Behind The Lens

A very extended BEHIND THE LENS this week thanks to special guests CHARLEY and VLAS PARLAPANIDES who joined us live for an hour discussing BLOOD OF ZEUS. Plus my exclusive interview with MASTERS OF THE AIR Supervising Stunt Coordinator LEE MORRISON, and we remember ROGER CORMAN.

It's a mixed bag this week on #BTLRadioShow thanks to director DANNY LEE talking about his new documentary WHO IS STAN SMITH? and our exclusive interview with VFX Supervisor MARCUS TAORMINA discussing REBEL MOON-PART 2: THE SCARGIVER.
First up, take a listen as we dive into visual effects and my exclusive interview with VFX Supervisor MARCUS TAORMINA going in-depth about the visual effects work in Zach Snyder's REBEL MOON-PART 2: THE SCARGIVER. An interesting conversation as we delve into heat signatures and color, shooting ground battles in California where no pyro is permitted due to fire concerns thus putting more on the shoulders of VFX, working with Weta (aerial battles) and Scanline (ground battles), and more.
But then, one of the most insightful documentary discussions ever on #BTLRadioShow comes courtesy of director DANNY LEE as he talks about his new documentary WHO IS STAN SMITH?. Do you know who Stan Smith is? Some of you may know Stan Smith as a former tennis champion, not to mention having his own Adidas sneaker complete with his face and name on the shoe (long before Michael Jordan's deal with Nike). But how many know anything about the man behind the racket and the shoe; his life, his innate goodness? It's not often one can describe a documentary as "uplifting", but that's exactly what Danny Lee brings us with WHO IS STAN SMITH?. 
 
Listen as we delve into all aspects of the "making of" this documentary including research, archival materials and the challenges of finding any film footage of the early days of Stan Smith and tennis in the early 1960s, clearances for archival materials, working with Wimbledon and Adidas and logistics of shooting on multiple continents during the pandemic, newly discovered and previously unseen photos and film, interview subjects - who they have and the one person they wanted, finding an entry point and throughline into this story, the editing process, interstitials and small details, music and scoring, and more.  What I love about this conversation is that we hear Danny's passion and thoughtfulness not only for WHO IS STAN SMITH? but for filmmaking in general.  
 
 

It's a mixed bag of creativity on this week's episode of BEHIND THE LENS  thanks to writer/director/editor PATRICK MEANEY and costume designer MEGHAN KASPERLIK.
First up, take a listen to my exclusive interview with PATRICK MEANEY discussing his latest film, the sweetly charming "integrated musical", THE BRINK OF.  This is a film that will have you smiling from beginning to end while filling you up with wonderful original songs written and performed by lead actors Nicolette Norgaard and Tim Hoffman. We dive into the "making of" with everything from cinematography to framing and lighting to editing to creating exquisite montages, and of course, the music.
And then, hear costume designer MEGHAN KASPERLIK talk about her extensive research for the costume design of MOON KNIGHT just in time for the new 4K UHD and Blu-ray Steebook (complete with plenty of extras) release on April 30.  Listen as Meghan dives into the minutiae of the details with everything from the environs, fabrications, buttons, 3D printing on fabric and more.

He's baaaaaack!  That's right!  Musician/singer/director/author FRANK MEYER joins me live for the entire hour!  Fresh off his whirlwind tour with The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs in Spain and with more fun surprises in the offing, Frank is on hand to talk about it all.
And talk about whirlwind!  How about a short recap of some of my highlights from this past week's TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood celebrating the 15th Annual TCM Film Festival AND the 30th Anniversary of Turner Classic Movies!

Slow and steady wins the race with the films we'll be showcasing on this episode of #BTLRadioShow as we welcome writer/director DAMIAN HURLEY live to discuss his feature directorial debut of the slo-burn mystery STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.  Damian is a filmmaker to put on your radar now.  Thoughtful, insightful, and skilled, Damian "sees" his vision and executes it utilizing all the tools in the cinematic toolbox to create emotionally and visually evocative storytelling.  And dare I say, he is one of the nicest individuals I have ever spoken with.
But first, we kick off the show with my exclusive interview with screenwriter ALESSANDRO CAMON talking about his latest film, the emotionally powerful THE LISTENER starring Tessa Thompson.

A mix-and-match episode of BEHIND THE LENS this week as writer/director/editor/actor RICHARD RYAN joins us talking about the espionage action thriller ART OF DECEPTION. 
Plus, my exclusive interview with director THEA SHARROCK discussing the most hilarious laugh-out-loud-funny film of 2024, the wickedly delicious WICKED LITTLE LETTERS.

The Easterpalooza continues this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we are joined by producer/director/actor DIANE FOSTER and producer/writer/actor ALLISON LOBEL talking about their comedy-horror spectacular EASTER BLOODY EASTER.  Plus, you'll her our exclusive interview with writer/director PHIL ALLOCCO discussing his new crime thriller 5LBS OF PRESSURE.

A wonderful fun-filled show this week on BEHIND THE LENS as I get to celebrate the remarkable work of two very talented longtime friends, writer/director DAVE BOYLE who talks about his new smash hit Netflix series HOUSE OF NINJAS while actor/producer KELLY GRANT joins me live discussing her new film, the hilarious (and bloody) horror comedy EASTER BLOODY EASTER!  (How can you say no to a film with a killer jackalope and killer rabbits!)

Fresh off the Kenergy of the 96th Academy Awards, I'm taking a look at some of the highs ("I'm Just Ken") and the lows (the In Memoriam segment) of the broadcast.
 
Then we look ahead with some films that are part of the Oscars 2025 pack with my exclusive interviews with director MARK BRISTOL talking about ACCIDENTAL TEXAN while director JAMES HAWES discusses ONE LIFE.
 

It's another taut and tense week on BEHIND THE LENS as writer/director/actor JEFF KNITE joins us live discussing his latest entry in the horror realm - THE OMICRON KILLER.  Plus, my exclusive interview with the incredible BARRY PEPPER talking about his latest film BRING HIM TO ME and more!