First Time Go

The film PORCELAIN WAR (2024), opening in New York City today (November 22nd, 2024), won the 2024 Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize, among numerous other plaudits. And I asked the directors -- Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo -- whether the awards matter to them, and in one of the many heart-aching answers in this interview, Slava responded: I am here instead of my friends. Sharing this film is the main mission in my life.The film offers hope in a sea of hopelessness against Russian aggression, and its extraordinary depiction of Ukrainian characters, images, and music is like no other documentary you'll see this year. Go watch it in a theater -- it has a rolling release for the rest of the year, and expect to see it praised by critics and awards shows over the next few months.In this episode, we talk about:whether Russian apologists attend their screenings;how they met and got involved in filmmaking -- Brendan had no idea Slava served in the Ukrainian Special Forces;what people should expect to see when they go see PORCELAIN WAR in a theater -- "you won't see this on the news";their framing of the characters in the documentary and the aiming for "emotional truth" -- it was about "de-labeling" people;if there's more stories out there like the one in PORCELAIN WAR;what stories look like in the first hybrid battlefield + information war and how Slava made it with a focus for the Western audience;how Ukrainians saw the film as inspirational and as a "historic responsibility";the importance of sound and music as part of the film -- "if there's no image on the screen, you should be able to understand the story" -- and how lovely the work of DakhaBrakha is;how Slava destroyed sound equipment with his AK (really);what kind of advice the filmmakers would give documentary filmmakers -- "you are waking up in the very best day to become a filmmaker, which is today";the release strategy of showcasing the film in theaters and the competition of documentaries on streamers;the deep focus and "tunnel vision" going forward on sharing this film.Indie Film Highlight: MARIUPOL. A HUNDRED NIGHTS (2023) dir. by Sofiia Melnyk Links:PORCELAIN WAR (2024) Website Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

If the best documentaries are made by outsiders observing a cultural phenomenon -- and then filming it -- consider watching FANCY LIKE, available for streaming on November 19th, 2024.Filmed by "French guy" filmmaker Matt Beurois, it shows the life behind country music star Walker Hayes in an intimate way and the story behind the song "Fancy Like" going viral (i.e. the Applebee's song). And all Matt had to do was ask.In this episode, we discuss:how he got started in filmmaking -- the writing was not as big of a deal as you would think;how important marketing and being a "modern producer in the modern world" helped him in his own projects;horror's role as a way to start your independent film career;how he got connected with Walker Hayes -- he just emailed saying he was a "French guy interested in his story";how he built trust with the country music star and his family;why he takes on directing, writing, and especially editing;what he's learned from founding two film festivals, one in California and one in France, and how the experiences are so different in each place;whether he'd recommend starting a film festival -- "no";when you can expect to see FANCY LIKE (it's available now);what his next feature, AMERICAN GAME, is about;AI -- he doesn't think he'll be using it;and what's next for this inquisitive, thoughtful filmmaker.Links:Matt Beurois' IMDbMatt Beurois' InstagramSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Happy Veterans Day! Sign up for a $1 membership to Film IndependentIf there's a more innovative, surprising, enjoyable, and fun documentary than STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF (2023), I haven't seen it this year. It's no surprise all those attributes could be used to describe my conversation with its director, Law Chen.In this episode, we discuss:how he got involved in filmmaking as a combination of growing up in China and the United States;how life in China influenced him today;how the intersection of filmmaking and advertising provides him a "cheat code" for making films people want to watch;how he takes a sledgehammer to normal documentary with STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF (2023), a "genre-bending, docu-fiction about an ordinary immigrant dad retired in Florida who becomes a spy for the Chinese police";if there were people who didn't get the concept -- he finds that it is especially loved by "filmmakers and actors";if hybrid documentary and docu-fiction is the future of documentary;his thoughts on international film and when we get to global cinema rather than categorized filmmaking;what Chinese indie filmmaking is like and whether he feels a responsibility to tell these unique unheard stories;and how the immigrant experiences speaks to what he wants to accomplish in film. We conclude by discussing how he determines a feature versus a short ("if it's scenario-based, it's more of a short") and what's next for this groundbreaking filmmaker.Law's Indie Film Highlight: RAGING GRACE (2023) dir. by Paris ZarcillaLinks:Stream Now On Apple TVStream Now On Amazon PrimeStream Everywhere You Rent MoviesLaw Chen's WebsiteSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: WEDDING PALACE (2013).Director: Christine YooWritten By: Derek Draper; Robert Gardner; Christine YooCast: Brian Tee; Kang Hye-jeong; Bobby LeeSYNOPSISJason finds the woman of his dreams online and tries to make it work in person.Watch This On YouTubeSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow us on LetterboxdFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TikTokFollow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube channelSupport the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

From leading the way in Asian-American romcoms to the brilliant 26.2 TO LIFE, I talk with filmmaker Christine Yoo about her career, how to depict marathons and prisons on film, the state of rom-coms and Asian-American filmmaking, and more. Just by those categories alone you should know you are hearing from a wildly original filmmaker. And that's before the CIA gets namedropped.In this episode, we discuss:prison films and film festivals;how she got started as a filmmaker, starting in Iowa as a Korean-American, and while she was expected to be a "doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer", she ended up being interviewed by the CIA (!) and fell into film as a "complete fluke and accident";her decision to attend film school;her decision to do both narrative and docs was influenced by the advent of digital filmmaking and how 26.2 TO LIFE was originally conceived as a narrative;why she made WEDDING PALACE (2013), the first Asian-American rom-com;how she feels about some of the seemingly personal reviews of what I thought was a fun, highly enjoyable film;how a filmmaker should think about reviews of their work within the larger construct of the review process and if reviewers feel more comfortable attacking a first-time director;what kind of advice she'd give a new filmmaker facing a similar situation;how she led the way in making Asian-American romcoms;the story behind 26.2 TO LIFE and why she depicted the characters in a more truthful way than you would expect;her decision regarding the innovative formatting of the film;how the unique environment of filming a documentary in prison presented opportunities and challenges;the challenges of independent film and how she felt so strongly about the story of 26.2 TO LIFE;what her success says about the ability for Asian-American filmmakers to tell their stories now;what's next for her -- "sports provides such a great narrative structure."Christine's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Jennifer M. KrootLinks:Follow Christine Yoo On Instagram26.2 TO LIFE Streaming26.2 TO LIFE WebsiteWEDDING PALACE StreamingSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Most importantly, GO VOTE on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. You can find your polling place here. Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (2005).Director: Noah BaumbachWritten By: Noah Baumbach; Wes AndersonCast: Laura Linney; Jeff Daniels; Jesse EisenbergSYNOPSISA pair of brothers living in Brooklyn are caught in the middle of, and deeply affected by, the divorce of their erudite parents, Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and Joan Berkman (Laura Linney). Older sibling Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) sides with dad and acts out at school, while younger brother Frank (Owen Kline) quietly backs up mom. The household tension rises further when Joan's writing career takes off and surpasses the failed ambitions of her professor ex-husband.Watch the episode on YouTubeSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow us on LetterboxdFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TikTokFollow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube channelSupport the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Watch This Episode On YouTubeThere's something so inspiring about a filmmaker who has a million different reasons for why he shouldn't be selected for this fellowship or that school, but goes forward boldly, anyway, and stays humble about it.And also a guy who would love the opportunity to teach at his film school -- NYU -- but I completely believe him when he says that he would quit if it got in the way of his feature filmmaking.That's the story of my guest, filmmaker Ward Kamel.Most recently, Ward was selected as one of four individuals and one writing team for the 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, but that's barely scratching the surface about the wild journey of this unique filmmaker.In this episode, we discuss:how he got started in filmmaking; originally, he thought he was studying science;his thoughts on the importance of attending film school -- he attended NYU -- and being a team player;whether film school's admissions department did their job, in his mind;his film, IF I DIE IN AMERICA, now available as a Vimeo Staff Pick;if that film is a template for filmmakers -- can you make a truly fantastic short film and get rewarded for it?;how filmmaking is unique in art as it involves more than just the artist's vision -- it's an art with a side of management;the story behind how he won a 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowship and what the process is applying for it (it's a lot easier than other fellowships);the surreptitious way in which he was notified by the Academy;how he "doubled down" on screenwriting after graduating;the left-brain, right-brain-related importance of directing and screenwriting;the importance, as Vlad Nikolich noted, of subtlety in screenwriting and how he accomplished that in IF I DIE IN AMERICA;treating your audience "like they are geniuses; you can tell when the director thinks you're dumb";how "it's very impossible to make something for someone else" in the sense of creating a film you don't believe in;how best to capitalize on the moment of a viral video or a prestigious fellowship -- celebration isn't enough, it's "an invitation to share" and you should be ready with whatever's next when that moment comes;whether emerging filmmakers feel like they can make films about tough topics -- "I'm Muslim. I was raised Muslim. This is a queer Muslim film. I'm a queer Muslim filmmaker" -- and he concludes that filmmakers should go for it;why there is a noticeable lack of Arab and Muslim voices in independent film;where he goes to watch films from the area;what he would teach at NYU and if there were professors he felt he could relate towhat's next for this extraordinarily talented, fellowship winning, Brookyln-living, would quit his theoretical job at NYU for his feature film, filmmaker.Ward's Indie Film/Filmmaker Highlight: JOYLAND (2022) dir. by Saim Sadiq; MY FIRST FILM (2024) dir. by Zia Anger; Brit MarlingLinks:Ward Kamel's WebsiteIF I DIE IN AMERICA Vimeo Staff PickSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOY NERO (2016).Director: Rafi PittsWritten By: Rafi Pitts; Razvan RadulescuCast: Rory Cochrane; Khleo Thomas; Michael HarneySYNOPSISNero, a deported Mexican, eventually succeeds in making it back to Los Angeles. Unsatisfied with being an undocumented worker, Nero joins the U.S. Army to obtain citizenship.Watch the episode on YouTubeSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow us on LetterboxdFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TikTokFollow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube channelSupport the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Let's throw it back to how things used to be -- date night movies, romcoms, leaving the theater feeling good about what you just watched.I don't want to get too nostalgic about the past because right now we have access to so many great films from so many new creators than we ever had before, but we can all agree (I hope) that we need more films like HANGDOG (2023) in theaters. And thanks to filmmakers Matt Cascella (director + writer) and Jen Cordery (writer), we can.I would go see HANGDOG in a theater, but if circumstances don't permit that, it's available for streaming starting today...on October 22, 2024.In this conversation, we discuss:how the couple got started in filmmaking;what it's like for couples to work together in indie filmmaking and the importance of setting boundaries;the importance of understanding relationship dynamics led to a fresh authenticity in HANGDOG that you rarely find and how they decided to make the film;their indie film release plan, with a significant theater run before its streaming release on October 22, 2024;how many people miss these types of films.And if you took a date to HANGDOG, let me know. I think it's the right move.Jen's Indie Film Highlight: Kelly O'SullivanMatt's Indie Film Highlight: Corey Gegner; Rob BoneStream HANGDOG now Links:HANGDOG WebsiteFollow HANGDOG On InstagramBig Shins FilmsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

There is no other filmmaker working today that personifies being the "man in the arena", as Theodore Roosevelt so eloquently put it, than Matthew Heineman. His films have ranged from the frontlines of wars to the sweet and touching portrayal of Jon Batiste in AMERICAN SYMPHONY (2023). Just making one such film could be a career pinnacle -- Matthew has directed 14 wholly original, extraordinary special artistic contributions to the medium -- and he's here to share the details.In this episode, we discuss:you don't just walk onto the stage of Radio City Music Hall, in a special operations team room, or in a emergency room during COVID -- these are remarkably unique places. How did he manage that?how he is comfortable in such a wide array of different topics;whether he would recommend his path (he says it's important to have a "curiosity about the world");how his first film, OUR TIME (2009) was in a way his film school;how he sees the difference between journalism and documentary;his process regarding trust between filmmaker and subject ("trust is everything"), and he talks about how he earned the trust for the closeups in AMERICAN SYMPHONY;the story behind the creation of AMERICAN SYMPHONY;his reaction to the whiplash of the media regarding its chances at the Oscars and how he views awards as a filmmaker; Matt talks movingly about his relationship with awards as his career has evolved;"why do we make art and who do we make art for are questions that we constantly need to be asking";his relationship with the art of filmmaking, his friendship with Roger Deakins, and the importance of sound;what's next for one of the most talented filmmakers we have in both the narrative and documentary world and how he is able to toggle between both successfully.Matt's Indie Film Highlight: MURDERBALL (2005) dir. by Dana Adam Shapiro; Henry-Alex Rubin; SHERMAN'S MARCH (1986) dir. by Ross McElweeLinks:Our Time ProjectsFollow Matthew on InstagramSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMEWHERE (2010).Director: Sofia CoppolaScreenplay By: Sofia CoppolaCast: Stephen Dorff; Elle FanningSYNOPSISWhile recuperating from an injury at Beverly Hills' famed Chateau Marmont, bad-boy actor Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) receives a visit from his young daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning). Though his mind is not on parenting, she has a way of inserting herself into her father's daily routine. Slowly, the two bond, forcing Johnny to re-examine his life of excesses and his relationship with Cleo.Watch the episode on YouTubeSubscribe to our YouTube channelFollow us on LetterboxdFollow us on InstagramFollow us on XFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TikTokFollow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube channelSupport the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

The debut feature, TO NOWHERE (2020), of Sian Astor-Lewis is one of the best films I've seen this year, and she's here to talk about it. It's available now for streaming on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Sian-Astor-Lewis/dp/B0CWN8K3M3/), Tubi (https://tubitv.com/movies/100025711/to-nowhere), and Apple. The story of how she directed such a moody, original, character-driven film is an extraordinary one. The sets and vision are big, bold, and she's here to talk about it. In this episode, we discuss: how she got a start in filmmaking; what it's like when the distance between what you dreamed about and what you're doing (making your first feature) close to zero; how you create characters that come across as amazingly authentic; the importance of casting in character study filmmaking; how she made the universe of TO NOWHERE so large even with a lower budget; ** the problems with trusting the wrong producer in indie films (this happens more often than we know) ** what it's like being a female director; the environment in the UK for an indie filmmaker; and what's next for this character-driven filmmaker. Sian's Indie Film Highlight: FEMME (2023) dir. by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping (https://boxd.it/ASQw); LA CHIMERA (2024) dir. by Alice Rohrwacher (https://boxd.it/vzVi) Links: Watch TO NOWHERE (2020) Now On Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Sian-Astor-Lewis/dp/B0CWN4815B/) TO NOWHERE Website (https://tonowherefilm.com/) Follow Sian Astor-Lewis on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sianastorlewis/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE LONELIEST PLANET (2011). Director: Julia Loktev Screenplay By: Julia Loktev Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal; Hani Furstenberg SYNOPSIS An incident on the trail tests two lovers' (Gael García Bernal, Hani Furstenberg) relationship as they take a guided hiking tour through the Caucasus Mountains. Watch the episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Q2X1SaKWw7A) Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod Follow us on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/9BMgH Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstgopod/ Follow us on X https://twitter.com/firstgopod Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/firstgopod Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstgopod Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/98995039/admin/feed/posts/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@firstgopod) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Welcome to spooky season in this re-release of my conversation with filmmaker Hoku Uchiyama. Published last year while he was crowdfunding for WHITCH, we talk about: his filmmaking in the Bay Area starting when he was around 10; his new project, a horror comedy short; his fantastic team and whether you could put together such a cool group of people if you were a horrible person (his answer: probably not); behavior standards in indie film, the constraints and excitements of a five minute project, and more. Links: Hoku Uchiyama's Website (https://www.hokuuchiyama.com/) Hoku Uchiyama's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hoku_chan/) WHITCH (https://seedandspark.com/fund/whitch#story) Photo By Victor Giovanny Parra (https://www.instagram.com/victorgparra/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Be prepared to get a bill from The New School after this episode -- it's an hour with Vlad Nikolić, dean of the School of Media Studies at The New School. In this episode we talk about: how he got started in filmmaking and his advice for new students ("make something every day"; "watch films every day"); what the average day is like as dean of media studies at The New School; can all indie filmmakers be teachers? how does he feel about gen z as filmmakers? he talks about the ethos of The New School; would he recommend film school?; how does The New School handle admissions? what would his advice be for a potential applicant?; are students fearless enough? I talk about the boundary pushing of filmmakers like Christian Kamaal (https://www.firstgopod.com/episodes/christiank); the importance of nuance in filmmaking; shout out to the brilliant Hannah Fidell; (https://newschoolmediastudies.org/alumni/hannah-fidell/) the career progression for film school graduates -- working as a PA or starting their own YouTube channel? discussing the differences between NY and LA for independent film; what's next for him? he's excited about AI; the equipment isn't as important as the story. Apologies to Will Mustin (https://www.firstgopod.com/episodes/willmustin) -- he's shooting in 16mm, not 35. Links: Vladan Nikolić Biography (https://www.newschool.edu/media-studies/faculty/vladan-nikolic/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FREMONT (2023). Director: Babak Jalali Written By: Carolina Cavalli; Babak Jalali Cast: Anaita Wali Zada; Gregg Turkington; Jeremy Allen White SYNOPSIS Formerly a translator for the United States military in Afghanistan, Donya struggles to rebuild her life in San Francisco and works for a Chinese fortune cookie factory. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a special message in one of the cookies. Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod Follow us on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/9BMgH Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstgopod/ Follow us on X https://twitter.com/firstgopod Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/firstgopod Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstgopod Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/98995039/admin/feed/posts/ Watch The Episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/yOmHEI_OPKs) Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@firstgopod) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

This is a re-release of my discussion with Ross McDonnell. His film, SWIFT JUSTICE, is up for a News & Doc Emmy in Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary. The awards will be revealed live on September 26, 2024. Ross died on November 5, 2023. His co-director, Victor Blue, writes movingly about his work. Later on this year, I'll post an episode remembering Ross and the legacy of independent filmmakers. In this episode, I talk with Ross McDonnell, co-director of the new documentary short, SWIFT JUSTICE, about Sharia justice in Afghanistan. Ross and I discuss: how he got started in filmmaking; whether some people are just built for the visual arts; the gear behind making a film like SWIFT JUSTICE and how they went about filming "without understanding what was happening in realtime" the importance of Christmas movies in Ireland and W.B. Yeats; never-ending praise for editors and the New Yorker's prowess in the documentary realm; what's next for the documentary field. Ross' Indie Film Highlight: Jonathan Glazer; Wong Kar-wai; Spize Jonze; Chris Cunningham; Floria Sigismondi; Chris Doyle; Lance Acord (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glr1X9hKgI4&t=4s) Links: SWIFT Justice Film (https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/the-new-yorker-documentary-swift-justice-a-taliban-courtroom-in-session) Watch The News & Doc Emmys Live On September 26, 2024 (https://theemmys.tv/news/45th-nominations/) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SYNONYMS (2019). Director: Nadav Lapid Screenplay By: Nadav Lapid; Haim Lapid Cast: Tom Mercier; Quentin Dolmaire; Louise Chevillotte SYNOPSIS A young Israeli man, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary, travels to Paris to flee his nationality. Watch The Episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/zYYT9RyDNoQ?si=38WVBsZ9v4PiLjCc) Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@firstgopod) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

AI is the most controversial topic in filmmaking right now. I talk about it with the directors' duo of Julien Vallée and Eve Duhamel, artists who are now exploring the medium in the best possible way -- as an extension of their own art. In this episode, we talk about: how they got started in filmmaking and their exceptional career, which has included jobs for top corporate clients including Apple; their thoughts on AI filmmaking; the reaction to critics, who in many cases they said haven't even used an AI tool; should AI films be segregated into their own category? the very thin line between CGI and AI; what's next for these innovative filmmakers and how to modernize theaters (which I absolutely love) what Montreal, Canada is like for filmmakers; the innovations these ultra-talented artists have coming our way. Julien's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Olivier Labonté LeMoyne (https://www.instagram.com/olivierlabontelemoyne/) Eve's Indie Film Highlight: Le Festival International du Film sur l'Art (https://lefifa.com/) Links: Vallée Duhamel Website (https://valleeduhamel.com/) Vallée Duhamel Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/valleeduhamel) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FORTY SHADES OF BLUE (2005). Director: Ira Sachs Screenplay By: Ira Sachs; Michael Rohatyn Cast: Dina Korzun; Rip Torn; Darren Burrows SYNOPSIS After moving from Moscow to Memphis, Tenn., Laura (Dina Korzun) feels isolated living a new, privileged life with her boyfriend, Alan James (Rip Torn), a famous music producer. As time passes, Laura becomes increasingly lonely, while James carries on numerous affairs. When James's estranged son, Michael (Darren Burrows), visits for the first time in years, Laura's need for companionship and Michael's strained relationship with his father pull them into a tumultuous affair. Watch The Episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Jhg7_GAZ31o?si=JaovctkiKSy2JrZG) Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@firstgopod) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content