Milling About

In The YouTube Effect, director Alex Winter (Bill & Ted Franchise, Zappa) goes behind the screen with this documentary delving deep into the social media channel. Winter questions YouTube founder SteveChen, former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, YouTube creators - some who have become stars in their own right - and more, sharing an eye-opening view into the humble origins of the channel, how it's morphed through the years, becoming a staple in our everyday lives and not always serving as a healthy outlet to vent our freedom of expression.

Succession star Brian Cox did his best to provide entertaining anecdotes from shooting Prisoner’s Daughter, but his attention was paid more to working with the cast and director Catherine Hardwicke. What he does remember fondly is having "great fun" with Kate Beckinsale, who played his daughter in the film, and revisiting Las Vegas, where the film was shot, and not because he’s an avid gambler. The desert town was the scene of his wedding day 21 years ago to Nicole Ansari at The Little White Chapel, where a curious bridal song was played. The Scottish-born actor balks at any type of method to his acting madness. He offered the personal connection he made to his own father that inspired the character of the cancer-stricken Max. Cox also has a bone to pick with the impending sale of Turner Classic Movies, taking his beef to social media, where he is passionate about preserving the classics that have defined cinematic history.

In this cinematic poem Midday Black Midnight Blue, Chris Stack stars as Ian, a loner on the edge of Puget Sound, grappling with long-held grief for a woman he loved Liv who died nearly two decades ago.  Co-written and co-directed by Samantha Soule (Liv) and Daniel Talbott with Merritt Wever, it's a contemplative film about love and loss. Chris talked about how music plays an important role in his acting, and what it was like shooting on Whigby Island in Washington State. A consummate stage and film actor, some may know him as Tom Anderson in Interview With The Vampire, or as Dr. Michael McBain on One Life To Live, where he was shocked to learn of his 121 episodes on the beloved soap opera.

Singer, songwriter, and musical chanteuse Judith Owen has found her joy once again, this time with a new album of jazz standards, "Come And Get It." Judith joins host Robin Milling to chat about making her home in New Orleans to escape the last few years, where she celebrated her creativity and assembled her band of Gentleman Callers for this bold and brash collection. As is her unique quality, Judith owns her sensuality at any age, swinging and cooing selections of her "unsung heroines and role models" such as the title song "Come And Get It Honey," King Size Papa" and "Satchel Mouth Baby," to name a few. To showcase her new CD, Judith will be performing May 10-14 at the McKittrick Hotel (530 West 27th Street, NYC), home of "Sleep No More," in a not-to-be-missed residency in the Manderley Bar. Tickets can be purchased www.mckittrickhotel.com.

Writer, director, and star Todd Flaherty joins host Robin Milling to discuss his wonderful film Chrissy Judy. Todd was inspired to write the story of two drag sisters who find themselves at a crossroads in their friendship when one pursues love in Philadelphia, while the other stays in New York to pursue his dreams as a drag queen chanteuse. Todd tells Robin how he developed his drag look for Judy and the importance of acceptance for the art of performing in drag. Plus, he does all his own singing! Shooting in black and white with his cinematographer brother Brendan in the idyllic locations of Provincetown, Massachusetts, Todd displays a beautiful love story of queer friendship and chosen family which is not often seen this way on screen.

Writer/director Matthew Saville joins Robin Milling to talk about his directorial feature Juniper starring Charlotte Rampling. Matthew tells Robin about the trip he made to Paris from Auckland, New Zealand to "woo" Rampling into playing the role of the grandmother, based on his own father's mother. There was no plan 'B' as she was the "perfect person" for the gin-drinking feisty alcoholic. Saville talks about the wonderful chemistry with newcomer George Ferrier as the rebellious teenaged grandson who must look after her as punishment for his school suspension. Matthew cherishes the experience he had making the film and shares behind-the-scenes moments with Rampling and the ensemble cast and their mutual admiration.

Producer Randy Schmidt takes a deep dive into the real truth behind Karen Carpenter and her battle with anorexia in the poignant documentary Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection which premiered at the 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Randy spoke with host Robin Milling about the women who knew her best, some of them celebrities such as Olivia Newton-John and Suzanne Somers, and those touched by her music like Kristin Chenoweth, Belinda Carlisle, and Carnie Wilson. Randy tells Robin the one good thing that came out of her death 40 years ago, is the awareness that eating disorders can be cured, and the hopes that this documentary can reach not only the die-hard Carpenter fans but a new audience who will discover her music.

Back in 2003, musical genius Burt Bacharach collaborated on an album with Ron Isley, which resulted in a soulful interpretation of his popular catalog of music, Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach. Bacharach was always reinventing himself as he told host Robin Milling. As a tribute to his passing, here is their conversation from that year where Bacharach reflects on his musical beginnings and inspirations for some of his timeless collaborations with lyricist Hal David, including soundtrack favorites Alfie sung deliciously by his muse Dionne Warwick, which he deemed as David's best, What's New cat and The Look of Love.

Linus Roache (Priest, Law & Order) joins host Robin Milling to chat about his new film The Apology. Under the guise of a Christmas thriller, written and directed by Alison Locke, it will no doubt spark conversation. Linus talks about his delight in getting the crap beat out of him by co-star Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad). "It was fun playing a character who gets beaten to a pulp, burnt in the face, hit in the head with a hockey stick and a lamp, and knifed at one point. Best blood ever!" He also reminisces working with his 90-year-old father William Roache in the classic British soap opera Coronation Street, and reveals his special Christmas plans in India.

Sam Benjamin (Doctor Who, Peaky Blinders, I Am Vengeance: Retaliation), co-writer and star of The Payday joins host Robin Milling to talk about everything from his first love scene to Tom Cruise inspired action scenes. Lots of laughs with the quick-witted Merseyside-born actor who discusses his Bondian moves, collaborating with his bestie Kyla Frye, accents, Shakespeare lessons with Sir Patrick Stewart, his humble beginnings with Walt Disney World and much more