The actor Frank Mosley is known for his work on films such as "Upstream Color", "Some Beasts" and countless other indie films but what might be less apparent is that he is emerging as a director in his own rite. This coming weekend, Brooklyn's Spectacle Theater begins a retrospective of his directorial efforts including three shorts and his feature, "Her Wilderness".
Frequent Filmwax guest Larry Fessenden is back for his 6th visit. The latest installment in the radio play series that he writes and produces along with his friend, the filmmaker Glenn McQuaid, will take place live this Wednesday, August 22nd, 7:30 PM at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center. Visit filmlinc.org for tickets and more details.
The team behind the new indie film "We The Animals" including director Jeremiah Zagar, actor Raúl Castillo & the DP, Zak Mulligan. The film opens in NYC and LA on Friday, August 17th. Then a conversation with the actor Trine Dyrholm and her work in "Nico, 1988" which is in its 3rd week at Film Forum.
Bing Liu, director of the extraordinary new documentary "Minding the Gap" is the first guest; the film will screen at the Metrograph beginning 8/27. Then we're joined by the team behind the seminal 1982 documentary "The Atomic Cafe": Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader & Pierce Rafferty. A new 4k restored digital print is screening at Film Forum.
On the 500th Episode of the podcast I welcome filmmaker Ramin Bahrani ("Goodbye Solo", "99 Homes") whose films have screened in countless world film festivals including Toronto, Berlin, Cannes, Viennale and Sundance. He currently teaches film at Columbia University and is at work adapting the novel "The White Tiger" into a new film.
Visual artist Amy Jenkins with a highly personal non-fiction film, "Instructions On Parting" where she presents a portrait of the cyclical nature of life and death in her own family over the course of an all too short period of time; and filmmaker Joe Tropea & editor Robert Emmons with their documentary "Sickies Making Films" on the history of film censorship in Maryland.
Film Forum programmer Mike Maggiore on the renovation of the esteemed arthouse theater which re-opens with a newly added screening room on 8/1; the team behind the new doc "McQueen". The film is currently in theaters & opening wide; Slamdance co-founder & filmmaker Dan Mirvish on his new comedy, "Bernard and Huey", with a script by Jules Feiffer.
The legendary cinematographer, Ed Lachman, is the sole guest on this episode. A few of the filmmakers Lachman has collaborated with include Werner Herzog, Ulrich Seidl, Robert Altman, Sofia Coppola, Todd Solondz and Todd Haynes.
The subject of "Milford Graves Full Mantis", the avant-guard jazz drummer Milford Graves, with filmmaker Jake Meginsky, are in the first segment. The documentary opened at the Metrograph in NYC this past Friday. Then the man who has been responsible for restoring all The Beatles films, most recently the 4k restoration for the 50th anniversary release of "Yellow Submarine", currently in theaters.
Two Sundance 2018 films on this episode: Gus Van Sant making his first appearance on Filmwax with his latest, "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" adapted from a memoir by cartoonist John Callahan; and Bo Burnham with his directorial debut, "Eighth Grade". Bo's joined by his actors John Hamilton, Elsie Fisher & Emily Robinson. Both films open on Friday, July 13th.
Documentary filmmaker Kimberly Reed ("Prodigal Sons") is in the first segment with her new film "Dark Money" about how sinister sources of money is negatively influencing elections; Iyabo Boyd is back on the show after a 6-year hiatus to discuss the Kickstarter campaign for a new short called "Me Time".
Andrew Fleming ("Dick", "Hamlet 2") is back with a new feature comedy called "Ideal Home" and which stars Paul Rudd and Steve Coogan. The comedy opens Friday, June 29th in NYC; also the team behind a dramatic film called "Beauty Mark" which we caught up with at the Woodstock Film Festival including director Harris Doran & actors Auden Thornton & Catherine Curtin.
Debra Granik (Winter's Bone) discusses her new feature film starring Ben Foster, "Leave No Trace" which opens Friday, June 29th; and the documentary filmmaker Eugene Jarecki ("Why We Fight", "The House I Live In") has a new documentary about Elvis but more so about America, called "The King". The film is already playing in NYC but opens in LA on June 29th.
The Zellner Brothers return to the podcast to discuss their latest feature film, Damsel, which premiered at Sundance this year and opens theatrically Friday, June 22nd. The film stars Robert Pattinson & Mia Wasikowska, and is being distributed by Magnolia Pictures. Also producer/actor Tara Culp.
In this Father’s Day special edition I interview my Dad, Bob Schartoff. Bob is 81 years old and currently resides in Queens, NY. He was greatly responsible, along with my mother, for introducing me to the arthouse film.