NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW: Recent Episodes
Nick Savides
Earnest interviews with prominent filmmakers, musicians, and creative people. We discuss the art of collaboration and making the world better in some way.
Send feedback or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@nsavides.com.
In this episode I expand on some ideas that came up in my discussion with Brian A. Loschiavo about his documentary about the Bluebird Cafe, a now iconic music in Nashville.
After I did the interview, certain subsequent news stories involving Taylor Swift came out, and they did affect my take on the film. Since Taylor Swift was prominently featured in the Bluebird documentary and discussed in my interview with Brian, I decided to do a supplemental commentary track to expand on my thoughts about her and how she affected my interpretation of the documentary.
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Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Some of my videos are here.
I want to get better at connecting with others, so I'm putting together a couple of videos as an experiment. This is the one I made while attending the Nashville Film Festival, and it does include a photo of me and Brian.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
Get access to all of Masterclass's world-class instructors for one great price: MasterClass All-Access Pass
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My Masterclass recommendations for this episode Ken Burns, the filmmaker behind the Country Music docuseries, shares his insights about capturing nuanced human drama on screen.
Reba McEntire shares her insights on country music and building a music career.
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Related Episode I liked Bluebird enough to include it in my top five picks from Nashville Film Festival 2019. In this episode, I elaborate on why I picked it and share my other recommendations from the festival.
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Related Things * Bluebird + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter + The first tweet from Bluebird_Movie * More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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Thank you for visiting!
Brian A. Loschiavo, the director-producer-editor of the Bluebird documentary, was first exposed to The Bluebird Cafe through the show Nashville, a series for which he developed supplemental digital content. The now iconic country-music venue that has been instrumental to the careers of so many musicians including Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, and Taylor Swift made enough of an impression on Brian that he set out to create a documentary about the place and the community of singer-songwriters it has nurtured over the years.
Bluebird premiered at SXSW 2019 but had a stronger reception at Nashville Film Festival several months later, where festival organizers ended up giving it four screenings to accommodate audience interest. I saw the film while attending the Nashville Film Festival and got to interview Brian there.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How he was able to get a number of prominent musicians like Taylor Swift to be in his film
- Why The Bluebird Cafe is such a memorable venue
- The challenges of shooting and/or performing in a confined space
Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Some of my videos are here.
I want to get better at connecting with others, so I'm putting together a couple of videos as an experiment. This is the one I made while attending the Nashville Film Festival, and it does include a photo of me and Brian.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
Get access to all of Masterclass's world-class instructors for one great price: MasterClass All-Access Pass
My Masterclass recommendations for this episode Ken Burns, the filmmaker behind the Country Music docuseries, shares his insights about capturing nuanced human drama on screen.
Reba McEntire shares her insights on country music and building a music career.
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Related Episode I liked Bluebird enough to include it in my top five picks from Nashville Film Festival 2019. In this episode, I elaborate on why I picked it and share my other recommendations from the festival.
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Related Things * Bluebird + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter + The first tweet from Bluebird_Movie * More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Premiering at Nashville Film Festival 2019, The Sheriff of Mars is a music documentary that tells the story of Daniel Antopolsky, a country and folk musician who was friends with Townes Van Zandt and who, the film suggests, helped to inspire Townes' now iconic outlaw country song "Pancho and Lefty." Wanting to escape the dark influence of the 1970s outlaw country music scene, Daniel retreated to France where he was discovered by Jason Ressler, the director of Sheriff of Mars.
Jason was so captivated by Daniel's music that he became his manager, helping him release his first album at the age of 65. More albums followed as did press from the BBC, Rolling Stone, and other renowned publications. Under Jason's guidance, Daniel began getting booked to perform at prominent music events, including SXSW and the Black Deer Festival in the UK.
Not content to merely be Daniel's manager, Jason also put together a music documentary to raise awareness of Daniel and his music. The Sheriff of Mars is what resulted, an affirming, on-screen demonstration of how it's never too late to start a music career or to revitalize once-abandoned dreams.
If the vision is there, you need collaboration to make it happen, but if you compromise the vision—if you have a good vision—it's not going to turn out well."
- Jason Ressler
Jason is the first manager-director I've met, so I invited him on the show to get his take on finding success in film and music. Some of the things we discuss include
- How he got a BBC profile for Daniel
- How to persevere when beset by failure
- Collaborating with music producers and engineers to create an album that’s right for an artist
- The interview he did with James Brown before he died and the impression that left
If you listen all the way to the end, you'll get to hear Daniel's song "Fish Bait Blues," which is also featured in the film.
Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Some of my videos are here.
I want to get better at connecting with others, so I'm putting together a couple of videos as an experiment. In the one below, I explore the New Orleans Art Museum, its surrounding sculpture garden, and a few places nearby. I also address some of the underlying issues that get in the way of connection, at least for me, and I try to do so with playfulness and honesty.
Connection Experiment: New Orleans
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
Get access to all of Masterclass's world-class instructors for one great price: MasterClass All-Access Pass
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Learn from and get inspired by Hans Zimmer, the composer on Gladiator, Interstellar, The Lion King, and more.
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Related Episode In the interview, Jason mentioned being impressed by what Hannah Leder and her co-director were able to put together with a limited budget. On this episode, I interview Hannah about how she and her co-director pulled off a compelling film with just a two-person crew.
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Related Things * Sheriff of Mars + Facebook, Instagram, YouTube * Daniel's music on Spotify * More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival * My take on Frank Capra, for old time's sake
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Shows Mentioned * Black Panther * Gardians of the Galaxy * Grey Gardens * The Lion King * Mr. Smith Goes to Washington * The Planters * Salesman * Searching for Sugar Man * The Sheriff of Mars * Sid Bernstein Presents... * Wonder Woman
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Musicians Mentioned * The Beatles * Bob Dylan * Daniel Antopolsky * Drake * Emmylou Harris * James Brown * Jessye Norman * Justin Townes Earle * Mississippi John Hurt * Ray Charles * Steve Earle * Taylor Swift * Townes Van Zandt * Willie Nelson
Book Mentioned * A Confederacy of Dunces
If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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Thank you for visiting!
Byron Reese is an acclaimed author, speaker, and entrepreneur. He's spoken at TEDx Austin and SXSW and has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, Wired, and The Washington Post. Byron is also the publisher of GigaOm and hosts the Voices in AI podcast.
Byron's latest book, The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity, is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read this year, so I brought him on the show to discuss it.
I think pessimism is the thing that will get us all killed." - Byron Reese
Some of the things we discuss include
- How artificial intelligence affects our lives
- The difference between narrow AI and general AI
- Whether being human is something more than a machine
- Challenges and philosophical questions raised by advancements in AI
- Why optimism matters and can make all the difference
- How AI might redefine creative work
Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Some of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
Get access to all of Masterclass's world-class instructors for one affordable price: MasterClass All-Access Pass
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Learn how to be a better writer and storyteller from Malcolm Gladwell.
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Related Episodes For more on how technology influences creativity, check out this interview with Brian Solis, who also spoke at SXSW.
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For more on the power of optimism, check out this interview with Golden Globe-winning producer Lindsay Doran.
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Related Things * The Fourth Age * Byron Reese + Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter * Voice in AI podcast
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Books Mentioned * The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity * Harry Potter * "I, Pencil" (essay) * The Lord of the Rings
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Shows Mentioned * The Animatrix * Game of Thrones * The Jetsons * Star Trek * The Twilight Zone
If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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Thank you for visiting!
What's Eating Ralphie May won Best of the Fest at Nashville Film Festival and Documentary of the Year at Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival. The film was initially intended to be a weight-loss documentary that followed beloved comedian Ralphie May and his family, but it turned into a raw and intimate portrait of a family dealing with addiction during the last years of Ralphie’s troubled life.
At Nashville Film Festival I had the chance to interview comedian and wife of Ralphie, Lahna Turner, and director Cat Rhinehart.
Some of the things we discuss include
- What to do when shooting a documentary that takes an unexpected turn
- How to earn trust to explore the raw and intimate aspects of someone's story
- What to do when loved ones are wrestling with addiction
- If and when it is appropriate to stop filming
- How comedy can help get past anguish
Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Some of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
MasterClass All-Access Pass
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Learn how to improve your stand-up routine and be funnier from Steve Martin.
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Related Episodes For more on shooting documentaries, check out this episode with Peabody-winning documentary filmmaker Craig Renaud. He's done projects for likes of HBO, NBC, Discovery, PBS, The New York Times, and VICE News. On this episode he discusses how to survive dangerous conflict zones, ways to explore hot-button issues in an in-depth way, and more.
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Steve Kaplan has taught comedy workshops around the world and companies like Dreamworks, Disney, HBO, Paramount, and Touchstone hire him as a comedy consultant. He shares some of his comedy insights on this episode.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * What's Eating Ralphie May + Facebook, IMDb * Lahna Turner + Twitter, YouTube * Cat Rhinehart + Facebook, Instagram * More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned * Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind * The First 48 Hours * Marriage Story * One Hour Photo * What's Eating Ralphie May
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If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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Thank you for visiting!
My podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival continues in this short-films episode where I interview the directors for two different short films that got my attention at the festival. One has more of a documentary feel while the other one is a more stylized film with elaborate production design, so I paired the two interviews to explore how shorts can come together and the creative possibilities they can offer.
The first interview is with Amanda Young, one of the directors behind Every Two Minutes, a compilation of stories relating to human trafficking. The short was done through StoryGive, which partners filmmakers in Nashville with non-profits that tackle various social issues. For Every Two Minutes, StoryGive connected local filmmakers with End Slavery Tennessee, a non-profit dedicated to caring for survivors of human trafficking and tactically addressing the issue.
The second interview is with Chilean director Vicente Manzano. His experimental short Bubble uses bubble framing in a novel, story-driven way. Virtually everything in the film was custom-designed for the film, which involved careful planning to pull off.
Some of the things we discuss include
- Using film to address a social issue in an impactful way
- How to collaborate with accomplished filmmakers and crew members on limited budget
- How to make a short film that is driven by stylized production design
Sponsors for this Episode nsavides productions I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.
I shot this New Orleans wedding video for Cece & Andy last year. Even one year later, I'm still getting positive feedback about the video from the couple's friends and family.
More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Masterclass Online training from some of the world's best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.
MasterClass All-Access Pass
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Related Episode Emmy-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Stillmotion, Patrick Moreau, talks about the challenges of putting together a high-quality, issues-driven documentary in this episode.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * Amanda Young + Instagram
- StoryGive
- End Slavery Tennessee
- Vicente Manzano
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More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Hannah Leder has a variety of acting credits including Deep Impact, Pay it Forward, and Judd Apatow’s Love series. She also has a recurring role on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show.
On this podcast episode I interview Hannah about her work on The Planters, a quirky, character-driven comedy that won Best of the Fest, Best Cinematography, and Best Song at Nashville Film Festival. Along with Alexandra Kotcheff, Hannah co-wrote, co-directed, co-starred, and co-shot the film. The Planters ended up taking 127 days to shoot, and Hannah and Alexandra were the only crew members on set.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How to shoot a high-quality film with a two-person crew
- The camera and lighting setups they used for the film
- How the stop-motion sequences in the film came together
At the end of the episode you can hear a preview of “You and Me Together,” the film's award-winning song from Phil Danyew.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.
Up to Date isa short comedy about a blind date gone wrong. It's the first live-action short I directed a few years ago, and it was written by Stephen Hoover. His script Damage Control was a finalist in the Nashville Film Festival's screenwriting competition, and he helped to make possible my festival podcast coverage.
More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
Related Episode If you'd like to learn more about how comedy works, then check out this interview I did with Steve Kaplan. He teaches comedy workshops around the world. Companies like Dreamworks, Disney, HBO, Paramount, and Touchstone regularly hire him as a consultant and script doctor.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * The Planters + Facebook, IMDb, Instagram * More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
If You Liked the Show
- Donate $1 to help keep the show going.
- Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is Part III of my podcast recap of Nashville Film Festival 2019. In it, I share my top five films from Nashville Film Festival and why I picked them. It's a more personal take, so I also share some related things that came up when trying to put together the list.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.
Mystery Loves Company music video We got to explore all kinds of places in Houston while making this music video I directed for the chamber-rock band Mystery Loves Company. Not long after the video was released, the band got an opportunity to perform at a few venues in France.
More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
Related Episodes A number of the films that screened at Nashville Film Festival this year also screened at SXSW 2019. Episodes from my SXSW 2019 podcast coverage are here.
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Johnny Cash influenced how actor John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard) thinks about faith, which came up in this podcast interview.#
Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum * Collegiate film T-shirts from Chad McClarnon * SNL's 1950s music sketch featuring Will Ferrell * Tunefind, useful for finding music featured on films, TV shows, and games * Bureau of Justice Statistics 2018 report on police encounters with the public * The court battle in Dallas for the gender identity of a seven year * Dr. Anne Georgulas's Google reviews * Unplanned, the documentary about Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood employee of the year who became a pro-life activist, is now streaming online
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
Films Discussed * III * Alice * America, America * Appalachian Holler * Bluebird * Berry Hill: From Creative Workshop and Beyond * Chuck Berry * Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore * Country Music (the docuseries from Ken Burns) * Eternal Winter * Five Women in the End * The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash * A Hidden Life * Jojo Rabbit * The Kill Team * Lost Bayou * Manuel * Marriage Story * Mickey and the Bear * The Planters * Reckoning * Red Dog * The Sheriff of Mars * The Short History of a Long Road * Stuffed * The Thin Red Line * Tuscaloosa * Unplanned * The Way you Look Tonight * What's Eating Ralphie May * VR films + Accused #2: Walter Sisulu + Ambrosia + Agreda’s Dungeon + Only at the Air, Only at Each Other
Bands & Musicians Discussed * Bob Dylan * Bruce Springsteen * Chuck Berry * Corey Hart * Dave Bartholomew * Garth Brooks * Hank Williams * Haroula Rose * Jimmy Buffett * Johnny Cash * John Carter Cash * June Carter Cash * Kanye West * Lauren Daigle * The Lumineers * The National * Taylor Swift * Vince Gill
If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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Thank you for visiting!
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend and do podcast coverage at the 50th Nashville Film Festival. While there, I interviewed a number of filmmakers and filled an entire notebook with observations about the various films and events I attended.
My Nashville Film Festival podcast coverage began with this interview I did with some of the filmmakers behind Lost Bayou. More filmmaker interviews are coming soon.
Here, I'll recap some of the notable films and experiences I had at the festival and share some of the things I learned while attending. The filmmakers, musicians, and creative people who I aim to serve with this podcast are those who seek truth and care about exploring big ideas, and so I will strive for both, as I've done with other festivals I've covered.
The first pass at my podcast commentary of Nashville Film Festival came in close to three hours, so I've broken it up into three parts.
Part I includes
- General observations and strengths of the festival
- Music insights from a few panels and films
- Reactions to Marriage Story, the new Noah Baumbach film; Speed of Life, a narrative film in which the death of David Bowie causes a disruption to the space-time continuum that threatens the romance of a young couple; and Chuck Berry, the documentary about the founding father of rock n roll that premiered at the festival.
This is Part II, the meat of the coverage, where I go through a number of feature films I saw at the festival and discuss what worked for me and what didn't. Some of the related topics that come up include doing the right thing in spite of social pressure, police brutality on screen, gender identity issues, and more.
In Part III, I will share my top five films from Nashville Film Festival and why I picked them. Part II and III will get added to this page in a couple of days. Subscribe to the podcast to get the new episodes as they become available.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. #
Mystery Loves Company music video We got to explore all kinds of places in Houston while making this music video I directed for the chamber-rock band Mystery Loves Company. Not long after the video was released, the band got an opportunity to perform at a few venues in France.
More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
Related Episodes A number of the films that screened at Nashville Film Festival this year also screened at SXSW 2019. Episodes from my SXSW 2019 podcast coverage are here.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * Bureau of Justice Statistics 2018 report on police encounters with the public * The court battle in Dallas for the gender identity of a seven year * Dr. Anne Georgulas's Google reviews
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
Films Discussed * III * Appalachian Holler * Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore * Eternal Winter * Five Women in the End * A Hidden Life * The Kill Team * Manuel * Mickey and the Bear * The Planters * Reckoning * The Sheriff of Mars * The Short History of a Long Road * Stuffed * The Thin Red Line * Tuscaloosa * The Way you Look Tonight
If You Liked the Show * Donate $1 to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend and do podcast coverage at the 50th Nashville Film Festival. While there, I interviewed a number of filmmakers and filled an entire notebook with observations about the various films and events I attended.
My Nashville Film Festival podcast coverage began with this interview I did with some of the filmmakers behind Lost Bayou. More filmmaker interviews are coming soon.
Here, I'll recap some of the notable films and experiences I had at the festival and share some of the things I learned while attending. The filmmakers, musicians, and creative people who I aim to serve with this podcast are those who seek truth and care about exploring big ideas, and so I will strive for both, as I've done with other festivals I've covered.
The first pass at my podcast commentary of Nashville Film Festival came in close to three hours, so I've broken it up into three parts.
Part I includes
- General observations and strengths of the festival
- Music insights from a few panels and films
- Reactions to Marriage Story, the new Noah Baumbach film; Speed of Life, a narrative film in which the death of David Bowie causes a disruption to the space-time continuum that threatens the romance of a young couple; and Chuck Berry, the documentary about the founding father of rock n roll that premiered at the festival.
Part II will be the meat of the coverage, where I go through a number of feature films I saw at the festival and discuss what worked for me and what didn't and explore some of the ideas and the topics in certain films.
In Part III, I will share my top five films from Nashville Film Festival and why I picked them. Part II and III will get added to this page in a couple of days. Subscribe to the podcast to get the new episodes as they become available.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. #
https://vimeo.com/291833120 We got to explore all kinds of places in Houston while making this music video I directed for the chamber-rock band Mystery Loves Company. Not long after the video was released, the band got an opportunity to perform at a few venues in France.
More of my videos are here. Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Episodes A number of the films that screened at Nashville Film Festival this year also screened at SXSW 2019. Episodes from my SXSW 2019 podcast coverage are here.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum * Collegiate film T-shirts from Chad McClarnon * SNL's 1950s music sketch featuring Will Ferrell * Tunefind, useful for finding music featured on films, TV shows, and games
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
Films Mentioned * Alice * America, America * Berry Hill: From Creative Workshop and Beyond * Chuck Berry * Country Music (the docuseries from Ken Burns) * Marriage Story * Red Dog * VR films + Accused #2: Walter Sisulu + Ambrosia + Agreda’s Dungeon + Only at the Air, Only at Each Other
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Musicians Mentioned * Chuck Berry * Corey Hart * Dave Bartholomew
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If You Liked the Show * Leave a donation to help keep the show going. * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
My podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival begins with Lost Bayou, a film that premiered at Tribeca and went on to win Best Picture at the El Dorado Film Festival. Lost Bayou tells the story of a struggling addict who returns home to the Louisiana bayou to reconnect with her faith healer father, only to discover he’s hiding a troubling secret aboard his houseboat.
During the Nashville Film Festival, I had the chance to interview director Brian Richard, writer-actor Hunter Burke, and actor Jackson Beals about the film.
Some of the things we discuss include
- Honoring not exploiting the Cajun faith-healing community
- Getting the Cajun accents right and using them for story purposes
- Working with the Grammy-winning band Lost Bayou Ramblers on the soundtrack
- Nurturing a family-like atmosphere on set
- Exploring a crisis of faith on screen
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. My videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
Related Episode A few years ago I had the opportunity to interview Brian and Hunter about their short film Atchafalaya. It's included in my coverage of the New Orleans Film Festival 2015.
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Related Things * Nashville Film Festival * Lost Bayou + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Good for What Ails You, the doc directed by Glen Pitre that explores Cajun faith healers.
- Lost Bayou Ramblers, the band that provided the music for the film
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If you are in or near New Orleans, you can catch Lost Bayou on Oct. 17 & 23 at the New Orleans Film Festival.
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Just a quick update about the recent hiatus, and where I'm at with the show. Short version: the podcast will return with my coverage at the 50th Nashville Film Festival.
Special thanks to Stephen T. Hoover. His script Damage Control made it into the top-four finalist round for half-hour pilots in the festival's screenwriting contest, and he was the impetus for me to attend and cover the festival.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.
This is Up to Date, a short comedy about a blind date gone wrong. It's the first live-action short I directed, and it was written by Stephen Hoover.
More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * Stephen T. Hoover on IMDd * "One Song Away" by Ivan & Alyosha on Spotify
In this episode I reflect on my podcast interview with writer Tom Piazza and share more of my thoughts about HBO's Tremeand how it compares to The Wire, both of which were created by David Simon.
Afterwards I share some updates about some possibilities on the horizon.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. # This music video was one of the things that brought me to Louisiana. # More of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Episodes On this podcast commentary from the 2018 Cutting Edge Music Conference, I share some takeaways about the New Orleans music community. My interviews episode from Cutting Edge 2018 includes a story about Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
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Related Things * *Treme* on Amazon Prime
- Recommended episodes of Treme
- Honorable mention: 1.8 "All on a Mardi Gras Day"
- 1.10 "I’ll Fly Away"
- 2.4 "Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get the Blues"
- 2.7 "Carnival Time"
- 2.10 "That’s What Lovers Do"
- 4.5 "… To Miss New Orleans"
- The Wire on Amazon Prime
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Tom's site
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
Shows Mentioned * *Better Call Saul*
- Goliath
- Treme
- The Practice
- The Princess and the Frog
- Rolling Thunder Revue
- Waiting for Godot
- The Wire
# Books Mentioned * City of Refuge * Devil Sent the Rain: Music and Writing in Desperate America * The Executioner's Song * A Free State * Le Morte d'Arthur * Why New Orleans Matters * Understanding Jazz: Ways to Listen
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Musicians and Albums Mentioned * Allen Toussaint * Big Freedia * Bob Dylan * Clarence "Frogman" Henry * Clay Parker and Jodi James - The Lonesomest Sound That Can Sound * Fats Domino * Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
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Even in the early days of the internet, Brian Solis was advising prominent companies about how to use social media to connect with potential customers. He's been called "one of the greatest digital analysts of our time” and has been sought out by the likes of Oprah, Shaq and Ashton Kutcher. Brian is also an award-winning author and world-renowned keynote speaker.
I met Brian at SXSW 2019, during his book launch event for Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life. As Brian explains in our interview, the book developed out of a conversation he had after speaking at SXSW 2018: He was challenged to provide an answer to the questions he had raised about the dark side of social media.
Lifescale became his answer. Writing the book made him rethink his priorities and pursue deeper, more meaningful connections with the people in his life. The book had a similar effect on me and helped me prepare for new creative possibilities, so I brought Brian on the show to discuss it.
Some of the things Brian and I discuss in this episode include
- How social media can rewire people and societies
- When the personal approach can be right approach
- Using design principles to create a more reading experience
- The life-changing impact of Walt Disney a certain animated short
- How to develop deeper, more meaningful connections with others
- Practical things we can do to rekindle our creativity
# Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. # This music video I shot for Long Division, a post-rock band from Virginia, was nominated for an award by Veer Magazine. # More of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Episodes Todd Henry, founder and CEO of Accidental Creative, came on the showto discuss how to get past writer's block, live with purpose, and discover our life's work.
#
Related Things *I met Brian at his Lifescale book event at SXSW 2019.*
- Brian's site
- LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter
- lifescaling.me
- Alikeanimated short
- Lifescalegot included in this cnbc.com list of notable books in 2019
- "Human Contact Is Now a Luxury Good"as explained in The New York Times
-
Brian's Lifescaleevent at SXSW got mentioned as one of my highlights of SXSW 2019
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
# Books Mentioned * *Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive, and Happy Life*
- What’s the Future of Business?
- X: The Experience Where Business Meets Design
# If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
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Jenna Suru's early film career involved working for Gaumont, one of the major French film studios and the world's first and oldest film company. There she was in charge of distributing Gaumont new releases to film festivals around the world. Later she went on to work for SND Groupe M6, a French distributor that also distributes American films in France including the Twilight series and Scream 4.
She also received some film production experience in Los Angeles, where she worked as a production assistant and then a producer on a couple of shows. Her various industry experiences helped her to form Belle Époque Films, so that she could support emerging filmmakers and produce her own projects.
"There is no beautiful piece of art really possible if you're just alone." - Jenna Suru
Influenced by films like And God Created Woman and the Before Sunrise trilogy, L'Âge d'Or is her company's debut feature film, which she wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in. The film tells the story of a penniless Franco-American producer and an ambitious French theater actress who meet in Paris, 1967 and embark on an artistic quest to change the world that leads them to Saint-Tropez, a coastal town on the French Riviera and a fabled artistic haven.
Some of the things Jenna and I discuss in this episode include
- How artists can change the world
- Challenges of shooting a period piece
- Experiences that allowed Jenna to wear multiple hats on her debut feature film
- The benefits of securing music rights before shooting begins
- How her acting background influences her work as a director
- What makes Saint-Tropez so special
# Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. Chloe & Jake got married on May 4, 2019 at the Swedenborg Chapel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their wedding had all the charm and personality that Greeks bring when celebrating a special event. May 4 is also known as Star Wars Day, so the wedding even included some Star Wars accents. Those are some of the reasons why it was such a delight to shoot! More of my videos are here. Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Episodes For more on what it takes to produce optimistic films that can change the world, check out this podcast interview with Golden Globe-winning producer Lindsay Doran (Sense and Sensibility, Sabrina, Stranger Than Fiction).
#
Related Things * Jenna on
+ LinkedIn, IMDb, Instagram
- Jenna's company, Belle Époque Films
-
L'Âge d'Oron
- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned * Anna * And God Created Woman * Before Sunrise trilogy * The Intouchables (2011) * L’Âge d’Or” * La Piscine (1969) * La Vie en Rose * Life of Pi
# Musicians Mentioned * The Beatles * Chuck Berry * The Rolling Stones #
# If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Author Tom Piazza has written 12 books, many of which feature New Orleans, music, or both. His post-Katrina manifesto Why New Orleans Mattershelped to inspire the HBO show Treme, and the show's co-creator David Simon brought him on as a staff writer largely because of it. Tom received a Grammy Award for his album notes to Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey and has also written for numerous publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Oxford American.
I met with Tom at the historic Columns Hotel in New Orleans to talk about his work and the city that has shaped so much of it. Some of the things we discuss in the episode include
- Highlights from the 50th anniversary of Jazz Fest
- How to write about a place like a local
- What not to do when writing music criticism
- Research that went into his album notes for Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues
- How the writing room on Treme worked together to flesh out challenging story points
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. This is the video I put together to commemorate The Rayo Brothers' performance at Jazz Fest 2018. For part of their set they were joined by Grammy-winning musician Louis Michot from the Lost Bayou Ramblers. This wedding video I shot includes some classic New Orleans elements including Brennan's, where Bananas Foster was invented; the Pontchartrain Hotel, where Tennessee Williams worked on his play Streetcar Named Desire; streetcars; and jazz. More of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Episodes One of the bands featured in Tremeis Papa Gros Funk. On this episode I interviewed the filmmakers behind Do U Want It, a documentary about the band that focuses on their final performances before their indefinite hiatus.
This episode features an interview with Laura Cayouette, a New Orleanian actress who played Kay, a recurring character on Treme. Laura is often recognized for her role in Django Unchained, where she played the sister of Leonardo DiCaprio's character.
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Related Things * Tom's site
- Tremeon Amazon Prime
- An Unofficial Guide to Tremeon the Beyond Bourbon St. podcast
- The Columns Hotel
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A blog post I wrote on Martin Scorsese, which includes some discussion on the blues series for which Tom did the liner notes.
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Books Mentioned * An American Dream by Norman Mailer * City of Refugeby Tom Piazza * Invisible Manby Ralph Ellison * La Vita Nuovaby Dante * The Sound and the Furyby William Faulkner * Understanding Jazz: Ways to Listenby Tom Piazza * Why New Orleans Mattersby Tom Piazza
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Musicians Mentioned * Barbecue Bob * Bill Monroe * Bob Dylan * Bonnie Raitt * The Carter family * Diana Krall * Elvis Costello * Hank Williams * Jimmie Rodgers * John Prine * Muddy Waters
# Shows Mentioned * Deadwood * Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey * Treme * The Wire
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Renting film equipment can seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. John Baumgartner, the rental manager at Expressway Cinema Rentals in Philadelphia, came on the podcast to walk filmmakers through the rental process.
"... at the end of the day I'm not going to let you walk out of my rental house not being able to make your picture." -John Baumgartner
Some of the things we discuss in this episode include
- How much time to plan for testing equipment
- What options filmmakers have in dealing with insurance
- Essential but sometimes overlooked accessories needed for a shoot
- Popular cameras & lenses and what makes them appealing
- New equipment that could make a difference on set
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Episodes Patrick Moreau is a filmmaker and co-founder of the Portland-based, Emmy-winning production company Stillmotion. He shares his approach to storytelling and film equipment in this episode.
Dan Laustsen, the cinematographer on The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, and John Wick 2, explains his approach to lighting on this episode:
#
Related Things * Expressway Cinema Rentals
+ blog, Facebook, Instagram
- video recap of Expressway's 2019 Summer Gear Expo
-
video recap of Expressway's recent Grip & Electric Bootcamp
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shotonwhat.com- resource for exploring equipment using on a film
- Insurance options mentioned
- Temporary Insurance Rec. for Expressway provided by JonPaul Evans from the Truman Van Dyke Company
- buymyinsurancenow.com
- through agreements with kit-sharing sites like KitSplitand ShareGrid
- Cameras mentioned
- ARRI ALEXA Mini
- Canon EOS 7D
- Sony FS7
- Sony Venice
- Lenses mentioned
- ARRI Ultra Primes
- Canon FDs
- Canon K35s
- Cooke Speed Panchros - rehoused
- Leica Rs
- Leica Summicrons
- Rokinon
- Zeiss CP.2s
- Filters mentioned
- streak filters
- Tiffen Pro-Mist filter
- Lighting equipment mentioned
- Astera Titan Tube
- eggcrate grid - for narrowing the spread of a light
- LiteGear LiteTile
- Power accessories mentioned
- Anton Bauer V-Mount battery
- Core SWX battery
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Other accessories mentioned
- Dana Dolly
- DJI Ronin
- Easyrig
- Focusbug - Ultrasonic rangerfinder system
- Freefly Systems Movi
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films & Shows Mentioned * 21 Bridges * Glass * Mindhunter * Split * Solo * The Upside
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Kate Krantz, the Chief Content Officer for Crypt TV, began her career by working for William Morris Endeavor. From there, she went to work for Walt Disney Studios in live-action production. That gave her a chance to observe how Disney developed characters and intellectual property beloved by millions around the world. Those observations helped her manage Crypt TV's universe of monsters, which have brought Crypt TV over 1.5 billion worldwide views on social media and led to prominent partnerships with Netflix, Facebook, and more.
Kate was also one of the panelists at a SXSW 2019 producers roundtable. Some of the things we discuss in this episode include
- How to build relationships at film festivals and other industry events
- Smart things that Disney does to keep their IP relevant for generations
- How filmmakers can partner with Crypt TV to build long-term careers
- What a compelling monster movie involves
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. This is a promo I shot for a theater company in Lafayette. # More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
#
Related Episodes CFX is a special effects and silicon mask-making company in Baton Rouge that has made masks and props for films like 2 Guns, Treme, and Twilight. I had a chance to interview some of their team and put together this video of their mask-making process.
More on monster movies in this interview I did with Dan Laustsen, the cinematographer on The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, and John Wick 2.
#
Related Things * Crypt TV
+ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
- Crypt TV shows mentioned
- The Birch
- The Look-See
- Sunny Family Cult
- Thing in the Apartment
- Meredith Alloway, the filmmaker Kate mentioned whose short Deep Tissuepremiered at SXSW
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Sam Claitor, a producer at Fable House, helped to make this episode happen.
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Other Films & Shows Mentioned * The Babadook * Bride of Frankenstein * Christopher Robin * Crimson Peak * Dracula * Edward Scissorhands * The Elephant Man * Frankenstein * Get Out * It Follows * Maleficent * The Phantom of the Opera * Star Wars * Van Helsing
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
For the past 23 years, Cyber PR Founder Ariel Hyatt has been helping prominent musicians and creative people use public relations, marketing, and social media to connect with fans and be more engaging.
She's also written four books on the music industry and is an internationally recognized speaker who has spoken at conferences around the world including SXSW, Vivid Sydney, Hubspot Ignite, and Campus Party London. Her work has been recognized in publications ranging from Oprah, CNN, Wired, Billboard, Forbes.com, and The Washington Post, just to name a few.
Ariel came on the show to share her engagement insights. Some of the things we discuss include
- How to develop a personal narrative
- Fun things to post on social media
- How music saved Ariel's life and why it matters
- What not to do when trying to get attention for your music
- Compelling campaigns that caught Ariel's attention
- How to develop relationships with writers
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. This is the video I shot with Sean Gasser for The Excelleauxs at Blues Fest this year. More of my videos are here.
Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
#
Related Episode One prominent musician that Ariel has worked with is Bree Noble, an awarding-winning musician, speaker, author, entrepreneur founder of Women of Substance Radio & The Female Entrepreneur Musician. Bree also shares some resources for musicians looking to build sustainable careers in this podcast interview.
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Related Things * Cyber PRand Cyber PR Music Podcast
- Ariel on
- Facebook, Twitter
- Freebies from Ariel
- Some of the campaigns that Ariel highlighted include
- Ariana Grande
- Brené Brown
- Chris Barron
- Danielle LaPorte
- Guster
- Janelle Monáe
- Michael Franti
-
Documentary I mentioned: Social Animals
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse developed a new approach to computer animation so as to translate the comic-book experience for the big screen. Academy voters took notice and awarded the film an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. One of the last things that moviegoers see before leaving the film is the hyperkinetic title sequence animated by visual studio Alma Mater.
The sequence was featured at SXSW 2019 in a compilation of compelling title sequences, and it made enough of an impression that it won SXSW's jury-awarded Excellence in Title Design accolade. As part of my festival coverage of SXSW 2019, I sat down with title sequence co-director James Ramirez to learn more about what went into making the sequence.
Some of the things we discuss include
- The different styles of animation that went into the sequence and how they put it together in Cinema 4D
- How they worked with the filmmakers behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to supplement the ideas and characters of the film
- The way they implemented the half-tone look
- What filmmakers should keep in mind when planning for a title sequence
#
Related Episode To hear more about how vintage animation styles have influenced computer animation, check out this interview with Limbert Fabian and Brandon Oldenburg, Oscar-winning directors from Moonbot Studios, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Alma Mater
- Jame's site, friedpixels.com
- James on
- Instagram, Twitter
- This Art of the Title article provides an in-depth discussion with illustrations about how the title sequence came together.
- James gave a shout out to the Deadpool 2 title sequence.
- Imaginary Forces, one of the agencies whose work James admires, worked on titles for Stranger Things and Mad Men.
- Jack Kirby, an early Spider-Man artist, provided design inspiration for both the film and title sequence of Into the Spider-Verse.
-
While we didn't get to discuss this in the interview, James also did some motion graphics work on Stranger Than Fiction, a film that has been a big inspiration for me. My interview with Stranger Than Fiction's producer Lindsay Doran is over here.
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
Concept Art Ben Apley, producer for Alma Mater's Into the Spider-Verse title sequence, graciously shared some images to illustrate how the concept developed.
Visit show page to see.
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
On this episode, I explore some of the big ideas and political discussions I heard at SXSW 2019. While this is not an inherently political show, political outlooks inform the films, music, and art we take in and strive to create, whether directly or indirectly.
SXSW isn't just a prominent film and music festival. It's also where presidential hopefuls and thought leaders gather to share their perspectives on the world, and so the festival can serve as a bellwether for where the culture is heading.
This episode is a little different than the typical coverage I do, but it does allow for a more in-depth discussion on some of the ideas behind the films and music at the festival. It also gave me an opportunity to share some things on my heart.
I hope some of you will find it helpful.
#
Related Episode The first episode I did on SXSW 2019 highlights some of the memorable films, music, and experiences that stuck out for me.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * SXSW
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
First-time directors face all kinds of unexpected challenges. For Alex Ferrari, host of the Indie Film Hustle podcast, that meant trying to shoot a $20 million feature film in Louisiana and across the country for a bipolar, egomaniacal gangster. The dream of becoming a feature-film director turned into a nightmare for Alex, and it led to a textbook example of how not to make a film.
That traumatic experience went on to forge Alex's interest in helping other filmmakers avoid similar heartaches. He provides a detailed account of what happened and the lessons he learned along the way in his new book, Shooting for the Mob.
#
Alex came on the show to discuss some of the life lessons he learned from that experience and his years in the industry. Some of the things we discuss include
- How his schedule helps him stay prolific
- What to avoid when making a feature film
- The important role that meditation plays in his life
- How to follow our dreams while being true to ourselves
- How to build meaningful relationships in a industry filled with shallow ones
#
Related Episode If you want to hear more about Alex, check out the first interview I did with himwhere we discuss his work as a post-production supervisor and his insights about building an engaged community.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Recently I had the honor of shooting Andy and Cece's classic New Orleans wedding: https://vimeo.com/308438268
More of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Alex Ferrari on
+ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Indie Film Hustle
- Shooting for the Mob
-
Indie Film Hustle TV
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Carnivale * El Mariachi * Goodfellas * The Good Place * Reservoir Dogs * This is Meg * This is Spinal Tap
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Books Mentioned * The Count of Monte Cristo * The Odyssey * Shooting for the Mob
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Our SXSW 2019 podcast coverage continues with two representatives from film-financing company Forest Road. The company sponsored one of the filmmaker dinners at SXSW this year. More importantly, they are a financing company that puts the filmmakers first.
Forest Road Company's CEO Zach Tarica and Director of West Coast Operations Eric Boshart came on the podcast to break down the film financing process and what filmmakers should know when preparing to secure financing.
Financing is a huge aspect of filmmaking, but for all kinds of reasons film financing companies are often hesitant to go on record about how they do business. Defying those tendencies, Zach and Eric spoke openly about their process and advocated for more transparency in the industry.
#
Some of the things we discuss include
- How to protect the equity behind a project
- Fees to watch for during the budgeting process
- What should a good term sheet and opinion letter include
- How to determine which states have the best tax incentives for film
- Highlights from SXSW 2019
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Related Episode If you appreciate Zach and Eric's transparency about the filmmaking process, you might also appreciate the transparency that 1091 (formerly The Orchard), a prominent film distributor, brings to their filmmaker collaborations. When I met Richard Matson during SXSW 2017, he was the vice president of theatrical distribution at The Orchard.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * forestroadco.com
- Zach& Eric on LinkedIn
- The New York Timesreview for After Everything
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Forest Road ranks state tax incentive programs
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films & Shows Mentioned * After Everything * Moonlight
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Companies Mentioned * ABS Payroll * The Borscht Corp. * The Exchange * Forest Road Company * Technicolor Postworks
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Recently I had the opportunity to do podcast coverage at SXSW 2019, my third time doing coverage at Austin's preeminent film and music festival. (Before, I did coverage there as The nsavides Podcast. I changed the name to NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW for clarity and because nicksav.show is easier to remember then podcast.nsavides.com.)
Part I of my coverage includes some general observations about the festival, what captured my attention and why, and some of my favorite film and music experiences
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Related Episode Producer Sam Claitor from Fable House helped me put together my coverage of SXSW 2019. Back in 2018, I did this live episode of the show as an official event of SXSW 2018.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * SXSW
- Calmstood out by bringing a two-toed sloth to the festival's exhibition hall
- The Peanut Butter Falcon, my favorite film experience at SXSW
- The Tiny Desk music show at SXSW
- The launch party for Brain Solis's new book, Life Scale, was one of my most memorable experiences at the festival
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Mark Falgout, organizer of this year's Lafayette party, was interviewed during my SXSW 2017 coverage
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films & Shows Mentioned * Autonomy * Game of Thrones * Good Omens * The Highwaymen * The Peanut Butter Falcon * Running with Beto
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Years ago, I came to SXSW to see The Last Bison perform. Now with a few new hits and a refined sound, they're back, playing at Austin's esteemed film and music festival once more.
Frontman Ben Hardesty came on the show to discuss
- The story behind their evolving sound
- What went into making their latest music video
- How they create a unified experience for their fans across the country
- What getting signed by a label has meant to the band
- Staying true to one's values while building an audience
Make fans that are friends." - Ben Hardesty
After the interview, you can hear Last Bison's song "Dark Am I."
#
Related Episode Want to hear more music-interviews from SXSW? Check out this interview I did with the singer from Gothic Tropicfrom SXSW 2018.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. This music video I directed got mentioned by Houston's leading morning talk show, Great Day Houston. My videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Last Bison
+ Facebook, Instagram
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * The Decemberists * Last Bison * Mumford & Sons * Peter Gabriel * Simple Minds
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is the commentary track for my interview with singer-songwriter Lynn Drury, who has been performing in New Orleans for over 20 years.
Some of the things I discuss include
- How to be more effective as a performer
- Building quality relationships over quantity
- The role of the artist in the world at large
- Things that get in the way of trying to make the world better in some way
For links and more detailed show notes:
http://podcast.nsavides.com/LynnDrury
The seventh season of the NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW kicks off with Lynn Drury, a singer-songwriter who has played music in New Orleans for over 20 years. Those in the know about the New Orleans music community go out of their way to see Lynn perform, as do audiences across the country and around the world.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How to build a music career that lasts for years
- How to get music on TV show like NCIS: New Orleans
- What it takes to get established in a discerning music community
- How New Orleans has influenced Lynn's sound and outlook
- Collaborating with musicians to put on a great show
- Staying inspired in spite of heartache
"Making music is knowing when to be quiet." -Lynn Drury
Lynn's songs that we discuss include "11:11," "Anniversary," "Blue Streak," "Butterfly," and "Northern."
After the interview, you can hear Lynn's song "Blue Streak."
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Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen enjoyed seeing Lynn perform at Tipitina's back in December.
#
Related Episode To hear more about the New Orleans music scene, check out this interview I did with the filmmakers behind the Papa Grows Funk documentary, Do U Want It?
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. This music video I directed got mentioned by Houston's leading morning talk show, Great Day Houston. More of my work is here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Lynn's site
+ Facebook, Instagram
- Albums mentioned
- Rise of the Fall, Sugar on the Floor
-
Newcomb Art Museum at Tulane, where Lynn has music for the Per(sister): Incarcerated Women of Louisianaexhibition, which runs through July 6, 2019
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Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Alex McMurra * Amanda Walker * Anders Osborne * Carlo Nuccio * Iguanas * Ivan Neville * Jim McCormick * Lynn Drury * Mary Steenburgen * Tommy Malone
Shows Mentioned * The Good Place * NCIS: New Orleans * On Becoming a God in Central Florida
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is the commentary track for my interview with compositor Travis Nobles (Hugo, Game of Thrones, Mortal Engines). In it I share some of my takeaways from the interview, give my review of Mortal Engines and expand on my conflicted thoughts about Game of Thrones.
The Lord of the Rings, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and Westworld Season 1 also get discussed.
For links and more detailed show notes:
http://podcast.nsavides.com/TravisNobles
Compositor Travis Nobles wanted to work on films ever since he saw The Lord of the Rings. Through an unexpected journey that led him from the United States to Germany and then to New Zealand, he finally got to work for the company that brought CG Gollum to life: Weta Digital. Before Weta, Travis's resume includes several Emmy-winning seasons of Game of Thrones, where he got to composite a number of the show's iconic dragon shots.
Travis came on the show to discuss his work and the role of a compositor on an effects-driven production. Some of the things we discuss include
- How someone can get started as a compositor
- Skills a compositor needs to work on big effects-driven projects
- How filmmakers can make things easier for their post-production teams
- Ways indie filmmakers can save money on visual effects
- What it was like working on Hugo and why the stereo 3D on it turned out better than most films
- How some of the dragon shots in Game of Thrones came together
- Dealing with unsettling content that comes with an adult-show like Game of Thrones
- Travis’s transition to Weta Digital and how he prepped for his work on Mortal Engines, Weta’s upcoming film slated for release in December 2018
#
To hear more about how the miniatures in Hugo were created, check out this interview I did with Jeff Jasper, the digital effects supervisor who oversaw the film's train crash.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Travis Nobles' site
+ Twitter
- Nuke,the preeminent compositing program mentioned by Travis
- VFX breakdown of Pixomondo's work on Season 6 of Game of Thrones
- Weta Digital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsFc2gguEg
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films & Shows Mentioned * Avatar * Game of Thrones * Hugo * The Lord of the Rings * Meet the Feebles * Mortal Engines * Star Wars: The Force Awakens * Super 8
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is my commentary track for my interviews at Cutting Edge C.E., an annual music conference in New Orleans that brings together prominent musicians, industry professionals, and filmmakers from across the country.
Both episodes and show notes are here, or check feed for the prior episode with interviews.
#
If you'd like to hear from another band that has played at Cutting Edge, check out thisinterview I did with Mystery Loves Company, a chamber rock band I met at the music conference a few years ago.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Cutting Edge C.E.
-
The Captain Ledge Band
- Facebook, Instagram, Spotify Twitter
- Mark Hornsby, a former guest on the podcast, mixed and mastered an album for The Captain Ledge Band.
-
Eric Cager
-
Facebook, LinkedIn
- WWOZ's Livewire Music Calendar, one of the sites Eric visits to stay abreast of up-and-coming local bands
-
Henry Turner Jr.
-
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Henry's Ultimate Louisiana Party Festival
- Henry Turner Jr. Day is on Oct 27. Details about the festivities
-
Paul Catafago
-
Facebook
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Beethoven * Bob Seger * Bob Wills * Buddy Stewart * The Captain Ledger Band * Carrie Underwood * Cypress Whyman * Clarence "Frogman" Henry * Deacon John Moore * Dick Sims * Etta James * George Porter Jr. * Grayhawk Perkins * Henry Turner Jr. * J. J. Cale * Jackie Wilson * Jamie Oldaker * John Boutte * Leon Russell * Loren Pickford * Loud * MX * Mystery Loves Company * Peter Frampton * Reba Mackintire * Rev Goat Carson * Roy Brown * Smashing Pumpkins * Tantrum * The Tractors * Wild Rabbit Salad * Woodenhead
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Cutting Edge C.E. is an annual music conference in New Orleans that brings together prominent musicians, industry professionals, and filmmakers from across the country. The 26th Cutting Edge conference concluded a few weeks ago, and for my podcast coverage I had the opportunity to interview the festival's founder Eric Cager, along with some musicians performing at the conference and a filmmaker who screened work there.
We seek out good people in the industry. You can go out and meet sharks anywhere, but you don’t need to come and meet them at the Cutting Edge.” - Eric Cager, founder and executive director of Cutting Edge C.E.
Below is a breakdown of the interviews and the approximate times when they start.
- Bucky Goldberg and Marietta Roebuck, Wild Rabbit Salad - 4:48 min
Their song "Amelia" has been tracking high on the Americana charts, and "Killing Flood in Houston" was the No. 1 song on Reverbnation in Houston back in February.
- Filmmaker Paul Catafago, founder of Mosaic Culture Project - 8:22 min
Paul is a New Yorker whose sense of artistic purpose was significantly shaped by the 9/11 attacks. Along with his Mosaic partner Lance Arnold, Paul has put together a series of documentaries on icons in the New Orleans music community. Some of the musicians he interviewed include
- Clarence "Frogman" Henry, best known for his 1956 hit song "Ain't Got No Home"
- Deacon John Moore, guitarist for Allen Toussaint and head of the New Orleans Musicians Union
-
George Porter Jr., "the grandfather of funk bass" who has a residency at the Maple Leaf Bar
-
Henry Turner Jr., a soul and funk musician - 20:02 min
Henry who wrote the Baton Rouge theme song and spreads the Louisiana spirit across the country with his Ultimate Louisiana Tour. In appreciation of his music outreach efforts the city of Baton Rouge proclaimed Oct. 28 as Henry Turner Jr. Day. Henry's song "Ugly Man" can be heard shortly after his interview.
- Cliff & Jeana Downing and Michael Robertson, The Captain Ledge Band - 39:02 min
Captain Ledge Band's latest album, Rumors of the Great White Skunk, was awarded the 2018 Bluegrass Album of the Year by the International Music and Entertainment Association. The band has a sweet way to make a first impression on music industry types, which we also discuss.
After the interview concludes, you can hear the band's song "Bucket Mouth," which was nominated for bluegrass song of the year by the International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA).
- Eric Cager, founder and director of Cutting Edge C.E. - 59:31 min
We discuss the unique vision behind Cutting Edge and some of the highlights from this year's music conference.
#
I had a number of takeaways from the conversation and things I wanted to expand upon, so I recorded my commentary as a separate track, which you can hear below or next in the podcast feed.
#
If you'd like to hear from another band that has played at Cutting Edge, check out thisinterview I did with Mystery Loves Company, a chamber rock band I met at the music conference a few years ago.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Cutting Edge C.E.
-
The Captain Ledge Band
- Facebook, Instagram, Spotify Twitter
- Mark Hornsby, a former guest on the podcast, mixed and mastered an album for The Captain Ledge Band.
-
Eric Cager
-
Facebook, LinkedIn
- WWOZ's Livewire Music Calendar, one of the sites Eric visits to stay abreast of up-and-coming local bands
-
Henry Turner Jr.
-
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Henry's Ultimate Louisiana Party Festival
- Henry Turner Jr. Day is on Oct 27. Details about the festivities
-
Paul Catafago
-
Facebook
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Beethoven * Bob Seger * Bob Wills * Buddy Stewart * The Captain Ledger Band * Carrie Underwood * Cypress Whyman * Clarence "Frogman" Henry * Deacon John Moore * Dick Sims * Etta James * George Porter Jr. * Grayhawk Perkins * Henry Turner Jr. * J. J. Cale * Jackie Wilson * Jamie Oldaker * John Boutte * Leon Russell * Loren Pickford * Loud * MX * Mystery Loves Company * Peter Frampton * Reba Mackintire * Rev Goat Carson * Roy Brown * Smashing Pumpkins * Tantrum * The Tractors * Wild Rabbit Salad * Woodenhead
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is my commentary and takeaways from my conversation with Gordy Hoffman, the Sundance-winning writer of Love Liza (starred his brother, Philip Seymour Hoffman), and founder of BlueCat Screenwriting Competition. Check the feed for the interview.
In this commentary I discuss
- What I appreciate about Gordy
- My thoughts on feedback and dealing with the issues that come up when giving and receiving it
- The importance of having uncomfortable conversations
- Some reflections on addiction, in context to the character in Love Liza and other observations
#
If you'd like to hear another thoughtful conservation about screenwriting and story development, you might appreciate this interview with Golden Globe-winning producer Lindsay Doran, who helped develop icon films This Is Spinal Tap, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Ghost.
#
Sponsor for this Episode Screenwriters Down South – We're a screenwriting group in Baton Rouge. Some of our writers have written scripts that have been made into films with movie stars, written award-winning shorts, and worked at production companies or on film sets around the world. Screenwriters Down South on * Meetup * Facebook
# Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * BlueCat Screenplay Competition
+ Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
- BlueCat success stories
- Gordy Hoffman on Instagram
- Screenplays for Love Liza and Dog Bowl
- Watch Love Liza and Dog Bowl on Amazon
- Ashley Scott Meyers interviews Gordy about Dog Bowlon sellingyourscreenplay.com
- Gordy interviews BlueCat winner (includes a reference to Morrissey!)
- The Independent's obituary for Philip Seymour Hoffman
-
Scriptnotes episode with guest Aline Brosh McKennaabout the progress made in Hollywood after the Weinstein revelations.
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Books Mentioned * Jugheadcomic book series * Nightby Elie Wiesel
#
Shows & Movies Mentioned * 27 Dresses * Alien * Almost Famous * Animal House * Annihilation * Bicycle Thieves * Boogie Nights * Capote * Citizen Kane * Crazy Ex-Girlfriend * Crazy Rich Asians * Devil Wears Prada * Get Out * Godzilla * Godfather * Get Out * Independence Day * Jaws * King Kong * La Dulce Vita * Love Liza * The Master * The Meg - reversals * Mission: Impossible III * Nutcracker and the Four Realms * Owning Mahowny * The Searchers * The Seventh Seal * Titanic * Unforgiven * We Bought a Zoo * When Harry Met Sally
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Gordy Hoffman's first produced feature screenplay, Love Liza, won the prestigious Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award when it premiered at Sundance. The film also featured a memorable performance from his brother, Philip Seymour Hoffman, his first starring role in a film.
Dog Bowl, a short film that Gordy wrote and directed, also premiered at Sundance, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Gordy has also taught writing at prominent film institutions around the country including USC and UCLA. His background as an accomplished working writer gives his BlueCat Screenplay Competition some credibility, as does BlueCat's 20 year history of discovering and developing writers who gone on to find success in Hollywood.
Some of the things we discuss include
- Why good feedback is important but difficult to give and receive
- How the BlueCat Screenplay Competition can help writers develop
- What it was like working with Philip Seymour Hoffman to bring Love Liza, a script about a man addicted to sniffing gasoline, to life
- Gordy's rant about one of Alamo Drafthouse's policies
- Where Gordy looks for inspiration
#
I had a number of takeaways from the conversation and things I wanted to expand upon, so I recorded my commentary as a separate track, which you can hear below or next in the podcast feed.
#
If you'd like to hear another thoughtful conservation about screenwriting and story development, you might appreciate this interview with Golden Globe-winning producer Lindsay Doran, who helped develop icon films This Is Spinal Tap, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Ghost.
#
Sponsor for this Episode Screenwriters Down South – We're a screenwriting group in Baton Rouge. Some of our writers have written scripts that have been made into films with movie stars, written award-winning shorts, and worked at production companies or on film sets around the world. Screenwriters Down South on * Meetup * Facebook
# Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * BlueCat Screenplay Competition
+ Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
- BlueCat success stories
- Gordy Hoffman on Instagram
- Screenplays for Love Liza and Dog Bowl
- Watch Love Lizaand Dog Bowl on Amazon
- Ashley Scott Meyers interviews Gordy about Dog Bowlon sellingyourscreenplay.com
- Gordy interviews BlueCat winner (includes a reference to Morrissey!)
- The Independent's obituary for Philip Seymour Hoffman
-
Scriptnotes episode with guest Aline Brosh McKenna about the progress made in Hollywood after the Weinstein revelations.
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Books Mentioned * Jugheadcomic book series * Nightby Elie Wiesel
#
Shows & Movies Mentioned * 27 Dresses * Alien * Almost Famous * Animal House * Annihilation * Bicycle Thieves * Boogie Nights * Capote * Citizen Kane * Crazy Ex-Girlfriend * Crazy Rich Asians * Devil Wears Prada * Get Out * Godzilla * Godfather * Get Out * Independence Day * Jaws * King Kong * La Dulce Vita * Love Liza * The Master * The Meg - reversals * Mission: Impossible III * Nutcracker and the Four Realms * Owning Mahowny * The Searchers * The Seventh Seal * Titanic * Unforgiven * We Bought a Zoo * When Harry Met Sally
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Alex V. Cook is a journalist and music critic who has written for an assortment of publications including The Believer, The Oxford American, DownBeat, and Paste Magazine.
His book Darkness, Racket and Twang: Essential Listening from the Fringes of Popular and Unpopular Cultureis a compilation of his music essays, which includes commentary on artists ranging from Lou Reed to Bob Dylan to the Mountain Goats. He has also written a book on Louisiana's Juke joints, honky-tonks, and dance halls called Louisiana Saturday Night: Looking for a Good Time in South Louisiana's Juke Joints, Honky-Tonks, and Dance Halls.
Alex also sings and plays guitar for The Rakers, a Baton Rouge band that has played at a number of prominent venues around town including The Baton Rouge Gallery. The band describes itself as "The thinking man's drinking band."
He's one of the few critics I know of who started playing music after working as a critic. As you'll hear from Alex in the interview, he got started as a musician relatively late, compared to other musicians, but he still holds his own amidst musicians who have been playing far longer.
Some of the things we discuss include
- What makes for a great album
- Why a good critique can be a gift to person receiving it
- The relationship between critic and artist and how they influence each others
- What popular bands Alex likes and dislikes and why
- How his background as a music critic informed his music sensibilities
- Why showmanship and point of view matter to an artist
#
For more tips on how to succeed as a musician, check out this interview I did with Bree Noble, a musician who got to sing at Dodger Stadium and who now coaches other musicians and interviews industry luminaries.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * *Alex's site*
+ Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
-
The Rakers, other band members: Lance Porter (guitar, drums, vocals),
Lewis Roussel (bass, guitar, drums, mandolin), Leon Lejeune (guitar, bass), Anna Byars (drums)- Baton Rouge Adult Music Club, where Alex developed his skills as a musician
- Teddy's Juke Joint, where the Rakers had their album release party
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Book Mentioned * Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truthby A.O. Scott * Darkness Racket and Twang- Essential Listening from the Fringes of Popular and Unpopular Music by Alex V. Cook
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Belle and Sebastian * Bob Dylan * Dean Martin * Devo * The Fall * Glyn Styler * Johnny Cash * Lydia Lunch * Kenny Rogers * Kiss * KC and the Sunshine Band * Moby * The Mountain Goats * Nancy Wilson * Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds * The Rakers * Rolling Stones * Ruyter Suys * Ryan Adams, albums mentioned + Demolition + Prisoner * Tony Cobb, "Share My Whiskey" * The Velvet Underground, albums mentioned + Loaded + The Velvet Underground & Nico
#
Other People Mentioned * Amanda Petrusich, music journalist at The New Yorker * Greil Marcus, music journalist for Pitchfork, Rolling Stone * John Ruskin, Victorian-era art critic * Lester Bangs, music journalist for Creem, Rolling Stone * Rick Rubin, music producer
#
Shows & Movies Mentioned * Big Bang Theory * Hustle & Flow * Lawerence of Arabia * Raging Bull * Ratatouille * Taxi Driver
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Do U Want It? is a music documentary that tells the story of the New Orleans funk band, Papa Grows Funk, their residency at The Maple Leaf Bar, and then their indefinite hiatus that they announced in 2013. The film doesn't just capture a band in transition and the creative differences that came along though.
It also offers an insider's glimpse into what makes the New Orleans music community so special, which the film sometimes accents with New Orleans-styled animation. No surprise then that the film won the audience award at the New Orleans Film Festival when it screened there in 2017.
The film has also screened in festivals across the country including San Francisco Indie Fest, Oxford (Mississippi) Film Festival, and Chicago International Movies & Music Festival. Just a few weeks ago, the film won Best Music Documentary at San Francisco's Frozen Film Festival.
I had the chance to catch the film when it screened at the Louisiana International Film Festival in April. That's where I met the film's directors, Josh FreundandSam Radutzky. I was captivated by their affection for the New Orleans music scene and by the way their film explores Papa Grows Funk's creative collaborations, both when they work and when they don't, so I invited them to come on the show.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How to connect with bands at shows
- What makes the New Orleans music scene so distinct
- The tension that arises between musicians who are content to preform locally and those who want to build a national following
- How much footage and editing goes into shooting a feature-length music documentary
- The way that Josh and Sam resolved their own creative differences during post
- Budgeting for animated clips in a film and an indie tip for getting a lower rate
- How to shoot a band on tour
#
Want to hear from a band that played at Jazz Fest this year? Then check out this interview I did with Daniel and Jesse Reaux from The Rayo Brothers.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. # This is the video I shot of The Rayo Brothers at Jazz Fest this year. Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * *Do U Want it?*
+ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Josh Freund - Facebook, Instagram
- Sam Radutzky - Facebook
- Abis Productions, Josh and Sam's company
- Hear the Papa Grows Funk songs mentioned in the episode on Spotify: "Do U Want It" and “Planet of Love & Hate”
- The Facebook postwhen the Papa Grows Funk reunion show was first announced
- Frenchy, the artist known for live painting concerts and other events in New Orleans
- Quint Davis, CEO of Festival Productions, the company that produces Jazz Fest
- More on mirror neurons
- The Music Stops Here, a documentary short about one of the last indie music venue in Manchester, the English city that was the birthplace of The Smiths, Oasis, and Joy Division
-
The Preservation Hall animationdone by Jimmy Tancill and his TancoToons company. He also oversaw the animation in Do U Want It?
-
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Book Mentioned * A Tale of Two Cities
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Allen Toussaint * Anvil, Canadian metal * Aurora Nealand, experimental jazz * The Brian Jonestown Massacre, psychedelic rock * Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet * The Dandy Warhols, alternative * George Porter Jr. * James Singleton, experimental jazz * King James & the Special Men * The Meters * The Neville Brothers * Oasis * Papa Grows Funk + frontman John Gros + guitarist June Yamagishi * The Revivalists * The Smiths + frontman Morrissey * Talking Heads * Tank and the Bangas * Trombone Shorty
#
New Orleans Music Venues & Events Mentioned * The Civic Theatre * Jazz Fest, last weekend of April and first weekend of May at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans * The Joy Theater * The Maple Leaf Bar * Preservation Hall * Saenger Theatre * Saturn Bar - King James & the Special Men play on Mondays * Tipitina’s * Vaughan’s Lounge - Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet play on Thursdays
# Shows & Movies Mentioned * Ant-Man and the Wasp * Anvil! The Story of Anvil- a rockumentary about Canadian metal band Anvil * Dig!- a documentary about the love-hate relationship between the bands The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre * Macbeth * Stop making Sense, a 1984 Talking Heads concert film * Treme, "Dippermouth Blues" (Season 4, episode 3)
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
* Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Wumbo is a word coined on SpongeBob SquarePants. It is also an indie-rcok band that The Advocaterecently included in their list of 10 bands to check out in Baton Rouge. The band has played at most of Baton Rouge's esteemed music venues including The Varsity, Spanish Moon, Mid City Ballroom, Happy's Irish Pub, 524 Studios, and more. In a few days they'll be starting their tour across the South and Midwest.
There’s no blueprint to being a band.” - Jake Heflin
The band describes their hard-to-pinpoint sound as "space-indie-rock-jazz-pop" and released their self-titled EP back in December 2017. I heard them play at 524 a few weeks ago and liked their show enough to invite them on the podcast and to pick up their EP, which has come to remind me of Radiohead's seminal album, OK Computer.
I had the opportunity to interview band members Kevin McCabe (drums), Jake Heflin (vocals, guitar), Mitchell Mobley (vocals, guitar), Tanner Yeldell (synth, percussion), and Zak Ocmand (bass) at Jake's place, where the band usually practices. Some of the things we discuss in this episode include
- How to riff on a song until it's right
- Influences that have shaped their songs
- Using digital effects to emulate an analogue sound
- Conventions of shoegazing music and how that influenced the band’s approach to mixing
- How to work through the challenges that come up when booking a tour
- Why innocent nonsense is worth celebrating
- Tips on how to book more shows at venues
Want to hear from another band in Baton Rouge with a distinct sound? Then check out this interview with another local music darling, Ship of Fools.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. # The right music video can open doors to venue owners, agents, and other decision makers. My videoshave helped musicians, businesses, and creative people take their dreams to the next level. Let's talk about what we can do together. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Wumbo's site
+ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Wumbo EP on Bandcamp
- Most of the recording for the Wumbo EP was done at O’Neal Studios by J.t. O’Neal
- The Advocate's list of 10 notable Baton Rouge bandsthat includes Wumbo
- Reddit thread about a Bee Movietheory
- DIY Tour Postingsgroup on Facebook
- My guest post on the Dare Dreamer FM blog about how to develop your artistic voice
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Beethoven * Django Reinhardt * Fine Divine, one of Zak’s other bands * Hydra Plane, psychedelic fusion band in Baton Rouge * Loudness War, garage rock band in Baton Rouge * oh, hi mark., another one of Zak’s other bands * Pacifico, former guest on the show * The Patsies, Zak’s first band * Radiohead’s OK Computeralbum * Sammy Hagar * Will Hinchliffe, guest vocalist on Wumbo's song "Perch" * Wumbo
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Films Mentioned * Bee Movie * Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee * E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial * The Goonies * Hachi: A Dog's Tale * Interstellar * SpongeBob SquarePants * Stranger Things * Westworld
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Books Mentioned * All the Pretty Horsesby Cormac McCarthy * The Birth of Tragedyby Friedrich Nietzsche * Creating Magicby Lee Cockerell book * No Country for Old Menby Cormac McCarthy * Radiohead: Hysterical & Uselessby Martin Clarke * The Roadby Cormac McCarthy
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Filmmaker Joshua Overbay's first film, As It Is in Heaven, was a Critics' Pick in The New York Times and favorably reviewed on rogerebert.com. Luke & Jo is Josh's third film, and it continues the tradition of exploring big questions while telling an intimate, character-driven story that Josh started with his first film.
Nathaniel Glass was one of the producers on As It Is in Heaven, and he returned as producer on Luke & Jo. This time around, he was also the director of photography, his first feature-length cinematography credit. The film has a memorable look, a testament to the work he did as a cinematographer and colorist.
... filmmaking is about telling truthful stories that change the world" - Nathaniel Glass
Joshua and Nathaniel came on the podcast along with Andie Morgenlander, who was a co-writer, co-producer, costumer designer, and the lead actress in Luke & Jo. Having the three of them together allowed us to explore the filmmaking collaborative process in a really detailed way.
Some of the things we discuss include
- What to do when conflict arises during a shoot
- How to shoot a film that allows for improvisation from the actors
- The importance of a good camera operator on a micro-budget shoot
- Whether creative people should be more like brick walls or rubber bands
- Why asking for and receiving forgiveness is so important but so difficult to do
- Whether the coincidences or serendipities have higher significance
- How to not be that guy at film festivals
As I mention in the episode, Josh was one of the judges of our #KnowMonologues challenge that I did with actress Laura Cayouette. This is the episode with Laurathat led to the challenge. In it, she shares her experiences working with Quentin Tarantino and gives some practical advice to actors and filmmakers alike.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # I hope to finish writing my novel about a satyr in New Orleans on July 23, and I'm looking for a critique partner. Let me know if you are interested, have publishing advice you want to share, or just want to tell me more about what you're working on these days. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Andie Morgenlander's site
+ IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
-
Joshua Overbay, he's the creative director at Solis Films
- IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
-
Nathaniel Glass's site
-
IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Luke & Joon
- Facebook, IMDb
- Cameras used
- Canon C300 Mark II,Red Epic-W with Helium 8K sensor
- New York Timesreview of As It Is in Heaven
- The #KnowMonologues challenge, where Josh was one of the judges
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
People Mentioned * Aaron Holmes, camera operator on Luke & Jo * Andie Morgenlander * Charles Dickens * Erik Odom, the other leading actor on Luke & Jo * François Truffaut * Joshua Overbay * Laura Cayouette, actress * Mahatma Gandhi * Martin Scorsese * Nathaniel Glass * Phil Collins * Richard Linklater * Tennessee Williams * William Shakespeare
#
Films Mentioned * As It Is in Heaven * Luke & Jo * Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
#
Books Mentioned * Bleak House * The Count of Monte Cristo * The Glass Menagerie * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets * The Oresteiatrilogy
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Michael Berry is the writer-director of Stuck, an original character-driven musical set in a New York subway that stars Giancarlo Esposito, whom Breaking Badfans might recognize as the cunning owner of Los Pollos Hermanos. Giancarlo plays a very different character in Stuck: a mysterious, seemingly homeless man prone to break into song, who may or may not be on some kind of cosmic special assignment to impact the lives of the passengers who share his New York subway car.
Someone breaking into a song is truly not the strangest thing that happens on subways." - Michael Berry
It's an ensemble film, so all the main characters get their solos, and the film includes memorable performances from Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams), Arden Cho (Teen Wolf), Ashanti (Coach Carter), Gerard Canonico (Fred in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day), and Omar Chaparro (Overboard).
Michael has a background in theater: He's performed on Broadway in shows like Les Misérablesand Next to Normal, and he credits his theatrical background with training him to get the most out of his indie-sized film budgets. His theater experience also helped him to work with marquee talent when he transitioned into film. Frontera, the first feature film that Michael directed, includes performances from Ed Harris, Eva Longoria, and Michael Peña.
Some of the things that we discuss in this episode include
- Why the musical is an inherently fantastical genre but one that can also be grounded in reality
- The recording technique that allowed his performers the freedom to riff on the musical numbers
- How he was able to shoot a memorable musical with a budget that was a fraction of La La Landand The Greatest Showman
- What went into recreating a New York subway car and how that helped the crew get ready for shooting in a real New York City subway for a few days
- How Stuckwas able to depict characters with opposing viewpoints without demonizing anyone
I was moved by how the film depicted its assorted characters with depth while undercutting stereotypes. The film also suggests that to get unstuck we might need each other, even those whose outlook is different than ours, and that reminded me of a certain show.
I initially mentioned Stuckin my recap of Louisiana International Film Festival 2018. Stuckwas my favorite film that I saw at LIFF, which is where I met Michael.
As mentioned above, Gerard Canonico also has a role in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day. To learn more about that production came together, check out this interview I did with Danny Rubin, the writer of the film and musical adaptation of Groundhog Day.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Michael Berry + IMDb, Twitter * Stuck on + Facebook, IMDb, Twitter * Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Breaking Bad * Dirty Rotten Scoundrels * Fiddler on the Roof * Field of Dreams * Frontera * The Greatest Showman * Hairspray * Hamilton * La La Land * Les Misérables * Lost * Next to Normal * Singing in the Rain * Stuck * West Side Story
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Books Mentioned * The Artist's Way * Humans of New York * The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle
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People Mentioned * Amy Madigan - actor * Arden Cho - actor * Ashanti - actor * Ed Harris - actor * Gerard Canonico - actor * Giancarlo Esposito - actor * Ben Maughan - composer * Maggie Ruder - production designer * Mike Witherill - producer * Michael Peña - actor * Michael Berry - writer, director * Riley Thomas - writer, composer * Timothy Young - actor, composer
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Some songwriters would kill for the chance to work with just one multi-platinum artist. Songwriter Brent Baxterhas worked with a handful of them. One of his songs even made it onto Rolling Stone's list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time. How does a songwriter get to write for multi-platinum artists, and what's it like writing songs for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Randy Travis? I brought Brent on the podcast to find out.
You want to make friends you can rise with not friends you have to rise above." - Brent Baxter**
Some of the things that we discuss include
- How to write for songs for superstars
- Songs Brent admires for their craftsmanship
- How songwriters are like Special Forces
- Practical tips for moving to an industry hub like Nashville and getting connected with the community there
- The business side of being a songwriter and some challenges involved
- Why being a successful artist is all about being in the service industry
- Why sync licensing can be more profitable for songwriters
- When does it make sense to sign a publishing deal
- How to prepare for a collaboration with a big name
- What a well-written song involves
We also discuss these songs that Brent wrote: "Monday Morning Church" (Alan Jackson), "When Your Lips Are so Close" (Gord Bamford), "A Woman Scorned" & “Last Night Last” (Lady Antebellum), and "Every Head Bowed" (Randy Travis). At the end of the episode, you can hear a demo of a song Brent co-wrote with WILKES, who is currently featured on NBC's The Voice.
Want to hear an interview with someone who was featured on NBC'sThe Voice? Then check out this interview I did with bluesy rocker Lane Mack, who was a contestant on the show in 2016.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # The video I shot of The Rayo Brothers is coming soon. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things #
- Brent on
- Facebook, Instagram
- giftfrombrent.com, where you can get a free copy of Brent’s book, Think Like a Pro Songwriter!
- Songwriting Pro, where Brent helps other songwriters turn pro
- Facebook community
- C.L.I.M.B. music podcastthat Brent co-hosts with John Dwinell
- Facebook community
- Brent’s event where you can play for a hit Music Row publisher on June 19
- Nashville Songwriters Association International
- Update on the Music Modernization Act
- Help the Baxter family bring an orphan home
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Alan Jackson * Bob Dylan * Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young * The Beatles * Bruce Springsteen * Carrie Underwood * Dan Hill * Dierks Bently * Don Wiliams * Garth Brooks * George Jones * George Strait * Gord Bamford * Janet Jackson * Jimi Hendrix * Lady Antebellum * Lee Ann Womack * Old Dominion * Randy Travis * Ray Stevens * The Rayo Brothers * Taylor Swift * WILKE
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Other Music Industry People Mentioned * Brandon Kinney, co-writer of “Every Head Bowed” * Byron Hill, producer and co-writer of “When Your Lips Are So Close” * Casey Kessel, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned” * Doug Johnson, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses” * Erin Enderlin, co-writer of “Monday Morning Church" * Graham Nash, writer of “Our House” * Hillary Scott, singer of Lady Antebellum * Keith Stegall, producer of “Monday Morning Church” * Kim Williams, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses” * Jerry Crabbe, writer of "He stopped loving her today” * John Armstrong, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned”
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This year, I had the chance to interview several filmmakers screening films at the Louisiana International Film Festival. On this episode, I recap some of those interviews and share some of my experiences and takeaways from LIFF2018.
Here are my prior interviews from #LIFF2018. On the recap below, I share some of the highlights from each interview, what it was like getting to screen my short at the festival, and some of the new discoveries and filmmaking observations, and life lessons I learned while attending.
Films from LIFF2018 that I discuss on this episode include
- 1000 Year Flood
- And Then I Go
- Blaze
- Brimstone & Glory
- Cut Off
- Do U Want It
- Gabriel & the Mountain
- Hearts Beat Loud
- Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story
- Mixed Signals (short)
- Mr. United States (short)
- Stay Woke (short)
- Stuck
- Tinker
- Through the Banks of the Red Cedar
Want to learn more about one of the bands that played at the festival? Then check out this interview I did with Peter Simon, the lead singer of Minos the Saint, which was one of the bands that played at LIFF's Filmmaker Lounge this year.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premiered at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **LIFF 2018**
- Festival winners
- Dan Ireland New Voicews/New visions Award - Stealing Rodin
- Best Narrative Feature - Streaker
- Best Documentary Feature - Sammy Davis, Jr.: I Gotta Be Me
- Best Louisiana Narrative Feature - Blaze
- Best Louisiana Documentary Feature - Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story
- Best International Short Film - Newborn
- Best Louisiana Short Film - Headless Swans
- Best Mature Animated Short - Your Black Friend
- Past #LIFF2018 interviews, arranged by film
- And Then I Go, director Vincent Grashaw
- Brimstone & Glory, director Viktor Jakovleski
- Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story, director Tiffany Bartok
- Louisiana Live-Action Shorts, filmmakers from An Aria for Albrights, Breath, Death of an Umbrella Salesman, Mixed Signals (my short), Mr. United States, Seed of the Free
- Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, director Maya Washington
- Tinker, producer Tom Bhramayana
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Other Films & Shows Mentioned * Breaking Bad * Gunslinger * Godfather * Home Remedy (web series) * Lost
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Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Minos the Saint * Pappa Grows Funk * Ryan Harris
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Thank you for visiting!
My coverage of LIFF2018 continues with Tinker producer Tom Bhramayana.It was a sci-fi film that started as Kickstarter campaign which brought in over $100,000. A few year later, it has won 19 best-of awards at festivals around the country, and all three screenings at this year's Louisiana International Film Festival have sold out.
The term producer has many connotations, but Tom wasn't just in charge of getting the money. He was also one of the writers, did a voice-over for one of the character, and his other on-screen credits include unit production manager, line producer, travel coordinator, assistant editor, props, locations, and cast. All that to say, Tom has been intimately involved with Tinker from pre-production to post and foreign sales, and he offered lots of helpful filmmaking insights when we spoke a few days ago.
It doesn't matter what your belief is, it doesn't matter how you were raised, who you are, if you help people, anybody can do the smallest things and make a big difference in someone's life." - Tom Bhramayana
My coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with this interview I did withTom Bhramayana. Some of the things that we discuss include
- How the filmmakers behind Tinker were able to raise over $100,000 in their first Kickstarter campaign
- The way the filmmaking team shot the film in spurts that were months apart
- How feedback from festivals helped them to refine their film and increase their festival acceptance rate
- What the visual-effects process was like
- What goes into developing a DCP that can be screened in theaters
- How the film was budgeted and how Tom anticipates they will make a profit from VOD and foreign sales
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **LIFF 2018**
- Tom Bhramayana on IMDb
- Tinker
- Facebook, Twitter
- Tom used a RAID 5 from Synology to back up data from the film
- DCP-o-matic, the program that Tom used to create a DCP of Tinker
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned A River Runs Through It Dallas Buyers Club Mixed Signals (short) Sling Blade Tinker Trent’s War (short) # #
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Brimstone & Glory is a documentary produced by the Department of Motion Pictures that tells the story of Tultepec, a town in Mexico that is dedicated to the making and celebration of fireworks. It's a poetic, visually stunning film that the National Board of Review recognized as one of the top five documentaries of 2017, and it is one of the films screening at this year's Lousiana International Film Festival.
Director Viktor Jakovleski initially conceived of the film as something that he would produce and his friend and colleague Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild) would direct. As the concept developed though, Benh decided to come onboard as producer and composer so that Viktor could direct it. My coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with this interview I did with Viktor.
Some of the things that we discuss include
- How the film came about because of a coincidental or serendipitous encounter at a party
- The distinct shooting style and challenges that arise when shooting with a Phantom camera that can shoot at 1500 frames per second
- What it was like collaborating with Benh who was both a producer and composer on the project, an unusual combination
- Why the documentary is a kind of musical and the unique way that the music was developed during post production
- How to approach dangerous things with reverence
I continue my coverage of #LIFF2018 with director Viktor Jakovleski:
Brimstone & Glory will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Friday, April 20 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to hear another conversation with someone who makes a living out of living dangerously? Then you might appreciate this podcast interview with Jay Caputo, a stuntman who has worked on projects like Planet of the Apes, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **LIFF 2018**
- Viktor Jakovleski on IMDb
- Brimstone & Glory
- Department of Motion Pictures, the production company behind the film
- Cinereach, the company that helped to finance Brimstone & Glory
- Phantom cameras that can shoot over 1500 fps
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned * The Amazing Spider-Man * Beasts of the Southern Wild * Brimstone & Glory * Glory at Sea (short) * Only Lovers Left Alive * Mixed Signals (short) * Pirates of the Caribbean * Planet of the Apes
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Book Mentioned * The Labyrinth of Solitude
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Thank you for visiting!
My podcast coverage of Louisiana International Film Festival 2018 continues with director Maya Washington. She's the filmmaker behind Through the Banks of the Red Cedar and the daughter of Gene Washington, the wide receiver who played for Michigan State and then the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos.
Gene's storied football career led to an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, two Pro Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl game. He was also one of 23 African Americans who were brought onto the Michigan State team in 1963 by Coach Duffy Daugherty. That was an unprecedented move in college football that helped to turn fully integrated football teams into the norm.
Some of the things that Maya and I discuss in our interview include
- The way segregation affected college football and the transition past that
- How her relationship with her dad became the emotional hook of her documentary
- What making the documentary taught her about football and how it brought her closer to her dad
- What it takes to include footage from NCAA College Football and NFL events in a documentary
- How one considerate gesture from a competitor changed the life of Gene Washington, his family, and countless others.
My podcast interview for #LIFF2018 continues with filmmaker Maya Washington:
Maya will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
Through the Banks of the Red Cedar will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Friday, April 20 at 6:45 PM and on Saturday, April 21 at 11:45 AM, and Maya will be participating in the filmmaker meet and greet on that Saturday, from 3:30 - 3:45 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to hear another interview about filming football? Then you might appreciate this podcast interview with Patrick Moreau, a co-founder of Stillmotion, a production company in Portland that has shot a couple of project for the NFL and has won an Emmy for a documentary they did about the Army-Navy college football game, Game of Honor
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * LIFF 2018 * Maya Washingon on IMDb * Through the Banks of the Red Cedar + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter * Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned * It’s a Wonderful Life * Police Academy films * Through the Banks of the Red Cedar
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
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Thank you for visiting!
My #LIFF2018 coverage continues with makeup artist and documentary filmmaker Tiffany Bartok. She's the director behind Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story. Prior to seeing the documentary and doing the interview, I wasn't aware of Kevyn, but then the few makeup artists I'm aware of tend to be special-effects luminaries like Jack Pierce (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein) or Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Hellboy).
It turns out that Kevyn was quite the makeup trailblazer and one of the early makeup artists who was on a first-name basis with a number of celebrities. He would eventually become a celebrity in his own right during an era when just a handful of people were making a living as professional makeup artists.
Some of the big names Kevyn worked with include Cindy Crawford, Janet Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Naomi Campbell, and Winona Ryder. As Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story reveals, sometimes those high-profile collaborations would cause ripples throughout the fashion industry that would reverberate for years.
Tiffany's documentary doesn't just highlight Kevyn's achievements and put them in historical perspective though. It also reveals some of the struggles Kevyn faced as an adopted child who would come to feel twice rejected by his biological mother, once because she put him up for adoption and then later in life when he reunited with her and discovered that she had reservations about his sexual identity.
Some of the things that Tiffany and I discuss in our interview include
- What she learned about filmmaking as a makeup artist
- How to deal with celebrities ready to throw a tantrum
- Some of the ways that Kevyn changed the dynamic between celebrities and their makeup artists
- How she was able to get a number of high-profile people to participate in the documentary and share honest perspectives about Kevyn
- The way that Kevyn redefined how we think about and perceive beauty
Below, my podcast coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with director Tiffany Bartok:
Tiffany will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Saturday, April 21 at 5:00 PM, and Tiffany will be participating in a filmmaking discussion earlier in the day, from 3:30 - 3:45 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Makeup artists are often paired with hair stylists on films, so if you enjoyed this episode, you might also appreciate hearing from film stylist Dana Boisseau, who has worked on projects including Ray, Django Unchained, and The Butler. As it happens, I also met Dana through LIFF, and my podcast started as a result.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **LIFF 2018**
- Tiffany Bartok
- On IMDb, Instagram, Twitter
- Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is the first part of my coverage for Louisiana International Film Festival 2018, which happens in Baton Rouge from April 19-22. In this episode, I talk to director Vincent Grashaw about his film And Then I Go. His film tells the story of two young people who contemplate a potential school shooting against their classmates as retaliation for the slights they've endured.
Unfortunately, the Parkland shooting and other recent events have made And Then I Go all too topical, but unlike certain outspoken figures who have argued the issue, the film doesn't point fingers or offer easy answers. Instead it explores a difficult issue in a thoughtful, nuanced way. It's the kind of contemplative approach that could serve us well to emulate, whether in discussing school shootings or in broaching similarly polarizing issues.
After all, the answers to the troubling problems that plague our society, if any answers are to be found, probably won't come from more heated vitriol. They seem more likely to emerge from the quiet determination in enough hearts to stop searching for someone else to blame and to start taking responsibility for making things better.
Vincent's film subtly asks us all to consider what that might look like, and he expands on that in his interview with me. If that's not the ultimate solution to a vexing issue that has sadly become all familiar, then it's at least a step in the right direction, and even a small step forward is a welcome one at this point.
In addition to how Vincent's film wrestles school-shooting issue, we also discuss
- How Vincent prepared his young actors to explore a challenging issue
- The way the cinematography and music in the film helped him tell the story
- Why he likes to bring the composer early in the development process
- How he partnered with The Orchard to get the word out about his film
My podcast coverage of #LIFF2018 begins below with director Vincent Grashaw discussing his film And Then I Go:
Vincent will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
And Then I Go will be playing on Saturday, April 21 at 2:15 - 4:00 PM and on Sunday, April 22 at 4:15 - 6:00 PM, and he will be participating in a filmmaking discussion on that Sunday from 12:30 - 1:15 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to learn more about The Orchard, the distributor behind And Then I Go? Then check out this interview I did with Richard Matson, The Orchard's VP of distribution:
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **LIFF 2018**
- Vincent Grashaw
- On IMDb, Twitter
- And Then I Go
- The Orchard, the film's distributor
- Katrina Wan PR, doing traditional publicity for And Then I Go
- Picture Motion, doing grassroots-related events for the film
- Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Films Mentioned * And Then I Go * Coldwater * Elephant * He Got Game * I’ll See You in My Dreams * It Follows * He Got Game * Rich Hill * We Need to Talk About Kevin
# Book Mentioned * Project X
# If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
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Thank you for visiting!
Cecilia Della Peruti has played guitar for and gone on tour with acts like Beck, BØRNS, and Charli XCX. That's helped to prepare her to launch her own band, Gothic Tropic. The band has a guitar-driven 80s pop sound infused with some R&B and funk influences. Elsewhere, Gothic Tropic has been compared to Blondie, Fleetwood Mac and Haim.
I had a chance to catch two sets that Gothic Tropic did at South by Southwest this year, one at the M&M house that had been set up on Rainey St. and one at the Whole Foods terrace. I liked the band's sound and was impressed that they did a handful of shows at SXSW, so I sat down with Cecilia at the tail end of the festival to do an interview.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How growing up in a musical family shaped her artistic development
- What she's learned from going on tour for other bands
- How she collaborated with producer Todd Dahlhoff to put out her first album, Fast or Feast
- What she looks for in a manager and how her manager has allowed her to stay focused on the music
- How she worked with her team to set up and get the word out for her multiple sets at SXSW
At the end of the interview, you can hear "Stronger," one of the tracks off of Gothic Tropic's Fast or Feast album. Without further ado, here is the interview I did with Cecilia Della Peruti from Gothic Tropic at SXSW 2018:
Want to hear another interview with a band that has a guitar-driven sound? Then check out this interview I did with Lane Mack, the bluesy rocker you might remember from the 2016 season of NBC's The Voice.
Show notes for that episode are here.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Mixed Signals, the short film I directed that is a kind-of throwback to the dramas of the 1940s, premieres at the Louisiana International Film Festival on April 21. # Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * **Gothic Tropic**
+ On Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter
- Shout out to publicist Nicole Poulos from Sideways Media and manager Marc Nicolas for helping to make the interview happen.
Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
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Bands & Musicians Mentioned * Beck * Blondie * BØRNS * Carl Della Peruti - Cecilia’s dad, a jazz composer and trombone player * Charli XCX * Chelsea Wolfe * Fleetwood Mac * Haim * Juliana Gondek, Cecilia’s mom, an opera singer * Karen O * Linkin Park * Todd Dahlhoff, the producer of Gothic Tropic’s album, Fast or Feast
# If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
South by Southwest is the whirlwind of activity that takes over Austin for about two weeks each March. It's a massive film, music, and interactive super festival, plus an education summit, plus a video game expo, plus a job fair, and so much more. It's a full-time job just attending the festival and figuring out what to check out next, so needless to say putting together a SXSW 2018 recap over 2.5 hours long took some time to put together.
I got do my first-ever live show of The nsavides Podcast a couple of weeks ago, and I was honored to get to do that as an official event at SXSW 2018. Last episode, I posted the audio from my live podcast at SXSW. On this episode, I will discuss some of the installations, key notes and sessions, films, and music shows that stuck out for me.
I'm combining those seemingly disparate areas because I believe they're all interconnected. Techniques musicians use to get attention can also relate to filmmakers, technologists at SXSW were taking cues from filmmakers and musicians, and so on. Plus, the festival itself declares that it is dedicated to "helping creative people achieve their goals," and so we might learn a few things about collaboration by exploring all the different ways that SXSW does that.
A large part of this episode includes discussions about the various film, music, and interactive keynotes and sessions that I heard either at the festival, or after the fact through videos and audio files uploaded to the SXSW YouTube and Soundcloud pages.
SXSW 2018 Recap sections This episode is over 2.5 hours long, so I'm including time stamps for the start types of some of the different categories. Note that sometimes the timestamp may vary somewhat on the web player.
- Installations: 9:31
- Film keynotes & sessions: 23:40
- Interactive keynotes & sessions: 55:24
- Music keynotes & sessions: 1:41:45
- Films: 1:48:47
- Music shows: 1:54:20
- My take: 2:02:38
Scroll down to RELATED THINGS to get my favorite discoveries from the festival. Next episode, I'll include an interview with another music discovery I made at the festival.
Want more coverage from SXSW? If so, you might be interested in the interactive and music coverage I did at SXSW 2017. That episode also includes my recap of my festival experience that year.
Show notes for that episode are here.
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In the episode, I mentioned that I was impressed by the band description for Joshua Burnside. Some music industry professionals like Wade Sutton actually specialize in helping bands write bios. To learn more about how Wade works with musicians to make their shows more engaging, check this interview I did with him.
Show notes for that episode are here.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # The Fable House team were my guests at SXSW 2018. We're partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done effects work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, and some of the recording artists they've worked with include Dr. John, Kendrick Lamar, and Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars. # Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: podcast@nsavides.com
Related Things #
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iu9_8Vsmtk
* **Esther Perel**'sspeech (above) was my favorite session from SXSW 2018
- Other favorite sessions
- Film - Darren Aronofsky
- Interactive - Elon Musk
- Music - Keith Urban
- Other festival discoveries
- App - Otter Voice Meeting Notes
- Book - Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue
- Film - Agave: Spirit of a Nation
- Music - Wye Oak
- Podcast - This Song
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- Patrick Mulhearn, the former executive director of Celtic Studios in Louisiana, shared his thoughts about HBO's Westworld exhibit. (These days he is working over at Louisiana Economic Development.)
- Vanity Fair's write-up about the Westworld exhibit at SXSW
- New York Times Op-Ed about repealing second amendment
- ReasonTV's People Will Die political satire video
- The musicians awarded the SXSW 2018 Grulke Prize
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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SXSW 2018 Sessions Discussed * Ari Herstand * Arnold Schwarzenegger * Barry Jenkins * Bernie Sanders * Chris O'Neill * Daniel Glass * DANIELS * Darren Arronfosky * Elon Musk * Esther Perel * Ethan Hawke * Ezra Klein * Keith Urban * Ray Kurzweil * Rian Johnson with Mark Hamill * Tim Ferriss * Tim Gray * Sadiq Khan * Ta-Nehisi Coates * Whurley
Books Mentioned * Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue * Quantum Computing for Babies * The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion * Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Agave: The Spirit of a Nation * Black Panther * Blaze * Crazy Ex-Girlfriend * Damsel * Dead Poets Society * The Director and The Jedi * Everything is a Remix * Jacob’s Ladder * Jerry Maguire * Moonlight * Mother! * Oblivion * Pitch Perfect * Ready Player One * Spheres (VR) * Sriracha * Star Wars: The Last Jedi * Swiss Army Man * Together (VR) * Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn * Westworld * Wild Honey Pie!#
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Musicians Mentioned * Ari Herstand * Childish Gambino * Chvrches * The Givers * Jade Bird * Joshua Burnside * Keith Urban * Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam * Tank and the Bangas * Todd Rundgren * Vampire Weekend * Wye Oak
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
For the first time ever, I did a live episode of The nsavides Podcast a few days ago, and what an honor it was to do that as an official event at SXSW 2018. What's more I got to do the show with my friends and some of the most talented filmmakers I know in Louisiana: cinematographer Matt S. Bell, director-editor Misty Talley, and producer Sam Claitor.
All three are from Fable House, a production company in Baton Rouge that has produced over $2 million in content. Whether shooting commercials for Toyota and Airbnb, working with artists like Kendrick Lamar and 30 Seconds to Mars, directing films with all kinds of creatures (including the dreaded zombie shark!) or doing effects work for projects like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, Matt, Misty, and Sam truly have experiences that run the gamut of what film production involves.
Some of our discussion topics include
- How Matt built a reputation by taking memorable band photos
- Developing an artistic sensibility by collecting samples of inspiring work from others
- What Misty learned as an editor that makes her a better director
- Why Sam transitioned from vfx work on massive projects to producing films with smaller budgets
- How Fable House works together to develop an effects-driven sequence
- Essential elements of a compelling shark film
Towards the end of the show, we also delve into deeper territory, discussing some of the obstacles that get in the way of the creative work we want to do and the people we want to be and how we combat those challenges, but we still tried to have some fun along the way. Since it was a live show, we decided to change it up a bit. In other words, this episode is a little different than a typical one, but I hope that you'll still get some practical suggestions and inspiration to keep your dreams alive.
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Want more coverage from SXSW? If so, you might be interested in the coverage I did at SXSW 2017, where I did a variety of interviews during the festival including New York Times best-selling author of The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger; director of an award-winning documentary at SXSW, Miao Wang; and esteemed film critic Leonard Maltin.
Show notes for that episode are here.
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Want to learn more about Fable House? Then check out this interview with Andrew Morgan Smith, the composer who has done the scores for a number of their films, including Zombie Shark and Ozark Sharks.
Show notes for that episode are here.
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Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Fable House's website + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vimeo * Matt S. Bell's webite + Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter * Misty Talley's website + Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter * Sam Claitor on Behance + Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter * West Without's music video "Give Me Your Heart," co-directed by Sam and shot by Matt * CFX, the prosthetics company that made the remote-controlled shark fin on Ozark Sharks
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Captain America: The Winter Soldier * Life After Pi * Family Guy * Ozark Sharks * Sharknado * Ten to Sing * Zombie Shark
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Other People Mentioned * Clay Achee, puppet maker and former guest on the show * Daniel Lewis, COO of Active Entertainment, the company that has partnered with Fable House to produce a number of shark films * Kolby Kember, Fable House’s vfx artist * Natalie Kingston, the cinematographer on Ten to Sing
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Brothers Daniel and Jesse Reaux have been playing music since they were kids. After a couple of encouraging open mic sessions, they drew upon some of their musical influences from bluegrass, the blues, and outlaw country and partnered with some of their musician friends to form The Rayo Brothers.
In their current lineup, they have Jordan Ardoin on bass, Lance Kelehan on drums and mandolin, and Sarah Jayde Williams on the fiddle. Daniel plays the guitar and Jesse plays the banjo, and both of the brothers do the vocals. Since the band's inception they've played all across the South, including shows at SXSW, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Festival Internationale, House of Blues New Orleans, and Gilley's Dallas. They are scheduled to do another showcase for Jazz Fest this year on May 3rd.
Some of the discussion topics include
- How the band got their start and developed their sound
- The appeal of old-time traditions and throwback styles
- How a distinct music video can help a band get noticed
- What other bands should keep in mind when shooting music videos
- Tips for filmmakers who want to shoot videos with bands
- Budgeting for music videos, tours, and album releases
- Building a fan base one show at a time
At the end of the episode, you can hear the song "Red River Blues," which comes from the band's latest album, Take You For a Drive.
If you like exploring some of the music traditions that The Rayo Brothers reference in their music, you might appreciate this interview I did with Scott Rosenbaum, the filmmaker behind Sidemen, a documentary that premiered at SXSW in 2016 and tells the story of the Grammy-winning sidemen who played alongside legendary bluesmen Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and developed their own musical voices along the way. Show notes for that episode are here:
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! **Fable House** and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done effects work on *Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones*, and *Star Trek: Into Darkness*, and some of the recording artists they've worked with include Dr. John, Kendrick Lamar, and Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars. # Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things "Coronet" music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx90tjA1-0E
* The Rayo Brothers website
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The band on
- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube
- Their "Gunslinger" music video
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The line up for Jazz Fest 2018 on May 3rd, when the band will be playing
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The original Twitter announcement from @JazzFest
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Bonnie & Clyde (2013)
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Musicians Mentioned * Bill Monroe * Bob Dylan * Chuck Berry * Hank Williams * Johnny Cash * Mumford & Sons * Owl City * The Rayo Brothers
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Other People Mentioned * Alexander the Great * John Paul Summers, director of the "Gunslinger" music video * Logan LeBlanc, cinematographer on "Gunslinger" * Oracle of Delphi
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
This is my commentary based on prior conversation with Garrett Kruithof, an actor who has performed in projects like A&E's Bonnie & Clyde, Deepwater Horizon, and Starz's Magic City.
I discuss some of my takeaways from my conversation with Garrett and then I comment on some of the films and TV shows that I watched to prepare for the interview. Some of the discussion topics include
- Working within a community to gain traction in the industry
- How filmmakers can get actors to adjust their performances
- Sex and violence on screen and how its depictions in Magic City influenced me
- Why so many Hollywood purveyors of violence seem so outspoken on the gun debate
- The kinds of assumptions I sometimes make about a director behind any given project
- Why setting a good example on screen and in reality can make a difference.
In case you missed it, you can play my interview with Garrett below. Show notes for that episode are here:
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast on March 14 at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us! # Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things https://vimeo.com/229522121
Garrett in Shakespeare on the Range, my favorite performance of his
* Tim Ferriss's interview with Senator Cory Booker
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * 99 Homes * Bonnie & Clyde (2013) * Braveheart * Deepwater Horizon * Devil’s Acid * Godfather * Little Shop of Horrors * Mad Men * Magic City * Mr. Right * My Big Fat Greek Wedding * The Iceman * Shakespeare on the Range * The Shape of Water
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Books Mentioned * Crime and Punishment * Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption * A Tale of Two Cities
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Garrett Kruithof was managing a hotel in Louisiana when a conversation with a guest convinced him that it was not too late to pursuit an acting career. He took an acting class, got connected with the actors in his community, and went on a number of auditions across the country.
After landed a recurring role on the Starz series Magic City, Garrett was able to turn acting into a full-time career.
Some of his other notable projects include Bonnie & Clyde, which was the third most-watched basic cable miniseries of all time, and Deepwater Horizon, where he played Karl Kleppinger Jr., one of the 11 workers who died when the rig erupted.
Some of the things we discuss include
- What goes into researching a historical figure
- Techniques for finessing a performance that isn't working
- How getting connected to an acting community helped Garrett find success
- Building rapport with colleagues when you have just a few hours to make a connection
- The lore around Bonnie & Clyde and the fascination that continues to this day
- What it's like playing a real-life character who has died and meeting his family
- Learning how to be comfortable in your skin, onscreen and in reality
- Exploring a life of crime on screen
If you’d like to hear another interview with an actor and acting coach, you can listen to my interview with Laura Cayouette, who you might recognize as the sister of Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Django Unchained. We discuss her approach to acting and instructing other actors, her collaborations with Tarantino, and more.
Show notes for that episode are here:
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast at SXSW 2018. It happens on March 14, at 11:00 AM. Details are here. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us. Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things Garrett as Kyle on Deepwater Horizon
* Garrett's website & IMDb page
- Garrett teaches acting at Northwood Acting Studio
- Garrett on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- I interviewed Garrett briefly as part of my coverage of LA Film Prize 2016. That interview is here.
- The Iceman, features a brief but significant appearance by Garrett. I once had the opportunity to interview Bradley Greer who did the color grade on that film, and we discussed how the grade helped to convey the story in this episode.
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * 48 Hrs. * Bonnie & Clyde (2013) * Burn Notice * Common Law * Deepwater Horizon * Devil's Acid * Free State of Jones * The Iceman * Magic City * Mr. Right * Shakespeare on the Range * St. Jude's Crossing * Underground * Ya Albi
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Book Mentioned * The Organic Actor: Insider's Secrets to Auditioning for Film and Television
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
bit.ly/nsavides
spoti.fi/2nSw4bY
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Last episode I had the opportunity to interview Hope Hanafin, the costume designer on shows like 500 Days of Summer, The Newsroom, and Thank You for Your Service. Normally I do the commentary at the end of each interview, but the interview with Hope ran longer than usual.
Hope shared a lot of great insights, so rather than try to cut down the interview's length, I decided to do my commentary on a separate episode. It would also give me the opportunity to think more about Aaron Sorkin's work and to delve more deeply into The Newsroom, which I watched all the way through for the first time in preparation for the interview.
While The Newsroom came out in 2012, it still feels relevant in today's political landscape. It dares to imagine what the news could be like if more of its practitioners were focused on telling the truth, and not merely entertaining for the sake of ratings or succumbing to the pitfalls of partisan politics.
It's a big vision, but does the show live up to its potential and its own ideals? What if anything can we take away from the show as we try to navigate the often polarizing waters of today's current events?
That's what I set to examine in my commentary. The Newsroom involves a number of political discussions, so I couldn't see a way to thoughtfully discuss the show without touching on its political outlook. My podcast is not primarily a political one, but I do believe it is important to address challenging issues on occasion, even if they do touch on politics.
I understand that politics can be polarizing, so I was hesitant to dive in, but the stakes felt substantial enough, and just because certain terrain is tricky to navigate doesn't mean we should avoid it entirely. On the contrary, it can be important to engage and to do so in a civil way. Otherwise only the most belligerent and extreme voices will be heard.
My perspectives might be a little different than how you see things or what you might expect based on other film and TV commentaries, but they are earnestly offered. Regardless of where you fall in the politic spectrum, I'm hoping that you'll consider my outlook and that we can continue the conversation in a thoughtful and considerate way.
Let's work together to make things better, shall we?
The Newsroom includes ongoing references to Man of La Mancha, a musical that has also meant something to me over the years. I discuss it in the commentary and briefly mention it in my prior discussion with Steve Kaplan, Hollywood's go-to comedy consultant. Check out the interview with him below to get a better sense of how comedy works and why it matters.
Show notes for that episode are here:
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast on March 14 at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us. Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things * The interview with Hope * Hope's website * MSNBC edits town hall footage * NBC edits George Zimmerman call * Occupy protests cost millions * Origin of the Tea Party
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * 500 Days of Summer * I, Tonya * Man of La Mancha * Molly's Game * The Newsroom * On the Waterfront * The Post * Thank You For Your Service
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Books Mentioned * Elia Kazan: A Life * Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
bit.ly/nsavides
spoti.fi/2nSw4bY
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Hope Hanafin has been working as a costume designer since the 1980s. She’s received two Emmy nominations for her work, and in 2001 she won an award from the Costume Designers Guild for her work on the show Geppetto.
She came on the show to discuss some of the things she’s learned about filmmaking throughout her career, and then we discussed some of the specific wardrobe choices she made on 500 Days of Summer, The Newsroom, and Thank You for Your Service.
Some of the things we discuss include
- How to dress for success on set
- How a costume can inform a character
- Where to find information about costumes in notable films
- Best practices for how filmmakers can work with a costume designer
- The differences between creating costumes for actors and for musicians
- Ways that a costume can upstage a scene and when to avoid that
- The strange but alluring appeal of the sweater vest!
- What the costumes on 500 Days of Summer, The Newsroom, and Thank You for Your Service reveal about the characters on those shows
- How she collaborated with Aaron Sorkin on The Newsroom
If you’d like to hear another interview about working with actors to create a certain look for a film, then you might appreciate this episode with Dana Boisseau, who has worked as a hair stylist on films like Ray, Django Unchained, and The Butler.
Show notes for that episode are here:
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us. Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things Hope with the princess dress for Thank You for Your Service
* Hope's website
- Hope on
- Facebook, IMDb
- Hope’s mentor Albert Wolsky, the costumer designer on All That Jazz, Bugsy, & Toys
- Costume design resources
- costumedesignersguild.com
- clothesonfilm.com
- costumegallery.com/period.html
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films & Shows Mentioned * 500 Days of Summer * All That Jazz * An American in Paris * Because of Winn-Dixie * Bugsy * Confirmation * Enemies: A Love Story * Father Knows Best * Game of Thrones * The Graduate * Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders * A Lesson Before Dying * The Newsroom * Romeo and Juliet * Scenes from a Mall * Thank You For Your Service * Toys * Warm Springs
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Music Mentioned * The Beatles * Burt Bacharach * The Clash * The Jackson 5 * The Smiths
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
bit.ly/nsavides
Stitcher
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Frank Oz is the puppet performer and voice of several beloved characters from The Muppets and Sesame Street. Some of the Muppet characters he's performed include Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam the Eagle. His popular Sesame Street characters include Bert, Cookie Monster, and Grover.
Frank is also an accomplished director. The first feature film he directed was Dark Crystal, which he co-directed with Jim Henson. He then went on to direct films like The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, What About Bob, and Bowfinger. To many though, myself included, Frank is best known as the performer who brings Yoda to life in the Star Wars films.
Recently he directed a documentary about what it was like for him and his colleagues to work with Jim Henson on the Muppets. The documentary is called Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched and will be available online for viewing on the film's site on March 16.
The Muppets and the Star Wars films have meant a lot to me throughout the years, so I was eager to do the interview, one I've been pursuing ever since I met Frank at SXSW 2017. The interview finally happened recently, but it didn't go as expected.
Instead of editing out the complications, I decided to include them and offer some commentary about what happened. It felt like doing so could offer a more honest look at what a creative collaboration can involve.
In this episode we discuss
- What it was like collaborating with Jim Henson
- Whether there is a place for films to convey a moral outlook
- How Frank gained the confidence to do voices along with his puppetry
- How the character of Yoda developed and what if anything inspired the character
- What kind of influence a good creative leader can have on others
Want to hear another puppet-related episode? You might appreciate this interview with Clay Achee. His Dark Crystal fan film got featured on the Jim Henson YouTube page, which led to him getting an exclusive tour of The Jim Henson Company's studio space. Show notes for that episode are over here.
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. Me and some of the team from Fable House will be doing a special live podcast at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend, we hope you'll join us! Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things * Muppet Guys Talking, where the film will be available to screen on March 16 * Frank on IMDb * Leonard Maltin's SXSW 2017 interview with Frank Oz * My blog post about what happened on my 1st visit to SXSW in 2013 * My podcast about what happened on my 2nd visit to SXSW in 2017, which comes at the end of Part II of my SXSW podcast coverage + Part I includes my interview with Leonard Maltin, and one of the things we discussed was his conversation with Frank.
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films Mentioned * Boiler Room * Bowfinger * The Dark Crystal * Dirty Rotten Scoundrels * Empire Strikes Back * The Last Jedi * Little Shop of Horrors * Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched * The Muppets Take Manhattan * The Producers * Star Wars * What About Bob * Walk With Me
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Books Mentioned * Poetics * The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery * Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave an honest review:
bit.ly/nsavides
Stitcher
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
We kick off a new season of The nsavides Podcast with Dan Laustsen, the cinematographer behind the critically acclaimed film The Shape of Water. The film marks the third collaboration between Dan and Guillermo del Toro. They also worked together on Mimic and Crimson Peak.
Thus far, The Shape of Water has received a Golden Globe for Guillermo, it won the 23rd Critics' Choice Award for Best Picture, Director, and Production Design, and Dan's work on the film was nominated for an Outstanding Achievement Award by the American Society of Cinematographers. Quite possibly the film will receive more accolades as we progress through this awards season.
On this episode we discuss
- What Dan does for inspiration
- How he likes to prep for a show
- How he works with a director and a production designer to develop the colors used in a film
- Specific stylistic choices he made on John Wick 2, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water and why
- How he has collaborated with Guillermo del Toro and what he's observed about his shooting style
- His approach to shooting challenging content
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Sponsor for this Episode **nsavides productions** – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. Email: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things * Dan's site * Dan on + IMDb, Instagram * Guillermo's interview about The Shape of Water on KCRW's The Treatment * Guillermo's speech at the Golden Globes and his backstage comments
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Films Mentioned * Apocalypse Now * Brotherhood of the Wolf * Citizen Kane * Crimson Peak * Frankenstein (1931) * John Wick: Chapter 2 * Lawrence of Arabia * Mimic * No Country for Old Men * Pan's Labyrinth * Rebecca * The Shape of Water
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Books Mentioned * The Divine Comedy * Gilgamesh * Harry Potter series * A Midsummer Night’s Dream * The Odyssey
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave a friendly review:
bit.ly/nsavidesPodcast
Stitcher
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Considered by some musicians to be the "Disneyland for musicians," Sweetwater as one of the largest musical equipment dealers in the United States. They also have a word-class recording studio in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Mark Hornsby is the Director of Music Production there.
"My philosophy is is mixing starts when you put the first microphone in front of the first instrument” -Mark Hornsby**
Depending on the project Mark will serve as producer or mixer or both for the artists who come in to record at Sweetwater. Some of the artists that Mark has worked with include
- Adrian Belew - former frontman of King Crimson and a guitarist who has played with Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and Talking Heads. His solo album Flux was also released as an app that allowed for a new listening experience each time the app was launched.
- Alison Krause - a key figure in the contemporary resurgence of bluegrass-country music. She has won 27 Grammy Awards, which makes her the most awarded living recipient. Her soundtrack performances include O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Cold Mountain.
- Carl Verheyen - listed as one of the top guitar players in the world by Guitar Magazine and has played with bands like the Bee Gees and Supertramp and recorded music for films like The Usual Suspects and Ratatouille.
- Jonatha Brooke - created the theme song for Joss Whedon’s TV series Dollhouse. Her music has also been included on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Return to Neverland, and her sound has been compared to Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, and Suzanne Vega.
(As a side tangent that might be of interest to long-time listeners, three of the four musicians have birthdays on the 23rd. Adrian's birthday is on Dec. 23, Alison's is on July 23, and Jonatha's is on Jan. 23. What is happening?!)
In the episode we discuss Mark's collaborations with each artist. We also talk about his experience and big take away from recording at the legendary Abby Road Studios in London. Mark is also a member of the Recording Academy, which means that he gets to vote on the Grammys, so we also discuss what he listens for when he evaluates music and what music trend he's like to see go away.
My interview with Mark led me to reflect on the state of entertainment industry, which led to some thoughts about good and evil. How exactly did a conversation about mixing lead me to metaphysics commentary? You'll have to listen to find out!
If you connect with Mark's preference for getting it right during the performance, then you might also appreciate this episode with Jeff Jasper. He's a digital effects supervisor who has worked on films like The Dark Knight and Interstellar with Christopher Nolan, a filmmaker who prefers using practical effects whenever possible.
Jeff's episode is here.
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Sponsor for this Episode Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done vfx work for projects like Game of Thrones, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Star Trek: Into Darkness and they've worked with or shot for Dr. John, Essence Festival, Kendrick Lamar, Ron Howard's company New Form Digital, and Jared Leto's Thirty Seconds to Mars.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
# Let's discuss how we can help your music stand out: podcast@nsavides.com
#
Related Things * Mark's site * Mark on + Instagram, Twitter * Sweetwater * Sweetwater Studios * Sweetwater inSync training resources * Grand Designs: The Music of Carl Verheyen on YouTube * Carl Verheyen - Essential Blues on YouTube * Blayne Weaver is the voice of Peter Pan in Return to Neverland, in which Jonatha sings "I'll Try." Blayne's podcast episode is here.
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Music Mentioned Arranged by artist, then album and song
- Adrian Belew - Flux, “Bunny Slippers”
- Alison Krause
- Carl Verheyen - The Grand Design, Essential Blues
- Ed Greene
- Jonatha Brooke (performed as The Story with Jennifer Kimball) - Midnight. Hallelujah. “Mean Looking Jesus,” “I’ll Try”
- King Crimson - The Construkction of Light
- Lady Gaga - Joanne, “Million Reasons”
- Marilyn Manson - “The Beautiful People”
- Rory Hoffman - played accordion, banjo, clarinet, cuatro, and harmonica on Jonahta’s Midnight. Hallelujah
- Supertramp
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Films & TV Shows Mentioned * Dollhouse * Return to Neverland * War for the Planet of the Apes
#
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave a friendly review:
bit.ly/nsavidesPodcast
Stitcher
- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier has had her songs recorded by the likes by Blake Shelton, Jimmy Buffett, and Tim McGraw and has made several appearances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, but I was particularly impressed to learn that Bob Dylan knows Mary's story and featured her work in one of his music showcases.
One of the causes that Mary is passionate about is helping veterans to work through the trauma that they faced in combat. She has partnered with SongwritingWith:Soldiers to collaborate with veterans to write songs that explore the emotional truths of their war-time experiences. This cause is so important to Mary that she partnered with Veterans Airlift Command to fly in veteran Josh Geartz so that perform with her at the Grand Ole Opry.
This connection can save lives. It literally can save lives.” - Mary Gauthier
Mary's upcoming album, Rifles & Rosary Beads, comes out in January 2018, and all the songs in it are co-written with veterans connected to SongwritingWith:Soldiers. Mary and her team graciously shared "Bullet Holes in the Sky," one of the songs from the new album, which you can hear it at the end of our episode.
Some of the things that we discuss include
- How Mary's early traumas shaped her development as an artist
- Mary's approach to getting her songs on the radar of prominent recording artists
- A technique for getting laconic veterans to open up about the struggles they've faced
- Why taking care of our veterans is a unifying issue across the political spectrum
- How can artists effectively speak up about challenging social issues
- Finding success in the music industry while staying sober
- Learning to listen for the God lines
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Want to hear another veteran-related episode?
Check out this interview with Justin Roberts, a chaplain who followed his battalion into Afghanistan and back and made a documentary called No Greater Love, currently in select theaters.
General Stanley McCrystal said of the film “No Greater Love cuts to the heart of why our warriors serve and needs to be seen by every American.” Show notes are here.
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Sponsor for this Episode Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done vfx work for projects like Game of Thrones, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Star Trek: Into Darkness and they've worked with or shot for Dr. John, Essence Festival, Kendrick Lamar, Ron Howard's company New Form Digital, and Jared Leto's Thirty Seconds to Mars.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
# Let's discuss how we can help your music stand out: podcast@nsavides.com
#
Related Things * Mary's site * Mary on + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter * Mary's keynote at CD Baby's DIY Musician Conference 2017 * SongwritingWith:Soldiers * Trent Reznor's interview on Vulture (my take: how not to take on decisive issues) * No Greater Love film * Thank You for Your Service film * Trent's War, my short film about a soldier battling PTSD
Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
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Music Mentioned * Mary's songs + "I Drink" (recorded by Tim McGraw) + "Mercy Now" + "Wheel Inside the Wheel" (recorded by Jimmy Buffett) + "Worthy" (cowritten with Beth Nielsen, recorded by Bettye LaVette)
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Producer Iain Smith began his filmmaking career by working on storied projects like Chariots of Fire and Local Hero. As his skills as a producer developed, Ian's had the opportunity to produce for esteemed world-class filmmakers including Darren Aronofsky, Luc Besson, Alfonso Cuarón, George Miller, Anthony Minghella, and Oliver Stone. He is also the head of the British Film Commission, has spoken to international organizations like the World Intellectual Property Organization, and has even received a special honor from the Queen of England.
Iain has worked on so many notable films, that there was no way we could touch on all of them, but we were able to have an extended conversation about a few of them, mainly The Fountain, Children of Men, and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Some of the things that we discuss include
- Iain's memories from working on Chariots of Fire and Local Hero
- Building trust between studio and filmmaker
- What it was like working with Luc Besson on The Fifth Element
- Why protecting intellectual property ensures that the next generation of talented filmmakers can have viable careers
- How he helped Darren Aronofsky keep The Fountain within its budget even though the film is a sweeping epic that spans hundreds of years of time
- The collaboration process that made possible all those signature extended takes on Children of Men
- How the filmmaking team was able to capture all those insane stunts in Mad Max: Fury Road while ensuring that there was no serious injury on set
- The way that the various departments on Mad Max worked together to world-build the film's ornate cosmology.
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Sponsor for this Episode What's your podcast success story? # The nsavides Podcast is for filmmakers, musicians, and creative people who rely on collaboration to do amazing things and who want to make the world better in some way. Listeners have found job opportunities, formed new friendships, and launched creative projects because of it. How can it make things better for you? # We want to know. Seriously. # podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Iain Smith's IMDb page * Iain is represented by Sandra Marsh & Associates: his profile page * Contact Iain through the British Film Commission * Iain on + LinkedIn
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Films & Shows Mentioned * 1492: Conquest of Paradise * 2001: A Space Odyssey * Chariots of Fire * Children of Men * The Fifth Element * The Fountain * Intolerance * Local Hero * Mad Max: Fury Road * Mary Reilly * Seven Years in Tibet
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Filmmaker Cynthia Hill earned an Emmy for her work on the PBS show A Chef's Life, which gets over 4 million views per episode and is seen around the world. Her latest project is Road to Race Day, a documentary series executive produced by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) that offers unprecedented access into the world of Hendrick Motorsports the most successful stock car racing team in NASCAR history. The team is co-owned by Jeff Gordon and some of their other driver include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott, and Jimmie Johnson.
Some of the things that we discuss include
- Filmmaking as a way to bridge the divide
- How Cynthia earned the trust of exclusive, occasionally secretive, organization
- What it's like getting notes from a filmmaker like Peter Berg
- The appeal of NASCAR and what makes it a quintessential American past time
- What we can learn from the collaborations of top-performing race teams and pit crews
- Cynthia's unconventional directing approach that allowed for real-time storytelling in the midst of race-day whirlwind
- How Cynthia and her team was able to record crisp sound even in the midst of a noisy speedway
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Sponsor for this Episode PODCAST SUCCESS STORY I interviewed filmmaker Austin Alward during my Louisiana Film Prize 2016 coverage. After getting to know him, I felt like he might get along well with Sam Claitor, a producer friend over at Fable House. Austin and Sam hit it off and decided to partner on Le Grand Remix, one of the more ambitious short films I've come across. (It involves a crew larger than some feature films.) In April Sam and Austin were awarded a a $32,500 French Culture Film Grant from #CreateLouisiana and their partners. Former podcast guests Austin Alward and Jolene Pinder pose with Sam Claitor after the award ceremony. Photo from CreateLouisiana's Facebook page. At the time of this episode, they are finishing up the shooting for the film and are prepping a Kickstarter campaign to pay for the film's finishing touches. Congratulations to Austin, Sam, and the rest of the Le Grand Remix team for bringing your ambitious vision to life! The nsavides Podcast made things a little better for Austin and Sam. How can it make things better for you? podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * Cynthia's production company, Markay Media * Composer Chuck Johnson's website * Watch Road to Race Day on go90.com * Cynthia on + Facebook, Twitter * Chuck on + Facebook, Twitter * Road to Race Day on + Facebook, Twitter * Audio equipment used to record the series + Sanken COS-11D omni lavalier mics (paired with Lectrosonics SRb5P dual-channel wireless receivers and SMQV transmitters) + Sennheiser MKH-416 shotgun microphone + Zaxcom Maxx mixer/recorder
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Films & Shows Mentioned * Boxing 24/7 * Beasts of the Southern Wild * A Chef's Life * Friday Night Lights * Patriot Day * Raw * Road to Race Day
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For several years, Clint Bowie has served as the programming director for the New Orleans Film Festival. In 2017 he was promoted to the role of artistic director, giving him more influence on the indie films and studio submissions that screen at the festival.
Selecting what will get screened is a process that takes months and a great deal of discussion amidst the programming team. After the New Orleans Film Festival became an Oscar-qualifying festival for short films, the task load increased exponentially. This year they had to sift through over 5000 submissions to figure out which films would get included in the festival.
The selection process often seems opaque and mysterious, but it might seem a little less so after hearing Clint's interview. He does into some detail about how the selection process works and some processes that they have in place to ensure that every film gets a fair shot. Some of the things that we discuss include
- The guiding philosophy behind the festival's selection process
- When it pays to get out there and dance
- What filmmakers can do to improve their chances of getting their films selected
- What, if any, supplemental materials should filmmakers include in their festival submissions
- How films can impact society for good or for ill, and whether there is such a thing as films that go too far
- How filmmakers can take advantage of the opportunities that film festivals offer to develop their careers
This year New Orleans Film Festival happens on Oct 11-19, and Clint also shares some recommendations about what to check out. After the interview concludes, I mention some festival screenings and events that caught my attention. I then elaborate on some things that came up in the discussion and share my thoughts on what makes a film worth celebrating and how the films we embrace can influence society at large.
Sponsor for this Episode Instead of using this section for a promotional announcement, I would like to encourage you to donate to those affected by hurricane damage from Harvey, Irma, or Maria. You can make a **donation to the Red Cross** for a specific region or just for general disaster relief. If you make a donation of at least $50 and want to be a good example to other, let me know and I'll give you a special shoutout on a future episode: podcast@nsavides.com #
Related Things * New Orleans Film Festival * NOFF 2017 schedule and program * NOFF on + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter * Some of the festival highlights that Clint mentioned include + Bangaologia - The Science of Style + Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise + IF/Then Documentary Short Film Program, a partnership between NOFF, the Tribeca Film Institute, and the MacArthur Foundation. The winner of the competition will win a year of mentorship and $20,000 to make their project. + Love and Saucers + Watermelon Women * Some of the films that caught my eye include + Current War + Darkest Hour + Last Flag Flying + the Louisiana short film blocks + Mudbound + Power of the Glove * Other notable events at the festival include a conversation with Patricia Clarkson, International Screenwriters Association table read and reception. New Orleans Video Access Center's Filmmakers Welcome Party, the tropical pool party at the Drifter Hotel, and a Michael Jackson Thriller-themed party at the Art Garage * Jordan B. Peterson's video message to millennials relates to a number of things I discuss in my concluding comments. Discovering it was an encouraging nudge to go forward with the episode. * "The Art of Disagreement" from New York Times columnist Bret Stephens * The Wired piece about the temp workers moderating content for companies like Google and Facebook and the trauma they experience after prolonged periods of watching extreme content * PragerU on the downfall of Venezuela * My blog post on John Ford and his films * Past podcast episodes mentioned + Larry Blake, the re-recording mixer and supervising sound editor who has worked on most of Steven Soderbergh’s films + Bradley Greer, the colorist who has worked on films like 12 Years a Slave, Iceman, and The Looper + Richard Matson from The Orchard, the distribution company behind Oscar-nominated films like Cartel Land and Life, Animated
Other Films & Shows Mentioned * 12 Years a Slave * Braveheart * Clockwork Orange * Forgotten Bayou * Gray Gardens, directed by the Maysles brothers. (Clint also singled out the Maysles brothers as some of the filmmakers that he admires. Other well-known films from them includ e Gimme Shelter and Salesman.) * Leviathan (2012) * Lost Bayou * Hari Kiri * Irreversible * Queen Sugar * Raging Bull * Searchers * Thelma & Louise
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Lane Mack has performed at SXSW and Jazz Fest, but to millions of viewers he is best known for appearing on NBC's The Voice in 2016. Growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, Lane was surrounded by a community of skilled musicians, including his uncle Roddie Romero, a Grammy-nominated zydeco artist, and the region has left its mark on Lane, as he has refined his sound over the years.
His latest EP, Swampodisiac, made it to the #2 slot on the iTunes blues chart shortly after it was released on Sept. 19, 2017. As the title suggests, the EP is a swamp-infused concoction of unvarnished blues and rock 'n' roll.
Lane came on the podcast to tell us more about his musical influences and inspirations. Some of the things we discuss in the episode include * When to use one type of a guitar over another * Finding the confidence to perform when millions are watching * Developing a distinct style by building on artistic influences * What's it like playing at SXSW, Jazz Fest, and recording at a storied facility like Dockside Studios * Being grounded in a sense of faith and family while navigating the ups and downs that come with doing creative work
Sponsor for this Episode **Fable House** and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands with big visions who want to share their music with the world in memorable, imaginative, and soulful ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. They have shot features for the SyFy channel, produced a number of polished music videos, and shot a short film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
# Ready to bring your music dreams to life? Let's discuss: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * Lane on + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube * Show some love for Lane's new EP, Swampodisiac, on iTunes + Or on Amazon & Spotify
- Lane Mack vs. Sophia Urista on The Voice
- I first saw Lane perform at SXSW 2017, where I did podcast coverage. I included one of his songs in my SXSW 2017 playlist.
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Bands & Recording Artists Mentioned * AC/DC * B.B. King * Bobby Schneck Jr. * Eric Clapton * Jeff Buckley * Jimmie Vaughan, one of Lane's influences * Journey * Lane Mack * Lenny Kravitz, a big influence for Lane * Lightnin’ Hopkins, an influence for Lane's song "Jesus' cadillac” * Los Lobos, helped influence the sound of Lane's "Hell on My Backside" * Marc Broussard * Maegan Berard, the guitarist from Sweet Cecilia * Miley Cyrus * Roddie Romero, Lane's Grammy-nominated uncle * Ray Boudreaux * Ryan Adams * Sonny Landreth, another one of Lane's influences * Sophia Urista, she battled against Lane on The Voice * Stevie Ray Vaughan * Sweet Cecilia, an Americana band Lane has collaborated with * Tom Petty * Traveling Wilburys
Richard Matson is the vice president of theatrical distribution at The Orchard, the distribution company behind the Oscar-nominated films Cartel Land and Life, Animated. The Orchard’s commitment to transparency stands in stark contrast to an industry-wide inclination to obscure distribution numbers, and they demonstrated that commitment by making the revenue streams for Cartel Land publicly available. Recently The Orchard made entertainment headlines again by spending $5 million to purchase Louis C.K.’s latest film, I Love You, Daddy, at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Prior to his current role with The Orchard, Richard worked for Gathr, a theater on demand company, and his own distribution company, Matson Film where he worked with the likes of Participant Media, Kino Lorber, and The Orchard. Those experiences have shaped how he handles the distribution campaigns he currently oversees.
I interviewed Richard a few weeks before TIFF, so I didn’t get to ask him about I Love You, Daddy, but since we initially met at South by Southwest, our discussion does include some festival strategies and a brief overview of The Work. That’s a documentary set in Folsom Prison which The Orchard acquired at SXSW. The film is scheduled to open in mid October.
We also discuss the approach behind the releases of The Hero, the Sam Elliot picture they acquired at Sundance; The Music of Strangers, a documentary about Yo-Yo Ma’s efforts to bring together a global assembly of musicians, and Cartel Land.
Other films distributed by The Orchard include Blue Jay and What We Do in the Shadows, and we briefly touch on the release of those films as well.
Some of the other topics that we discuss include
- When it make sense to do a theater on demand screenings
- How The Orchard brings transparency into their collaborative partnerships
- What to think about when considering a film-festival strategy for a project
- How filmmakers can leverage The Orchard’s music library and expertise for their projects
- The key release windows for a film after it screens in theaters and how to manage them
After the interview concludes, I share some of my takeaways from a few of The Orchard's films and how they influenced my thoughts on art and inspiration.
Sponsor for this Episode I am finishing a novel that involves mythology, music, and the city of New Orleans. Soon I will be sharing it. Would you like to be one of the first people in the world to read it? All you have to do is ask: podcast@nsavides.com. #
Related Things * The Orchard * Matson Films * Richard on LinkedIn * The Transparency Project - costs and income streams for Cartel Land * Podcast interview with Xan Aranda, producer of Blue Jay * Podcast coverage of SXSW 2017 - film interviews, music interviews & festival takeaways
Films Mentioned * 11/8/16 * Blue Jay * Braveheart * Cartel Land * The Hero * Hunt for the Wilderpeople * I Love You, Daddy * Life, Animated * Lord of the Rings * The Music of Strangers * Trophy * What We Do in the Shadows * The Work
If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
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Kris Neel is one of five friends who compose The Assemblie, an indie gospel rock band from New Iberia. “Stray,” one of their songs, has gotten over 1 million plays on Spotify, which brought them to the attention of a few labels. The band heard a few offers but ultimately decided to remain independent.
As the band regroups to take into account shifting priorities of the musicians involved, Kris has branched out as a solo singer-songwriter and recently released a self-titled EP.
If we do not define what success is worth personally, we’re just going to be chasing after what others have defined success to be.” - Kris Neel
Kris came on the show to discuss how his band got over 1 million plays on Spotify, the inspiration behind his new EP, and the way that his faith shapes all of his music. Some of the things we discuss in the episode include # * The importance of honesty and vulnerability in art * Why staying indie makes sense for some musicians * How a community connection can supercharge an album release * What kind of misconceptions sometimes arise about gospel music * Whether there's a difference between being a Christian artist and being an artist who explores Christian themes * Finding a balance between music aspirations and family connections
# Sponsor for this Episode Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands with big visions who want to share their music with the world in memorable, imaginative, and soulful ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. They have shot features for the SyFy channel, produced a number of polished music videos, and shot a short film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
# Ready to bring your music dreams to life? Let's discuss: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * Kris's site * His EP on + Amazon, iTunes, Spotify * Kris on + Facebook, Instagram, Twitter * The Assemblie on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify
Kris plays at Presonus on May 23
- Bono discusses the Psalms with Eugene Peterson, author of The Message translation of the Bible
- Anchor Chapel, where Kris and I go to church
- Some recent music episodes of The nsavides Podcast that might also be of interest
- Live music producer WadeSutton on how to optimize your live shows for maximum impact
- VP of Marketing at CD Baby, Kevin Breuner, on how to make money as a musician without a label
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Bands & Recording Artists Mentioned * The Assemblie - "Stray" * Bono * The Brilliance * Cool Hand Luke * Ed Sheeran - "Supermarket Flowers" * Future of Forestry * Jeff Buckley - "Hallelujah" * Johnny Cash * Kris Neel * Lukas Graham - “Happy Home" * Smalltown Poets
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Books Mentioned * Bible * The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky * Les Misérables by Victor Hugo * The Message by Eugene Peterson
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Art Mentioned Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
- Subscribe or leave a friendly review:
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The first band Kevin Breuner joined after college, Smalltown Poets, received a Grammy nomination for their first album. That band has been through a number of changes throughout the years, but they're still active 20 years later. Kevin has also stayed active in the music scene, playing in a couple of bands in addition to Smalltown Poets. One of those bands, Hello Morning, recently got included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When Kevin joined CD Baby, digital distribution was in a nascent stage and CD Baby was an early adopter. That gave him a front-row seat to see how that innovation would go on to transform the music industry. Kevin is currently CD Baby's Director of Marketing, and he co-hosts their DIY Musician Podcast and helps to organize their annual DIY Musician Conference in Nashville. # As an accomplished musician and as someone who engages musicians on a daily basis through his work at CD Baby, Kevin is ideally positioned to give advice about how to stand out in today's music landscape. Some of the things we discuss in the episode include * When it makes sense to sign with a label, if ever * How to get your music on film and TV soundtracks * Getting traction for your music with a live listening party * How to get access to the same fan engagement tools that Oasis uses * How artists like Ingrid Michaelson built a successful career while staying independent * How filmmakers on a budget can work with CD Baby to get memorable music for their films * What stats to pay attention to on Spotify
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Sponsor for this Episode Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands with big visions who want to share their music with the world in memorable, imaginative, and soulful ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. They have shot features for the SyFy channel, produced a number of polished music videos, and shot a short film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
# Ready to bring your music dreams to life? Let's discuss: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * Kevin's show, DIY Musician Podcast * Kevin's Grammy-nominated band, Smalltown Poets * DIY Musician Conference in Nashville. This year it is from Aug. 25-27, and YouTube will be recording bands on Aug. 24 as part of the pre-conference festivities. I will be attending, so say hello if you're in town. * CD Baby's site * show.co, the site that offers the fan engagement tools that Kevin mentioned * The music video that Kevin mentioned from Chris Robley, co-host of the DIY Musician Podcast. * Kevin on + Twitter, Facebook * My interview with David Patterson , one of the producers of the Don't Stop Believin' doc. on Journey
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Bands & Recording Artists Mentioned * Bon Iver * Chris Robley * Gotye * Ingrid Michaelson * Journey * Macklemore * The National * OK Go * Smalltown Poets * Twenty One Pilots * Walk Off the Earth
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If You Liked the Show * Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. * Subscribe or leave a friendly review:
bit.ly/nsavidesPodcast
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- Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO
Thank you for visiting!
Wade Sutton has almost 20 years of experience in professional radio journalism. These days he's focused on helping musicians take their careers to the next level, specializing in live music production and media coaching. He has clients in major cities like Nashville, New York, London, Sydney, and Toronto, and some of them have played with Stevie Wonder, danced with MC Hammer, and been featured on Buzzfeed. Some of the things that we discuss in this episode include * How to enhance a song's emotional impact during a live music show * What every band should do before releasing a new album * How artists can uncover the hidden stories that make them unique * How to find an angle that will interest local newspapers and TV shows * What is the most important feature of a band website * When is the right time to do a music video
# Sponsor for this Episode Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands with big visions who want to share their music with the world in memorable, imaginative, and soulful ways.
Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. They have shot features for the SyFy channel, produced a number of polished music videos, and shot a short film that screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
https://vimeo.com/147341881
Ready to bring your music dreams to life? Let's discuss: podcast@nsavides.com
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Related Things * Wade's website * Link to get Get Wade’s eBook, The $150,000 Music Degree, for free * Preview Wade's latest book, Hacking Music * The DIY Musician Conference that I will be attending later this month
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Bands & Recording Artists Mentioned * Britney Spears * Chance the Rapper * Garth Brooks * Katy Perry * Kierstan Kelly * Lady Gaga * MC Hammer * Rolling Stones * Taylor Swift * Zach Stone
Producer Lindsay Doran won a Golden Globe for Sense and Sensibility, a film that she spent years trying to develop. Lindsay has an extensive background as a studio executive where she has overseen development on projects like This Is Spinal Tap, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Ghost. She was also the producer of one of […]
The post Golden Globe-Winning Producer Lindsay Doran on Power of Happy Endings appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Split is a critically acclaimed psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan that came out in 2016. It is a story about a man with 23 split personalities. This episode is not about that film, at least not entirely. It is mostly about another film called Split that also came out in 2016. This one happens […]
The post Split, the Romantic Comedy?! – with Filmmaker Jamie Buckner appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Ship of Fools is a cello-driven indie-rock band with a distinct sound that some (this podcast) might describe as space cathedral. The band has played at SXSW, opened for bands like Santigold, and toured across the Southeastern United States. They’re also fun to hang out with, which is worth stating right from the start. I interviewed […]
The post Music – Ship of Fools, That Space Cathedral Sound! appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
During its 24 years as a film, Groundhog Day has grown into a contemporary classic, beloved by critics and movie enthusiasts alike. It is #34 on AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Laughs list and #8 on AFI’s Top 10 Fantasy Films list, and it remains a popular attraction when it plays on TV each year at or […]
The post Groundhog Day Writer – Danny Rubin appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
BOND/360 is a film distribution company that grew out of BOND Strategy & Influence, which specializes in film marketing. Some of the campaigns that the BOND team has worked on include the Oscar-nominated film Exit Through the Gift Shop, the BAFTA-winning Senna, and the Walter Murch-edited documentary Particle Fever about the Large Hadron Collider. Elizabeth Sheldon has been the chief operating officer […]
The post Film Distribution with BOND/360’s Elizabeth Sheldon appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
The fifth Louisiana International Film Festival happened on April 20-23, 2017. It was the first full year after the death of Dan Ireland, the festival’s Artistic Director. It also came after the floods in 2016 that devastated much of southeast Louisiana. Both were directly acknowledged in the festival’s programming selections, which gave LIFF 2017 a certain […]
The post Louisiana International Film Festival 2017 Recap appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
One of the highlights of Bree Noble‘s career as a musician was getting to sing at Dodger Stadium in front of 60,000 people. At one point she was also the Director of Finance for one the top 15 opera companies in the US. These days she is focused on helping other musicians find success and build […]
The post How to Succeed as a Musician with Bree Noble appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Alex Ferrari is an accomplished filmmaker, post-production supervisor, colorist, and editor. He is also the creator of Indie Film Hustle, a popular film podcast and blog. A few years ago his short film Broken received an endorsement from Roger Ebert, which helped Alex gain traction on the film festival circuit. More recently Alex has worked as the […]
The post Post Production & Audience Building with Indie Film Hustle’s Alex Ferrari appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Xan Aranda has collaborated with the Duplass brothers on a number of projects including Blue Jay, a film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival with critical acclaim. It is now available for streaming on Netflix. Xan also helped the Duplass brothers produce Room 104, their upcoming series for HBO. Xan has also produced and/or directed a […]
The post Xan Aranda – Duplass Brothers producer, Andrew Bird director appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
This is Part II of my SXSW 2017 podcast coverage. Part I includes the film-related interviews I did while attending the festival. On this episode I share my interactive and music-related interviews. Then I share my takeaways from the music, interactive, and film aspects of the festival that I experienced. The episode concludes with my own personal SXSW […]
The post SXSW 2017 Podcast Coverage Part II – Music & Interactive Interviews and Concluding Thoughts appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
The SXSW Conference and Festivals that happens each year in Austin has three components: film, music, and interactive. Essentially it is three distinct festivals combined into one massive event that happens each March. This year I was able to get a press pass to do coverage for the podcast. Even with a few days of prep, it was […]
The post SXSW 2017 Podcast Coverage Part I – Film Interviews appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Blayne Weaver has acted alongside of actors like Tommy Lee Jones and Don Cheadle. He’s also the current voice of Walt Disney’s Peter Pan in the various films, shows, and theme park segments that feature the animated character. Recently he teamed up with Mindy Bledsoe, Chris Lyon, Rob Senska, some of his colleagues in Shreveport, Louisiana to put […]
The post Filming Car Chases & Fight Scenes for Film Noir with Blayne Weaver appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Evan Kidd, a filmmaker in Baton Rouge, recently concluded the festival run for his first feature film, Son of Clowns, a story about a TV star who loses his show and returns home to figure out his life and help his family run their floundering backyard circus. The film was shot for less than $3000 and had a shooting […]
The post How to Make a Micro-Budget Film for $3000 & Sell It on Amazon: Evan Kidd appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
A few months ago I interviewed writer-director John Lee Hancock about his work on The Rookie, The Alamo, The Blind Side, and Saving Mr. Banks. We also spoke about his latest film The Founder, which stars Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, the business man who turned McDonald’s into a world-wide brand. The film was about to come out when I first did the […]
The post The Founder with Director John Lee Hancock, A Timely American Film appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Martin Atkins’s book, Tour Smart: And Break the Band, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. It addresses all the aspects that go into planning a successful tour and features interviews with prominent musicians, club owners, tour managers, and other music industry professionals. Some of the people interviewed in it include Chris Connelly, Henry Rollins, and representatives from the House of Blues […]
The post Tour Smart: Music Industry Lessons from Martin Atkins appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
The TV show Dukes of Hazzard turned John Schneider into a household name, and many still think of him as Bo Duke, the iconic character he played on it. To a younger generation, John Schneider is probably better known as Jonathan Kent, Superman’s dad, on Smallville. John has also played recurring roles on shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Diagnosis Murder, […]
The post John Schneider of Dukes of Hazzard & Smallville on Filmmaking, Family, & Fighting Floods appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Steve Kaplan teaches comedy workshops around the world. Companies like Dreamworks, Disney, HBO, Paramount, and Touchstone regularly hire him as a consultant and script doctor. His comedy book, The Hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny, includes many of the techniques he teaches. Steve also created the HBO Workspace and the HBO New Writers Program to develop new comedic voices and is co-founder and Artistic Director of Punch […]
The post Comedic Insights from Hollywood Comedy Consultant, Steve Kaplan appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Mystery Loves Company is a chamber rock band from Houston. The band formed when Carlos Machado met Maddy Herdeman by chance or serendipity at an open mic night held at Houston’s Mucky Duck. Carlos approached Maddy because she was a cellist. He had just written a song specifically for a cello and was surprised to spot one at […]
The post Mystery Loves Company Band on Keeping the Wonder Alive appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
David and Kristin Bousquet are this episode’s guests. They are the husband and wife filmmaking team behind RedGate Films in San Francisco, a company that has produced commercials for clients that include Nike, BMW, Samsung, Levi’s, Cisco, and Lucasfilms. They recently produced Lookouts, their first short film. Lookouts is a fantasy film based on a […]
The post From Advertising to Epic Fantasy: Lookouts Filmmakers appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Hunter Via has been the editor on films and TV shows like The Shield, The Mist, Sons of Anarchy, Mob City, The 100, and Preacher, but he is probably best known as the editor for The Walking Dead, for which he edited the pilot and a number of iconic episodes. His work on the “Days Gone Bye” episode of The […]
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Craig Renaud is one half of the Renaud Brothers, a team of documentary filmmakers that shoot, edit, and produce films for HBO, NBC, Discovery, PBS, The New York Times, and VICE News. Their Last Chance High series for VICE News won a Peabody Award and was nominated for an Emmy, as was their HBO doc, Dope Sick Love. Rather than doing surface-level coverage, the brothers prefer […]
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Tom Snyder has written for and produced a variety of comedy shows, but he is best known for being the co-creator of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist on Comedy Central. During its run, the show brought on acclaimed comedians like Joy Behar, Mitch Hedburg, Louis C. K., Ray Romano, & Jon Stewart, and it went on to win an Emmy, […]
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This is Part III of my coverage of the Louisiana Film Prize 2016. It features some of the more thought-provoking interviews or ones that really connected with me for one reason or another. It also includes an interview with the winner of LA Film Prize 2016. A couple of people in the episode say nice things about podcasting. […]
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This is Part II of my coverage of the Louisiana Film Prize 2016. This episode is focused on craftsmanship. We hear from some effects artists, a director of photography, a costumer, a production sound mixer, and more filmmakers. Plus we hear from the actors who won best actor and best actress for LA Film Prize 2016. Now in […]
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The Louisiana Film Prize, now in its fifth year, is a short-film festival in Shreveport, Louisiana that awards $50,000 to the festival’s top film as determined by audience votes and a panelist of judges. Taken as a whole the films this year represent a drastic leap forward in technical achievement and ambition, compared to the […]
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The first feature film Jenna Edwards produced was April Showers, a film that explores a Columbine-like school shooting from the perspective of the survivors. The film lacked the resources of a big Hollywood production, but Jenna and her colleagues were able to bring in a full SWAT team and some notable names like Tom Arnold. […]
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The 2nd edition of The Coffee Break Screenwriter just came out recently. Pilar Alessandra is the author and a script consultant who began her career as a script reader for Amblin Entertainment. She went on to provide story analysis for DreamWorks and Robert Zemeckis’s company ImageMovers. Today she has her own screenwriting consulting company called […]
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The Louisiana Film Prize, a short-film festival that awards $50,000 to one short selected by the audience and judges, happens this year in Shreveport on Sept. 29 – Oct. 1. The festival coincides with the Louisiana Music Prize, which is put on by the same people and allows musicians in competition to receive various prizes and […]
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New Deal Studios is an effects house in California that has been worked on high-profile projects for over 20 years. Some of the films they’ve worked on include Interstellar, The Aviator, Dark Knight Rises, Hugo, The Avengers, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Watchmen, I Am Legend, Night At The Museum 2, Alice in Wonderland, and […]
The post New Deal’s VFX Supervisor Jeff Jasper on Dark Knight, Hugo, & Interstellar appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
The Videoblogs is Michael DiBiasio‘s first feature film. It is a character-driven story that is set in motion when Margaret’s private video blog gets discovered by another girl in her neighborhood who faces similar struggles. Margaret is played by Rebecca De Ornelas, a New York actress who has worked with Michael on other projects. Like their prior collaborations, The […]
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John Lee Hancock is the director of films like The Rookie, The Blind Side, and Saving Mr. Banks, films that pleased both audiences and critics. One of his early hits came from writing A Perfect World, which was directed by Clint Eastwood. His upcoming film The Founder stars Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, the business man who turned McDonald’s into a world-wide brand. […]
The post Writer-Director John Lee Hancock on Legends, Walt Disney, & the Drive to Succeed appeared first on The nsavides Podcast | filmmaking | music | cinematography | writing.
Andrew Morgan Smith is the music composer for SyFy’s upcoming film Ozark Sharks, set to coincide with the release of the phenomenon that is Sharknado 4. He’s also done music for other shark-minded stories and similar creature features like Swamp Shark, Zombie Shark, and Arachnoquake. A shark film helped put John Williams on the map, so no […]
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Justin Roberts is the director behind No Greater Love, a documentary that follows a battalion from the front lines in Afghanistan to the challenges that come with returning to civilian life. The film has won a number of award at film festivals across the country and has recently secured distribution, which means it might be […]
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