It's the last BEHIND THE LENS for 2025! And this week, we shine a light on producer, director, writer, and actor RYAN FRANCIS and his latest film, SPEED TRAIN.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Ryan for more than two decades. I reviewed his first directorial short film and multiple feature films thereafter, and interviewed him. And over the years, he has moved from being an actor in front of the camera to going behind the camera into directing and, most recently, also producing. And now he brings us a fast-paced, entertaining futuristic film that posits some interesting questions for us as individuals and a society – SPEED TRAIN.

In this very candid, fun, and unfettered exclusive interview, writer/director RYAN FRANCIS discusses his career growth from acting to directing, highlighting his recent film SPEED TRAIN, as well as discussing at length some of his prior films of late in which he only acts or serves an Executive Producer versus directing; notably, "Reverence", "The Jurassic Games: Extinction", "Trail of Vengeance", "The Flood", and "3 Days in Malay". He also discusses two upcoming films he's excited about, "Bruton" and "Bring the Law." As we specifically dig into the making of SPEED TRAIN, Ryan shares the challenges of directing a futuristic sci-fi film in 12 days with a small budget, praising his team, including DP Nico De La Fere and editor Austin Nordell, as well as producer Daemon Hillin and his Thailand team. A large portion of our conversation also discusses the film's themes of AI and human reliance on technology. An interesting aspect of our discussion revolved around the challenges of the film industry, the importance of maintaining a passion for making movies, and the need to bring audiences back to the theater experience.

As you'll hear, Ryan speaks with a mix of candor, humor, and hard-earned perspective about a career that has quietly but decisively evolved. Once primarily known as an actor, Ryan has increasingly stepped behind the camera, carving out a space as a filmmaker unafraid of ambition—or of admitting when that ambition nearly outruns the clock.

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Welcome to another week of BEHIND THE LENS and this week it's all about Christmas as I welcome director/co-cinematographer/co-editor ADAM VOLERICH, talking about his feature directorial debut, DRINK AND BE MERRY, and director CELIA ANISKOVICH, who is filled with the Christmas spirit as she talks about her documentary, THE MERCHANTS OF JOY.

So, let's get that cinematic sleigh going with Adam Volerich and DRINK AND BE MERRY.

At a struggling New York dive bar in the days leading up to Christmas 2019, Chet, a beleaguered bartender in a state of extended arrested development, must balance caring for his misanthropic, aging regulars – who have nowhere else to go, and rely on him for far more than pouring drinks – with his naive desires to muster some Christmas spirit. Neither Chet nor his regulars know if this will be their last Christmas together, but for them, every day is just another day, but under the prettiest of holiday wrappings.

And now we move from the warmth of a cozy, nostalgic bar to the hustle and bustle of New York City with THE MERCHANTS OF JOY and documentarian CELIA ANISKOVICH.

A funny, heartwarming, and grounded documentary that follows five families who sell Christmas trees in New York City each holiday season, THE MERCHANTS OF JOY captures the cast of characters behind the city's Christmas tree stands– small business owners who bring holiday cheer to the streets each season, along with a healthy dose of friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) competition with each other.

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While today's films and filmmakers may not be about holiday movies, they do fit with the love and laughter of the holidays as MICHELLE DANNER joins me talking about her new film, the beautiful and romantic UNDER THE STARS, while writer/director MICHAEL J. WEITHORN is on hand discussing his fantastic film, THE BEST YOU CAN.

First, let's turn our attention to Puglia, Italy, and UNDER THE STARS with MICHELLE DANNER. Directed by Danner with a script by Victoria Vinuesa, UNDER THE STARS stars Toni Collette, Andy Garcia, Alex Pettyfer, Eva De Dominici, Rob Estes, and Vincent Riotta.

UNDER THE STARS follows a struggling romance novelist named Ian played by Alex Pettyfer, in what I consider to be the best performance of his career, trapped in a lifeless relationship and plagued by writer's block. Hoping to reignite his passion, he travels to Italy for inspiration – only to unexpectedly fall for Ariana, a spirited local who challenges everything he thought he knew about love and himself. And as if that's not enough, how about tossing in Ian's aunt Audrey and Ariana's father Giacomo?

Shifting gears but still enjoying the lightness and laughter and life, we turn our attention to writer/director MICHAEL J. WEITHORN and THE BEST YOU CAN.

Reuniting Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon on screen for the first time in twenty years, THE BEST YOU CAN is a sharp, touching, and laugh-out-loud exploration of change, losing our bearings, and finding connection in the most unexpected places. This character-driven comedy is a reminder that sometimes the people who understand us best are the ones who are nothing like us.

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With it already Thanksgiving this week, it's time for BEHIND THE LENS (and all of you) to haul out the holly, put up the tree, fill up the stockings, and grab those dreidels because the holiday season is here! And what better way to kick off the Yuletide than to get into the spirit of the season with #BTLRadioShow, talking about two wonderful films and four fabulous filmmakers. So get ready as MARISA GUTERMAN and KEITH GERCHAK tell us all about their feature directorial debut, the charming and nostalgic LOST & FOUND IN CLEVELAND, while ZAC MONCRIEF and JON COLTON BARRY fill us with the fun and joy of Christmas with the animated delight, A CHUCK E. CHEESE CHRISTMAS.

Our first stop today is Cleveland with the wonderfully warm and toasty slice of Americana, LOST & FOUND IN CLEVELAND. A look at the American Dream set in "the best location in the nation", this is a slice of life set over a 24-hour period that follows the personal odysseys of five very different people, whose lives intertwine when America's favorite televised antiques appraisal show comes to Cleveland. A true tapestry of the heart of America, co-directors and co-writers MARISA GUTERMAN and KEITH GERCHAK bring us a tale that shows us what is truly to be cherished in our lives.

Boasting an amazing cast with Dennis Haysbert, Dot-Marie Jones, Esther Povitsky, Jeff Hiller, Jon Lovitz, June Squibb, Stacey Keach, Loretta Devine, Mark L. Walberg, Martin Sheen, Yvette Yates Redick, and the scene stealing Benjamin Steinhauser, the film spans the generations and all walks of life, this is a film that has something and someone for every age, every demographic, and fills you with the holiday spirit.

Then we dive headfirst into Christmas and Santa and Mrs. Claus and presents and elves and Chuck E. Cheese and his friends with A CHUCK E. CHEESE CHRISTMAS.

Written and executive produced by ZAC MONCRIEF and JON COLTON BARRY, and co-directed by ZAC MONCRIEF, A CHUCK E. CHEESE CHRISTMAS is a unique blend of family-friendly animation, songs destined to become holiday classics, and filled with holiday cheer as Chuck E and his pals Helen Henny, Jasper Jowls, Bella Brinca, Munch, and Pasqually create a plan to throw a surprise party to lift Santa's Christmas spirit! But surprising the man who "sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake" won't be easy. Can the gang pull it off in time to save Christmas?

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This week on BEHIND THE LENS, it's all about mysteries thanks to director STEPHEN SHIMEK talking about MURDER AT THE EMBASSY, and writer/director LOTFY NATHAN discussing THE CARPENTER'S SON.

But first, let's take a little trip to Cairo with director STEPHEN SHIMEK and MURDER AT THE EMBASSY.

The second film in the Miranda Greene franchise, this story is fun, and the film is as entertaining as it is beautiful, as it drenches you in the beauty and wonder of Egypt. Set in 1930s Cairo with pyramids and antiquities at the height of Egyptology and archaeology, private detective Miranda Green is called to investigate a suspicious murder inside Cairo's seemingly impenetrable British Embassy when she discovers a second crime has been committed that could spark war across the globe. Everyone within the walls of the embassy is a suspect, but the ultimate evil force is lurking right around the corner.

Directed by STEPHEN SHIMEK and written by Mark Brennan, MURDER AT THE EMBASSY stars Mischa Barton, Mido Hamada, Kojo Attah, Nell Barlow, Raha Rahbari, Antonia Bernath, and Richard Dillane.

Now let's switch gears and talk about another type of mystery with writer/director LOTFY NATHAN and THE CARPENTER'S SON. Not your cut-and-dry faith-based or historical religious film, Lotfy pushes the envelope here as he draws from the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas for this story. This is a film that has already drawn some ire in the Christian community as it is developed from the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas about the childhood of Jesus and fills in the New Testament canonical gospels, often clashing with some of those accepted writings. A powerful and fascinating film that is exquisitely made. And did I mention it stars Nic Cage as Jesus' father, the carpenter Joseph?

Written and directed by LOTFY NATHAN, THE CARPENTER'S SON stars Nic Cage as "The Carpenter", Noah Jupe as "The Boy" aka Jesus, and FKA Twigs as "The Mother" aka Mary.

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This week on BEHIND THE LENS, it's all about action thanks to director SHANE DAX TAYLOR and his new film, EXIT PROTOCOL, and director MICHAEL DOWSE and his latest film, TRAP HOUSE.

First up, let's take a look at TRAP HOUSE and my exclusive interview with director MICHAEL DOWSE. TRAP HOUSE is set in El Paso, Texas, at the border where DEA Agent Ray Seale and his team infiltrate a drug trafficking operation run by notorious cartel boss 'Guzman'. But things go wrong, and one of his team is shot and killed. In the aftermath, the slain agent's son, Jesse, is devastated and struggles financially, having to move back to Spain with his mom. Ray's own son, Cody feels sorry for Jesse and bands together a group of other DEA kids to utilize their skills and access to resources to enact revenge, stealing money from trap houses operated by the Guzman family.

Directed by Michael Dowse and written by Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O'Connor, TRAP HOUSE stars Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale as DEA agents Ray Seals and Andre Washburn, Jack Champion as Ray's son Cody, and Sophia Lillis, Whitney Peak, Zaire Adams, and Blu del Barrio as Cody's friends Deni, Sophia, Kyle, and Jesse. Plus, Inde Navarette and Kate del Castillo.

Now let's keep the action going with director SHANE DAX TAYLOR and his new film, EXIT PROTOCOL. I love this film. I had so much fun watching the film with a terrific blend of action, emotion, humor, and performances from some of my favorite actors, ike Dolph Lundgren, Michael Jai White, Charlotte Kirk, and Scott Martin. And the story itself is great!

A simple tale of assassins, aka hitmen. A notorious hitman, Sam Hayden, who made a career of killing other assassins, wants out. But walking away is not that easy. He's got one last job to do, and that is to take out his rival Charles Mangold. Unfortunately, Hayden gets double-crossed by his boss, who has hits out on Mangold AND Hayden. Now marked for death, Hayden unexpectedly finds himself partnering with Mangold to outrun his boss and the third hitman in the mix.

Directed by Shane Dax Taylor and written by Chad Law, EXIT PROTOCOL stars Scott Martin, Dolph Lundgren, Charlotte Kirk, Lina Maya, Stephanie Beran, and Michael Jai White.

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Extending Halloween a bit longer this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we chat with documentarians BRADFORD THOMASON & BRETT WHITCOMB about THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN. Plus, writer/director MATT WHITAKER discusses the powerful and important narrative film TRUTH & TREASON.

But first, let's keep that Halloween feeling going with THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN.

Who hasn't seen or doesn't know about the utterly charming HALLOWEENTOWN franchise? It became a Halloween staple from the moment it released, with Debbie Reynolds as the magical Grandma Aggie Cromwell and Kimberly J Brown as Aggie's granddaughter Marnie, along with Judith Hoag as Aggie's daughter and Marnie's mom, Joey Zimmerman as Marnie's brother Dylan, and Emily Roeske as their younger sister Sophie. So beloved, that original film spawned three sequels! But it all started in the little town of St. Helens, Oregon, where the original film was shot.

And now, all these years later, Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb return to St. Helens to discover how this picturesque town of St. Helens and its Halloween happy residents decided to capitalize on the town's starring role in HALLOWEENTOWN and each year invites tourists to come and celebrate the film and Halloween with them.

Shifting gears, I want to talk about an important and powerful film that is in theatres right now – TRUTH & TREASON.

TRUTH & TREASON is based on the true story of German youths Helmuth Hubener, Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, and Rudi Wobbe, who fought Hitler and the Third Reich with the most powerful weapon of all – their words. An amazing true story that has remained untold for too long and now, thanks to Whitaker and Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, comes into the light.

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It's my favorite week of the year for BEHIND THE LENS – Halloween Week! And to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year, I've got some chilling, spooky, terrifying tales for you as PEDRO KOS breaks down his new film, the horrifying IN OUR BLOOD, while JON BERARDO talks about the blood-drenched noirish THE MANNEQUIN.

First up, let's take a look at IN OUR BLOOD. Directed by Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker PEDRO KOS in his first narrative feature, IN OUR BLOOD masterfully blends psychological mystery with chilling horror. The film weaves a twisted tale of reconciling with the ghosts of our past and confronting the complicity we share in creating a world that preys on the most vulnerable.

Directed by PEDRO KOS with a script by Mallory Westfall, IN OUR BLOOD stars Brittany O'Grady, E.J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, Krisha Fairchild, Leo Marks, Bianca Comparato, and Steven Klein.

Now, it's time to get a bit bloody, a bit supernaturally creepy, a bit mysterious, and a bit noirish thanks to writer/director JON BERARDO and his new film THE MANNEQUIN that transports us hauntingly through time from a glorious black and white prologue to a grisly exorcism.

Written and directed by Jon Berardo, THE MANNEQUIN stars Isabella Gomez, Lindsay Lavanchy, Shireen Lai, Maxwell Hamilton, Gabriella Rivera, with Krystle Martin and Jack Sochet.

In THE MANNEQUIN, Liana Rojas, a creatively starved stylist assistant, discovers that the historical downtown Los Angeles factory building where her fashion designer sister mysteriously died is haunted by a serial killer posing as a headshot photographer for film studios who brutally murdered and dismembered his victims half a century earlier. This knowledge forces Liana and her friends to find a way to free themselves from the curse and escape the sinister ghost before they lose their own body parts.

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A terrific BEHING THE LENS for you this week as you're about to hear from two directors whose work I am a huge admirer of and have been for years, both of whom I love chatting with, and each with a new film out – NEIL MARSHALL joins me to discuss his new psychological erotic thriller COMPULSON, while BRANDON SLAGLE is back with me for the 5th or 6th time talking about his latest, the powerhouse martial arts-action-sci-fi film AFFINITY.

But first, we've got director BRANDON SLAGLE discussing his latest film, AFFINITY. Set and shot in Bangkok, Thailand, AFFINITY stars Chilean martial-arts star Marko Zaror as Bruno, an ex-SEAL struggling with PTSD. He lives a life in fear of his demons until one day, when he discovers a beautiful woman named Athena with no past of her own. Together they begin to build a life, but when she disappears, Bruno must return to his violent past if he's going to save her from a shocking conspiracy.

Now, another director who has spread his visionary wings and stepped somewhat outside of the box from what we have come to expect from him – NEIL MARSHALL. Inspired by Neil's admiration for erotic thrillers of the 1980s and 1990s such as "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct", something woefully missing from cinema today, he's out to blend the sensuous, suspenseful style of those films with an homage to giallo—a genre of stylish Italian thriller/horror movies—resulting in Compulsion's unique mix of erotic thriller and murder mystery elements. The inspiration to set the story in a visually distinct locale was also influenced by his desire to film somewhere bright and warm, ultimately leading to Malta, which further shaped the film's visual and narrative style.

Written and directed by NEIL MARSHALL, COMPULSION focuses on the story of a young woman's visit to her stepfather's villa in Malta that spirals into danger when she's targeted by con artists and a violent murder forces her into a deadly cover-up. As a local detective closes in, trust cracks and dark secrets are exposed. The film stars Anna-Maria Sieklucka, Charlotte Kirk, Zach McGowan, Giulia Garietti, and Harvey Dean.

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BEHIND THE LENS is kicking off the Halloween season today with a terrific making-a-movie-within-a-movie full of blood and hacking, madness, mayhem, and ridiculum – THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. And joining me to talk about this bloody (and funny) gem are writer/editor RAY SPIVEY and actor/executive producer ALLEN DANZIGER.

But first, we're going Down Under with writer/director KIAH ROACHE-TURNER and his WWII film, BEAST OF WAR. Inspired by the real-life story of the HMS Armidale, which was sunk by Japanese zeroes in WWII while crossing the Timor Sea, along with some of the personal WWII experiences of Kiah's grandfather, BEAST OF WAR is the tale of a young troop of Australian soldiers who must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft which was nothing more than a small hunk of their ship that hadn't been obliterated. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark.

Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, BEAST OF WAR stars Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, Maximillian Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, and Aswan Reid.

But now, let the fun begin with ALLEN DANZIGER and RAY SPIVEY and THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. Directed by Jody Stelzig and written by Ray Spivey, who also serves as editor, THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE, is filled with weird and wondrous characters like Digger, Skunk, Dufus, Rufus, and Mayor Dick Gunter, Willie Wonder and Pokerface, all played by a talented cast, among them Allen Danziger as Sheriff Danzinshoos, Sean Reyna as Pokerface, David Trevino as Willie Wonder, Parrish Randall, Jody Stelzig, and more.

As we hack into the making of THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE with Allen and Ray, Ray shares the inspiration behind the film, which is that of a friend's hair (seriously), and the concept of an indie film group facing challenges in making a film. Highlighting the large cast, the fun on the set, the music, and the complexity of filming a film within a film, there are plenty of laughs in our conversation that are inspired by the antics of the film itself. Filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, perhaps the greatest revelations and fun come from Allen Danziger himself as he talks about "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the fan love and Chainsaw Jerry Bobbleheads, his 48-year absence from acting, and some fun surprises. And yes, the three of us have ideas for merch…and a sequel.

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