend of John's from college who's been drifting for nine years, returns to town and videotapes Cynthia and Ann as they talk about their sexual desires.

Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/CbeVd07nK3s

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Happy Veterans Day! Sign up for a $1 membership to Film Independent

If there's a more innovative, surprising, enjoyable, and fun documentary than STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF (2023), I haven't seen it this year. It's no surprise all those attributes could be used to describe my conversation with its director, Law Chen.

In this episode, we discuss:

• how he got involved in filmmaking as a combination of growing up in China and the United States;
• how life in China influenced him today;
• how the intersection of filmmaking and advertising provides him a "cheat code" for making films people want to watch;
• how he takes a sledgehammer to normal documentary with STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF (2023), a "genre-bending, docu-fiction about an ordinary immigrant dad retired in Florida who becomes a spy for the Chinese police";
• if there were people who didn't get the concept -- he finds that it is especially loved by "filmmakers and actors";
• if hybrid documentary and docu-fiction is the future of documentary;
• his thoughts on international film and when we get to global cinema rather than categorized filmmaking;
• what Chinese indie filmmaking is like and whether he feels a responsibility to tell these unique unheard stories;
• and how the immigrant experiences speaks to what he wants to accomplish in film. We conclude by discussing how he determines a feature versus a short ("if it's scenario-based, it's more of a short") and what's next for this groundbreaking filmmaker.

Law's Indie Film Highlight: RAGING GRACE (2023) dir. by Paris Zarcilla

Links:

Stream Now On Apple TV

Stream Now On Amazon Prime

Stream Everywhere You Rent Movies

Law Chen's Website

I talk with filmmaker Morgan Chen about his amazing life story -- from Oregon to Atlanta, and now about an upcoming documentary -- SCHOOL OF THE OPEN -- in New Hampshire. It's a journey you won't want to miss.

In this episode, we talk about his unique and powerful journey; his style of documentary filmmaking; his excitement (with trepidation) for hybrid docs and AI; the underlying values that underpin his upcoming feature doc; and what's next for this visionary, thoughtful filmmaker.

Morgan's Indie Film Highlight: THE WAR ROOM (1993) (https://boxd.it/1tWa); Errol Morris (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001554/)

Links:

Morgan Chen Productions (https://www.morganchenproductions.com/)

Morgan Chen's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/speedomorgan/)

I talk with Miles Levin, the director of the upcoming film, UNDER THE LIGHTS. The Cameron Boyce Foundation said that "we believe this movie will be the biggest moment for epilepsy awareness of all time." That's a powerful statement but it looks like their faith is well-placed.

In this episode, we talk about:

• the tremendous feedback he's received about making such a personal film;
• how film is the "intersection of all art forms";
• what it means and why when he introduces himself as a "filmmaker with epilepsy";
• the story behind UNDER THE LIGHTS;
• the power of empathy to help all of us in our silent struggles;
• short v. feature (you know I had to ask -- he created a short for the film that was released a few years ago);
• how "make the film you know how to make" is trash advice;
• how amazing AT&T Untold Stories in collaboration with the Tribeca Film Festival was for him;
• getting a well-known cast for your feature film;
• if directors can work without empathy;
• the extremely ambitious crowdfunding goal and his plans to reach it...because people think about crowdfunding wrong;
• the future expansion of the UNDER THE LIGHTS universe.

Miles Levin artfully distills his experience in filmmaking and crowdfunding into extraordinarily useful advice. I learned so much hearing his thoughts on such a varied group of topics, and I think you will, too.

Miles' Indie Film Highlight:

LITTLE WHITE LIES, crowdfunding now by Erin Brown Thomas (https://seedandspark.com/fund/little-white-lies#story)

THE PROCESS, crowdfunding now by Morgan Hamilton-Lee

(https://seedandspark.com/fund/the-process-birdman-inspired-short-film#story)

Links:

• UNDER THE LIGHTS Seed & Spark (https://seedandspark.com/fund/underthelights#story)
• UNDER THE LIGHTS website
• (https://www.underthelightsfilm.com/)
• UNDER THE LIGHTS Instagram
• (https://www.instagram.com/underthelightsfilm/)

In the first First Time Go live episode -- it streamed on YouTube -- I talk with the creators of 'A THOUSAND SUNS'. I was joined by:

MacGregor (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2021435/)

Tim Hyten (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2719211/)

Ruairi Robinson (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099711/?...)

Tyson Wade Johnston (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4098234/?...)

We talk about how this series and model got started and the authentic nature of the films; the role shorts play in a director's career and whether this can be a new model; AI in filmmaking; episode specific questions; and what's next for these ultra-talented filmmakers. If MacGregor is to be believed, expect them to be living in Iceland and making 200 more.

Those kind of jokes made this a fantastic way to record an episode. I look forward to having more live episodes.

To watch on YouTube, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=851mSkRXRis&t=611s

Tim's Indie Film Highlights: BURNING (2018) https://boxd.it/hHUa; THE DEATH OF DICK LONG (2019) https://boxd.it/kIoA

Ruairi Robinson's Indie Film Highlights: TANYA'S ISLAND (1980) https://boxd.it/2dbE; COME TRUE (2020) https://boxd.it/iG90; THE WAILING (2016) https://boxd.it/9fLy

Tyson Wade Johnston's Indie Film Highlight: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (2023) https://boxd.it/zo6G

Links:

1K Suns Website (https://www.1ksuns.com/)

Blackmilk Studio (https://www.blackmilk.studio/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: OWNING MAHOWNY (2003).

Director: Richard Kwietniowski

Writers: Gary Stephen Ross; Maurice Chauvet

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman; Minnie Driver; Maury Chaykin

SYNOPSIS

A bank manager with: (a) a gambling problem and (b) access to a multimillion dollar account gets into a messy situation. Based on the story of the largest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history.

Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/rFd0xWRsMFQ

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod