John Wildman

Bruno Pavić ‘s LANDSCAPE ZERO: SEEfest 2021 Interviews; talks about the taking a different approach and style to the environmental documentary

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about why and how Bruno took the “artistic” documentary approach with this film and its subject, including not wanting to be perceived as an activist through the filmmaking. We also talk about a moment of improvisation he had while shooting the film, and how some of that came from the reluctance of interview subjects to actually appear in the film.

Nóra Lakos’ CREAM: SEEfest 2021 Interviews; romantic comedy inspirations, casting for chemistry and a great kid

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about Nóra’s romantic comedy inspirations for the film, as well as how they purposely tried to deviate from the typical style and tropes where they could. We also talk about achieving chemistry between romantic leads – via casting and application, as well as her success casting (including how a growth spurt intervened) and working with the fake son in the film.

Marija Perović ‘s BREASTS : SEEfest 2021 Interviews; talks about balancing the personalities and relationships between four distinct characters in her film

By John Wildman 5 years ago

In the interview, we talk about Marija’s work with the main actors in the film – since those performances were a highlight for me me personally – as well as how they each came to the project from different countries. We also talk about the seeming rarity today of having a film focused on 40-something leads and their behavior (as opposed to a having a film fronted by a much younger cast). We also discuss the editing process and balancing the four characters equally when a really strong individual performance can inspire an editor to give them more screen time than was originally intended.

Lane Michael Stanley’s Addict Named Hal Opens Big Bear Film Summit 2021 for in-person return in June after last year’s virtual debut

By John Wildman 5 years ago

BBFS CEO Gabriel Horn, added, “So many people – not just filmmakers and others in the film industry – have a new hope right now as we work our way back from the pandemic, so we thought it would be a great theme for this year’s edition of the Big Bear Film Summit. However, a constant is the quality of the films we have selected for BBFS. Only this year we will have the great pleasure of hosting our attending filmmakers and film fans against the backdrop of this gorgeous and historically Hollywood-friendly area.”

Toprak, Brauhaus Open Lake Travis Film Festival 2021 with an all in-theater, in-person fest in June

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Lake Travis Film Festival Founder and Executive Director, Kat Albert, said, “Like the rest of the country, our community has been isolated for a year, and we want our event to give people a safe space to leave their homes and experience a little bit of normalcy. Filmmakers have been isolated too and they have missed the joy and satisfaction of seeing their films screened in front of live audiences. We were fortunate to have seemingly dodged the pandemic’s course to a great extent from our debut last year to this year’s second edition, but that also makes us want to return in the best way we can both for our filmmakers and our film fans.”

Trisha Ziff’s Oaxacalifornia at Austin’s Cine Las Americas 2021 adds some free films, competition shorts, youth films and more for next month’s fest

By John Wildman 5 years ago

CLAIFF Lead Programmer Ernie Quiroz, said, “We love giving our Cine Las Americas audience and community here in Austin something special to add just that much more luster to the festival and what fits the bill better for that than a sneak preview screening here and a world and/or US premiere there? A vital part of our efforts are to do what we can to make our film festival available and accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it. We are also excited about the scope, variety, and pure entertainment to be found in our shorts and music video competitions, as well as our Emergencia Youth films as we continue to look for and promote the next generation of filmmakers out there.”

Voodoo Macbeth leads filmmaker awards for Harlem Film Festival 2021 after ushering NYC back into the theater

By John Wildman 5 years ago

Harlem International Film Festival Program Director Nasri Zacharia said, “Our 16th edition marked the return to in-person, in-theater screenings in New York City, and our hybrid approach allowed us to continue to invite audiences throughout the state of New York to the unique blend of global cinema and local films that we have built a reputation celebrating for a decade and a half now. Harlem emphatically is a center, magnet, and inspiration for the arts, and we embrace our role in that vital and vibrant legacy.

What the Film?! Podcast #1 with Justina Walford, John Wildman – “The One Where We Mock Tribeca”

By John Wildman 5 years ago

On our inaugural What the Film?! Podcast, Justina Walford and I talk about a trio of topics inspired by Facebook debate thread shenanigans including Tribeca claiming they would be the first in-theater film festival this year when there have been SEVERAL already in the past three months and one even in New York City a couple weeks ago. Adorable, Tribeca. Adorable.

Christina Huff, Jonathan Smith, Ann Rapp: Oxford Film Festival 2021 brings back the in-person experience with photos and interviews

By John Wildman 5 years ago

The 2021 Oxford Film Festival was one of the first to dip its toes into doing the in-person screenings this year (March 24-28) which meant a return to doing red carpets and more. Under circus-style tents, in a convention center, in a hotel lobby, and outside a multiplex, filmmakers had their films screened, did Q&As, interviews, red carpet photos and more. The film festival weathered two separate tornado threats, rain, and brought the community of Mississippi film fans and filmmakers (many of whom made the trip from various spots around the country) back together in a warm and friendly return to the film festival world so may of us have missed for a year.