Metrograph Theater

The director of an exceptionally moving documentary called Minding the Gap, Bing Liu, is up first on Episode 501. The film is opening in NYC on Friday, August 17th at the Metrograph Theater. Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship. Minding The Gap was made in conjunction with Kartemquin Films. It is being distributed by Hulu and will have its TV broadcast premiere later this year on POV.

The filmmakers behind the seminal and groundbreaking 1982 documentary The Atomic Cafe —Kevin Rafferty, Jayne Loader & Pierce Rafferty— are in the second segment. The film is currently screening at Film Forum in a new 4k restored digital print. This darkly humorous documentary consists of archival footage about nuclear warfare. Drawing largely on government propaganda and training films for American soldiers, the movie, presented in collage form, features clips from early in the Cold War era that are filled with alarming misinformation. Some segments address the alleged safety of nuclear radiation, “duck and cover” drills and other related topics, including instructions for living in a fallout shelter. The film, which is currently being distributed by Kino Lorber, will be opening wide over the coming days. This segment will be included on the forthcoming DVD as bonus content.

Music on this episode is from upcoming Filmwax guest singer-songwriter Mike Viola from his recent album The American Egypt.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

[15 mins. 20 secs.] Remembering the legacy of the late documentary filmmaker St. Clair Bourne who is the subject of an upcoming retrospective this weekend at the Metrograph Theater in NYC. Joining me in the first segment, two filmmakers whose lives & careers were impacted by Bourne: Carol Bash (who last appeared on Episode 287) and, making her first appearance on the podcast, Yoruba Richen. The retrospective, to take place this weekend —February 16 through the 19th— will include a number of documentaries directed by Bourne as well as a number of documentaries by filmmakers like Bash and Richen, most of whom will appear at their screenings. Carol’s film, Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band will screen on Sunday, February 18th at 2:00PM while Yoruba’s film Promised Land will screen on Sunday at 12:00 PM. Visit the Metrograph website for full details on all the screenings.

[39 mins. 200 secs.] Then I am joined by first time filmmaker Sophie Brooks whose new romantic comedy, The Boy Downstairs (FilmRise) opens theatrically this Friday, February 16th, at the Village East Cinema in New York City. The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017, concerns Diana (Zosia Mamet, HBO’s “Girls”) who moves back to New York City after a few years abroad and finds the perfect Brooklyn apartment for a fresh start. Yet on the first night in her new home, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend Ben (Matthew Shear, Mistress America) lives in the apartment below hers.

This episode includes two songs recorded by musical artists Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth who were just on Episode 457 with their film American Folk. These two tracks were recorded live from City Winery NYC exclusively for Filmwax Radio. The soundtrack for American Folk is available wherever music is sold.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

First up [6 mins. 30 secs.] on Episode 430, real estate developer turned film distributor & exhibitor, Charles Cohen discusses his career and various projects for which he either serves as producer or distributor. In addition to the work he does with Cohen Media Group, we also discuss the new Quad Cinema and what is coming in the pipeline.

After that [28 mins. 48 secs.] filmmaker Lana Wilson (After Tiller) returns for her third visit to the podcast. After collaborating on her last feature, Wilson goes it alone with her new documentary, The Departure. The film, which had its festival premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, follows the story of Nemoto, a former punk-turned-Buddhist-priest in Japan, who has made a career out of helping suicidal people find reasons to live. But this work has come increasingly at the cost of his own family and health, as he refuses to draw lines between his patients and himself. The film will have a theatrical engagement at the Metrograph in NYC beginning on Friday, October 13th, and then an engagement at the Laemmle Monica in L.A. before going wide.

Lastly, [51 mins. 35 secs.] actor turned filmmaker John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story, Fargo) discusses his directorial debut with the dramedy, Lucky. The film, which is being distributed by Magnolia Pictures, stars the recently deceased Harry Dean Stanton as 90 year old Lucky who has been a life long atheist but now finds himself on a spiritual journey which includes the quirky characters that inhabit his off the map desert town. It’s an appropriate and loving swan song for one of America’s great actors.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. The podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher & Youtube.

In the first segment [9 mins. 40 secs.] filmmaker Sam Pollard returns to the podcast. Sam has a new documentary called Two Trains Runnin’, narrated by Common, and featuring the music of Gary Clark Jr. The film pays tribute to a pioneering generation of musicians and cuts to the heart of our present moment, offering a crucial vantage from which to view the evolving dynamics of race in America. Two Trains Runnin’ is currently enjoying a theatrical engagement at the Metrograph Theater in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The conversation was recorded at the 2016 Woodstock Film Festival.

Then [41 kins. 30 secs.] sales agent & film producer Bill Straus visits the podcast to discuss about his approach to the business. If you are in need of a sales agent for your film, feel free to reach out to Bill at bill@bridgeindependent.com.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Audible.com. Get a free download and trial membership by going to www.audibletrial.com/filmwaxradio.

Filmwax Radio is part of the ShowBriz Studios podcast network and presented by Rooftop Films. Like us on Facebook.