Filmwax Radio

Twenty years ago Leon Gast made an Oscar winning documentary about Muhammad Ali called When We Were Kings. With the death of the iconic former heavy weight champion, Leon calls in for a chat about his friend. Also on this episode, filmmaker Beth B (Exposed) discusses a new documentary she has made about her mother, the artist Ida Applebroog, called Call Her Applebroog. The film will have a theatrical engagement at The Metrograph in Lower Manhattan beginning Friday, June 10th as well as a retrospective of much of her earlier work. Lastly, animator Bill Plympton (Cheatin’) returns to the podcast to chat about his latest feature film, a mockumentary, called Hitler’s Folly. You can stream Bill’s film off his website, www.plymptoons.com today. Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Studios podcast network and presented by Rooftop Films. This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free download and trial membership by going to www.audibletrial.com/filmwaxradio.

This episode of the podcast focuses on the new documentary about Bill Genovese’s search for the truth behind the story of his beloved sister, Kitty Genovese. The story Kitty’s gruesome murder in 1964 in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens is, of course, a seminal part of New York City’s history. Joining me in this special segment is Bill and director of The Witness, Jim Solomon.

In this episode of the podcast we meet with the teams of two outstanding documentaries. Up first, Holy Hell which had its New York premiere at Rooftop Films a few days ago and which hits theaters on Friday, May 27th. For a full list of screenings and theatricals, visit their website. Guests include filmmaker & former cult member Will Allen along with two other former members Philippe Coquet and Vera Cheiffo. In 1985, Will Allen became a member of The Buddhafield, a Los Angeles area spiritual group. A recent film school graduate, Allen began to chronicle the group’s activities that centered on their leader, a mysterious individual they called The Teacher, or Michel. Over time, the group’s dark side began to surface, until finally, a shocking allegation against The Teacher tore the group apart – all in front of Allen’s camera.

Then we welcome the team behind the new festival hit documentary Presenting Princess Shaw (Magnolia Pictures) including the film’s subjects Samantha “Princess Shaw” Montgomery and musical genius, Kutiman, as well as director Ido Haar. The true story of the incredible Princess Shaw and the enigmatic composer Kutiman, who discovers her from the other side of the world. By day, Samantha Montgomery cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’s toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and sings her own songs as Princess Shaw on her confessional YouTube channel. Raw and vulnerable, her voice is a diamond in the rough. Across the globe, Ophir Kutiel creates video mash ups of amateur YouTube performers. Known as Kutiman, he is a composer, a musician, and a pioneering video artist embraced by the world of fine art. Two strangers, almost 7,000 miles apart, begin to build a song. Presenting Princes Shaw opens theatrically on May 27th as well.

Filmwax Radio Live presented by DCTV. Special guests are the documentary filmmaking team of Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker (The War Room, Kings of Pastries). Their latest film, Unlocking the Cage, follows the story of animal rights lawyer Stephen Wise and his quest to obtain persons’ rights for particular species of animals including chimps, whales and elephants. This film follows Wise through a period of legal battles. The conversation at DCTV was recorded live in front of an audience and included the film’s trailer and a clip from the film. We did not screen the film as it is about to enjoy a theatrical premiere at Film Forum on Wednesday, May 25th.

From the Montclair Film Festival in Montclair, NJ, an interview with Berndt Mader the Austin-based director of the new dramatic feature, Booger Red. Also returning to the podcast is the lead actor in the film, Onur Tukel (dir. of Summer of Blood & the upcoming Cat Fight). Sitting in for a portion of the interview is Montclair Film Festival programmer Opal Hope Bennett. Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Podcast Network and presented by Rooftop Films.

Film directors Rebecca Miller (Maggie’s Plan) and Terence Davies (Sunset Song) are the guests. The music on this episode is by Jim’s Big Ego from their album Stay. Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Studios podcast network and presented by Rooftop Films.

Guests include brilliant filmmaker Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, Barcelona) whose new film Love & Friendship opens in select theaters on Friday, May 13; New York Times culture writer Dave Itzkoff discusses his book, Mad As Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies, published by Picador; and the hosts of the podcast Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers, Dion Baia & J. Blake.

Among the guests, all faculty members of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Film program, are department chair Laura Colella (Breakfast With Curtis), Jake Mahaffy (Free In Deed), and Malik Vitthal (Imperial Dreams).

In this second episode dedicated to the Tribeca Film Festival 2016 Edition, guests include Rob Meyer, the director of a new dramedy called Little Boxes which stars Melanie Lynskey; and the team behind a new documentary about the obituary department at the NY Times, director Vanessa Gould & producer Caitlin Mae Burke. Both films have one last screening tomorrow, Sunday, April 24th at the festival. All the music on this episode is by Prince, as the episode is also dedicated to this unforgettable artist.

In this Tribeca Film Festival edition of the podcast, guests include director Liza Johnson whose new comedy Elvis & Nixon opens Friday, April 22nd; the team behind a new British comedy called Adult Life Skills which had its world debut at the festival; and Nancy Buiski, the director of a new documentary called By Sidney Lumet which will be having a television broadcast as part of the American Masters series.