Behind The Lens

I can't imagine a better way to wrap up 2015 and the first year of BEHIND THE LENS than with two incredible guests - actor and now writer/director, Eddie Jemison, and producer/director Nick Fitzhugh.

At the quarter hour mark take a listen as Eddie Jemison and I talk about his directorial debut, KING OF HERRINGS. Solid storytelling and standout performances, most notably by Jemison's real life and on-screen wife Laura Lamson, are a hallmark of this film as Eddie and I talk about his inspiration, his 25-year friendship with his co-stars and the art of directing. One of my favorite guests of the year, I can't wait for Eddie to join me again.

Shifting gears at the half hour mark, producer/director/cinematographer/showrunner Nick Fitzhugh is live talking about one of the most indelible television mini-series to come around in a long time - CONFLICT. A six-part miniseries focusing on the roots of human conflict as seen through the eyes of some of the world's best conflict photographers, CONFLICT embeds itself on your conscience. Nick's insight into the project, its genesis and its future direction is not to be missed.

And then there's Tarantino, Quentin Tarantino. Take a listen to some excerpts of what Quentin had to say at the recent press conference for THE HATEFUL EIGHT about his use of Ultra Panavision and shooting in 70mm! (Programing Note: Tune in LIVE to our January 4, 2016 show for more on THE HATEFUL EIGHT when you'll hear my exclusive interviews with producer Richard Gladstein and editor Fred Raskin.)

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Christmas comes early to BEHIND THE LENS this week as we welcome visionary director and producer Timur Bekmambetov! debbie had the pleasure of interviewing Timur earlier this year while he was in Italy filming BEN-HUR and you heard excerpts of that interview right here on BEHIND THE LENS. But this week, Timur is live from Moscow talking about a new project he is producing and the gifted writer/director he is mentoring with it, not to mention giving us more than a few tidbits on the upcoming BEN-HUR, plus an interesting discussion on how he is inspired by young filmmakers and artisans, and his praise for and insight on working with BEN-HUR producers, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.

Plus, The Force is with us at the top of the show as we hear excerpts of what the creators and stars of STARS WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS had to say last week at the super secret press event in Los Angeles. And hear more from Ericson Core, Luke Bracey and Phil Boston on the making of POINT BREAK.

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What a show we've got for you this week on Behind The Lens! debbie's regular readers and listeners all know of her love of books, literacy and reading, especially since so many of our greatest and most favorite films began in literature, so it's a real privilege for BEHIND THE LENS to go from Mars to the marine blue waters of the deep blue sea, from Mermaids to Megalodons, as fiction and film merge with special guests acclaimed children's book author Nancy Ann Guettier and NY Times bestselling author Steve Alten.

But before you hear from Nancy and Steve, get this week's dose of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS as debbie delivers some tidbits gleaned from the super secret movie press junket held over the weekend! And hear a clip from POINT BREAK director/cinematographer Ericson Core as he talks with debbie about the unusual process of shooting this adrenaline fueled thrill ride - shooting second unit (all the action and extreme sports) first, followed by the first unit lensing - and his decision for same.

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BEHIND THE LENS went out on a limb this week with some very fun and kinda unusually themed documentaries.

First up, we welcome Sam Klemke, subject of the fascinating (and weirdly fun) documentary SAM KLEMKE'S TIME MACHINE from director Matthew Bate. We have all probably journaled highlights of each year of our lives at some point or another, but Sam Klemke kept an annual film diary of his life. Beginning in 1977 and continuing for 35 years, those Super 8mm films, reel-to-reel recordings, cassettes, VHS tapes and more, are the history of "one human", and just happened to catch the eye of Australian filmmaker Matthew Bate. Taking Sam's life and juxtapositioning it against the journey of NASA's Golden Record of humanity, also launched into space in 1977 and attached to Voyager, Bate gives us a beyond entertaining - and thoughtful - look at "human versus humanity". And as you quickly discover, Sam Klemke is fun-loving, engaging and a fabulous interview!

Then Annika Iltis, co-director/producer with Timothy Kane (who unfortunately couldn't join us due to being on set filming), is here talking about THE BARKLEY MARATHONS: THE RACE THAT EATS ITS YOUNG. (Shh! The first rule of the Barkley Marathons is: You do not talk about Barkley Marathons. The second rule of the Barkley Marathons is: You Do Not Talk About Barkley Marathons!) Annika and debbie do a whole lot of talking about not only the making of THE BARKLEY MARATHONS, but also her jump from a tv/film camera assistant to director and producer.

And debbie's chatting up the Spirit Award Nominations which were announced November 24, 2015. You’ll get a little taste of her exclusive interview with Spirit Awards Nominee (and Pulitzer winner) Donald Margulies and his screenplay for THE END OF THE TOUR. Plus, at the top of the show, hear what John Boyega had to tell debbie at the Spirit Awards nominations about "The Force".

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This week BEHIND THE LENS digs deep and welcomes director Delila Vallot to talk about her latest documentary, CAN YOU DIG THIS. Focusing on the urban gardening revolution taking place in South Central Los Angeles, CAN YOU DIG THIS shines an inspirational light on a community that is now picking up shovels instead of guns. You can hear Delila's live interview at the halfway point of the show.

And we're doing some more digging "behind the lens and below the line" with THE GOOD DINOSAUR. Take a listen to excerpts of interviews with the film's voice talent - Sam Elliott, Jeffrey Wright, Raymond Ochoa, Anna Paquin and AJ Buckley as they talk about "going dino" and the magic of THE GOOD DINOSAUR. Peppered throughout the show, how can anyone pass up listening to Sam Elliott and Jeffrey Wright!

Plus, we get things started with debbie's exclusive pre-recorded interview with producer Nicole Grindle and director Sanjay Patel, the filmmaking team behind Pixar's newest short, SANJAY'S SUPER TEAM.

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An exciting BEHIND THE LENS this week as debbie is privileged to welcome Grammy winning and world renowned lyric coloratura soprano Sumi Jo to the show to talk about the stunning new film YOUTH, working with Michael Caine ("He's just so adorable") and her operatic solo of David Lang's hauntingly beautiful "Simple Songs #3", plus insight into her thoughts on opera and her passion for it now.

In our last segment, we switch gears with a master of tragic irony, writer/director/producer/editor Rick Alverson, to talk about his new film ENTERTAINMENT.

Plus, hear some final thoughts from producer Nina Jacobson in an exclusive interview talking the end of an era with the release this Friday of the final installment in THE HUNGER GAMES franchise - MOCKINGJAY-PART 2. And if you want to hear what cinematographer Sharon Calahan has to say about light and color and creating the "painterly realism" of THE GOOD DINOSAUR, you definitely want to take a listen at the midpoint of the show.

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This week on BEHIND THE LENS we are joined by two amazing filmmakers. First up is Trevor Baierl. Already a successful reality tv producer (most recently on the twice Emmy nominated WAHLBURGERS), Trevor moved into the documentary film arena with a very personal project, ONE IN A MILLION:A CJD DOCUMENTARY. Fresh off an award-winning festival run, Trevor talks about the documentary and its future with distribution, plus shares some insight on the upcoming season of WAHLBURGERS!

Also joining debbie is writer/director/producer Edd Benda who has a hit on his hands with the wistfully emotional and visually beautiful, SUPERIOR. At the end of an award-winning festival run, we talk with Edd about the film and this whirlwind experience.

Then you'll hear some excerpts of debbie's exclusive interviews as she goes behind the lens and below the line with TRUMBO screenwriter John McNamara and director Jay Roach!

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What a fun week on BEHIND THE LENS!

Fabulous, and favorite, "future" filmmaker Kira Bursky is back talking about her new project, Big Little Filmmaker, a collaborative cooperative of interaction and resources for young future filmmakers between the ages of 12 and 22! You'll want to hear all about BIG LITTLE FILMMAKER and what Kira has to say.

Also joining me this week is writer/director Jed Rigney, a filmmaker going somewhere thanks to his imaginative and delightful new film NOWHERE GIRL! And then we have screenwriter Adrian Colussi talking about the terrifying, yet hypnotizing LANDMINE GOES CLICK. Set in the formerly war torn region of the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe, the reality and horror of what unfolds on screen is not only unforgettable, but believable.

Plus, excerpts of debbie's exclusive interviews start to unfold for THE GOOD DINOSAUR. This week, listen to Production Designer Harley Jessup talk about designing antediluvian world of Arlo and Spot, and the influences of nature's majestic beauty on the film's design.

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We've got a very special BEHIND THE LENS for you this week as we welcome publicist and CEO of BIG TIME PR, Sylvia Desrochers, and attorney Brandon Leopoldus of The Leopoldus Professional Corporation to help answer YOUR questions about publicity, hiring the right publicist, marketing, licensing, contracts, clearances, script submissions to agencies or studios, distribution, film festivals, AND MORE.

It is a great privilege to also have director/documentarian Leslee Udwin joining us in the first half of the show to talk about her powerful documentary, INDIA'S DAUGHTER. An advisor to the United Nations Human Rights Commission and recipient of the Anna Lindh Human Rights Award, Leslee brings the story of INDIA'S DAUGHTER from the global headlines and the gang rape and murder of 23-year old medical school student onto movie screens, shining a light on the need for global gender equality. And hand in hand with our theme of helping filmmakers, you can hear first hand from Leslee the importance of Sylvia Desrochers and BIG TIME PR in bringing a film, and issue like this, to light for not only audiences, but in its race to the Academy Awards.

In our last segment, we'll hear from CIRCLE actor and producer Michael Nardelli and get this thoughts on this fascinating sci-fi psychological thriller that speaks to the very fabric of human nature. And here's a testament for you about Michael and CIRCLE – so intrigued by the film's concept and execution, fellow guest Brandon Leopoldus went home after the show and watched CIRCLE on Netflix!

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This week BEHIND THE LENS is a wall-to-wall, multi-hyphenate star-studded show!

Live in-studio with debbie for the full hour is writer/director/producer/actor LUKE SABIS together with veteran actor of stage and screen, and star of Sabis's MISSING CHILD and GHOST TENANT, CHARLES GORGANO! Joining us at the 15 minute mark is writer/director/producer/actor/musician CHRIS MULKEY, star of THE SURFACE MOVIE and also currently seen in the new movie, TRUTH. And then at the halfway point in the show there's one of my cinematic heroes – LARRY FESSENDEN. Writer/director/producer/actor/guru of horror & suspense, before there was Jason Blum and Blumhouse, there was Larry Fessenden and Glass Eye Pix!

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