Behind The Lens

A "wordly" episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guest HARRY MAVROMICHALIS who is on hand talking about his documentary OLYMPIA, plus our exclusive interview with MICHAEL HAUSSMAN talking EDGE OF THE WORLD.

Writer/director/editor HARRY MAVROMICHALIS is with us live talking about his debut documentary feature, OLYMPIA. A cinema verite styled look at the legendary Olympia Dukakis, the film is a multi-year project that melds interviews from family and colleagues, archival footage, an in-depth look at Olympia's theatre work, her activism, her Greek heritage and so much more, as Olympia provides her own take on life, death, and love. Listen to an engaging conversation with Harry as he talks about the making of OLYMPIA, his inspiration for the documentary, his persistence that led to Olympia Dukakis finally saying "yes", assembling footage, obtaining archival materials and blending those with present-day footage, finding a through-line, his lessons learned and challenges faced as a first time documentary feature director, some fun anecdotes about Olympia, and so much more!

But before Harry, take a listen to our prerecorded exclusive interview with director MICHAEL HAUSSMAN talking about his new film, EDGE OF THE WORLD, the true story of British adventurer Sir James Brooke, who fought pirates, slavers, and headhunters to rule a jungle kingdom larger than England in 1840's Borneo. A fascinating conversation about an equally fascinating film, listen as Michael goes in-depth about shooting on location in Sarawak, the logistic challenges, embracing this hidden and rugged world, casting, cinematography, score, and more.

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Jam-packed, fun-filled, and interesting episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guest, the multi-talented MINDY BLEDSOE talking her new film, THE IN-BETWEEN, plus our pre-recorded exclusive interview with DAVID CHARBONIER and JUSTIN POWELL talking their latest film, THE DJINN.

Remember that old adage, "Be careful what you wish for"? We're about to find out why that is thanks to filmmakers DAVID CHARBONIER and JUSTIN POWELL and their latest film, THE DJINN, the tale of a mute boy alone in his apartment who makes a wish to fulfill his heart's greatest desire – to have a voice – only to find himself trapped with a sinister being, THE DJINN. A film reliant on sound and visuals, and a powerful performance from Ezra Dewey, this is a film – and interview – not to be missed. Take a listen as David and Justin not only talk about the making of THE DJINN – and particularly that sound design – and casting the wonderful Ezra Dewey, but also their second film The Boy Behind The Door which was released in Fall 2020 and also stars Ezra together with Lonnie Chavis, and their learning curves and growth as filmmakers between the two films.

And then we're joined live by writer/director/producer/editor/actor MINDY BLEDSOE talking about her new film, THE IN-BETWEEN. Making her feature directorial debut, listen as Mindy talks about creating and crafting this 4500-mile road trip female buddy story with co-star/co-producer Jennifer Stone while shining a light on two chronic illnesses which afflict Mindy and Jennifer in real life but never losing the light of life. And yes, Mindy and Jennifer really drove 4500 miles around the United States while shooting this film! Needless to say, Mindy has some great anecdotes about the road trip, as well as the travails of filmmaking with a skeleton crew and a lo budget/no budget/micro-budget film.

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Things get a little wild and wacky on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to some comedic hijinks with director PAUL TANTER talking STEALING CHAPLIN, while screenwriter EMMA NEEDELL talks about creating THE WATER MAN.

First up, take a listen to our prerecorded exclusive interview with screenwriter EMMA NEEDELL talking about THE WATER MAN, David Oyelowo's beautiful directorial debut. An interesting discussion on Emma's writing process, developing this story, finding tone and translating that to the page, and more. And yes, I want a graphic novel or storybook of this wonderful tale!

And then, a big welcome to director PAUL TANTER who talks in-depth about his new film STEALING CHAPLIN, an absolute "Must See" film for 2021! A comedy of errors that stems from the real-life graverobbing of Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland in the 1970's, with a shift the location to Las Vegas, add in a few bumbling con men, some mobsters, and Wayne Newton and you've got a fun dark comedic romp. And talk about some great filmmaking anecdotes, not to mention the kindness of "Mr. Las Vegas" himself, Wayne Newton, whose generosity proved invaluable to making this film!

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We've got plenty of laughs on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to special guests ERIC SILVERA & SEAN KENEALY, but we've also got a fascinating exclusive interview that takes us into the history and heart of Australia with STEPHEN MAXWELL JOHNSON.

HIGH GROUND is already one of my "Must See Films" of the year, and talking in-depth about the film, the history behind it, and the cultural history of the Aboriginal people and its importance in the world, is director STEPHEN MAXWELL JOHNSON in this pre-recorded exclusive conversation. A powerful human drama based on just one of the many Frontier events that occurred between the British and the native Aboriginal people in Australia in the early 20th Century, HIGH GROUND stars Simon Baker in this exploration of people vs power, culture and identity, and gives a new perspective to that long accepted. Baker, together with Jacob Junior Nayinggul, steal the heart and touch the soul. Listen as Stephen talks about shooting on sacred lands in the heart of Australia, the history of the Aboriginal and indigenous peoples, the spectacular breathtaking cinematography, the exquisite sound design utilizing recorded ambient sounds of nature as its heartbeat, and minimal cultural scoring. This is an interview – and a film – you don't want to miss.

Then we shift gears and welcome ERIC SILVERA & SEAN KENEALY, talking about their debut feature, the fun-filled two-man action movie, IN ACTION! This is an interview novice filmmakers do not want to miss! Two guys with a love of action films who want to make a film, tired of waiting for magic to happen, decide to just "do it" themselves. With little money (perhaps even a bit less than the typical lo budget/no budget/micro budget indie), Eric and Sean use all the tools in the filmmaking toolbox – and use them appropriately – to make IN ACTION. Complete with theatrical staging and lighting, the use of only two office spaces which they transform perfectly to suit the story (two writers who get kidnapped by the government after the government intercepts their emails and thinks they are planning a terrorist attack on the president, not understanding they are just writing a script), Eric and Sean use animation, models, Matchbox cars, storyboards, and specfic nods to our favorite action heroes (and villains) for one of the most fun-filled, and laugh-filled films you may see this year. Smart, clever, and ingenious in its execution, listen as Eric and Sean talk about bringing their vision to life and how they executed the action and energy while creating some real tension and fun.

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HERE WE GO! It's time for some laughter, some tears, and even a bit of head-scratching with this episode of BEHIND THE LENS with our special guests, filmmakers IVO RAZO and BRIAN MORRISON!

Take a listen as writer/director IVO RAZO talks about his film, the mockumentary/satire/parody, REBOOT CAMP. (Heads up folks, Chaz Bono is in the film and he is really one of the reasons to watch!) The story of two brothers who create the fake self-help group, REBOOT CAMP, led by the fictional "Gordon St. Pierre" (expertly played by David Lipper), in order to make an expose-type documentary about fake gurus and the ease with which people are conned into believing anything and everything. Surprisingly, this fabricated REBOOT CAMP becomes a hit and garners a devoted following. But what happens when the tables turn on the brothers and an interloper upsets their apple cart? With an all-star cast, some acting in character and others as themselves, Ivo talks about the logistical challenges of shooting and meshing the schedules of talent, the immersiveness of the "Reboot Camp" experience, balancing the satire so as not to go over the edge, finding laughs, benefits of using one location for the bulk of the shoot, and so much more!

And after a belly full of laughs and fun, #BTLRadioShow takes a serious turn as director/producer/editor BRIAN MORRISON joins us, talking about his latest documentary BASTARDS' ROAD. A powerful and insightful look at former Marine Jon Hancock who walks in solitude 5800 miles across the United States, reconnecting with his brothers-in-arms and their families, as he tries to heal the wounds of war from within. Sobering statistics on Veterans, PTSD, and suicide were again revealed in a 2019 Veteran Affairs report which found that the Veteran suicide rate is 50% greater than for non-veterans; more than 60,000 Veteran suicides from 2008-2017; and ages 18-34 (those who fought in the most recent insurrections and battles in Afghanistan and Iraq) is the fastest-growing suicide rate among Veterans, increasing 76% since 2005. The November 2020 VA report stated that "the average number of Veteran suicides per day was 17.6 in 2018." Veterans suicide was roughly 27.5 per 100,000 individuals in 2018, up from 25.8 per 100,000 in 2016. By comparison, among all U.S. adults, the suicide rate per 100,000 was 18.3. A "Must See" film for all Americans, listen as Brian talks about how he became involved and inspired with Hancock's journey, the logistics of shooting a cross-country trek such as this, his own trepidation at "intruding" into the lives of the former Marines Hancock reconnects with along the way, keeping the camera unobtrusive, score, and a challenging editing process.

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Delving into some darkness on this episode of #BTLRadioShow we take a look at the 93rd Academy Awards show with the good, the bad, and the ugly (Swarovski tv spots were the big winners of the night while NO ZOOM was a godsend), and then welcome writer/director TJ MARINE talking about his new film, AT NIGHT COMES WOLVES, followed by writer/director TRACY LUCCA talking DARK STATE.

A determined filmmaker, take a listen as TJ MARINE talks about crafting the thriller AT NIGHT COMES WOLVES by taking three short films already completed and melding them into a feature with some creative editing, then using music to bring it all together to cohesive result.

Then TRACY LUCCA goes in-depth talking about DARK STATE. A timely and topical look at the media, power mongers, selling of one's soul for fame, riches, and power, and all viewed under the lens of today's world, listen as Tracy talks about the story behind the film, creating a very definite visual tonal bandwidth thanks to color, the importance and power of casting and character – not the least of which was casting Constantine Maroulis, the challenges of very limited shooting time, paying homage to her hometown of Hammonton, New Jersey by not only shooting there but incorporating elements of the community into the story, rich visual metaphor, and more.

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The joys of live broadcasting are on full display this week with #BTLRadioShow as we shifted gears on the fly when our live guest failed to call in. But that is all to the benefit of JAKOB'S WIFE as instead of only 20 minutes or so with one exclusive interview, the entire show became all about JAKOB'S WIFE!!

One of my "Must See" films of 2021, JAKOB'S WIFE is beyond delicious. Quite a tasty treat, if you ask me. The story of Anne and her husband Pastor Jakob, Anne has kind of faded into the background after 30 years of marriage. Ever the dutiful, community-spirited pastor's wife, she has lost "Anne" somewhere along the line. But after a bit of temptation and a surprise "embrace" by something, Anne's entire world shifts. She comes alive!! And while she also becomes a timeless fashion plate and a woman with confidence who has found her voice again, she fears silver and craves blood and doesn't do too well in the dental chair. But what about her husband Jakob? What's a husband, a man of the cloth, to do when he comes home and finds his wife on her hands and knees on the kitchen floor lapping up blood? Under the direction of TRAVIS STEVENS, BARBARA CRAMPTON, and LARRY FESSENDEN, soar with this marriage made in horror heaven; so much so, in fact, I'm ready for a sequel.

First up, you'll hear from director/co-writer TRAVIS STEVENS in our prerecorded exclusive interview as he talks about his approach to this little gem, how he developed the visuals and tone, and very importantly, a tonal shift that takes this tale to the next level. We also delve into the cinematography, attention to visual detail, the decision to take Nosferatu-esque vampyrism to the feminine versus the masculine, and so much more.

Then you'll hear a lengthy excerpt of my exclusive interview with LARRY FESSENDEN. As many of you know, Larry is a more than accomplished producer, director, writer, and actor in his own right, often shepherding young talent, especially in the horror genre. He has a keen eye from a directorial and producing standpoint and is particular about the acting roles he takes. Listen as Larry talks not only about the character of Jakob, but also his observations and thoughts on Travis as a director, as well as working with Barbara Crampton, crafting a low budget/no budget/microbudget and the importance of editing, and more. Rounding out the day is an excerpt of my interview with BARBARA CRAMPTON. In addition to starring as Anne, Barbara is also a boots-on-the-ground producer on the film and goes in-depth talking about the character, the production process, and costuming, the latter which is so key to crafting the persona of Anne.

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Fun and sci-fi fantasy come together in this expanded episode of #BTLRadioShow as we take a look at VIKES with writer/director TENNEY FAIRCHILD, and VOYAGERS with writer/director NEIL BURGER.

Joining us live is writer/director TENNEY FAIRCHILD talking about his coming of age romp, VIKES. And while VIKES may have some sweet charm to it, the film also deals with some timely and topical issues and themes which are even more important today than in 2016-17 when the film was shot. Listen as Tenney talks about his process for story development and subsequently taking the words on the page and translating them into visuals, the casting process, shooting location, the importance of visual detail, and more.

And we're talking VOYAGERS thanks to two of my favorite filmmakers, writer/director NEIL BURGER and production designer SCOTT CHAMBLISS. Listen to my prerecorded exclusive interviews with each of these gentlemen as we dig deep into the genesis of the film and Neil's process for crafting a world for a multi-generational space mission visually, thematically, and emotionally. While Neil discusses themes of good vs evil, human nature, science, etc., casting (among the cast, Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, and Colin Farrell), and more, Scott talks about the importance of the production design in furthering the vision of the story and the challenges of creating a physical design to not only embrace the story and visual concepts, but incorporate necessary technical elements for cinematographer Enrique Chediak. (Be on the lookout for my exclusive interview with Enrique on BehindTheLensOnline.net.) And how about a research trip to enlighten and "experience" space travel??

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Focusing more on the reality of life and the world today with this episode of #BTLRadioShow, our special guests, STEVEN ALLERICK and JESSE NOAH KLEIN, each has a powerful story to tell through film.

First up, and let just say, "He’s baaaaaack!", actor/writer/director/producer STEVEN ALLERICK returns talking about his latest project – VARIANT – and the IndieGoGo finance campaign for film funding. Listen as Steve talks about the impetus for the project and why this is such a personal film, plus why he will be stepping behind the camera with his directorial debut. And find out how you can become a part of the VARIANT movement.

Then writer/director JESSE NOAH KLEIN is on hand to talk about his new film, LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE starring Sarah Sutherland. An emotional exploration of a woman who returns "home" after a two-year absence, filled with some Malick-esque notes and nods, Jesse discusses the genesis of this story, the film's construct, and his visual and emotional style in bringing this story to the screen.

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This week on #BTLRadioShow we go from Philly to the UK with w/d AOIFE CREHAN talking THE LAST RIGHT, plus take a listen to our exclusive interview with w/d RICKY STAUB talking CONCRETE COWBOY! And we also chat about NY Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline and her new historical novel (already a bestseller), ETERNAL!

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