Behind The Lens

It's another taut and tense episode of BEHIND THE LENS as writer/director/actor JEFF KNITE joins us live discussing his latest entry in the horror realm – THE OMICRON KILLER. Plus, you'll hear my exclusive interview with the incredible BARRY PEPPER talking about his latest film BRING HIM TO ME and more! Long on my bucket list of talent to interview is BARRY PEPPER and after many decades we finally get to chat and about a film that truly speaks to what Barry brings to the table with every film and performance. Take a listen as we discuss the action-packed pot-boiler BRING HIM TO ME, having a car as a character co-star, doing his own stunt work, working on indie films, and more. Plus, we delve into Barry's approach to roles and his considerations in choosing them, some or his prior catalogue (including Crawl!) and we even take a look back at one of Barry's best performances in a film as timely as ever, Bitter Harvest. Then listen as writer/director/actor JEFF KNITE talks about his new fi

You're in for some chills and thrills in this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome SEBASTIEN DROUIN direct from Paris, plus our exclusive interview with the fabulous NELMS brothers – ESHOM and IAN. Both films are at the top of my "Must See" viewing list thus far for 2024! Kicking off this episode of #BTLRadioShow is another exclusive interview with two of my favorite filmmakers ESHOM NELMS and IAN NELMS. I fell in love with their hard-hitting, action-packed filmmaking and storytelling with "Fatman" starring Mel Gibson. And as they promised me then, they are back with another impressive, riveting pot-boiling crime thriller RED RIGHT HAND starring Orlando Bloom, Andie MacDowell, Garret Dillahunt, and more. Take a listen as we dive into every element of RED RIGHT HAND from lighting and lensing to rapier editing, finding pace, impeccable casting and performances, shooting action, score and sound, practical effects and yes, bloodshed! Then #BTLRadioShow goes global as writer/direct

If you missed this episode of BEHIND THE LENS live, catch up now as it's a fun-filled upbeat rom-commish show that's just out of this world with everything from Willie Nelson to a multi-year galactic romance. First up is my exclusive interview with the delightful and engaging writer/director EVA HASSMANN who makes her feature film directorial debut with WILLIE AND ME, a film that not only boasts Willie Nelson among its cast, but one that is written specifically around his songs. Plus, Eva talks about working with Peter Bogdanovich in what is his final onscreen appearance. A wonderful conversation discussing a charming and fun film. Then, writer/director MICHAEL LUKK LITWAK joins us live talking about his feature film directorial debut, MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE. One of my favorite fun films of the year, listen as Michael dives into, among others, the practical in-camera designs and effects that shape this engaging and heartfelt story. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

Catch up now with this exciting episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to MIKE TAYLOR and his new film THERE IS A MONSTER, plus our exclusive interview with ROXINE HELBERG talking COLD COPY. First up, take a listen to my exclusive interview with writer/director ROXINE HELBERG talking about her feature directorial debut, the powerful and fascinating, COLD COPY. And then get ready as writer/director MIKE TAYLOR joins us live discussing his new film, THERE IS A MONSTER. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

It's all about tension and drama on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to writer/director JOE MAGGIO talking about his new film BLISS while director GABRIELA COWPERTHWAITE talks I.S.S. First up take a listen to my exclusive interview with GABRIELA COWPERTHWAITE discussing her new nail-biting narrative feature I.S.S. And then JOE MAGGIO joins us live fresh off the Slamdance world premiere of his new film BLISS! http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

Catch up now and take a listen to this week's episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome director ANDREW Baird talking about his new film SUNRISE. Plus, my exclusive interview with director RENNY HARLIN discussing his latest, THE BRICKLAYER. First up, listen as director RENNY HARLIN talks about THE BRICKLAYER, an honest-to-goodness old school action spy thriller starring Aaron Eckhart, Nina Dobrov, and Tim Blake Nelson. Breaking down the film and its various elements, we dive into the cinematography, sound design, action and stunts, practical in-camera work, actors (most notably Eckhart) doing all of their own stunts, and more. And Renny also gives us some tidbits on his reboot of THE STRANGERS (opening in May) and more! Then director ANDREW BAIRD is with us live talking about his new film SUNRISE starring Alex Pettyfer and Guy Pearce. A slo-burn thriller, Andrew goes into detail about character and the importance of location (shooting multiple locations in Ireland for the feel of the Pacific Northwest i

#BTLRadioShow kicks off YEAR TEN with a very special guest – Academy Award winner TOM SCHULMAN who joins us live discussing his new film which he wrote and directed, the pot-boiling DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH. Plus, you'll hear my exclusive interview with writer/director BILL OLIVER talking about his emotionally powerful film OUR SON. First up, take a listen as writer/director BILL OLIVER talks about OUR SON; an emotional, very human, powerhouse starring Luke Evans and Billy Porter in a gut-punching story of a gay couple now going their separate ways but with their son caught in the middle. Porter is more than award-worthy. Listen as Bill and I break down the film's elements and how each supports the very human themes of this story, diving into the cinematography and particularly blocking and lighting, score, casting, the impetus for the story itself, and more. Then listen as writer/director (and Academy Award winner) TOM SCHULMAN joins me live discussing at length his new film DOUBLE DOWN SOUTH – a charac

A very special BEHIND THE LENS this week as my pal, the incomparable musician/director/author/producer FRANK MEYER joins us LIVE in studio as we say goodbye to 2023 and wrap up Nine Years of BTL with 90-minutes of hijinks and hilarity! With FRANK MEYER in the house, fun is the watchword of the day and what a fun show this is as we hear three original Christmas songs written by Frank and performed by him acoustically live in-studio (and what an eclectic group of songs it is!). And we talk music and movies; lots of different movies from franchises and sequels to holiday horror of the past to new holiday films of 2023 and how about those films that we think are Christmas films but aren't acknowledged as so. Of course, Frank regales us with some of his "unique" and memorable concert performances while I break out some cherished 70-year-old mementos – holiday recordings from the legendary Dick Clark. But we also look ahead to 2024 with Frank's upcoming concert tour in Spain with the Trading

It's a mix and match on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome filmmakers TYLOR NORWOOD talking FIRELINE and JUSTIN BEST talking about SHERYL, plus our exclusive interview with director REGINALD HUDLIN talking CANDY CANE LANE. Thanks to having to juggle some "missing" talent while live on-air, you get the added bonus of our prerecorded exclusive interview with director REGINALD HUDLIN talking about CANDY CANE LANE to kick off the show and put us in a holiday mood. Then filmmaker TYLOR NORWOOD joins us to discuss his documentary FIRELINE, an up close and personal look on the firelines of the Dixie Fire in California as experienced and seen through the eyes of men holding the line. And then we say hello to writer/director JUSTIN BEST who joins us live talking about his delicious dark dark comedy revenge thriller SHERYL. Just what lengths will a woman (or man) go to in the pursuit of the perfect face and body, especially as a means to keep their man and feel wanted? Intriguing themes and

This week BEHIND THE LENS welcomes SEAN McEWEN to talk about his new narrative feature film AMERICAN OUTLAWS while LILA SCHMITZ joins us to discuss her Irish music documentary THE JOB OF SONGS. First up, writer/director SEAN McEWEN joins us at the top of the show to talk about his latest feature, AMERICAN OUTLAWS, based on the true story of the Dougherty siblings and their cross-country crime spree as they embark on a journey in search of home, safety, happiness, and freedom south of the border. A situational character study set within the confines of a road trip, Sean delivers an up close and personal look into the mindset of these three siblings. A fascinating discussion with Sean as he talks about the making of AMERICAN OUTLAWS from script to screen, including gaining access to and meeting with each of the three Dougherty siblings who are currently incarcerated at three different prisons. Then writer/director/editor LILA SCHMITZ joins us discussing her feature directorial THE JOB OF SONGS, the lively,

HO, HO, HO! The holiday season is upon us and what better way to kick it off on BEHIND THE LENS than talking all things Santa and Christmas with JASON WINER and THE SANTA CLAUSES Season 2, and ALBERTO BELLI and THE NAUGHTY NINE! You loved the films. You loved Season 1 of THE SANTA CLAUSES, and now we've got Season 2! And what a season it is as we follow the ongoing adventures of Scott Calvin and his family who have returned to the North Pole after Scott's ridiculous idea of retirement as Santa. Listen as director and Executive Producer JASON WINER discusses what goes into the series, the story and growth of the characters and the adventures, relatability to the audience, walking the dark line of Mad Santa, bringing back franchise favorites, Easter Eggs, score and needledrops, and so much more. Then get ready as there's a new Santa in town thanks to ALBERTO BELLI and THE NAUGHTY NINE! Talk about a fun-filled film! It's holly jolly from beginning to end as we follow a group of kids unhapp

After much live on-air jiggering and juggling due to studio technical issues, BEHIND THE LENS came together with our wonderful guests AARON MURTAGH talking about his short film MAN BABY and editor NICK PEZZOLLI discussing his two new films BUTCHER'S CROSSING and YOUR LUCKY DAY. And because of the studio technical issues, you also get my exclusive interview with director NEIL BURGER talking about his latest, THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER. We kick off the show with my exclusive interview with director NEIL BURGER talking about his new film THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER. A rich slow-burn starring Daisy Ridley and an award-worthy turn by Ben Mendelsohn. Next up is filmmaker AARON MURTAGH talking about his new short film MAN BABY. Wearing multiple hats as actor, writer, director (his first directorial effort), and producer, Aaron's approach to the short and most notably the story is a personal one that utilizes the Covid-19 lockdown and the birth of his first child to create this unique – and slig

t's a fun-filled, interesting, and enlightening episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to composer MATT HUTCHINSON talking about his new film YOUR LUCKY DAY while writer/director GERALD BRUNSKILL talks about his wild and wacky out-of-this-world gem ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN! First up, MATT HUTCHINSON joins us live discussing his new film, YOUR LUCKY DAY. Always a treat for me to speak with a composer and dive into composition, instrumentation, themes, motifs, moods, and more, and with YOUR LUCKY DAY, not only do we delve into some dramatic darkness, but doing it with a holiday flair. Not an easy task for a composer! Then hear writer/director GERALD "GERRY" BRUNSKILL talk about his latest film, the wild and wacky but filled with heart, ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN. Boasting an outstanding cast that includes two of my faves – Tom Arnold and my old friend Richard Riehle – along with Jeremy Davies and Taryn Manning, ADVENTURES OF THE NAKED UMBRELLA MAN is quite honestly, out of this

Tricks, treats, mischief, and the multi-hyphenate and multi-talented filmmaker, musician, singer, author FRANK MEYER. What more could one want for an episode of BEHIND THE LENS, especially on All Hallow's Eve! That's right folks. FRANK MEYER is back in-studio for another fun-filled extended #BTLRadioShow talking about his latest documentary FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY and a few other upcoming projects. FREESTYLE 101: HIP-HOP HISTORY is a love letter to hip-hop. An eye-opening and entertaining experience for hip-hop novices and experts alike, FREESTYLE 101 crosses the musical divides with energy, passion, insight, and joy. Narrated by Chuck D of Public Enemy, we get an in-depth look at the birth of hip-hop and most particularly, freestyle hip-hop, as we follow the careers of the West Coast's Open Eagle Mike and the East Coast's Iron Solomon. Jam-packed are interviews and studio sessions with some of the legends of the genre as the film covers everything from the different styles o

Comedy ensues on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our very special guests as Writer/Director JENNIFER CRAM discusses her laugh-out-loud funny feature directorial debut SICK GIRL, while that dynamic duo KEVIN GOOD and JENNA ST. JOHN join us once again, this time discussing their long awaited riotous and sexy comedy series SEXPECTATIONS! First up, take a listen to my fellow Philadelphian writer/director JENNIFER CRAM as we talk about her feature directorial SICK GIRL starring Nina Dobrev in the tale of Wren Lawrence, the one in the friend group who hasn't grown up or moved on and then pretends to have cancer to reconnect with her friends. The cast is terrific, the comedy and antics funny, but at the core of the story there's a lot of heart, redemption, and one new friendship that just soars. A very interesting conversation with Jennifer as we dive into the balance of comedy and the seriousness of the subject matter, the benefits of having been a casting director for many years when stepping

A jam-packed and eclectic show on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as director MARC MARRIOTT talks about his new feature, the delightful fish-out-of-water tale, TOKYO COWBOY. Then we shift gears and get serious talking with writer/director JEREMY PION-BERLIN about his new documentary FAILURE TO PROTECT which takes a look at three families whose children have been taken away from them by CPS and who are now embroiled in the child welfare system and the court system. First up, take a listen as director MARC MARRIOTT discusses his new film TOKYO COWBOY. And let me just say right up front, going in I knew I was going to be a fan of the film thanks to a script by the fabulous Dave Boyle and Ayako Fujitani. I've been on Dave's bandwagon since the world premiere of his first feature film and were he not shooting in Japan right now, he would be joining us as well. A terrific fish out-of-water story with the melding of cultures, wonderful performances, nuanced character construction and character developmen

On this episode of BEHIND THE LENS we take a look at two films that speak to redemption, finding one's self, hope, faith, and inspiration and hear from two passionate and talented filmmakers as NADINE CROCKER talks about DESPERATION ROAD while KYLE WILLIAM ROBERTS discusses WHAT RHYMES WITH REASON. First up is my prerecorded exclusive interview with director NADINE CROCKER talking about her new film DESPERATION ROAD. A story of redemption, DESPERATION ROAD is a Southern noir thriller written by Michael Farris Smith based on his novel of the same name. Stunning cinematography and powerhouse performances by Garrett Hedlund, Willa Fitzgerald, Mel Gibson, and a breakout performance by Pyper Braun pull you deep into rural Mississippi as twists and turns make the road to redemption a desperate one for more than one person. An energetic and upbeat conversation with Nadine in which we dive deep into the minutiae of making DESPERATION ROAD lets you know what a gifted and attentive storyteller and filmmaker she i

It's an enlightening, educational, and entertaining show this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to director ANDY PALMER and his new film THE RE-EDUCATION OF MOLLY SINGER, and documentarian TRACY DROZ TRAGOS and her new film PLAN C! Take a listen as we kick off the show with director ANDY PALMER who is with us live chatting about his new comedy THE RE-EDUCATION OF MOLLY SINGER! Sweet, funny, filled with some raucous collegiate hijinks, loaded with charm and terrific performances, Andy and I hit the books and dive into all of the cinematic chapters that bring THE RE-EDUCATION OF MOLLY SINGER to life. Covering everything from casting (fabulous performances from most notably Britt Robertson, Ty Simpkins, Jaime Pressly, and Nico Santos) to cinematography to editing to score and needledrops to crafting freewheeling collegiate escapades to the importance of location, color and costume, we "cram" it all in for you! And how about those "happy accidents" that often happen when working on a lo

This week's BEHIND THE LENS is all about action and fun thanks to our exclusive interviews with directors SCOTT WAUGH and ROBERT RODRIGUEZ as we take a look at the latest additions to two beloved franchises – EXPEND4BLES and SPY KIDS ARMAGEDDON! First up, take a listen to my exclusive interview with director SCOTT WAUGH talking all things EXPEND4BLES! A lot of talking about the action, martial arts, stunt work, and explosions…lots of explosions… not to mention the fun of the franchise and this latest addition. And how about an inverted motorcycle jump atop an "aircraft carrier"? A real wow moment to be sure. And yes folks, EXPEND4BLES really is a rock 'em, shock 'em, blow 'em all to hell thrill ride! Then it's all about family fun as in this exclusive interview with director/editor/cinematographer/co-writer ROBERT RODRIGUEZ talking about his new film, SPY KIDS ARMAGEDDON. A film for families made by a family, Robert talks about working with his son Racer Max in writing the

We're jumping into Fall with this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to two very special guests – BRYAN RUBY and ROBERT MANN – talking about some of my favorite things, baseball, music, and a new horror movie just in time for Halloween! Batting first this week is professional ballplayer turned country singer/songwriter, BRYAN RUBY talking about his new single "Centerfield", his music career, baseball, his personal trajectory as the first professional baseball player to come out as gay in 2021, and his non-profit Proud To Be In Baseball. A fun-filled, energetic, and interesting conversation. Also knocking it out of the park with a perfect film to kick off the month of Halloween is writer/director/editor ROBERT MANN who also joins us live talking about his creepy, bloody, and chilling new film R BNB, just perfect for that tingly Fall feeling! One watch of this film and you'll think twice about checking into a BNB! Listen as we find out all the secrets to making R BNB as frightening as it