Thu, Nov 9, 2017
April talks with the writer and producer of The Big Sick, Emily Gordon. Things get gruesome quickly as the two of them discuss the 2015 horror-western, Bone Tomahawk. April and Emily examine what makes the movie so good; the insane violence, the heartbreaking monologues, the beautiful cinematography. Plus, Emily talks about the making of The Big Sick and how she uses her psychology background in her writing.
Thu, Nov 16, 2017
This week, April sits down with director Karyn Kusama to discuss the Kathryn Bigelow vampire classic, Near Dark. The two marvel at Bigelow's mastery in crafting a vampire western, the amazing performance of Bill Paxton as the villainous Severen, and the elegant cinematography throughout the film. Plus, Karyn talks about her journey as a director from discovering Michelle Rodriguez for Girl Fight, to subverting genre expectations for Jennifer's Body.
Thu, Nov 23, 2017
April sits down with actress, producer, and director Heather Matarazzo. They talk about a movie directed by last week's guest Karyn Kusama, the 2015 film The Invitation. April and Heather discuss the effectiveness of the setting as well as the powerful performance of Tammy Blanchard. Heather also talks about what it's like navigating a corrupt Hollywood system as a woman, having her role recast two weeks before a production, and what interests her about violence committed by women in cinema.
Thu, Nov 30, 2017
April sits down with director Issa Lopez to discuss the influential Guillermo Del Toro film, Pan's Labyrinth. Issa opens up about her lonesome adolescence, the death of her mother, and how these events influenced her work. She tells April about the emotional process of working with children on her most recent film, the fantasy-horror Tigers Are Not Afraid. And she also discusses the culture of witchcraft and magic in Mexico and how that pervades many Mexican artist's work.
Thu, Dec 7, 2017
Things get spooky as April talks to director Anne Hamilton about the 2001 gothic horror film, The Others. They discuss Nicole Kidman's casting in the film, the director Alejandro Amenábar's rejection of Catholicism, and how films like these just don't exist anymore. Plus, Anne discusses what she would have done differently had she directed The Others, and what is was like working on her own gothic film, American Fable.
Thu, Dec 14, 2017
Things get steamy as April talks to actress and director Sophia Takal about the somewhat problematic Brian De Palma erotic thriller, Body Double. The two discuss how the film influenced Sophia's own work and her debut film, Always Shine. Sophia recalls her time as an actress, and the objectification that came with the audition process. They also analyze the violence against women's bodies in the film and the sexuality of Melanie Griffith's character, Holly Body. Despite its issues, April and Sophia also marvel at the craftsmanship of Brian De Palma, and how this film can be used as a template for how not to treat female characters.
Thu, Dec 21, 2017
April talks to Stranger Things and Narcos writer Jessie Nickson-Lopez about the controversial film, Rosemary's Baby. The two dive right into the complicated relationship both of them have with the film, and what makes the movie so effective. Jessie discusses how she is inspired by Roman Polanski's work, while simultaneously hating him as a person. She also shares her writing process and what it's like in the writers room. April and Jessie talk in depth about sexual assault and the sexual crimes that Roman Polanski has committed.
Thu, Dec 28, 2017
April sits down with The Love Witch director, Anna Biller, to discuss the 1952 noir thriller, Sudden Fear. Anna confesses her love for old movies and in particular the work of Joan Crawford. The two of them dissect the masterful screenplay, written by famed female screenwriter, Lenore Coffee. Plus, Anna details what it was like collaborating with Samantha Robinson on The Love Witch. She also breaks down how much time she spent on production design, including spending months making one rug for the film.
Thu, Jan 4, 2018
April talks to Pitch Perfect 3 director Trish Sie about Bong Joon-ho's frozen feature, Snowpiercer. They discuss the amazing performance of Tilda Swinton as the authoritative Mason, the commanding directorial style of Bong Joon-ho, and the train car on the Snowpiercer they'd most like to spend time in. Trish also talks about getting her start directing the famous Ok Go "treadmill video" for the song 'Here It Goes Again' and what it's like taking over an existing franchise with Pitch Perfect 3. She also shares some fascinating tidbits about the eating habits of polar bears.
Thu, Jan 11, 2018
April talks to producer, writer, and actress Lotti Pharriss Knowles about the 1978 supernatural horror, The Legacy. They discuss the hot chemistry of the leads Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott, their favorite death scenes, and, of course, cats. Plus Lotti talks about the making of her film Chastity Bites, the casting process, and her desire to produce a remake of The Legacy.
Thu, Jan 18, 2018
April talks to writer, director, and actress Marianna Palka about the undersung Star Trek film Star Trek Generations. Marianna covers what makes this particular Star Trek film so beautiful and how it has inspired her to be a better person. She also talks about her filmmaking process and how there is no reason to be unkind and frustrated on a film set. April and Marianna also dive into the work that Marianna has done to promote awareness for Huntington's disease, a disorder that runs in her family.
Thu, Jan 25, 2018
Much like Queen Latifah's character, Cleo, April is also about to set it off..with this interview. Director Tina Mabry is on this week's episode to discuss the 1996 bank heist classic. Tina goes in depth on her history with the film and how much Queen Latifah's character meant to her growing up. She also discusses her directing techniques for getting through emotional scenes, growing up in the south, and why her cinematographer refused a helicopter shot on her debut feature Mississippi Damned.
Thu, Feb 1, 2018
They have the legendary horror actress Barbara Crampton. You may know her from a number of classic horror/thrillers; Re-Animator, Body Double, From Beyond, and many others. She sits down with April to discuss last year's best french, veterinary school, cannibal film, Raw. Barbara regales April with stories from her prolific acting career, working with Brian De Palma, and eschewing the 'Scream Queen' title. She dives deep on what it takes to motivate her as an actor. Plus, they cover Barbara's thoughts on the use of sex and nudity in horror films.
Thu, Feb 8, 2018
This week April talks to writer/director Julie Hébert about the phenomenal feature debut of the Coen Brothers, Blood Simple. April and Julie delve into the genius of the directing duo and how they pulled off making such a complete movie on their first try. Julie talks about her directing style and how she likes to let the actors make most of the decisions in creating a character. She discusses working closely with Felicity Huffman. Plus, Julie tells April how she feels bad for actors auditioning, because she can actually smell the sweat of fear coming from the audition waiting room.
Thu, Feb 15, 2018
They have the star of Insidious: The Last Key, the wonderful and vibrant Lin Shaye. She speaks with April about the seminal horror film, The Shining. Lin discusses how it was actually Jack Nicholson who discovered her and cast her in the film that brought her to LA. She also talks about convincing the Farrelly brothers to cast her as the disgusting landlady in King Pin, working with James Wan on Insidious, and how she really is game to play any type of character. April also details the intense production of The Shining, the extreme techniques used to get the desired performance from Shelley Duvall, and the effort that went into the set design.
Thu, Feb 22, 2018
This week April is joined by the phenomenal writer, director, and actor Amber Benson to talk about the cult classic Night of the Comet. The two discuss the wonderful Kelli Maroney as the gun toting cheerleader, Samantha, how the film does a great job of combining horror and comedy, and how it is actually a realistic representation of being a teenager. Amber also dives into how she learned to be a filmmaker directing her first film Chance. She discusses her time on Buffy, her groundbreaking role as Tara, and the joy that comes from working on something important. She also elaborates on the need for female roles to be written with more complexity and for those characters to not be "perfect."
Thu, Mar 1, 2018
April welcomes director Leigh Janiak to discuss 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The two touch upon how Leigh's film, Honeymoon, and Invasion both contemplate the question, "What would you do if the people closest to you were suddenly not themselves?" They discuss the incredible sound design of the film and how it creates a very creepy atmosphere. Leigh elaborates on working on the Scream: TV Series and how she learned to improvise on set. They both agree that Donald Sutherland may not be the typical leading man, but that frock of permed hair is really working for him. Plus, they dive into the famous ending of the film and what it really means to be a human being.
Thu, Mar 8, 2018
You're in for a real freaky treat this week because April talks to 'Who Shot Ya?' regular, producer Drea Clark, about the under appreciated The Witch Who Came from the Sea. The two of them explore the nutty movie about a psychotic barmaid who sexually fantasizes about murdering large men. They discuss how the character remains relatable despite the murders, and how the film actually does a responsible job representing the effects of child abuse. Drea discusses how she approaches projects to produce, the realities of being an indie producer, and what her working relationship with the director is like. She also discusses her most recent film, No Light and No Land Anywhere, and its similarities to The Witch Who Came from the Sea.
Thu, Mar 15, 2018
This week they've got the amazing director Lynn Shelton talking about the mostly ignored Michael Winterbottom film, Code 46. Lynn describes the film as the "one of the most romantic films" she's ever seen. April and her dissect the "light futurism" and lack of CGI used in the movie. They discuss the amazing work of Samantha Morton and how her face really carries the emotion of the film. Lynn also talks about her new film Outside In and working with Edie Falco and Jay Duplass. She describes how she went from being an indie filmmaker living in Seattle to working constantly as a TV director for such shows as Mad Men, Fresh Off the Boat, Love, and The New Girl.
Thu, Mar 22, 2018
This week they've got the wonderful director Meera Menon to discuss Gareth Edwards' Monsters. Meera touches upon how well the film works despite the small budget and how that inspires her to create a monster movie someday. She discusses what it's like to direct using visual effects on The Magicians, and how a lot of it is guess work. Meera also speaks to the difficulties and delights of working with non-actors, the moral obligation of the director, and approaching filmmaking like a journalist.
Thu, Mar 29, 2018
Phenomenal writer of this year's The Post, Liz Hannah, to talk about Jonathan Demme's classic The Silence of the Lambs. Liz delves into her process and how she became a first time screenwriter with her script for The Post. She discusses the amazing talent of Meryl Streep, the story of Washington Post owner Kay Graham, and what it was like collaborating with Steven Spielberg. Plus, April and her dissect everything that makes The Silence of the Lambsa masterpiece. They discuss Anthony Hopkins performance (he only blinks once in the movie), the amazing craftsmanship of director Jonathan Demme, and the groundbreaking character of Clarice Starling played by Jodie Foster.
Thu, Apr 5, 2018
Actress, writer, director Heather Graham sits down with April to talk about the salacious Fatal Attraction. The two of them discuss relating to Glenn Close's character, even though she is technically the villain. Heather elaborates on her experience directing her debut feature, Half Magic. She discusses getting the movie made, the inspiration behind it, and how she decided to include a "vagina empowerment" class in the film. She also dives into her acting career; being directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and David Lynch, working with a ton of men who have been accused of sexual harassment, and finding her desire to direct. Plus, Drea Clark stops by to talk with April about the MaxFunDrive.
Thu, Apr 19, 2018
Director Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) joins April to discuss Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep. The two of them dissect the film: the amazing script by Leigh Brackett and William Faulkner, the electric chemistry between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and the masterful directing of Howard Hawks. Plus Martha relays some truly remarkable stories from her celebrated career, including the time the producers on one of her movies secretly cast a prostitute in her film. She also talks about discovering Nicolas Cage for Valley Girl, her work as the DGA president, and screening a film for Princess Diana.
Thu, Apr 26, 2018
Director Ramaa Mosley (The Brass Teapot, Tatterdemalion) stops by to discuss George Miller's The Witches of Eastwick: in depth discussion on making independent feature films. Ramaa opens up about the difficulties and rewards of creating their own movie - from fighting for what is required, to learning how to push back against producers interference, to working with actors. Plus, she discusses the influence that The Witches of Eastwick has had on her as an artist. April and Ramaa praise Jack Nicholson's performance as the devilish Daryl Van Horne, the masterful directing of George Miller, and the powerful women (Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer) that drive the film.
Thu, May 3, 2018
The Directors of the brand new Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary, RBG, Betsy West and Julie Cohen. They are on to discuss the Brian De Palma classic Carrie. Several similarities are drawn between the "Notorious RBG" and Carrie White. Julie and Betsy discuss what the world was like when Carrie was released and the type of workplace humiliations they had to put up with back then. Betsy even shares a story involving a penis shaped cake. They dig into the importance and power of Justice Ginsburg and how she actually changed the world. They also discuss the techniques they use to interview people, making sure not to manipulate the audience, and staring at Ruth Bader Ginsburg while she watched the documentary.
Thu, May 10, 2018
Producer Rachel Shane. She's produced such films as Divergent, Lawless, Hell or High Water and the National Geographic show Genius. She's on the program to talk all about David Cronenberg's The Fly. April and Rachel discuss all the aspects that make this movie great; Jeff Goldblum, the disgusting special effects, the efficiency of David Cronenberg. Plus Rachel shares what it is like working as a feature producer. She details the working relationships with directors, getting a hold of a really powerful script, and allowing actors and directors to see out their creative visions. Plus, she also elaborates on what it's like to be on set during risky stunts and how she chooses which projects she will produce.
Thu, May 17, 2018
The amazing creator of Syfy's 'The Magicians' - Sera Gamble. She's on to talk about the film that introduced the world to the mind of Charlie Kaufman - Being John Malkovich. Sera elaborates on her deep personal connection to the film. And admits it may have something to do with John Malkovich being her very first celebrity crush. She also takes April through the process of writing, and how often times the best way to write is by not knowing where you're going. They celebrate the performances of Cameron Diaz, John Cusack, and Catherine Keener - and also Cameron Diaz's phenomenal wig. They dissect the writing of Charlie Kaufman and how he came to create one of the most unique screenplays of all time. Sera connects the lessons she's learned from this film to her own work, and how she takes great pleasure in making the audience squirm.
Thu, May 24, 2018
Recorded LIVE at Resident in downtown LA, as a part of The Voyager Institute's lecture series: some noises in the background like audience members laughing, drinks being made, and people having the best night of their lives. On the show, the co-creator of Lifetime's 'UnREAL', Sarah Gertrude Shapiro. She's on to talk about the beloved, 90's, goth-inspiring masterpiece, The Craft. April and Sarah discuss their love for the campiness of the film and the perfect casting of Fairuza Balk as the evil teenage witch, Nancy. Sarah also elaborates on what it is like running a TV show. She dives into the challenges of directing an episode while also needing to be in the writing room. Plus, she details her journey from working on 'The Bachelor', to ending up in advertising in Portland, to creating her own TV show.
Thu, May 31, 2018
Such a pair of sisters - Lizzie and Wendy Molyneux. The 'Bob's Burgers' writers/producers are on to discuss the Danny Boyle film, 28 Days Later. They elaborate on what goes into a storyline for Bob's Burgers, staying true to the format of the show, and seeing Tina Belcher in real life. Plus they explore what makes 28 Days Later such a classic; Cillian Murphy's performance, the introduction of the "fast" zombie, and the humanity behind the film. The sisters also make a case for adopting children during a zombie outbreak. This is a must listen episode for people interested in the process of writing comedic television.
Thu, Jun 7, 2018
Writer, director, professor and 'Shock Waves' podcast host Rebekah McKendry. She's on to discuss the underseen Deep Rising. She details her connection to aquatic horrors, dating back to her childhood growing up next to a river infested with alligator gars. April and her "dive" into what separates Deep Rising from all the other late '90's disaster/monster movies. Rebekah also divulges what goes into her filmmaking process; creating characters, directing actors, and designing creatures. To quote the tagline of this film - "Full scream ahead!"
Thu, Jun 14, 2018
Angela Trimbur, Lauren Parks, and Jenée LaMarque of the new film The Feels. The three women all act in the film with Jenée directing and co-writing with Lauren. They're on the show to discuss Robert Zemeckis' Death Becomes Her. Although not similar in tone or genre, April and the guests quickly find that both of these films are united in their commentary on women's bodies. The Feels analyzes the shame felt by women unable to have an orgasm. While Death Becomes Her addresses the pressure women face to constantly look young - in, albeit, a very violent and supernatural way. Plus, they all discuss the special effects, the production design, and, of course, the delicious performance of Meryl Streep as the aging movie star, Madeline Ashton.
Thu, Jun 21, 2018
TV creator, writer, and director Veena Sud on the program. She's most well known for creating the TV show, The Killing. But she's got a new show out now called Seven Seconds. It follows the aftermath of the death of a 15 year old black cyclist who is killed in a hit and run accident by a white police officer. She's also on the program to discuss Alfred Hitchcock's classic Rear Window. Veena elaborates on the effect that Hitchcock has had on her career, and how it has influenced her being drawn to darker stories. She reveals that she's just completed her first feature about a teenage girl who accidentally kills her best friend. She also tells a wonderful story of working with the late Jonathan Demme on her show Seven Seconds. This is a truly engrossing episode that deals with the craft behind writing and cultivating a meaningful story.
Thu, Jun 28, 2018
Multi-talented actor, writer, producer Cleopatra Coleman. She is Erica on the beloved 'The Last Man on Earth' with Will Forte. But she's on the show this week to talk about Alfonso Cuarón's masterpiece, Children of Men. Cleopatra discusses the direct influence this film had on her new movie, the apocalyptic thriller that she wrote and produced, Hover. They discuss what the future looks like in both of these films and how the advertising and technology affect the lives of the characters. Cleopatra opens up about writing her first feature and the relationship she had with the film's director. She also reveals that she actually auditioned for a role in Children of Men. Plus, April discusses what went into the famous one take finale shot of the film and how it all went wrong.
Thu, Jul 5, 2018
The writers for Netflix's 'Lost In Space' are in the studio. Vivian Lee, Kari Drake and Katherine Collins on to discuss Steven Spielberg's classic, Jurassic Park. The three of them touch upon what it's like having to write a sci-fi/action show for the whole family, and how they use Jurassic Park as inspiration. They elaborate on what it's like writing for a big budget action-adventure with a ton of special effects. An inside look into the writers room for 'Lost in Space' and how the group comes up with solutions and ideas. Plus, they discuss what makes Jurassic Park a more intimate film than people realize. And he sexy Robot is thoroughly discussed.
Thu, Jul 12, 2018
The wonderful comedian, writer, and actor Kate Berlant. She's on the show to talk about the under-appreciated Jonathan Glazer film, Birth. April and Kate dive right into this truly unique movie about a woman who's dead husband may have come back as a 10 year old boy. They make the case for this being Nicole Kidman's best performance as the role is so perfectly catered to her. They discuss the inspired vision of Jonathan Glazer and how he was the only one who could make this film. The two talk about Kate's role in Sorry to Bother You and her short film series 555. Kate elaborates on what goes into writing comedy and the kinds of white people she makes fun of. Plus, she explains why she feels compelled to make silly faces as a form of protest.
Thu, Jul 19, 2018
Writer and director Vera Miao. Acting roles on 'Eastsiders', 'NCIS', and 'State of Affairs'. But since then she's switched her focus to writing and directing. Her most recent work was as creator and show runner of the 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' horror anthology series, of which she wrote every episode and directed the two installments 'Ma' and 'Singularity.' She's on Switchblade Sisters this week to talk about the Wachowskis' classic, The Matrix. Vera reveals what she finds most inspiring about the film; from the non-linear story to the diverse casting. She discusses why she loves genre films and how they are the perfect vehicle for promoting a message in a film. Plus, she talks about the things she would never say to an actor when directing. This is a truly fascinating conversation that goes in depth on philosophy, art, and the process of putting together a visual story.
Thu, Jul 26, 2018
Friend of the podcast, writer and director Sarah Adina Smith. Her feature film is Buster's Mal Heart starring Rami Malek. But she's also directed episodes of 'Wrecked', 'Room 104', and 'Legion'. Sarah was actually the very first guest on our pilot episode of the podcast, so it's so good to have her back to discuss Damián Szifron's Wild Tales. The film is made up of six short films of comical revenge. Sarah and April dive in to what makes this movie "clean" and "perfect" - as they call it. Sarah reveals that she shares some similar obsessive qualities with director Szifron. She also talks about how a location is just another form of casting.
Thu, Aug 2, 2018
Director of A24's new film Never Goin' Back, Augustine Frizzell. She's on the show to talk with April Wolfe about the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. April and her discuss the friendship on screen between Jeff Bridge's character 'The Dude' and John Goodman's 'Walter', and how that relationship is the emotional center of the film. Augustine relates this to the friendship she crafted in her film, and how writing for those characters was walking a fine line between pathetic and endearing. They also compare these two films in terms of capturing the essence of a city; Los Angeles for The Big Lebowski and Dallas for Never Goin' Back. Plus, Augustine has a pretty fascinating story of how she came to filmmaking after being a broke, single Mom at the age of eighteen. And she explains how those life experiences helped shape her debut film.
Thu, Aug 9, 2018
One o-f the director's of the new film Summer of 84, Anouk Whissell. Anouk is a member of the Montreal film collective known as RKSS, along with François Simard and Yoann Whissell. Their previous effort is 2015's uber-violent Turbo Kid. Anouk is on the program to discuss Ti West's The Innkeepers. April and her praise the beauty of the "slow horror" genre and how it puts the audience ill at ease. Anouk describes her love for practical effects and the realness of the image on screen. She details the breakdown of directing duties between her and her RKSS fellows. And she goes through the freedom and challenges of making an independent horror film. Plus, she elaborates on her love for American horror and how that has influenced all of her work.
Thu, Aug 16, 2018
Desiree's choice of film to discuss this week is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Desiree shares her special connection to the film and how it reminds her of her father. She is also critical of the movie, in particular the scene where Frankenstein's monster "ravages" Madeline Kahn. April and her explore how certain jokes have not aged well. Desiree discusses directing her current film; working with Chloë Grace Moretz, not making Christianity the butt of a joke, and trying to make her version of a "John Hughes film." She also bemoans the fact that American studios are totally unwilling to take any creative risks and how she had to move to London to get her TV show made.
Thu, Aug 23, 2018
The movie that Lauren chose to talk about this week is M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. Lauren discusses the effect this film had on her when she was in film school and how it recently resurfaced in her life with the release of the trailer for its sequel, Glass. She elaborates on the process of shooting a movie on a cruise ship - from clothing choices to working with the parrot donning captain. Plus she discusses what it was like directing Kelsey Grammer and allowing him the opportunity to play a character that he does not normally get to play.
Mon, Apr 30, 2018
This week they're so lucky to have the director of the critically acclaimed new movie Night Comes On, Jordana Spiro. She is maybe best known for her acting roles in shows like 'My Boys,' 'The Mob Doctor,' and 'Ozark.' But after receiving her Masters degree in film from Columbia, she began directing shorts and her most recent debut feature. She's on the show to talk about another "Night" movie, Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter. She finds many parallels between this film and her own. And she even shares a similar career path to the director, actor Charles Laughton. April and her discuss the film's completely unique but assured visual style, along with the incredible performances of Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Shelley Winters. Plus, they cover the reason that this is the only film Charles Laughton ever directed.
Thu, Sep 6, 2018
The story follows a young man named Duayne, who keeps his formerly conjoined, mutant brother Belial in a picnic basket. Duayne and Belial move to New York in order to seek out and murder the doctors who surgically separated them. A truly lovely tale that April and Brea fully dissect. They go in depth on what makes this gritty, New York classic just so memorable; the commitment of the actors, the gore, and the execution of the ridiculous concept. Brea also details the life of a working actress. She explains the struggle of acting in a movie that never gets released, returning clothes for an audition to the store, and always carrying around a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This is a truly fun session that touches upon the honorable practice of making art for the sake of making it.
Thu, Sep 13, 2018
This week they've got the fantastic director of the new film Nancy, Christina Choe. She's on the program to talk about the vampire classic, Let the Right One In. This session is really gripping because throughout the show Christina slowly realizes the similarities between her film and Tomas Alfredson's: the snowy backdrop, the vampiric characters, the bleak eeriness. Christina elaborates on the the amount of flexibility required to direct a feature. She discusses the importance of casting great actors and how she got Steve Buscemi and Andrea Riseborough to be in her film. Plus, she talks about the difficulties of shooting in the snow.
Thu, Sep 20, 2018
They are so lucky to have actor, writer, and director Jess Weixler on the program. Most people know her from her breakout role in the 2007 film, Teeth. But she has a new movie out called Chained for Life. In it she stars opposite Adam Pearson, who some may remember from Under The Skin. And the movie she chose to discuss is Tod Browning's infamous 1932 film, Freaks. Jess reflects on her own experiences working and living with people with disabilities. She touches upon the experience of acting with Adam and other actors with facial differences. April and she also crack open whether or not Freaks is an offensives film. And they try to tackle the fine line between exploitation and celebration.
Thu, Sep 27, 2018
April welcomes one of the filmmakers from the festival, Amanda Kramer, to discuss the Rainer Werner Fassbinder masterpiece, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Amanda's film Ladyworld screened right before the recording of this part. The day also marks her birthday. April and Amanda note that both of the films in this discussion share a similar theme of hysterical women trapped in a confined space. Amanda talks about her love of melodramatic performances and pushing her actresses to reach beyond realism.
Thu, Oct 4, 2018
They are very lucky to have the prolific documentary producer Erikka Yancy on the program. The movie she chose to discuss is the beloved 1996 film Matilda. Erikka discusses her documentary career and what is like having to do research for films with such dark subject matter. She goes on to talk about having to go through footage from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and how it's still important to offer some hope in even the most depressing of films. She also elaborates on her love for the movie Matilda and how it is rooted in the fact that the parents are so mean to the main character. April and her cover the directing career of Danny Devito and the history behind his production company Jersey Films. Plus, Erikka talks about the character of Lavender, and how having the representation of a black character is so vital to her enjoyment of the film. If you love this movie, you will love this conversation.
Thu, Oct 11, 2018
They have the director of the new drama Sadie, Seattle's own Megan Griffiths. The genre film that she has chosen to discuss is Terry Gilliam's weirdo time travel movie 12 Monkeys. Megan and April really get into the ins and outs of working in independent cinema; from the casting to achieving control on set. Megan discusses how she and Terry Gilliam have the similarity of not working within the Hollywood system; Gilliam living in London while Megan lives in Seattle. She elaborates on her new movie Sadie and shooting in a trailer park with Melanie Lynskey. April and she also cover shooting nudity and the need for the actors to be completely comfortable. This is a great conversation that proves you don't have to work within the confines of Hollywood in order to be a successful filmmaker.
Thu, Oct 18, 2018
They are very lucky to have award winning writer and director Nijla Mu'min on the program. In 2014, she was selected for the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Intensive and her debut feature, Jinn, won the Special Jury Recognition Award for screenwriting at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Jinn tells the story of a high school senior whose mother becomes taken by the beliefs and practices of Islam, which sets up a series of trials for the girl as she tries to navigate her own belief systems. The central character uses dance as a type of release. So it's fitting that the film Nijla has chosen to discuss is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. April and she explore the different ways that Nijla's film and Aronofsky's film use dance as a form of expression for the protagonists. Nijla also describes how she relates to Natalie Portman's character Nina Sayers in her pursuit of perfection. Plus, Nijla elaborates on her desire to honor her community in the representation of Islam in her film Jinn.