Behind The Lens

A fun show this week on BEHIND THE LENS as I get to take a look at two new films that just opened in theatres on Friday and speak with three filmmakers whom I've spoken with in the past, all of whose work I admire, respect, and in the case of one director, can't get enough of. I'm talking about the wonderful filmmaking team of MICHAEL ANGELO COVINO and KYLE MARVIN and their hilarious new non-rom com rom com, SPLITSVILLE, along with one of my fave filmmakers and the man who I believe helped put Taylor Sheridan on the map as a writer with the fabulous "Hell or High Water", director DAVID MACKENZIE and his new thriller RELAY. So let's kick things off with the comedy stylings of Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin and SPLITSVILLE. It's a story of two couples. Ashley and Carey. And Julie and Paul. All best friends. And all with personalities as different as night and day. But while Ashley and Carey are on a road trip, driving down a multi-lane highway, out of the blue and left

We're going a bit dark this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to writer/director JEREMY RUDD and his directorial feature debut with DIE'CED: RELOADED, and the fabulous veteran director CHUCK RUSSELL and his latest dive back into the darkness with WITCHBOARD. Let's kick things off with JEREMY RUDD and his feature debut, DIE'CED: RELOADED, which follows the story of Benny, an infamous serial killer who escapes a high-security asylum on Halloween night, turning 1980s/90s Seattle into a blood-soaked nightmare. Reborn behind a twisted scarecrow mask, he leaves a trail of carnage across the suburbs, as whispers of his gruesome past resurface, fueling panic in a city soaked in neon and fear. But Benny isn't just killing for pleasure – he's hunting someone. A young woman unknowingly tied to the darkest chapter of his madness becomes his fixation, and the closer he gets, the bloodier it gets. The result is a brutal, synth-drenched scarecrow slasher soaked in nostalgia, where Benny carve

I'm very excited about this week's BEHIND THE LENS and for you to hear from these two fabulous directors – KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS talking about the delightful, charming, and funny MY MOTHER'S WEDDING and HOWARD J. FORD talking up RIVER OF BLOOD and a "leisurely kayak ride" through the jungles of Thailand, complete with indigenous tribes who don't like outsiders. What could possibly go wrong! Directed by KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS and co-written by Kristin and John Micklethwaite (her real-life husband), MY MOTHER'S WEDDING stars Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, Freida Pinto, and Kristin Scott Thomas and is the tale of three sisters who return to their childhood home for a momentous occasion: the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother. Over the weekend, the family gathers to celebrate the new marriage, but mother and daughters alike are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, all with help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests. An abs

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we're looking at two films that, at their hearts, are about fathers and daughters/a father and son – the wonderful family film SKETCH and the fugitive thriller SHE RIDES SHOT GUN. Besides being solidly entertaining films, each delivers incredible performances by the young stars. And joining me to talk about these films are two amazing filmmakers, NICK ROWLAND, director and co-writer of SHE RIDES SHOTGUN, and SETH WORLEY, who makes his feature directorial debut as the writer, director, and editor of SKETCH. First, let's take a look at SHE RIDES SHOTGUN. Based on the 2017 Edgar Award-winning novel of the same name by Jordan Harper, SHE RIDES SHOTGUN is an intimate two-hander and fast-paced fugitive thriller that turns heartrending and pulse-pounding. This is the story of "Nate" McClusky and his daughter, Polly, who are on an emotional, thrilling, terrifying road trip across New Mexico as Nate tries to escape his own past — or at least to protect his 11-year-o

It's madness, mayhem, and a whole lotta fun on BEHIND THE LENS this week as we're talking THE OMRO HEIST!! And let me just kick off the show by saying – HEEEEEEE'S BAAAACK!!! SIMON PHILLIPS is back with us today for his fifth appearance on #BTLRadioShow, which makes him the record holder with the most appearances by a single guest in the 11 years of the show! And it looks like he'll be back one or two more times before the end of 2025. However, adding to the joys of having Simon on board today, his collaborator/partner in production crime, director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, JAMIE BAILEY, is also with us! It's a real treat to have Simon and Jamie both on the show together, especially as we're talking about their latest venture – THE OMRO HEIST. THE OMRO HEIST is the story of a bank robbery that goes wrong in a once quiet Wisconsin small town called Omro. When an FBI agent goes undercover during the bank siege in his hometown, he discovers the robbery is actually

This is a fun week on BEHIND THE LENS as we're going back to nature and into the forest. That's right! It's back to nature this week as we take a look at a fantastically informative and entertaining short documentary that you can watch right now FOR FREE (and you all know how much I love FREE stuff) – CHARMIN WIPES OUT A FOREST. In my exclusive chat with writer/director/editor STEVE MIMS and producer BRIAN RODGERS, we delve into the making of this doc and Charmin toilet paper specifically. Then, get ready for director and editor DAN ALLEN, who joins me discussing his latest film from The Twisted Childhood Universe – BAMBI: THE RECKONING. Kicking things off with CHARMIN WIPES OUT A FOREST, who would have thought someone would make any film about toilet paper, let alone one about Charmin, the biggest-selling brand in the United States, accounting for 25% of the US toilet paper market today. Most of us remember the early ad campaigns for Charmin with Mr. Whipple and the unforgettable "P

Took a little 4th of July break, but BEHIND THE LENS is back this week with two interesting interviews talking about some impactful and entertaining films: the character-driven post-apocalyptic thriller 40 ACRES with director R.T. THORNE, and the action thriller OFF THE GRID with director JOHNNY MARTIN. First up, let's take a look at R.T. THORNEt's narrative feature directorial debut, 40 ACRES. A bold, no-holds-barred action-thriller from debut filmmaker R.T. Thorne, 40 ACRES is set in a famine-decimated near future where a former soldier and her family struggle to safeguard their farm as they make one last stand against a vicious militia hell-bent on taking their land. Co-written by Thorne together with Glenn Taylor and Lora Campbell, 40 ACRES stars, among others, Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem Ot'Connor, Michael Greyeyes, and Milcania Diaz-Rojas. Shifting gears, we move on to a fun interview with director JOHNNY MARTIN talking about his new film OFF THE GRID, in which he takes Macgyvering to a

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we're taking a look at a new indie film that just released in select theatres and on Eventive VOD on Friday, SWEET RELIEF, with writer/director/editor NICK VERDI. And we'll take one more look at Dances With Films 2025 with the oh-so-funny mockumentary AMERICAN COMIC with director/cinematographer/editor DANIEL J. CLARK and writer/actor JOE KWACZALA. AMERICAN COMIC helped close out the festival last night. First up, let's turn our lens to SWEET RELIEF. Written and directed, and edited, by NICK VERDI, SWEET RELIEF is a film that starts as a slow burn, gaining momentum as seemingly unrelated characters and storylines begin to interweave until the shocking, explosive climax in this arthouse thriller. Parents and teachers in a small New England town are in a panic over kids playing SWEET RELIEF, an online murder challenge in which the player must nominate someone they'd like to see die. Three teenagers play the game as a joke, unaware of the dire consequences a

This week it's all about DANCES WITH FILMS on BEHIND THE LENS, which is taking place right now at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. Get ready for one of the most fun-filled and hilarious, yet philosophical, conversations about filmmaking as writer/director/editor/cinematographer JESSE COWELL breaks down his award-winning short film B!TCH I'M EARLY. B!TCH I'M EARLY is brought to us by JESSE "JESKID" COWELL, and is a comedy short that follows two women in the corporate world vying for a promotion. Their conflict escalates from arguments to a race to the office. The six-minute film satirizes corporate culture with effective comedic timing and increasing tension while also providing tacit commentary on ageism, racism, and diversity. Now we shift gears for the thirst-quenching tasty treat, the series pilot. Directed by SERGIO COMACHO and written by JONATHAN ADELSON, UNITED CRAFTS OF AMERICA offers an intimate look into America's most vibrant craft beer cities, uncovering the

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we've got a lotta laughs thanks to director/writer/producer GREG PORPER and co-director/co-writer/ and editor JOHN SCHIMKE, who talk about their new, and often side-splitting comedy that opens this Friday, DON'T TELL LARRY. And who doesn't love musical theater, especially fresh off last week's exhilarating Tony Awards? Also on hand talking about their new film and first collaboration, EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT, are two filmmakers whose work I have long admired, director JON S. BAIRD and writer/producer STEVEN ROGERS. Kicking things off is my exclusive interview with director JON S. BAIRD and his partner in crime for EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT, writer STEVEN ROGERS. EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT is a love letter to the theater and everyone who had a dream. A dramedy at heart, as we hear with the rousing opening strains "There's No Business Like Show Business", we meet the Smart family. Led by Buddy and Macy Smart,

This is a fun episode of BEHIND THE LENS as I'm doing something this week that I haven't done before – and that is give you an interview with a film's director, followed by my interview with his cinematographer. The film is the thriller BARRON'S COVE. The director/writer is EVAN ARI KELMAN. The cinematographer is MATTHEW JENSEN. But hilarity also ensues today thanks to co-writers/directors DAVID JOSEPH CRAIG and BRIAN CRANO as they talk about their new laugh-filled collaboration, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU. First up, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU. Based on their own life experiences, David and Brian give us Dom (Nick Kroll) and Cole (Andrew Rannells), a couple on the verge of adopting a baby, embark on an Italian vacation — the perfect opportunity to reconnect before the new addition arrives. Everything is picture-perfect, the epitome of a European babymoon, when things begin to spiral out of control. Lost on the way to dinner, their car gets stuck in a ditch, stranding them in rural now

A fun BEHIND THE LENS for you this week, thanks to writer/director CARLYLE EUBANK, who joins me talking about his feature directorial debut, BROKE, and director JAMES BAMFORD, who breaks it all down for THE LAST GUNFIGHT. Some of you might recognize Carlyle's name and if you do, it's probably thanks to "The Signal" which was written by Carlyle and directed and co-written by his brother William, or "Muzzle" starring Aaron Eckhardt which he co-wrote with William and which was directed by John Stalberg, Jr. But as Carlyle now steps into the director's chair with BROKE, this is 100% Carlyle Eubank. BROKE is a contemporary western that follows the story of True Brandywine, played by Wyatt Russell, a bareback bronc rider clinging to his fading rodeo career. When True gets trapped in a freak spring blizzard, he must battle injuries, illness, and the bitter cold. While fighting for his survival, True is forced to face his choices and the circumstances that led him to his tenuous

This week on BEHIND THE LENS it's all about horror as we take a look at two distinctly different types of horror films and three talented filmmakers. One film, ROSARIO, is dark and twisted and steeped in ancient lore and curses and comes from FELIPE VARGAS. The other, A BREED APART, courtesy of THE FURST BROTHERS, NATHAN FURST and GRIFF FURST, has a lighter comedic bent that may have you rethinking getting yourself a cute, cuddly puppy, but is a horror film horror nevertheless, and with a bit of action thrown in. First up, NATHAN FURST and GRIFF FURST, aka THE FURST BROTHERS, co-writers, co-directors, and co-editors of A BREED APART. A BREED APART is the tale of a group of social media influencers who find themselves on a private island owned by the famous Vince Ventura. Expecting a weekend of unrivaled viral opportunity, it doesn't take long before our five "contestants" find themselves as part of their own horrific reality show when the guests are pitted against each other to captur

An interesting movie mix for you this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to director DUNCAN SKILES and his new film NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, and director LORCAN FINNEGAN and his latest THE SURFER. As different as night and day, both films showcase storytelling creativity and some incredible – and indelible – performances, most notably from Nic Cage in THE SURFER. First up, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. Directed by DUNCAN SKILES, who you may know best for directing THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH rises and falls on the compelling mystery plot and the performances by Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Ed and Jack Quaid as Simon. As you will hear from Duncan in this pre-recorded exclusive interview, he was drawn to writer Sean Farley's script for its unique and heartwarming dynamic between Ed and Simon. Duncan found it sweet, bittersweet, and not overly sentimental. The script had a mix of elements – thrills, mystery, and comedy – which appealed to him, and which he brings to life with a naturalistic look and feel thanks to

It's a fun BEHIND THE LENS this week thanks to writer/director/actor Rachel Suissa who I spoke with a few weeks ago specifically for today's show which is a salute to Mothers and Mother's Day courtesy of Rachel's new film GREEK MOTHERS NEVER DIE. Based on Rachel's own life, mapcap adventures, and mother-daughter angst, GREEK MOTHERS NEVER DIE is a love letter not only to Rachel's own mother, but mothers everywhere. Written, directed and starring Rachel Suissa, GREEK MOTHERS NEVER DIE is a delightful rom-com, brimming with Greek passion and plenty of family drama, as late bloomer Ella dreams of becoming a singer, but her overbearing Greek mother, Despina insists she take over the Gyros business and marry a Greek man. Rachel is animated, engaging, and thoughtful, all things that you'll hear in this exclusive conversation as we break down every element of the film, starting with highlighting its universal appeal and personal connections that it evokes. Rachel bares it all

I think you'll enjoy this week's BEHIND THE LENS and the films we are discussing, but more than that, the filmmakers and actors I'm speaking with. Some jam-packed interviews today as we kick things off with my exclusive interview with actors CLAES BANG and JONAH HAUER-KING, together with writer/director NICK HAMM talking about his beautiful epic WILLIAM TELL. And then you'll hear from writer and executive producer CHARLENE DAVIS and director/producer DAFNA YACHIN discussing their new film, RELATIVE CONTROL. This first interview is one of those times I wish we could have done the interview in person; of course, I wish that with every interview. But in this case, these three gentlemen are so much fun and have such a wonderful rapport that I know that being together in person would have been an even bigger blast than what you're about to hear. I'm talking about CLAES BANG, JONAH HAUER-KING, and NICK HAMM and their wonderful film, WILLIAM TELL. Written and directed by Nick, based on

This week on BEHIND THE LENS we're going from the Old West down into the deep blue, or not so blue, sea, discussing two wonderful films with two terrific filmmakers – LAST BREATH and GUNSLINGERS. First up, take a listen to my exclusive interview with director ALEX PARKINSON talking about LAST BREATH. Currently in theatres, LAST BREATH is a heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface. Based on a true story of events that occurred in 2012, as well as Alex's 2019 documentary on the incident, LAST BREATH is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible. Then it's time to hear from writer, director, and editor BRIAN SKIBA talking about his new film, the rootin' tootin' western GUNSLINGERS. Talk about a fun film! Action packed, lots of shootouts, a hanging, a solid story with amazing cast, cinematic in scope th

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we're talking about a very special film about a very special woman that was made by another special woman. The film is AUDREY'S CHILDREN and that special woman is pioneering pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans and her groundbreaking work in the 1960s and 70s at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, or CHOP as it is more commonly known. And that special filmmaker is director AMI CANAAN MANN. AUDREY'S CHILDREN tells the untold true story of visionary British physician Dr. Audrey Evans, who burst onto the scene in 1969 as the first female Chief of Oncology at the world-renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Battling sexism, medical conventions, and the subterfuge of her peers, Evans developed the first Neuroblastoma Staging System, co-founded the first Ronald McDonald House with the Philadelphia Eagles for families of CHOP cancer patients, and, ultimately, impacted the lives of millions of children and families around the world. It was wonderful

This week on BEHIND THE LENS is my exclusive interview with writer/director/costume designer/producer and actor Colin Henning as he talks about his feature directorial debut, the beautifully moody and metaphoric APPALACHIAN DOG. Not only am I enchanted by this sultry, post-WWII, Southern Gothic delight, but by Colin himself who is already one of my favorite filmmakers of the next generation. He is articulate and thoughtful both in discussing the film and with the film itself. Every frame shows Colin's care, thought, and purpose in the production and his performance. Written & Directed by Colin Henning, APPALACHIAN DOG stars, among others, Georgia Morgan, Hayleigh Hart Franklin, Brooke Elizabeth, Colin Henning, and Aaron J Stewart and was shot on location in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and, as you will see on watching the film, in the dead of winter. APPALACHIAN DOG is a Southern Gothic tale about husband and wife, Marion and Teddy, and Marion's friends Peggie, Cate, and Andrew.

Hilarity ensues this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to director/co-writer/actor ROB TAYLOR and co-writer/producer/actor NIC COSTA as they discuss their wild and wacky new comedy film RAGING MIDLIFE in this exclusive interview! And what a wild and wacky ride it is! RAGING MIDLIFE is the story of Mark and Alex (wonderfully played by Matt Zak and Nic Costa, respectively), two fanboys who are on a quest to recover a cherished 80s wrestling tank top worn by their idol, "Raging Abraham Lincoln," after Tyler, a grieving daughter determined to fulfill her late father's wish to be torched in the shirt, outbids them in an online auction. Hilarity ensues as Mark and Alex will stop at nothing to find and retrieve this beloved tank top they lost as children, except maybe romance, as sparks fly between Alex and Tyler, forcing Alex to choose between love and the ultimate piece of wrestling memorabilia, not to mention his lifelong BFF Mark. As you will quickly hear, it's not just RAGING MIDLIFE that&apo