Episodes
-
Alex V. Cook is a journalist and music critic who has written for an assortment of publications including The Believer, The Oxford American, DownBeat, and Paste Magazine.
His book Darkness, Racket and Twang: Essential Listening from the Fringes of Popular and Unpopular Cultureis a compilation of his music essays, which includes commentary on artists ranging from Lou Reed to Bob Dylan to the Mountain Goats. He has also written a book on Louisiana's Juke joints, honky-tonks, and dance halls called Louisiana Saturday Night: Looking for a Good Time in South Louisiana's Juke Joints, Honky-Tonks, and Dance Halls.
Alex also sings and plays guitar for The Rakers, a Baton Rouge band that has played at a number of prominent venues around town including The Baton Rouge Gallery. The band describes itself as "The thinking man's drinking band."
He's one of the few critics I know of who started playing music after working as a critic. As you'll hear from Alex in the interview, he got started as a musician relatively late, compared to other musicians, but he still holds his own amidst musicians who have been playing far longer.
Some of the things we discuss include
What makes for a great album Why a good critique can be a gift to person receiving it The relationship between critic and artist and how they influence each others What popular bands Alex likes and dislikes and why How his background as a music critic informed his music sensibilities Why showmanship and point of view matter to an artist#
For more tips on how to succeed as a musician, check out this interview I did with Bree Noble, a musician who got to sing at Dodger Stadium and who now coaches other musicians and interviews industry luminaries.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. Some of my videos are here. Say hello: [email protected]#
Related ThingsAlex's site
Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterThe Rakers, other band members: Lance Porter (guitar, drums, vocals),
Lewis Roussel (bass, guitar, drums, mandolin), Leon Lejeune (guitar, bass), Anna Byars (drums)Facebook
Baton Rouge Adult Music Club, where Alex developed his skills as a musician Teddy's Juke Joint, where the Rakers had their album release party Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Book Mentioned Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truthby A.O. Scott Darkness Racket and Twang- Essential Listening from the Fringes of Popular and Unpopular Music by Alex V. Cook#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Belle and Sebastian Bob Dylan Dean Martin Devo The Fall Glyn Styler Johnny Cash Lydia Lunch Kenny Rogers Kiss KC and the Sunshine Band Moby The Mountain Goats Nancy Wilson Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds The Rakers Rolling Stones Ruyter Suys Ryan Adams, albums mentioned Demolition Prisoner Tony Cobb, "Share My Whiskey" The Velvet Underground, albums mentioned Loaded The Velvet Underground & Nico#
Other People Mentioned Amanda Petrusich, music journalist at The New Yorker Greil Marcus, music journalist for Pitchfork, Rolling Stone John Ruskin, Victorian-era art critic Lester Bangs, music journalist for Creem, Rolling Stone Rick Rubin, music producer#
Shows & Movies Mentioned Big Bang Theory Hustle & Flow Lawerence of Arabia Raging Bull Ratatouille Taxi Driver#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Do U Want It?is a music documentary that tells the story of the New Orleans funk band, Papa Grows Funk, their residency at The Maple Leaf Bar, and then their indefinite hiatus that they announced in 2013. The film doesn't just capture a band in transition and the creative differences that came along though.
It also offers an insider's glimpse into what makes the New Orleans music community so special, which the film sometimes accents with New Orleans-styled animation. No surprise then that the film won the audience award at the New Orleans Film Festival when it screened there in 2017.
The film has also screened in festivals across the country including San Francisco Indie Fest, Oxford (Mississippi) Film Festival, and Chicago International Movies & Music Festival. Just a few weeks ago, the film won Best Music Documentary at San Francisco's Frozen Film Festival.
I had the chance to catch the film when it screened at the Louisiana International Film Festival in April. That's where I met the film's directors, Josh FreundandSam Radutzky. I was captivated by their affection for the New Orleans music scene and by the way their film explores Papa Grows Funk's creative collaborations, both when they work and when they don't, so I invited them to come on the show.
Some of the things we discuss include
How to connect with bands at shows What makes the New Orleans music scene so distinct The tension that arises between musicians who are content to preform locally and those who want to build a national following How much footage and editing goes into shooting a feature-length music documentary The way that Josh and Sam resolved their own creative differences during post Budgeting for animated clips in a film and an indie tip for getting a lower rate How to shoot a band on tour#
Want to hear from a band that played at Jazz Fest this year? Then check out this interview I did with Daniel and Jesse Reaux from The Rayo Brothers.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions– I make videos and tell stories. # This is the video I shot of The Rayo Brothers at Jazz Fest this year. Say hello: [email protected]#
Related ThingsDo U Want it?
Facebook, Instagram, TwitterJosh Freund - Facebook, Instagram
Sam Radutzky - Facebook
Abis Productions, Josh and Sam's company Hear the Papa Grows Funk songs mentioned in the episode on Spotify: "Do U Want It" and “Planet of Love & Hate” The Facebook postwhen the Papa Grows Funk reunion show was first announced Frenchy, the artist known for live painting concerts and other events in New Orleans Quint Davis, CEO of Festival Productions, the company that produces Jazz Fest More on mirror neurons The Music Stops Here, a documentary short about one of the last indie music venue in Manchester, the English city that was the birthplace of The Smiths, Oasis, and Joy Division The Preservation Hall animationdone by Jimmy Tancill and his TancoToons company. He also oversaw the animation in Do U Want It? Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Book Mentioned A Tale of Two Cities#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Allen Toussaint Anvil, Canadian metal Aurora Nealand, experimental jazz The Brian Jonestown Massacre, psychedelic rock Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet The Dandy Warhols, alternative George Porter Jr. James Singleton, experimental jazz King James & the Special Men The Meters The Neville Brothers Oasis Papa Grows Funk frontman John Gros guitarist June Yamagishi The Revivalists The Smiths frontman Morrissey Talking Heads Tank and the Bangas Trombone Shorty#
New Orleans Music Venues & Events Mentioned The Civic Theatre Jazz Fest, last weekend of April and first weekend of May at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans The Joy Theater The Maple Leaf Bar Preservation Hall Saenger Theatre Saturn Bar - King James & the Special Men play on Mondays Tipitina’s Vaughan’s Lounge - Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet play on Thursdays # Shows & Movies Mentioned Ant-Man and the Wasp Anvil! The Story of Anvil- a rockumentary about Canadian metal band Anvil Dig!- a documentary about the love-hate relationship between the bands The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre Macbeth Stop making Sense, a 1984 Talking Heads concert film Treme, "Dippermouth Blues" (Season 4, episode 3)#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Missing episodes?
-
Wumbois a word coined on SpongeBob SquarePants. It is also an indie-rcok band that The Advocaterecently included in their list of 10 bands to check out in Baton Rouge. The band has played at most of Baton Rouge's esteemed music venues including The Varsity, Spanish Moon, Mid City Ballroom, Happy's Irish Pub, 524 Studios, and more. In a few days they'll be starting their tour across the South and Midwest.
There’s no blueprint to being a band.” - Jake Heflin
The band describes their hard-to-pinpoint sound as "space-indie-rock-jazz-pop" and released their self-titled EP back in December 2017. I heard them play at 524 a few weeks ago and liked their show enough to invite them on the podcast and to pick up their EP, which has come to remind me of Radiohead's seminal album, OK Computer.
I had the opportunity to interview band members Kevin McCabe (drums), Jake Heflin (vocals, guitar), Mitchell Mobley (vocals, guitar), Tanner Yeldell (synth, percussion), and Zak Ocmand (bass) at Jake's place, where the band usually practices. Some of the things we discuss in this episode include
How to riff on a song until it's right Influences that have shaped their songs Using digital effects to emulate an analogue sound Conventions of shoegazing music and how that influenced the band’s approach to mixing How to work through the challenges that come up when booking a tour Why innocent nonsense is worth celebrating Tips on how to book more shows at venuesWant to hear from another band in Baton Rouge with a distinct sound? Then check out this interview with another local music darling, Ship of Fools.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. # The right music video can open doors to venue owners, agents, and other decision makers. My videoshave helped musicians, businesses, and creative people take their dreams to the next level. Let's talk about what we can do together. # Say hello: [email protected]#
Related ThingsWumbo's site
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Wumbo EP on Bandcamp Most of the recording for the Wumbo EP was done at O’Neal Studios by J.t. O’Neal The Advocate's list of 10 notable Baton Rouge bandsthat includes Wumbo Reddit thread about a Bee Movietheory DIY Tour Postingsgroup on Facebook My guest post on the Dare Dreamer FM blog about how to develop your artistic voice Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Beethoven Django Reinhardt Fine Divine, one of Zak’s other bands Hydra Plane, psychedelic fusion band in Baton Rouge Loudness War, garage rock band in Baton Rouge oh, hi mark., another one of Zak’s other bands Pacifico, former guest on the show The Patsies, Zak’s first band Radiohead’s OK Computeralbum Sammy Hagar Will Hinchliffe, guest vocalist on Wumbo's song "Perch" Wumbo#
Films Mentioned Bee Movie Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial The Goonies Hachi: A Dog's Tale Interstellar SpongeBob SquarePants Stranger Things Westworld#
Books Mentioned All the Pretty Horsesby Cormac McCarthy The Birth of Tragedyby Friedrich Nietzsche Creating Magicby Lee Cockerell book No Country for Old Menby Cormac McCarthy Radiohead: Hysterical & Uselessby Martin Clarke The Roadby Cormac McCarthy#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Filmmaker Joshua Overbay's first film, As It Is in Heaven, was a Critics' Pick in The New York Times and favorably reviewed on rogerebert.com. Luke & Jo is Josh's third film, and it continues the tradition of exploring big questions while telling an intimate, character-driven story that Josh started with his first film.
Nathaniel Glass was one of the producers on As It Is in Heaven, and he returned as producer on Luke & Jo. This time around, he was also the director of photography, his first feature-length cinematography credit. The film has a memorable look, a testament to the work he did as a cinematographer and colorist.
... filmmaking is about telling truthful stories that change the world" - Nathaniel Glass
Joshua and Nathaniel came on the podcast along with Andie Morgenlander, who was a co-writer, co-producer, costumer designer, and the lead actress in Luke & Jo. Having the three of them together allowed us to explore the filmmaking collaborative process in a really detailed way.
Some of the things we discuss include
What to do when conflict arises during a shoot How to shoot a film that allows for improvisation from the actors The importance of a good camera operator on a micro-budget shoot Whether creative people should be more like brick walls or rubber bands Why asking for and receiving forgiveness is so important but so difficult to do Whether the coincidences or serendipities have higher significance How to not be that guy at film festivalsAs I mention in the episode, Josh was one of the judges of our #KnowMonologues challenge that I did with actress Laura Cayouette. This is the episode with Laurathat led to the challenge. In it, she shares her experiences working with Quentin Tarantino and gives some practical advice to actors and filmmakers alike.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # I hope to finish writing my novel about a satyr in New Orleans on July 23, and I'm looking for a critique partner. Let me know if you are interested, have publishing advice you want to share, or just want to tell me more about what you're working on these days. # Say hello: [email protected]#
Related ThingsAndie Morgenlander's site
IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInJoshua Overbay, he's the creative director at Solis Films
IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, TwitterNathaniel Glass's site
IMDb, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Luke & Joon Facebook, IMDb Cameras used Canon C300 Mark II,Red Epic-W with Helium 8K sensor New York Timesreview of As It Is in Heaven The #KnowMonologues challenge, where Josh was one of the judges Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
People Mentioned Aaron Holmes, camera operator on Luke & Jo Andie Morgenlander Charles Dickens Erik Odom, the other leading actor on Luke & Jo François Truffaut Joshua Overbay Laura Cayouette, actress Mahatma Gandhi Martin Scorsese Nathaniel Glass Phil Collins Richard Linklater Tennessee Williams William Shakespeare#
Films Mentioned As It Is in Heaven Luke & Jo Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri#
Books Mentioned Bleak House The Count of Monte Cristo The Glass Menagerie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets The Oresteiatrilogy#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Michael Berryis the writer-director of Stuck, an original character-driven musical set in a New York subway that stars Giancarlo Esposito, whom Breaking Badfans might recognize as the cunning owner of Los Pollos Hermanos. Giancarlo plays a very different character in Stuck: a mysterious, seemingly homeless man prone to break into song, who may or may not be on some kind of cosmic special assignment to impact the lives of the passengers who share his New York subway car.
Someone breaking into a song is truly not the strangest thing that happens on subways." - Michael Berry
It's an ensemble film, so all the main characters get their solos, and the film includes memorable performances from Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams), Arden Cho (Teen Wolf), Ashanti (Coach Carter), Gerard Canonico (Fred in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day), and Omar Chaparro (Overboard).
Michael has a background in theater: He's performed on Broadway in shows like Les Misérablesand Next to Normal, and he credits his theatrical background with training him to get the most out of his indie-sized film budgets. His theater experience also helped him to work with marquee talent when he transitioned into film. Frontera, the first feature film that Michael directed, includes performances from Ed Harris, Eva Longoria, and Michael Peña.
Some of the things that we discuss in this episode include
Why the musical is an inherently fantastical genre but one that can also be grounded in reality The recording technique that allowed his performers the freedom to riff on the musical numbers How he was able to shoot a memorable musical with a budget that was a fraction of La La Landand The Greatest Showman What went into recreating a New York subway car and how that helped the crew get ready for shooting in a real New York City subway for a few days How Stuckwas able to depict characters with opposing viewpoints without demonizing anyoneI was moved by how the film depicted its assorted characters with depth while undercutting stereotypes. The film also suggests that to get unstuck we might need each other, even those whose outlook is different than ours, and that reminded me of a certain show.
I initially mentioned Stuckin my recap of Louisiana International Film Festival 2018. Stuckwas my favorite film that I saw at LIFF, which is where I met Michael.
As mentioned above, Gerard Canonico also has a role in the Broadway production of Groundhog Day. To learn more about that production came together, check out this interview I did with Danny Rubin, the writer of the film and musical adaptation of Groundhog Day.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Say hello: [email protected]#
Related Things Michael Berry IMDb, Twitter Stuck on Facebook, IMDb, Twitter Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films & Shows Mentioned Breaking Bad Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Fiddler on the Roof Field of Dreams Frontera The Greatest Showman Hairspray Hamilton La La Land Les Misérables Lost Next to Normal Singing in the Rain Stuck West Side Story#
Books Mentioned The Artist's Way Humans of New York The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle#
People Mentioned Amy Madigan - actor Arden Cho - actor Ashanti - actor Ed Harris - actor Gerard Canonico - actor Giancarlo Esposito - actor Ben Maughan - composer Maggie Ruder - production designer Mike Witherill - producer Michael Peña - actor Michael Berry - writer, director Riley Thomas - writer, composer Timothy Young - actor, composer#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Some songwriters would kill for the chance to work with just one multi-platinum artist. Songwriter Brent Baxterhas worked with a handful of them. One of his songs even made it onto Rolling Stone's list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time. How does a songwriter get to write for multi-platinum artists, and what's it like writing songs for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Randy Travis? I brought Brent on the podcast to find out.
You want to make friends you can rise with not friends you have to rise above." - Brent Baxter
Some of the things that we discuss include
How to write for songs for superstars Songs Brent admires for their craftsmanship How songwriters are like Special Forces Practical tips for moving to an industry hub like Nashville and getting connected with the community there The business side of being a songwriter and some challenges involved Why being a successful artist is all about being in the service industry Why sync licensing can be more profitable for songwriters When does it make sense to sign a publishing deal How to prepare for a collaboration with a big name What a well-written song involvesWe also discuss these songs that Brent wrote: "Monday Morning Church" (Alan Jackson), "When Your Lips Are so Close" (Gord Bamford), "A Woman Scorned" & “Last Night Last” (Lady Antebellum), and "Every Head Bowed" (Randy Travis). At the end of the episode, you can hear a demo of a song Brent co-wrote with WILKES, who is currently featured on NBC's The Voice.
Want to hear an interview with someone who was featured on NBC'sThe Voice? Then check out this interview I did with bluesy rocker Lane Mack, who was a contestant on the show in 2016.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # The video I shot of The Rayo Brothers is coming soon. # Say hello: [email protected]#
Related Things#
Brent on Facebook, Instagram giftfrombrent.com, where you can get a free copy of Brent’s book, Think Like a Pro Songwriter! Songwriting Pro, where Brent helps other songwriters turn pro Facebook community C.L.I.M.B. music podcastthat Brent co-hosts with John Dwinell Facebook community Brent’s event where you can play for a hit Music Row publisher on June 19 Nashville Songwriters Association International Update on the Music Modernization Act Help the Baxter family bring an orphan home Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Alan Jackson Bob Dylan Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young The Beatles Bruce Springsteen Carrie Underwood Dan Hill Dierks Bently Don Wiliams Garth Brooks George Jones George Strait Gord Bamford Janet Jackson Jimi Hendrix Lady Antebellum Lee Ann Womack Old Dominion Randy Travis Ray Stevens The Rayo Brothers Taylor Swift WILKE#
Other Music Industry People Mentioned Brandon Kinney, co-writer of “Every Head Bowed” Byron Hill, producer and co-writer of “When Your Lips Are So Close” Casey Kessel, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned” Doug Johnson, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses” Erin Enderlin, co-writer of “Monday Morning Church" Graham Nash, writer of “Our House” Hillary Scott, singer of Lady Antebellum Keith Stegall, producer of “Monday Morning Church” Kim Williams, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses” Jerry Crabbe, writer of "He stopped loving her today” John Armstrong, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned”#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
This year, I had the chance to interview several filmmakers screening films at the Louisiana International Film Festival. On this episode, I recap some of those interviews and share some of my experiences and takeaways from LIFF2018.
Here are my prior interviews from #LIFF2018. On the recap below, I share some of the highlights from each interview, what it was like getting to screen my short at the festival, and some of the new discoveries and filmmaking observations, and life lessons I learned while attending.
Films from LIFF2018 that I discuss on this episode include
1000 Year Flood And Then I Go Blaze Brimstone & Glory Cut Off Do U Want It Gabriel & the Mountain Hearts Beat Loud Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story Mixed Signals (short) Mr. United States (short) Stay Woke (short) Stuck Tinker Through the Banks of the Red CedarWant to learn more about one of the bands that played at the festival? Then check out this interview I did with Peter Simon, the lead singer of Minos the Saint, which was one of the bands that played at LIFF's Filmmaker Lounge this year.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premiered at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Festival winners Dan Ireland New Voicews/New visions Award - Stealing Rodin Best Narrative Feature - Streaker Best Documentary Feature - Sammy Davis, Jr.: I Gotta Be Me Best Louisiana Narrative Feature - Blaze Best Louisiana Documentary Feature - Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story Best International Short Film - Newborn Best Louisiana Short Film - Headless Swans Best Mature Animated Short - Your Black Friend Past #LIFF2018 interviews, arranged by film And Then I Go, director Vincent Grashaw Brimstone & Glory, director Viktor Jakovleski Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story, director Tiffany Bartok Louisiana Live-Action Shorts, filmmakers from An Aria for Albrights, Breath, Death of an Umbrella Salesman, Mixed Signals (my short), Mr. United States, Seed of the Free Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, director Maya Washington Tinker, producer Tom Bhramayana Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Other Films & Shows Mentioned Breaking Bad Gunslinger Godfather Home Remedy (web series) Lost#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Minos the Saint Pappa Grows Funk Ryan Harris#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
My coverage of LIFF2018 continues with Tinker producer Tom Bhramayana. It was a sci-fi film that started as Kickstarter campaign which brought in over $100,000. A few year later, it has won 19 best-of awards at festivals around the country, and all three screenings at this year's Louisiana International Film Festival have sold out.
The term producer has many connotations, but Tom wasn't just in charge of getting the money. He was also one of the writers, did a voice-over for one of the character, and his other on-screen credits include unit production manager, line producer, travel coordinator, assistant editor, props, locations, and cast. All that to say, Tom has been intimately involved with Tinker from pre-production to post and foreign sales, and he offered lots of helpful filmmaking insights when we spoke a few days ago.
It doesn't matter what your belief is, it doesn't matter how you were raised, who you are, if you help people, anybody can do the smallest things and make a big difference in someone's life." - Tom Bhramayana
My coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with this interview I did with Tom Bhramayana. Some of the things that we discuss include
How the filmmakers behind Tinker were able to raise over $100,000 in their first Kickstarter campaign The way the filmmaking team shot the film in spurts that were months apart How feedback from festivals helped them to refine their film and increase their festival acceptance rate What the visual-effects process was like What goes into developing a DCP that can be screened in theaters How the film was budgeted and how Tom anticipates they will make a profit from VOD and foreign sales#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Tom Bhramayana on IMDb Tinker Facebook, Twitter Tom used a RAID 5 from Synology to back up data from the film DCP-o-matic, the program that Tom used to create a DCP of Tinker Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films Mentioned A River Runs Through It Dallas Buyers Club Mixed Signals (short) Sling Blade Tinker Trent’s War (short) ##
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Show notes coming soon.
-
Brimstone & Glory is a documentary produced by the Department of Motion Pictures that tells the story of Tultepec, a town in Mexico that is dedicated to the making and celebration of fireworks. It's a poetic, visually stunning film that the National Board of Review recognized as one of the top five documentaries of 2017, and it is one of the films screening at this year's Lousiana International Film Festival.
Director Viktor Jakovleski initially conceived of the film as something that he would produce and his friend and colleague Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild) would direct. As the concept developed though, Benh decided to come onboard as producer and composer so that Viktor could direct it. My coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with this interview I did with Viktor.
Some of the things that we discuss include
How the film came about because of a coincidental or serendipitous encounter at a party The distinct shooting style and challenges that arise when shooting with a Phantom camera that can shoot at 1500 frames per second What it was like collaborating with Benh who was both a producer and composer on the project, an unusual combination Why the documentary is a kind of musical and the unique way that the music was developed during post production How to approach dangerous things with reverenceI continue my coverage of #LIFF2018 with director Viktor Jakovleski:
Brimstone & Glory will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Friday, April 20 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to hear another conversation with someone who makes a living out of living dangerously? Then you might appreciate this podcast interview with Jay Caputo, a stuntman who has worked on projects like Planet of the Apes, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Amazing Spider-Man.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Viktor Jakovleski on IMDb Brimstone & Glory Facebook Department of Motion Pictures, the production company behind the film Cinereach, the company that helped to finance Brimstone & Glory Phantom cameras that can shoot over 1500 fps Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showAdditional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films Mentioned The Amazing Spider-Man Beasts of the Southern Wild Brimstone & Glory Glory at Sea (short) Only Lovers Left Alive Mixed Signals (short) Pirates of the Caribbean Planet of the Apes#
Book Mentioned The Labyrinth of Solitude#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
My podcast coverage of Louisiana International Film Festival 2018 continues with director Maya Washington. She's the filmmaker behind Through the Banks of the Red Cedar and the daughter of Gene Washington, the wide receiver who played for Michigan State and then the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos.
Gene's storied football career led to an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, two Pro Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl game. He was also one of 23 African Americans who were brought onto the Michigan State team in 1963 by Coach Duffy Daugherty. That was an unprecedented move in college football that helped to turn fully integrated football teams into the norm.
Some of the things that Maya and I discuss in our interview include
The way segregation affected college football and the transition past that How her relationship with her dad became the emotional hook of her documentary What making the documentary taught her about football and how it brought her closer to her dad What it takes to include footage from NCAA College Football and NFL events in a documentary How one considerate gesture from a competitor changed the life of Gene Washington, his family, and countless others.My podcast interview for #LIFF2018 continues with filmmaker Maya Washington:
[spp-player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/nsavides/Tiffany-Bartok-director-of-larger-than-life-Kevyn-Aucoin-story-podcast-interview.mp3"]
Maya will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
Through the Banks of the Red Cedar will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Friday, April 20 at 6:45 PM and on Saturday, April 21 at 11:45 AM, and Maya will be participating in the filmmaker meet and greet on that Saturday, from 3:30 - 3:45 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to hear another interview about filming football? Then you might appreciate this podcast interview with Patrick Moreau, a co-founder of Stillmotion, a production company in Portland that has shot a couple of project for the NFL and has won an Emmy for a documentary they did about the Army-Navy college football game, Game of Honor
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Maya Washingon on IMDb Through the Banks of the Red Cedar Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showAdditional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films Mentioned It’s a Wonderful Life Police Academy films Through the Banks of the Red Cedar If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
My #LIFF2018 coverage continues with makeup artist and documentary filmmaker Tiffany Bartok. She's the director behind Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story. Prior to seeing the documentary and doing the interview, I wasn't aware of Kevyn, but then the few makeup artists I'm aware of tend to be special-effects luminaries like Jack Pierce (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein) or Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Hellboy).
It turns out that Kevyn was quite the makeup trailblazer and one of the early makeup artists who was on a first-name basis with a number of celebrities. He would eventually become a celebrity in his own right during an era when just a handful of people were making a living as professional makeup artists.
Some of the big names Kevyn worked with include Cindy Crawford, Janet Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Naomi Campbell, and Winona Ryder. As Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story reveals, sometimes those high-profile collaborations would cause ripples throughout the fashion industry that would reverberate for years.
Tiffany's documentary doesn't just highlight Kevyn's achievements and put them in historical perspective though. It also reveals some of the struggles Kevyn faced as an adopted child who would come to feel twice rejected by his biological mother, once because she put him up for adoption and then later in life when he reunited with her and discovered that she had reservations about his sexual identity.
Some of the things that Tiffany and I discuss in our interview include
What she learned about filmmaking as a makeup artist How to deal with celebrities ready to throw a tantrum Some of the ways that Kevyn changed the dynamic between celebrities and their makeup artists How she was able to get a number of high-profile people to participate in the documentary and share honest perspectives about Kevyn The way that Kevyn redefined how we think about and perceive beautyBelow, my podcast coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with director Tiffany Bartok:
[spp-player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/nsavides/director-Vincent-Grashaw-and-then-I-go-filmmaking-podcast.mp3"]
Tiffany will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story will be playing at #LIFF2018 on Saturday, April 21 at 5:00 PM, and Tiffany will be participating in a filmmaking discussion earlier in the day, from 3:30 - 3:45 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Makeup artists are often paired with hair stylists on films, so if you enjoyed this episode, you might also appreciate hearing from film stylist Dana Boisseau, who has worked on projects including Ray, Django Unchained, and The Butler. As it happens, I also met Dana through LIFF, and my podcast started as a result.
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Tiffany Bartok On IMDb, Instagram, Twitter Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showAdditional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
This is the first part of my coverage for Louisiana International Film Festival 2018, which happens in Baton Rouge from April 19-22. In this episode, I talk to director Vincent Grashaw about his film And Then I Go. His film tells the story of two young people who contemplate a potential school shooting against their classmates as retaliation for the slights they've endured.
Unfortunately, the Parkland shooting and other recent events have made And Then I Go all too topical, but unlike certain outspoken figures who have argued the issue, the film doesn't point fingers or offer easy answers. Instead it explores a difficult issue in a thoughtful, nuanced way. It's the kind of contemplative approach that could serve us well to emulate, whether in discussing school shootings or in broaching similarly polarizing issues.
After all, the answers to the troubling problems that plague our society, if any answers are to be found, probably won't come from more heated vitriol. They seem more likely to emerge from the quiet determination in enough hearts to stop searching for someone else to blame and to start taking responsibility for making things better.
Vincent's film subtly asks us all to consider what that might look like, and he expands on that in his interview with me. If that's not the ultimate solution to a vexing issue that has sadly become all familiar, then it's at least a step in the right direction, and even a small step forward is a welcome one at this point.
In addition to how Vincent's film wrestles school-shooting issue, we also discuss
How Vincent prepared his young actors to explore a challenging issue The way the cinematography and music in the film helped him tell the story Why he likes to bring the composer early in the development process How he partnered with The Orchard to get the word out about his filmMy podcast coverage of #LIFF2018 begins below with director Vincent Grashaw discussing his film And Then I Go:
[spp-player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/nsavides/Gothic-Tropic-nsavides-podcast-inteview-at-sxsw-T2.mp3"]
Vincent will be attending LIFF 2018, so if you plan to attend then you can continue the conversation there.
And Then I Go will be playing on Saturday, April 21 at 2:15 - 4:00 PM and on Sunday, April 22 at 4:15 - 6:00 PM, and he will be participating in a filmmaking discussion on that Sunday from 12:30 - 1:15 PM. Tickets are available through LIFF's website.
Want to learn more about The Orchard, the distributor behind And Then I Go? Then check out this interview I did with Richard Matson, The Orchard's VP of distribution:
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things LIFF 2018 Vincent Grashaw On IMDb, Twitter And Then I Go The Orchard, the film's distributor Katrina Wan PR, doing traditional publicity for And Then I Go Picture Motion, doing grassroots-related events for the film Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.showAdditional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Films Mentioned And Then I Go Coldwater Elephant He Got Game I’ll See You in My Dreams It Follows He Got Game Rich Hill We Need to Talk About Kevin # Book Mentioned Project X # If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Cecilia Della Peruti has played guitar for and gone on tour with acts like Beck, BØRNS, and Charli XCX. That's helped to prepare her to launch her own band, Gothic Tropic. The band has a guitar-driven 80s pop sound infused with some R&B and funk influences. Elsewhere, Gothic Tropic has been compared to Blondie, Fleetwood Mac and Haim.
I had a chance to catch two sets that Gothic Tropic did at South by Southwest this year, one at the M&M house that had been set up on Rainey St. and one at the Whole Foods terrace. I liked the band's sound and was impressed that they did a handful of shows at SXSW, so I sat down with Cecilia at the tail end of the festival to do an interview.
Some of the things we discuss include
How growing up in a musical family shaped her artistic development What she's learned from going on tour for other bands How she collaborated with producer Todd Dahlhoff to put out her first album, Fast or Feast What she looks for in a manager and how her manager has allowed her to stay focused on the music How she worked with her team to set up and get the word out for her multiple sets at SXSWAt the end of the interview, you can hear "Stronger," one of the tracks off of Gothic Tropic's Fast or Feast album. Without further ado, here is the interview I did with Cecilia Della Peruti from Gothic Tropic at SXSW 2018:
[spp-player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/nsavides/SXSW-2018-recap-nsavides-podcast.mp3"]
Want to hear another interview with a band that has a guitar-driven sound? Then check out this interview I did with Lane Mack, the bluesy rocker you might remember from the 2016 season of NBC's The Voice.
Show notes for that episode are here.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Mixed Signals, the short film I directed that is a kind-of throwback to the dramas of the 1940s, premieres at the Louisiana International Film Festival on April 21. #Say hello: [email protected]
#
Related Things Gothic Tropic On Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter Shout out to publicist Nicole Poulos from Sideways Media and manager Marc Nicolas for helping to make the interview happen.Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.
#
Bands & Musicians Mentioned Beck Blondie BØRNS Carl Della Peruti - Cecilia’s dad, a jazz composer and trombone player Charli XCX Chelsea Wolfe Fleetwood Mac Haim Juliana Gondek, Cecilia’s mom, an opera singer Karen O Linkin Park Todd Dahlhoff, the producer of Gothic Tropic’s album, Fast or Feast # If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
South by Southwest is the whirlwind of activity that takes over Austin for about two weeks each March. It's a massive film, music, and interactive super festival, plus an education summit, plus a video game expo, plus a job fair, and so much more. It's a full-time job just attending the festival and figuring out what to check out next, so needless to say putting together a SXSW 2018 recap over 2.5 hours long took some time to put together.
I got do my first-ever live show of The nsavides Podcast a couple of weeks ago, and I was honored to get to do that as an official event at SXSW 2018. Last episode, I posted the audio from my live podcast at SXSW. On this episode, I will discuss some of the installations, key notes and sessions, films, and music shows that stuck out for me.
I'm combining those seemingly disparate areas because I believe they're all interconnected. Techniques musicians use to get attention can also relate to filmmakers, technologists at SXSW were taking cues from filmmakers and musicians, and so on. Plus, the festival itself declares that it is dedicated to "helping creative people achieve their goals," and so we might learn a few things about collaboration by exploring all the different ways that SXSW does that.
A large part of this episode includes discussions about the various film, music, and interactive keynotes and sessions that I heard either at the festival, or after the fact through videos and audio files uploaded to the SXSW YouTube and Soundcloud pages.
SXSW 2018 Recap sectionsThis episode is over 2.5 hours long, so I'm including time stamps for the start types of some of the different categories. Note that sometimes the timestamp may vary somewhat on the web player.
Installations: 9:31 Film keynotes & sessions: 23:40 Interactive keynotes & sessions: 55:24 Music keynotes & sessions: 1:41:45 Films: 1:48:47 Music shows: 1:54:20 My take: 2:02:38Scroll down to RELATED THINGS to get my favorite discoveries from the festival. Next episode, I'll include an interview with another music discovery I made at the festival.
Want more coverage from SXSW? If so, you might be interested in the interactive and music coverage I did at SXSW 2017. That episode also includes my recap of my festival experience that year.
Show notes for that episode are here.
#
In the episode, I mentioned that I was impressed by the band description for Joshua Burnside. Some music industry professionals like Wade Sutton actually specialize in helping bands write bios. To learn more about how Wade works with musicians to make their shows more engaging, check this interview I did with him.
Show notes for that episode are here.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # The Fable House team were my guests at SXSW 2018. We're partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done effects work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, and some of the recording artists they've worked with include Dr. John, Kendrick Lamar, and Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars. #Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: [email protected]
Related Things#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iu9_8Vsmtk
Esther Perel's speech (above) was my favorite session from SXSW 2018 Other favorite sessions Film - Darren Aronofsky Interactive - Elon Musk Music - Keith Urban Other festival discoveries App - Otter Voice Meeting Notes Book - Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue Film - Agave: Spirit of a Nation Music - Wye Oak Podcast - This Song#
Patrick Mulhearn, the former executive director of Celtic Studios in Louisiana, shared his thoughts about HBO's Westworld exhibit. (These days he is working over at Louisiana Economic Development.) Vanity Fair's write-up about the Westworld exhibit at SXSW New York Times Op-Ed about repealing second amendment ReasonTV's People Will Die political satire video The musicians awarded the SXSW 2018 Grulke PrizeMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
SXSW 2018 Sessions Discussed Ari Herstand Arnold Schwarzenegger Barry Jenkins Bernie Sanders Chris O'Neill Daniel Glass DANIELS Darren Arronfosky Elon Musk Esther Perel Ethan Hawke Ezra Klein Keith Urban Ray Kurzweil Rian Johnson with Mark Hamill Tim Ferriss Tim Gray Sadiq Khan Ta-Nehisi Coates Whurley Books Mentioned Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue Quantum Computing for Babies The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator#
Films & Shows Mentioned Agave: The Spirit of a Nation Black Panther Blaze Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Damsel Dead Poets Society The Director and The Jedi Everything is a Remix Jacob’s Ladder Jerry Maguire Moonlight Mother! Oblivion Pitch Perfect Ready Player One Spheres (VR) Sriracha Star Wars: The Last Jedi Swiss Army Man Together (VR) Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Westworld Wild Honey Pie!##
Musicians Mentioned Ari Herstand Childish Gambino Chvrches The Givers Jade Bird Joshua Burnside Keith Urban Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam Tank and the Bangas Todd Rundgren Vampire Weekend Wye Oak#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
For the first time ever, I did a live episode of The nsavides Podcast a few days ago, and what an honor it was to do that as an official event at SXSW 2018. What's more I got to do the show with my friends and some of the most talented filmmakers I know in Louisiana: cinematographer Matt S. Bell, director-editor Misty Talley, and producer Sam Claitor.
All three are from Fable House, a production company in Baton Rouge that has produced over $2 million in content. Whether shooting commercials for Toyota and Airbnb, working with artists like Kendrick Lamar and 30 Seconds to Mars, directing films with all kinds of creatures (including the dreaded zombie shark!) or doing effects work for projects like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, Matt, Misty, and Sam truly have experiences that run the gamut of what film production involves.
Some of our discussion topics include
How Matt built a reputation by taking memorable band photos Developing an artistic sensibility by collecting samples of inspiring work from others What Misty learned as an editor that makes her a better director Why Sam transitioned from vfx work on massive projects to producing films with smaller budgets How Fable House works together to develop an effects-driven sequence Essential elements of a compelling shark film Towards the end of the show, we also delve into deeper territory, discussing some of the obstacles that get in the way of the creative work we want to do and the people we want to be and how we combat those challenges, but we still tried to have some fun along the way.Since it was a live show, we decided to change it up a bit. In other words, this episode is a little different than a typical one, but I hope that you'll still get some practical suggestions and inspiration to keep your dreams alive.
#
Want more coverage from SXSW? If so, you might be interested in the coverage I did at SXSW 2017, where I did a variety of interviews during the festival including New York Times best-selling author of The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger; director of an award-winning documentary at SXSW, Miao Wang; and esteemed film critic Leonard Maltin.
Show notes for that episode are here.
#
Want to learn more about Fable House? Then check out this interview with Andrew Morgan Smith, the composer who has done the scores for a number of their films, including Zombie Shark and Ozark Sharks.
Show notes for that episode are here.
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: [email protected]#
Related Things Fable House's website Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vimeo Matt S. Bell's webite Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter Misty Talley's website Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter Sam Claitor on Behance Facebook, IMDb, Instagram, Twitter West Without's music video "Give Me Your Heart," co-directed by Sam and shot by Matt CFX, the prosthetics company that made the remote-controlled shark fin on Ozark SharksMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
Films & Shows Mentioned Captain America: The Winter Soldier Life After Pi Family Guy Ozark Sharks Sharknado Ten to Sing Zombie Shark#
Other People Mentioned Clay Achee, puppet maker and former guest on the show Daniel Lewis, COO of Active Entertainment, the company that has partnered with Fable House to produce a number of shark films Kolby Kember, Fable House’s vfx artist Natalie Kingston, the cinematographer on Ten to Sing#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Brothers Daniel and Jesse Reaux have been playing music since they were kids. After a couple of encouraging open mic sessions, they drew upon some of their musical influences from bluegrass, the blues, and outlaw country and partnered with some of their musician friends to form The Rayo Brothers.
In their current lineup, they have Jordan Ardoin on bass, Lance Kelehan on drums and mandolin, and Sarah Jayde Williams on the fiddle. Daniel plays the guitar and Jesse plays the banjo, and both of the brothers do the vocals. Since the band's inception they've played all across the South, including shows at SXSW, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Festival Internationale, House of Blues New Orleans, and Gilley's Dallas. They are scheduled to do another showcase for Jazz Fest this year on May 3rd.
Some of the discussion topics include
How the band got their start and developed their sound The appeal of old-time traditions and throwback styles How a distinct music video can help a band get noticed What other bands should keep in mind when shooting music videos Tips for filmmakers who want to shoot videos with bands Budgeting for music videos, tours, and album releases Building a fan base one show at a timeAt the end of the episode, you can hear the song "Red River Blues," which comes from the band's latest album, Take You For a Drive.
If you like exploring some of the music traditions that The Rayo Brothers reference in their music, you might appreciate this interview I did with Scott Rosenbaum, the filmmaker behind Sidemen, a documentary that premiered at SXSW in 2016 and tells the story of the Grammy-winning sidemen who played alongside legendary bluesmen Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and developed their own musical voices along the way. Show notes for that episode are here:
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! Fable House and I are partnering together to produce distinguished music videos for bands who want to share their music in personable and unforgettable ways. # Based in Louisiana, Fable House is a production company that has produced millions of dollars worth of content. Their team has done effects work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, and some of the recording artists they've worked with include Dr. John, Kendrick Lamar, and Jared Leto’s Thirty Seconds to Mars. #Let’s discuss how we can help your music stand out: [email protected]
#
Related Things"Coronet" music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx90tjA1-0E
The Rayo Brothers website The band on
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube Their "Gunslinger" music video The line up for Jazz Fest 2018 on May 3rd, when the band will be playing
The original Twitter announcement from @JazzFestMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
Films & Shows Mentioned Bonnie & Clyde (2013)#
Musicians Mentioned Bill Monroe Bob Dylan Chuck Berry Hank Williams Johnny Cash Mumford & Sons Owl City The Rayo Brothers#
Other People Mentioned Alexander the Great John Paul Summers, director of the "Gunslinger" music video Logan LeBlanc, cinematographer on "Gunslinger" Oracle of Delphi#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
This is my commentary based on prior conversation with Garrett Kruithof, an actor who has performed in projects like A&E's Bonnie & Clyde, Deepwater Horizon, and Starz's Magic City.
I discuss some of my takeaways from my conversation with Garrett and then I comment on some of the films and TV shows that I watched to prepare for the interview. Some of the discussion topics include
Working within a community to gain traction in the industry How filmmakers can get actors to adjust their performances Sex and violence on screen and how its depictions in Magic City influenced me Why so many Hollywood purveyors of violence seem so outspoken on the gun debate The kinds of assumptions I sometimes make about a director behind any given project Why setting a good example on screen and in reality can make a difference.In case you missed it, you can play my interview with Garrett below. Show notes for that episode are here:
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast on March 14 at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us! # Email: [email protected].#
Related Thingshttps://vimeo.com/229522121
Garrett in Shakespeare on the Range, my favorite performance of his
Tim Ferriss's interview with Senator Cory BookerMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
Films & Shows Mentioned 99 Homes Bonnie & Clyde (2013) Braveheart Deepwater Horizon Devil’s Acid Godfather Little Shop of Horrors Mad Men Magic City Mr. Right My Big Fat Greek Wedding The Iceman Shakespeare on the Range The Shape of Water#
Books Mentioned Crime and Punishment Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption A Tale of Two Cities#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
-
Garrett Kruithof was managing a hotel in Louisiana when a conversation with a guest convinced him that it was not too late to pursuit an acting career. He took an acting class, got connected with the actors in his community, and went on a number of auditions across the country.
After landed a recurring role on the Starz series Magic City, Garrett was able to turn acting into a full-time career.
Some of his other notable projects include Bonnie & Clyde, which was the third most-watched basic cable miniseries of all time, and Deepwater Horizon, where he played Karl Kleppinger Jr., one of the 11 workers who died when the rig erupted.
Some of the things we discuss include
What goes into researching a historical figure Techniques for finessing a performance that isn't working How getting connected to an acting community helped Garrett find success Building rapport with colleagues when you have just a few hours to make a connection The lore around Bonnie & Clyde and the fascination that continues to this day What it's like playing a real-life character who has died and meeting his family Learning how to be comfortable in your skin, onscreen and in reality Exploring a life of crime on screenIf you’d like to hear another interview with an actor and acting coach, you can listen to my interview with Laura Cayouette, who you might recognize as the sister of Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Django Unchained. We discuss her approach to acting and instructing other actors, her collaborations with Tarantino, and more.
Show notes for that episode are here:
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast at SXSW 2018. It happens on March 14, at 11:00 AM. Details are here. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us. Email: [email protected].#
Related ThingsGarrett as Kyle on Deepwater Horizon
Garrett's website & IMDb page Garrett teaches acting at Northwood Acting Studio Garrett on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter I interviewed Garrett briefly as part of my coverage of LA Film Prize 2016. That interview is here. The Iceman, features a brief but significant appearance by Garrett. I once had the opportunity to interview Bradley Greer who did the color grade on that film, and we discussed how the grade helped to convey the story in this episode.Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
Films & Shows Mentioned 48 Hrs. Bonnie & Clyde (2013) Burn Notice Common Law Deepwater Horizon Devil's Acid Free State of Jones The Iceman Magic City Mr. Right Shakespeare on the Range St. Jude's Crossing Underground Ya Albi#
Book Mentioned The Organic Actor: Insider's Secrets to Auditioning for Film and Television#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:bit.ly/nsavides
spoti.fi/2nSw4bY
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPRO -
Last episode I had the opportunity to interview Hope Hanafin, the costume designer on shows like 500 Days of Summer, The Newsroom, and Thank You for Your Service. Normally I do the commentary at the end of each interview, but the interview with Hope ran longer than usual.
Hope shared a lot of great insights, so rather than try to cut down the interview's length, I decided to do my commentary on a separate episode. It would also give me the opportunity to think more about Aaron Sorkin's work and to delve more deeply into The Newsroom, which I watched all the way through for the first time in preparation for the interview.
While The Newsroom came out in 2012, it still feels relevant in today's political landscape. It dares to imagine what the news could be like if more of its practitioners were focused on telling the truth, and not merely entertaining for the sake of ratings or succumbing to the pitfalls of partisan politics.
It's a big vision, but does the show live up to its potential and its own ideals? What if anything can we take away from the show as we try to navigate the often polarizing waters of today's current events?
That's what I set to examine in my commentary. The Newsroom involves a number of political discussions, so I couldn't see a way to thoughtfully discuss the show without touching on its political outlook. My podcast is not primarily a political one, but I do believe it is important to address challenging issues on occasion, even if they do touch on politics.
I understand that politics can be polarizing, so I was hesitant to dive in, but the stakes felt substantial enough, and just because certain terrain is tricky to navigate doesn't mean we should avoid it entirely. On the contrary, it can be important to engage and to do so in a civil way. Otherwise only the most belligerent and extreme voices will be heard.
My perspectives might be a little different than how you see things or what you might expect based on other film and TV commentaries, but they are earnestly offered. Regardless of where you fall in the politic spectrum, I'm hoping that you'll consider my outlook and that we can continue the conversation in a thoughtful and considerate way.
Let's work together to make things better, shall we?
The Newsroom includes ongoing references to Man of La Mancha, a musical that has also meant something to me over the years. I discuss it in the commentary and briefly mention it in my prior discussion with Steve Kaplan, Hollywood's go-to comedy consultant. Check out the interview with him below to get a better sense of how comedy works and why it matters.
Show notes for that episode are here:
#
Sponsor for this Episode nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here! # Let’s talk about what we can do together. # Some of the team from Fable House and I will be doing a special live podcast on March 14 at SXSW 2018. If you plan to attend the festival, we hope you'll join us. Email: [email protected].#
Related Things The interview with Hope Hope's website MSNBC edits town hall footage NBC edits George Zimmerman call Occupy protests cost millions Origin of the Tea PartyMusic for the show provided by Rob Costlow
#
Films & Shows Mentioned 500 Days of Summer I, Tonya Man of La Mancha Molly's Game The Newsroom On the Waterfront The Post Thank You For Your Service#
Books Mentioned Elia Kazan: A Life Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials#
If You Liked the Show Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter. Subscribe or leave an honest review:bit.ly/nsavides
spoti.fi/2nSw4bY
Say hello on Twitter: @nsavidesPROThank you for visiting!
- Show more
