Behind The Lens

Catch up now and take a listen to this week's episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome director ANDREW Baird talking about his new film SUNRISE. Plus, my exclusive interview with director RENNY HARLIN discussing his latest, THE BRICKLAYER.

First up, listen as director RENNY HARLIN talks about THE BRICKLAYER, an honest-to-goodness old school action spy thriller starring Aaron Eckhart, Nina Dobrov, and Tim Blake Nelson. Breaking down the film and its various elements, we dive into the cinematography, sound design, action and stunts, practical in-camera work, actors (most notably Eckhart) doing all of their own stunts, and more. And Renny also gives us some tidbits on his reboot of THE STRANGERS (opening in May) and more!

Then director ANDREW BAIRD is with us live talking about his new film SUNRISE starring Alex Pettyfer and Guy Pearce. A slo-burn thriller, Andrew goes into detail about character and the importance of location (shooting multiple locations in Ireland for the feel of the Pacific Northwest in the United States), the film's themes, visual tonal bandwidth and working with his DP Ivan Abel to create the organic feel of the film, editing from a structural standpoint and finding pace, score, and more. Plus, Andrew gives us some early insight into his next film – one with sharks!

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

#BTLRadioShow kicks off YEAR TEN with a very special guest – Academy Award winner TOM SCHULMAN who joins us live discussing his new film which he wrote and directed, the pot-boiling DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH. Plus, you'll hear my exclusive interview with writer/director BILL OLIVER talking about his emotionally powerful film OUR SON.

First up, take a listen as writer/director BILL OLIVER talks about OUR SON; an emotional, very human, powerhouse starring Luke Evans and Billy Porter in a gut-punching story of a gay couple now going their separate ways but with their son caught in the middle. Porter is more than award-worthy. Listen as Bill and I break down the film's elements and how each supports the very human themes of this story, diving into the cinematography and particularly blocking and lighting, score, casting, the impetus for the story itself, and more.

Then listen as writer/director (and Academy Award winner) TOM SCHULMAN joins me live discussing at length his new film DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH – a character-driven pot-boiler with well-chiseled interesting characters, rapier dialogue, immersive ambiance as thick as the most humid Southern day, impeccable casting, and billiard keno. An insightful conversation as Tom talks about the genesis of the film and how it was inspired in part by his own childhood and love of billiard keno. Then he breaks down the visual grammar and his directorial choices (such as widescreen and anamorphic lenses) that fuel the story and inform the character of the film, location scouting and finding the perfect exterior in one state and interior in another, casting, sound design and the attention to detail within the soundscape, score and needle drops that capture an old rural Southern vibe, editing, and more. Filmmakers and fans alike will appreciate hearing what Tom has to say about DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

A very special BEHIND THE LENS this week as my pal, the incomparable musician/director/author/producer FRANK MEYER joins us LIVE in studio as we say goodbye to 2023 and wrap up Nine Years of BTL with 90-minutes of hijinks and hilarity!

With FRANK MEYER in the house, fun is the watchword of the day and what a fun show this is as we hear three original Christmas songs written by Frank and performed by him acoustically live in-studio (and what an eclectic group of songs it is!). And we talk music and movies; lots of different movies from franchises and sequels to holiday horror of the past to new holiday films of 2023 and how about those films that we think are Christmas films but aren't acknowledged as so. Of course, Frank regales us with some of his "unique" and memorable concert performances while I break out some cherished 70-year-old mementos – holiday recordings from the legendary Dick Clark. But we also look ahead to 2024 with Frank's upcoming concert tour in Spain with the Trading Aces, plus a tease for my Oscar-winning guest who will kick off Year Ten of BEHIND THE LENS 2024 on January 8th!

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

It's a mix and match on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome filmmakers TYLOR NORWOOD talking FIRELINE and JUSTIN BEST talking about SHERYL, plus our exclusive interview with director REGINALD HUDLIN talking CANDY CANE LANE.

Thanks to having to juggle some "missing" talent while live on-air, you get the added bonus of our prerecorded exclusive interview with director REGINALD HUDLIN talking about CANDY CANE LANE to kick off the show and put us in a holiday mood.

Then filmmaker TYLOR NORWOOD joins us to discuss his documentary FIRELINE, an up close and personal look on the firelines of the Dixie Fire in California as experienced and seen through the eyes of men holding the line.

And then we say hello to writer/director JUSTIN BEST who joins us live talking about his delicious dark dark comedy revenge thriller SHERYL. Just what lengths will a woman (or man) go to in the pursuit of the perfect face and body, especially as a means to keep their man and feel wanted? Intriguing themes and an almost insatiable bloodlust which lends to some very cool camerawork. Passionate about the project, articulate, and thoughtful in our conversation, Justin is a joy to speak with. I think you'll enjoy hearing about his journey with SHERYL.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

This week BEHIND THE LENS welcomes SEAN McEWEN to talk about his new narrative feature film AMERICAN OUTLAWS while LILA SCHMITZ joins us to discuss her Irish music documentary THE JOB OF SONGS.

First up, writer/director SEAN McEWEN joins us at the top of the show to talk about his latest feature, AMERICAN OUTLAWS, based on the true story of the Dougherty siblings and their cross-country crime spree as they embark on a journey in search of home, safety, happiness, and freedom south of the border. A situational character study set within the confines of a road trip, Sean delivers an up close and personal look into the mindset of these three siblings. A fascinating discussion with Sean as he talks about the making of AMERICAN OUTLAWS from script to screen, including gaining access to and meeting with each of the three Dougherty siblings who are currently incarcerated at three different prisons.

Then writer/director/editor LILA SCHMITZ joins us discussing her feature directorial THE JOB OF SONGS, the lively, engaging, and thoughtful documentary THE JOB OF SONGS where we take a beautiful trip to Doolin, County Clare and the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and meet the local people in pubs and parlors, learning about their storied history of music and how it's "in their DNA". A wonderful conversation as we dive into the genesis of the project, the beauty of Ireland, the people we meet throughout the documentary, themes that developed just through conversation with the locals, and of course, the magic of Irish music.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

HO, HO, HO! The holiday season is upon us and what better way to kick it off on BEHIND THE LENS than talking all things Santa and Christmas with JASON WINER and THE SANTA CLAUSES Season 2, and ALBERTO BELLI and THE NAUGHTY NINE!

You loved the films. You loved Season 1 of THE SANTA CLAUSES, and now we've got Season 2! And what a season it is as we follow the ongoing adventures of Scott Calvin and his family who have returned to the North Pole after Scott's ridiculous idea of retirement as Santa. Listen as director and Executive Producer JASON WINER discusses what goes into the series, the story and growth of the characters and the adventures, relatability to the audience, walking the dark line of Mad Santa, bringing back franchise favorites, Easter Eggs, score and needledrops, and so much more.

Then get ready as there's a new Santa in town thanks to ALBERTO BELLI and THE NAUGHTY NINE! Talk about a fun-filled film! It's holly jolly from beginning to end as we follow a group of kids unhappy that they were on the "Naughty List" and didn't get what they wanted for Christmas. Of course, the solution is to trek to the North Pole, sneak in, and steal the presents they wanted to find under the tree. Led by 5th grader Andy (who reminds you of a younger Ferris Bueller with his antics), the casting of our Naughty Nine is perfection with production values first-rate (especially with costuming) and how about Danny Glover as Santa?! Listen as Alberto and I really dig into his director's bag of tricks talking every aspect of the film from working with kids and live reindeer to creating the North Pole, and most notably a marriage of cinematography and sound design in the third act that is beyond amazing.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

After much live on-air jiggering and juggling due to studio technical issues, BEHIND THE LENS came together with our wonderful guests AARON MURTAGH talking about his short film MAN BABY and editor NICK PEZZOLLI discussing his two new films BUTCHER'S CROSSING and YOUR LUCKY DAY. And because of the studio technical issues, you also get my exclusive interview with director NEIL BURGER talking about his latest, THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER.

We kick off the show with my exclusive interview with director NEIL BURGER talking about his new film THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER. A rich slow-burn starring Daisy Ridley and an award-worthy turn by Ben Mendelsohn.

Next up is filmmaker AARON MURTAGH talking about his new short film MAN BABY. Wearing multiple hats as actor, writer, director (his first directorial effort), and producer, Aaron's approach to the short and most notably the story is a personal one that utilizes the Covid-19 lockdown and the birth of his first child to create this unique – and slightly creepy – tale.

Then editor NICK PEZZILLO joins us live to discuss his two new projects – BUTCHER'S CROSSING and YOUR LUCKY DAY. Talk about films as different as night and day! And yet, Nick proves himself to be en editorial storyteller with each film. Breaking out the two films Nick talks about the challenges of each, be it the panoramic landscapes and logistics and natural lighting of BUTCHER'S CROSSING or the limited, controlled – and often claustrophobic – convenience store location of YOUR LUCKY DAY. A wonderful editor and storyteller and a really fun, nice guy, listen this interview, see these two films, and put NICK PEZZILLO on your radar.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

It's a fun-filled, interesting, and enlightening episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to composer MATT HUTCHINSON talking about his new film YOUR LUCKY DAY while writer/director GERALD BRUNSKILL talks about his wild and wacky out-of-this-world gem ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN!

First up, MATT HUTCHINSON joins us live discussing his new film, YOUR LUCKY DAY. Always a treat for me to speak with a composer and dive into composition, instrumentation, themes, motifs, moods, and more, and with YOUR LUCKY DAY, not only do we delve into some dramatic darkness, but doing it with a holiday flair. Not an easy task for a composer!

Then hear writer/director GERALD "GERRY" BRUNSKILL talk about his latest film, the wild and wacky but filled with heart, ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN. Boasting an outstanding cast that includes two of my faves – Tom Arnold and my old friend Richard Riehle – along with Jeremy Davies and Taryn Manning, ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN is quite honestly, out of this world! I love it! Listen as we dig into the multiple themes, the genesis and development of the story, casting, cinematography, score and needledrops, editing and finding pacing, and all of the elements that Gerry tackled in bringing this story to life on screen.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

Tricks, treats, mischief, and the multi-hyphenate and multi-talented filmmaker, musician, singer, author FRANK MEYER. What more could one want for an episode of BEHIND THE LENS, especially on All Hallow's Eve!

That's right folks. FRANK MEYER is back in-studio for another fun-filled extended #BTLRadioShow talking about his latest documentary FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY and a few other upcoming projects.

FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY is a love letter to hip-hop. An eye-opening and entertaining experience for hip-hop novices and experts alike, FREESTYLE 101 crosses the musical divides with energy, passion, insight, and joy. Narrated by Chuck D of Public Enemy, we get an in-depth look at the birth of hip-hop and most particularly, freestyle hip-hop, as we follow the careers of the West Coast's Open Eagle Mike and the East Coast's Iron Solomon. Jam-packed are interviews and studio sessions with some of the legends of the genre as the film covers everything from the different styles of hip-hop, the varying approaches and styles of different artists, battle rap, breaking into the business, challenges of recording and potential signing with "name" studios, touring versus recording, making a living in an ever-changing industry, surviving and thriving, and more. Adding some gravitas to the documentary are some of the final interviews of rap legends Guru (Gang Starr), Prodigy (Mobb Deep), Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) and Sean Price (Health Skeltah). Given 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop makes FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY more than timely.

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

Comedy ensues on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our very special guests as Writer/Director JENNIFER CRAM discusses her laugh-out-loud funny feature directorial debut SICK GIRL, while that dynamic duo KEVIN GOOD and JENNA ST. JOHN join us once again, this time discussing their long awaited riotous and sexy comedy series SEXPECTATIONS!

First up, take a listen to my fellow Philadelphian writer/director JENNIFER CRAM as we talk about her feature directorial SICK GIRL starring Nina Dobrev in the tale of Wren Lawrence, the one in the friend group who hasn't grown up or moved on and then pretends to have cancer to reconnect with her friends. The cast is terrific, the comedy and antics funny, but at the core of the story there's a lot of heart, redemption, and one new friendship that just soars. A very interesting conversation with Jennifer as we dive into the balance of comedy and the seriousness of the subject matter, the benefits of having been a casting director for many years when stepping into the director's shoes, cinematography, production design and costuming, the use of visual metaphor, music, and more!

And then, get ready, because they are back! KEVIN GOOD and JENNA ST. JOHN are doing a lot of talking about their finally completed and launched series, SEXPECTATIONS!!! Hilarity (and a bit of raunchiness) ensues as wannabe writer Katie Lawrence needs to punch up her manuscript with some detailed sex scenes. The problem is – she's still a virgin. A fabulous cast of characters who deliver great performances (some very tongue-in-cheek laced with romance novel perceptions), and just an all-around good time thanks to some spot on clever writing from Jenna St. John and Sophia Medley and some first-rate direction and VFX courtesy of Kevin Good, make SEXPECTATIONS an absolute "must see"!

http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com