[Video Interview] Spike Lee and Zaraah Abrahams (Da Sweet Blood of Jesus)
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Whether you're a fan of his work or not, everybody knows who Spike Lee is. His name alone ushers a sense of reverence thanks to his spectacular debut and long filmography, as well as his penchant for always bringing positivity to his depictions of Brooklyn and New York, in general. With his next film, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, releasing in theaters today, I am pleased to release a video interview we shot with the director and lead actress Zaraah Abrahams. In it, I ask Lee about his feelings on Kickstarter and its future in filmmaking, the influences and themes of Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, as well as Abrahams' character, Ganja, and working with Lee.
[Sundance Roundtable Interview] Jim Strouse and Jemaine Clement (People, Places, Things)
Photos by J. Frank
During Sundance this year, we had the chance to sit down with Jim Strouse and Jemaine Clement, writer/director and star of People, Places, Things, respectively. Throughout our roundtable interview, the two shared their experiences working on the film, with Strouse sharing exactly how close the film was to him on a personal level, and how the film was able to succeed with Clement in place as the lead actor. We also decided to share the audio from the interview rather than transcribe it to see how it would be received. Hopefully, you'll be able to enjoy actually listening to the conversations we have behind-the-scenes rather than reading everything. Be sure to check out some of the photos J. Frank took of the interview below, as well!
[Sundance Roundtable Interview] Jason Isaacs and Saoirse Ronan (Stockholm, Pennsylvania)
Photos by J. Frank
During this year's Sundance Film Festival, I had the opportunity to talk to Jason Isaacs and Saoirse Ronan, two of the stars of the psychological indie drama, Stockholm, Pennsylvania. During our conversation, the two discussed their approaches to acting and how it differs from American actors, their on-set rapport with one another, and the drive behind their characters. We also decided to share the audio from the interview rather than transcribe it to see how it would be received. Hopefully, you'll be able to enjoy actually listening to the conversations we have behind-the-scenes rather than reading everything. Be sure to check out some of the photos J. Frank took of the interview below, as well!
[Sundance Interview] Justin Kelly (Director of I Am Michael)
Video shot and edited by J. Frank.
I Am Michael, the upcoming film featuring James Franco as Michael Glatze, a former gay rights and LGBT icon who famously renounced his homosexuality to become a Christian pastor, is set to for its worldwide premiere tonight during this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film, which is based on the New York Times article "My Ex-Gay Best Friend" written by Glatze's former best friend, Benoit Denizet-Lewis in 2011, explores Glatze's relationship with his long-time ex-boyfriend, Bennet (Zachary Quinto), and his religious awakening.
We had the chance to interview the film's director Justin Kelly about the film, working alongside Franco and Quinto, whether Glatze and Denizet-Lewis had any involvement with the film, and more. Be sure to come back later this weekend for our full review of I Am Michael.
[Sundance Interview] Cast and Director of Cronies
Video shot and edited by J. Frank.
When I said really enjoyed Cronies in my review, I meant it. The film embodies the complexities of camaraderie, friendships, and city life in a simple, digestible way that anybody can relate to it. During this year's Sundance Film Festival, J. Frank and I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Zurich Buckner, George Sample III, Brian Kowalski, and Michael J. Larnell about the film. Cronies is bound to find distribution soon enough, so keep it on your radar over the year and make sure you catch it the first moment you get a chance.
[Video Interview] Ryan Moore (Manny)
[This interview was part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with Manny's wide release.]
Manny Pacquiao is one of those sports icons that transcends the sport that he comes from. As a Filipino, he carries The Philippines on his shoulders every time he steps into the ring for a match. For those familiar with Pacquiao, you all know that the country literally shuts down to watch Pacquiao box, from government officials to guerrilla rebels to everyday citizens. To say Pacquiao has become a true Filipino icon is an understatement. Away from the ring, away from Congress, away from the spotlight and the cameras, Manny Pacquiao is still just a man.
In Ryan Moore's documentary, Manny, the goal was not to just highlight Pacquiao's rags to riches story, but to also highlight the man he truly is away from the spectacle of his iconic status. Over the span of three years and more than 1,200 hours of footage, Moore's documentary sheds light on Pacquiao's life in a way that has never been seen or covered before.
In our SXSW interview with Moore, we discuss how he first approached Pacquiao about the documentary, any personal pressure or worries he faced in capturing and sharing Pacquiao's story, and much more. Watch the full video interview below!
[Video Interview] Lenny Mesina (Manny)
[This interview was part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with Manny's wide release.]
Manny Pacquiao is one of those sports icons that transcends the sport that he comes from. As a Filipino, he carries The Philippines on his shoulders every time he steps into the ring for a match. For those familiar with Pacquiao, you all know that the country literally shuts down to watch Pacquiao box, from government officials to guerrilla rebels to everyday citizens. To say Pacquiao has become a true Filipino icon is an understatement. Away from the ring, away from Congress, away from the spotlight and the cameras, Manny Pacquiao is still just a man.
In Ryan Moore's documentary, Manny, it was up to amazing film editor Lenny Mesina, known to most as the editor behind Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, to help craft a cohesive narrative that not only traces Pacquiao's rise as an undersized boxer into the pound-for-pound best boxer in the sport, but also to illuminate Pacquiao's humanity beyond the ring.
Watch the SXSXW interview above in which we talked with Mesina about how he joined the crew for the documentary, the production process, any difficulties editing all of the footage together, and his own personal feelings about Pacquiao. Enjoy!
[Interview] Nacho Vigalondo (Open Windows)
Open Windows is a film about online privacy, celebrity obsession, and cyber terrorism told completely through various computer/camera/phone screens and windows. Such a format would handicap a lot of directors, but for Nacho Vigalondo, the concept further pushes his creative cinematic vision. The man behind one of the most amazing and entertaining time travel films, Timecrimes (Los Cronoscrimenes), and a romantic comedy set during an alien invasion, Extraterrestrial (Extraterrestre), is back with a film that's as narratively interesting as it is cinematically.
As part of the film's press date during last month's Fantastic Fest, I had the chance to talk to Vigalondo about Open Windows, working with the film's leads Elijah Wood and Sasha Grey, and some of his plans for the future. Check out the full interview over the next few pages, and make sure you catch Open Windows on VOD this week or in select theaters starting November 7th.