Ep. 55: Anna Biller (Filmmaker/Author/Artist) Bluebeard's Castle New Novel It was such a pleasure to talk to Anna Biller. I became a fan of her film "Viva" after seeing it in the festival circuit around 2007. I also fell in love with "The Love Witch". The fact that she did most of the costumes and sets and such also just elevated any fandom I already had. Not to mention shooting on film. She has such an amazing artistic and filmmaking vision and her work is just beautiful. She is such a great match for our page and content. I have reached out a few times and got lucky to finnaly get her when she was putting out her novel "Bluebeard's Castle". I got very lucky to get to talk to her about this amazing Jane Eyre inspired gothic love story. I am joined by Otter Castro who is our editor and producer and hit it out of the park as a co-host. Get her book! And watch all of her films. About the Book Bluebeard gets a feminist Gothic makeover in this subversive take on the famous French fairy tale — from the acclaimed director of The Love Witch, and for fans of Jane Eyre When the successful British mystery writer Judith Moore meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a birthday party on the Cornish coast, his love transforms her from a bitter, lonely young woman into a romance heroine overnight. After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a secluded Gothic castle. But soon she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband’s mysterious nature and his alternation between charm and violence become increasingly frightening. As Judith battles both internal and external demons, including sexual ambivalence, psychological self-torture, gaslighting, family neglect, alcoholism, and domestic abuse, she becomes increasingly addicted to her wild beast of a husband. Why do women stay in abusive relationships? The answer can be found in the tortured mind of the protagonist, whose richly layered fantasy life parallels that of the female Gothic romance reader. Filled with dark humor and evocative imagery, Bluebeard’s Castleis a subversive take on modern romance and Gothic erotica. https://www.amazon.com/Bluebeards-Castle-Novel-Verso-Fiction/dp/1804291854 ANNA BILLER is a writer and director who creates unique, female-focused, highly visual films. She has a BA from UCLA in art and an MFA from CalArts in art and film. Her first feature Viva played in film festivals all over the world and gained minor cult status, and her second feature The Love Witch won acclaim for its elaborate visual style and feminist themes, and has screened at numerous film festivals worldwide. The New York Times called The Love Witch “a hothouse filled with deadly and seductive blooms;” The New Yorker called it “a metaphysical astonishment;” Film Comment said, “Biller’s sharp film stands in stark contrast to the complacency and crushing safeness of the vast majority of independent films made in the US. Shot in 35mm, her film displays a technical mastery that is glorious to behold;” and The Austin Chronicle said, “Anna Biller has quickly established herself as one of the most exciting filmmakers of the past decade.” In 2017 she won the Trailblazer Award and Best Costume Design at the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Awards for The Love Witch, and in 2019 she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is listed in a Rotten Tomatoes article as one of “The 21 Masters Of Horror Shaping The Genre Right Now.” The Love Witch appeared on many 2016 best-of-year lists, and on Rotten Tomatoes it’s ranked as the #40 horror film of all time. https://www.lifeofastar.com/about.html Credits Co -hosted Produced and Edited by Otter Castro Music Richie by B.J Snowden https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/ I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/ Website https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/
Ep. 135: Alice Bag (Punk Singer) Alice Bag is a singer/songwriter, musician, author, artist, educator and feminist. Alice was the lead singer and co-founder of the Bags, one of the first bands to form during the initial wave of punk in Los Angeles. The Alice Bag Band was featured in the seminal documentary on punk rock, The Decline of Western Civilization. Alice went on to perform in other groundbreaking bands, including Castration Squad, Cholita, and Las Tres. She is the author of the critically acclaimed books 'Violence Girl' and 'Pipe Bomb For the Soul.' Her self-titled 2016 debut album received critical acclaim and was named one of the best albums of 2016 by AllMusic. Her second album, Blueprint, was named one of the Best Albums of 2018 by NPR and the Los Angeles Times. Bag’s 3rd album, Sister Dynamite, was released in April 2020 on In The Red Records.https://alicebag.com/https://www.instagram.com/alice_bag/CreditsStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funEditor Otter Castro Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com
Ep. 134: Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentaey w/ Director Garret Price YACHT ROCK : A DOCKumentary. This entertaining documentary traces the evolution of Yacht Rock, a genre that rocks, but not too hard. Starting with Steely Dan in 1976 Los Angeles, the film highlights the rise of key players like Toto, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and Christopher Cross, their sophisticated musicianship, and their collaborations with rock and R&B artists. Filled with fascinating anecdotes, the film celebrates these universally appealing, sometimes mocked, yet well-loved songs, revealing their enduring cultural impact. About the director Award-winning filmmaker Garret Price graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in Radio/TV/Film, and received his M.F.A. from the American Film Institute. His feature credits as an editor include both critically acclaimed documentary and narrative films, along with multiple acclaimed television shows. As an editor he's worked with visionary filmmakers including Drake Doremus, Ed Zwick, Jason Katims, Gia Coppola, Amy Berg and James Ponsoldt just to name a few. Recently he's directed award winning documentaries including "Love, Antosha"which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and the acclaimed HBO Music Box documentary “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage”, and now Yacht Rock - A dockumentary. Credits Stephen Bluhm Editor Sound Engineer https://www.stephenbluhm.fun Rich Wexler Producer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com
Ep. 133: Things I Didn’t Buy w/ Michael ArveloThings I Didn’t Buy started in 2020 when my thrifting buddy Victoria introduced me to the world of estate sales. Each Saturday morning we visited homes converted into pop-up retail spaces where everything was for sale. I quickly realized that I couldn’t possibly take possession of all of the fantastic things that I saw, and my Instagram account was born.Since then, my adventures have steered me to global flea markets, local thrift shops, and all varieties of vintage and resale in between. I do buy some things - photos, letters and mementos. To me, they’re artifacts of lives before digital, and they’re all treasures. The best part is that I’ve found a community of people who also don’t buy things and are happy to reminisce with me when I’m feeling nostalgic. - Michael Arvelo https://www.instagram.com/thingsididn.tbuyCreditsStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com
Ep. 130: Howard Jones (Musician) Electronic music pioneer Howard Jones has been a constant presence on the international touring scene for the past four decades, playing live in a number of different configurations including intimate solo shows and dates with his full high-tech band set-up. He first burst upon the contemporary music scene in 1983, with his very English songwriting and pioneering synthesizers with 'New Song'. His first two albums HUMAN'S LIB and DREAM INTO ACTION were worldwide hits. HUMAN'S LIB reached #1 in 1984 in the UK and featured the hits 'New Song,' and 'What Is Love?' In 1985, Jones released the follow-up, DREAM INTO ACTION, which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album in the United States and featured the smashes: 'Things Can Only Get Better,' 'Life In One Day,' 'No One Is To Blame,' and 'Like To Get To Know You Well.'Howard Jones has sold upwards of 10 million albums worldwide and continues to make new music and tour the world. Jones has performed on NBC's top-rated morning and nighttime shows respectively, Today and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. His ubiquitous hits can be heard in such high-profile television series and films such as 'Stranger Things,' 'Breaking Bad,' 'Watchmen,' 'The Carrie Diaries', 'Superstore' and 'Bumblebee'. Howard Jones' most recent album is DIALOGUE, which was released in September 2022. DIALOGUE is the third album in a trilogy of electronic releases from Jones with multi-media project ENGAGE released in 2015 and studio album TRANSFORM, released in 2019. DIALOGUE garnered serious coverage in outlets such as Spin, Stereogum and more. http://www.howardjones.com Credits Stephen Bluhm Sound Engineer https://www.stephenbluhm.fun Otter Castro Editor Rich Wexler Producer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com
Writer, director, and producer Jen Markowitz is an award winning television writer, producer and director. Their feature film, documentary Summer Qamp, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, receiving a shortlist mention for the People's Choice Documentary Award. Summer Qamp won the Telus Audience Choice Award and a Special Jury Mention for the DGC Canadian Documentary Feature Award at the Calgary International Film Festival, as well as the Sherzum Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival, alongside co-winner Rustin, directed by George C. Wolfe. Throughout their career, Jen has built a reputation on prioritizing authenticity in their storytelling and pursuing narratives with a balance of tenacity and tenderness. Identifying as queer non-binary, Jen brings their passion for celebrating, protecting, and properly portraying queer and trans communities into their work with deep respect and relentless devotion.Summer Qamp is currently streaming exclusively on Peacock in the United States.CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Major Entertainer is a Los Angeles based professional *OPENING ACT* deeply committed to self promotion and social networking. Able to quickly adapt to any situation in which entertainment is required, he shines brightest in front of a small audience who has never heard of him before. Has toured internationally opening for the likes of Neil Hamburger, Secret Chiefs 3, Eric Andre, Pinbackhttps://majorentertainer.bandcamp.com/https://www.instagram.com/majorentertainr/CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Ep. 127: (Double Episode) Jets to Brazil w/ Blake Schwarzenbach and Jeremy Chatelain - Ryan Donowho/ Both with Gaelan Draper (Art of a Hit) ets to Brazil was founded by Blake Schwarzenbach, the former frontman of Jawbreaker, and Jeremy Chatelain, previously the guitarist and vocalist of Handsome, when Schwarzenbach relocated to New York City after Jawbreaker's disbanding. The two began working on four-track recordings aided by drum machines until former Texas Is the Reason drummer Chris Daly joined the band, and they signed to Jade Tree Records. The origin of the band's name came from a suggestion by Daly, after seeing it on a poster in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's Art of a Hit - With their careers on the line, a late-90s rock band journeys to a French chateau to record with an elusive super-producer. But as tensions rise and tempers flare, they realize they're up against more than just the pressure to succeed. Gaelan is an award winning feature film and commercial director. He was named Top 100 Creative in the World by Adweek. He directed the live-action film, "Blood, Sand and Gold" (2017 theatrical release), which was shot in six countries around the world.
Ep. 126: Andi Marie Tillman (Comedian/Actress/SInger)Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Andi’s humor and authentic characters are a breath of fresh Smoky Mountain air.A self-proclaimed “recovering Pentecostal”, Andi’s roots in performance began at age of 8 when she started singing in churches all over the Southeast. It is also where she gathered much of the inspiration for what would later become a cast of original characters. From there, she began honing her skills in regional theater at the tender age of 12.Since then, Andi has been in numerous shorts, feature films, and commercials, but it was her series of TikTok sketches that brought her to stardom. Her unique comedic voice struck a chord with folks both native and new to Appalachian culture. Showing great range, she plays everything from an Appalachian “Papaw” to a songwriting vampire named “Nashveratu”.https://www.instagram.com/andimarietillmanhttps://www.patreon.com/AndiMarie/membershiphttps://thesleepyholler.com/https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vUEA5smG5HDn7vKo5hiSB?si=V5n0j8qMTaWcNNQfcPSOHACREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Samm Levine is best known for his roles in 'Freaks and Geeks,' 'Inglourious Basterds,' and 'Wet Hot American Summer.' The journeyman actor has appeared on over 75 different television series in his three decade career. He also produced and co-hosted the award winning podcast, 'Kevin Pollak's Chat Show.' Most recently, Samm starred in the Amazon series, 'Underdeveloped,' and the feature film, 'City of Dreams.'CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Comedian. Actor. Musician. Advocate. Entrepreneur. Artist. Just a few of the adjectives that describes Margaret Cho, a jack of all trades, master of many. When hasn’t Margaret and her voice been a part of our consciousness? It seems like she’s always been here, lighting the path for other women, other members of underrepresented groups, other performers, to follow. Margaret was born and raised in San Francisco, an experience that she can say with all sincerity helped to shape her world-view. “There were old hippies, ex-druggies, burnouts, drag queens, and Chinese people. It was a really confusing, enlightening, wonderful time.” Right as she was starting her stand-up career at age 14, Margaret won a comedy contest to open for Jerry Seinfeld in the early ’90s. She soon moved to Los Angeles and, still in her twenties, hit the college circuit, where she became the most booked act in the market and garnered a nomination for “Campus Comedian of The Year.” She performed over 300 concerts within two years. Arsenio Hall introduced her to late night audiences, Bob Hope put her on a prime time special and, seemingly overnight, Margaret Cho became a household name. Her groundbreaking, controversial ABC sitcom, All-American Girl (1994) soon followed. Oddly, while ABC courted her because she was a non-conformist Korean American woman with liberal views, the powers-that-be decided Margaret should “tone it down” for the show. Although she was an Executive Producer, this would be a battle she could not win. The experience was a traumatic one, bringing up unresolved feelings left over from childhood; Despite all of her successes, feeling left out and alienated are subjects still near to Margaret’s heart. She has gladly become the “Patron Saint of Outsiders,” speaking for those who are not able to speak for themselves, and encouraging people to use their voice to promote change. In 1999, her groundbreaking Off-Broadway one-woman show, I’m The One That I Want, toured to national acclaim and was made into both a best-selling book and feature film of the same name. After her earlier experiences, she made sure she would control the distribution and sales of her film, an unusual move at the time. I’m The One That I Want received incredible reviews. In 2001, Margaret launched Notorious C.H.O., a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Notorious C.H.O., hailed by the New York Times as “Brilliant,” was released as a feature film and aired on Showtime. In March of 2003, Margaret embarked on her third sold-out national tour, Revolution. It was heralded by the Chicago Sun Times as “Her strongest show yet” and the CD recording was nominated for a Grammy forComedy Album of the Year. In 2005 she released Assassin, with The Chicago Tribune stating “(Assassin) packs passion in to each punch.”
Kevin Alvir is a Brooklyn-based comic book maker, artist, educator, musician. His work has been featured on Funny or Die, Current Affairs, HBO's High Maintenance, album covers, podcast tiles, and beyond. Kevin has done several webcomics, including Lunch Adventures, Lisa Cheese: Cyborg Unicorn, Ghost Guitar, Scarberry, Meg Deerleg, Cock Knight, and more. Lisa Cheese and Ghost Guitar: Attack of the Snack is his first full-length graphic novel.Kevin has had a music career with bands such as Lil' Hospital, Knight School, the Hairs, Kevin Hairs, and Theee Kevin Alvir. Known for making lofi indiepop. https://www.instagram.com/mr_kevinalvir/CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Allie MacDonald was born on 17 September 1988 in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada. She is an actress and producer, known for Under the Silver Lake (2018), House at the End of the Street (2012) and Cardinal (2017).
Tim Jo (born April 20, 1984) is an American television and film actor, he is most famous for playing "Reggie Jackson" on the ABC comedy, The Neighbors. Jo was born in Dallas in 1984. As a child, he appeared as a model in catalogues and acted in television commercials. He studied computer science at Trinity University before switching his major to drama and communications, graduating in 2006. Jo made his debut in The 2 Bobs in 2009, a few weeks later, he was cast in Bandslam. He joined a band after the release of the movie along with other actors, Ryan Donowho and Sarah Roemer called Animals of Kin. In 2010, he was cast in two episodes of Greek. He was later cast in a lead role in TBS, Glory Daze playing Alex Chang. In 2011, he appeared on an episode of Castle. In December 2011, he was cast in a Dan Fogelman pilot, The Neighbors. His character name in the pilot was "Joe Montana" but it was changed to "Reggie Jackson" before filming.CREDITSEdited by Otter Castro Stephen Bluhm Sound Engineer/ Editorhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funRich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
With a primary focus on the performing arts, Kibirige specializes in makeup, including special effects, Costume designing and hair styling for film, television commercials, and stage productions. As a leader in her industry, Kibirige has been featured in numerous publications and has even served as a judge for various makeup competitions. Her extensive portfolio boasts collaborations with renowned projects such as “Tembele, Art of a hit” “Rebecca,” “Beneath Beauty,” and “Boda Boda Thieves,” among others. Noteworthy accolades punctuate Kibirige’s illustrious career, including multiple awards for Best Makeup Artist and Costume designer from esteemed platforms such as the Pearl International Film Festival, the African Academy Awards, the Golden Award Ghana, the New Vision Award, the Hair and Beauty Expo, and the iKON Academy Award. Dedicated to fostering emerging talent, Kibirige continues to serve as a mentor while leaving an indelible mark on the global stage of makeup artistry and hairstyling. Her passion for her craft is evident in every project she takes on, and her attention to detail has earned her a well-deserved reputation as one of the top makeup artists in the industry.CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Directed by Gaelan Draper, the film was co-written and produced by Saxton and Draper, and features an original soundtrack with music by indie rock band Jets to Brazil. In the film, Ryan, the lead singer of a late-90s rock band is haunted by irrelevance and struggling to regain visibility a decade after the band’s prime. Charlie Dupont, an eccentric super-producer, invites the band to his 1000-year-old French chateau to record a comeback album. We interview folks who were involved with the film and go behind the scenes, and do deep dives.CREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Joe Simon is cinematographer based in Austin. He draws inspiration from a wide array of shooting environments, including documentary, narrative films, music videos, and commercials, to craft his unique visual style.Joe’s most recent feature film "Art of a Hit" shot in France in 2023, was just relased to Apple TV and Amazon in August 2024.In 2021, "The Get Together," a feature film, was released on Showtime and Amazon Prime. Joe's social justice documentary short, "7 Years and Counting," received acclaim as a Vimeo Staff Pick and earned recognition at various film festivals.January 2024 marked the global release of his feature documentary, "Man on the Run" on Netflix, he also premiered "Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird," a documentary about the band The Mars Volta, at the Rain Dance Film Festival in October 2023.In the same year, Joe's short film, "(DIS)CONNECTED" gained official selection status at the 2023 Austin Film Festival and won best Sci Fi at Toronto Shorts Festival. Additionally, Simon has shot numerous award-winning short films, such as The Volunteer, The Laundromat Off Malibu, The Study, Unfettered, and Low Tide. He was also the cinematographer on Season 3 of the CNN Original Documentary Series, “The Wonder List with Bill Weir”.His commercial work includes collaborations with brands like Nike, Red Bull, Budweiser, Dodge, Under Armour, and Toyota. Joe has also shot music videos for artists such as Leon Bridges, Khruangbin, Gary Clark Jr., and Breland.joesimonfilms.comCREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineerhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funOtter Castro Editor Rich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Heather Shafter was an intern at the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) in 1998 and then became a member of the local chapter in 2003, where she met Life of Libby co-author, Libby Frank. Prior to publishing Life of Libby, Heather was credited for her editorial contributions toImpact: Deliver Presentations That Get Results by Majorie Brody. Heather has a B.A. in Women’s Studies and French from Drew University and an M.Ed. in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. She is currently the COO of BRODY Professional Development, a consulting company that develops leadership communication through training, coaching, and team facilitation.https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?NquF6DAzBpy9bOb4fDSqXdRndYadS60Ewwa4ieFatlGCREDITSStephen Bluhm Sound Engineer/ Editorhttps://www.stephenbluhm.funRich WexlerProducer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Ep. 116: David Valdes (Art of a Hit) Actor David Valdes is known for Dear White People (2017) Speechless (2016) and Dr. Ken (2015). https://www.instagram.com/davidvaldes/ CREDITS Stephen Bluhm Sound Engineer/ Editor https://www.stephenbluhm.fun Rich Wexler Producer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html
Ep. 115: Renacio Reyes (Fashion Designer) "Aedos, The Serpent of Shame" Fashion Show 9-10-24 NYC Designer Renacio Reyes’ Whimsically Sophisticated collections have been widely received in the Paris, New York and Dallas fashion scenes as Theatrical and Darkly Romantic displays of Fashion Storytelling. Taking large inspiration from Surrealist and Fantasy artist Remedios Varo, Renacio allows the Audience to Escape into the Runways like Falling into a Dream State. Renacio has been seen in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Time magazine amongst other publications. Receiving formal fashion education from the University of North Texas as well as supplementary Couture training at the Paris American Academy in France. The brand has since shown in New York Fashion Week four times and Paris Fashion Week twice. Most recently, Creative Director of “Renacio” Carlos Reyes has been announced to be a participant in Julia Fox’s “OMG Fashun” fashion competition. Tune in May 6th for the designers reality TV debut. They have a show coming upon in NYC on Sept. 10th 2024 Ticket Info here https://renacio.com/shop Social Media and Website https://renacio.com https://www.instagram.com/renacioreyes/ CREDITS Stephen Bluhm Sound Engineer/ Editor https://www.stephenbluhm.fun Rich Wexler Producer/Interviewer http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/vintage-annals-archive---the-deep-dive-podcast.html