Behind The Lens

BTL Radio Show - 02/03/2025 with my exclusive interview with CHRISTIAN SESMA

It's a big day for BTL Radio Show as we're kicking off Year 11 of the show AND my 43rd year as a film critic. And what better way for "moviesharkd" to start a new year and new decade than with a shark movie. And what a shark movie I have for you today - INTO THE DEEP!
Directed by Christian Sesma and written by Chad Law and Josh Ridgway, INTO THE DEEP stars Scout Taylor Compton, Callum McGowan, Stuart Townsend, Jon Seda and Richard Dreyfuss.  An action-packed thriller where pirates on the hunt for sunken drugs kidnap a boat of tourists, including marrieds Cassidy and Gregg, and force them to dive into shark-infested waters to retrieve the drugs (and anything else they might find of value).
Listen as Christian and I discuss the making of INTO THE DEEP and the challenges it presented to him. Well accomplished with action films on land, diving into a movie that is 90% if not more both underwater and on the water proved to be a steep learning curve for Christian, but one that he and his team successfully mounted to deliver this taut nail-biter. It's an interesting interview discussing not only the making of the film and shooting in Thailand but having Richard Dreyfuss involved in the film and notably with a compelling call to action for sharks during the end credits.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .

BTL Radio Show - 12/16/2024 with special guest JOHN CORCORAN and my exclusive interview with JACK HUSTON

If you follow #BTLRadioShow, then you know that this a very special show as it's the last show of the year AND the last show of the first TEN YEARS of BTL!!!  And I think this is a special befitting the occasion thanks to my special guest w/d JOHN CORCORAN talking about his debut short film SKYFOREST, plus my exclusive interview with JACK HUSTON talking all things DAY OF THE FIGHT.
 
We kick off the show with my exclusive interview with writer/director JACK HUSTON discussing his narrative feature directorial debut, DAY OF THE FIGHT. A truly knockout directorial that shows me that as good as Jack is acting onscreen, he's even better as a director and writer behind the lens. 
 
Written and directed by JACK HUSTON, DAY OF THE FIGHT boasts a megawatt cast including, among others, Michael Pitt as “Mikey”, Ron Perlman as MIkey’s trainer and father figure “Stevie”, John Magaro as “Father Patrick”, Steve Buscemi as Mikey’s uncle, and Joe Pesci as Mikey’s dad, along with Nicolette Robinson and Cameron Williamson
But let’s be clear.  DAY OF THE FIGHT is not a boxing movie. This is a character study; the character study of a reflective day-in-the-life of a man who happens to be a boxer.  A nod to Jack’s grandfather, the legendary filmmaker John Huston, who was a boxing champion in his youth, we immediately feel the connective tissue between storyteller and filmmaker with an emotional resonance and connection established with the audience. 
A terrific film and fabulous insightful interview!
Then writer/director JOHN CORCORAN joins me live fresh off his West Coast premiere, discussing his directorial debut with the short film/concept film SKYFOREST, a sci-fi thriller that will have you wanting more as soon as it ends. Hard to believe that so much tension and anticipation can be built within 15 short minutes, but John together with his editor Jordan H. Johnson does just that. Truth be told, I didn't want to see this short end!
 
I have been along on John's journey as a writer and director for a couple of decades now and to see what he's achieved (not to mention his sticktoitiveness) and the hurdles he has overcome thus far that have garnered him a co-writing credit on an episode of "Snowpiercer" and now writing and directing this short is inspiring for all filmmakers.  We not only break down each of the elements of SKYFOREST and John's thoughts and considerations every step of the way, but discuss John's journey at length which, at the end of the day, provides some golden nuggets for dreamers and up and coming filmmakers alike.

BTL Radio Show - 12/09/2024 with special guests SIMON PHILLIPS and NICO SANTUCCI

On this episode of BEHIND THE LENS we welcome in the holiday season with our very special BTL friend, SIMON PHILLIPS talking SILENT BITE, while giving a big hello to NICO SANTUCCI who makes his feature directorial debut with SAROGETO.  
Leave it to SIMON PHILLIPS to fill us with the Christmas spirit and get us in the holiday mood with his latest film, SILENT BITE.  Written and produced by Simon, with Simon also starring alongside several other talented folks and friends of his, only Simon could come up with a film that melds a bank heist, Christmas, and vampires!  This film is so much fun!!  And of course, a conversation with Simon is always more fun than a sleigh full of Santas.  
Listen as we talk SILENT BITE and its inspiration, Simon’s secrets to writing this particular film, casting and characters (and what characters they are!), melding Christmas with lusty vampires, the secrets to shooting in snow-filled -20 degree weather, what led him to his first-time feature director Taylor Martin and her team for SILENT BITE, and more.  Plus, we get a teensy weensy tidbit about THE MOUSE TRAP: WELCOME TO THE MICKEYVERSE, a sequel to the horror hit THE MOUSE TRAP.  For our listeners in Japan, THE MOUSE TRAP will be premiering there in early 2025 and Simon along with his mouse collaborator Jamie Bailey will be in Japan for that premiere.
And as we bid adieu to Simon, writer/director NICO SANTUCCI joins me in talking about his new film, the exquisitely delicate and moving narrative SAROGETO; a meeting of East meets West philosophies on life, past life, future life, and mortality.  An insightful and thoughtful conversation with Nico as we cagily break down the film without giving away spoilers and discuss the cinematography, color palette and lighting, casting and some very specific character requirements, the editing process, a special location Nico was allowed to shoot in, using the beauty of Mother Nature as powerful yet serene and calming element within the film, the beauteous score, and more.  A delicate, elegant, and quiet film from a very thoughtful and meticulous filmmaker who I hope to see more from in the future.

BTL Radio Show - 11/25/2024 with special guest KHEMUNI "MUNI" NORODOM and my exclusive interview with VICKY JENSON

It's Musical Monday today as we look at two fun new musicals - SPELLBOUND and 1660 VINE.  Yes, musicals!  Plus, a mini-review on the amazing BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN, and my thoughts on GLADIATOR II.
First, listen to my exclusive interview with director VICKY JENSON talking about the new animated musical from Netflix - SPELLBOUND.  Beautiful animation, thoughtful and entertaining story, fun fun characters, creative and imaginative from beginning to end, and filled with music from the legendary Alan Menken, this is a film - and an interview - not to be missed. 
And at the show's midpoint is actor, musician, and Prince of the Cambodian Royal Family, KHEMUNI “MUNI” NORODOM, who joins me live discussing his new film (and incredible breakout performance) - 1660 VINE.  Now streaming on Prime, 1660 VINE is a Broadway-style high-octane energy musical with terrific cinematic elements thanks to director Patricia McGregor and unforgettable songs and performances.  Muni is the fish-out-of-water protagonist with dreams of stardom, Danny, who moves from North Carolina to Hollywood and takes up residence at 1660 Vine along with other dreamers, Vloggers, and influencers seeking social media stardom.  Talk about a fun and joy-filled conversation!  Muni is a delight and his passion for his crafts, music/acting/musical theatre, is undeniable.  A wonderful and insightful conversation as Muni talks about his background and the importance of education and training, making the leap into music and acting, the support of his family, the casting experience, insights he discovered about the production process once shooting starts, working with an ensemble, being choreographed by Paula Abdul, dividing time between music and acting, his creative process and collaborations, and so much more.  MUNI NORODOM is one person you want to put on your radar now!  (You can check out his music on Spotify and 1660 VINE on Prime Video.)
 

BTL Radio Show - 11/18/2024 with exclusive interviews with ANDREW KIGHTLINGER and GEORGE NOLFI

This week on #BTLRadioShow it’s all about the great outdoors and survival as we take a look at two wonderful films with two fantastic filmmakers as director GEORGE NOLFI discusses ELEVATION and ANDREW KIGHTLINGER talks about LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE.  
First up, is my exclusive interview with director George Nolfi talking about his thrilling action film - ELEVATION.  Set in the post-apocalyptic Rocky Mountains, a single father and two women venture from the safety of their homes to face monstrous creatures to save the life of a young boy. Written by John Glenn, Jacob Roman, and Kenny Ryan, ELEVATION stars Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson, and Danny Boyd Jr.  Shot entirely on location at elevations above 8200 feet and as high as 11500 feet above sea level, this is a nail-biter.  Take a listen as George and I discuss the film’s structure, visuals, thematic elements, and the importance of shooting in real locations to create an authentic, naturalistic world.  And how about the logistic challenges shooting at those altitudes with some mighty thin air!  Diving in further, George talks about the minimal visual  “creature element” and the importance of the sound design in enhancing suspense, not to mention the all-important editing aspect of the film.  
Another thrilling adventure comes to us courtesy of Andrew Kightlinger and his latest film, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE.  Written by Luke Paradise and based on the book by the same name, the film tells the inspiring story of 12-year-old Donn Fendler, who, while climbing to the top of a famed local mountain, separated from his family by a fast-moving storm, and then had to fight to stay alive during his nine-day adventure lost in the backwoods of Maine.  A true story based on the events of 1939, this marked the largest manhunt in the history of Maine up to this point.  The local community and state mobilized, with media jumping in as well, to find young Donn.  When he finally made it down from the mountain top he was 80 miles from where the family trek had started. 
On every level, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE soars thanks to gorgeous visual storytelling, score, and Luke David Blum's award-worthy performance as Donn Fendler.  In this exclusive interview, Andrew talks about the casting process to find Donn, the themes of the film, the location and production process combining upstate New York locations with actual portions of the 1939 Maine hikes, using practical effects and sound design to enhance the immersive experience, and let’s not forget the film's score, by Garth Stevenson, incorporates natural elements, and its archival footage adds historical authenticity.  It’s a powerful and inspirational movie that should not be missed.

BTL Radio Show - 11/11/2024 with special guest COLIN CUNNINGHAM plus my exclusive interview with TERRY LOANE

It’s a wonderful mixed bag this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to director TERRY LOANE and his beautiful new film THE LAST RIFLEMAN, and actor COLIN CUNNINGHAM with his scene-stealing performance in HE NEVER LEFT (not to mention his ongoing role in Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga”).
Kicking off the show is the perfect film for this Veteran's Day - THE LAST RIFLEMAN - and my exclusive interview with director TERRY LOANE. Inspired by the true story of WWII UK/Irish Veteran Bernard Jordan, we follow the adventure of Artie Crawford (age 92 3/4).  After the death of his wife, he sneaks out of his nursing home and makes his way to France to reunite with his brothers-in-arms and honor the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Starring Pierce Brosnan as Artie along with John Amos in one of his final performances as a US veteran, and Jürgen Prochnow as a veteran of the Nazi war machine, there is plenty of emotionality in this film that is balanced with a light visual tone. A wonderful interview with Terry as we dig into the "making of", including the unforgettable emotional performances, the importance of authenticity, and the importance of a film like THE LAST RIFLEMAN.
 
Then, he’s baaaaack! That’s right, the wonderful COLIN CUNNINGHAM returns to #BTLRadioShow talking about his latest performance in the slasher/serial killer/thriller HE NEVER LEFT, something very very different from his other performances as well as “The Little Pink House” which we spoke about with his last BTL appearance. A blood-soaked adventure to be sure, HE NEVER LEFT is chilling and Colin’s performance is explosively over-the-top with anxious freneticism as well as a wonderful character arc filled with growth and redemption. And no surprise here, I Colin also discusses his role in multiple chapters of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” as he dives into Costner’s directorial style and the beauty and meaning of the unfolding story of the American West. (And yes, it’s true. Colin was so anxious to be back on BTL that he called in while riding on and seated in the back of a bus with a coat pulled over his head to drown out exterior noise during his appearance. That’s one of the reasons why Colin has an open invitation to come on the show anytime he wants.)
 

BTL Radio Show - 11/04/2024 with special guest ANTHONY REPINSKI plus my exclusive interview with XAQUE GRUBER

What a BEHIND THE LENS we've got for you with this episode as we take a look at two films as different as night and day thanks to writer/director ANTHONY REPINSKI and his film, HEATHER; plus, XAQUE GRUBER talks about the fabulous SALLYWOOD!
Joining me at the top of the show is writer/director ANTHONY REPINSKI to discuss his new horror film, HEATHER. Brutal, and graphic but with a fascinating character study unfolding, it is impossible to look away no matter what unfolds onscreen. An interesting conversation with Tony as he talks about going from multiple tours of military duty in the Middle East to filmmaking, his love of storytelling, the genesis of HEATHER and the importance of the film's themes on bullying and beyond, working in a contained environment on a limited budget, having a strong production team, and more.
 
Then get ready for the indefatigable and exuberant writer/director XAQUE GRUBER and SALLYWOOD. (Due to logistics on Xaque's end, although we had hoped to do this live, we prerecorded this interview on Halloween to air today.) Starring none other than Sally Kirkland as Sally Kirkland, this laugh-out-loud comedy is everything you could hope for from Sally Kirkland and more. Based on Xaque's true life experience as Sally's assistant, get ready for fun, silliness, lots of cameos, and more. SALLYWOOD is Sally! And Xaque breaks it all down for us in this fun-filled interview as he dives into the logistics of the production, working around Covid restrictions, the importance of color and visual tone in the film, casting (some amazing fun cameos), and more!  A film that's sweet, brilliant fun with a filmmaker to match!
 

BTL Radio Show - 10/28/2024 with special guest JANE CLARK and our exclusive interview with ROEL REINE

It's a fun Halloween-week BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guest JANE CLARK and her new film WITCHY WAYS; plus my exclusive interview with ROEL REINE discussing CLASSIFIED.
Kicking off the show is my exclusive interview with director/DP/composer ROEL REINE disclosing all the secrets about making his new film, the action thriller CLASSIFIED starring Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin and Tim Roth.  Written by  Bob DeRosa, the script is tight, the plot has some original elements in the hitman genre, first-rate performances, superb action, and the location of Malta is glorious.  An insightful interview as Roel discusses how he handles shooting 6-7 hours of footage per day, uses 3-4 cameras plus "toy cameras" tossed in for good measure, operates the A-camera and drones himself, casting and characters, and scoring the film (a first for him!), and more!
Then writer/director JANE CLARK joins me talking about her magically enchanting new film WITCHY WAYS!  My regular readers and listeners may remember Jane from prior appearances on #BTLRadioShow talking about the fantastically fun and funny "Crazy Bitches", the movie and the tv series!  I love WITCHY WAYS and Jane and I have the best conversation here as she breaks down her filmmaking process from script to screen with WITCHY WAYS - finding a shooting location, writing for the specific location, themes, research into the “witch community” and its customs, practices, and spells, casting, production logistics and overcoming the perils of Mother Nature (and steps.  Lots and lots of layers of steps to climb with equipment.), working with her cinematographer, score and needledrops, some lovely witchy visual effects, and so much more.  A perfect way to welcome in Halloween!
 

BTL Radio Show - 10/21/2024 with guests VIVIAN KERR and RENNY GRAMES & BOSTON McCONNAUGHEY

With Halloween fast approaching, we keep the spooky going and toss in some alien fun, thanks to VIVIAN KERR and her new film, SEANCE, and RENNY GRAMES & BOSTON McCONNAUGHEY with their fun-filled alien encounter, ALIEN COUNTRY.
Writer/director/actor VIVIAN KERR is kicking off the show and discussing her psychological thriller SEANCE.  With only four actors, Scottie Thompson (who dazzles in period work), Connor Paolo, Jilon Van Over, and Kerr herself, this tightly knit ensemble shines in this tightly scripted and lensed story.  A beautiful period piece set in 1892, Vivien dives into the genesis of the story and the making of the film discussing everything from locations and finding homes built in the 1890s that are still period-perfect, to Johanna Coelho’s lighting and lensing, the bulk of which is shot at night making beautiful use of negative space and candlelight, to Nina Fuller’s gorgeous costuming, not to mention some of the problems it created during shooting, to Bri Jones’ production design, to water work in the open ocean and underwater, to impeccable tension building editing by Toby Yates, and, of course, Vivian’s juggling of multiple hats for this production.
Currently on the festival circuit, SEANCE has an encore screening on October 24th at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
And then the dynamic duo of writer/actor RENNY GRAMES and writer/director BOSTON McCONNAUGHEY join me in talking about their fun-filled comedy ALIEN COUNTRY.  I don't know about you, but how can you not love a film with an alien named Ben AND demolition derby!  A fun aspect of this conversation is not just Boston’s inspiration for the story (and its 2500 shots!), but the discussion on the film’s practical creature creation with VFX/CGI meld,  and the intensity of the action.  This, of course, leads us to Renny Grames and her bad-ass performance as the film’s female protagonist, as well as a discussion on casting and other outstanding turns by KC Clyde, Barta Heiner, Charan Prabhakar, Austin Archer, and more.  Filmmakers will appreciate Boston’s insight into the production and its main shooting schedule plus post-production pick-ups.  Leaving no stone unturned, we talk about the production design and creating alien worlds practically and with VFX, as well as a key plot device involving the portal between worlds. Plus, you’ll hear Renny and Boston talk about wearing multiple hats for this production and the learning curve for Boston with this narrative feature directorial debut.
ALIEN COUNTRY is now streaming on all platforms and VOD, cable, and satellite.

BTL Radtio Show - 10/14/2024 with special guest RUTH LEITMAN and our exclusive interview with MICHAEL FELKER

An interesting show this week as we look at the hot-button documentary NO ONE ASKED YOU with writer/director RUTH LEITMAN; a doc that is not only timely but should be mandatory viewing with elections looming.  And we'll take a look at THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT with writer/director MICHAEL FELKER; a film that's a thriller, with a touch of noir, along with some supernatural sci-fi-esque elements and disbelief.
First up, you'll hear my exclusive interview with writer/director MICHAEL FELKER as he discusses his new film, THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT.  Michael is a wonderful director who thrives on storytelling detail and using all cinematic tools in the toolbox.  A very enlightening and informative interview as we dive into all of those tools and how Michael used them to bring this film to life.
Then writer/director RUTH LEITMAN joins us at the midpoint of the show in discussing her new documentary NO ONE ASKED YOU which deals with one of the hottest-button topics this election cycle - abortion. NO ONE ASKED YOU turns the cameras on the day-to-day health care providers who put themselves in jeopardy in service to women seeking abortions, as told through the eyes of comedienne Lizz Winstead (co-founder of "The Daily Show"), fellow comedians and activists, and the Abortion Access Front in a six-year journey around the country taking us up through the Dobbs decision and where we stand now. Opening our eyes to multiple aspects of the abortion situation, including media neglect, together Leitman and Winstead use humor as a powerful tool to educate and entertain. 
Ruth and I dig into that six-year journey on the road of travelling, filming, gathering archival materials, watching the fluidity of the abortion debate play out in the courts, and examining various aspects of the abortion battle on the ground, and her challenges as a filmmaker to then take all of that footage and information gathered and turn it into this powerful documentary.