UNCW Presents: Behind the Curtain Podcast

In this episode of the Behind the Curtain Podcast, I had the chance to speak with director Nicholas Bruckman and producer Amanda Roddy, creators of the documentary Not Going Quietly, a film that tells the story of Ady Barkan, activist and founder of the Be a Hero organization. Following his diagnosis of ALS, Ady sets out to travel the country and change American Politics. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts, a regional arts organization, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about Southern Circuit and South Arts please visit www.southarts.org/southerncircuit.

In this episode of the Behind the Curtain Podcast, we'll be speaking with Tré Cotten, actor, teacher, dialect coach, and UNCW graduate. Tré shares the story of his roots, his journey into the arts, and his experience working on the award-winning film, One Night in Miami.

In this episode of the Behind the Curtain Podcast we will be speaking with Kristi Ray—actor, producer, and co-founder of the Wilmington-based, all-female production company, Honey Head Films. Kristi Ray shares her journey into the world of film, her experience of starring in the indie horror film "Pieces of Talent," and what it is like to be a female filmmaker in a male-dominated industry.

In this episode of the Behind the Curtain Podcast we will be speaking with Stray Local’s Hannah and Jamie Rowan about the release of their new single, "Shiver" — a song inspired by COVID-era relationships.

In this episode, we will be speaking with Matt Thies, a recent graduate of UNCW’s Creative Writing MFA program and local musician in the band Open Wire. Matt is a poet who draws inspiration from environmentalism and North Carolina history. His thesis collection, entitled Oceanicity, uses the hydrosphere as a centralizing theme through which he explores emotion, relationship to place, and untold histories. Matt generously agreed to read and discuss three poems from his collection. Stay tuned at the end of the episode to hear "Wake," Open Wire’s latest yet-to-be-released single!

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Curbside Cinema with Dan Brawley, Chief Instigating Officer of Cucalorus! Curbside Cinema has been a partnership between UNCW Office of the Arts, Cucalorus, StarNews, and WHQR Public Media. We discuss how Curbside Cinema came to fruition, the curation process, and the future of the Cucalorus Festival.

The roles of artists in society are varied and invaluable. UNCW’s Behind the Curtain Podcast explores the ways artists are adapting to new (if temporary) norms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in to hear interviews with musicians, performers, and storytellers of all kinds, as we look to reinforce local and national artistic communities. In this episode, we are joined by Susan Habas, Executive Director of Thalian Association, to discuss all things Thalian! We take a deep dive into the history of Thalian, discuss how the pandemic has impacted community theatre, and preview Thalian's upcoming 2020-2021 season, Imagine. (Recorded June 1, 2020).

This week we continue our social justice conversation, grappling with the pervasive racial equity issues facing our country. Today you will hear from Keryn Vickers of UNCW’s University College. Keryn has been an academic advisor within this department since 2012, and an Interim Coordinator since 2019. Before serving in University College, Keryn served as the Assistant Director of Admissions at UNCW. He hails from Bronx, New York, and earned his undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and Sciences from DePauw University in Indiana. Keryn also earned a Master’s degree in Recreation and Sports Management from Indiana State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from UNCW and expects to graduate soon. Keryn serves as the staff co-chair for the Black Faculty and Staff Association at UNCW, and continuously advocates for Black students, faculty, and staff on campus as well as across the nation. Keryn is passionate about his faith and his family – especially his children, Gavrielle and Giovanni. In his free time, Keryn likes to travel, preach and conduct seminars and ministry. He enjoys serving as a University College Coordinator and academic advisor because he can help students and faculty grow to their fullest potential. Keryn often states that higher education opens the door to a world of endless possibilities and that he is ecstatic about helping and inspiring people to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Our regular programming has been put on a temporary pause to shift the focus onto pressing social justice and racial equity issues facing our country. We will be engaging in conversations with various African American leaders on campus, discussing justice for George Floyd, the nationwide protests, and how arts can promote social change. We begin our series with Kimberly McLaughlin-Smith, UNCW Inclusion and Diversity Learning Development Specialist. Her position is housed in Human Resources and she has been with the university since 2008. Since then, Kimberly has spearheaded an on-campus initiative known as, ‘Skin in the Game’. Within this group, women of all ethnicities engage in self-reflection and dissection of what unites us and what keeps us divided. Kimberly is also the producer of her radio show Reggae Redemption Radio on WRMR Coastal Carolina's Modern Rock 98.7.

Hannah and Jamie Rowen of the Wilmington based band Stray Local join us to share the evolution of their relationship within the context of their music, and give insight into life as professional musicians (and running enthusiasts) both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNCW's Venita Jenkins (Office of University Relations) joins us for a reading of her collaborative writing piece, Tales From a Small Southern Town. After the reading, Jenkins explains how this story came to fruition and how it serves as a means of cultivating community while social distancing. Continue the story here: bit.ly/3alY0eB

Artist Stacey Kirby calls in from her home in Durham, NC to discuss art, empathy, and holding space in a society facing new pressures. Kirby creates performative interactions in which she aims to cultivate conversations surrounding a number of different subjects, that range from gender identity and validity, to the importance of civil presence. Kirby has been on-campus for a seven-week residency as part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Visiting Artist and Scholar Program.

In our first episode, composer and musician Joseph Brent of the band 9 Horses joins us for a remote interview from his home in New York to answer questions about the roles of artists in society (especially in times of crisis), and the way daily life has been impacted by Coronavirus.