I talk with filmmaker Morgan Chen about his amazing life story -- from Oregon to Atlanta, and now about an upcoming documentary -- SCHOOL OF THE OPEN -- in New Hampshire. It's a journey you won't want to miss.

In this episode, we talk about his unique and powerful journey; his style of documentary filmmaking; his excitement (with trepidation) for hybrid docs and AI; the underlying values that underpin his upcoming feature doc; and what's next for this visionary, thoughtful filmmaker.

Morgan's Indie Film Highlight: THE WAR ROOM (1993) (https://boxd.it/1tWa); Errol Morris (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001554/)

Links:

Morgan Chen Productions (https://www.morganchenproductions.com/)

Morgan Chen's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/speedomorgan/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: TWO LOVERS (2008).

Director: James Gray

Writers: James Gray; Ric Menello

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix; Vinessa Shaw; Gwyneth Paltrow

SYNOPSIS

Following a broken engagement, sometime photographer Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) moves in with his parents in Brighton Beach. He soon becomes involved with Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), an honest and sensible young woman. They appear to be a perfect match, then Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow) enters the picture. Beautiful but manipulative, she wraps him around her finger, even though she has a rich, married boyfriend.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Watch on YouTube now: https://youtu.be/g-rX9TpRFVU

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

If your film makes it to number one on Netflix, you get a re-release of your podcast episode. Congratulations to Joshua on the success of this film.

From 2023: I talk with Joshua Caldwell, director of MENDING THE LINE. We talk about making films in high school, the film school of just making films, and how he brought MENDING THE LINE to life in an industry that doesn’t fund military and veteran films.

How did he do that? What choices did he make to appeal to the widest audience? Every director who wants to film post traumatic stress scenes should listen to the care Joshua gives the topic in his film. It's a must-listen.

We talk short films, film school, crowdfunding, and what he calls live environment filmmaking.

In an uncertain environment for emerging filmmakers, he offers hard-won lessons in the trenches of independent film.

Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content)

Links:

• Watch MENDING THE LINE on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/title/81768966)
• MENDING THE LINE (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/mendingtheline)
• Joshua Caldwell Website (https://www.meyd-ent.com/)
• Joshua Caldwell, 6k Filmmaker Site (https://www.6kfilmmaker.com/enroll)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: Ex Machina (2014).

Director: Alex Garland

Screenplay: Alex Garland

Cast: Alicia Vikander; Oscar Isaac; Domhnall Gleeson; Sonoya Mizuno

SYNOPSIS

Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) a programmer at a huge Internet company, wins a contest that enables him to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), his firm's brilliant CEO. When he arrives, Caleb learns that he has been chosen to be the human component in a Turing test to determine the capabilities and consciousness of Ava (Alicia Vikander), a beautiful robot. However, it soon becomes evident that Ava is far more self-aware and deceptive than either man imagined.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

Watch on YouTube now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEPqEti32KE&t=2s

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

I talk with South African filmmaker Lola Aikins, who is currently crowdfunding for her film NALEDI on Kickstarter through May 27, 2024.

Lola is a one of a kind artist -- literally, I mean, 1 out of 7 billion type artist -- who is blazing a trail in independent film in the medium of animation and bringing people along with her. In this conversation, we talk about her start; how she looks for representation in front of AND behind the cameras; her challenge to Christopher Nolan; how the next big filmmaker for a studio project should be African; animation in film; the role of short films in her career; how she comes up and develops new ideas; and when you can expect to see NALEDI.

I don't think you can aurally tell the difficulties we had in recording this episode -- Riverside kept wanting me to refresh -- but that's because Lola is the ultimate game time filmmaker; she didn't miss a beat.

You should be able to tell easily, though, how excited I was to hear her story. I think you will be, too.

Lola's Indie Film Highlight: Uzo Ngwu (https://uzongwu.com/)

Links:

NALEDI's Website (https://www.naledimovie.com/home)

NALEDI Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aosv/naledi-animated-short-film)

NALEDI's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/naledifilm/?hl=en)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 5 TO 7 (2014)

Director: Victor Levin

Written by: Victor Levin

Cast: Anton Yelchin; Berenice Marlohe; Olivia Thirlby; Glenn Close; Frank Langella

SYNOPSIS

A young writer (Anton Yelchin) begins an affair with an older woman (Bérénice Marlohe) from France whose open marriage to a diplomat (Lambert Wilson) dictates that they can meet only between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/E1ZHf2geN2M

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Peter Kimball is an inspiration for many reasons -- and not just for what you might think. For me, it's helping people feel seen -- some of his films, for instance, feature an all-Deaf cast and are entirely in American Sign Language -- without explaining why. Because it doesn't need explanation. It's bold only because more people aren't willing to do it, but I'm lucky enough to talk with one guy who is.

We talk about how he got his start; the state of documentary and independent film; how an academic career is a way forward for filmmakers and what he thinks the strengths (and weaknesses) of current students are; and how (and why) he makes such original, bold choices.

Peter's Indie Film Highlight: STAY AWAKE (2022) (https://boxd.it/w7zg) dir. by Jamie Sisley; THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS (2020) (https://boxd.it/oiN8) dir. by Robert Machoian

Links:

Don't Matter Media (https://www.mybrotherisdeaf.com/home)

Peter's Faculty Profile (https://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/pkimball.cfm)

Washington, DC's Filmmaker of the Month February 2024 (https://entertainment.dc.gov/release/fotm-february-2024)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

I talk with filmmaker Jason Adam Maselle, the graduate winner of the 2024 First Run Film Festival. The First Run Film Festival is hosted "by the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. It is the longest continuously running film festival in New York City, dedicated to showcasing the advanced work of NYU graduate and undergraduate film students."

His award-winning film, PUNTER, is phenomenal but so is his own story -- growing up in South Africa and betting on himself by applying to NYU Tisch. The bet paid off, with his films being shown in as diverse locations as SNY and now taking home the top prize at his school's film festival.

PUNTER is a great film for several reasons: he establishes his characters within two minutes, the place of South Africa soon after, and the story is free from the stereotypical portrayals that we are all so used to seeing.

In this conversation, we talk about Jason's journey; what it's like to win at the First Run Film Festival; how best to describe South African cinema; the ruthlessness required to create a wonderful short film; the role of stereotypes in film; casting kids in film -- and getting the absolute best performance out of them; what the process of shooting in South Africa was like; the role of short films in independent film; and what's next.

And we both agree -- chess is a sport. What a fun time.

Jason's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Oliver Hermanus (https://letterboxd.com/director/oliver-hermanus/)

Jason's Indie Film Highlight: ABOUT ELLY (https://boxd.it/18Ry), dir. by Ashghar Farhadi.

Links:

Jason Adam Maselle's Website (https://jasonadammaselle.com/)

PUNTER on First Run Film Festival's Website (https://tisch.nyu.edu/first-run-film-festival/more-2024/Punter)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING (2023)

Director: Rachel Lambert

Screenplay: Stefanie Abel Horowitz; Kevin Armento; Katy Wright Mead

Cast: Daisy Ridley; Dave Merheje; Bree Elrod; Megan Stalter

SYNOPSIS

A lonely and socially awkward woman tries to make a connection with a friendly new co-worker who takes her out on a date..

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/OEChI8H7Sp8

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

In the first First Time Go live episode -- it streamed on YouTube -- I talk with the creators of 'A THOUSAND SUNS'. I was joined by:

MacGregor (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2021435/)

Tim Hyten (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2719211/)

Ruairi Robinson (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099711/?...)

Tyson Wade Johnston (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4098234/?...)

We talk about how this series and model got started and the authentic nature of the films; the role shorts play in a director's career and whether this can be a new model; AI in filmmaking; episode specific questions; and what's next for these ultra-talented filmmakers. If MacGregor is to be believed, expect them to be living in Iceland and making 200 more.

Those kind of jokes made this a fantastic way to record an episode. I look forward to having more live episodes.

To watch on YouTube, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=851mSkRXRis&t=611s

Tim's Indie Film Highlights: BURNING (2018) https://boxd.it/hHUa; THE DEATH OF DICK LONG (2019) https://boxd.it/kIoA

Ruairi Robinson's Indie Film Highlights: TANYA'S ISLAND (1980) https://boxd.it/2dbE; COME TRUE (2020) https://boxd.it/iG90; THE WAILING (2016) https://boxd.it/9fLy

Tyson Wade Johnston's Indie Film Highlight: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (2023) https://boxd.it/zo6G

Links:

1K Suns Website (https://www.1ksuns.com/)

Blackmilk Studio (https://www.blackmilk.studio/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

I talk with Cara Yeates about her new film, GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES, and her tremendous career spanning film festivals, one woman shows, running her own production company, and making gorgeously moody films.

In this episode, we talk about the intentionality behind her films, including GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES; balancing corporate work and creative work; the financial viability of short films; festival strategy; and the benefits of owning a production company. If you feel like we have a lot of Canadian and Canadian-Americans on the show, there's a good reason for that -- they are creating valuable, unique art. The beautiful filmmaking of Cara Yeates is no exception.

Cara's Indie Film Highlight: Totem dir by Lila Aviles (https://www.limerenciafilms.com/en/archivos/61)

Links:

GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES Website (https://www.gonebeforeyoureyes.com/)

Cara Yeates' Website (https://www.carayeates.com/)

Trigger Creative (https://www.triggercr.com/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: JESS + MOSS (2011).

Director: Clay Jeter

Screenplay: Clay Jeter; Debra Jeter; Will Basanta; Isaac Hagy

Cast: Austin Vickers; Sarah Hagan; Haley Parker; Haley Strode

SYNOPSIS

Jess, age 18, and Moss, age 12, are second cousins in rural Western Kentucky. Over the summer they go on a journey exploring deep secrets and hopes of a future.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube:https://youtu.be/rTLt7PYcshc

Watch JESS + MOSS On Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/jess-moss

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

In the works is a film I've been looking for my entire life -- a climate romcom. And it couldn't be in better hands.

In this episode, I talk with Kim Steele, a narrative climate storyteller with an amazing background in acting, filmmaking, and Broadway theater. We talk about utilizing LinkedIn for filmmaking connections (who knew?!); the transition from Broadway; the importance of climate films -- but in an engaging way and the need for a Bechdel test for climate; the benefits of seeking nontraditional financing in indie films; filmmaking in Georgia and the value of networking laterally; and what's next for this trailblazer in filmmaking.

I'll spoil it: the climate romcom...and I can't wait.

Kim's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Yellow Dot Studios (https://yellowdotstudios.com/)

Links:

Kim Steele's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/heykimsteele/)

"Now There's a Bechdel Test for Climate Change in Film" https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/bechdel-test-climate-change-film-good-energy-1234958880/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

If you love the easy accessibility of international TV shows and films, part of the plaudits go to my guest for this show, Erik Barmack. Among other roles, he served as vice president of international originals at Netflix and now runs his own production company, Wild Sheep Content. We get the story behind Wild Sheep and his rise to prominence in international productions; how he keeps a hand on the pulse of global TV and moviemaking; what kind of pathways people take to wind up working with his company; and what's next for Wild Sheep Content, a firm that has the reputation and background to make an outsized influence on what viewers enjoy over the next decade.

Erik's Indie Film Highlight: THE NAKED DIRECTOR (https://www.netflix.com/title/80239462), dir. by Masaharu Take; Pepe Bojorquez (https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1349821/); Felix Herngren (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0379773/)

Links:

Erik Barmack's Biography (https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/who-we-are)

Wild Sheep Content (https://www.wildsheepcontent.com/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 45 YEARS (2015).

Director: Andrew Haigh

Screenplay: Andrew Haigh

Cast: Charlotte Rampling; Tom Courtenay; Geraldine James

SYNOPSIS

Kate Mercer and her husband are excitedly planning a party to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. However, one week before the celebration, a letter arrives for her husband. The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps. As the party nears, there might not be a marriage left to celebrate.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/mLXpuSJZw30

Watch 45 Years On Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/45-years

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

After talking with Jules Rosskam, the director of the 2024 Sundance-premiered documentary DESIRE LINES, I just felt smarter: about filmmaking, how to use the medium to be a commentary on your story line, the specific reason he chose to create DESIRE LINES, trans storytelling, and almost everything about making an independent, uniquely creative film.

I imagine that's how his students feel at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County do as well: just blown away by the knowledge and thoughtfulness his work brings to the medium.

Check out Jules' socials to monitor when you can see the film: it's a singular experience that is unlike anything you've seen before.

Jules' Indie Film Highlight: SEEING MAVIS BEACON dir by. Jazmin Jones (https://seekingmavisbeacon.com/)

Links:

Jules Rosskam's Website (http://www.julesrosskam.com/)

Jules Rosskam's Studio Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/julesrosskamstudio/?hl=en)

Jules Rosskam's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/julesrosskamfilms/?hl=en)

"'DESIRE LINES' Explores an erotic archive of transmasculine sexuality'" at 2024 Sundance Film Festival (https://festival.sundance.org/blogs/desire-lines-explores-an-erotic-archive-of-transmasculine-sexuality/)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THAT EVENING SUN (2009).

Director: Scott Teems

Screenplay: Scott Teems

Cast: Hal Holbrook; Ray McKinnon; Walton Goggins; Mia Wasikowska

SYNOPSIS

Vowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner's son has leased the property to ne'er-do-well Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon) and his boorish family. Abner suspects that the Choats will not be able to afford the farm, and he moves into a shack to await their departure. Tensions escalate between Abner and Lonzo, each determined not to yield.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/79jJr2Fzzeg

Watch THAT EVENING SUN (2009) on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100016183/that-evening-sun?start=true&tracking=google-feed&utm_source=google-feed

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Translating life to art and art to life is the subject of my discussion with Venezuelan director, screenwriter, film producer, and Golden Lion recipient Lorenzo Vigas.

There's just something about Lorenzo's deeply moving films -- he refers to his three feature films as a trilogy about fathers and sons -- that makes a viewer think more deeply about...well, more deeply about everything. And the same thoughtfulness you see in his films is on full display here: his thoughts on film school and film festivals; tackling hard issues in service of art; the state of film in Latin America; and what's next for this extraordinarily talented filmmaker.

Lorenzo's Indie Film Highlight: Gustavo Rondon Cordova (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2271584/)

Links:

Lorenzo Vigas' IMDb (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1729237/)

Watch THE BOX on Mubi (https://mubi.com/en/us/films/the-box-2021-lorenzo-vigas)

Five Films That Inspired My Career (https://aframe.oscars.org/what-to-watch/post/lorenzo-vigas-five-films-that-inspired-my-career)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Everything that my guest, Khaula Kai Mahmood, makes sounds easy is actually really, really hard. Making films is hard. Speaking Pashto and Farsi is hard. Making a film about veterans is extremely difficult. But she does all of these things...so easily.

Khaula has lived around the globe, gotten a degree in architecture, worked in tech, but she's now a filmmaker and on this podcast, talking about raising money for her film FRAYED FLAGS. She shares her experience growing up the daughter of a veteran and how that sheds light on the stories she wants to tell about minority veterans in the United States.

It's a story mostly untold, and why we need filmmakers like Khaula more than ever before.

Khaula's Indie Film Highlight: Aisha T Kumari https://www.instagram.com/its_aishakumari/

Links:

FRAYED FLAGS Seed & Spark (https://seedandspark.com/fund/frayedflags#story)

Khaula's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/khaulakai/)

FRAYED FLAGS' Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/frayedflags)

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE DELINQUENTS (2023)

Director: Rodrigo Moreno

Written by: Nick Pinkerton

Cast: Daniel Elias; Esteban Bigliardi; Margarita Molfino

SYNOPSIS

Bank employee Morán steals enough money to never work again, then offers his colleague a cut if he hides the cash while Morán confesses and does what he calculates will be a short jail sentence. Soon under investigative pressure, accomplice Román meets a woman who transforms him forever.

Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube: https://youtu.be/hjnYiITu6xg

Watch THE DELINQUENTS On Mubi: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/los-delincuentes

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content