Behind The Lens

This episode of #BTLRadioShow goes "ape" with musicals, mayhem, and monkeyshines as we talk about EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE in our exclusive interview with MAX HARWOOD and LAUREN PATEL, along with welcoming acclaimed documentarian ALEX M. AZMI and GABI SKOLLAR, Director of The Gibbon Center, to talk about their film THE CENTER: GIBBONS AND GUARDIANS. First up you'll hear our exclusive interview with two of the brightest new stars on the horizon, MAX HARWOOD and LAUREN PATEL, as they talk about their fabulous new musical EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE. Fun-filled and fantastic, Max and Lauren are like a breath of fresh air on the cinematic canvas – as is their film. Candid and enthusiastic, you'll fall in love with these young talents who make their feature film debuts with ETAJ! EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE is streaming on Amazon Prime! But then a real treat as we welcome ALEX M. AZMI live to talk about his latest documentary THE CENTER: GIBBONS AND GUARDIANS.

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, a reflection on 9/11 and the Victim's Compensation Fund and Special Master Ken Feinberg with our prerecorded exclusive interview with director SARA COLANGELO talking about WORTH, and then a shift to something lighter as writer/director JON SHERMAN is live talking about his new film THEY/THEM/US. First up this week is a surprise non-scheduled prerecorded exclusive interview with director SARA COLANGELO talking in-depth about one of the complex issues surrounding the attacks of 9/11, the Victim Compensation Fund, now brought to the big screen with the narrative film WORTH. Written by Max Borenstein and adapted from Special Master attorney Ken Feinberg's memoirs, WORTH is a film that's more than worth your time and your compassion. Already known for her exemplary storytelling with the acclaimed Little Accidents and The Kindergarten Teacher, with WORTH, Colangelo ups the ante to deliver a powerful and compelling cinematic telling of this chapter in the history of 9/11

This is a very special edition of BEHIND THE LENS as we not only welcome back director/editor NICK FITURI SCOWN to the show, but we reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 as seen through the eyes of comedy and laughter with TOO SOON: COMEDY AFTER 9/11, Nick's debut documentary feature which he co-directed with comedy journalist Julie Seabaugh. Nick also served as the film's editor. An in-depth interesting conversation. For those of us alive in September 2001, we remember the event and the aftermath; the shock, the horror, the confusion, the pain, the sorrow. In the blink of an eye, our world changed. Life seemingly came to a stop. And so did the laughter. We were frozen, wondering when life would resume as it was. As we now know, life never went back to what it was, but what did finally return was the communal experience of laughter. Comedy is cathartic. For so many of us, through laughter, and specifically comedy and comedians and late-night talk show hosts, we almost got "permission"

This week on BEHIND THE LENS we take a look at two films, both of which speak to the heart of Americana and humanity – THE COLONY and SAVING PARADISE thanks to SEBASTIAN ROCHE and JAY SILVERMAN, respectively. Kicking off this episode is our prerecorded exclusive interview with SEBASTIAN ROCHE talking about his new film, THE COLONY. Probably best known for his role as the villainous Jerry Jacks on "General Hospital" or his decades of recurring characters on the big and small screens, including Reichminister Hausmann in "The Man in the High Castle", Balthazar in "Supernatural", Mikael in "Vampire Diaries" or most recently as Sheriff Wagy in the acclaimed "Big Sky", with THE COLONY, get ready to see Sebastian in a new light. Set in the distant future, female astronaut Blake is shipwrecked on the long-decimated Earth, and along with a small colony of survivors, is forced to determine the fate of the planet and humanity. Sebastian plays Blake's father, a tie

Happiness, joy, and a bit of whimsy take over BEHIND THE LENS today as we look at two very special films with some very special filmmakers – CRYPTOZOO and our exclusive interview with DASH SHAW and JANE SAMBORSKI, and WELCOME TO HAPPINESS with writer/director/composer OLIVER THOMPSON. First up, is my exclusive interview with writer/director DASH SHAW and animation director JANE SAMBORSKI, the incredible team behind the breathtaking, allegorical, kaleidoscopic, psychedelic, animated delight – CRYPTOZOO. A fantastical tale that follows cryptozookeepers through a richly-drawn hallucinatory world as they seek out the mythical Baku, a dream-eating hybrid creature that looks much like a pig and baby elephant swirling in bubbles, CRYPTOZOO raises thought-provoking discussion as the keepers/conservationists begin to wonder if they should display wondrous creatures like the Baku in a zoo or hide them and keep them safe from harm. With the military also seeking out the Baku for nefarious purposes, while wanting to kil

It's an action-packed show this week as we go from the adventure and action of cruising the Amazon and our chat with JUNGLE CRUISE VFX Supervisor LUKE MILLAR, to fun-filled conversation with stuntman-turned-director JOSH TESSIER talking hard-core mafioso battles with Russians, Italians, good cops, bad cops, and an informant caught in the middle and bringing it all to life with his feature directorial debut OVERRUN. First up, take a listen to our prerecorded exclusive interview with LUKE MILLAR, Weta Digital's VFX Supervisor, talking about JUNGLE CRUISE! Although several VFX houses contributed to the film, it fell to WETA to handle some of the trickier and most important key effects of the film, among them, creating the beautiful jaguar Proxima as well as those dangerous whitewater rapids and hungry hungry piranhas! Luke and I dive in head-first talking about the technological wonders of Weta and the magic of Disney in bringing the JUNGLE CRUISE to life and some of the visual challenges faced and h

It's an interesting mix of films we're talking about on this episode of BTL Radio Show thanks to our special guest producer JESSICA DEVANEY who is back with us to talk about her latest film, the Netflix documentary PRAY AWAY. And we've got our exclusive interview with stuntman/stunt coordinator turned director PETER "DRAGO" TIEMANN talking about his feature directorial debut THE STAIRS! Kicking off today's show is our exclusive interview with PETER "DRAGO" TIEMANN. Stuntman/Stunt Coordinator, Drago now makes his writing/directing feature narrative debut with the edge-of-your-seat thriller, THE STAIRS. Take a listen as Peter and I delve into the story of THE STAIRS and "the making of" from story to characters to casting to editing and pacing to action to cinematography to practical effects (a man on fire) to sound to working with a colorist to collaboration to character drive vs action driven and more. Knowledgeable, articulate, and so much fun, take a listen

It's a wild episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guests KATHRYN O'SULLIVAN and PAUL AWAD as we talk about their new film A SAVAGE NATURE, plus our exclusive interview with writer/director NICK BARTON talking about the legendary Dalton Gang with his film DEATH ALLEY! First up is our exclusive interview with writer/director NICK BARTON as we talk about his latest film – DEATH ALLEY! You've heard of Jesse James, Belle Starr, the James-Younger gang? But what about the Dalton Gang? While so often glossed over in the history books, the Daltons tried to pull off the impossible on October 5, 1892 – rob two banks in the same town. Only Emmett Dalton lived to tell about that day. This is the Daltons' story of their final 48 hours before their demise in Coffeyville. Take a listen as Nick pulls out his cinematic six-shooter going in-depth on the appeal of the Western, the Daltons' story, story construct, challenges of working with horses/actors/pyrotechnics/gunfights, developing a v

Miss this episode of BEHIND THE LENS live? Time to catch up with all of this week's fun thanks to writer/director HARRY GREENBERGER talking HERE AFTER, plus our exclusive interview with CHRISTOPHER SHOWERMAN talking about his new thriller, DOUBLE BLIND! First up, take a listen to our exclusive interview with the wonderful Christopher Showerman talking about his new film, DOUBLE BLIND. A noirish thriller written and directed by Thomas D. Moser, DOUBLE BLIND stars Chris along with Jennifer Jarrett, Charles Mitchell, Katharine Phillips Moser, and Madeline Moser. A cat and mouse game of survival that touches on big pharma and science, family, and survival, Chris dives deep into the "making of" as not only does he head up this small ensemble, he is a boots-on-the-ground producer; plus, he's a helluva lot of fun. From acting to producing to developing the onscreen relationships to storytelling and what the future may hold for him, we cover it all, including one of the funniest anecdotes you wi

This week on BEHIND THE LENS it's a blend of crime and Christmas as we take a look at DOWNEAST with our exclusive interview with GREG FINLEY and JOE RAFFA, and then we put on some ho-ho-ho holiday cheer with COREY MOSS and WHITE ELEPHANT. First up, you'll hear our exclusive interview with actor/producer GREG FINLEY and writer/director JOE RAFFA talking about DOWNEAST. A character-driven crime thriller set and shot in Maine, DOWNEAST is a real potboiler that while immersing us in the seacoast life of Portland, steeps us in the elements of the darker underbelly of mob madness and murder and the ambiguity that creates within everyone. Listen as Joe and Greg talk about the story and Greg's hometown inspiration for this tale, the importance of authenticity with the people and the places, capturing all the shades of grey and the ambiguities of life not only through story and dialogue, but with imagery and the visual tonal bandwidth, shooting during a Portland winter, the wonderful community and loc

It's my favorite week of the year, folks! SHARK WEEK! And "moviesharkd" is kicking off the week with all kinds of sharks starting with MARTIN WILSON talking GREAT WHITE. Then SASHA COLLINGTON joins us live talking her new film LOVE TYPE D and all those sharks swimming around the dating pool! Opening this Friday in limited release theatres across the US, plus available On Demand and Digital, is GREAT WHITE. Can't kick off Shark Week without a new shark movie and GREAT WHITE is one helluva shark tale!! It is killer!! Guaranteed to bite into you with tension, excitement, adventure, and a killer shark, take a listen to our exclusive interview with director MARTIN WILSON as we dive deep into the making of GREAT WHITE. From shooting in the beautiful waters off the coast of Northern Queensland Australia to Tony O'Loughlan's exquisite cinematography, to finding and casting a perfect ensemble, to Lawrie Silverstein's editing and finding that ever-increasing tension in the air, in t

This week on #BTLRadioShow we're going from the Great Depression with 12 MIGHTY ORPHANS and writer/director TY ROBERTS to Chinatown in Los Angeles with screenwriter CHRIS JOHNSON and BAD DETECTIVES. Joining us live this week at the midpoint of the show is executive producer and screenwriter CHRIS JOHNSON talking about his new film – and first feature – BAD DETECTIVES, a thriller mystery about two former friends who inherit their grandfathers' detective agency in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles. Now forced to "tolerate" each other, the two set out on their first case – proving their grandfathers were murdered. Take a listen as Chris talks about the inspiration for this culturally diverse story that incorporates elements of the beloved film noir genre, a diverse group of characters and actors, efficiency and effectiveness of production design and locations, his collaborative relationship with director Presley Paras, development of the project and bringing it to life, and more. But first

A female-centric fun BEHIND THE LENS with this episode thanks to producer JESSICA DEVANEY and director D.W. THOMAS. First up, we're welcoming JESSICA DEVANEY, producer and founder/president of Multitude Films who joins us live off fresh off the world premiere at Tribeca of her latest film, PRAY AWAY. Just in time for Pride Month, Jessica talks about the genesis of Multitude Films and its mission. An LGBTQ-led independent production company, Multitude is dedicated to telling non-fiction stories by and about underrepresented communities. Listen as Jessica talks about founding Multitude, finding and developing stories, working hands-on/boots on the ground as a producer with specific films, film financing and hybridization, and more. Plus, just prior to airtime, the development deal between Steven Spielberg and Netflix was announced and we get Jessica's first impressions about streaming versus theatrical releasing, particularly in light of the Spielberg deal. Then get ready because co-writer/director

We're taking a look at life, love, and death in this week's BEHIND THE LENS with special guest writer/director ANNA ELIZABETH JAMES talking about her new film, DEADLY ILLUSIONS. Plus, hear our exclusive interview with writer/director SEBASTIAN SIEGEL talking about the emotionally powerful GRACE AND GRIT. Joining us live is writer/director ANNA ELIZABETH JAMES talking about her delicious new film, DEADLY ILLUSIONS. Starring Kristin Davis as a bestselling female novelist suffering from writer's block who becomes spellbound by her children's caregiver, things take a dangerous turn as writer Morrison begins to indulge in the fantasies of her latest bestseller in a blurring of the lines between fantasy and reality. Listen as Anna talks about the inspiration for the film, the importance of casting not only Kristin Davis but Greer Grammer and their necessary dynamic as the driving force of the film, working with cinematographer Mike McMillin to establish the perfect visual tonal bandwidth, editi

A "wordly" episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guest HARRY MAVROMICHALIS who is on hand talking about his documentary OLYMPIA, plus our exclusive interview with MICHAEL HAUSSMAN talking EDGE OF THE WORLD. Writer/director/editor HARRY MAVROMICHALIS is with us live talking about his debut documentary feature, OLYMPIA. A cinema verite styled look at the legendary Olympia Dukakis, the film is a multi-year project that melds interviews from family and colleagues, archival footage, an in-depth look at Olympia's theatre work, her activism, her Greek heritage and so much more, as Olympia provides her own take on life, death, and love. Listen to an engaging conversation with Harry as he talks about the making of OLYMPIA, his inspiration for the documentary, his persistence that led to Olympia Dukakis finally saying "yes", assembling footage, obtaining archival materials and blending those with present-day footage, finding a through-line, his lessons learned and challenges faced

Jam-packed, fun-filled, and interesting episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guest, the multi-talented MINDY BLEDSOE talking her new film, THE IN-BETWEEN, plus our pre-recorded exclusive interview with DAVID CHARBONIER and JUSTIN POWELL talking their latest film, THE DJINN. Remember that old adage, "Be careful what you wish for"? We're about to find out why that is thanks to filmmakers DAVID CHARBONIER and JUSTIN POWELL and their latest film, THE DJINN, the tale of a mute boy alone in his apartment who makes a wish to fulfill his heart's greatest desire – to have a voice – only to find himself trapped with a sinister being, THE DJINN. A film reliant on sound and visuals, and a powerful performance from Ezra Dewey, this is a film – and interview – not to be missed. Take a listen as David and Justin not only talk about the making of THE DJINN – and particularly that sound design – and casting the wonderful Ezra Dewey, but also their second film The Boy Behind The Door which was

Things get a little wild and wacky on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to some comedic hijinks with director PAUL TANTER talking STEALING CHAPLIN, while screenwriter EMMA NEEDELL talks about creating THE WATER MAN. First up, take a listen to our prerecorded exclusive interview with screenwriter EMMA NEEDELL talking about THE WATER MAN, David Oyelowo's beautiful directorial debut. An interesting discussion on Emma's writing process, developing this story, finding tone and translating that to the page, and more. And yes, I want a graphic novel or storybook of this wonderful tale! And then, a big welcome to director PAUL TANTER who talks in-depth about his new film STEALING CHAPLIN, an absolute "Must See" film for 2021! A comedy of errors that stems from the real-life graverobbing of Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland in the 1970's, with a shift the location to Las Vegas, add in a few bumbling con men, some mobsters, and Wayne Newton and you've got a fun dark comedic romp. And

We've got plenty of laughs on this episode of BEHIND THE LENS thanks to special guests ERIC SILVERA & SEAN KENEALY, but we've also got a fascinating exclusive interview that takes us into the history and heart of Australia with STEPHEN MAXWELL JOHNSON. HIGH GROUND is already one of my "Must See Films" of the year, and talking in-depth about the film, the history behind it, and the cultural history of the Aboriginal people and its importance in the world, is director STEPHEN MAXWELL JOHNSON in this pre-recorded exclusive conversation. A powerful human drama based on just one of the many Frontier events that occurred between the British and the native Aboriginal people in Australia in the early 20th Century, HIGH GROUND stars Simon Baker in this exploration of people vs power, culture and identity, and gives a new perspective to that long accepted. Baker, together with Jacob Junior Nayinggul, steal the heart and touch the soul. Listen as Stephen talks about shooting on sacred lands in

HERE WE GO! It's time for some laughter, some tears, and even a bit of head-scratching with this episode of BEHIND THE LENS with our special guests, filmmakers IVO RAZO and BRIAN MORRISON! Take a listen as writer/director IVO RAZO talks about his film, the mockumentary/satire/parody, REBOOT CAMP. (Heads up folks, Chaz Bono is in the film and he is really one of the reasons to watch!) The story of two brothers who create the fake self-help group, REBOOT CAMP, led by the fictional "Gordon St. Pierre" (expertly played by David Lipper), in order to make an expose-type documentary about fake gurus and the ease with which people are conned into believing anything and everything. Surprisingly, this fabricated REBOOT CAMP becomes a hit and garners a devoted following. But what happens when the tables turn on the brothers and an interloper upsets their apple cart? With an all-star cast, some acting in character and others as themselves, Ivo talks about the logistical challenges of shooting and meshing

Delving into some darkness on this episode of #BTLRadioShow we take a look at the 93rd Academy Awards show with the good, the bad, and the ugly (Swarovski tv spots were the big winners of the night while NO ZOOM was a godsend), and then welcome writer/director TJ MARINE talking about his new film, AT NIGHT COMES WOLVES, followed by writer/director TRACY LUCCA talking DARK STATE. A determined filmmaker, take a listen as TJ MARINE talks about crafting the thriller AT NIGHT COMES WOLVES by taking three short films already completed and melding them into a feature with some creative editing, then using music to bring it all together to cohesive result. Then TRACY LUCCA goes in-depth talking about DARK STATE. A timely and topical look at the media, power mongers, selling of one's soul for fame, riches, and power, and all viewed under the lens of today's world, listen as Tracy talks about the story behind the film, creating a very definite visual tonal bandwidth thanks to color, the importance and power