John Wildman

Laura Galt, Malibu Taetz, Duncan Putney, Melissa Kirkendall’s : Lake Travis Film Fest 2021 Interview: Shorts #2 – Five shorts directors find what connects us all when we make short films

By John Wildman 5 years ago

This is quite the group of films and filmmakers (from the Lake Travis Film festival) to wrangle into one interview space (four narrative, 0ne narrative/doc hybrid, and one documentary), but it highlights the vast range that short films can demonstrate both as entertainment, in style, ambition, approach…everything really. In the interview, we talked about the question that is always my go-to with shorts filmmakers, and that is “Why did you make a short film, let alone this one?”. We also talk about the discipline that goes into making shorts, due to time constraints, including learning to cut things that we love, but need to lose for the good of the film overall.

Lake Travis Film Fest 2021 Interview: SHORTS #1 women directors talk financing and harmonious sets

By John Wildman 5 years ago

The three shorts screened as part of the 2021 Lake Travis Film Festival and in the interview, we talk about (as I frequently ask shorts filmmakers) why they are bothering making a short film. (Spoiler: we talk about “proof of concept” a lot.) We also talk about the challenges filmmaking-wise specific to being a woman and how to get financing is routinely a bigger hurdle than the actual movie making. They also talk about the value of picking their crew members wisely to foster a supportive set filled with collaborators who point to them as the leader of the project.

Jena Burchick’s MOM & M: Lake Travis Film Festival 2021 Interview: inserting herself and her camera in the middle of a family in order to make a film

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talked about what it’s like to be in the middle of a family fraught with real world issues and problems, etc. with your camera and yet, not disrupting the flow of life with your presence. Jena also talks about trying to capture what was going on with the child in the room, yet not lose the film’s focus while doing so. She also discusses how and what inspired the film growing from an intended short to the feature-length project it eventually became.

Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and Kino Lorber team up for AWFJ Presents female-critic curated film slate

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Jennifer Merin, AWFJ president, said, “The alliance is very proud to partner with Kino Lorber for our inaugural ‘AWFJ Presents’ series to highlight some truly outstanding films by some of the world’s finest women directors. The films tell stories that are true to women’s experiences and represent women’s perspectives, but have universal appeal. We are also beyond appreciative of their enthusiasm and generosity regarding this partnership.”

Questlove’s SUMMER OF SOUL: Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival joins the Juneteenth celebration

By John Wildman 5 years ago

HSDFF Executive Director Jennifer Gerber, said, “I cannot imagine a better film than Summer of Soul to celebrate Juneteenth in Hot Springs. We are honored to be part of a collaborative event that unites the community to commemorate this significant date. Questlove’s directorial debut is one of the most anticipated documentaries of the year and we are ecstatic to share this film which captures such an amazing event with a gorgeously vivid presentation with Hot Springs’ audiences.”

Ana Pasti’s IN BETWEEN, Andrej I. Volkashin’s SNAKE: SEEfest 2021 Interviews — Three short film directors discuss the awesomeness and not-so-awesomeness of directing children

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we naturally talk about the challenges and the joys of working with and directing children, including how important it is to “cast” the parents as well as their children. I also have an embarrassing moment where I discover that Ana Pasti actually played the lead in her film and I lamely did not make the connection. We also talk about the filmmakers’ emotional state following the completion of each project and whether they were excited to do the next film or needed to be convinced to do it ever again.

Kata Oláh MY DIGITAL NOMAD, SEEfest 2021 Interviews: talks about documentary filmmaking as a personal discovery process when turning the camera in yourself and your loved ones

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about about Kata’s personal discovery process during the time period making the film and how the insecurity of not having a familiar plan drove the inspiration of wanting to apply it all to the creation of that film. We also talk about the unexpected reaction(s) she had while reviewing footage of conversations that she herself had participated in while filming, as well as finding a balance in her own life once informed by literally watching her life play out in front of her.

Andrei Zinca’s SO WHAT’S FREEDOM?: SEEfest 2021 Interviews: focusing on visuals and giving symbolic characters nuance

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about Zinca’s approach to the visuals of the film, the color palette, the script as seen by a director of photography, and the visual distinction separating the “universes” created within the film. We also talk about the nuance achieved in the characters – weakness in “villains,” conflicted intentions and behavior from “heroic” characters, etc., and how they were set up to be symbolic of entire groups during that time.

Caren Zucker, John Donvan, Anquanizia Hall, Collin Surbeck: Oxford Film Festival 2021 does the red carpet thing

By John Wildman 5 years ago

The Oxford Film Festival took the next step in returning to film festival normalcy (at least as we know it) by doing the in-person screenings and events that filmmakers and film fans were missing so badly over the past year or so. The red carpet presentations are a HUGE part of that experience we enjoy at the film festivals Wildworks PR does its thing at, so guess what..? Socially distanced and careful with the mask protocol (basically, we trusted our filmmakers and their teams that they were okay within their filmmaker “bubbles”, but beyond that it was masks on while moving about – and as you’ll see, there were some groups that really “pushed” that protocol…). So we limited he press participation, spaced out the photos and interviews, took a little more time with the entire process and voila! Red Carpets are back!

Elka Nikolova’s A QUESTION OF SURVIVAL: SEEfest 2021 Interviews; dealing with a central question can make or break a documentary

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about the “responsibility” of the documentarian to choose great spokespeople as interview subjects for their films, as well as how kismet can come into play in finding the right people to put in front of their cameras. Elka also talks in depth about the central question in the film of “Can I consider myself a survivor or not?” as well as how she approached that question helped her unlock the key to making the film.