Behind The Lens

It's getting dark on this week's episode of Behind the Lens as we delve into the mind and the darkness that lurks within. And we take a look at another Slamdance gem.

First up, writer/producer/actor SEAN CRAMPTON joins us live talking about his new film THE STALKING FIELDS, the tale of a group of civilians who run for their freedom when they find themselves caught in the middle of a Black Ops program designed to cure PTSD. Together with his co-writer/co-producer Jordan Wiseley, the duo draw on their own experiences growing up in military families, experiences which add unexpected layers of authenticity. It's an interesting conversation as we discuss all aspects of the film from conception to casting to location to action, armament and fight choreography, and even the weather.

And then get ready as you hear from writer/director SHUJAAT SAUDAGAR and actor ALI FAZAL talking about their new horror/thriller THE UNDERBUG fresh off its Slamdance screening. Rich in visual and structural metaphor, THE UNDERBUG digs into the psyche with undercurrents of political commentary. Providing a unique storytelling POV and superb production values, Shujaat covers it all, while Ali discusses the challenges of a two-hander in a very physical performance.

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What would January be without BEHIND THE LENS supporting Slamdance Film Festival and taking a look at some of the films screening in the upcoming festival! And boy have we got a couple of winners for you on this week's show thanks to JOHN HSU talking about STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF and ALEX RAPPOPORT talking WITH PETER BRADLEY!

First up, producer/writer/actor JOHN HSU is live talking about his new film, the documentary STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF. A contender in the Documentary Feature category at Slamdance, this is a film you've got to see to believe. Filled with heart, joy, sadness, and mystery, the film is a "docu-fiction hybrid that blurs the lines of reality while staying true to the subject and his story." Skillfully edited to tell this unique story, John provides a real insider perspective to the "making of" STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF; John is Jerry's son and also appears in the documentary. And get ready for a real life twist by film's end.

And then, director/cinematographer/editor ALEX RAPPOPORT is on hand discussing his new documentary which is going head-to-head with STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF in the Slamdance Documentary Feature category – WITH PETER BRADLEY.

An intimate documentary portrait of abstract artist Peter Bradley, now age 79, this is a reflection by Bradley on life, on art, his career, and his artistic process. I have long admired some of Bradley's early works from the 1970s but then he kind of disappeared from the canvas until 2021. A truly up close and personal look at an incredible man. Discussing his directorial choices at length for style, development of a through-line, visual approach, use of color, and more, Alex gives us a very interesting discussion on his filmmaking approach not only with WITH PETER BRADLEY, but in general.

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BEHIND THE LENS kicks off year nine with NORA KAYE talking THE COSMOS SISTERS and our exclusive interview with SCOTT COOPER talking THE PALE BLUE EYE! WOW!

First up for 2023 and year nine of #BTLRadioShow is our exclusive interview with award-winning writer/director SCOTT COOPER talking about his mesmerizing new film, THE PALE BLUE EYE, now on Netflix. Adapted by Scott from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Louis Bayard, THE PALE BLUE EYE is, at its heart, an Edgar Allan Poe origin story set at West Point in the 1830s.

Steeped in metaphor and ambiance thanks to the film's visual tonal bandwidth and exemplary visual grammar courtesy of Cooper's frequent collaborator, cinematographer Masanobu "Masa" Takayanagi, Scott and I dig deep into discussion covering the film's visual tonal progression and framing, use of color, and Stefania Cella's production design which is an integral part of the film's metaphoric style.

Then joining us live for the second half of the show is writer/director/actor NORA KAYE talking about her new film THE COSMOS SISTERS. Written and directed by Nora Kaye and Whitney Uland, THE COSMOS SISTERS is a fun-filled lo budget/no budget/micro-budget indie romp about two high school BFF's and bandmates who drift apart only to come together again ten years later trying to reunite and reconnect.

As you listen to Nora, you'll quickly discover that comedy, fun, and sticktoitiveness are in her nature, something that shines through within the film as Nora and Whitney star as "Nora" and "Whitney".

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What better way to end the year and wrap up year eight of BEHIND THE LENS than with my very special guest, the multi-hyphenate renaissance man himself, FRANK MEYER, who joins us live in-studio! And to kick off the show, Frank even serenades us all with a rocking Christmas song! If you missed us live, you'll want to check out this episode of #BTLRadioShow now!

A documentary filmmaker, an award-winning director & producer, author, musician, singer/songwriter- FRANK MEYER is the real deal. (And he's a terrific guy and friend.)

A fascinating and fun hour with Frank as we dive into his career and the trajectory from music to writing to producing to directing to performing with multiple bands over the years and so much more. One of the very interesting aspects of our discussions is how Frank addresses many of the "business" aspects to making a film or making music that so often end up being the killer of dreams. He's got some really sage advice and encouragement for all of the hopefuls and dreamers out there.

A great love of Frank's has always been music, performing (most notably with The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs) and composing, and I for one don't see him slowing down with that aspect of his career no matter what else is on his plate. In fact, Frank even takes us through his love of hip-hop music and how that led him to direct two documentaries, the latest of which will be released this spring, namely FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY.

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It's a "super" show coming atcha on this episode of #BTLRadioShow thanks to special guests, CARL REID and ENRICO NATALE, who are on hand to talk about their latest series, the hilariously satiric (and even heartwarming) GROUNDED.

What happens to super-heroes when they are "grounded" and on lockdown thanks to a global pandemic; and not just any pandemic but one the media has coined the "Poopacalypse"? You'll find out in this 8-episode series. And you'll hear all about how GROUNDED came to be and what went into making the series during the height of the Covid pandemic and lockdown, plus what will it take to give us a Season Two!

And as a bonus, some insight into a "super" short film, THE NEW KNIGHT.

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Santa came early to BEHIND THE LENS this week with some very special guests – JAYE TYROFF & NICHOLAS deKAY talking THE ARK OF LILBURN, and CATHERINE CORMAN, and a holiday surprise, the legendary ROGER CORMAN, talking LITTLE JEWEL. You read that right, folks – Roger Corman!

First up, take a listen as writer/director CATHERINE CORMAN is live talking about her latest short film, LITTLE JEWEL, which has been long-listed for the Academy Award for the Live Action Short Film section. Haunting and poignant, and shot on Super 8mm, LITTLE JEWEL is a genuine treasure. And joining Catherine is none other than ROGER CORMAN, legendary filmmaker and Catherine's father, who just happens to have a role in the film as a "revolutionary poet." As you will hear Catherine discuss, "revolutionary" is a word that more than suits Roger behind the camera.

And then we set sail with director NICHOLAS deKAY and producer JAYE TYROFF, who are also live talking about one of the craziest and most entertaining stories you'll see on film – THE ARK OF LILBURN. A debut filmmaking feature for these two longtime stuntmen and friends, Nicholas and Jaye follow the journey of Lowe Porter, owner of Porter Steel in Lilburn, Georgia, as we witness the final leg of Porter's 12-13 year journey as he attempts to move his steel ship built inside of his warehouse in Lilburn to a marina in Tennessee. A somewhat behemoth vessel, its move is not an easy one and we are along for all of the insanity as Porter and his son Cole deal with potential movers, logistic challenges, personality clashes, and even a controlling Lowe Porter.

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First up, take a listen as writer/director MICHAEL KOCH talks about A PIECE OF SKY, Switzerland's submission for the 95th Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film. A quiet, reflective, and thoughtful film that tacitly explores the relationship between man and nature, life and death, A PIECE OF SKY is one of the most emotionally beautiful films of the year; not to mention that stunning multi-season imagery of the Swiss mountains.

Set in a remote alpine village, (Michèle Brand) works both as a waitress and mail carrier to support her young daughter. She has fallen deeply in love with the village newcomer, Marco (Simon Wisler), a strong and silent farmhand from the lowlands. But soon after their wedding, Marco is diagnosed with a brain tumor. As the seasons change, his behavior grows increasingly erratic, leading up to a severe transgression that threatens to tear the young family apart.

Then listen to writer/director SEBASTIAN LELIO discuss the award-worthy film THE WONDER. Directed by Lelio and co-written with Alice Birch based on Emma Donoghue's acclaimed novel and inspired by the 19th-century phenomenon of the "fasting girls", THE WONDER is a stunning psychological thriller set in The Irish Midlands in 1862 where eleven-year-old Anna has stopped eating for months but remains miraculously alive and in relatively well state. Tourists have flocked to the small village to bear witness to Anna, believing her to be a miracle destined for sainthood. In an effort to discover the truth, the village council brings in English nurse Lib Wright to observe Anna and report her findings. Is this a miracle or is there something else afoot?

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It's a full house on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we take a trip to the dark sinister side with actor/writer/producer NIKI McELROY talking SHADY GROVE while ZACH KOEPP is on board talking about his chilling thriller THE WILLOWBROOK.

Kicking off the show is actor/co-writer/producer NIKI McELROY talking about her new film, the creepy and bloody, SHADY GROVE. Directed by Dale Resteghini, SHADY GROVE tells the story of a young African-American couple, Shaina (Niki McElroy) and Mark (Todd Anthony), as they leave behind their party lifestyle to find tranquility in an isolated rental cabin with their friend, Elijah (Juhahn Jones). It doesn't take long for them to realize they have checked into a sinister nightmare as the locals reveal the true reason for their solitude. SHADY GROVE is a fictional story that incorporates the role of women in Greek mythology and sets them in our current and controversial Roe vs. Wade world.

And then a big welcome to writer/director ZACH KOEPP who also joins us live talking about his chilling thriller, THE WILLOWBROOK.

Written and directed by Zach and starring Jessica Bishop, Erin Day, and Lawrence J. Hughes, THE WILLOWBROOK is the tale of "a renowned wellness influencer who invites one of her recently overdosed followers to seek recovery at her small-town manor. Once the follower arrives, she realizes the dark world existing within the manor is not what she–nor millions of others–perceived from the internet."

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This episode of BEHIND THE LENS is a fascinating conversation with director LISA HEPNER and director of photography GUY MOSSMAN as they talk about their new documentary – THE HUMAN TRIAL. Plus, my exclusive interview with writer/director MALI ELFMAN going in-depth talking her feature directorial debut, NEXT EXIT.

Joining us live during National Diabetes Month are director LISA HEPNER and director of photography GUY MOSSMAN talking about THE HUMAN TRIAL. Herself a diabetic, this is a very personal project for Lisa. Already an established producer, Lisa moves into the director's chair to take us into the up close and personal world of human clinical trials for a treatment for Type 1 Diabetes. Listen as Lisa and Guy talk about the 7+ year journey of making this documentary, starting with researchers and a biotech company in San Diego, then filming the arduous roller coaster ride of the first two patients in the clinical trial with the good, the bad, and the heartbreaking pain and tears, while also travelling around the globe with the biotech reps seeking much-needed funding to continue research.

But first, you'll hear our exclusive interview with writer/director Mali Elfman as we discuss NEXT EXIT! I have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Mali for about two decades now. It has always been her goal to "make movies" versus "cover movies". For some years now she has been producing projects that range from episodics to shorts to anthologies to features; she's written some shorts and directed a few shorts and episodics. Always consistently honing her craft, she now makes her feature directorial debut with NEXT EXIT. Also written by Mali, the story has powerful themes surrounding grief, life, and death, that give rise to thought and discussion and even some interpersonal reflection, all showcased within a road picture setting (and the road trip in the film is real) boasting wonderful performances – and humor – courtesy of Katie Parker and the scene-stealing Rahul Kohli. An award-worthy first feature, this is a film and a conversation you don't want to miss as we hit the road into the "making of" NEXT EXIT.

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It's a very special BEHIND THE LENS Halloween show as STEVE LEE talks about some big doings with THE HOLLYWOOD SOUND MUSEUM. Plus, I talk about a very important film for our time, especially with midterm elections upon us, the Phyllis Nagy-directed CALL JANE. And Oscar winner RICHARD ANDERSON surprises us with a call to not only talk sound but give us some tidbits on the upcoming political dramedy LEE'D THE WAY which he directed!

Sound guru and founder of The Hollywood Sound Museum, STEVE LEE, was in-studio with us once again to announce some very important reveals and surprises about the Museum! And just what was the big announcement Steve had for us all? The Hollywood Sound Museum is having its first pop-up! Long a goal of Steve's to start with some smaller pop-ups on the sound experience as he works up to the physical museum, everyone will be able to experience a sonic montage of some of cinema's most famous sounds at the upcoming LOSCON festival! Steve's got all the skinny for us on Loscon and more Museum happenings.

Plus, we get a big surprise when Oscar-winner RICHARD ANDERSON (the man behind Indy's whip in "Raiders of the Lost Ark") calls in to join in the Halloween hijinks and give us a tease for his upcoming directorial narrative feature, LEE'D THE WAY.

But first, we take just a few minutes to talk about the new film CALL JANE and hear an excerpt of my exclusive interview with director PHYLLIS NAGY (Oscar-nominated for her screenplay for "Carol"). With midterm elections a week away and balloting taking place in many states already, CALL JANE is an important film for our times. It is a call to arms. Written by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi and directed by Phyllis, CALL JANE stars Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks in this summer of 1968 story of a married woman with an unwanted life-threatening pregnancy unable to get a legal abortion who finds help and an alliance with a group of suburban women dedicated to providing clean, safe medical care, and loving support to women in need.

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