SOUNDS OF FILM with Tom Needham

On this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes author Wynton Hall, a Distinguished Fellow at Government Accountability Institute, to discuss his new book CODE RED: The Left, the Right, China, and the Race to Control AI. In CODE RED, Hall examines the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, exploring concerns about ideological influence in AI systems, the intensifying U.S.–China competition, and the societal impact of automation, digital relationships, and emerging technologies. The conversation highlights both the risks and opportunities of AI, and what individuals and institutions can do to prepare for a rapidly changing future.The Sounds of Film is a long-running radio show and podcast hosted by Tom Needham that explores the intersection of film, music, and culture through conversations with influential voices across the arts and public life. Through the years, the program has featured a wide range of notable guests including Alec Baldwin, Alexander Payne, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, William H. Macy, Michael Moore, Cornel West, and Chuck D, reflecting the show’s wide-ranging focus on artists, filmmakers, and thinkers shaping contemporary culture.

Director Cindy Meehl joins Sounds of Film to discuss her latest documentary Jimmy & The Demons, an intimate and visually rich portrait of celebrated artist James Grashow. Known for her deeply human storytelling style, Meehl brings audiences inside both the creative process and emotional world of her subject, capturing a once-in-a-lifetime artistic journey with honesty, warmth, and insight.Jimmy & The Demons follows Grashow as he embarks on the most ambitious project of his life at nearly 80 years old—a monumental sculpture that becomes a meditation on art, mortality, and meaning. As he devotes years to completing what may be his final masterpiece, the film blends humor, wonder, and emotional depth, offering a powerful look at the sacrifices and joys of a life dedicated to creativity and the search for purpose.Cindy Meehl is an award-winning director and executive producer and the founder of Cedar Creek Productions. Her debut feature documentary Buck premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, where it won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. She followed that success with The Dog Doc (2019), which premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was released in 2020. In addition to her directorial work, Meehl has served as an executive producer on a range of acclaimed documentaries including Natchez (2025), Fashion Reimagined (2022), Rewind (2019), The River and the Wall (2019), For the Birds (2018), Trapped (2016), Unbranded (2015), and Dogs on the Inside (2014). Her latest film, Jimmy & The Demons, premiered at Tribeca in 2025 and has received multiple festival awards.Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is one of the nation’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed radio shows, airing for over 30 years on WUSB in New York. The program features in-depth conversations with leading voices in film, music, and culture. Past guests have included Alexander Payne, Alec Baldwin, Laurie Anderson, Bob Geldof, Billy Joel, Pam Grier, Rob Reiner, Julie Andrews, Jordan Peele, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, William H. Macy, Cicely Tyson, Chazz Palminteri, Peter Fonda, and Rev. Jesse Jackson, among many others.

On the next episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with director Hannah Berryman and trailblazing astronaut Eileen Collins about the powerful new documentary SPACEWOMAN.SPACEWOMAN tells the remarkable true story of Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a spacecraft. From her working-class roots in Elmira, New York, to her groundbreaking career at NASA, the film traces a journey defined by perseverance, courage, and historic achievement. Through a blend of archival footage and personal insight, the documentary offers an intimate look at both the triumphs and challenges of life in space exploration.The film also revisits pivotal moments in NASA history, including Collins’ leadership of the return-to-flight mission following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. In doing so, it explores the risks inherent in human spaceflight and raises compelling questions about ambition, sacrifice, and the drive to push beyond known limits.Sounds of Film is a Long Island-based radio show and podcast hosted by Tom Needham, featuring conversations with filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals. Past guests have included Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Dionne Warwick, Michael Moore, Cornel West, and Chuck D, offering listeners unique insight into the creative process behind film, television, and beyond.

“The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” is a documentary about Mark Bittner, a homeless musician in San Francisco who forms a deep bond with a flock of wild parrots living on Telegraph Hill. The film explores his relationship with the birds, their unique behaviors, and his personal journey of self-discovery and connection to nature.“Wild Parrots” was first screened in 16mm in festivals in 2003. Mark Bittner’s memoir, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, was published by Random House in 2004. Ken Eisen of Shadow Distribution picked up the movie, blew it up to 35mm, and booked it in 500 theaters in 2005, grossing over three million dollars. Broadcast on the national PBS series Independent Lens in 2007, the film attracted 1.5 million viewers, making it the most popular show of the series.Twenty years after the film’s first release, in the spring of 2023, the San Francisco Chronicle hosted a contest to pick the City’s “Official Animal.” In a hotly contested battle over four rounds of voting, the maverick Wild Parrots beat the corporate tourism Sea Lions of Pier 39 and 15 other species. The official City Ordinance took effect in August, the same month the Avalon Theatr in Washington D.C. hosted the premiere of the restored 4K movie.The restoration was a 5.5-year labor of love. Because the original film was SD (Standard Definition, not HD, High Definition), it disappeared from streaming platforms, which no longer accept SD films. Producer/director Judy Irving, with the help of the Academy Film Archive, had the 16mm film negative scanned in 4K and slowly started cleaning up (“dust-busting”) the 120,000 digital frames. She was joined by Sarah Lemarie, CEO of Mickaboo Bird Rescue, whose volunteered time and expertise made it possible to complete the restoration. And now a whole new generation can see “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” on the big screen.Filmmaker Judy Irving is a Sundance and Emmy-Award winning filmmaker whose theatrical credits include The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, a feature documentary about the relationship between a homeless street musician and a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco, Pelican Dreams, about California brown pelicans and the people who know them best, Dark Circle, a personal film about the links between nuclear power and weapons, and Cold Refuge, about how swimming in open water mitigates some of life's most serious challenges. In 2015 she was elected to the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.Author and film subject Mark Bittner was born and raised in southwestern Washington State. His first ambition as a teenager was to be a novelist, but alarmed by the uniformly miserable fates of all the writers whom he loved, he decided to pursue a career in music instead. After hitchhiking through Europe, he ended up in San Francisco determined to sink or swim as a poet-singer-songwriter. He sank. Completely bereft, he turned to spiritual seeking and ended up on the street where he spent the next 14 years. Ultimately his search led him to the wild parrot flock, which, in turn, led him back to writing, and his first book: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. He is currently seeking a publisher for his second book, Street Song, which details his journey to the street. He has also completed a set of recordings, Street Songs, as a supplement to the book.SOUNDS is the nation’s longest running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming worldwide live on the internet. Past people interviewed for the show include Carter Burwell, Don McLean, Jordan Peterson, Hal Hartley, DA Pennebaker, Wendy & Lisa, Alexander Payne, Ernest Dickerson and Dionne Warwick.For more information, visit soundsoffilm.com

On this Classic Sounds of Film, veteran actor and director Eric Stoltz joins host Tom Needham to revisit his long and varied career in film and television, including his work as a director and the making of his feature Class Rank. Stoltz reflects on the many roles that have defined his journey—from breakthrough performances in dramatic films to memorable appearances in genre favorites—offering listeners a broad look at his evolution as an artist and collaborator in the industry. His career has spanned influential films and television series alike, with Stoltz navigating projects that showcase his range both in front of and behind the camera.Stoltz first gained widespread attention for his early work in Mask and continued to build his reputation with roles in films like Some Kind of Wonderful and Pulp Fiction, among many others. Over the years he has also established himself as a television director, helming episodes of acclaimed series across diverse genres. His multifaceted career underscores a commitment to creative exploration, whether portraying nuanced characters or shaping stories from the director’s chair.The Sounds of Film is America’s longest‑running radio and podcast program devoted to the intersections of cinema, music, and ideas. For more than three decades it has aired a distinctive mix of interviews, music, and cultural insight to audiences across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and worldwide via major podcast platforms. The program has featured an eclectic array of guests from across the worlds of film, music, literature, and culture, including Billy Joel, William H. Macy, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Alexander Payne, and Marco Beltrami, among many others who have shaped the landscape of contemporary cinema and the arts.

Filmmaker Kerry Mondragon is the featured guest on an upcoming episode of the Sounds of Film podcast, hosted by Tom Needham. Mondragon’s work is marked by a fearless blend of cultural insight and cinematic daring, and his latest film Wetiko tells the story of a young Maya man drawn into the shadowy currents of a New Age ecovillage deep in the Yucatán jungle. The film moves between languages and worlds, weaving psychological tension and indigenous perspective into a gripping, genre‑defying narrative that reflects Mondragon’s distinctive creative sensibility.Wetiko follows its protagonist Aapo on a journey that begins with an errand and becomes an odyssey, revealing the seductive allure and deeper dangers of spiritual consumerism in a lush but unforgiving landscape. Mondragon’s approach to storytelling and his commitment to exploring identity, belief, and cultural collision have positioned him as a compelling voice in independent film.Sounds of Film, now one of the nation’s longest‑running film, music, and ideas‑themed programs, blends in‑depth conversations with directors, composers, actors, authors, and other cultural figures alongside its celebration of cinematic soundtracks and storytelling. Over its decades‑long run, the show has welcomed an eclectic roster of guests — including Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Chuck D, Carter Burwell, Dionne Warwick, Noah Baumbach, and Alexander Payne — offering listeners a wide range of perspectives on film, music, and the creative life.

In memory of Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recently passed away, we are sharing this exclusive Sounds of Film interview. A towering figure in modern American public life, Jackson rose to national prominence as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices for civil rights, economic justice, and political inclusion in the United States. Through his leadership of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and his historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s, he helped expand the national conversation about representation, opportunity, and the power of grassroots coalitions.For decades, Jackson’s work spanned ministry, activism, and international diplomacy, as he advocated for voting rights, workers, and underserved communities while also engaging in humanitarian efforts abroad. His influence reshaped both the civil rights movement’s next generation and the broader landscape of American political life.

In this episode of a Classic Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Dawn Sinclair Shapiro about her documentary The State of Eugenics. Their conversation explores how the film exposes a troubling and often overlooked chapter of American history — the forced sterilization of more than 7,600 people in North Carolina who were labeled as having “undesirable” genetic traits. Shapiro discusses the years of research behind the project, the role of investigative journalists in uncovering the story, and how connecting archival records to living survivors helped spark a movement demanding acknowledgement and justice.The documentary, developed over four years, centers on the human consequences of the policy, giving voice to survivors whose stories might otherwise have remained hidden. Through personal testimony and historical investigation, the film reveals the lasting impact of the program and why confronting this past remains essential today.The Sounds of Film podcast continues its tradition of highlighting influential voices in film and music. Past guests have included Cheech & Chong, Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Wallace Shawn, Kurtis Blow, Laurie Anderson, Ralph Macchio, and Donny Most, reflecting the program’s wide-ranging focus on artists whose work shapes culture and storytelling.

Filmmaker Cate Shortland, known to many audiences for directing Marvel’s Black Widow, first drew international attention with her debut feature Somersault. In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham welcomes Shortland to discuss the newly restored 4K release of the film, a visually haunting and emotionally intimate coming-of-age story set in the snowy landscapes of Australia. The film stars Abbie Cornish in a breakthrough role as Heidi, a vulnerable teenager searching for connection and belonging, alongside Sam Worthington in one of his earliest major screen performances.Set in the resort town of Jindabyne, Somersault explores themes of loneliness, desire, and the complicated path toward self-understanding. The stark winter setting and naturalistic style helped establish Shortland as a filmmaker with a distinctive visual voice and a deep sensitivity to character. The film remains an important early work in Australian cinema of the 2000s and marked the arrival of a director whose career would go on to span both intimate dramas and large-scale international productions.The Sounds of Film with Tom Needham is a long-running podcast and radio show devoted to conversations with the creative artists behind movies and television. Past guests have included John Turturro, William H. Macy, Alexander Payne, Wallace Shawn, Ralph Macchio, Laurie Anderson, Chuck D, D. A. Pennebaker, Howard Shore, and Thora Birch, reflecting the show’s wide-ranging focus on the many voices who shape the art of film.

On the next Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham speaks with Bill Ayers, a former community organizer and education professor whose early notoriety came as a co-founder of the Weather Underground, the radical antiwar group that emerged from the late-1960s student movement and was later labeled a domestic terrorist organization by the FBI. His past has remained a subject of debate, but it marks just one chapter in a long public career devoted to questions of democracy, schooling, and civic life.Ayers went on to become a prominent voice in progressive education, serving for many years as a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and writing influential books on teaching and social justice. His works include TO TEACH: THE JOURNEY OF A TEACHER, TO BECOME A TEACHER: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN’S LIVES, TEACHING TOWARD FREEDOM, A SIMPLE JUSTICE, and the memoir FUGITIVE DAYS, which reflects on activism, education, and the turbulent era that shaped his early life.Sounds of Film is America’s longest running film, music, and ideas show, exploring the creative minds behind the culture that moves us. Past guests include Chuck D, Chris Hedges, Big Daddy Kane, Thora Birch, Whit Stillman, Carter Burwell, Howard Shore, and DA Pennebaker.

Released on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic, PLANET OF THE HUMANS takes a harsh look at how the environmental movement has lost the battle through well-meaning but disastrous choices, including the belief that solar panels and windmills would save us, and by giving in to the corporate interests of Wall Street. Planet of the Humans, which will be available for free on Youtube for 30 days, becomes the first documentary project to be released under the Rumble Media banner.Jeff Gibbs, is the director, writer, and producer of the feature documentary film,"Planet of the Humans." Born in Flint, Michigan, Jeff has served as a long time collaborator with Michael Moore. The first film he ever worked on was "Bowling for Columbine." Following the success or "Bowling for Columbine" Jeff became co-producer for "Fahrenheit 9/11," the largest box-office documentary of all time. Jeff also wrote the original score for both films.

In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham sits down with Sook-Yin Lee, the director and co-writer of PAYING FOR IT, to discuss her daring live-action adaptation of Chester Brown’s acclaimed graphic novel. The film tells the story of an introverted cartoonist who, when his long-term girlfriend wants to redefine their relationship, begins seeing sex workers and discovers a new kind of intimacy. Combining humor, emotional depth, and intelligence, it challenges conventional ideas of love, non-monogamy, and human connection, while bringing underground comic culture to vivid life on screen.PAYING FOR IT features standout performances from Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, and Andrea Werhun, with cinematography by Emmy Award-winner Gayle Ye, production design by Olivia D’Oliveira, and an original score co-composed by Dylan Gamble and Lee herself. Chester Brown’s artwork is woven throughout the film, giving it an authentic graphic novel sensibility while highlighting the perspectives of sex workers in a thoughtful and nuanced way. The film is a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on intimacy, desire, and the choices we make in search of connection.Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, has been the home of insightful conversations with filmmakers, composers, actors, and cultural figures for more than three decades. Past guests include Billy Joel, Cornel West, Chuck D, Michael Moore, Carter Burwell, Nile Rodgers, Hal Hartley, Howard Shore, Ernest Dickerson, Barbara Kopple, Alec Baldwin, and Dionne Warwick, among many others, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, craft, and stories that shape cinema and music today.

In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough about his bold, provocative, and darkly funny new documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman. When Lough is unable to secure an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he takes a radical turn—building an AI version of Altman using publicly available data and cutting-edge technology. The result is “SamBot,” an artificial co-director that becomes both collaborator and mirror, reflecting Lough’s own fears, ambitions, and blind spots.Blending investigative journalism, satire, and deeply personal reflection, Deepfaking Sam Altman explores our culture’s growing obsession with simulation, power, and connection in the digital age. In the conversation, Lough discusses the ethics and legal complexities of deepfakes, the emotional experience of bonding with an AI, the blurred lines between parody and responsibility, and what it means to be human in a world increasingly shaped by machines. The interview offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year and a candid exploration of the promises—and dangers—of artificial intelligence.About Sounds of FilmSounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, explores the powerful connection between music and cinema through in-depth conversations with directors, composers, musicians, and industry legends. Past guests have included Billy Joel, William H. Macy, DA Pennebaker, Chuck D, Laurie Anderson, Carter Burwell, Whit Stillman, Dionne Warwick and many more, making the show a trusted destination for filmmakers, film lovers, and music fans alike.

Remembering Scott Adams — creator of Dilbert, host of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, and an early champion of The Sounds of Film. He generously joined us when the show was just getting started, and those conversations about the simulation, his books, and big ideas will always be special.

This week on a Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes legendary singer-songwriter, actor, and recovery advocate Paul Williams for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary career and his work with Jim Henson’s Muppets. Williams, whose iconic songs include “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Evergreen,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” and “The Rainbow Connection,” shares stories from his decades in music, film, and television.The conversation highlights Williams’ timeless contributions to the Muppets universe, with a special focus on The Muppet Christmas Carol and the beloved holiday classic Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Originally broadcast on HBO in 1977 and nominated for four Emmy Awards, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas features Williams’ music performed by an all-puppet cast of woodland creatures. He also discusses his CD collection of music from the special and reflects on composing for other Henson projects, including The Muppet Movie and A Muppet’s Christmas: Letters to Santa.For over 30 years, The Sounds of Film has been the nation’s longest-running film, music, and ideas-themed program, delivering a unique mix of interviews and music to listeners across Long Island, parts of Connecticut, and worldwide via online streaming. Past guests have included Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Noah Baumbach, Matthew Broderick, Ralph Macchio, Marco Beltrami, and Alexander Payne, bringing unforgettable insights into film, music, and pop culture.Listen to this special episode and the entire Sounds of Film podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

On this episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Michael Pack, director and producer of The Last 600 Meters, a compelling look at two of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War told through the firsthand testimony of the Marines and soldiers who fought them. The conversation explores Pack’s approach to documentary storytelling, the challenges of capturing the realities of modern combat, and the enduring relevance of this film in today’s world.The Sounds of Film podcast grew out of Tom Needham’s long-running radio show of the same name, dedicated to in-depth conversations about cinema, music, culture, and ideas. Over the years, the program has featured a remarkable range of guests from the worlds of film, television, music, literature, and activism, including Alexander Payne, D.A. Pennebaker, and Barbara Kopple, composer Howard Shore, Alec Baldwin, Pam Grier, Nile Rodgers, Chuck D, and Michael Moore, among many others. Sounds of Film is available as a weekly podcast on major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Audible, as well as through the Sounds of Film website. The show continues the tradition of thoughtful interviews and diverse voices that has made Sounds of Film one of the nation’s longest-running film and music themed programs.

In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Johnny Ma, writer and director of The Mother and the Bear. The film tells the story of a Korean mother who travels to Winnipeg after her daughter’s accident and unexpectedly finds herself on a path of personal transformation.Johnny Ma explains how the project began years earlier during a stay at a small hostel in Seoul. A conversation with the woman running the hostel planted the initial seed for the film’s emotional core.The discussion explores how the movie balances humor with deeply human themes, its cross-cultural lens, and the creative challenges of shooting in the stark Winnipeg winter. Ma also reflects on the film’s intimate performances and the story’s focus on identity, family expectations, and the process of rediscovering oneself.The Sounds of Film is a long-running weekly program featuring conversations with filmmakers, composers, authors, and notable figures in arts and culture. Past guests have included Laurie Anderson, DA Pennebaker, Billy Joel, Alexander Payne, Marco Beltrami, Jordan Peele, and many others who have shaped contemporary cinema and music.Listeners can follow The Sounds of Film on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.

In this episode of The Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker and visual artist Scandar Copti, the writer and director of the powerful new film Happy Holidays. The multi-layered drama follows four interconnected characters—Rami, Hanan, Miri, and Fifi—as they navigate the pressures of patriarchal values, cultural expectations, and the social systems that shape their realities. Known for his Oscar-nominated debut Ajami, Copti once again challenges viewers to confront the mechanisms of perception and oppression that define everyday life for Palestinian and Israeli communities. Through his innovative use of non-actors, shifting perspectives, and emotionally intimate storytelling, Copti offers a bold exploration of identity, generational conflict, and the human cost of systems that regulate truth and behavior.The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film-themed radio show, featuring in-depth interviews with directors, actors, writers, and composers from around the world. Past guests include Laurie Anderson, Chuck D, Carter Burwell, Mike Leigh, Kenneth Lonergan, and many others who are shaping the landscape of contemporary cinema and music.You can follow The Sounds of Film on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts.

The Sounds of Film welcomes director Jota Mun, whose feature documentary Between Goodbyes offers an intimate and emotionally layered view of international adoption and family reunion. The film follows Mieke Murkes, a queer Korean adoptee raised in the Netherlands, as she travels to Seoul to reconnect with her original mother, Okgyun Kang. Their time together reveals decades of unspoken regret, cultural distance, humor, and deep affection, creating a portrait of two women trying to understand one another after a lifetime apart. Drawing from years of observational footage and archival material, Mun brings the often-sidelined experiences of original mothers to the forefront, reframing how audiences understand adoption and kinship.Before its national broadcast debut on POV on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10pm on PBS, Between Goodbyes will be featured at the Hamptons Doc Fest, where the festival is honoring American Documentary (AmDoc) with its 2025 Impact Award. As part of the celebration, the film will screen on Friday, December 5 at 7:30pm at the Sag Harbor Cinema, followed by a live Q&A with director Jota Mun and AmDoc Executive Director Erika Dilday, and a cocktail reception for attendees. The festival’s Impact Award recognizes AmDoc’s longstanding commitment to elevating independent documentary filmmakers and fostering nonfiction storytelling that sparks civic dialogue and social change. The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film and music radio show, featuring in-depth conversations with leading filmmakers, musicians, and cultural figures. Past guests include D.A. Pennebaker, John Turturro, William H. Macy, Laurie Anderson, Michael Moore, Barbara Kopple, Chuck D, and many more.The podcast version of The Sounds of Film is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The Sounds of Film welcomes acclaimed director Maria Friedman, whose filmed production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Merrily We Roll Along was recently featured at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Friedman joins Tom Needham to discuss the remarkable evolution of the musical—from its troubled 1981 Broadway debut to the acclaimed revival she directed and filmed.In the film, adapted from Friedman’s Broadway staging, the story of Merrily We Roll Along unfolds in reverse chronological order, tracing the lives of three friends as they move backward through decades of personal and professional change. The narrative follows composer-turned-Hollywood-producer Franklin Shepard, played by Jonathan Groff; his former songwriting partner Charley Kringas, portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe; and their close friend Mary Flynn, played by Lindsay Mendez. The production features these mature actors moving through the characters’ earlier and later years, highlighting key moments in their friendship, artistic collaboration, and eventual breakup.Friedman’s direction for both stage and film incorporates structural revisions made after the musical’s original 1981 run and presents the story using a cast of adult performers who portray the characters across the full span of the timeline. The filmed version was recorded at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre over multiple performances and preserves the production’s staging, musical numbers, and chronological design as seen in the 2023 Broadway run.The Sounds of Film, hosted by Tom Needham, is the nation’s longest-running film and music radio show, broadcasting for over 35 years on WUSB Stony Brook. The program has featured a remarkable roster of guests, including Laurie Anderson, Nile Rodgers, Carter Burwell, Alexander Payne, Chuck D, Peter Fonda, Wallace Shawn, Cliff Martinez, and more. The show offers in-depth interviews with directors, composers, actors, and cultural commentators, exploring the intersection of cinema, music, and the arts.