Host Chris Maynard sits down with producer and actress Lavinia Postolache to discuss her sci-fi noir thriller, April X. In this episode, Lavinia breaks down the realities of independent filmmaking—from stretching a tight budget by filming on location in Bucharest, Romania, to choosing organic, hand-crafted visual effects over AI in post-production.She also shares insights into balancing dual roles behind and on camera (playing Rose), using her modeling background to secure high-fashion costume designs, and assembling a talented cast—including Connor Storrie—before their breakout success.Key Takeaways & Highlights:World-Building on an Indie Budget: How the production team utilized Bucharest's historic architecture to create a grounded, dystopian future without breaking the bank.Practical Visuals over AI: Why director and post-production teams chose organic CGI and special effects over AI-generated visuals to preserve a textured, cinematic feel.Dual Roles: The creative and practical dynamics of producing while starring as Rose.Elevated Costume Design: Tapping into fashion industry connections to elevate the film’s distinctive visual style.Release Info: April X releases internationally (UK & Germany) on September 18 and hits the US on October 2.Featured Guest:Lavinia Postolache – Producer and Actress (April X)Listen & Subscribe:Follow the Following Films Podcast for more interviews with filmmakers, actors, and cinema creators.
Episode Title: Behind the Scenes of 'The Creep Tapes' Season 3 with Patrick BriceEpisode Breakdown- Intro: Welcome to the Following Films Podcast! Host Chris introduces a brief 10-minute catch-up with director and actor Patrick Brice to discuss Season 3 of The Creep Tapes.- Initial Greetings: Chris and Patrick connect before jumping into the interview.- The Creep Tapes as a Dark SNL Sketch: Chris brings up his realization that the series functions like an SNL sketch, where a recurring character hosts a different celebrity guest star each week.- Developing the Series Structure & Airbnb Production: Patrick discusses using the tapes from the original film as a structural jumping-off point for TV and describes the intimate experience of living and filming in Airbnbs alongside guest stars like Kate Siegel and David Dastmalchian.- The DIY / Punk-Rock Energy: Chris notes how the series balances a DIY, high-school-filmmaking energy with thoughtful structure and planning.- Balancing Deliberate Structure with Absurdity: Patrick reflects on preserving the core DNA of Creep, embracing absurd humor, and how working on this show feels like finding a creative "cheat code."- Catchphrases, Subverting Tropes, and Audience Expectations: Chris and Patrick explore how recurring elements like "Tubby Time" and the mask function as catchphrases for a serial killer entertaining himself, and how the show aims purely to entertain rather than outsmart the audience.- The Razor-Thin Line Between Social Awkwardness and Menace: Discussion on how the show walks the line between uncomfortable silence and terrifying sociopathy. Patrick cites British comedy like Peep Show as a core influence on the show's cringe dynamic and reflects on the dramatic tonal shift in Kate Siegel's episode.- Favorite Jokes & Wrap-Up: Chris highlights a standout Tommy Lee Jones joke from the Kate Siegel episode before wrapping up the interview.If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review! Your support helps us bring you more exclusive chats with the filmmakers behind your favorite projects.
Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.Today on the show, I'm joined by Dane Cook to talk about the new documentary about his life and career, Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast.Today on the show, I'm joined by Dane Cook to talk about the new documentary about his life and career, Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story. Directed by Brett Harvey hits digital platforms on September 29th.Back in the mid-2000s, Dane Cook wasn't just big, he was everywhere. He was filling arenas, breaking records, and completely altering the footprint of modern stand-up comedy. But right at the peak of all that, everything blew up behind the scenes. The person he trusted most stole millions of dollars from him, turning his world upside down and kicking off a years-long nightmare. The doc dives into all of it: the insane rise, the brutal family betrayal, and what it actually takes to survive that level of chaos when the dust settles. It's a wildly honest look at fame, money, and the darker side of trust.Before we get into my conversation with Dane, do me a quick favor: if you enjoy the show, take a second to rate and review us wherever you're listening, hit that subscribe button, and share this episode with a friend. It really helps keep the lights on and gets the show out to more people.Alright, let's get into it. Here is my conversation with Dane Cook.
Welcome back to Following Films. Before we jump in today, do me a quick favor: if you're enjoying the show, hit that subscribe button, leave us a quick review on whatever app you're using, and share this episode with a friend. It really helps get the word out.Today on the show, I’m talking with director Padraic McKinley about his new film, The Weight, which lands in theaters nationwide starting today.Padraic directed the film from a screenplay by Matthew Chapman and Shelby Gaines, based on a story hatched by Matthew Booi, Leo Scherman, and Chapman. It’s got a massive team behind it, produced by Simon Fields, Nathan Fields, Ryan Hawke, Jonas Katzenstein, and Maximilian Leo, alongside a heavy lineup of executive producers including Andreas Rübo, Klaus Dohle, Frédéric Fiore, Céline Dornier, Ralf Berchtold, Peter Jarowey, Rich Goldberg, and Peter Block. Plus, the cast is stacked: Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe lead the charge, alongside Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, and Sam Hazeldine.The setup is pretty grim. It’s 1933 in Oregon, and a guy named Samuel Murphy, played by Ethan Hawke, gets ripped away from his daughter and tossed into a brutal work camp. The warden, played by Russell Crowe, offers him a way out: smuggle a haul of gold through a completely deadly stretch of wilderness for an early release. Naturally, the crew he's stuck with starts rotting from the inside with betrayal, and Murphy has to figure out just how much of his own humanity he's willing to trade off to actually see his kid again. It’s a desperate, messy story about desperate people, and Padraic and I break down how it all came together. Here is my conversation with Padraic McKinley.
Welcome back to the Following Films Podcast. On this episode, I’m sitting down with director Todd Stephens to talk about Gypsy 83: The Director’s Cut, which is back in select theaters right now for its 25th anniversary.If you grew up in the late 90s or early 2000s, there's a good chance this one has a special place on your shelf. The story centers on two Sandusky, Ohio goth misfits and massive Stevie Nicks superfans: Gypsy Vale, played by Sara Rue, and her younger, queer best friend Clive Webb, played by Birkett Turton. When they hear about a "Night of 1000 Stevies" event happening at a club in New York City, they pack up their black eyeliner and hit the road, fully convinced this is Gypsy’s big break.The film co-stars John Doe from the legendary punk band X, plus the iconic Karen Black playing a washed-up lounge singer. Todd Stephens basically took the standard coming-of-age road trip formula, flipped it on its head, and handed it over to the weird kids and outsiders who usually don't get to be the heroes of these stories.For this 25th anniversary release, they didn't just dump an old file onto a screen. The movie has been completely re-edited and restored in 4K directly from the original 35mm camera negative. It includes never-before-seen footage and a soundtrack loaded with heavy hitters like The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen.Before we jump into my chat with Todd about digging through old footage and bringing this story back to the big screen, do me a quick favor: subscribe to the show if you like what we’re doing, leave us a review wherever you're listening, and send this episode to a friend who appreciates good music and classic indie cinema. Now, here is my conversation with Todd Stephens.