Meital Cohen Navarro’s OVER MY DEAD BODY explores the shared heartbreak of a Jewish Iranian family torn apart marriage
Meital Cohen Navarro’s OVER MY DEAD BODY explores the shared heartbreak of a Jewish Iranian
Brittany App ‘s WHERE THERE ONCE WAS WATER SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS; transitioning from photographer to documentarian
Brittany App’s documentary WHERE THERE ONCE WAS WATER tells a story about water. A documentary
Director Paul Michael Angeli, producer Vladimer Daniel MEDICINE MAN: SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS
In the interview, Paul and producer Vladimer Daniel talk about what inspired them to make the film and take on Stan Brock’s life as a subject, as well as the efforts to balance what they were personally interested in with what they believed audiences would really be interested in. They also talk about their approach to filming and putting the elements of the film together, including concerns that they would thoroughly examine the experience of the Remote Area Medical pop up clinics. We also laugh over my memories of watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom when I was a kid.
Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss’ MISSING IN BROOKS COUNTY: SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS; experiences of doing a virtual film fest tour
Last year, I spoke with Lisa and Jeff and one of the film’s subjects during the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, so this time Jeff and I talked about his and Lisa’s experiences during their virtual film festival tour including doing a rare in-person screening at one point. Jeff talks about potential impact partners and a write-up in a publication that came about due to screening virtually, as opposed to in-person. He also discusses their strategy for representation at the various fests. We also talk about our shared fandom of the Film Collaborative’s great Jeffrey Winter.
Aimee Long’s A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL: SLO Film Fest 2021 Review; an Asian cop shooting a black man
Everything is told from Mike’s point of view, which admittedly risks minimizing the shooting victim’s story. We barely know anything about the guy who took the bullet. But the stories of such victims are often told elsewhere – the focus here is on the soul of the perpetrator. Can he be exonerated? Does he deserve to be? How much punishment is enough? There’s a heavy subtext of “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Give enough people guns, and the likelihood increases that at least one will fumble in a critical moment, with stakes that are not properly prepared or trained for.
Loretta Todd’s MONKEY BEACH: SLO Film Fest 2021 Review; indigenous story and spirituality like you rarely see
Adapted from the award-winning first novel by Eden Robinson, Monkey Beach is a family drama full of literary devices that might arguably work better on the page, like flashbacks in multiple time periods, ghosts, and magical spirits. Having to literalize such things on a non-studio budget must be challenging, and some effects feel just like effects. However, this helps to anchor the story in the real world, where fancier CG creations might have thrust it into fantasy. It might be more accurate to call this a faith-based film, except that unlike in most movies thusly described, the faith in question is not Christian, but Haisla spirituality.
Lauren Noll’s HONOR can barely bottle the tension as a young woman lands on a religious hot seat after she is outed
At the end of the day, the events of the film are fictional and didn’t all happen in my own life, but Laine’s fears and conflicts were my own when I was a student at BYU. That scene is just simply the truth for someone in that moment of their journey. As a performer, I did initially try to reign it in and keep it smaller for fear of too much ugliness showing, but my wonderful on set acting coach (who also served as the film’s editor) coached me into the performance that made its way into the final cut.
Xuan Liu’s BLOOM leads San Luis Obispo Intl Film Festival 2021 awards; SLO FF Growth as arts activist event and organization
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival Director Skye McLennan, said, “We were thrilled to welcome back so many from our film festival family and have the opportunity to see several at the drive-in and in-person, just as it was exciting to once again introduce people from all over the state of California to see our films and get a taste of what makes SLO Film Fest so special. We look forward to some of them making the trip to join us in beautiful San Luis Obispo next year.”
Robert H. Lieberman ECHOES OF THE EMPIRE: BEYOND GENGHIS KHAN: SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS
In the interview, Robert talks about something I found absolutely fascinating in the film, and that is the priority on education among the female population and the unexpected result of that. He also discusses what it took to achieve the gorgeous photography of Mongolia in the film – in particular, the use of drones. He also talks about his technique to get his interview subject to “forget the camera” and therefore, open up that much more and reveal themselves in the interviews.
Cassio Pereira ‘s VALENTINA: SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS
In the interview, we talk about how VALENTINA addresses what could be seen as the more mundane – though no less damaging on a daily basis – affronts and indignities and difficulties transgender youth go through as they simply try to just get by. Cassio also talks about his personal work with his research and on set to ensure he got the details correct, as well as how important the casting of Brazilian You Tube personality Thiessa Woinbackk in the title role and what she added beyond her performance. He also goes through the editing process to capture the right rhythm for the film.