Behind The Lens

It's a fascinating episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we dig deep into the 4th Annual SLAMDANCE DIG with our guest, co-founder and curator of the media showcase, DEKKER DREYER. Then we go in-depth with writer/director/editor ANDREW ROWE talking about his new film CROWN AND ANCHOR. But before we get to today's special guests, take a listen to our exclusive interview with PEPPERMINT director, PIERRE MOREL. From action to locations to cinematography to the importance of color and sound, we dig into one of the hottest action films of the year.

It's very exciting having DEKKER DREYER join us for this episode. He's a writer, director, producer, artist, and he loves to push the envelope with visionary melding of live performance, film, digital and interactive media; something that is the core of SLAMDANCE DIG. A showcase FREE TO THE PUBLIC in Los Angeles on September 13, 14 and 15 in the LA Arts Collective and Ace Hotel, Dekker talks about the founding of the showcase as the "next step" beyond the Slamdance Film Festival, the concept, the type of "art and technology" involved in the various exhibits, the interactive nature of them, not to mention the various panels being presented which are also open to the public.

Then ANDREW ROWE joins us talking about his first feature film, CROWN AND ANCHOR. Already opening to critical and public acclaim, listen as Andrew talks about story development, the visual design and working with his cinematographer, the use of punk rock for the soundtrack and how the music serves to help define and craft each of the two main characters, crafting not only two integral character studies but the world in which they exist and then developing distinguishing differentials, and of course, casting and working with a veteran like Stephen McHattie.

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A BEHIND THE LENS so big we had to expand to ninety minutes!! Miss us live? Listen now as ANEESH CHAGANTY and TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV talk about SEARCHING and ScreenLife language. Screenwriter TODD BERGER talks THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS. W/D JOHN BERMAN is live and CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS. Plus, we talk Robert Davi's new documentary, DAVI'S WAY!

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Have you got a minute (or 60 minutes) to check out this episode of BEHIND THE LENS? How about AN L.A. MINUTE? Writer/Director DANIEL ADAMS is with us live talking about his new film AN L.A. MINUTE! A deliciously satiric look at human nature that is brimming with life lessons and key messaging about life turning on a dime (or an ankh), redemption, the haves versus the have-nots, listen as Daniel explores the 20-year journey of getting this film made. With in-depth discussions on casting the talents of Gabriel Byrne, Kiersey Clemons and Bob Balaban, designing a visual palette and tone with cinematographer Denise Brassard and production designer Parker Beck, shooting on 35mm film, musical selections and score, plus Daniel's own philosophies on filmmaking and storytelling, this is one BEHIND THE LENS you need to catch up on. But before we get to Daniel, we take the first part of the show going the extra mile with MILE 22. Listen to our interview excerpts with director PETER BERG as he talks about combat cinema and propelled by Mark Wahlberg, the need to balance that with character and character arcs. And RONDA ROUSSEY and CARLO ALBAN talk about their training with weaponry, armament, and tactical maneuvers that make their performances as black operatives shine. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to bring you exclusive listens with the team behind SEARCHING, but stay tuned, because it's coming your way on the next episode of BEHIND THE LENS!

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As we head into the dog days of summer, BEHIND THE LENS heads back to the Hundred Acre Wood with Marc Forster, takes another look at PRETTY BAD ACTRESS with Nick Scown, and welcomes an industry stalwart and loving dad turned author Norm Aladjem. Kicking off this episode of #BTLRadioShow, we go back to the Hundred Acre Wood and hear what CHRISTOPHER ROBIN director MARC FORSTER had to say to film critic debbie elias about bringing Pooh and pals to life in CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. From a request by his own daughter to make a film she could watch ("a Pooh film", to be precise), to the dream of a lifetime working with the legendary composer and songwriter Richard Sherman, to cinematographic design of the film, and the gifts of Pooh and moviemaking, Marc has a lot to say! And speaking of a dad and his daughter, you'll love hearing what NORMAN ALADJEM has to say about FROM ME TO YOU: STORIES ABOUT LIFE, LOVE, FAMILY, FAITH AND NOW TO NEGOTIATE A BIGGER ALLOWANCE when he joins us during the first half of the show. Established producer and talent manager for many years, Norm "stumbled" into the art of becoming an author thanks to his love for his youngest daughter. A book comprised of 52 "love letters" written by a daddy to his then 11-year old little girl for her to read and understand when a bit older, the book is a "Must Read" not only for dads and daughters, but parents and children alike, and even adult children who can still benefit from some fatherly advice. As if filling the gap left in the world by the absence of a Robert Young in "Father Knows Best" or an Ozzie Nelson or Ward Cleaver or Andy Taylor, you'll hear the love and excitement in Norm as he talks about not only how FROM ME TO YOU came to be, but the subject matters and life lessons that fill the pages. My favorite? "The Color of Money". Engaging and entertaining, you don't want to miss hearing Norm. Then we revisit the pretty darn funny PRETTY BAD ACTRESS with writer/director/editor NICK SCOWN. Last week we met actress Heather McComb who stars in the film. This week we get Nick's take on the creative process, tapping into the zeitgeist of child actors trying to make their way as adult actors, outsiders trying to fit in, casting perfection, developing a visual tonal bandwidth complementary to the story and dialogue while finding the balance between drama and satire, and something all filmmakers will appreciate – the process of concurrently wearing the hats of directing and editing and the inherent trials and triumphs therein.

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It's a fun-filled episode with special guests HEATHER MCCOMB and LEE ARONSOHN, plus, hear what the Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, and Jim Cummings have to say about CHRISTOPHER ROBIN! Bookending today's show (and adorning the set) it's all about CHRISTOPHER ROBIN and that silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh. Take a listen to our prerecorded excerpts of interviews with EWAN McGREGOR and HAYLEY ATWELL as they talk about the magic of Pooh and friends while voice master JIM CUMMINGS regales us with his own animated stylings talking about the legacy of voicing Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too! (And dare I mention that Tigger and Pooh both pop up during the show!) And it's a fun time with actress HEATHER McCOMB who's on hand talking about the pretty darn funny PRETTY BAD ACTRESS. Known best for her work in series television dramas, or one-offs in every police procedural there is, with PRETTY BAD ACTRESS Heather gets a chance to show off her comedic chops, which are sizeable, as former child star "Trudie" whose life has become a trainwreck only to be further complicated by being kidnapped. Trust me when I say, hilarity ensues in this little indie gem! Listen as Heather talks not only about her character of Trudie and PRETTY BAD ACTRESS, but Heather's own journey as a child actor from Barnegat, New Jersey to Hollywood and her secret to a vital and lasting career over the decades. Then television titan LEE ARONSOHN joins us during the second half of the show talking about his new film, 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING: THE MAGIC MUSIC MOVIE. Now retired from television and his decades as a producer and writer behind such shows as "The Love Boat", "Murphy Brown", "Two and a Half Men", "Who’s the Boss", "Big Bang Theory" and more, Lee steps into the director's chair helming the documentary 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING: THE MAGIC MUSIC MOVIE. A personal journey for Lee, take a trip down memory lane and discover Magic Music, a soft folk/acoustic Colorado band who were on the cusp of stardom in the early 70's but never quite made it to the big show. Never forgetting his college days watching and listening to Magic Music, Lee endeavors to discover what has happened to them since disbanding in 1976. Taking us along for the ride, the journey is a delight, and personalized thanks to Lee being our guide through the film. Listen as Lee talks about the legwork involved in locating and connecting with band members, several estranged, and then reconnecting them, interviewing, developing a throughline for the story, editing 100 hours of footage, designing some fun illustrated visual stylings within the film and, of course, the music.

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It's another jam-packed and eclectic episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we go dark with UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB, do a summer sizzle with the cast of HOT SUMMER NIGHTS, and revisit LITTLE PINK HOUSE with our special guest, COLIN CUNNINGHAM. First up we hear from the cast of HOT SUMMER NIGHTS. A real summer sizzler from writer/director Elijah Bynum, HOT SUMMER NIGHTS is a coming-of-age tale set against an East Coast beach community and an impending hurricane. (And I don't know which is more volatile – teenaged hormones or a hurricane.) HOT SUMMER NIGHTS is an explosion of beauteous stylized visual (and gorgeous color composition) married to a period-perfect 90's musical montage, serving as the framework for strong performances from Timothee Chalamet, Alex Roe ("The Fith Wave", "Forever My Girl"), Maika Monroe ("Independence Day: Resurgence", "The 5th Wave") and Maia Mitchell ("The Fosters"). Take a listen to excerpts of our exclusive interviews with ALEX ROE, MAIKA MONROE, and MAIA MITCHELL as they talk about their respective attractions to the story and getting into some very different character skins. Then we welcome veteran actor COLIN CUNNINGHAM, one of the stars of LITTLE PINK HOUSE, now available on DVD/On Demand. Listen as Colin talks about the importance of a film like LITTLE PINK HOUSE, a true story that focuses on the issue of eminent domain in the United States, and then balances that with his experiences on a series like "Falling Skies" or "Preacher" or a fun-filled tv-movie like "Mr. St. Nick". Calling in live from the set of his new film, "Bashira", a Japanese horror film, Colin's enthusiasm and excitement for his craft are palpable as he talks about performance and his approach to the industry plus, his overall body of work. We wrap up the show with an excerpt from our exclusive interview with writer/director STEPHEN SUSCO who talks about his new film UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB. Thanks to Timur Bekmambetov, we were introduced to the new film language of "ScreenLife" or "Screen Reality" with "Unfriended." Stephen now continues to explore ScreenLife with UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB. Take a listen as he talks about not only his approach in taking ScreenLife to the next level, but in developing a story rooted within the very fears of so many, the Dark Web.

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Miss BTLRadioShow live this week? Catch up now and take a listen as director MELANIE MAYRON, Oscar nominee and legendary actor PIPER LAURIE, and actor BROOKE ADAMS talk about their new film SNAPSHOTS. Plus, hear excerpts of our pre-recorded interview with director MARC TURTLETAUB as he talks about the exquisite PUZZLE!

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Some sci-fi and a twisty little heist drama is on the menu for this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to w/d JULIAN FORT, producer/writer/actor MORGAN LARIAH, and producer/actor EDOARDO BALLERINI. First up is an excerpt of our exclusive interview with EDOARDO BALLERINI as he talks about getting into character, er, make that seven characters, for 7 SPLINTERS IN TIME. One of the most versatile actors of our time, Edoardo is typically a supporting player, but with 7 SPLINTERS IN TIME, he is front and center, showcasing the true depth and range of his talents. And then take a listen to our exclusive pre-recorded interview with actor/writer/producer MORGAN LARIAH as she talks about her new film the sci-fi thriller, 5th PASSENGER. A filmmaking rarity today to find a woman creating a science fiction film, and then starring in and producing it, but that's exactly what Morgan does with 5th PASSENGER. Listen as she talks about casting (how about someone from every iteration of "Star Trek" but for the original series?), as well as tackling the lead role herself – a first for her, and the hurdles of writing a script and producing a film. Freshman filmmakers should find what Morgan has to say beneficial on many fronts. At the midpoint of the show writer/director JULIAN FORT joins us live talking about his freshman feature, THE MIDNIGHTERS. A tight little heist film with some nice twists and turns, not only is THE MIDNIGHTERS a directorial jumping off point for Julian, but 40+ year character actor LEON RUSSOM finally gets the chance to strut his stuff with a very controlled, methodical, and richly compelling performance. Listen as Julian goes in-depth talking about the film's cinematography and his DP Paul McIlvaine, plus the importance of Jim Ewing's editing at not only building a slow burn, but creating a pacing that mirrors that of the film's lead character.

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A very special episode of BEHIND THE LENS this week as we welcome back old friends, hear from one new, and say goodbye to a cherished one from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Actor and Producer FRAN KRANZ is back again along with writer/director/producer CASEY WILDER MOTT talking about one of my fave "Must See Festival Films" which had its world premiere at LAFF 2017 and is now making its way into theatres – A MIDSUMMER NIGHT's DREAM! As I have said since first screening the film before LAFF last year, if everyone saw this film before ever being handed a Shakespearean play to read in junior high school, everyone would love Shakespeare! A visual wonder, Casey's adaptation pulsates, mesmerizes and hypnotizes thanks to phenomenal performances, drop-dead gorgeous cinematography by Daniel Katz and production design from Glen Hall. But it all starts with a vision and here that beautiful vision is Casey's. Listen as the boys and I follow-up on the conversations we started at LAFF 2017, as they talk about adapting and modernizing Shakespeare, finding the balance between the established traditions of a Shakespearean production and the freedom of modern expression, designing the visuals, casting, rediscovering Los Angeles, and more. As comes as no surprise, Fran and Casey are fascinating and FUN!

Also returning to BTLRadioShow is actor/singer/songwriter BEN RAUCH who's got a new song and music video with THE EMOJI SONG! Last with us singing about a "Jersey Christmas", Ben now fills us in on "The Emoji Song" and the making of the accompanying music video. Plus, how about some of the inside track on what it's like to tour as the keyboardist for none other than legend Darlene Love! And we've got an excerpt of our exclusive interview with writer/director GABRIEL JUDET-WEINSHEL as he talks about the development of one of the most mind-blowing, thrilling, and psychologically thought-provoking films of the year – 7 SPLINTERS IN TIME. But first, we take a moment to remember TAB HUNTER who passed away on Sunday, with a listen to some of my exclusive interviews with him a few years ago as he reminisced about his mom, growing up, and the studio system. . .

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You might want to call this episode of BEHIND THE LENS, "Six Degrees of Separation of Paul Rudd" as all of our filmmakers today are connected to Paul Rudd. . .and let's not forget that Paul Rudd has two films currently out in theatres and/or on VOD and digital – THE CATCHER WAS A SPY and "Ideal Home" – with one of the most anticipated films of the year opening up this week – ANT-MAN AND THE WASP!

First up, we dive into the quantum realm of ANT-MAN AND THE WASP and hear a bit from writer/director PEYTON REED as he talks about the award-worthy editing of the film as cast and crew traverse the streets of San Francisco, going from micro to macro to huge and back again, wth rapier precision and edge of your seat intensity. And you'll hear film critic debbie elias' take on the heartfelt family humor filling the film. (Come on! Who doesn't love silly dad jokes!)

Then we move into some world history and particularly that of WWII and the story of former baseball player, Moe Berg, with THE CATCHER WAS A SPY. A multi-degreed intellectual, fluent in at least 12 languages, Berg was solicited by the OSS and tasked with uncovering the truth about German physicist and 1932 Nobel Prize winner Werner Heisenberg and whether he was developing the atom bomb for the Nazis. If Berg believed Heisenberg was close to achieving the impossible, his mission was to kill him. The US, of course, was deep into The Manhattan Project. With a script by "Saving Private Ryan" scribe Robert Rodat, and Paul Rudd in the starring role as Moe Berg, take a listen to our exclusive interview with director BEN LEWIN ("The Sessions", "Please Stand By") as he goes in-depth on THE CATCHER WAS A SPY talking everything from history to casting to production design to locations to expanding his own directorial skills with battle sequencing and multi-camera lensing, and a personal favorite, getting to play with a real Sherman tank. A fascinating conversation about a fascinating film. THE CATCHER WAS A SPY is in theatres and On Demand. A "Must See Film." As a side note, a documentary on Moe Berg from Aviva Kempner is in the works and anticipated to hit the festival circuit in 2019. As Paul Rudd himself said to me last week, "Can you believe it? Isn't this story something? Isn't [Moe] an interesting guy?" Absolutely.

Lastly, we take a look at UNDER THE TREE. From Icelandic writer/director HAFFSTEIN GUNNAR SIGURDSSON (whose first film "Either Way" was remade by David Gordon Green as "Prince Avalanche" starring Paul Rudd), UNDER THE TREE is a dark dark comedy about what being neighborly is all about. . .or not. At its heart, a metaphor for war and geopolitical conflict, listen as Haffstein talks not only about story development, but casting "The Tree." Yes, filmmakers, there was tree casting. Take a listen and learn all about it!

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