Explore every episode of the podcast Sifter

Heather Waters came to Richmond 15 years ago and founded the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), running this year from September 22 – 27. Although she’s been on the show as a surprise guest promoting the festival, we’ve never heard her talk about herself. This podcast focuses on:
– How she got into acting and singing
– Singing at the Grand Old Opry with Barbara Mandrell and others
– Her degrees from Georgia State University in a surprising major
– Working as a model
– How she ended up in Richmond
– Starting and growing RIFF
– One of her other projects: Creative World Awards
– The new project: Lightmakers

LINKS
Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF)
Creative World Awards
My podcast with Kirk Schroder

The GenreBlast Film Festival is entering it’s 10th year, where they screen independent, cult, niche and underground films that aren’t easily accessible. The opening night film is “The Black Hills Night Hike,” a horror anthology about myths and legends in the Maryland area. Three of the filmmakers are interviewed: Nickolas Jackson, creator of the anthology and director of title segment and “Snallyghaster,” Clark Kline,  co-creator/producer of the anthology, and Brian Pennington, who directed “Upper Melinda Witch Fest.” Our discussion includes:
– Where the idea originated
– How the stories came together
– Creating a vintage videotape look for “Snallycaster”
– Visual effects for sawing a woman in half in “Upper Melinda Witch”
– How the order of shorts was determined
– Celebrating the festival’s 10th year

LINKS
GenreBlast Film Festival
Trailer for “Black Hills Night Hike”
Nathan’s film “Worst Laid Plans”

This new documentary was originally made for the visitor’s center at Shenandoah National Parks, but has now been expended to a one-hour version. It will also be shown on the big screen at the Byrd Theatre as part of “Scene in Virginia” on September 14. Co-director Elizabeth Crowl of Orange Frame Productions talks about:
– The unfortunate loss of the original director
– The fun story behind the name of Orange Frame Productions
– The patience of shooting bears, salamanders, butterflies & eels
– Finding blind hiker Mary Wilson

LINKS
“Scene in Virginia” screening on 9/14 at the Byrd
Shenandoah on VPM
The Shenandoah National Park Trust
The screening in Charlottesville on 10/15
Orange Frame Productions
My podcast with editor Rex Teese
My podcast with the directors of “Daughters” (and Netflix link)

If you were a movie fan from 1985 to 1995, you probably went to video rental stores to find new and old videos to watch at home. Today’s show features two new ones that are located in downtown Richmond. Holly Wright has Rewind Video (108 N. 7th St) and Cody Denzler just opened Monster Video in July (207 N. Third St.) We talk about:
– Their own experiences with video stores
– Starting their collections
– Opening a store
– Why people want physical media
– What age group is into it
– The quality of VHS
– Most unusual sale: jock straps

LINKS:
Monster Video Instagram
Rewind Vintage Instagram

Virginian William Haines become a worldwide movie star in the 20s. His career ended abruptly when he refused to marry a woman and give up his longtime boyfriend. This led to his successful and  influential career as an interior designer. Sergei Troubetzkoy was on the show in 2023 talking about his experiences as a film liaison, including Staunton. Turns out Haines was born in there and Sergei has been studying the career of Haines and amassing a collection of his memorabilia. His fascinating history lesson includes:
– Meeting Haines at the Poe Museum
– Haines’ early years in Richmond
– Moving to Hollywood to start his career
– Pivoting to interior design
– His impressive commissions

LINKS:
The Arcadia Project
Sergei’s previous podcast
Sunnylands website
Donald Silverman’s podcast
Donald Silverman’s “More Oddball Thoughts”

Carol Connors started her career with The Teddy Bears and their worldwide #1 hit “To Know Him is to Love Him.” She went on to date Elvis and penned the lyrics for “Gonna Fly Now,” the iconic theme from “Rocky.” We talk about her new doc “ELVIS ROCKY & ME, The Carol Connors Story” and lots more:
– Her early musical influences
– How the doc came about
– Raising $16 so Phil Specter would record her
– Getting gifted a Shelby Cobra after writing the song
– Meeting her first boyfriend: Elvis Presley
– A special gift from Robert Culp
– Writing the “Rocky” theme lyrics in the shower
– Hanging with Hef at the Playboy Mansion
– Penning the theme for “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”
– What she had in common with O.J. Simpson
– The song she wrote for John Denver
– Her song in the new Broadway version of “The Piano”

LINKS
ELVIS ROCKY & ME, The Carol Connors Story (the doc)
ELVIS ROCKY & ME, The Carol Connors Story (the book)
Podcast with Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen

From June 25-28, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture presented IllumiNATION, an artful celebration of our nation’s 250th that was projected on the 250-foot-long front of the museum. More than 32,000 people showed up on the front lawn to enjoy this truly spectacular, history-defining event (pun intended). Sam Florer, Director of Public Programs at VMHC, is this show’s guest. We discuss:
– The germination of the idea of Sailfest and IllumiNATION
– How they created the outline and sourced the imagery
– Using AI to animate still photos
– The block party and other simultaneous events
– The enthusiastic audience reactions
– Why they stopped the timeline in 2020
– If it’ll ever be shown again

LINKS
IllumiNATION at the VMHC
The Community Foundation
Salon de Resistance event
My review of “Widow’s Bay”

Marc Weinberg & Victoria Fraser were on this show talking “Outrage,” the thriller they co-wrote and produced. This show will take them back to their time as writers in Hollywood:
– Getting a nasty letter from Leonard Nimoy
– Pitching a thriller to Dick Clark Productions
– Henry Winkler’s project on dyslexia
– What it means to have a script in turnaround
– Story credits: the difference between “and” and “&”
– The strike and AI

LINKS:
Scene in Virginia screenings at the Byrd
My first podcast with Victoria & Marc

“Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War” features the profiles of four unique individuals who were involved in the creation of our nation. This doc is part of our nation’s 250th anniversary and was produced locally by VPM PBS. Today’s podcast features producer/director Stacey L. Holman and her co-producer Maya Tepler. Our discussion includes:
– Their backgrounds and participation on the project
– How did VPM was involved
– The challenges of using AI to create imagery
– Recording a school class
– Shooting in historic locations
– The score and sound design
– VPM’s new building

LINKS
“Declarations” on the PBS App
“Declarations” on YouTube
Trailer for “Declarations”
The “JNX” (Jackson) Project
Musical on Sojourner Truth
My review of “Office Romance”
My review of “Running Point”

The 3rd annual Fredericksburg Film Festival runs from June 25 – 28. Today’s guests are Dalton Okolo, President and Executive Director, and Carlos Naranjo, Partnership Director of the festival. Our discussion includes:
– How the festival began?
– How it’s changed in 4 years.
– Working with the community
– This year’s theme
– Extended discussion of “Shallow”

LINKS
Fredericksburg Film Festival
1108 website
Lucas Huff’s website
My podcast with Melody Rocher about “Bird in Hand”
Silent Music Revival at Dogwood Dell
My review of “Obsession”