Film Sense

Actor, Producer, Creature Performer DOUG TAIT (Hellboy, Legacies, Attack of the Unknown) stops by the Film Sense Zoom room for our first interview since we met on the Wyrd documentary MEN IN SUITS. Links: Doug Tait on IMDB MEN IN SUITS on YouTube  

Producer HEATHER BUCKLEY ("The Ranger", "We Are Still Here" and "Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson") joins filmmaker JACK BENNETT ("Grandpa Metal", "New Music Sucks") and myself to discuss the inclusive genre studio she recently co-founded, BLACK MANSION. - Frank H. Woodward A Little More About Black Mansion Black Mansion's mission is to "explore genre as a potent vehicle for visionary and provocative storytelling through features, series and documentaries... to present new voices that are boldly cinematic, deeply personal and prestige." Links: BLACK MANSION Go Fund Me THE RANGER Now On Shudder

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... I had the delight of meeting actor Misty Rosas when I interviewed her for my documentary "Men In Suits".  Since then her work has gone into hyper-drive thanks to two instantly iconic roles on "The Mandalorian"... Kuiil, the wise Ugnaught, and the endearing Frog Lady.  A lot has changed for Misty Rosas.  You could even say, "The Force is strong with this one." Links: Misty Rosas Official Site LIFE LESSONS An Album by Misty Rosas Misty Rosas on YouTube Music

The puppet ghost stories of Kevin McTurk (The Haunted Swordsman, The Mill At Calder's End, The Narrative of Victor Karloch) are a fine blend of many cinematic influences including George Méliès, Jim Henson, Japanese folk tales, Hammer Horror and so much more. The masterful way he creates illusions of fantasy and life has amazed film festival audiences around the world. In many ways, I consider him one of the most intriguing filmmakers working today. So let's venture into the spirit cabinet with Kevin to hear the method behind his magic. Links: The Spirit Cabinet - Kevin McTurk's Official Site

I continue to sift through the FILM SENSE bins in search of bonus interviews like this one from my discussion with director Andrew Kasch about the challenge of going to the movies and discovering new voices in a shrinking, streaming world. - FHW

As we call "wrap" on 2020, I sift through the FILM SENSE bins in search of bonus interviews like this one from my discussion with author/screenwriter David J. Schow. - FHW

Here's a Bonus Feature to watch after seeing CLEAN, a short film by Frank H. Woodward, now streaming on the official Screamfest YouTube Channel.  Watch CLEAN here!!! Joining Frank for this virtual Q&A are Brian Pope ("Howard"), Jack Bennett ("Dr. Robert"), Liesel Hanson ("How-To Instructor"), producer Pam Altieri Paterra, composer J. Phillip Wilkins, and sound recordist Hunter Paterra. CLEAN had its premiere on October 10, 2020 at Screamfest 2020. This Q&A was recorded on September 30, 2020.

The time has come for a closer look at the business side of filmmaking with a focus on independent productions. Michael Hayes is one of the partners of Prolific Pictures, a film sales and production company.  We speak to him about what filmmakers need to keep in mind going forward in a market where production, distribution, exhibition... pretty much everything has changed. Links: Prolific Pictures Michael Hayes on IMDB The Camera Eye - A Facebook Group Moderated by Prolific Pictures

With Election Day upon us... It's time to get political with filmmaker Izzy Lee. Izzy has directed such socio-political horror films as RE-HOME, MY MONSTER and THE OBLITERATION OF THE CHICKENS.  She was also named by The A.V. Club as one of the filmmakers Blumhouse should definitely hire.  Links: Nihil Noctem Films MY MONSTER by Izzy Lee RITES OF VENGEANCE Teaser

"If you were to reboot Hollywood, what are some of the changes you would make?"  In this limited series, I ask fellow filmmakers and industry professionals this very question. In Part Two, we are joined by Kevin VanHook, a writer/director (The Fallen Ones), comic book creator (Bloodshot) and visual effects supervisor. Links: BLOODSHOT on Amazon Prime Worldwide FX - Visual Effects

"If you were to reboot Hollywood, what are some of the changes you would make?"  In this limited series, I ask filmmakers and industry professionals this very question. In Part One, we are joined by JODI GOMES, an award winning producer/director of unscripted series and documentary films.  Her company Point 7 Entertainment is behind such shows as A&E's The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty and the documentary feature One Child Left Behind: The APS Teaching Scandal. Links: JODI GOMES on IMDB "One Child Left Behind" Official Site  

David J. Schow (The Crow, Creepshow) is an award winning author, screenwriter, monster lover and constant creator. He was kind enough to sit down with me and share his thoughts on monster movies, James Bond, writing wisdom and the future of Hollywood. And thus begins Season 3 of Film Sense... Links: David J. Schow Filmography Cimarron Street Books - "Monster Movies" by David J. Schow "Silver Scream" Available on Amazon "Wild Hairs" Available on Amazon

This feature length, mostly uncensored whiskey chat is like being at the Tam O'Shanter with filmmakers Jack Bennett and Frank H. Woodward.  Jack talks about his latest music video Grandpa Metal before pondering deep, philosophical thoughts about making movies.  A conversation that will most likely get one of thes two guys in trouble. (SPOILER: It's Frank. He looks forward to your emails.) Links: GRANDPA METAL music video

Film Sense is back with filmmaker Andrew Kasch (Legends of Tomorrow, Tales of Halloween)!!  Gather round as we share tales of filmmaking in the Age of COVID, anthologies, and the healing power of creation. Links: QUARAN TINIES by Andrew Kasch VARIETY: Horror Anthology Film 'Isolation' Finishes Filming Entirely in Quarantine CLOWN TOWN by John Skipp & Andrew Kasch TALES OF HALLOWEEN Trailer

Director Chelsea Stardust shares her memories of 2019 including what she learned from having two feature films released in the same year, All That We Destroy and Satanic Panic. Plus... Chelsea and I look back at some other gifts of the year. -FHW Links: ALL THAT WE DESTROY on Hulu SATANIC PANIC on Amazon Prime ** Support FILM SENSE - Subscribe, Like, Share, and Comment**

You've heard his work here as the theme music for FILM SENSE.  Now I sit down to chat about soundtracks and more with composer Jonathan Wilkins. But wait!  There's more! To mark my birthday, Jon and I look back on our early days as young filmmakers.  Jon was there with me when we made our first short and now we get to tell you all about it. -FHW Related Links: Jonathan Wilkins on Twitter - @lucrativeangst HOT FLASH by Danny Woodburn - Music By Jon Wilkins "You Only Live Twice" by The Postmarks PARROT BUSTERS - A Film By Frank H. Woodward, Jonathan Wilkins and Devon Sharkey  

What's the best way to watch a movie?  Is the cinematic experience becoming a thing of the past?   That's the topic of my FILM SENSE discussion with to co-founders of Film Geeks- San Diego Beth Accomando and Miguel Rodriguez. How important is it to see movies the way they were meant to be seen?  For over 100 years, the ideal venue was always a darkened theater.  With an audience.  A communal affair.   Today, however, people can catch the latest release at home, on their computer, tablet or smartphone.  And while the age of streaming has presented audiences with seemingly unlimited choices (and filmmakers with new channels)... at what cost? Is it too late to save cinema?  Not if we have anything to say about it. Links: Film Geeks SD Digital Gym Cinema Junkie /KPBS Horrible Imaginings Film Festival A24 Zines 2018 Internet Piracy Report (Torrent Freak) 2018 Internet Piracy Report (Screen Daily) David Walker - 12 Blaxploitation Films To REALLY Know  •Please be sure to Subscribe, Like, Share and Comment• FILM SENSE is registered under Creative Commons.

Filmmaker / Creature Designer MIKE HILL fell in love with monsters at a young age.  That passion lives on today in the films he makes and creatures he creates. In this FILM SENSE interview, Mike sits down to discuss a wide variety of topics including designing creatures like the Amphibian Man for THE SHAPE OF WATER, chasing his own muse with his short film PRODIGAL SON, and the many inspirations he's discovered on this journey. Links: Mike Hill Art - Facebook  

When a filmmaker enjoys a certain amount of success, it most likely means they have some fans that have rallied around their work.  In this new age of branding, however, a true fan has become a much bigger part of the filmmaking process.  Filmmakers CHRIS MANCINI and GARY DEOCAMPO join us in a discussion about the role of fans in our lives and work. Fans are more than just our audience.  They can also finance a project via crowdfunding or promote a movie thanks to word of mouth on social networks.  The dark side of fandom is that those same supporters can also be a destructive force. Listen to some of our experiences with fans and ways to build a beautiful friendship. LINKS: Comedy Film Nerds - Stand-up comedians, authors and filmmakers Chris Mancini and Graham Elwood are the Comedy Film Nerds. Their weekly podcast is devoted to the newest movie releases, classic film, major features, independent film and all things movie-related! Del Toro Films - The official site of filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro.  Moderated and edited by Gary Deocampo. Long Ago and Far Away - A graphic novel series by Chris Mancini. GRUMMY - A film by Micheline Pitt & R.H. Norman.  Produced by Gary Deocampo and creature designer Kevin Yagher.

Black Panther... Get Out... Candyman... all have become classics of speculative fiction.  They are also shining examples of AFRO-FUTURISM and the ETHNO-GOTHIC.   With the success of these films, it may seem that a new sub-genre of fantastic cinema is being born.  But according to PROFESSOR JOHN JENNINGS, horror and science fiction have been depicting the black experience for quite sometime.  What we have instead is a Renaissance. So join Prof. Jennings and myself as we explore this new birth. Bio: JOHN JENNINGS is a Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California at Riverside. Jennings is co-editor of the Eisner Award-winning collection The Blacker the Ink: Constructions of Black Identity in Comics and Sequential Art. Jennings is also a 2016 Nasir Jones Hip Hop Studies Fellow with the Hutchins Center at Harvard University. Jennings' current projects include the horror anthology Box of Bones, the coffee table book Black Comix Returns (with Damian Duffy), and the Eisner-winning, Bram Stoker Award-winning, New York Times best-selling graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler's classic dark fantasy novel Kindred. Jennings is also founder and curator of the ABRAMS Megascope line of graphic novels. Sound Clips: Luke Cage - Disney Enterprises, Inc. © COPYRIGHT MCMXCI, MMI DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. All Rights Reserved © 2016 Marvel Sun Ra / "Calling Planet Earth" - © 1998 © 2015 D A Music / Org Music (from a 1971 live performance) Underground Resistance / "Jupiter Jazz" - © 1992 Mad Mike Music Get Out - © 2017 Universal Studios Candyman - © 1992 Polygram Filmed Entertainment Avengers: Infinity War - © 2018 Marvel Suggested Reading from Prof. Jennings: Kindred by Octavia E. Butler A Graphic Novel Adaptation - Illustatetd by John Jennings. Adapted by Damian Duffy Black Kirby by John Jennings & Stacey Robinson Cosmic Underground: A Grimoire of Black Speculative Discontent - Edited by Reynaldo Anderson & John Jennings Marvel Essential Luke Cage Power Man Vol. 2 by Various The Conjure Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem by Rudolph Fisher Flyboy 2 by Greg Tate Creating Black Americans by Nell Irvin Painter Black Frankenstein: The Making of an American Metaphor by Elizabeth Young Stamped From The Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi Framing Blackness: The African American Image In Film by Ed Guerrero CORRECTION: The name of the executive producer of LITTLE is Marsai Martin (Blackish).