Filmwax Radio

The Up Series' Tony Walker helps celebrate the life & career of filmmaker Michael Apted on this special episode of the podcast. You can also watch this episode by going to YouTube.com/filmwaxradio.

Actor/writer/director Tom Noonan and actor Karen Sillas both. return to the podcast to discuss their 1994 indie cult classic "What Happened Was..." which is being re-released in a new beautiful 4k restored version. It arrives in virtual theaters today, Friday, January 29th. Visit whathappenedwas.oscilloscope.net for a full list of theaters & more.

Two documentaries are at the heart of this episode of the podcast: Stanley Nelson returns for his 4th visit to discuss "Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy" which is a Netflix documentary currently streaming on the platform; and Lance Oppenheim discusses his first feature documentary, "Some Kind of Heaven", about some unusual residents of Florida's largest retirement community.

The first segment of this episode focuses on a web series called "Group" with writer/director Alexis Lloyd & Executive Producer Jack Lechner (returning to the podcast). Also, back for his 5th visit, filmmaker Sam Pollard discusses his latest documentary "MLK/FBI" which opens today as well as retrospective of his work at Film at Lincoln Center.

The screenwriter Hampton Fancher ("Blade Runner", "Blade Runner 2049") talks about his life having gone from flamenco dancer, to TV actor, to screenwriter and filmmaker. Fancher lives in Brooklyn. This is his first appearance on the podcast.

Kiwi filmmaker Guy Pigden discusses his romantic comedy, "Older", currently available on Amazon Prime. And the culture critic Armond White returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book, a collection of his criticism over the years on his favorite American filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, called "Make Spielberg Great Again" (Resistance Works, WDC, 2020).

Guests on this episode include documentary pioneer, Gordon Quinn, the Artistic Director and one of the founders of Kartemquin Films out of of Chicago; also the Italian director Matteo Garrone ("Gomorrah", "Reality") discusses his new feature film, a live-action version of the classic tale "Pinocchio", due out on Christmas Day.

The documentary filmmaker Hao Wu with his devastating documentary "76 Days" about the first days of COVID-19 in Wuhan hospitals. Also, a segment with filmmaker/actors Hannah Leder & Alexandra Kotcheff with their indie comedy "The Planters". Both films are currently available to stream.

The Hollywood biographer Scott Eyman returns to Filmwax Radio with his latest book, "Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise" (Simon & Schuster) and a most enjoyable conversation with myself and my co-host, the actor & author Illeana Douglas. Scott's book, as well as Illeana's ("I Blame Dennis Hopper") are both available wherever books are sold and either would make a splendid holiday gift!

The actor Margo Martindale ("The Americans") returns with a new film "Uncle Frank" which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime; also the filmmaker Sean Durkin ("Martha Marcy May Marlene") makes his first appearance with his second feature, "The Nest" (IFC Films) which is currently available on various streaming platforms.

Two actors both make their first appearances on the podcast. Brit Malachi Kirby stars in Steve McQueen's feature film "Mangrove" which premieres on Amazon Prime on November 20th. Stephen Dorff ("True Detective") stars in the new dramatic feature "Embattled" which also premieres on streaming platforms on Friday, November 20th.

A celebration of street photography with Godlis & Manny Kirchheimer who both appear on this episode of the podcast. First up Godlis with a new photo essay book called "Godlis Streets" (available for purchase at Rizzoli Bookstore). And Manny discusses his latest work of non-fiction, "Free Time" now playing at Film Forum's virtual cinema.

The indie film "The Climb" director/actor Michael Angelo Covino and his co-star Kyle Marvin are in our first segment recorded in person the day before the quarantining began; then I chat with the lead features programmer of the New Orleans Film Festival, Greta Hagen-Richardson. The festival runs from 11/6—11/25.

From the Cucalorus film festival in Wilmington, NC, Dan Brawley makes his first appearance on the podcast to discuss this year's program, which runs from November 11—25. Also, the filmmaker Kaz Phillips & musician Greg Loman whose acid western musical short is now available on the genre streaming service Dust.

Mark Weber returns to the podcast to discuss his latest feature which he directed, wrote & acts in, "The Place of No Words". He's joined by his co-star Nicole Elizabeth Berger. Also, director Wayne Wang ("Chan is Missing", "Joy Luck Club") make this first appearance on the podcast to discuss his new film "Coming Home Again". Both films premiere on streaming platforms on 10/23.

Tom Hall, Executive Director of the Montclair Film Festival, returns for his third visit to the podcast. The festival will run 10/16—10/25. Visit montclairfilm.org for tickets & details. Also, making his first appearance on the podcast, music documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld ("The U.S. vs. John Lennon") to discuss his new film, "Herb Alpert Is..." now available on streaming platforms.

The producer Filip Jan Rymsza ("The Other Side of the Wind") comes on to discuss his latest documentary, directed by Orson Welles, called "Hopper/Welles" which just screened at the New York Film Festival. And editor Michael Taylor returns for his threepeat!

Joshua Leonard {"Hump Day", "Unsane") returns to chat about his latest directorial effort, "Fully Realized Humans" and is joined by his co-star Jess Weixler ("Teeth", "The Lie"). It screens at a drive-in tonight at the Woodstock Film Festival. Also, documentarian Rick Rowley discusses his film "Kingdom of Silence" about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi; it premieres on Showtime tonight.

Executive Director of the Woodstock Film Festival, Meira Blaustein, returns to the podcast to discuss the 2020 festival (2 in 1 this year!) which runs from Sept. 30—Oct 4. Check out woodstockfilmfestival.org for tickets to both virtual and drive-in screenings. Also on this episode, actor & filmmaker Frank Mosley returns, discussing "Freeland" in which he stars & which screens at Woodstock.

Ric Burns makes his first appearance on the podcast to discuss his new documentary, "Oliver Sacks: His Own Life" which will begin an exclusive virtual engagement at FilmForum.org; then I am joined by Illeana Douglas, Alex Mankiewicz & Sydney Stern for a discussion about their upcoming 92Y panel on The Brothers Mankiewicz, Sept. 22, 6PM.