First Time Go – Details, episodes & analysis

I talk with Matthew Baren, Creative Director of LP Films, about the struggles and ultimate triumph of Michelle Garnaut in creating M ON THE BUND, a restaurant in Shanghai. He’s speaking about a documentary of the same name currently raising money on Kickstarter. The film is directed by Luo Tong.

My discussion with Matthew comes across as an amazing story of female empowerment universally, whether it’s in Australia, Hong Kong, or Shanghai. We discuss what life is like for Chinese filmmakers; the wildly original M ON THE BUND documentary, why the team chose Kickstarter over other avenues for crowdfunding, and the power of resilience in the face of challenges.

When you hear Matthew’s description of the documentary, you want to cheer for the amazing women involved, yes, but they aren’t making it just about themselves. They are bringing us along, too

Matthew's Indie Film Highlight: DOOM GENERATION by Gregg Akari

Links:

• M ON THE BUND Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1591996995/m-on-the-bund-a-documentary)
• LP Docs (https://www.lpdocs.net/)
• LP Films, the parent of LP Docs (http://www.lpfilms.net/)
• LP Films Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lostpensivosfilms/)
• M ON THE BUND Documentary (https://www.instagram.com/monthebunddocumentary)
• LP Films X Account (x.com/lpfilmsshanghai)
• LP Films Facebook Account (https://www.facebook.com/lpfilms/)

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: RED ROCKET (2021).

Director: Sean Baker

Writers: Chris Bergoch, Sean Baker

Cast: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son

SYNOPSIS

Mikey Saber -- charismatic con man and washed-up porn star -- plots his return to the big time from small-town Texas in this story of an American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.aten to burn the tower down if the developer does not pay their wages.

Watch the episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod

I talk with Daniel Brown, director of YOUR LUCKY DAY, arriving in theaters November 10th.

We talk about the amazing work of Angus Cloud; the wild story of turning down people who wanted to make the film into a feature 13 years ago; the shorts v. feature debate (of course); the virtue of quick run-times for marriages; what indie filmmakers should do for their second act; and how this wonderful feature came to life. What a story he has to tell.

Daniel's Indie Film Director & Highlight: Satoshi Kon; Korean film

Links:

YOUR LUCKY DAY Screenings (https://drafthouse.com/show/fantastic-fest-presents-your-lucky-day-advance-screening)

YOUR LUCKY DAY Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xMsdJvY0gk&t=5s)

Pre-Order YOUR LUCKY DAY Now On Apple (https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/your-lucky-day/umc.cmc.3xbthl9m5ossgqvswdldfzwsh) -- it helps demonstrate an audience and supports independent filmmakers.

Did you know burial and cremation are both bad for the environment? That bartending may be the best training for documentary filmmaking? What about death haikus?

I talk to Wendy Corn about her new film, Exit Strategy: From Scared to Sacred, which recently raised over $34,000 as part of a successful crowdfunding campaign on Seed & Spark. Wendy is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose films have been featured at SXSW and other festivals. She gives advice to filmmakers, talks about why Austin is a great home for indies, and shares the level of commitment -- and vulnerability -- it requires to embark on a crowdfunding campaign.

Links mentioned in the conversation:

• https://www.austinfilm.org/sponsored/exit_strategy/
• https://seedandspark.com/fund/exit-strategy/
• Matthew Kochmann (wetranscend.com)
• Artist/Animator: Yuliya Lanina (yuliyalanina.com)

You can see the artistic talent of Christian Kamaal in the vivid way he describes his life -- he borrowed a camera from his father, who used it to film funerals for his community ("unfortunately, in the city I come from, a lot of funerals"); his power of observation earned him a spot at USC's film school; and he utilized his power of observation, of visual artistry, to make BLACKIFIER, a powerful short that hits you with more thoughts about our world than most features. And that's only half of it. In this episode,

• we talk about the reaction of BLACKIFIER at film festivals;
• why people don't pursue controversial social topics;
• how he thinks we can change festivals to hear more diverse stories ("it starts at the top") and stresses the importance of ownership of your own stories;
• his thoughts on AI in filmmaking;
• are there enough films programs at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)?
• and what this extraordinarily talented filmmaker is working on next.

Christian's Indie Film Highlight: Letia Solomon

Links:

Christian Kamaal’s Website

American Black Film Festival

Welcome to spooky season in this re-release of my conversation with filmmaker Hoku Uchiyama.

Published last year while he was crowdfunding for WHITCH, we talk about:

• his filmmaking in the Bay Area starting when he was around 10;
• his new project, a horror comedy short;
• his fantastic team and whether you could put together such a cool group of people if you were a horrible person (his answer: probably not);
• behavior standards in indie film, the constraints and excitements of a five minute project, and more.

Links:

Hoku Uchiyama's Website

Hoku Uchiyama's Instagram

WHITCH

Photo By Victor Giovanny Parra

This is what you have to give to be successful in indie films: everything.

I'm so proud to share my conversation with So Young Shelly Yo at the start of her Los Angeles theatrical run with SMOKING TIGERS. The film won the AT&T Tribeca "Untold Stories" competition in 2022 and after it screens in LA, it will stream on MAX starting August 23, 2024. Expect it to show up in indie awards season.

In this episode, we talk about how she got started in film; the deeply personal nature of SMOKING TIGERS; what it's like to be a Korean-American filmmaker and how she shares that experience with colleagues; her thoughts on representation and if she's okay with people labeling this as a Korean film rather than specifically a Korean-American or coming of age story. This is such an important topic and she speaks so eloquently on it.

And Shelly concludes by turning expectations around in this interview — you don’t need to rush into your next project, you don’t need to be on Instagram and it’s okay to think deeply about your next project.

Wow.

Shelly's Indie Film Highlight: WHEN THIS SUMMER IS OVER (2024) dir. by Jang Byung-ki; SHORT VACATION (2020) dir. by Kwon Min-pyo; PAPER MARRIAGE (2024) dir. by Jeff Man

Links:

SMOKING TIGERS tickets

So Young Shelly Yo Biography

SMOKING TIGERS Instagram

MUBI (we love you, MUBI)

JEONJU International Film Festival

Filmmaker Hyejin "Grace" Park has such incredible range as an indie filmmaker: she's directed everything from sci-fi to gangster films and made them her own in a way that's utterly enchanting and unique. Her Vimeo page is a testament to her range as a filmmaker.

In this episode, we discuss how she got started in filmmaking; her goal of making sure minority filmmakers feel seen; how life experiences have made her a better filmmaker; the depth of the story behind her genre-breaking film COMET ORPHAN; what made her decide to use Seed & Spark for the film ("we were way short because we had to built a spaceship"); where you can expect to see the film; and what's next for Grace.

If there's a Grace Park fan club, I'm the first member. Go to her Vimeo and see for yourself. It's truly incredible what she's accomplished and I cannot wait to see what's next.

Grace's Indie Film Highlight: Christian Kamaal

Links:

Grace Park's Vimeo Page

Meet Hyejin "Grace" Park

Hyejin "Grace" Park's Website

Go buy ANCHORAGE on VHS Now

I’m re-releasing one of my favorite episodes of the pod, my conversation with Scott Monahan, director of ANCHORAGE.

Until July 18th, you can vote for ANCHORAGE on Decentralized Pictures — here's the link — and their team can win $2500 for their next project.

Given that this is one of my favorite episodes, and one of my favorite dudes, how could I not re-release to support?

So go vote for ANCHORAGE now. (This is assuming you've seen this great indie film. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?)

Scott is a phenomenal actor, sure, but I feel like the kindness is genuine.

Enjoy this episode, it’s one of my absolute favorites, and see you in Anchorage.

In this episode, we talk about Scott growing up with his U.S. Marine-turned middle school guidance counselor family in Japan to crowdfunding for ANCHORAGE at the beginning of the pandemic. We talk about his journey through the film festival circuit and distribution; Film Independent's role in independent film, the multi-hatting necessary for so many independent filmmakers, Scott's larger philosophy in what projects he chooses to be a part of, and what he wants to do next.

Go vote on Decentralized Pictures, and I hope you enjoy revisiting my conversation with one of indie film's good guys: Scott Monahan.

Scott's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Pete Ohs

Links:

Vote now for ANCHORAGE

Watch ANCHORAGE

ANCHORAGE Movie Instagram

Scott Monahan's Instagram

Dakota Loesch's Instagram

This is a re-release of my discussion with Ross McDonnell. His film, SWIFT JUSTICE, is up for a News & Doc Emmy in Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary. The awards will be revealed live on September 26, 2024.

Ross died on November 5, 2023. His co-director, Victor Blue, writes movingly about his work. Later on this year, I'll post an episode remembering Ross and the legacy of independent filmmakers.

In this episode, I talk with Ross McDonnell, co-director of the new documentary short, SWIFT JUSTICE, about Sharia justice in Afghanistan.

Ross and I discuss:

• how he got started in filmmaking;
• whether some people are just built for the visual arts;
• the gear behind making a film like SWIFT JUSTICE and how they went about filming "without understanding what was happening in realtime"
• the importance of Christmas movies in Ireland and W.B. Yeats;
• never-ending praise for editors and the New Yorker's prowess in the documentary realm;
• what's next for the documentary field.

Ross' Indie Film Highlight: Jonathan Glazer; Wong Kar-wai; Spize Jonze; Chris Cunningham; Floria Sigismondi; Chris Doyle; Lance Acord

Links:

SWIFT Justice Film

Watch The News & Doc Emmys Live On September 26, 2024