FOLLOWING FILMS

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. Today I’m joined by Everett Blunck, star of the new film GRIFFIN IN SUMMER In the same vein as the Sundance hit Theater Camp, GRIFFIN IN SUMMER revolves around Griffin Nafly, played by breakout star Everett Blunck, who is the most ambitious playwright of his generation. He's also fourteen years old, still living with his exhausted mother in the bland suburb of Borwood, and desperately attempting to self-produce his new divorce drama Regrets of Autumn, starring his unenthusiastic friends. But when Griffin forms a surprise summer friendship with handsome twenty-five-year-old failed performance artist turned handyman Brad, played by Owen Teague, his life (and play) will never be the same. GRIFFIN IN SUMMER is now available on VOD. Now on to my conversation with Everett, I hope you enjoy the show

  Today I’m joined by Waltzing with Brando Cinematographer Garrett O’Brien Waltzing with Brando follows Hollywood legend Marlon Brando (Billy Zane) at the height of his fame as he dreams of leaving Hollywood behind to create the world’s first sustainable ecological retreat on a remote Tahitian island. To bring his vision to life, he enlists Bernard Judge (Jon Heder), an idealistic Los Angeles architect, in an against-the-odds effort to transform Tetiaroa, a challenging twelve-island atoll, into an environmentally conscious retreat. Waltzing with Brando is now playing in theatres everywhere. Now on to my conversation with Garrett, I hope you enjoy the show

  Today, we’re diving into a film that’s as much about cinema history as it is about the raw, unsettling power of horror. Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre shocked the world and permanently altered the landscape of filmmaking, a new documentary is taking a hard, fascinating look at its legacy. It’s called Chain Reactions—winner of the Venice Classics Award for Best Documentary on Cinema and an official selection at festivals like Telluride, Sitges, and BFI London. The film brings together voices like Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama, weaving their personal impressions, memories, and even traumas into a dialogue about how one scrappy, no-budget horror film embedded itself into our collective nightmares—and never left. The documentary is written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, a filmmaker who has carved out his own space as the leading voice in what he calls “cinema essays.” From 78/52 to Memory:...

  In TRAUMATIKA, a young boy’s night terrors become reality when his mother begins showing signs of demonic possession. What he’s about to experience will haunt him for the rest of his life and claim countless lives across generations. Today I’m joined by the co-writers and director of TRAUMATIKA, Pierre Tsigaridis and Maxime Rançon Today’s episode of the Following Films Podcast is brought to you by Google Workspace. We keep things running smoothly and efficiently at Following Films with the convenience of cloud-based Google Workspace programs. Google Docs lets you work and save on Google Drive, Hangouts lets you video chat, Gmail gives you a professional email, and Calendar lets you organise – from anywhere, at any time. You should try it and see how it can help your business, too. Google Workspace is offering a 14-day trial. If you sign up using my link, I can give you a discount, and it helps to support the show Go to  https://referworkspace.app.goo.gl/G6uF Now on to my con...

Today I’m joined by legendary actor Erik Estrada to discuss the time he pulled a knife on Pat Boone, his work on Tony Hawks: Destroying America, and his work on the Amazon hit series Fallout. This interview was recorded at the Tucson Comic-Con. Click play on the player below for my conversation with Erik —big thanks to the folks at Tucson Comic-Con for setting up this interview. I hope you enjoy the show

Today I’m joined by Nicholas Colia to discuss GRIFFIN IN SUMMER Griffin Nafly (Everett Blunck) is the most ambitious playwright of his generation. He's also fourteen years old and living with his parents in a humdrum suburb while dreaming of moving to New York City. When his mom (Melanie Lynskey) hires a handsome 25-year-old handyman (Owen Teague), Griffin's life and his new play take an inspired turn. Also starring Kathryn Newton and Abby Ryder Fortson. GRIFFIN IN SUMMER will be in theaters on Friday, August 29th. I hope you enjoy the show

Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of Bono’s critically acclaimed one-man stage show, “Stories of Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music and Some Mischief…” As he pulls back the curtain on a remarkable life and the family, friends, and faith that have challenged and sustained him, he also reveals personal stories about his journey as a son, father, husband, activist, and rock star. Along with never-before-seen, exclusive footage from the tour, the film features Bono performing many of the iconic U2  songs that have shaped his life and legacy. Today’s episode of the Following Films Podcast is brought to you by Universal Pictures How to Train Your Dragon. The film is currently available on digital, DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. If you would like to win a free copy of the 4K disc, just send an email with your mailing address to ⁠editor@followingfilms.com⁠ with the subject line “I can train your dragon.” Winners will be selected at random and receive notification by 8/31. If ...

Today I’m joined by Wendy Lobel to discuss ANXIETY CLUB ANXIETY CLUB provides an intimate and humorous look at anxiety through the eyes and minds of some of the most brilliant comedians working today. Marc Maron, Tiffany Jenkins, Baron Vaughn, Aparna Nancherla, Mark Normand, Eva Victor and Joe List offer candid reflections on their relationship with anxiety through exclusive interviews, standup performances, sketch videos, therapy sessions, and everyday life. With rare access to private therapy sessions, the film follows comedian Tiffany Jenkins (a content creator with over 9 million followers) as she undergoes behavioral therapy, capturing the profound changes her treatment brings about. Others find support from alternative sources, such as world-renowned meditation expert Tara Brach, PhD, or the psychologist-in-residence at The Laugh Factory, or simply from mentors in the comedy community. All of the comedians in ANXIETY CLUB have created standup or sketch material about their mental...

Thank you for listening to the Following Films Podcast. Today I’m joined by Jeremy Rudd to discuss DIE’CED: RELOADED Seattle, Halloween night, 1987. Benny - an infamous serial killer long thought contained - breaks free from a high-security asylum, reborn behind a twisted scarecrow mask. As he leaves a trail of carnage across the suburbs, whispers of his gruesome past resurface, fueling panic in a city soaked in neon and fear. But Benny isn’t just killing for pleasure - he’s hunting someone. A young woman unknowingly tied to the darkest chapter of his madness becomes his fixation, and the closer he gets, the bloodier it gets. DIE’CED: RELOADED delivers a brutal, synth-drenched slasher soaked in 1980s nostalgia, where Benny carves his place in horror history - one body at a time. DIE’CED: RELOADED will be available to rent or purchase on video-on-demand on Tuesday, 8/12 Now on to my conversation with Jeremy Rudd. I hope you enjoy the show

  Today’s episode is a real treat—especially for fans of supernatural horror and '80s cult classics. We're joined by legendary director Chuck Russell, whose past work includes genre-defining hits like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob, and The Mask. Now, he's back with a bold and grounded reimagining of Witchboard, the 1986 cult horror film that delivered equal parts cheese and chills. Russell’s new vision trades in the campy charm of the original for a darker, more atmospheric take. Set in present-day New Orleans, this Witchboard follows a young couple as they stumble upon a cursed artifact that awakens a vengeful witch, plunging them into a harrowing world of possession, occult terror, and temptation. Stick around as we chat with Chuck about reinventing Witchboard for a new generation, building dread without leaning on nostalgia, and how the haunted streets of New Orleans helped bring this eerie tale to 

Today I'm joined by Julie Berghoff. Julie is a Production Designer who won the Emmy and the Art Directors Guild award for The Handmaid's Tale. She was also nominated for excellence in production design on Electric Dreams based on the short stories of Philip K. Dick. Her first feature film was Saw, directed by James Wan which earned over 103M. In 2005, she segued into comedy, designing the Oscar and Golden Globe Nominated Film, The Kids Are Alright and in 2015 Emmy Winner, Olive Kitteridge both directed by Lisa Cholodenko.  I had her on the show today to discuss her Emmy-nominated work on Apple TV+ The Studio.

  Today I’m joined by Jamie Bailey, Simon Phillips, Anthony Crivello, and Ken Bresser to discuss their work on The Omro Heist. In the film, an FBI agent goes undercover during a bank siege in his hometown, and he discovers the robbery is an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by the corrupt mayor to destroy evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

  Today, I’m joined by a truly fascinating guest—Martin Harris, who delivers a memorable turn as the Boravian General in the latest entry in the DC Universe, Superman. Sharing the screen with the likes of Nicholas Hoult and Zlatko Burić, Martin’s role is small but powerful—appearing in several key scenes that fans won’t forget. But Martin’s journey to the big screen is as compelling as any superhero origin story. Before acting, he was a sports journalist in Poland, and it was none other than Kobe Bryant who encouraged him to follow his heart and pursue a career in the arts. That leap of faith took him from the press box to sets across Hollywood, with appearances in Stranger Things, NCIS: Los Angeles, Young Sheldon, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, just to name a few.

  Today I’m talking with director Destry Allyn Spielberg about her new film, Please Don’t Feed the Children. It’s a tense, gripping horror-thriller set in a world where a virus has wiped out the adult population, and a group of orphans finds themselves taken hostage by a mysterious woman with a dark secret. The film features a fantastic cast — including Michelle Dockery, Giancarlo Esposito, and Zoe Colletti — and marks Destry’s feature directorial debut. Please Don’t Feed the Children arrives exclusively on Tubi this Friday, June 27, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned — this is a great conversation you’re going to want to hear!

  Today we’re joined by two remarkable guests: acclaimed actor Dermot Mulroney, whose filmography spans everything from My Best Friend’s Wedding to Young Guns and Yellowstone… and director Salvador Litvak, whose bold new film Guns & Moses is already sparking conversation across the country. Inspired by real events, Guns & Moses follows a desert rabbi who becomes an unlikely warrior when his community is attacked—blending the intensity of an action-thriller with the heart of a deeply personal story. It’s a film that takes on antisemitism, courage, and what it means to protect what matters most… all with style, grit, and yes, a little Hitchcock flair. Guns & Moses is now playing. For more information, visit the official website .

Today we’re going deep into the heart of Diablo — a lean, ferocious action-thriller starring Scott Adkins that lands today in theaters and on demand. Diablo is the story of Kris Chaney — a man fresh out of prison, carrying the weight of a promise and running from the kind of danger you can’t hide from. Directed by Ernesto Díazo Espinoza, the film mixes brutal martial arts choreography, a relentless villain, and a surprising emotional core. In this special episode, I’m joined first by Scott Adkins, who talks about the physical and emotional challenge of playing Kris — a man torn between violence and redemption. Then, I speak with Alanna de la Rossa, who plays Elisa — a pivotal role that grounds the story with vulnerability and strength. We dive into her experience on set, working opposite Adkins, and what it meant to represent her Colombian roots in an international action film. And finally, I close things out with director Ernesto Díaz Espinoza, who shares his vision for Diablo — from ...

Now available on major VOD platforms, Walls of Jericho is a powerful retelling of the biblical story from the Book of Joshua—a tale of faith, endurance, and divine triumph. Set after 40 years of wandering in the desert, the film follows Joshua and the Israelites as they confront the towering walls of Jericho with little more than their faith and God's instructions. What unfolds is a miraculous victory, brought to life through stunning animation and a moving score. The film has already garnered major festival recognition, winning “Best Animated Film” at the 2025 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and earning a top-three spot for “Best Picture” at the International Christian Film & Music Festival. It’s a cinematic achievement that blends timeless storytelling with artistic innovation. Today, Amir Kovacs joins us to talk about adapting this epic for the screen, working with a global creative team, and the vision behind Walls of Jericho. Whether you’re drawn to animation, ins...

I had the chance to sit down with Harley Flanagan — punk pioneer, founding member of the Cro-Mags, and the subject of the new feature-length documentary, HARLEY FLANAGAN: WIRED FOR CHAOS. Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award-winner Rex Miller, this no-holds-barred film dives into Harley’s life — from the violent streets of ‘70s New York to the hardcore scene that defined a generation. This isn’t just about music — it’s about survival. Abuse, addiction, squats, street fights, punk gigs, Jiu-Jitsu, fatherhood — Harley’s lived through it all. And the film, which features interviews with Flea, Henry Rollins, Ice T, Michael Imperioli, and the late Anthony Bourdain, shows a side of him many haven’t seen before. Now, quick heads up — there’s a slight audio issue on my end during this episode. I didn’t realize my mic wasn’t plugged in, so you’ll hear me through my laptop’s onboard mic. It’s definitely listenable, just a bit rougher than usual — but honestly, it kind of fits the vibe of this epis...

  Host Chris Maynard sits down with filmmakers Tad Sallee and Jason Sikorsky to unpack their five-year journey making  GOING POSTAL: THE LEGACY FORETOLD —a bold, heartfelt, and cinematic deep dive into one of gaming’s most controversial franchises. What started as a casual conversation in Tucson turned into an unexpected story of friendship, chaos, controversy, and creative grit. Set against the backdrop of the Arizona desert and steeped in gaming subculture, the film tells the behind-the-scenes story of Postal—a cult-favorite game infamous for its violence, and beloved for its refusal to conform. But at its heart,  GOING POSTAL: THE LEGACY FORETOLD  isn’t just about a game. It’s about two creators, Mike J. and Vince, and their decades-long fight to keep their vision alive. GOING POSTAL: THE LEGACY FORETOLD chronicles the story of Postal, one of gaming’s most infamous franchises, and the unlikely duo behind it. What unfolds is a decades-long journey filled with back...

Some films aim to entertain; others aim to provoke. Lemonade Blessing dares to do both—and does so with unapologetic flair. At first glance, the film is a bold, raunchy sex comedy. But peel back the irreverent humor, the teenage horniness, and the sacrilegious hijinks, and you’ll find something much deeper pulsing beneath the surface: a raw, reflective exploration of generational trauma, toxic masculinity, and the quiet desperation of growing up with inherited wounds. In this interview, Following Films sits down with writer-director Chris Merola, a Gen Z filmmaker whose work channels both playful nostalgia and piercing cultural critique. With scenes shot in his own childhood home and props pulled from his real-life video game collection, Lemonade Blessing is as personal as it is provocative. Merola opens up about the journey of making the film, the adolescent awakening that inspired it, and his hope that the film’s outrageous "skin" might draw in teen boys—particularly those ...