Salt Lake Dirt

Today on the show I am thrilled to welcome writer and historian Sam Wasson. Sam is my favorite Hollywood historian. He is the author of several fantastic books including Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m. and The Big Goodbye. He co-authored Hollywood: The Oral History with film scholar and educator Jeanine Basinger. Sam's latest book is The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story.

I had such a great time chatting with Sam. We talk about our mutual love for early Hollywood, Coppola's company American Zoetrope, and how Sam came to publish a limited run of Bruce Wagner's masterpiece The Marvel Universe.

Amazing chat! Make sure to check out Sam's new book.

Thanks for listening.

Kyler

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Episode Links:

SamWasson.com

PURCHASE a signed copy of The Path to Paradise

Felix Farmer

PURCHASE The Marvel Universe by Bruce Wagner

Discover the profound connection between humans and canines in Dog Spelled Backwards. Join Kyler Bingham as he delves into the heart of dog rescue with filmmaker and dog trainer Tim Almeida. Their conversation uncovers the stark realities of shelter life and the transformative power of patience and love in rehabilitating rescue dogs. This episode is not just a story about dog training. It's a narrative about the human condition, our capacity to cope with loss, and the unexpected lessons our four-legged friends teach us about life.

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Synopsis:

Tim Almeida is a certified professional dog trainer, having begun his work in Los Angeles county in 2018. After rescuing a dog named Alger from a local animal shelter, Tim was forced to make the painstaking decision to euthanize his dog after Alger attacked a young baby being held in her mothers arms. This life changing event catapulted Tim into the Animal Shelter/Rescue world and the work it involves, inspiring the vision for the documentary series, "Dog Spelled Backwards." Highlighting animal shelter cases, the film navigates the difficult and often heartbreaking landscape known as "Animal Rescue." More importantly, viewers learn first hand the challenges of working with dogs living in animal shelters

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Slamdance Screening Information:

2024 Slamdance Film Festival:

Dive into the world of Love and Work, a film that defies the norm with its dystopian yet comedic take on a society where working is illegal. Join Kyler as he sits down with multifaceted filmmaker Pete Ohs to discuss the conception of this fascinating film. From the eerie allure of a shoe factory setting to the film's striking black and white visuals, get ready to explore a narrative that challenges our cultural relationship with work and the haunting beauty of a world turned upside down.

Love and Work will screen at the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival.

PURCHASE Tickets below:

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Synopsis:

Diane arrives at the shoe factory looking for a job. She meets the boss, nails the interview and gets hired on the spot, immediately joining a small team of co-workers led by a helpful Texan named Fox.

She’s great at her job but before her first day of work ends, the factory gets shut down, the boss is in big trouble and all the employees are suddenly unemployed.

Because in this world, manufacturing is prohibited and it's illegal to employ or be employed. That means no jobs. Unfortunately, Diane and Fox love to work.

Together, Diane and Fox seek employment and in the process, fall in love. But balancing love and work is easier said than done.

Join us as we catch up with the creative team behind Fishing, a short film that will screen at the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival. Director Josie Charles and writer/actor Esme Allen discuss the evolution of their film, the intimacy of a camcorder storytelling approach, and the emotional depth required to bring the character Lola to life. Learn about the meticulous planning and raw emotion that went into this single-take narrative, and why this film is not just a story, but an experience that defies the boundaries of traditional filmmaking.

Incredible film, check it out!

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Synopsis:

A dark comedy exploring female sexuality and the impact of pornography,

It’s 2006. Lola has been stuck in her room for three days and refuses to leave. She plays around with a camcorder, but is rudely interrupted by her Mum, nagging her to come out. Alone again, Lola tells a tale of whirlwind romance that culminates in a rather disappointing ‘first time’. But before she can reveal the climax of this journey, another knock at the door. This time it’s her dearest friend Amy with concerns about Lola’s safety, forcing her to confess the truth of her

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Slamdance Screenings of Fishing:

In this episode, we welcome back filmmaker Jack Dunphy to discuss his Sundance-bound film, Bob's Funeral. Jack is one of my favorite guests so I had to have him on for a full length episode.

Jack talks about the eight-year creative process that brings him back the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Great film, amazing chat.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Logline:

Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director takes a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral.

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Today on the show we have E'an Verdugo (Director/Writer) and Caleb Davis (Writer/Prodcuer), the creative minds behind Restorage, an episodic film that will screen at this year's Slamdance Film Festival.

Great film, great chat!

Kyler

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Synopsis:

A fractured group of siblings each receive a portion of their inheritance. Robert receives the business legacy, Lisa is given the family estate and a priceless family heirloom, and Chase, receives an old storage unit filled with junk. Chase and Robert quarrel and he inadvertently breaks the vase causing a greater rift in the family. 

Chase goes to the storage unit and discovers that it can repair anything that has been broken that has been placed inside. Chase takes his siblings to the storage unit in an attempt to fix the broken vase but everything goes mysteriously sideways.

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Slamdance Screenings:

Today on Salt Lake Dirt, filmmaker Radha Mehta joins me to talk about her film Dosh. Radha shares her compelling story of transforming personal trauma and the challenges into an evocative film that tackles the taboos of mental health and physical disability. Discover how her South Asian roots and a partnership with AFI helped her create a narrative that's as authentic as it is impactful. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about film, storytelling, and the human spirit's resilience.

Dosh will screen at the 2024 Slamdance Film Festival on Saturday January 20th at 12:45pm and Wednesday January 24th at 4:00pm. Grab your tickets HERE.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Logline:

DOSH, which means both "flaw" and "fault" in Hindi, is about a Hard-of-Hearing South Asian woman who overcomes her cultural taboo of shame by choosing to stop at nothing to save her family, which in turn ends up saving herself. This is an immigrant story about love, family, and overcoming cultural taboos around mental health and physical disability.

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SLD Podcast Info:

Dive into the darkly humorous world of The Coroner's Assistant with writer-director Angeline Walsh as she unveils the intriguing Victorian London setting of her web series. Discover the accidental journey of medical student James Rigby into the macabre trade of cadavers, all wrapped in a comedic package. Explore the challenges of creating an authentic period piece on a budget and the serendipitous moments that brought the talented cast together. Listen to how a passion for history, storytelling, and iconic films like 'Jurassic Park' and 'The Mummy' shaped Angeline's creative path, leading to an award-nominated web series that's captivating audiences on YouTube.

The Coroner's Assistant has been nominated twice for an Astra Award. One for Best Writing in a Streaming Comedy Series, while her Costume Designer Aimee Morgan is a contender for a Creative Arts Nomination for Best Period Costumes. The Astra Awards will take place on January 8th, 2024 in Hollywood.

Thanks for listening!

Kyler

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Episode Links:

WATCH The Coroner's Assistant

More about the series

FOLLOW Angeline on Social Media

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SLD Podcast Info:

In the latest episode, Adam Roberts discusses his new book, The Death of Sir Martin Malprelate, a novel where the classics come alive. Explore a re-imagined London where the greatest literary minds coexist, and a mysterious death unfolds a story of intrigue and suspense. Listen as Roberts gives an intriguing glimpse into the making of a novel that promises to captivate fans of history, literature, and mystery alike.

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