Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Yi Chen’s FIRST VOTE: HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest INTERVIEWS; electoral process from Chinese Americans perspective

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, I talk to Chen about how she found her subjects and gained their trust and willingness to participate in her film, as well as her approach with her subjects in terms of challenging them on camera when they would make erroneous statements about policy. We also talk about her filmmakers’ focus on getting the shot and the sound, even as an interview subject is propping up an AK-47 on a wall next to herself during an interview like it was a rake or something.

Anabel Rodrigues Rios’ ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENEZUELA: HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest INTERVIEWS; villagers of Congo Mirador struggle with pollution

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Rios and I talk about the film being an “act of resistance”, as well as how the film also lends some insight into what is happening in this country at this very moment. We also talk about Rios’ relationship with the two main subjects, how that managed within the considerations of her own politics versus theirs, and how she approached filmmaking while hiding her own anger over the political machinations at that time.

Minna Dufton’s BIG VS SMALL at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Festival INTERVIEWS; giant wave surfer in Portugal, Joana Andrade

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Dufton and I talk about the challenges in capturing what she needed for the film and managing that relationship throughout the filing process. We also discuss filming and moviemaking in extreme environments to not just get footage but to get it as safely as possible, as well as the tenuous nature of directing by webcam.

Nathalie Bibeau’s THE WALRUS AND THE WHISTLEBLOWER at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest INTERVIEW; trainer at Canada’s Niagara Falls Marineland takes them on

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Bibeau and I talk about Phil Demers, the former trainer of Smooshi, and her working relationship with him as the “star” of her film and how she set the boundaries with him. We also discuss her approach to the project in terms of strategy to follow a developing story without an obvious end, thoughts on open endings in documentaries, Finally, we zero in on a couple moments that she loved.

Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss’ MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest INTERVIEW; explores immigration

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, I talk to Molomot and Bemiss about their real on-the-ground approach to filmmaking as a tandem, the challenge of finding this film’s “story,” the beauty of having an editor who has “distance” from the director(s) to add an objective eye, and Kate Spradley, one of the film’s subjects, also weighs in on what it was like to have their cameras focused on her as she tried to solve these mysteries. All of them talk about the cameras catching “human moments” and what leads to accomplishing that.

Jessica Earnshaw’s JACINTA interview at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest; struggles to overcome addiction

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Earnshaw and I talk about how she balanced out the time and focus on each of the trio, the filmmaker’s heartbreak of cutting down hundreds of hours of footage to an hour and a half, the times that struck her as signature moments while filming and editing, the filmmaker’s ethical decisions and the line they draw as a filmmaker versus a concerned human being regarding the subject. What is the responsibility of the filmmaker in those moments? This is a great conversation addressing that question.

Khadifa Wong’s UPROOTED: THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ DANCE interview at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Festival INTERVIEW; exploration of jazz dance’s history

By John Wildman 6 years ago

In the interview, Khadifa and I talk about the insane number of people – really KEY people they got to do interviews for the film, the importance of Patrick Swayze’s mom as an influence on jazz dance in this country, and the approach of making the film via a dancer’s perspective visually, and through choreography, as well as how having an editor with a little distance from the subject can help protect filmmakers from overindulging their “favorite” parts or interests in service of the film’s whole.

Minna Dufton’s BIG VS SMALL: HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest REVIEW; will convince you to surf your big dreams

By admin 6 years ago

Big vs. Small feels like one long Buddhist meditation. The gentle in-and-out flow of breath mirrors the rhythm to the film’s edit. The lap of waves on camera perform a sort of hypnotic metronome for audiences. This quality gives measured pacing to the film overall and gives the audience chances to take in the scope and velocity of some truly massive surfing waves, but also chances to listen to Andrade. It’s fantastically cut together stringing together footage from wildly different camera sources as it shows different highlights of her surfing.

Jessica Earnshaw’s JACINTA leads awards at Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2020 with THE VIEWING BOOTH

By John Wildman 6 years ago

“This year was one for our festival history books and we are exceedingly proud of the safe ways we brought our community together, says Artistic Director, Jen Gerber. “Through virtual talks and a mix of safe outdoor activities, we were reminded of the strength of our film-loving community and this year surpassed all our expectations for audience engagement and connectivity.”

Meg Daniels and Manie Robinson’s Proper Pronouns at HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY Film Fest REVIEW: finds true faith in gender expression

By Luke Y. Thompson 6 years ago

TV news and social media tend to pump things up to the extreme, but Proper Pronouns shows the positive side of this life. Masses out to protest anti-trans laws; accepting congregations draped in rainbow flags laying hands upon one another, and the worst we see is an occasional Confederate flag or some local country boy acting bewildered about these new-fangled “unisexual” bathrooms.