Behind The Lens

An action-packed BEHIND THE LENS thanks to special guest, writer/director SAM FRIEDLANDER talking BABYSPLITTERS, plus, our prerecorded exclusive interviews with WWE SUPERSTAR PAIGE and actor/writer/comedian NICK FROST talking FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY and more!

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Miss #BTLRadioShow live? Catch up now and take a listen as thrills, chills and laugh out ridiculum are the watchwords of the day thanks to special guests filmmakers RON CARLSON (DEAD ANT) and DORON PAZ (THE GOLEM), plus an excerpt of our prerecorded exclusive interview with writer/director LEE CRONIN talking THE HOLE IN THE GROUND.

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Another enlightening and entertaining episode of #BTLRadioShow thanks to our special guests, director ROSS CLARK talking THE BIRD CATCHER, and co-directors BRENT KINETZ and TERENCE MICKEY talking 1 BILLION ORGASMS. Plus, excerpts of our exclusive interview with writer/director JOE PENNA talking ARCTIC. Miss us live on Adrenaline Radio? Take a listen now!

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This episode of BEHIND THE LENS looks at some more of the wonderful films that played at SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL this year thanks to our live guests, w/d ALEC TIBALDI (SPIRAL FARM) and w/d MARK JACKSON (THIS TEACHER). Plus, hear excerpts of our exclusive interview with Emmy award-winning producer/writer/director STEVE McCARTHY talking about his new HBO documentary BRESLIN AND HAMILL: DEADLINE ARTISTS.

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On this episode of BEHIND THE LENS, we're welcoming another year of Slamdance Film Festival as we take a look at FINDING THE A**HOLE, an entertaining series of short films from writer/director/actor MELISSA STEPHENS which premieres at Slamdance on January 25, with the first three series chapters then released into the universe the same night. Our special live guest, take a listen as we dig deep with Melissa talking about the conception and development of FINDING THE A**HOLE, financing, her growth as a director as she moves through each of the first three short film chapters, casting and collaboration, and more. But before Melissa joins us, we're talking about ASHES IN THE SNOW starring Bel Powley. Adapted from the acclaimed novel "Between Shades of Gray" by RUTA SEPETYS, take a listen to our exclusive prerecorded conversation with Ruta, as she talks in-depth about her journey to write the book and her research and personal connection to the story of 15-year old Lina and her imprisonment in a labor camp under the Stalin regime in 1941. One of the few authors who has raved about an adaptation for the big screen of their fiction or non-fiction work, you'll hear Ruta's excitement as she talks about collaborating with screenwriter Ben Jones and director Marius Markevicius. But perhaps the most moving aspect of our conversation with Ruta are her experiences and the knowledge she gained from Lithuanian survivors of the Baltic genocide and their descendants. A powerful conversation about an oft-overlooked chapter in world history and the creative process in bringing it to light.

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Writer/Director JEFF FRY is back with us live talking about his WWII short film KRIEG and some upcoming film festivals where you can catch this amazing film. Listen as Jeff talks about his search for the perfect international cast, locating authentic uniforms, planes, vehicles and other equipment, overcoming the challenges of thefts of rare original items which forced him to build a WWII radio similar to that used by the Resistance, the ten-year process of script to screen, as well as research into the military aspects of the war from the perspective of the Nazis, Allies and Resistance fighters. A Herculean undertaking that pays off in spades when you see the end product. And you'll hear excerpts of our exclusive interview with director NEIL BURGER talking about the #1 box office movie - THE UPSIDE! Last week you heard what Kevin Hart had to say about tackling a more dramatic role with more sobering and restrained humor. Now hear what his director has to say. Covering everything from what made him accept the challenge to remake an internationally acclaimed and well-received film ("The Intouchables") but with his own vision, to cinematography and production design, to the research that went into exacting as authentic as possible portrayal of a quadriplegic and that of his aides, Neil goes in-depth on all. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and didn't get to our exclusive interview with costume designer SANDY POWELL and production designer JOHN MHYRE talking about the magic of MARY POPPINS RETURNS, but you can listen to it now on www.BehindTheLensOnline.net.

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BEHIND THE LENS kicks off its fifth year with a jam-packed show and special guest, director JEN McGOWAN. First up we're talking about THE UPSIDE. An update and fresh English-language version from director Neil Burger of the acclaimed, internationally popular, "The Intouchables." Starring Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston and Nicole Kidman, THE UPSIDE is one of the first "must see" films of the year. And one of the things that makes this a "must see" is KEVIN HART's performance. Not what we're accustomed to from Hart, in THE UPSIDE he finds a perfect balance with a light comedic touch and a sobering dramatic arc that is revelatory. Listen as Hart talks about this performance and stretching his acting chops from within.

And then we go to the birds with BIRD BOX. Take a listen to excerpts of our exclusive interview with screenwriter ERIC HEISSERER as he talks about developing Sandra Bullock's character of Malorie as well as the depth of development for the supporting characters. Plus, Eric talks about his unique visual screenwriting approach with this film and the "rules" he established for this story.

Very exciting is our special guest who joins us live at the mid-point of the show – director JEN McGOWAN. The last time we spoke with Jen was several years ago for her freshman feature, the charming and engaging "Kelly & Cal." Jen is now back with her sophomore feature film – RUST CREEK, a thriller with a twist and opening in theatres February 11th. Shot on location during the winter in the Kentucky woods, listen as Jen talks about some of the logistical challenges presented by the location and the weather, the process of casting and the ultimate chemistry between her two leads, and the importance of gender parity on film crews. In fact, the RUST CREEK crew boasts more than one-half of the department heads as female! Plus, find out about FILM POWERED, a networking group for women in the entertainment and film industry which was founded by Jen in 2015.

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BEHIND THE LENS wraps up its fourth year on Adrenaline Radio and 2018 with an awards bang! Take a listen as we talk about the Golden Globe-nominated MARY POPPINS RETURNS with our exclusive interview with lead animated character designer JAMES WOODS. You'll be fascinated as James talks about creating 137 animated characters, working with legendary 2d Disney animators, and the magic of Mary Poppins. And did you know it takes 24 drawings to create one second of animated footage? Plus, production designer JOHN MYHRE talks exclusively with BTL about what is clearly his favorite giddy-with-glee piece of magic created by his team - Mary Poppins' talking parrot head umbrella! And director Rob Marshall talks about finding the balance between the touchstones from the 1964 film and melding them with the new magic of MARY POPPINS RETURNS.

Producer BENJAMIN WIESSNER is live at the midpoint of the show talking about the Film Independent Spirit Award Nominee THUNDER ROAD! Already lauded at film festivals around the globe, THUNDER ROAD is now nominated for the prestigious John Cassavetes Award which is awarded to the best feature made for under $500,000 and is given to the writer, director, and producer. Benjamin provides some wonderful insight into the art of producing and distribution which filmmakers will most certainly appreciate. Plus some end of year moviegoing tips for you - MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS and STAN & OLLIE, among them!

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History unfolds on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome writer/director/cinematographer JEFF FRY and writer/director FRANCES CAUSEY to talk about their latest films, plus we've got our prerecorded exclusive interview with director JOSIE ROURKE!

First up, take a listen to director JOSIE ROURKE as she talks about making her feature directorial debut with MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS. From being the first female artistic director at a London theatre to directing a film for the big screen is quite a leap in and of itself, but to tackle an historical piece such as MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS complete with a cast of hundreds, full crew, and helicopter shots as your first feature is something else. With a philosophy of "go big or go home", Josie gives us some insight into the "making of" and what that entailed for her vision.

Then JEFF FRY joins us live talking about his directorial debut with the "American Foreign Language" and Academy-qualified live-action short (40 min) film, KRIEG. In French and German with English subtitles, KRIEG is a unique story set in WWII Europe, Jeff delves behind the typical POV of black and white battles of good versus evil and blurs the line of war on the battlefield and in the hearts of those fighting. Focusing on an American aviator shot down in the mountains of Germany, a Waffen SS unit and one soldier with a solo mission, and a pair of allies in the French Underground, all converge and intersect in a compelling story. Listen as Jeff talks about the genesis of the story, the importance of authenticity with everything from clothes to vehicles to the underground radio and the challenges associated with each, the decision to use film and the Panavision cameras and lenses selected in order to visually craft the story.

Last up in this episode of #BTLRadioShow is former CNN journalist, writer/director FRANCES CAUSEY who talks about her latest documentary, THE LONG SHADOW. A fascinating and educational history of slavery in the United States and its impact on our economy and political system, Frances talks about not only her research process but developing her through line, starting with the personalization of the film and her uncle six-times removed, Edmund Pendleton who served as Virginia's governor in 1775-1776 and crafted verbiage into Virginia's governing documents and ultimately that of the United States which institutionalized slavery. Bringing history to the forefront and including events of the present, you'll find Frances' process of connecting the dots enriching and interesting.

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One of our most interesting and fascinating episodes of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to special guests writer/director CHRIS MUL and writer/director SHRAYSI TANDON. When I say "fascinating", I'm talking about writer/director CHRIS MUL and his latest film ASTRAL. A fascinating and intense meld of the ideas behind astral projection and the centuries-old history of "Shadow People" and sleep paralysis, ASTRAL started as the germ of an idea thanks to co-writer MICHAEL MUL's own interest in astral projection. From there, the brothers creativity took off and crafted an intriguing narrative story of a young man using astral projection to connect with his dead mother. Making the story of ASTRAL even more fascinating is that lead actor FRANK DILLANE himself had experienced sleep paralysis which is the gateway to "Shadow People." Listen as Chris talks about the film's visual design, something that for him starts in the writing phase, working with cinematographer Charles Heales and their use of negative space and VFX, as well as the thematically subconscious use of color which comes to life in the production design of Madeau Christou. Plus, the research that went into this story.

Then news journalist turned documentary filmmaker SHRAYSI TANDON joins us talking about her debut documentary INVISIBLE HANDS. Exploring the subject of child labor and trafficking around the globe (and that includes the United States), her passion for factual truth-telling is at the forefront of the discussion just as it permeates the entire film. The statistics alone are frightening and given that, it is surprising that this is the first documentary to focus on the subject. Listen as Shraysi talks about her process in crafting the film visually, and with a throughline of story, obtaining interviews from experts, as well as the Herculean task of editing. And something I found interesting is the discussion on the learning curve from tv news journalist to filmmaker. But before we get to Chris and Shraysi, we're talking BLACKkKLANSMAN. Hot into awards season and with BLACKkKLANSMAN already picking up some nominations (Independent Spirit Award nomination for Adam Driver for Best Supporting Actor), we dive into the cinematography of the film with CHAYSE IRVIN as he talks with us in a prerecorded exclusive interview about his approach to the visual design of the film, working with director Spike Lee, and shooting on Kodak Ektachrome and Vision 3 film.

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