How Did They Get There

Philip Andelman's inspired take on the language and rhythm of music videos has impacted the medium in countless ways. The results are evident in his collaborations with contemporary artists, including Usher, Melissa Etheridge, Ludacris, Maxwell, d4vd, James Bay and Taylor Swift. Formative experiences with Annie Leibowitz launched his entry-point into photography. After NYU, continued experiential education under the guidance of Joseph Kahn, the legend, exposed Philip to the world of music videos with an ethos to help keep head above water. He worked as a second unit director on some of the most pivotal music videos ever made, including Moby's Southside and U2's Elevation. Soon after came the opportunity to step into the director's chair for the first of six video collaborations with Lenny Kravitz, beginning with 2004's Where Are We Runnin - a hedonistic exploration of faith. Some of the notable videos in Philip's catalogue include John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change; Duck Sauce's It's You; Fiona Apple and Andrew Bird's Left Handed Kisses; Miriam, by Norah Jones; and Beyonce's Halo, featuring Michael Ealy. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of his journey and upbringing in France and New York; the grant he received from Martin Scorsese; the artistry in working with Maxwell; showing Jay-Z what he thought was an unfinished video; and a fateful Samsung commercial he directed. We also discussed his degree of versatility, and its effect on transcending genre.Opening Credits: Anitek - Tab & Anitek - Mina I CC BY-NC-ND 3.0; Genx Beats - Lofi Beats - 01 Always (Lofi Mix) I CC BY 3.0. Closing Credits: HoliznaPATREON - Tapping On The Roof I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Director Nabil Elderkin shoots music videos and films governed by vision, collaboration and diversity. While thematic similarities connect the dots between his projects, each video is different and a product of the stellar combination of the right artist, the right lighting, and maybe most importantly - the right feel. Growing up in a multi-cultural sphere, dictated by several international moves, led to an open-mindedness and an adaptability which did not hurt his transition into film. Surfing was the context which facilitated his portal in, and although he spent more time on the beach than in the water, the education he received, through direct exposure shooting his friends, was invaluable. His photography interest and experience developed further when he settled in Chicago, and came into Kanye West's orbit. Soon after, he started shooting music videos for a dossier for artists which continues to expand, and includes The Black Eyed Peas, Common, Seal, Bruno Mars, Foals, J. Cole, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa and Kendrick Lamar. For his work on Swim Good and Mercy, which feature Frank Ocean and Kanye West, respectively, Nabil received 3 VMA nominations, including Best Direction in a Video and Best Hip Hop Video for the latter. Among his feature films are the Ugandan breakdancing documentary, Bouncing Cats, and the gut-wrenching exploration of trauma - Gully - which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019 and stars Charlie Plummer, Amber Heard, Jacob Latimore, Terrence Howard and John Corbett. In our conversation, we discussed the kernels of his film beginnings; working with actors like Willem Dafoe and Don Cheadle; collaborating with friends like John Legend; upcoming music video and narrative concepts he is developing; and a memorable encounter with Snoop Dogg.Opening Credits: HoliznaPATREON - Green Again ( LoFi) I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; Anitek - Gnats I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. Closing Credits: snoozy beats - stylish days I CC BY 4.0.

As an actor and filmmaker, Onur Tukel challenges the audience to delve into the frightening parts of who they are by, at times, leading them to live vicariously through his protagonists' colorful experiences. From exploring the joy of mortality in Drawing Blood, to the perils of masculinity in 2001's Ding-a-ling-Less, to a platonic theme of friendship amidst a romantic undertone in Richard's Wedding, the loss of one's identity among the backdrop of a physical manifestation of revenge in Catfight, and apathy transforming into adventure after an encounter with a vampire in Summer of Blood, which also features friend and contemporary Alex Karpovsky, Onur's films are like shining a mirror towards the more intimate and carnal senses. We learn about the power of perspective and its impact on perception in The Misogynists, which features Dylan Baker; psychotic longing for the one that got away in That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes, which is shot near-exclusively in French; and the connectedness of spirituality during the Pandemic in Scenes from an Empty Church, which stars Kevin Corrigan. His latest projects include the novel Run Werewolf Run, which he authored and illustrated, and will be released in 2025 by Pitchstone Publishing (ironically based in Durham, NC); and a puppet film he directed about a marionette performer which wrapped in 2024. In our conversation, we discussed his collaborations with several actors, including Anne Heche, Sandra Oh, Ariel Kavoussi and Josephine Decker; growing up in North Carolina; the unveiling of psychotherapy's purpose in a cinematic endeavor; and the filmmakers who affected and inspired the origins of cinema in his eyes.Opening Credits: Anitek - Strange Sensations I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US; Jangwa - Slow Me Down I CC BY 4.0. Closing Credits: Beat Mekanik - Old Souls I CC BY 4.0.

Joe Boyd's revered productions of artists ranging from Pink Floyd, The Incredible String Band and Nick Drake had been widely-circulated and universally-acclaimed. He had worked with Stanley Kubrick at Warner Bros to assemble the soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange. He founded the UFO Club which featured avant-garde artists like Soft Machine — which became his house band — and Yoko Ono. Productions of R.E.M., Billy Bragg, 10,000 Maniacs, Fairport Convention and Richard and Linda Thompson followed. He directed Jimi Hendrix, the eponymous documentary. But if you were paying attention, you would have made note of the through-line running through Joe's prolific output — World Music. His productions of artists such as Dagmar Krause, Nazakat & Salamat Ali, the Trio Bulgarka, ¡Cubanismo!, Virginia Rodrigues, Damir Imamović and several others demonstrated his versatility to trancend not only genre, but also language and culture. Joe's vibrant musical output eclipsed what we thought was possible in the art and science of music. His latest book, And the Roots of Rhythm Remain, examines the origins, impact and cultural undertones which define world music through his lens. In our conversation, we discussed the roots of his latest masterpiece; political-songwriting through shifting of culture; categorization as a benefit toward creativity; and musical and storytelling experiences with Brian Eno, David Bryne, Bob Dylan, Mike Heron and others.Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Just Quickly I CC BY-SA; Ahmadreza Safarian - Forgotten Corpses I CC BY-NC-SA. Closing Credits: Till Paradiso - Here the Stars for You (TP 063) - CC BY-NC-SA.

Arizona O'Neill's art delves into topics derived from her Montreal upbringing and French-Quebec culture, and include the ramifications of gentrification, the vibrancy of music, and the origins of revolt. She has contributed several pieces to The CBC Creator Network, which include Hockey Riots, Period Pieces, and History of Jazz. Her novel, Est-ce qu'un artiste peut être heureux? (or “Can an Artist be Happy?”) was published in November 2022. And her impressive catalogue of illustrations, for publications like National Geographic Canada, includes the 2024 edition of "L'enfant dans le miroir" by Nelly Arcan which features a feminist perspective on the late-author's legacy. Her latest book will be published by Drawn & Quarterly, and is inspired by her own experience donating her late-father's organs, and surveys themes which include grief and addiction. In our conversation, we discussed her experience growing up in Montreal; her take on the legacy of the Montreal Canadiens; her collaborations with Patrick Watson, as a music video director; and the challenging territory she explored in authoring her latest work.Opening Credits: HoliznaPATREON - Relic 1 ( LoFi , Dark ) I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0; Anitek - NeedleLess To Say I CC BY-NC-SA. Closing Credits: Christophe Frémiot - l-ind-pendante I CC BY-NC-SA.

Cultural incongruence and its consequences is a theme which has shaped Bernardo Cubria's work in several different ways. As an actor, in television shows like Group, his work explores what it means to be misunderstood, and delves into the epiphany which often arises when one realizes his peers' criticisms and insights, which they initially may have dismissed, may, in fact, lead to realizations about self that may significantly affect their perspective. As a playwright, it has laid the backdrop that surrounds his stories about typecasting, politics, cultural appropriation, and the trivialization of minorities in America that can be seen in works like Crabs in a Bucket, which won the 2024 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Writing; The Giant Void In My Soul, a satirical journey into fulfillment (and the lack thereof); Neighbors: A Fair Trade Agreement; and the timely portrait of electoral pregnancy in The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote. His work has been awarded the Smith Prize for Political Theater and has been nominated for Stage Raw and Ovation awards. As a screenwriter, he wrote Like It Used to Be and Guerrero which Gina Rodriguez is attached to direct and star in, and he was a 2023 Sundance Screenwriters Lab fellow for the screenplay Kill Yr Idols which he cowrote. In our conversation, we discussed the interplay of the notable themes in Bernardo's projects, including Loop Group: Or Shia Lebeouf's Version, as well as being part of the writer's staff on Seasons 3 and 4 on the Apple + series, Acapulco.Opening Credits: AvapXia - Do You Still Think About Me? I CC BY 4.0; Anitek - 09 Lola I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Closing Credits: Útidúr - Fisherman's Friend I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Matt Williams utilizes a character-centric approach in creating and developing iconic television series, including Roseanne and Home Improvement. The Humanitas Prize and 6-time Emmy nominated Evansville native received graduate degrees in directing and acting, and embarked on a host of television commercials, as an actor, before realizing his talent and bliss as the driving force behind impactful, relatable film and television projects. After cutting his teeth as an actor (and de facto writer and re-writer) on the CBN soap, Another Life, Matt produced and joined the writing staff of The Cosby Show during its premiere season. It was there where he learned the relevance of inviting the audience to the family table — a concept that bore fruit with regard to the development of Roseanne. In the years which followed, Matt co-created and executive produced a number of television shows under the umbrella of Wind Dancer, the production company he founded with Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean, the latter whom Matt first met at University of Evansville, which include Home Improvement, Buddies, Thunder Alley and Soul Man. He directed and produced the films Where the Heart Is, starring Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd, about a young woman who delivers a baby in a Wal Mart after being abandoned by the latter's father in the parking lot, and her journey of growth and self-discovery which follows; and Walker Payne, which he also co-wrote, and starred Jason Patric, Bruce Dern, Drea de Matteo and the legendary Sam Shepard and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Additional producing efforts include What Women Want, Bernie, As Cool as I Am and Wild Hearts Can't be Broken. The focus of our discussion was his latest book, Glimpses: A Comedy Writer's Take on Life, Love and All That Spiritual Stuff.Opening Credits: Lobo Loco - Room of Longing B (ID 2240) I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; Anitek - Bricolage I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US. Closing Credits: Útidúr - Grasping for Thoughts I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Stephen Suettinger directs and writes projects which address complicated themes, such as substance use, depression and unrequited love. His unique portrayals have a tendency to delve deeper into their most intimate desires, which occasionally blur the line between fiction and reality and makes for interesting storytelling. Following his debut short film, Writing Wrongs, the Maryland native attended the film MFA program at USC and cut his teeth in experiences surrounding the world of film on projects like Contact, Avatar and Beowulf. At USC, Steve directed his next short, Wentworth, which PBS picked up as part of its Imagemakers series. The film explored idealism and longing among two contemplative lovers, who are already in a state of love and comfort. He directed his first feature, A Year and Change, which was released in 2014 and starred an ensemble cast including Bryan Greenberg, T.R. Knight, Jamie Chung and Jamie Hector and was shot in his home state. In 2020, he directed the period short film, Waiting, which surveyed the patience of love in the wake of the Pandemic. In the midst of several more corporate endeavors, Steve describes the latest projects he is currently developing in our conversation, as well as his early-film experiences, the generation of Maryland filmmakers he is indefinitely part of, and working with some excellent actors and directors.Opening Credits: Jangwa - two beats I CC BY 4.0; Anitek - SuperNatural I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Closing Credits: human gazpacho - pigeons at my window I CC BY-NC 4.0

Actor and filmmaker Wade Allain-Marcus has a unique approach toward his involvement in a variety of films and television projects. It derives from factors like his mixed background, training in the Experimental Theatre Wing (ETW) at NYU, and growing up with parents in the business. The approach is one thing, but the result speaks for itself and is shaped by the ensembles he finds himself immersed into, such as the regular casts of HBO's Insecure or Netflix's Eric, the latter opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. From Lucy Forbes to Antoine Fuqua to John Singleton, Wade has worked with a variety of interesting directors who have affected his own approach to the craft. After making his directorial debut with Una y Otra y Otra vez, starring NYU classmate Gina Rodriguez, he directed the acclaimed French Dirty which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2015, and dealth with topics including male-friendships and infidelity in the context of a love triangle. He shot the film with close friends and NYU classmates including Arjun Gupta and his spouse Melina Lizette. Following a host of acting projects, he joined the writer's room of Grownish, which he also directed an episode of, and recently directed Academy Award Nominee June Squibb in the BET remake of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. in our conversation, we discussed parental relationships and influence; the musicality of filmmaking; and why it's so difficult to trivialize his acting and directing credits.Opening Credits: Jangwa - V I CC BY 4.0; LaFaena - Car Drive I CC BY 4.0. Closing Credits: reed blue - INTROMATU_2006 I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US.

Idan Ravin is the elite NBA trainer who has individually worked with over 100 NBA players, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. When an NBA player realizes a flaw in their game is keeping them from being able to operate at their full potential, they call Idan for assistance. He is known for his unorthodox (no pun intended) training sessions, which tend to prioritize dynamic movement over traditional, stationary drills. Idan's thumbprint on the league can be seen in so many players, and has affected the culture and style of the league. He describes his notable transition from miserable California attorney to sought-after basketball trainer in The Hoops Whisperer (2015), his best-setting novel, which uses his upbringing and life history to outlay the meticulousness, candid nature and patience which is required to deliver athletic wisdom at the highest level of sport. He is also the author of It Takes Patience and Harmonica, which were both published in 2021. Since then, he has ventured into the world of cinema. He was a producer on the second season of HBO's Winning Time, and has been a creative consultant for sports-inspired national commercials for Nike, Right Guard, Sprite, Samsung, Gatorade, Degree, State Farm, NBA, Wells Fargo, Beats and Door Dash. He has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Degree, Dove Men, Acuvue and HBO to build and execute experiential activations anchored in training and brand messaging, and his unique approach towards training has been featured in several publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, Men's Health, and the Hollywood Reporter. In our conversation, we discussed his latest transition into film; the parallels between training NBA players and treating psychiatric conditions; spending an Israeli summer with Amar'e Stoudemire; and the 2024 NBA playoffs.Opening Credits: pretochines - Dark Fall I CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Frumento I CC BY 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Trans Atlantic Rage - A REALM IN A OPEN INTERPRETATION I CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED.

Actor, writer and director Max Azulay leveraged his obsession with filmmaking to create unique, irreverent films armed with his comedic sensibility. The influence of the legendary Mel Brooks seeped in early on in his Suburban upbringing, which happened to take place 40 minutes from New York City, and helped inspire his young creativity. Finding his community of like-minded comedic cinephiles led to several short films which channelled his interests. He moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College, after transferring from Sarah Lawrence, his parents' alma mater, and made a number of short films which led to 5 Doctors, his first feature film. Robert Altman would be proud of the film's tone, which captured fundamental aspects of Max's own life, including his high school, a thematic undertone of anxiety, and members of his family. He co-directed the film with frequent collaborator, Matt Porter. In addition to starring in the film, the pair wrote the screenplay alongside Phil Primason for an ensemble cast, including Bobby Moynihan, Jeremy Shamos, Peter Friedman and Eddie Pepitone among several others. In addition, Max has directed and written several short films with his collaborators, including Xander; Lenny; One Mutual Friend; and Carmen & Moony, the latter starring his partner Kate Adams, with whom he is developing his next feature. In our conversation, we discussed growing up near the big city; the influence of Borscht Belt comedy; the path towards his first feature; kleptomania; WiFi; and the through-line of family which runs through his catalogue.Opening Credits: John Lopker - Embryo Murder I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Caleb Lemon - A Road in the Country I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Jupiter Czar I CC BY 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Piki - Clear Blue I CC BY 4.0 DEED.

Elisha Lawson has acted in a number of projects through the years, including Boardwalk Empire, Shades of Blue, NCIS: New Orleans, and Group. In addition to his work on television, he has worked on several plays such as productions of A Raisin in the Sun and To Kill A Mockingbird, where he first met fellow Group cast-member, Ezra Barnes. His latest play, Syncing Ink, was created by playwright NSangou Njikam and will begin performances May 7, with an official opening set for May 19, at the Apollo Theater in New York City. In our conversation, we discussed his German upbringing; the importance of faith in his life's journey; his improvisational roots as part of Chicago City Limits; the influences of Denzel Washington and Marlon Brando; working with Kara Young on his latest project; and exploring the naturalism of his performances facilitated by meticulous preparation.Opening Credits: Masteredit - Contemplation I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Masteredit - Reverie I CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED; Closing Credits: Nangdo - Intro I CC BY 4.0 DEED

Jazz is not only a second language for vocalist, composer and SiriusXM radio personality, Andromeda Turre — it's her mother tongue. She grew up in a world raised by two of the finest Jazz OGs, world-renowned cellist Akua Dixon and legendary trombonist Steve Turre, and formed formative relationships with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach and Wynton Marsalis (a.k.a. the Jazz Pilgrims). Formal piano instruction with the phenomenal Sonelius Smith began at age four. Next emerged Andromeda's training as a dancer in the cultural renaissance of Harlem (or Washington Heights), before she shifted to the medium of theater (The Boston Conservatory) and later, vocal performance, at Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Andromeda performed at the 2003 commencement concert with Dianne Reeves and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, and recorded on Michael Justiz's film Cafe and Tobacco." Soonafter, Ray Charles hired Andromeda to be the last Raelette, and she toured with him until his untimely passing. In 2007, Andromeda starred in the acclaimed Off-Broadway musical based on Woody Allen vignettes, “Murder Mystery Blues." She reigned as the "Queen of the Blues," at Tokyo Disney and headlined a plethora of music festivals before releasing her debut album, Introducing Andromeda Turre, in 2008, which featured an array of jazz standards, latin flavors, Japanese tributes and originals “Let Me” and “Lonely Holiday.” Shine followed in 2018 which opened with her cover of the seminal Monk standard, ‘Round Midnight. She started Growing Up Jazz, a powerful keynote that teaches Black history through the lens of Jazz, for which she was awarded the 2022 Women of Distinction Award from New York State Senate. Andromeda latest album, “From The Earth,” will be released on July 19, 2024 and aims to shed light on the disproportionate impact of climate change on BIPOC and connect communities. Andromeda hosts her own show on SiriusXM on Real Jazz every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-5pm EST. In our conversation, we discussed the chaotic underpinnings of Shine; Billie Holiday; her SNL daycare; and the recent trip to Iceland which inspired her latest work.Opening Credits: Thomas Paul - The Name Of The Star I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Wigs I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Giacomo Forte - Country fields (Ispiration, Emotional, Sentimental, Folk, Acustic, Soft, Calm) I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.

Todd Louiso has acted in several notable projects over the years, such as films which include Scent of a Woman, Apollo 13, The Rock, Jerry Maguire, and Thank You for Smoking. He has made guest appearances on television shows like Fraiser, Silicon Valley, House, Angie Tribeca and Married. While his presence on-screen has always made sense, Todd's freedom of expression behind the camera can be felt through his palpable, strong character-driven films. Love Liza, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, is among them — a gripping, subtle portrait of grief through the eyes of an emotionally vulnerable man — which won the Waldo Salt Best Screenplay Award at the Sundance Film Festival. After writing and directing the high school singing-themed satire, The Marc Pease Experience, starring Ben Stiller, Jason Schwartzman and Anna Kendrick, he explored the effect of depression, the complications of connection and being understood in Hello I Must Be Going, which his wife, Sarah Koskoff wrote, and starred Melanie Lynskey in what ended up being one of her most pivotal roles as a leading woman. For his directorial efforts, Todd was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. He co-wrote the film adaptation of Macbeth, which starred Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, and recently acted in the dramatic film, Raymond & Ray, with Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of The Fifteen Minute Hamlet, which he adapted through a chance encounter with Tom Stoppard; how Martin Breast and Stephen Frears informed his approach toward acting and directing; a unique meeting with Chris Farley when Todd was interning at Saturday Night Live; and collaboratively building emotionally-raw character pieces from the ground up.Opening Credits: Viscid - Closed Loop I CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED; Jangwa - Regola I CC BY 4.0 DEED. Closing Credits: Thomas Paul - That Thing I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED.

Mark Pellington's pioneering influence on music videos as a modality to convey emotion, story and feeling will never be forgotten. From Leonard Cohen to Linkin Park, Michael Jackson to Public Enemy, Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains to Chelsea Wolfe and Bruce Springsteen, MP had penultimate foresight in constructing some of the most memorable portraits of love, war, loss, spirit and activism. His feature films each brought a tenet to the medium of storytelling. From 1997's Going All The Way (Ben Affleck, Jeremy Davies, Rachel Weisz, Rose McGowan), to the Grand Prix/Saturn Award-nominated Arlington Road (Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, Hope Davis); to The Mothman Prophecies, an intriguing parapsychological adaptive tale starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney; the dramedy, Henry Poole is Here; a story of friendship and loyalty in I Melt With You (Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane, Christian McKay, Robe Lowe); the subtle poetry of grief, The Last Word; Nostalgia, with Catherine Keener and Jon Hamm headlining an ensemble cast; and the dance-expanse, The Severing, in 2022. His latest book, The Visualist, is an essential memoir surveying 40 years of shape-shifting filmmaking experiences. In our conversation, we discussed his approach towards film and music videos; his journey to New York City; the significance of archive; and his recent Director's cut release of Going All the Way.Opening Credits: M33 Project - On y va I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International; Jangwa - Losing Ground I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. Closing Credits: M33 Project - Orange Blues I CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.

Jonathan Parker writes, directs and produces films which blend together the aspects of art he gravitates toward, including architecture, music, storytelling and intricate attention to detail. The Northern California native grew up in an artistic family, and studied English at Stanford. It was when he joined a New Wave band, and directed their first music video that he discovered film's nature of acting as a matrix for his artistic interests. After directing several short films, Jonathan wrote and directed his first feature film — Bartleby —an adaptation of Herman Melville's short story: Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street. The film marked the first of several feature film collaborations with Catherine DiNapoli, with whom he co-wrote the screenplay. He included a satirical bent relevant to his time and place (just as Melville did in the 1850s) in his adaptation, which starred David Paymer, Glenne Headly, and Crispin Glover playing the eponymous character. He continued this philosophy as he embarked on his next film — The Californians — an adaptation of Henry James's The Bostonians. The film, which starred Noah Wyle, Ileana Douglas, Kate Mara and Keith Carradine, premiered on Showtime and surveyed the conflicted love-triangle between an idealistic real estate developer (Wyle); his environmentalist sister (Douglas); and the protest folk singer who comes into their lives (Mara). Jonathan's own experience as a real estate developer informed the film's scenic undertone, the characters' diverse perspectives and their motivations. This theme of incorporating personal experience into narrative film carried into his next project — (Untitled) — which starred Adam Goldberg, and followed an experimental musician's plight into the New York City art scene; and in The Architect, starring Parker Posey, Eric McCormack and James Frain, which explores the confluence of a couple who's vision of “the perfect home” is in diametric opposition and an eager, theoretically-motivated architect as he attempts to construct their dream home. The former was scored by David Lang, who won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music. His latest work is the documentary film Carol Doda Topless at the Condor, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2023 and navigates the rise to fame of an influential San Franciscan topless dancer in 1964. Jonathan co-directed the film with Marlo McKenzie, while Lars Ulrich serves as a producer. The film analyzes Doda's impact on the sociocultural narrative of feminism, free speech, fashion and politics in the United States. In our conversation, we discussed Jonathan's journey into music and film; imbuing each of his projects with his own personal experiences; and the unique story of Carol Doda's plight in San Francisco.Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Cavemen I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); The New Mystikal Troubadours - A Cinematic Influence I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US). Closing Credits: The Agrarians - Hey, Augusta I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

Dito Montiel's upbringing in Astoria was filled with so many unique characters which affected him on a lot of different levels. His memoir, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, is a collage of these visceral experiences and how they shaped how he sees the world through music, writing and film. He wrote and directed the seminal film adaptation of his novel which won the Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance and received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. Since then, his directorial efforts and ensuing filmography have expanded to include a number of interesting films including Fighting, Man Down, Empire State, The Clapper — based on his novel — Son of No One, featuring performances from Al Pacino and Ray Liotta; and Boulevard, starring Robin Williams in his final film role. In our conversation, we discussed the process of conceiving Saints and how the film was developed; being part of the New York Hardcore scene, particularly as a member the bands Major Conflict and later, Gutterboy; the influence of the Sundance Institute on his directing and writing techniques; and collaborations and friendships with Channing Tatum, Robert Downey and Tracy Morgan.Opening Credits: Jan-Michael Hökenschnieder x Fachhochschule Dortmund - Driving I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); Lemon Knife - Girl With the Cat Eyes I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Closing Credits: by 22 - Windy Dazed Days (ALIENBOYYYMUSIC) I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication.

Film, television and theatre are each modalities in the performing arts Ezra Barnes has been directly immersed into, both as an actor and director. Using performance as a curiosity valve for the preservation of ideals, such as imagination and spirited curiosity, are an important element of Ezra's foundational goals as an actor. Since joining a secret film club in fourth grade, Ezra instinctively knew he was going to be an artist. And going to the theatre starting from an early age, with encouragement from both of his parents, who were heavily invested in the arts, helped lay some of the groundwork for the ideals Ezra became drawn to as a performer. Some of his notable theatre productions as an actor include Fraser Grace's Breakfast With Mugabe, which he also produced; To Kill a Mockingbird, as Atticus Finch; and several productions of the Shakespearean canon. He has directed productions of The Diary of Anne Frank; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Julius Caesar; As You Like It; and A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the meantime, Ezra has appeared in several film and television projects, including Bored to Death; Law & Order; Jessica Jones; Orange is the New Black; and Motherless Brooklyn, opposite Edward Norton. Additionally, he runs the Young Actors Workshop in Brooklyn to inspire the next generation of theatre. In our conversation, we discussed the origins and film adaptation of Group, the group psychotherapy series in which he plays Frank, and its relevance to the present day; the influence of Count Basie on his idea of performance; directing theatre; inspiring curiosity from knowing the script, but not actively thinking about it in the moment; and how height influences the perception of life. His upcoming projects include Birth/Rebirth, the Sundance/IFC horror film which will be released in theaters, and available to stream on August 18; as well as Can't Let it Go, a comedic film on the emotional hangover in the aftermath of the 2016 election starring Mario Cantone.Opening Credits: Plaga de baile - I WAS A MOD (pero ya no) I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US); HoliznaCC0 - April Showers I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. Closing Credits: Cousin Silas / Black Hill - Black Hill - South I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

As a versatile producer and assistant director, Dana Kuznetzkoff has worked on legendary projects which include Forrest Gump, 2 Days in the Valley and The Wire. Dana wears several hats in the film industry, and her approach toward selecting projects has a lot to do with the value of the collaboration to take place. The Bronx native was in the midst of taking a significant role in the world of advertising when a chance encounter, one that didn't go so well, veered her off onto a different path in a different industry — Film and Television. And through the years, Dana moved up the ranks from DGA trainee, when she worked on Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, to being head of the first unit. Along the way came important experiences on The Equalizer, Law & Order and Ron Howard's Far and Away. 1993 saw the first of several collaborations Dana has had with Robert Zemeckis, which, in addition to Gump, included Death Becomes Her; and Flight, the latter on which she was First Assistant Director. In television, Dana has worked as unit production manager of shows like Fringe, This is Us, and Monk, and has produced shows like The New Yorker Presents and the Steven Spielberg executive-produced Smash. In the non-fiction world, Dana has produced several impactful documentaries with a social activism bent; these include Thread, which surveys the life of female entrepreneurs in Afghanistan; and Tolerance and Acceptance, which takes place in the context of educating inner city kids in South Central, Los Angeles and East London. She serves on the Producers Council of the PGA, and is a member of NY Women in Film and Television and the DGA. Dana also recently taught at Columbia School of the Arts as an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Film. In our conversation, we discussed the climate of movie theaters and streaming; the WGA strike; the freelance film and television lifestyle; her favorite Jonathan Demme film; and why you should visit the Bronx Zoo. We also discussed her new documentary, Omara, about the surviving Cuban lead female vocalist of the Ry Cooder-produced Buena Vista Social Club.Opening Credits: Plastic Flowers - Lucy I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0); A Banda de Joseph Tourton - #3. Closing Credits: So Cow - Front Row Seats I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Janet Grillo's latest directorial effort — The Warm Season — is a testament to being conscious in a changing time. It is true the landscape of film has evolved over the years; however, it's the consistency of Janet's track record as a multifaceted filmmaker which exudes the contrast between black and white; open or closed; and aware vs. uncertain. After graduating from Wesleyan and NYU-Tisch, the New Jersey native joined the Playwright's Workshop Lab at the Circle Repertory Company, where she continued to develop her eye for taste as Assistant Literary Manager. She joined New Line Cinema in the mid-eighties, where she rose through the ranks from Story Analyst to Senior Vice President of East Coast Production and earned her reputation as a force in the world of film production and development. From discovering director Reggie Hudlin (Marshall; Django Unchained; Sidney) and developing the game-changing House Party franchise with him (the first of which grossed $25M and received the Audience Award at Sundance); to producing and developing hip hop classics like Hangin' with the Homeboys (John Leguizamo's film-lead debut which received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award), Pump up the Volume, and the directorial debut of Ted Demme — Who's the Man — Janet sensed the sentiment she was feeling on New York City subways and helped give a voice to hip hop culture using the medium of film. A chance encounter with David O. Russell at Sundance led to a flurry of incredible film projects, including Spanking the Monkey, his feature film directorial debut which won the Audience Award at the same festival; Flirting with Disaster; Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees, the latter of which she also acted in. Other filmmakers Janet developed include Seth Tsvi Rosenfeld (Brother's Kiss), Alan Taylor (Palookaville), Myra Paci (Searching for Paradise) and the intriguing Frank Whaley in his writing and directing debut — Joe the King. Janet's impact as an activist for autism awareness can be traced to her role as Executive Producer of the esteemed documentary Autism: The Musical, the subject of which was entitled “The Miracle Project.” The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007; was subsequently picked up by HBO, and led her to win an Emmy Award for Best Non-Fiction Feature the following year. It can also be seen in her feature film directorial debut, Fly Away, starring Ashley Rickards and Beth Broderick; and Jack of the Red Hearts (AnnaSophia Robb; Famke Janssen; Taylor Richardson). We discussed living in upstate New York; her approach toward developing some of the most incredible filmmakers in Hollywood; translating personal experience into her own directorial projects; and the state of independent film in the landscape of streaming.Opening Credits: The Underscore Orkestra - Blue Draggish I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US); Dee Yan-Key - Aimless I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0); Closing Credits: The Underscore Orkestra - Versipelllis I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

Alfredo de Villa directs films which layer complex characters onto the backdrop of vibrant emotions; irreverent humor and interweaving narrative themes which take the lead. They carry the weight of strong characters as they brace themselves for the reality they're immersed in after not realizing the fact until someone, or something or their own voice rises to the surface and informs who they really are. His first film, Washington Heights, is a testament to that reality. Alfredo accompanied the juxtaposition of art, comics, familial love and respect with the culturally-diverse eponymous New York City neighborhood which acted as his canvas. The film, which Alfredo co-wrote with Pulitzer prize-winner Junot Diaz, starred Tomas Milian and Manny Perez, and featured Bobby Cannavale and Danny Hoch in supporting roles, and was released at the Tribeca Film Festival where it was acquired by Lionsgate. He next directed the dance-centered Yellow, which featured Roselyn Sanchez, Bill Duke and D.B. Sweeney on which he had mixed experiences; however, it allowed him to finance his third film - the seminal Adrift in Manhattan, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Dramatic Competition. The film featured riveting performances from Heather Graham, Victor Rasuk and Dominic Chianese alongside Elizabeth Peña, William Baldwin and Marlene Forte. His next film Nothing Like the Holidays, brought him back to his stylistic roots in terms of form and humor, and was made for Overture Films. It featured an ensemble cast helmed by Alfred Molina, Debra Messing, Luis Guzman, Freddie Rodriguez, Jay Hernandez, Melonie Diaz and reunited him with Elizabeth Peña, who played the matriarch of a Chicago, Puerto Rican family in Humboldt Park. Then came the comically-hilarious Fugly, based on John Leguizamo's one-man show, Ghetto Klown, starring Leguizamo opposite Radha Mitchell, Rosie Perez and Griffin Dunne. He is also a prolific commercial director, and graduate of Columbia's MFA program. In our conversation, we discussed his Mexican upbringing; mental health undertones in his work; films which influenced his diverse cinematic palate; and showing his son Pulp Fiction for the first time.Opening Credits: HoliznaCC0 - Sick With Love I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication; Crowander - Sloopy I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0); Closing Credits: Siddhartha Corsus - The Fire of Your Peace I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Actress and writer Angela Zhou stars in the upcoming Hulu show, Death and Other Details (formerly Career Opportunities in Murder & Mayhem) which is set to premiere this year. She previously starred in AMC's Hell on Wheels, opposite Anson Mount, playing a character trying to make a fresh start while carrying an important secret. The show was shot in Canada, and took place during the time following the Civil War, and laid across the backdrop of the construction of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Throughout her journey, she's guest-starred on several television shows, including Supergirl, MacGyver, and NCIS: Los Angeles and performed with SGCNZ's Young Shakespeare Company at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. In our conversation, we talked about her experience writing and acting on her new Hulu show; growing up in New Zealand; the best food in all the places she's lived; our experiences at Duke University; and a pivotal class decision which essentially affected the course of her entire life story.Opening Credits: 300€ - Demoiselle Döner I CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication; Invisible Ink - Lemon Knife I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Closing Credits: Hey, Augusta - The Agrarians I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).

Unique experiences affecting disparate individuals, from the marginalized to the privileged, form the template for the types of stories filmmaker Jesse Gustafson conveys in his projects. After graduating high school in Florida, Jesse enlisted in the US Army at age 17, and was deployed on a peacekeeping mission to post-genocide Bosnia-Herzegovina. Considering the possibility of remaining in the military, Jesse decided to study theater, studying scenic design at the University of Florida and graduating with a BFA degree in stage acting and directing from UC Santa Barbara. After college he moved to Bangkok, Thailand where he directed and performed for an English-speaking theater company. He went on to work in theaters across the US, including Playwrights Horizons in New York, the American Reparatory Theater in Boston and the Magic Theater in San Francisco. He has an MFA in Film from Columbia University, where his thesis film, DAY 39, was a finalist for the Student Academy Award. He has directed the camp-cult action film, Black Site Delta, starring Cam Gigandet; and his other short films include The Starlight; Riches; and Double Header. He also produced frequent collaborator Laurence Vannicelli's feature, Vera, as well as his short film, The Young Housefly starring Alex Karpovsky. In our conversation, we discussed life in the military; the relationship between trauma and empathy; and my involvement in his next film which features a psychiatrist.Opening Credits: selfpity - Always Feel the Cold I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); In De Nadfin - Encontré I Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US); Closing Credits: A Crooked Pulse - Dark Spots I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Screenwriter Topper Lilien has a lens shaped with extraordinary life experiences, which have a symbiotic relationship with his diverse array of film projects. In other words, the two feed off of each other, and push forward the creation of something truly unique. The New York native has seen it all when it comes to the development, production, release, and perhaps most importantly, the collaborative aspects of film. He wrote one of the seminal jazz films about the colorful life and career of jazz pianist Joe Albany, Low Down, told through the perspective of his daughter, Amy-Jo, who served as co-writer. Directed by Jeff Preiss, the Sundance release surveyed their experiences in Los Angeles in the 1970s, and starred John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Lena Headey, Glenn Close and Flea; the latter of whom served as executive producer along with bandmate Anthony Kiedis. In the late 90s, Topper wrote Paul Newman's second to last live action film, Where the Money Is, with E. Max Frye (Something Wild; Foxcatcher) and Carroll Cartwright. Produced by Ridley Scott, the film co-starred Dermot Mulroney and Linda Fiorentino, and journeyed the plight of a professional thief who experiences a stroke and is “forced” into a nursing home. Topper's other notable collaborators include James Cameron, Michael Bay, Quincy Jones, Steve Golin and Robin Williams. In our conversation, we discussed the process of writing on a typewriter; trial by fire in Hollywood; working on the ill-fated Dungeons and Dragons, which starred Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans; and collaborating with Fisher Stevens, Elmore Leonard the late Willie Garson.Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Wohin I Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0); So Cow - Off Out I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Closing Credits: Miss Derringer - He Hung On A Sunday I Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

As a renowned author and screenwriter, Helen Schulman's work makes the isolated feel less alone. Her latest novel, Lucky Dogs, is a perfect example in its deep navigation of themes like mental illness, social media, duplicity and betrayal. In her novels and short story collections, which include A Day at the Beach, This Beautiful Life, Come with Me and The Revisionist, she explores topics like tragedy, technology, lost love and escape, affected by the lens of her own unique experiences. She wrote the screenplay adaptation of her acclaimed novel, P.S., which was made into a feature film starring Laura Linney, Topher Grace, Gabriel Byrne, Paul Rudd and Marcia Gay Harden. And she co-edited, along with Jill Bialosky, the anthology Wanting A Child. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in such places as Vanity Fair, Time, Vogue, GQ, The New York Times Book Review and The Paris Review. Helen is Fiction Chair of the Creative Writing Program at The New School, where she is a tenured Professor. She also serves as Executive Director for WriteOn NYC, a fellowship program that provides free creative writing instruction to underserved New York City school children. In our conversation, we discussed her take on the evolution of New York City throughout the years; her experiences as a student and professor at Columbia, where P.S. was shot, and The New School; being taught by Gordon Lish; the seeds of her new book; and her friendship with Peter Farrelly. Lucky Dogs was published by Knopf/Random House, and will be released June 6, 2023, wherever you buy your books; it is available for pre-order now.Opening credits: 1in10_Varia - a million ways; Noaidi - angelville. Closing credits: voyageurs - The Distance

After finding his voice as a columnist for The Stanford Daily, journalist, commentator and podcast host Joel Stein headed off to New York City to begin his career as a fact-checker and writer at Martha Stewart Living. Since then, he has written for publications such as Time Out New York; Time Magazine, where he authored over 20 cover stories throughout a 20 year period; Entertainment Weekly; and the Los Angeles Times. Throughout his career, he has appeared as a commentator on VH1's I Love the ‘80s; developed television shows like Crumbs and Hey Joel; and taught a course on humor writing at Princeton. His books, Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity and In Defense of Elitism: Why I'm Better Than You and You Are Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy This Book, have analyzed topics like manhood; populism; and factors which act as a barometer for the word “elite,” and are acclaimed. In 2009, he wrote for the The 81st Annual Academy Awards, collaborating with host Hugh Jackman. In our interesting conversation, we discussed topics which ranged from parenthood to masculinity, and of course, the great Martha Stewart. We also discussed his podcast, Story of the Week, and why he refers to himself as a journalist in quotes.Opening Credits: Zero V - Friendship; We vs. Death - The Things You Did. Closing Credits: Nafta - Aurora Australis (instr.)

One of the signatures which differentiates filmmaker Lauren Wolkstein's work is adaptability through medium. Lauren's approach toward narrative and storytelling harbors a rare versatility, which allows her to nearly seamlessly transition from film to television; short to feature; thriller to drama; and dystopian commentary to historical narrative. She harnessed her talent and developed her ability as a screenwriter at Columbia's MFA program, and made short films, like Cigarette Candy, which pushed the boundaries of trauma exploration. Her debut feature, The Strange Ones (Alex Pettyfer; James Freedson-Jackson), which she co-directed with Christopher Radcliff, was based on the short film of the same name premiered at South by Southwest in 2017. One of John Waters's Top 3 films of 2017, the film, which dealt with themes like obsessive love, sexual abuse and trauma, spoke to her multifaceted ability to combine complex mental health themes with dynamic performances. In television, Lauren has directed episodes of Cloak & Dagger (Marvel); Dare Me (USA Network); and Y: The Last Man, starring Diane Lane, for FX. She directed the finale of the renowned mini-series, A Friend of the Family, starring Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks and McKenna Grace, for Peacock in 2022. And she recently directed episodes of Dead Ringers, a television adaptation of the David Cronenberg classic film of the same name, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime on April 21, 2023; the series stars Rachel Weisz as twin gynecologists, reprising the Jeremy Irons role in the original film. In our conversation, we discussed the touchpoint we both share in being Columbia and Duke alums; growing up in Baltimore; shooting on film; mental health themes; and the continuity of serving as Producing Director on Queen Sugar for Oprah Winfrey's network for multiple seasons.Opening Credits: Ketsa - 10 Can-t-touch-me; Ketsa - 01 Test-Case; Closing Credits: Ketsa - 05 Eternal-Funk-Palace

Selina Fillinger is the playwright behind renowned theatrical works like POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying To Keep him Alive; Something Clean; Faceless; and the Armor plays: Cinched/Strapped. The former marked her Broadway debut at the Shubert Theatre in 2022; was directed by Broadway legend, Susan Stroman; and led to three Tony Award nominations, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role nods for both Julie White and Rachel Dratch. She also wrote for Season 3 of the acclaimed Apple TV+ program, The Morning Show (Jennifer Aniston; Billy Crudup; Reese Witherspoon), set to premiere in 2023. In our conversation, we discussed her Oregon upbringing; the juxtaposition of light and dark themes in her plays; juggling multiple projects at once; and her journey to being one of the most unique, talented and versatile artists in the landscape of television and theatre.Opening Credits: Checkie Brown - Clooney (CB 232); HoliznaPATREON - Feels; Closing Credits: Ketsa - A Little Bit

The dynamic nature of actor Josh Pais's approach toward constructing performance; harnessing creativity; and retaining the spontaneity associated with each moment on-screen is part of his signature. With over 100 roles to his credit, the Lower East Side native grew up in a culturally vibrant, evolving environment which led him to cultivate his own unique sense of identity as one of the finest performers in the film and television industry. His remarkable filmography includes memorable performances in Safe Men, in which he acted among contemporaries like Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn and Peter Dinklage; The Station Agent, penned and directed by one of his best friends, Tom McCarthy; the brilliant Lynn Shelton's emotional masterpiece, Touchy Feely; Nicole Holofcener's classically independent, Please Give, with Catherine Keener; and Charlie Kaufman's directorial opus, Synecdoche, NY, acting opposite Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Along the way came multiyear arcs in television shows like Ray Donovan, alongside Liev Schreiber; and memorable scenes with Joaquin Phoenix in the seminal Joker (Todd Phillips; Scott Silver). You can immerse yourself into the techniques he has developed and experienced throughout his prolific career by visiting Committed Impulse (committedimpulse.com), and find him on his Instagram (@JoshPais). In our conversation, we discussed his documentary, 7th Street, describing the state of culture which governed his Alphabet City upbringing; collaborating with some of the best directors on the planet; and acting on projects which gave meaning to the landscape of film. His latest projects include Nicole Holofcener's You Hurt My Feelings (David Cross; Amber Tamblyn; Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and David E. Kelley's upcoming mini series, A Man in Full, with Regina King directing (Jeff Daniels; Bill Camp).Opening Credits: Bureaucrat & The Conspirators - Yankees; The Rope River Blues Band - Wrist Lit; Closing Credits: POVALISHIN DIVISION - Сестра

Host of the Tastemade Travel docuseries, India Bites on Apple TV, Chef Shrim Chakraborty transcends the “chop and chat” model by placing her own stamp on the food travel show genre. From being a talk show host, to honing her culinary craft in graduate school in Manchester, to opening her own restaurant, Calcutta Street, in Britain after a series of pop-ups, Shrim uses her versatile talent to shed light on a range of issues like the Indian middle class; the stereotypes present among Indian food; and taking ownership of the cultural narrative. Her food blog, Eat With Me Shrimoyee, features recipes, cultural commentary and a snapshot into the current tastes governing her plate at the time. She has been featured in The Independent, the Financial Times, the Telegraph and Grazia, and her restaurant Calcutta Street has been lauded by food critics across the globe. In our conversation, we discussed her Indian upbringing; growing up with a philosopher/chef mother; pushing boundaries with food; and creating original projects using the media of food and conversation.Opening Credits: Funky Banane Nightclub MixNeu; Alex Figueira - Silky; Closing Credits: Ketsa - Don't Worry

Maureen Ryan is a veteran producer who has made a number of seminal, impactful films throughout her versatile career. Her several documentary collaborations with acclaimed British director James Marsh (The Theory of Everything) are among them, and began with Wisconsin Death Trip (1999). Constructed with a film-noir grittiness, the film surveyed a series of grizzly murders which took place in Black River Falls, a small remote town, in the 1800s, and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. She herself was nominated for a BAFTA award. Several works followed, including The Team (2005), which she produced, observing a homeless soccer team which travels to compete in Austria; the BAFTA nominated Project Nim (2011); and the iconic Man on Wire (2008), a hybrid-documentary about tightrope walker Phillipe Petit as he prepared to walk across the World Trade Center in 1974, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film and the BAFTA Award for Best British Film in addition to sweeping the “Big Four” critics awards the same year. Documentaries Maureen has produced include The Gates (2007) and Bomber (2009). Recently, she co-produced Becoming (2020), following Michelle Obama on the book tour circuit; the film was nominated for four Emmy Awards, and is available on Netflix. Also on Netflix is the comedic documentary Dick Johnson is Dead (2020), which Maureen co-produced; premiered at Sundance; won an Emmy Award, and was also shortlisted for an Academy Award. She has been a professor at Columbia University for over 20 years, and her essential publication — Producer to Producer: A Step-by-Step Guide to Low Budget Independent Film Producing (2nd Edition), is available on Amazon and all the literary outlets. In our discussion, we spoke about Maureen's unique, prolific career marked by longevity; collaborating with moving pieces in film; differentiating film from a practical and theoretical framework; and country music.Opening Credits: KieLoBot - Golden Pineapple Funk; KieLoBot - Hippie Funghi Policeman Downhill; Closing Credits: Jason Shaw - TRAVEL LIGHT

Avy Kaufman's filmography includes projects which changed the landscape of cinema. The three-time Emmy winning casting director has worked on over 300 films and television shows including The Sixth Sense, Artificial Intelligence, Brokeback Mountain, American Gangster and Capote. In television, she has cast acclaimed shows including Succession, Mare of Easttown, Damages and Dopesick. In our conversation, we discussed her Atlanta upbringing and concurrent interest in ballet; working with Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster and Ang Lee; as well as how casting continues to evolve in a post-pandemic world.Opening Credits: Arkana Music - Through Sacco's Eyes; Lisa Hammer - Jazzy Inquisitors; Closing Credits: Ketsa - Sunnyside.

As a globally renowned television and radio personality, broadcaster, filmmaker and activist George Stroumboulopoulos believes retaining credibility in the creative process is an important tenet to live by. Throughout the past 30 years, he has forayed successfully into his vast endeavors in entertainment and beyond, transcending “pop-culturehood” by sustaining a household name armed with the man he knows most intimately — himself. After carving a reputation as a stellar interviewer through his several years cutting his teeth in Canadian radio, George was selected to host several shows on MuchMusic, Canada's flagship music entertainment channel, including The Punk Show, The NewMusic, MuchLOUD and MuchNews. He also hosted the reality show The One: Making a Music Star on ABC. Cementing his supreme interview ability to complement his innate talent as a seasoned host, he then hosted his own primetime talk show, the eight-time Gemini Award winning George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (formerly The Hour) on Canada's national broadcaster, the CBC for 10 years. He came to Los Angeles to host Stroumboulopoulos on CNN, and then continued to anchor shows and specials in Canada including Hockey Night in Canada, Canada's biggest television show. George's punk rock philosophy is manifested through his significant, consistent philanthropic and charitable acts of advocacy. In addition to being Canada's first Goodwill Ambassador for the UN agency World Food Programme, he also started the George Stroumboulopoulos Music Therapy Scholarship helping fund education for music therapists. He also works closely with the organizations Innocence Canada, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and is on the board of Artists for Peace and Justice Canada. At present, he hosts his own Apple Music radio show, STROMBO, which is heard in 160+ countries and has over 70 million subscribers around the world; he is also the curator of Strombo's Lit for Apple Books. George has an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at the University of Calgary and was one of the first three Canadians recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. Canada's largest daily, The Toronto Star stated that George has built "one of the most prestigious broadcasting careers in our nation's history." In our conversation, we discussed his definition of “punk;” his recent visit to Syria as part of the World Food Programme; his Western-Toronto upbringing which funneled the source of cultivating his immense engagement with each project he immerses himself into; maintaining his individuality and autonomy in the face of corporations; his alliance with Larry King; and selecting music for STROMBO.Opening Credits: HoliznaCC0 - Punk; Dilating Times - Golden Girl; Closing Credits: Taylor Poe - Unknown Artist

Anna Maria Cianciulli pushes the boundaries of filmmaking as an actress, director, writer and artist. Her acclaimed performance as Queen Gertrude of Denmark in Hamlet/Horatio, a feature film adaptation, was released theatrically in the summer of 2021 and is now streaming on all the major film platforms. The film has received Best Film awards at Los Angeles Film Awards, New York Cinematography Awards and Southeast Regional Film Festival; and Best Experimental Film at the Rome Independent Prisma Awards. As an actress, she has been featured in several colorful roles, which include Filomena Bene in Lifetime Network's Stealing Chanel; Sara in Change the World; and Lynne in Maladaptive Behavior.As director, her award-winning short, 33 Breaths, was shot entirely in one take and was a Single-Take Challenge finalist in 2020. Stay, which she wrote and directed, takes place in a New York City apartment comprised of a cultural diverse family of strangers, and was included in the Official Selection of Manhattan, Central Florida, and NewFilmmakers New York film festivals, and complement her other films The War in Heaven; and Bedtime. She also co-wrote Life After Her, which won the Platinum Award at the NYC Indie Film Awards in 2017, and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress in a Lead Role in the same year.Anna's work as a live performance and multimedia artist is vast, and consists of several installations and exhibitions such as Fashion Independence at Vanderbilt Hall; and Sa Coia, which combined dance, theatre and video projection and takes place in the island of Sardinia in 1945. As Creative Director at BdA, she has collaborated with Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, Michael and Kevin Bacon.As an acting professor, she has immersed her students in the Sanford Meisner technique, of which she has developed significant expertise; in fact, Mr. Meisner assigned her the rights to bring forth his seminal book, On Acting, in an Italian edition. She worked with Tony Danza in his rehearsals for the Joseph Gordon-Leavitt film, Don Jon. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Film at Columbia University. In our conversation, we discuss the Italian experience in the wave of the Pandemic; her journey to film in New York City; the process of working with Sanford Meisner and developing a unique understanding of the process of acting; and the mindset behind her several films as an actress and filmmaker.Opening Credits: Ketsa - 15 Waiting-Room; 1st Contact - Unbiased View; Closing Credits: HoliznaCC0 - 4 (jazz)

As an acclaimed novelist, essayist and author of short stories, writer Sam Lipsyte knows what it's like to push the boundaries of form in the context of bold, irreverent and iconoclastic situations. In each of his literary masterpieces, he provides a glimpse into the humanity which surrounds the complex experiences which inform the foundation of their characters. He authored his debut publication, Venus Drive, in 2000, which consisted of a hilarious collection of short stories which demonstrate this thematic undertone in action. The Subject Steve followed in 2001; a poetic, existential, humorous satire examining topics which include life, disease and the meaning of it all. The novel provides a meditation on the irony of mortality through the lens of an eponymous protagonist after he receives a terminal diagnosis. “Home land,” which captures the taste of revisiting one's cherished high school experience and all its grateful memories, arrived in 2004. The Ask followed in 2010, and navigated one man's attempt to regain his old job back through participating in an ask which would change his life indefinitely. Throughout the years, up to and including the publication of his recent book, Hark (2019), Sam's writing has been featured in dozens of publications including GQ, The New Yorker, Harper's, The Washington Post and Playboy. He was an editor at FEED, and in talks with HBO to create a show around his work, “People City.” For nearly 20 years, he has taught fiction at Columbia University. His most recent book, No One Left to Come Looking for You, will be published on December 6, 2022 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of his literary interests and talents; his father, the renowned Robert Lipsyte; and the musical underpinnings which formed the backdrop for his latest work.Opening Credits: The Wrong Sister - Looking at the sun; HoliznaCC0 - 2 (jazz); Closing Credits: El Jugador - A Couple Of Crumbs

Hilary Brougher writes and directs films which blend the mechanics of original storytelling with gritty development of character. Through incisive dialogue; emotional harbingers of hope followed by inevitable glimpses of realism, Hilary's projects each carry with them a distinct piece of the era in which they were constructed. Growing up in Catskill, NY, she would frequent the cinema every week to catch a taste of the latest auteur to be featured, such as Fellini. Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, Gillian Armstrong and Jane Campion were among the filmmakers she admired into the 80's. She made her film debut as writer and director of The Sticky Fingers of Time (Terumi Matthews; Nicole Zaray; James Urbaniak), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 1997. Shot on Super 16 in Williamsburg, the film captured the scent of the 1950's noir genre in unparalleled unique fashion and flair through the vein of time-travel, feeling stuck and reminiscing about the future. Her next feature film, Stephanie Daley, was developed at the Sundance Lab and starred Academy Award Winner Tilda Swinton and Amber Tamblyn in lead roles; the film portrayed themes of trauma, pregnancy and the search for truth fueled by heavy emotions and performances which followed suit. Timothy Hutton, Denis O'Hare, Melissa Leo and Jim Gaffigan support the storyline in masterful and different ways. Hilary won the Waldo Scott Screenplay Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and Best Director at the Milan International Film Festival; Stephanie Daley was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, while Tamblyn was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her gripping performance as the title character. Hilary then adapted Jane Mendelsohn's novel Innocence into a feature film of the same name, which starred Kelly Reilly, Sophie Lane Curtis, Sarita Choudhury and delved into the teen horror, vampire fiction genre. Her latest film, South Mountain, is a poetic expanse on life, liberty and morality through lens of masterful performances by Talia Balsam, Scott Cohen and Andrus Nichols. She worked with “Sticky Fingers” collaborator, cinematographer and husband, Ethan Mass, on the project, and displayed the craft she has continued to execute with charm throughout her illustrious career. She is Professor of Professional Practice in Film at Columbia University. In our conversation, we discussed shooting on film; practical considerations in distribution; and directing some of the best actors of all time.Opening Credits: Delay 77 - Nothing at All; Closing Credits: HoliznaCC0 - The Dull Blade Of Repetition

Madeline Taylor knew she wanted to become an actress from an early age, and she transferred drive toward action in a swift series of steps at the age of 8. As a 10 year old, she made her feature film debut in The Girl Next Door (Blanche Baker; Mark Margolis; Blythe Auffarth) as the sister of a teenager severely abused by their caretaker aunt and a neighborhood gang of boys. Madeline played a character who has polio; has to wear a leg-brace; and is subject to witnessing the gravity of the trauma which takes place. The film, which was based on a true story, was a 50's period piece, and demonstrated Madeline's ability and interest to take on darker, more adult roles which warranted serious discipline and commitment. Since then, she has acted in several significant works of film and television, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Rectify (SundanceTV); Banshee (Cinemax); Army Wives (Lifetime); and The Inspectors (CBS). In addition, she worked on the acclaimed HBO mini-series John Adams (Paul Giamatti; Laura Linney; David Morse) which won 13 Emmy Awards during its run; she played “Young Nabby Adams,” daughter of John and Abigail Adams and was directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper. Her collaborative acting work with veteran actor Estes Tarver culminated with Changeover, a film ahead of its time which examined the affect of trauma on mental health in a high school student who attempts to deal with significant loss and grief. And she explored comedy and improvisation in her leading role in Raliegh, I Kinda Like You (Reid Hutch; Bill Frost; Tor Ramsey), which brought her to her home state of North Carolina. We discussed the value of independence during adolescence; trauma in characters; stage combat; the ensemble element of performing; Little Miss Sunshine; and growing as an actor, performer and personally.Opening Credits: HoliznaCC0 - Western ShowDown; Closing Credits: Miseryslims - Cub's World

Andrew Hafitz is a veteran editor who has worked on some of the most unique films of all time. After graduating from Yale, and parleying a foray into copywriting, the New Jersey native gained experience in apprentice and assistant editor roles on several films, including Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility. He edited multiple feature films prior to working on Whit Stillman's 1998 film Last Days of Disco (Chloe Sevigny; Kate Beckinsale; Matt Ross; Robert Sean Leonard), with whom he later collaborated with on Damsels in Distress in 2011 (Adam Brody; Greta Gerwig). Another major collaborator of note is the interesting Larry Clark; Andrew edited the seminal Bully in 2001 (Bijou Phillips; Leo Fitzpatrick; Nick Stahl; Michael Pitt), and Ken Park (2004). Other acclaimed films Andy has edited include Keane (Damian Lewis; Amy Ryan; Abigail Breslin); Here (Peter Coyote; Ben Foster); Very Good Girls (Naomi Foner; Dakota Fanning; Elizabeth Olsen); Angelica (Jena Malone); Naz & Maalik (Jay Dockendorf); Equity (Anna Gunn); the Tony Gilroy/Brad Anderson, Beirut (Jon Hamm; Rosamund Pike); Charlie Says (Mary Harron); and The Evening Hour (Lili Taylor). He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. In our conversation, we discussed his collaborations with Whit Stillman and Larry Clark; editing film and the era of digital filmmaking; his relationship with Todd Solondz; and the experiences governing his evolving perception of filmmaking and being a prolific editor.Opening Credits: HoliznaCC0 - Grunge; Closing Credits: PSRV - Túneis

Acclaimed screenwriter and novelist Stephen Molton has amassed a lauded portfolio of impactful credits in several media. After breaking into television through writing screenplays for the Paul Newman-produced PBS's Children's Television Workshop, Stephen wrote his first novel, Brave Talk, which was published by Harper & Row in 1987 and provided a riveting, multi-angled introspective portrait of life in the Navy. He served as a creative executive for HBO, Showtime and MTV in the years which followed, while writing his second novel, and co-directed and produced L.A. Homefront: The Fires Within, a Showtime documentary about the Los Angeles Riots, in 1994. Other features he authored for Showtime include SmarTalk and The Accident; the adaptive mini-series, Live By the Sword (Gus Russo) and Weaveworld (Clive Barker). With the former, Stephen co-authored Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros and the Politics of Murder, endorsed for Pulitzer Prize consideration by the book's publisher and winner of the New York Book Festival's prize for history in 2009. Films Stephen has written include Deep Blue (Stealth) for New Line Cinema (based on Brave Talk); The Road to East Jesus; and The Drowning for Netflix in 2017 (Josh Charles; Julia Stiles; Leo Fitzpatrick), a Bette Gordon directed adaptation of the book Border Crossing, which he also executive produced. Stephen is an adjunct assistant professor of screen-writing at Columbia University and an instructor at the Jacob Krueger Studio in New York; he attended University of Chicago, MIT and Oberlin College. In our conversation, we discussed his unique upbringing as the son of a progressive Baptist minister; the Navy infrastructure which laid the backdrop for his first novel; Generation 9/11, his documentary, and Elvis Meets Nixon, which he was involved with as an executive for Showtime and inspired Elvis & Nixon (Kevin Spacey; Michael Shannon; Evan Peters); rock and roll and folk music; and the differentiability between the east coast and the midwest.Opening Credits: 1st Contact - On the other Side; Closing Credits: 1st Contact - Beware of the Cow

David Soldier has achieved a rare distinction — not only is he an accomplished Columbia University neuroscientist with over 200 papers and publications, several research grants and numerous prestigious awards to his credit, he is an equally successful and prolific musician in almost every genre of music. His musical undertakings include his work with the Soldier String Quartet (since 1984), a punk chamber group which has recorded with Guided by Voices, Rick Ocasek (Frontman for The Cars), Elliott Sharp, Leroy Jenkins and frequent collaborator John Cale (Velvet Underground); The Kropotkins, comprising Lori Velvette, Velvet Underground Drummer Moe Tucker, Charles Burnham (James Blood Ulmer's Odyssey Band) and Jonathan Kane, the latter with whom David formed the versatile duo, Soldier Kane. Other prolific legends with whom David has collaborated include Bo Diddley, Pete Seeger, Richard Hell and Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo. He wrote two chamber operas with Kurt Vonnegut (The Soldier's Story and Ice-9 Ballads), with Vonnegut playing multiple characters in the works. Films David has arranged or scored include I Shot Andy Warhol (Jared Harris); Andy Warhol's Eat and Kiss; and Basquiat, directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Jeffrey Wright and Benicio del Toro. From an experimental side, he has collaborated with conceptual Russian artists Komar & Melamid; and formed the Thai Elephant Orchestra, a musical ensemble consisting of 14 elephants, which he assembled, coordinated and composed. In our conversation, we discuss David's unique discovery of music in Southern Illinois; working with the giants of music; creating music which transcends genre; the origins of rock and roll; and the power of simplicity in hip hop.Opening Credits: Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) - New Lands; Closing Credits: Jack Adkins - Little Stinky

Kevin Isola is a self-described journeyman actor, who has experienced great longevity in several media, including theatre, television and film. The Pasadena native attended Duke University, and consequently studied acting at NYU-Tisch, where he discovered the value of being freed-up creatively through faculty who mentored and pushed his creative strengths. We discuss a major moment in his career, which came when he played Rev in the hit 1997 play, The New Bozena, alongside friends and Tisch classmates David Costabile (Lincoln; Billions; Breaking Bad; Low Winter Sun), Michael Dahlen (Blue Man Group; Men in Black II); and Rainn Wilson (The Office; Super; Juno), the latter serving as director. The experience was a trial by fire of navigating an original, creative property which flourished in New York to its sale to Twentieth Century Fox, and being immersed into the Hollywood system. In theatre, Kevin has appeared in WASP and Other Plays (Written by Steve Martin); Twelfth Night; Brooklyn Boy (on Broadway); Accidental Death of an Anarchist; Venus; and Everett Beekin (by Obie Award winner Evan Yionoulis). He was recently in Our Lady of 121st Street (Off-Broadway) and Life Sucks, a reimagined adaptation of the Anton Chekhov classic Uncle Vanya, in which he played Vanya. He has appeared in films such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey); Blumenthal (Brian Cox); and Academy Boyz (Ed Asner). His numerous television credits include Billions; Damages; Fringe; Boston Legal; Elementary; Bull; and Law & Order. He has returned to his alma mater, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, where he previously earned an MFA, as Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Acting Department to teach courses on Shakespeare's Clowns and Advanced Clowning Techniques. In our talk, we discuss his unique journey into several of these creative experiences, including developing recurring character arcs on television; finding himself on the stage through genuine mentors; the evolution of clowning; the irreverant comedy of the web-series Mommy Blogger (Tricia Paoluccio); and working with Glenn Close, Damian Lewis and C.J. Wilson. Opening Credits: UP Paolo Pavan Pasqualino Ubaldini - 06 five special blues; Closing Credits: Another Brick - 1. Refraction

Writer and Director Jeremy Robbins was Story Editor for 2 Seasons of the Blumhouse horror anthology series — The Purge — based on the successful film franchise (grossing $500M+ worldwide) of the same name; he worked closely with James DeMonaco, creator of the franchise, in allowing viewers to explore a time in which all crime is declared legal for a 12 hour period. The show aired on USA Network and Hulu, and has featured actors including Gabriel Chavarria, Lee Allen Tergesen, Derek Luke and William Baldwin through its run. Prior to The Purge, Jeremy wrote and directed the acclaimed short films Newsworthy and Aftermath, both featuring his younger brother Noah Robbins (The Trial of the Chicago 7; Indignation; Miss Sloane; Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and the latter featuring Will Rogers (Bridge of Spies; A Rainy Day in New York), both in standout performances. He also wrote APEX, the pulse-pounding wilderness thriller about “man, woman and nature” which was featured on The Blacklist in 2021. A BA graduate from Yale, Jeremy returned to Columbia, where he earned his MFA in Film, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Film. We discuss his family's encouragement for the arts; the seeds which lay the foundation for his desire to attend film school; writing for a major television show; working with Barry Sonnenfeld and Adam McKay; and retaining authenticity as an artist, writer and director.Opening Credits: 1st Contact - Seeds of Life; Closing Credits: HoliznaCC0 - Manic WarLord Mother

Prolific writer David Klass has explored his unique, exquisite talent for storytelling throughout his career in a plethora of literary media. Since his debut publication, The Atami Dragons, David's 20 novels have navigated the nuances of themes which include complicated father-son relationships; differences between eco-terrorism and environmentalism; and team dynamics. David's own significant athletic background nearly always seems to make its way into his novels, which enhances the medium through which his characters communicate with each other. His bibliography includes You don't know me, named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Firestorm, the first book to be endorsed by Greenpeace which was optioned by Warner Bros; Danger Zone; and the transcendent environmental thriller Out of Time. He has written over 40 Hollywood films which include Kiss the Girls (Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, Tony Goldwyn); Desperate Measures (Michael Keaton, Andy Garcia, Marcia Gay Harden); In the Time of the Butterflies (Salma Hayek, Edward James Almos, Demian Najera); Walking Tall (Dwayne Johnson; Johnny Knoxville); Runaway Virus; Emperor (Tommy Lee Jones); and Shelter in the Storm, which he also directed. He has written and produced Law & Order: Criminal Intent; and developed several works for television, including Austen's Razor for CBS and ABC. He is currently the Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Theatre and Film and Co-Head of the Television Writing Concentration at Columbia University. In our conversation, we discussed the difference between writing for film and in the novelistic form; his family pedigree, which includes several accomplished writers; and his incredible journey from Yale to Hollywood.Opening Credits: M33 Project - Obstination; Closing Credits: Hernán Samá & Marcelo von Schultz - cósmos

As Head of Classics, Drawings & Archives at Avery Library of Columbia University, Teri Harris holds an important responsibility as it relates to upholding the legacy of legendary architects and artists. While she was earning her B.A. in Art History at Williams College, Teri took a class which changed her life, and established a bent toward architecture. It led her to move to New York City from the rural landscape she had been living in to work at an architectural nonprofit, where she became exposed the in's and out's of architectural ingenuity. She then began an MA in Art History at Columbia University in September 2001, a time she recalled during our conversation. After earning her master's degree, Teri fled the city for greener pasturers in Syracuse, NY where she worked as a project coordinator for the “Marcel Breuer Digital Archive” at the Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse University Libraries. However, she eventually came back to Columbia to earn her PhD; joined Avery Library as Curator of the Classics Collection; which led to her current role. We discussed the formative experiences which compelled her towards art and architecture; the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright; her doctoral thesis, The German Garden City Movement: Architecture, Politics and Urban Transformation, 1902-1931; the several exhibits she's been involved with at Columbia; and life in New York City.Opening Credits: Dee Yan-Key - sisyphus; Closing Credits: Dee Yan-Key - gone

Seemab Gul is the writer and director of the universally-acclaimed short film, Sandstorm, which recently qualified for Academy Awards contention after winning in categories at both the HollyShorts and Flickers' Rhode Island International film festivals this year. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival; follows a young Pakistani girl's story when she is blackmailed by her virtual boyfriend after sending him a provocative video of herself dancing; and participated in, after being invited by 60 film festivals across the world. Seemab's films ardently explore themes which include race, sexuality, existentialism and matriarchy through her own introspective lens, which is shaped by her own unique set of experiences. We discuss the origins of her passion to become a filmmaker, which led to films such as the fiction-short One Day in Whitechapel — set in the background of racially-divided London — Zahida, an Al Jazeera documentary profiling Pakistan's first female taxi driver which won the Audience Award at the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival (whose trailer received 20M views); and The Watchmaker, which she produced. We also talked about the value of film and her experience reflecting about the Oscars.Opening Credits: Ketsa - 03 Wind-it-Up; Ketsa - 08 Not-This-Way

Writer-Director Ben Kegan always knew he had a strong passion for character, film and storytelling. His growing up in a John Hughes-esque Chicago suburb is apt considering his eventual exploration of the sex-quest genre of teen movies in college. His evolution through the wrestling biopic short, Team Taliban, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival; the complicated love-triangle surveyed in Commencement, which he shot at Whitman College, his alma mater; the Hypocrite; and After Christmas featuring Chicago theatre legend Barbara Robertson, helped exhibit his versatility as a cleverly-synchronized writer-director. His most recent efforts include the renowned short, The First Men, which featured Maria Blasucci (Ghost Ghirrls, Family Tree, Key and Peele) and the enigmatic, menacing force of Bo Mitchell (Cobra Kai, Eastbound & Down, October Road); Fractions of Speed, a documentary short profiling the mid-distance runner and Olympic hopeful Peter Callahan, which he just shot as a feature film; and the military-themed documentary Expiration Term of Service. In our conversation, the Columbia MFA graduate remarks about the films which impacted his unique approach through the lens of Chicago, improvisational comedy and the subjects he portrays in his films.Opening Credits: One Man Book - Scaffold of Repeated Addition; Closing Credits: Ketsa - Another-Day

Chair of Film at Columbia University, Jack Lechner is a veteran development executive, writer, producer and lyricist behind some of the most iconic films of our time. As head of development at Miramax between 1996-1999, Jack worked on incredibly impactful films such as Good Will Hunting, Guinevere and The Cider House Rules. In 1999, he wrote Can't Take My Eyes Off of You: One Man, Seven Days, Twelve Televisions, which chronicled his experience of being fully immersed into cable and network television for a full week - remarkably, he survived this undertaking, which was inspired by Charles Sopkin's experience in the 1960's. Throughout the years, he has been a Drama Desk Award-nominated lyricist for The Kid; producer of the pilot episode of Mad Men; executive producer of the Oscar Winning documentary The Fog of War and the web-series Group; writer of song parodies for the Independent Spirit Awards for 7 years; and frequent contestant on game shows including Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. We discuss these topics through the lens of his book, diverse life experiences and the career undertakings which had the biggest impact on his view of the industry.Opening Credits: Duncan Reid and the Big Heads - 77; Closing Credits: Bisou de l'enfant sauvage - After midnight kiss

Studio photographer and visual artist Elisheva Gavra creates art which challenges the boundaries of realism; explores the power of spirituality; and the dynamic experience of creating work which questions discord. The latter is a concept with which she has familiarity, growing up in a small Israeli town subsumed by a strong sense of cultural identity and framework. During the pandemic, she paralleled a focus aimed at exploring manifestations of what it means to manipulate reality, which she had experienced photographing others, to herself in a series of self-portraits created during a quarantine in her bedroom. We discuss these topics through the lens of what led up to works like In Procession, Self-Portraits and Eyes, among others in her new studio (which is rather old) in New York City. A Columbia MFA candidate, she received her BA in Art History and Gender Studies from Tel Aviv University, and completed her professional studio photographer training at Studio Gavra.Opening Credits: Matte Black - 1969; Closing Credits: Forget the Whale - 10 Days

Actress Anita Abdinezhad tells stories which capture life and all its trimmings. After earning her MFA from Columbia, she entered her Broadway debut, POTUS: OR behind every dumbass are seven women trying to keep him alive, which has with met rave reviews, understudying for such seasoned performers as Rachel Dratch, Julliane Hough and Lilli Cooper. Her versatility encompasses a unique array of both comedic and dramatic performances in works like Sideways Smile, Eradication, Repetence and Amaceing America. We discuss our mutual upbringing as U.S. immigrants; tenets which motivate her decision-making; what it feels like to be featured in a Tony Award nominated play; and the experience of being also being a writer and filmmaker.Opening Credits: The Unsacred Hearts - 1978; Closing Credits: The Special Pillow - 3rd of July

Artist Vivian Vivas trancends trivialization. Her immense work in several genres, encompassing moving image, performance art, stop motion and installation work pushes the boundaries of what many deem possible. An MFA candidate at Columbia University, she is a finalist for the 2022 Frankenthaler Climate Award, and has an upcoming group show: In Response: Jonas Mekas at the Jewish Museum. She was the recipient of the 2018 Kodak Award from the San Francisco Art Institute and received the Best Experimental Film Award at the 2019 ARFF Barcelona Film Festival. In our conversation at her new studio in New York City, we discuss her evolution through works including Absentia, Sankofa, Calcified and Phase Three.Opening Credits: dUASsEMIcOLCHEIASiNVERTIDAS - 01101101; Closing Credits: mekoisu - ものしりのそらへ

Today's difficult SCOTUS ruling has bearing on several aspects of our society. Reflect back on the directors who made five films that inspired my understanding about the relationships between women; the impact of choices on policy decisions; and the factors guiding their process of filmmaking, including their decisions, which highlighted integral, unique snapshots of women as they live through each day.Opening Credits: Irama Gema - Nepalese Gurkha; Closing Credits: Lahcen Akil - 5-Awnza