Faux Reel Podcast

On this episode, Dawn has a powerful conversation with filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein and film protagonist Claude Motely about gun violence in their home city of Milwaukee, trauma and its ripple effects, healing, the justice system, and the importance of community, friendship and family. 

Claude Motley thought he’d beaten the odds: a business owner who moved his family from the violence of Milwaukee to the suburbs of Charlotte. Yet there he is on a trip home for a high school reunion: black male victim, 43, shot in the face during a carjacking. Two nights later, Claude’s assailant tries to rob nurse Victoria Davison, but she has a gun and shoots him during the struggle. A rush of guilt overcomes her as she overhears the paramedics – the boy she shot, Nathan King, is only 15 years old.

Follow the film: 

Website: https://www.371productions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/371productions/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/371Productions

On this episode, Dawn talks with filmmaking partners Willow O'Feral and Brad Heck for their documentary Sisters Rising. The film is an intimate portrait of 6 Native women who have survived sexual violence and/or domestic violence in their lives, and how that has transformed them. Through their trauma, they have become inspiring women who are fighting to help other women in their communities by providing support, sharing their stories, and working to change tribal and federal laws to protect women in the future. Dawn, Willow and Brad talk about the process of getting to know people in a community that is not your own, the impact these stories have had on them and why they're important to share. The film is streaming now on PBS' America Reframed World Channel. 

Follow the film: 

Watch for free: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sistersrising

Website: https://www.sistersrisingmovie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sistersrisingmovie/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sistersrisingmovie/

On this episode, Dawn talks with filmmaker Mariem Pérez Riera about her new documentary RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT. It's an inspiring story of the first Latina EGOT winner, and the struggles she had to go through to along the way. Through therapy, she has been able to heal and move forward and continue being an inspiration to others. The film hits theatres June 18th! 

Follow the film: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritamorenodoc/

Faceook: https://www.facebook.com/ritamorenodoc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritamorenodoc

On this episode Dawn connects with filmmaker Wes Hurley for his autobiographical narrative POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA. Hurley is a Seattle-based, Soviet Union-born LGBTQ filmmaker. POTATO is based on his upbringing in the Soviet Union watching pirated American films on a secret tv channel, and then moving to America seeking a better life after his Mom became a mail-order-bride. Dawn and Wes talk about what films he's seen 1000 times on bad VHS tapes, craving bland Russian food, and being drawn to experimental art and filmmaking. 

Follow the film:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potatodreamsfilm/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/potatodreamsusa

On this episode Dawn chats with fellow Midwesterner Tasha Van Zandt about her debut feature AFTER ANTARCTICA. The film focuses on Minnesota-based explorer Will Steger via archival footage from his historic International Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1989-90, and then today as he continues his expeditions at age 75. The film is a beautiful reflection on life, and the effects of climate change then and now. Dawn talks with Tasha about what inspires her as storyteller, they share stories of humbling moments in nature, and what brings them comfort when they're away from home. 

Follow the film: 

Website: https://afterantarctica.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterantarctica/

MountainFilm screening: https://www.mountainfilm.org/media/after-antarctica

Follow the podcast team: 

@fauxreal222

@taleenkali

We have all seen sex trafficking popping up in the news at alarming rates recently, making many of us realize that it is not just happening overseas, but in our own backyards. THE ZEN SPEAKER: BREAKING THE SILENCE is a personal portrait of Amy Ayoub, a prominent public speaking coach, confronting her traumatic history to help change Nevada sex trafficking laws. In coming out with her truth, Amy is able to release herself after years of shame, and is now able to connect with other survivors and help empower them. 

Watch the film on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/thezenspeaker

Amy's website: https://www.thezenspeaker.com/

Check out Freeland: http://www.freelandfilmfest.org/

WILD INDIAN is the feature directorial debut from Native filmmaker Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr, which had its premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Corbine Jr. is one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch. On this episode, Dawn and Lyle discuss the experience Native actors have when they get to play multi-dimensional characters, generational trauma and personal accountability, and the importance of keeping a connection to home. 

A therapeutic film...with lots of blood. VIOLATION is a horror film built from trauma, about a woman trying to reconnect with her sister while dealing with relationship problems, and then a life-altering experience with her brother-in-law. On this episode Dawn chats with VIOLATION co-directors Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli about bonding over trauma, revenge, and some of their favorite horror films. VIOLATION played at Sundance, TIFF and SXSW and is now available to stream on Shudder.

Watch VIOLATION on Shudder (free trial available): https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/violation/6ce08cba4cc1ef46

Follow the filmmakers: https://www.dmfilms.com/

Dawn and Edson Jean dive deep into personal experiences and family histories in this episode. They talk about the immigrant experience, the importance of finding your community, financial literacy of lower and middle classes, the power of story and a whole lot else. LUDI is about a Haitian immigrant living in Miami overworking and getting caught in the hamster wheel that is capitalist America because she has to take care of herself and her family in Haiti. LUDI was the opening night film at the Miami Film Festival and recently screened at SXSW. Excited for you to listen to this episode and keep the conversation going. 

Follow the film: https://www.instagram.com/ludifilm/ - https://www.facebook.com/LudiFilm/ - https://twitter.com/BantufyFilms

Recorded just before their Sundance premiere screening in the Midnight section, on this episode Dawn chats with Swedish filmmaker Frida Kempff and KNOCKING star Cecilia Milocco. KNOCKING is thriller about a woman who is released from a psych ward after experiencing a mental breakdown following the death of the one person who truly understood her. Now she's in a new apartment and thinks she hears morse code knocking from a woman in danger but no one believes her. Dawn, Frida and Cecilia talk about women's experience with gaslighting, strong emotional responses to trauma, and trying to fill up more space in the world. 

Follow the film: https://www.instagram.com/knockingfilm/