Behind The Lens

We may all be taking a licking in this time of covid-19, but we keep on ticking! And BEHIND THE LENS is here, hopefully, giving you some respite and distraction, especially when it comes to terrific filmmakers as guests! This week is a real treat thanks to actor ELLEN TOLAND and cinematographer JOSH FISHER who join us live talking INSIDE THE RAIN, plus our exclusive interview with writer/director/VFX/editor RONAN JORAH and producer/actor CAREY VAN DRIEST talking one of my most fave short films ever, SCRATCH. First up is our prerecorded exclusive interview with RONAN JORAH and CAREY VAN DRIEST talking their devilishly delicious short film SCRATCH! What happens on a dark and stormy night in a New Jersey diner when two murders occur and a mysterious patron has a date with the Devil? Ronan Jorah weaves a mesmerizing tale utilizing all the tools in the cinematic toolbox to create a visual and aural treat, stripping away color, heightening saturation, celebrating the importance and nuance of sound, and using camer

A fun-filled episode of BEHIND THE LENS this week guaranteed to distract you from these troubled times, thanks to filmmakers SHERI SUSSMAN and JULIE PACINO, plus our exclusive interview with actor JOSH O'CONNOR! JOSH O'CONNOR is everywhere right now. You can see him as Prince Charles in THE CROWN. You can see him as famed Jane Austen character Mr. Elton in EMMA in which he gives, what I believe is, the best and most entertaining Mr. Elton in any of the 10+ adaptations of Austen's tale. You can see him in the emotion-filled drama HOPE GAP playing son to Bill Nighy and Annette Bening. And you can hear him on #BTLRadioShow. We spoke with Josh in this exclusive interview talking about the diversity of his performances, and particularly that in HOPE GAP given the emotional complexity of the story and the cohesiveness of his character as a go-between with his parents. As Jamie, Josh pushes the envelope of his already well-heeled skillset. Then we welcome back writer/producer SHERI SUSSMAN to #BTL

Easily one of my favorite BEHIND THE LENS shows, and a long time coming, we welcome a very special guest this week, director/writer/producer MARK PELLINGTON. Mark has previously done pre-recorded interviews for #BTLRadioShow but thanks to his always busy schedule, this is the first time we've been able to have him on live (and it won't be the last). To say this is an insightful - and fun - show would be an understatement. Nothing was off-limits for this seasoned directorial veteran. Take a listen as we cover everything from film criticism to cameras to casting to story to surviving as a filmmaker in this every-changing landscape and adapting to and embracing those changes, and so much more. While Mark expounds his thoughts on cameras and lenses ("It's all about the glass") and all the tools in the filmmaker's toolbox, his reflection on his earlier films contrasting that with his latest projects, is interesting and thoughtful. And how about the importance of music in a film?

An exciting episode of BEHIND THE LENS this week thanks to EMMA DECKERS and JOEY TRAVOLTA! Originally scheduled to appear live on #BTLRadioShow, due to academic commitments she was unable to call in live, but EMMA DECKERS graciously agreed to do a prerecorded interview expressly for this show. Listen as Emma talks about her latest films and the craft of acting as an up and comer in the industry. With several films under her belt already, including a lead role in Dakota Gorman's NATURAL DISASTERS, Emma talks about her theatre training, the audition process, balancing work and school (she's working on her degree right now!), stage vs screen, and gaining experience in the producing world as well. Engaging and articulate with a wonderful sense of humor, I think you'll agree when you listen to Emma, the common sense approach and dedication she has to her craft, training, and life comes from her parents and a grounded and supportive upbringing. Can't wait to have Emma back on the show! And

This week BEHIND THE LENS goes global with writer/director RORY KINDERSLEY who joins us live from London talking about his new film, the psychological thriller EVE. A visually stunning film with high production values and killer cinematography courtesy of Douglas Milsome, it is impossible to look away from the unfolding intrigue as one is drawn into the web of slow-burning mania. Rory is an absolute delight as he talks about the importance of location, the unusual true events that led not only to the story of EVE, but also use of the primary location, his collaboration with Milsome in developing the visual tonal bandwidth through lens selection, sound design, score, and more. Rory's attention to detail and discussion on editing and the challenge of finding the perfect balance of fear and tension won't be lost on anyone. But before we get to Rory, #BTLRadioShow is celebrating ONWARD, the newest gem from Pixar. Enchanting, Funny, Heartwarming, and Fun for young and old alike, ONWARD is original n

He's baaaaack! That's right! STEVE LEE, sound guru and founder of THE HOLLYWOOD SOUND MUSEUM is back in-studio for his fourth visit to BEHIND THE LENS! And he's brought along some friends, little golden ones and human! Take a listen as we talk sound, sound, and more sound with Steve, as well as our other special guest, legendary "soundie" VICTORIA SAMPSON. A sound guru in her own right with more than 40 years of sound work to her credit, Vickie is also the daughter of Oscar-winning sound editor, KAY ROSE. Listen as Vickie goes in-depth talking about sound (including some helpful hints about preserving your hearing), working with her mother, and giving us plenty of behind-the-lens insight and anecdotes on many of the films she and/or her mother worked on, including one of my favorites, For The Boys. And we're never without sound trivia and the history of certain sounds and their origination in film when Steve is around. This show he's got a great clip, among others, of prod

Awards season may be over but film continues on and so does BEHIND THE LENS! Talk about a fun post-awards season/post-Oscars/post-Spirits show! #BTLRadioShow is jam-packed and fun-filled thanks to four very special guests as we sprinkle some Valentine's love on two new films opening this week. After a recap of the weekend's final awards ceremonies - the Academy Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards - we welcome our first pair of guests - writer/director/editor PAUL OSBORNE and, returning for his second time to BTL, actor PATRICK DAY discussing their latest film CRUEL HEARTS. What would you do if you were sitting at work, minding your own business, going over financials, and a man sits down next to you and says, "I've been sleeping with your wife."? And that's what kicks off CRUEL HEARTS; a noir film that boasts a smart and smartly constructed script, nice production values, a beautiful visual texture, keen editing, and terrific performances starting with Patrick Day.

It's another week of female filmmakers and Oscar nominees on BEHIND THE LENS as we welcome the mother-daughter filmmaking dynamic duo of NICOLE RIO and DAKOTA GORMAN, plus our exclusive interview with Oscar nominee for Best Original Song, JOSHUAH BRIAN CAMPBELL! First up on this week's show is our exclusive interview with Oscar Nominee, JOSHUAH BRIAN CAMPBELL, talking about his nomination with Cynthia Erivo for Best Original Song for "Stand Up" from HARRIET ! Unfortunately, due to his attendance at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon, Joshuah was unable to call in live, but he graciously gave up his time on Sunday to talk with me about the song, the film, his musical process, collaborating with double Oscar Nominee Cynthia Erivo, and how music is an extension of his faith. Listen to our conversation now! At age 25, Joshuah is already a wonderful and accomplished young man and a divinity school student! And then hilarity ensues with veteran producer NICOLE RIO (mom) and writer/director/actor DA

Hot in awards season, BEHIND THE LENS, continues to look at the best and brightest in cinema, in films both big and small. And this week it doesn't get much bigger than Academy Award nominee GRETA GERWIG. But filmmakers all start somewhere and also joining the show this week are JAY DOCKENDORF and KENNY SULEIMANAGISH who are headed to Sundance Film Festival for the first time. If you missed #BTLRadioShow live, you definitely want to catch up now! Joining us live in the top half of the show, take a listen as we welcome Oscar nominee and writer/director GRETA GERWIG talking LITTLE WOMEN, which picked up six Oscar nominations this year!! The first time I interviewed Greta was for the Duplass Brothers film, "Baghead", and it has been a joy to follow her trajectory and catch up with her on various projects over the past decade-plus as she moved from acting into writing and directing. There's a reason LITTLE WOMEN nabbed six Oscar nominations this year – Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, B

We're talking Oscar Nominations and what a nominations morning it was! The expected and the unexpected, the surprises and the snubs, we're talking about all of it on #BTLRadioShow! And joining us live, for her second appearance on #BTLRadioShow is writer/director LIZ MANASHIL talking about her sophomore feature, the charming and fun, SPEED OF LIFE! A bit of sci-fi, a bit of romance, a bit of "what if" – especially when David Bowie dies and the world goes out of kilter – and as always comes with Liz on hand, a whole lot of fun and enthusiasm! Unfortunately, time ran out before we could get to our exclusive interview with JO JO RABBIT cinematographer MIHAI MALAIMARE, but stayed tuned as we'll have that for you in the coming weeks! http://behindthelensonline.net http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

Year Six of BEHIND THE LENS kicks off with a golden flourish as we dive right into the "official" start of the last leg of the horse race known as "Awards Season" talking about the Golden Globe winners. Could last night's winners be a true predictor of what's to come with Oscars on February 9th? We'll find out! Then writer/director TAMMY MINOFF joins us talking her new film LIMERENCE. Listen as we talk about the film's genesis, the challenges in bringing it to life, casting, wearing multiple hats, the love letter to Venice California, and more. Plus, an excerpt of our exclusive interview with CHINONYE CHUKWU talking the powerful CLEMENCY starring Alfre Woodard. http://behindthelensonline.net http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

BEHIND THE LENS wraps up another year as we take to the skies with our exclusive interviews with THE AERONAUTS director Tom Harper and composer STEVEN PRICE. And with the New Year just ahead of us, potential resolutions loom on the horizon and for many, what better time to ask the question TO KID OR NOT TO KID. Director MAXINE TRUMP is live the second half of the show talking about the making of this documentary and how her own questions and her journey spawned the idea for the doc. Listen as Maxine provides insight and food for thought, as well as some production laughs, on the issue of having or not having children, and turning the camera on herself. http://behindthelensonline.net http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

It's a bit of a mix and match on BEHIND THE LENS this episode as writer/director DAVID GUY LEVY joins us live talking about his latest film THE MANDELA EFFECT, the story of a man who, following a personal tragedy, becomes obsessed with facts and the misremembering of them by thousands of people. Listen as David talks about the development of the story and visually bringing a questioning of reality to the screen. Plus, listen to our exclusive interview with writer/director JESSICA HAUSNER as she talks about the hypnotic (and deliciously creepy) LITTLE JOE! Our discussion digs deep into Jessica's use of color, cinematography, social issues and themes, and more. http://behindthelensonline.net http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

A fun-filled episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we take to the stage with ALEX RUIZ and VINCE GIOVANNI talking about their new play opening this week in Los Angeles – OVER TIME. But first, a bit of devilish fun thanks to our exclusive interview with composer NATHAN JOHNSON talking KNIVES OUT!! First up is our exclusive interview with KNIVES OUT composer NATHAN JOHNSON. One of my Best Picture picks of the year, writer/director Rian Johnson delivers a flawless whodunnit thanks to superb casting, a rapier script, even sharper dialogue, and a score by Nathan that dances with the dialogue as if performing its own saber dance. The score is akin to "gothic whimsy" and tells its own chapters within this delicious film which only add to each character through themes and musical motifs. Listen as Nathan and I talk about not only the fun of this KNIVES OUT score, but its stylization a la the masters of the cinematic past. Hilarity ensues when we are joined live by ALEX RUIZ and VINCE GIOVANNI. Alex is already a f

This week on BEHIND THE LENS we honor International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women thanks to our special guest w/d JARET MARTINO and his new film DONNA: STRONGER THAN PRETTY! based on the story of Jaret's own mother, Donna, we go in-depth into his multi-journey crafting this film and telling his mother's story with as much honesty and compassion as possible. From a dedicated cast, many of whom stayed with the film since the first table read more than five years ago, to shooting at 50+ locations, to the magic of shooting with Black Magic's Ursa mini camera, to camera lens selection for establishing distinctive visual tone between decades, and so much more, Jaret more than delivers and discusses his first directorial feature. But first, take a listen to our exclusive interview with director TODD HAYNES as we talk about the powerful "Must See" film of the year - DARK WATERS. The story of attorney Rob Bilott and the Taft Law Firm and their decades-long battle (still

Another jam-packed week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to our special guests writer/director ANDREW LYMAN-CLARKE and writers/directors DAVID BAKER and JUSTIN R. SMITH. But first, take a listen to our exclusive interview with filmmakers JOE & ANTHONY RUSSO! Not ones to sit on their laurels with the MCU, Joe and Anthony have expanded their cinematic endeavors with their new company AGBO Films. Creating a mecca for collaboration and mentorship for writers, directors, producers, editors, and more, not to mention an expanse fully equipped with stages, post-production facilities, and in-house screening rooms, the aim of AGBO is to create thoughtful stories and quality films. The first film produced by the Russos under the AGBO banner is 21 BRIDGES starring Chadwick Boseman who also serves as a "boots on the ground" producer. We go in-depth talking about 21 BRIDGES, and their all-inclusive involvement with the production, bringing in veteran cinematographer Paul Cameron, first-time feature helmer Brian

Hold on to your hats boys and girls because this week on BEHIND THE LENS we're going from the race track of 1960's Le Mans to a modern-day Western thanks to GRAHAM PHILLIPS and PARKER PHILLIPS, and our exclusive interview with PHEDON PAPAMICHAEL. First up, take a listen to our prerecorded exclusive interview with Oscar-nominated cinematographer PHEDON PAPAMICHAEL as he puts the pedal to the metal with FORD V FERRARI. Focusing on the friendship between legendary automotive designer Carroll Shelby and British race car driver Ken Miles, the film is set against the backdrop of the battle between automotive titans Henry Ford Jr. and Enzo Ferrari as Ford readied itself to compete against Ferrari's award-winning racing team at Le Mans in 1966. Key to the high octane success of the film is Phedon's work as he puts the moviegoer in the driver's seat of the race car, making us feel the car corner on rails or catch the sun flares rounding critical course turns. And then we shift gears as w

As we are reminded on this week's BEHIND THE LENS, high school is hell and so is adulthood - but both situations provide plenty of laughter and fun when viewed through the lenses of DAYBREAK and WELCOME HOME and their incredible creators. First up is our exclusive interview with ARON ELI COLEITE, showrunner/creator/writer/Executive Producer of the new Netflix hit - DAYBREAK.  I can't say enough about DAYBREAK!  It is beyond bingeable!   It's the end of the world as we know it and I love it!  This is true "Must See Streaming TV"!  Think "Mad Max" meets "Waterworld" meets "Buffy" meets "Bueller" with a dash of "Warm Bodies" and "Revenge of the Nerds" thrown in.  And yes, Aron and company do remind us all that high school is hell and you're lucky to get out alive, but it's done with heart, humor, and hilarity.  A And after celebrating surviving high school and the end of the world, we turn our attention to the hell o

Catch up with this week's exciting #BTLRadioShow as we travel the globe and take a look at history and culture in India through the lens of Michelin Star Chef turned film director VIKAS KHANNA talking THE LAST COLOR, while mother-daughter dynamic filmmaking duo SWATI BHISE and DEVIKA BHISE talk THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI. Plus, exclusive interviews with DEON TAYLOR and DAN KRAUSS who talk about their films, BLACK AND BLUE and THE KILL TEAM, respectively. http://behindthelensonline.net http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

It's a fun episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we talk aliens and alcohol and SPINNING DRY with our special guests JAMES DUVAL, JAMES AVALLONE, and ELANA KRAUSZ. Before being joined by our guests, we kick off the show talking about the DOWNTOWN LA FILM FESTIVAL and some of the films that will be screening at the Fest, including INSIDE GAME which we showcased last week on #BTLRadioShow with director Randall Batinkoff. First up is actor JAMES DUVAL talking about his latest film, SPINNING DRY. Set over the course of one day and night we meet Jimmy's character of Norm, a military veteran and the gardener's son, and Sam played by Elana Krausz, "alcoholic Hollywood mother and five-time ex-housewife who is also an alien abductee." The two bond of alcohol and aliens, but not without a lot of soul searching, personal problems, and reflection. You probably know Jimmy best as "Miguel" in the 1996 blockbuster "Independence Day", but he has done so much more since then, working