FOLLOWING FILMS

Thank you for listening to the FOLLOWING FILMS PODCAST, a weekly interview show where we dive deep into the creative minds behind today’s most captivating films. In this episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by director Gairo Cuevas and the talented stars of It’s Just Pizza, Bella Cvengro s and Wyatt Tithof. It’s Just Pizza is the latest short film from Gairo, produced through Pixar’s Cooperative Film Program, and it’s making waves for its bold storytelling approach. Filmed in one continuous take, this short captures the raw tension of a troubled relationship with a simple yet powerful premise: the fallout from ordering the wrong pizza. But this film is about so much more than pizza – it’s about dishonesty, communication, and the political undertones that shape our interactions. Today, we’ll chat with Gairo about his inspiration for the film, the challenges of filming in one take, and how It’s Just Pizza is resonating with audiences. Bella and Wyatt will also share their experiences bri

Today I’m joined by Mario Rivera director and co-subject of NEVER ENDING, ITS BETTER THIS WAY, The film explores DIY punk band Left Unsaid's rise from Albuquerque's thriving music scene in the early 2000s. Despite adversity, they became hometown heroes with a devoted following and mainstream radio airplay. Their journey embodies the resilience of blue-collar bands striving for recognition and success, showcasing the passion it takes to chase dreams in the music industry. NEVER ENDING ITS BETTER THIS WAY is currently on Amazon Prime in the US.

  Today we're diving deep into the world of short films with two incredibly talented filmmakers. Up first, we have the esteemed producer turned director Richard J. Bosner, whose latest project, Devotee, is a gripping psychological thriller that will stick with you for days. With a background producing critically acclaimed films like Fruitvale Station and Black Bear, Bosner has assembled a dream team for Devotee, including breakout child star Grant Feely and a post-production crew fresh off Megalopolis. But that’s not all! We’re also joined by director Nicholas Santos to discuss his haunting short film, Strange Creatures. A tale of grief and longing, the film stars Quinn Jackson and Sean-Michael Wilkinson and is as emotional as it is terrifying.  Both Devotee and Strange Creatures are making their world premieres at Hollyshorts this weekend For more information about both films including how to screen them go to hollyshorts.com .

Today I'm joined by Antonia Bogdanovich to discuss her film SLEEP NO MORE. SLEEP NO MORE is a Los Angeles-set neo noir crime thriller, combining grit and atmospheric style, occasional comic desperation and an inspired literary bent. As the 2014 film, director Antonia Bogdanovich’s debut feature, neared its 10th anniversary, she wanted to revisit the film, a New York Times Critic’s Pick (originally distributed as Phantom Halo), with a goal of releasing the version that she originally envisioned. So, as a tribute to her late father, multi-hyphenate Peter (who also executive produced), she set to work to produce SLEEP NO MORE: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT.  SLEEP NO MORE will be in theatres and on VOD this Friday July 26th.

  COMPLICATED ORDER is a queer coming-of-age story that follows Remy, a depressed twenty-something who's just been dumped. When Remy accidentally places a food delivery order to her estranged ex-girlfriend's house, she sets out on a journey to retrieve it, causing her to reexamine her entire relationship--and herself--in the process. Today I'm joined by Emmie Lichtenberg the writer/director behind COMPLICATED ORDER. This interview was originally recorded as a part of my coverage for the 23 Holly Shorts Film Festival.

  Today I'm joined by Nora Zehetner to discuss her latest film BONEYARD. When the skeletal remains of eleven women and girls are discovered in the New Mexico desert, an extensive investigation is launched. Inspired by true crime stories, this chilling crime-thriller follows Police Chief Carter (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Detective Ortega (Brian Van Holt), and Agent Petrovick (Mel Gibson) in a multi-agency effort to identify and apprehend the killer. As each of their agendas and methods clash, a tangled web of intrigue casts suspicion in all directions. BONEYARD is currently on VOD and will be in theatres on 7/5.

Today I’m joined by Teri Hatcher and David C. Smith I had Teri on the show to discuss her new Apple TV+ show “WondLa.” The series centers around Eva a curious, enthusiastic, and spirited teenager raised in a state-of-the-art underground bunker by Muthr, a robot caretaker, voiced by Teri Hatcher. On her 16th birthday, an attack on Eva’s bunker forces her onto the Earth’s surface which is now inhabited by aliens, covered with other-worldly fauna, and no other humans to be found. It’s no longer called Earth but Orbona. Eva is on a dangerous quest to find humans, her home, and her true destiny. Then after the break, David, the Founder and CEO of Plate Pros, one of the world’s premier international production services companies, chats with me about how technology supports storytellers, the future of immersive film, and the greatest car chase of all time.  “WondLa” will premier on Apple TV+ Friday, June 28 For more information on Plate Pros visit Plate Pros.com  I hope you enjoy the show!

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. Today I’m joined by Marc Singer and Josh Rosenbaum I had Marc on the show to discuss his latest film AGENT RECON.  In the film, a covert military task force tracks a mysterious energy disturbance at a secret base in New Mexico that is suspected of experimenting on alien technology. The trio must fight through seemingly unstoppable hordes of mindless warriors to prevent humanity’s demise. Then after the break, I’m joined by Josh to discuss his recent move to partner at Waypoint Entertainment. We also chat about Arizona's post-hardcore scene, his band Brian’s Escape, and the glory of Nicholas Cage.  AGENT RECON will be on digital and on-demand June 21st, Waypoint Entertainment will be releasing CUCKOO on August 2nd, and you can check out Josh’s band BRIAN’S ESCAPE on Spotify or listen to the very end of the episode their song AT THE BEHEST OF PTERODACTYLS will be closing us out today.

  Avy Kaufman is an American casting director for film and television. Since 1987, she has worked in casting more than 150 film and television productions. Kaufman has worked with directors including Steven Spielberg, Ang Lee and Wes Craven. Her casting credits include the psychological thriller film The Sixth Sense, the romantic drama film Brokeback Mountain, and the crime drama film Public Enemies.  She received a 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series for her work on Damages and in 2020 & 2022 for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series for Succession. She had earlier been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special for her work on the romance drama television miniseries Empire Falls. I had Avy on the show today to discuss her work on Paramount+ series FELLOW TRAVELERS.

Jobless and searching for purpose, Emma and a group of young people from Los Angeles drive up the coast to make quick cash trimming marijuana on a secluded farm in Northern California. Cut off from the rest of the world, they soon realize that Mona - the seemingly amiable owner of the estate - is harboring secrets darker than any of them could imagine. It becomes a race against time for Emma and her friends to escape the dense woods with their lives.

I'm thrilled to have Krzysztof Trojnar, an exceptional director of photography, joining me on the latest episode of the Following Films Podcast. Krzysztof shot the first four episodes of Netflix's breakout hit series, Baby Reindeer. Together, we explore the show's remarkable impact, delve into his unique approach to the material, and bond over our shared love for Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. Baby Reindeer has soared to become Netflix's most-watched show of all time. If you haven't seen it yet, you're in for a treat. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our conversation!

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. Today I’m joined by Jenna Kanell and Courtney Dixon. I had Jenna on the show to discuss FACELESS AFTER DARK a film she co-wrote and stars in. Following her breakout success as the star of a killer clown horror flick, Bowie now finds herself struggling to capitalize on its success. But when she is suddenly held hostage by an unhinged fan posing as that same killer clown, horror becomes her reality as she fights to survive the night and escape before he completes his sinister plan to recreate the film’s fatal plot. Jenna Kanell from the TERRIFIER franchise gives a tour-de-force performance in this wild, gory ride. Then after the break I’m joined by director Courtney Dixon to discuss her Tribeca entry DEPRESSION IS A BEAST. In the documentary film, Jenna Kanell, who typically battles evil forces in horror films confronts her darkest struggle, a real-life fight against depression. FACELESS AFTER DARK will be in select theaters and on

  Thank you for listening to the FOLLOWING FILMS Podcast. Today we have two interviews for you. First I’m joined by Michael Showalter director of THE IDEA OF YOU and after the break I’m joined by  Simon Cellan Jones director of ARTHUR THE KING.  Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, an incredibly popular boy band. In ARTHUR THE KING, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur over the course of a grueling 10-day, 435-mile racecourse. An inspiring story for the whole family based on true events, ARTHUR THE KING follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. Today I am joined by legendary comic book creator Jimmy Palmiotti. Jimmy has worked on several iconic characters and runs. He inked titles like the Punisher, and Ghost Rider and often inked the work of his friend and collaborator Joe Quesada. Together, they created Ash and Painkiller Jane. He also worked on Daredevil, a run especially known for the "Guardian Devil" arc scripted by Kevin Smith.

Today I'm joined be Michael Mendelsohn, the CEO of Patriot Pictures, an organization that packages film production, financing, and distribution elements.  Upcoming projects include LOST IN WONDERLAND written and directed by Daniela Amavia, starring Ella Bleu Travolta, Edouard Philipponnat, Sasha Luss, James Cromwell, and Terrence Howard; and GHOST SHIPS, an underwater dive shipwreck documentary directed by Markus Blunder, and many more projects currently in production.  Recent releases include the seasonal hit THE GRINGO WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS (2023) starring George Lopez, Emily Tosta, Mariana Treviño, and Jack Kilmer. GOD IS A BULLET (2023) is based on a book by Boston Teran, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe, Karl Glusman, January Jones, and Jamie Foxx. BLACKOUT (Netflix released October 2022 to #2 worldwide) directed by Sam Macaroni, starring Josh Duhamel, Abbie Cornish, Omar Chaparro, and Nick Nolte; THE MATRIX starring Keanu Reeves; Icon Pictures and Nancy Meyers direc

Today on the podcast we have two interviews! First up, I'm joined by Benjamin China and Paul China to discuss their film NIGHT SHIFT. While working her first night shift at a remote motel, a woman begins to suspect that the property is haunted. NIGHT SHIFT is currently available on VOD. Then after the break, I chat with Adam Cooper about the Russell Crowe thriller SLEEPING DOGS. An ex-homicide detective (Russell Crowe) with memory loss is forced to solve a brutal murder, only to uncover chilling secrets from his forgotten past. SLEEPING DOGS will be in theatres this Friday, March 22nd.

Inspired by actual events, THE BLACK MASS takes place over the course of 24 hours and recounts the grisly murders that occurred over winter of 1978, when a serial killer attacked multiple victims on an undisclosed college campus. The film, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, marks the directorial debut of award-winning actor/producer Devanny Pinn (Frost, The Dawn).    Today I'm joined by Devanny Pinn to discuss THE BLACK MASS.

Thank you for listening to The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett, and Jennifer Weir, the co-directors and subject of the new documentary film FINDING HER BEAT. In the midst of a frozen Minnesota winter, a Japanese drum master and a Korean adoptee from North Dakota join forces to assemble the world’s greatest Taiko drummers in a bold effort to claim a cultural spotlight that has historically been reserved only for men. Through grueling rehearsals, Jennifer weaves together their disparate voices and styles as vulnerability, pain, and joys are shared—and we quickly see bonds of friendship form as these talented women navigate through differences in culture, age, language, and performance styles. As the clock ticks toward their first performance, it becomes clear that their story has become much larger than Taiko. FINDING HER BEAT is currently available on Amazon Prime.

  Thank you for listening to The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m joined by Carlson Young to discuss her latest film UPGRADED. In the film, Ana Santos (Camila Mendes) is a smart and ambitious art enthusiast with dreams of running her own gallery. She is currently paying dues as an unpaid trainee at a premiere NYC auction house, run by the influential and demanding Claire Dupont (Marisa Tomei). When Ana is sent on her first work trip and gets unexpectedly upgraded to first class, she meets the handsome and well-connected Will (Archie Renaux), who mistakes Ana for her boss– a white lie that sets off a series of fortuitous events and VIP introductions that suddenly have Ana winning at work and caught up in a whirlwind romance she never expected. However, this little white lie begins to unravel, threatening to ruin Ana’s career and newfound romance. UPGRADED is streaming on Amazon Prime where it is currently the number one film. I had a great time chatting with Carlson about her film, r

Thank you for listening to The Following Films Podcast. Today, I’m joined by John Shevchenko better known by his online moniker, Hyphonix. Known for pushing the boundaries of live streaming with his hilarious and unpredictable content, Hyphonix has garnered a massive following of millions on his YouTube channel and significantly impacted the live-streaming community. (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube)  In this episode we chat about how Hyphonix rose to prominence, take a look at his creative process, and discuss the future of streaming. Before our conversation with John, I would like to thank our sponsor, Bookmans, an independent bookstore that believes in the magic of storytelling and the cinematic arts. To expand your collection of films, music, or books, visit your nearest Bookmans and discover something truly wonderful. If you haven't already, please follow the Following Films podcast on Spotify to show your support. This will help us continue to bring you in-depth conversations with