deadCenter Podcast

Season 3 of the deadCenter Film Podcast is here! In this return episode, Nick talks with stunt coordinator and performer, Jon Bielich. They discuss how he started his career in stunts by performing at amusement parks, growing in the Oklahoma film industry on films like Cowgirls 'n Angels and August: Osage County, the career highlight moment he had with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with the team behind the short film Auganic, which won Best Live Action Short at the deadCenter Film Festival, director Krit Komkrichwarakool and producer King Louie. They discuss the Canadian film scene, King Louie's time working in the VFX department on the Emmy-winning show The Last of Us, what it was like to win for their film Auganic in an Oscar-qualifying category at deadCenter, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with filmmaker and actress Makinley Paige Montez about how she got discovered creating comedy sketches, why she moved from Atlanta to Oklahoma to pursue a film career, what it was like starting out acting on Zoom to learning acting with others at OFA Studios, writing and directing her film Lost & Found with deadCenter Education, what it was like to see her work on the big screen, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with deadCenter Feature Programmer, Camila Chaves Rojas, about how 2010's independent films impacted her, how an OU speaking engagement led to her interning and eventually working at deadCenter, how programming for a film festival is similar to curating a playlist, and much more.

On this episode, Nick talks with Oklahoma City filmmaker Matt Barse about his experience bringing one of his film's to the 2012 deadCenter Film Festival, what he's learned making short films over the years, the things he's learned while attending a UCLA screenwriting program, upcoming horror projects he's working on, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with choreographer and filmmaker Lauren Bumgarner about how she found her love for dance and film as a kid, what she learned from her time working on the set of Uncut Gems in New York City, what it's meant to have her work featured at deadCenter over the years, and much more.

On this episode, Nick sits down with actor/writer/producer Caitlyn Sponheimer. They discuss her film Wild Goat Surf, what she learned directing her first feature, why it's important to find your people in the film industry, and more.

On this episode of the deadCenter Film Podcast, Nick talks with So Young Shelly Yo, the writer/director of Smoking Tigers, about what she learned from working in the television and commercial world, how making short films helped prepare her for a feature film, what it was like to adapt real life experiences into a screenplay, her favorite film festival experiences, and more.

On the Season 2 opener episode of the deadCenter Film Podcast, host Nick Hodge sits down with the team at OKCThunder Films to discuss their latest film BISMACK that screened at the 2024 deadCenter Film Festival. Nick discusses with director Michael Zubach and producers Nick Gallo and Paris Lawson about how the film BISMACK came together during a busy OKC Thunder season, how Bismack Biyombo became the story they chose to focus on for this film, and what OKCThunder Films is all about.

Live from the 2024 deadCenter Film Festival! On this episode, Nick talks with 2024 deadCenter Film ICON, Paul Sparks. They discuss what it means to him to be honored from his home state as a deadCenter Icon, his journey from small town Oklahoma to major productions like Boardwalk Empire, what it's been like to see the Oklahoma film scene grow so much, the film Hands That Bind that he stars in which screened at 2024's deadCenter, and more.

Live from 2024's deadCenter Film Festival! On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick talks with 2024 deadCenter Film ICON, Dylan Brodie. They talk about his journey in Oklahoma film over the years and how he became the producer he is today, the importance of collaboration within the Oklahoma film community, the films he produced on that screened at 2024's festival, and more.

Meet some of the filmmakers from the 2024 deadCenter Film Festival! On this episode, Nick talks with Amy Janes, Deonna Marie, and Skye Dakota Turner with Cricket, Stimson Snead of Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox, Lance McDaniel of Chasing Thunder, Donick Cary of Hail to the Breadsticks!, and Kaitlyn Shelby & Madeline Markcum of House in the Clouds.

The 2024 deadCenter Film Festival is here! On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick talks with the writer/director of Moloka'i Bound, Alika Tengan. They discuss the process of taking his film from short to feature, the Hawaiian filmmaking scene, the process of making this film with non-actors, how he met his DP Chapin Hall at a film festival, his upcoming screenplay on one of the biggest upsets in basketball history, and more.

The 2024 deadCenter Film Festival is here! On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick talks with Ariane Louis-Seize, writer/director for the film Humanist Vampire Consenting Suicidal Person, which is playing at 2024's deadCenter Film Festival. She talks about the early influences on her work, the process of writing this with a cowriter, her experience directing her first feature, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with director Emmett Berg and star Alex Saucedo of the documentary film Saucedo, which is apart of deadCenter Film Festival's 2024 opening night lineup. They discuss how the documentary came together, how it was for Alex to let a documentary film crew cover a vulnerable time in his life, what Emmett learned from his time at Tisch School of the Arts in New York, how this film can help other athletes that have dealt with serious injuries, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with the writer/director of Hailey's Game (which will have its World Premiere at deadCenter's opening night for 2024) about the advice she heard that helped her get started in filmmaking, how making web series helped jumpstart her film journey, what it was like making her first feature film in Oklahoma, and an upcoming project she's going to direct next.

On this episode, Nick talks with Rebecca Davis - one of the writers and directors of the documentary Join or Die. They discuss how journalism has affected her filmmaking approach, what the filmmaking process behind Join or Die was like in visiting a variety of communities across America, the dynamic of directing and writing the film with her brother, and much more.

On this episode, Nick talks with Victor Caballero, deadCenter's Director of Education & Outreach. They discuss the statewide education tour for film, how he got into filmmaking, how deadCenter University is a great tool for up-and-coming filmmakers, and noteworthy film festival and set experiences.

On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick and Paris talk with Loren Waters about her experience as an Oklahoma filmmaker, how programs she's been a part of like the Warner Media Access Early Career Bootcamp have helped her career, what it meant to have her film Restoring Néške'emāne play at deadCenter, working alongside family for her commercial Press On, the important message behind her film Meet Me At The Creek, starting a background casting company from working on Reservation Dogs, and more.

On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick talks with the director and writing duo behind Fancy Dance, Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise. They discuss how their partnership started in the Sundance Indigenous Labs, how Lily Gladstone created a special moment for Erica and last year's deadCenter audience , the process behind making Fancy Dance in Oklahoma, the surreal feeling of working on Reservation Dogs, and more.

On this episode, Nick speaks with local filmmakers whose films about black experiences were a part of deadCenter's community screenings in partnership with the Respect Diversity Foundation and Afro Cinema Nights.

On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick talks with filmmaker Geoff Marslett about how physics plays a part in his career, his film Quantum Cowboys starring Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon, Fancy Dance), his thoughts on the current state of independent films, what he enjoys about film festivals like deadCenter, and more.

On this episode, Nick talks with Oklahoma City filmmaker Ella Janes, founder of the deadCenter Teen Board. They discuss what the deadCenter Teen Board is and how it's a good place for young filmmakers to get started in film, advice for aspiring filmmakers, how her experience at the deadCenter film festival made her feel like a part of a family, upcoming projects she's working on, and more.

On this episode, Nick gets to know deadCenter's Head of Pride Programming, Laron Chapman, while sitting down to discuss everything awards season; from what to expect, who the frontrunners are, and what surprises there may be in the major categories.

On this episode of the deadCenter Podcast, Nick interviews filmmaker Sam Mirpoorian, director of the documentary Greener Pastures. They discuss advice for indie filmmakers, documentary filmmaking techniques, how mental health has become a part of the films he makes, and how his film Greener Pastures can help you think differently about what goes into the food you consume.

Welcome to the deadCenter Podcast. On this first episode, Nick and Paris interview Andrew Hajek, Director of Photography for The Unknown Country and discuss deadCenter's upcoming events.