Sifter

Ward Howarth produces promotional videos for the Lockwood Broadcast Group. Lockwood is a television, digital and advertising company that owns and operates 13 television stations and programs 33 channels in eight markets. Our chat includes: – How he started his career with skate videos – Being a “dub cub” – A creepy Halloween spot from “Family Feud” – Challenging and cool aspects of his job – Deciding to write novels – Winning awards from Richmond Magazine and VMFA LINKS Lockwood Broadcast Ward Howarth’s website Community Authors Expo at the Fairfield Library VPA State of the Industry 1/29

Nicholas Kleczewski is a Richmonder who edited the documentary “Song Sung Blue,” which inspired the current film of the same name starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. He’s had a varied career as an editor and director. Our discussion includes: – Starting with extreme sports docs – Two years creating videos for Beyoncé – Getting the “Song Sung Blue” gig via Craigslist – Comparing the Hollywood version to the original doc – How Eddie Vedder saved it at Sundance – Meeting Hugh Jackman at the premiere – An immigration challenge in Zimbabwe – Creating content for Audi LINKS Nick’s website Song Sung Blue doc (free) My review of Song Sung Blue (the Hollywood version) James River Film Society Short Film Showcase

Walid Chaya is an actor, director, writer and teacher who worked in Richmond before moving to Los Angeles. He’s acted in TV shows and movies, as well as directed shorts and taught acting classes. Our lively discussion includes: – Getting inspired as a child in Lebanon – How he got to Richmond – Moving to LA – Being cast in stereotypical Middle Eastern roles – Working on “Madam Secretary” – Getting burned to death by Neo-Nazis – Working with a dialect coach on “Blacklist: Redemption” – Sitting in a makeup chair for 3 hours – His shorts and upcoming feature LINKS Walid’s website Driving Ms. Saudi Darn It Darla Crazy Rich Arabs Lights, Camera, Conversation podcast My podcast with Constance Wu  

“Bad Shabbos” is a comedy about family that gathers for the traditional Shabbos dinner, when the son brings his new Catholic girlfriend. That’s just the beginning of what happens before it takes a surprising turn. Zack Weiner co-wrote this film with his director Daniel Robbins. It will be the first film playing at the 17th annual Israel and Jewish Film Festival at the Weinstein JCC. There will be a Red Carpet Opening Night Premiere Party on January 8 with Zack attending. Today, Zack will talk about: – Starting his work relationship with director Daniel Robins – Creating a BDSM video to run for City Council – How much of story was from his life – Sharing his scripts with his mother & father, co-creator of “Dora the Explorer” – Casting Kyra Sedgwick & Method Man – Shooting on location in New York – His upcoming script on chess boxing LINK: The Israeli & Jewish Film Festival

Hard Light Cinema is run by 8 cinephiles who screen independent and international films in various venues around Richmond. Since founding last November, they’ve screened 35 films. They have 3 slated for January and the first is Frederick wiseman’s 1968 documentary “High School” (free at the Richmond Public Library Main Branch, 1/4, 2pm). For this interview Lewis Peterson, Warner West & Syd Miller join me to talk about: – Who they are and how they got into cinema – Hard Light’s beginning – How it’s grown in 2 years – Deciding what films to show – Slow cinema – How they finance the screenings LINKS Hard Light Cinema website Instagram @hardlightrichmond

Charles D. Thompson Jr. is a prolific author and director. His most recent documentary is “Rock Castle Home,” which is about this unique community in the Blue Ridge Mountains and how it evolved and later vanished. It’s being screened as part of a series of programs at the Library of Virginia that highlight stories of displacement in Virginia communities, “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community History.” Charles will be in attendance on Fri, Dec 12 at 2pm. We’ll discuss: – His Virginia connection – Why his personal background inspired his books & documentaries – Becoming interested in “the little man” – Going from books to movies – How this film come about – What the title means – Challenges of shooting LINKS Library of Virginia event Charlie’s website Link to the video on PBS

WRIC’s “Showcase” started a few years back, but was updated to a full one-hour show, when it launched September 8 with co-hosts Amie Carter & Melissa Chase. We had a lively discussion which includes: – Their backgrounds and how they came to this show – Melissa at Hamaganza – Amie’s namesake – Shooting in studio and on location – Why it’s on mid-afternoon – Planning their wardrobe – The most interesting or unusual story – How it’s different from other local news shows – A character named Melissa Chase on Disney LINKS Showcase on WRIC Showcase Facebook page The Dirtwoman Documentary (with Melissa at Hamaganza)

David Crank is a Richmond-based film Production Designer. He was Oscar-nominated for “News of the World” in 2021 (there’s a link to that podcast below). His latest project was for “The Lost Bus (Apple TV),” which stars Matthew McConaughey as the bus driver who got a bus full of school children thru the horrific Camp Fire in 2018. We discuss: – The origins of his last name – Re-creating the interiors & exteriors – Using 7 busses for the shoot – Safety precautions for kids – Working with McConaughey – The real people who lived thru the fire – Meeting Bad Bunny LINKS David’s website Link to “The Lost Bus” on Apple TV Our first podcast interview from 2022 Anthony’s doc on Paul Pope My review of “The Lost Bus”

Joey Clift is a Los Angeles-based comedian, TV writer, director, Emmy-nominated producer and member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. His film “POW” is an animated short about a young native kid trying to charge his video game console at a powwow. He’s one of the featured directors at this year’s Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival (11/20-23), that presents projects from indigenous filmmakers from all over the world. We talk about: – Where the Cowlitz Indian Tribe is – How he got into storytelling – Using 3 different animation styles – Designing characters with different skin tones – The community of native comedians LINKS: Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival Joey Clift’s website Joey Clift “way too frequent podcast guest” Joe’s “Gone Native” web series for Comedy Central The first podcast with Peter and Francoise on the French Film Festival Richmond Film Network Indie Fest (11/15)

Andrew D. Kaplan has made several documentaries about 19th century writers and “In Search of Edgar Allen Poe” is his latest. This extensive 3-hour doc is now streaming on PBS. We’ll talk about: – His PhD in mass communications – Acting as the on-camera narrator – Touching up historical portraits – Determining Poe’s accent for the voiceover – Using Stephen Foster’s songs – The Golden Age of illustration – The mysterious man at his grave on Poe’s birthday LINKS In Search of Edgar Allan Poe on PBS East Rock Films website RONSTERBALMER Video Store Instagram page My review of THE STUDIO My review of YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS My review of BABY RAINDEER

Daniel Poler comes from Venezuela and Panama and his new film is coming to this year’s Virginia Film Festival (10/22-26). ESPINA is the film he made about and starring his best friend, Jonathan, who’s confined to a wheelchair. The movie explores the subject with an upbeat attitude. We discuss: – How he got to the states – When his filmmaking career began – Creating fashion videos for designers like Prada, Carolina Herrera, Jason Woo and Saks – Graduating from a doc to narrative – The title’s meaning – The surprise after the credits LINKS The Virginia Film Festival Espina at the VFF The documentary that Daniel produced about Jonathan Daniel Poler’s website Silent Movie Revival screening of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” WRIR Fall Fund Drive

Jeff Rathner started his career shooting news at CBS6 right here in Richmond. He ultimately ended up in DC working for 36 years at the PBS Newshour. Our discussion includes: – A wise mouth anchor at “PM Magazine” – Sharing a cigar with Fidel Castro – Covering Bill Clinton as his scandal started – Putting a mic on Paul McCartney – Sharing birthdays with Tom Hanks – Getting a kiss from Baryshnikov – The most challenging interviews LINKS:| Jeff’s IMDB page The Rocky Horror report on CBS6  (that Jeff shot) The 48 Hour Horror film Project (Oct 19 & 26)  

“The American Miracle” is a docudrama inspired by Michael Medved’s book of the same title. It states that God’s “providential hand” intervened in the founding of the United States. Douglas B. Maddox had a number of jobs on the film, including producer. We discuss: – Switching from physics to film in college – How he got involved with this project – Getting Pat Boone and Richard Dreyfuss – Shooting in Virginia – Visual effects to create crowds, snow and cold breath – Results of the national screenings LINKS The American Miracle website DBM Communications Podcast with Al Underwood Podcast with David Crank IRL Movie Club

This is the 2nd year for the Inthrive Film Festival, which features the voices and talents of incarceration survivors. It’s coming to Richmond October 3-6 at various locations. We’ll meet the makers of 2 entries about the closing of prisons that take very different approaches. Ashley Hunt’s “And Water Brings Tomorrow” merges poetry and documentary, while Juicebox P. Burton’s short “Space to Breathe” is a futuristic look at life without prisons. Our discussion includes: – Their backgrounds – How water inspired the title – A hybrid between doc and narrative – Taking a futuristic approach to abolition – Afro futurism design in the SFX and costumes LINKS: InThrive Festival Virginia Film Festival Belltower Pictures screenings

Bunt Young is a Richmond native who started his career as a cinematographer when he was still a teen. He’s worked on TV shows, motion pictures and commercials. We discuss: – His affinity for impressions – Differences between A camera, B camera, insert camera and more – Getting fiery shots in the pit of a big race – Landing the gig on Terrence Malick’s “The New World” – Riding in the back seat with Jim Gaffigan – Working with Mike Henry on a memorable commercial – Cloris Leachman’s bold move – Shooting with Amy Poehler before SNL LINKS: Bunt’s IMDB page The Henry Brothers website features the Border Café commercial, some of the UCB clips and more (all of which Bunt shot, except the Friendly Farm spoof) Podcast with Guy Spiller founder of BES Productions Podcast with Bunt interviewing me as TVJerry

Richmonder Melody C. Roscher wrote and directed “Bird in Hand,” which she shot here. It follows Bird Rowe, a biracial bride-to-be who arrives unannounced at her hippie mother’s home to plan her wedding. The Virginia premiere will be at this year’s Richmond International Film Festival on 9/25 at 7pm at the Byrd. Our discussion includes: – Her background in Richmond – Going from wanting to be a zoologist to a filmmaker – The experience at Sundance for her short film – Where the idea for “Bird in Hand” originated – The meaning of the title – Casting Christine Lahti & James LeGros – Showing her feature at Tribecca Festival – Shooting in Virginia LINKS Richmond International Film Festival My interview with Nicholas Colia (Griffin in Summer) Cut & Run Video pop-up (Instagram)

Will Turner is the subject of the new documentary “Sierra 914,” which follows his extreme marathon event, where he swam, biked and ran 914 miles as a personal challenge. He’s joined by the film’s director Ryan Dugger. They talk about this incredible achievement and the grueling process for Will and the film crew: – What started Will running – How Ryan decided to shoot the doc – Why it’s called Sierra 914 – How it was financed – Will’s dedications to friends – Why Will doesn’t wear headphones while running/biking – Shooting for almost 24 hours LINKS RIFF (Richmond International Film Festival) Trailer for Sierra 914 Sierra 914 website Cat Video Fest 2025

Andrea Meyerson formed an online community of fellow lesbians during COVID, Women on the Net. She joined with director Kathryn L. Beranich to produce this documentary about this and the famous guests who were on the zoom group. “An Unexpected Community” will play at this year’s Virginia Queer Film Festival, which will run September 12 – 14 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. We discuss: – How the idea for the original show came about – Shooting interviews all over the country – Having famous comics and musicians on the zoom – Funding the production – Covering the big in-person meetup – Challenges during post production LINKS Virginia Queer Film Festival Women on the Net The James River Film Society Silent Music Revival

“Griffin in Summer” is a coming-of-age feature about Griffin, a fourteen-year-old aspiring playwright (Everett Blunck). During the summer he tries to bring his ambitious artistic vision to life, while becoming enamoured by his mom’s handyman. It was shot in Virginia in 2023 and stars Melanie Lynskey (as mom) and Owen Teague (as the handyman). It also won the Founders Award for best U.S. narrative feature at last year’s prestigious Tribecca Film Festival. In our discussion we cover: – How his own youth inspired the project – Casting and working with young actors – Finding Everett Blunck aka Griffin – Casting Melanie Lynskey & Owen Teague – Shooting in Virginia – The response at Tribecca LINKS Griffin in Summer on Hulu Griffin In Summer trailer RFN’s Sonic Storytelling event My review of “Pee-wee as Himself” My review of “My Mom Jayne” (about Jayne Mansfield, as well as the Barbara Walters doc)

Reel Families for Change centers on work-life solutions that ensure career access and advancement for caregiving filmmakers, especially those who may be more vunerable or marginalized. Akima Brown is Founder and Executive Director of the organization and she explains the work they do: – How this got started – Her Virginia connection – How inequity in production became real – Informed consent protocols – Why media access is important LINKS Reel Families website Akima’s website Beer, Beards &Broad: The Legacy of Admiral Zumwalt 8/ 4 in Norfolk My review of “Washington Black”