𝔽𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔽𝕚𝕝𝕞𝕤

Mika Boorem is an actress, screenwriter, and director. She is best known for her work in THE PATRIOT, ALONG CAME A SPIDER, BLUE CRUSH, and the often overlooked John Carpenter gem THE WARD. I had Mika on the show to discuss her latest film Hollywood.con, that she directed, wrote, and stars in. We also talk about her hometown and my current residence Tucson AZ, our shared love of John Carpenter, and the importance of asking for favors when you are making an independent film. If you’d like to support the podcast, become a subscriber today and you'll get access to; all of our new episodes days before non-subscribers, archived episodes over 6 months old, and exclusive content just go to https://anchor.fm/followingfilms/subscribe Big thanks to Bookmans for sponsoring the show and to Fort Worth for letting us use the song at the end. Enjoy the show!

After guest-starring roles on TV shows Medium and 90210, Paige made her feature film debut as Sue O’Malley in the 2009 comedy Adventureland, which opened to critical praise. She then followed with a lead role on the web series stalkTALK, and starring roles in the indie comedies Virgin Alexander and Cheesecake Casserole, as well as the psychological thriller The Employer opposite Malcolm McDowell. I had Paige on the show to discuss her latest film Hollywood.con that's currently available on VOD. We also discuss her role in the Nickelodeon series The Astronauts and what life could look like in a post-pandemic world.  To hear the podcast press play on the imbedded player below

Stephen McNutt is a cinematographer known for his work on Battlestar Galactica (2004), Caprica (2009), and Person of Interest. I had Stephen on the show to discuss his latest project, the Apple Original, FOR ALL MANKIND To hear my conversation with Stephen press play on the embeded player below 

 Although the US is a country that was built on immigration, the essential stories of immigrants and their experiences have largely been swept to the side when it comes to portrayals in the media. Emmy award-winning filmmaker Mimi Chakarova, founder of Still I Rise, is working to change that. Addressing themes of adversity, race, migration, and gender, Still I Rise dives deep into uncovering the raw and honest stories that we only catch a high-level glimpse of on the evening news. Still I Rise pushes the boundaries of filmmaking while exploring adversity and compassion through raw and honest artistry. The "Still I Rise" film series and fellowship program support the projects of women filmmakers who have shown great promise in the field of visual storytelling and documentary filmmaking. Their goal is to provide a platform for creative work that aims to change perceptions through the power of storytelling. This year, Still I Rise Films has dedicated $50,000 to fellowship suppor

  Make|SHIFT is a documentary film by WP Engine exploring the art and science behind the advertising industry's 20+ year evolution. Hear from a range of industry leaders from developers to designers to creative directors to founders at some of the most innovative agencies in the world, both small and large, digital and traditional. The film takes an inside look at how these makers and agencies have shifted and re-shifted their skillsets, creativity, and businesses, as new creative technologies emerged, declined, and were replaced by the next technology in an endless cycle of change. Make|SHIFT shines light on this beautifully frustrating pattern, and celebrates the makers that have embraced the shift...and in doing so, helped drive the internet forward. To hear our interview with Tim Cawley and Carley Thompson on MakeShift clisck play on the embedded player below

  SLAXX is about a possessed pair of jeans that terrorizes trapped workers in a trendy clothing store. Today I chat with Elza Kephart about her Shudder original film. To hear our conversation click play on the embedded player below

Today I chat with Sophia Nahli Allison about her Oscar nominated short documentary film A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA. The film is currently streaming on Netflix. A reimagined narrative of Latasha Harlins through intimate memories shared by her cousin and best friend. The injustice surrounding the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins at a South Central Los Angeles store became a flashpoint for the city’s 1992 civil uprising.  As the Black community expressed its profound pain in the streets, Latasha’s friends and family privately mourned the loss of a vibrant child whose full story was never in the headlines. Three decades later, director Sophia Nahli Allison’s A LOVE SONG FOR LATASHA removes Latasha from the context of her death and rebuilds an archive of a promising life lost. Oral history and memories from Latasha’s best friend and cousin converge in a dreamlike portrait that shows the impact one brief but brilliant life can have. Director Sophia Nahli Allison grew up in South Ce

  Directing large-scale projects for clients as diverse as Toyota and Google, Anheuser Busch, Panasonic, and a foray into feature filmmaking, Jonny Zeller’s work isn’t best described within the confines of one specific genre. The common thread? Powerful cinematic storytelling.  Today, Zeller’s award-winning work has been featured in both television and film domestically and internationally. His commercial and branded work features A-list talent and has gone on to secure various awards including American Advertising Awards, Webby, Reel Screen, and Hermes Award honors. Zeller’s proof of concept short film SCARS is based on viral IP and has gone on to win several awards in the festival circuit.  I had Zeller on the show to discuss his work as 2nd unit director on the feature “Deadly Illusions” starring Kristin Davis, Dermot Mulroney and Shanola Hampton which has been a huge hit on Netflix. Visit, jonnyzeller.com for more. To hear my conversation with Jonny press play on the embedded play

  Today I chat with the director and writer of HAPPILY BenDavid Grabinski. The film stars Joel McHale, Kerry Bishé, Stephen Root, Paul Scheer, Breckin Meyer, Natalie Zea, Natalie Morales, Jon Daly, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Charlyne Yi. HAPPILY is a film that is a bit difficult to sum up, so I've copied the synopsis from the press release below A happily married couple (Joel McHale and Kerry Bishé) discover their friends are resentful of their lustful relationship. When a visit from a mysterious stranger leads to a dead body, they begin to question the loyalty of their so-called friends. The film will be available on all VOD platforms on 3/18. 

Today I'm joined by editor Jeff Groth to discuss his work on CHERRY, JOKER, and COMMUNITY. “Cherry” follows the wild journey of a disenfranchised young man from Ohio who meets the love of his life, only to risk losing her through a series of bad decisions and challenging life circumstances. Inspired by the best-selling novel of the same name, “Cherry” features Tom Holland in the title role as an unhinged character who drifts from dropping out of college to serving in Iraq as an Army medic and is only anchored by his one true love, Emily (Ciara Bravo). When Cherry returns home a war hero, he battles the demons of undiagnosed PTSD and spirals into drug addiction, surrounding himself with a menagerie of depraved misfits. Draining his finances, Cherry turns to bank robbing to fund his addiction, shattering his relationship with Emily along the way. Brought to the screen in bold, gritty fashion by visionary directors Anthony and Joe Russo, “Cherry” is a darkly humorous, unflinching comi

 Today my guest is Shatara Michelle Ford the writer, director, and producer of TEST PATTERN. Part psychological horror, part realist drama, TEST PATTERN unfolds against the backdrop of national discussions around inequitable health care and policing, the #MeToo movement, and race in America. The film follows an interracial couple whose rock-solid relationship is put to the test when Renesha, a Black woman played by Brittany S. Hall, is sexually assaulted. Her white boyfriend (Will Brill) insistently pursues a rape kit and is met with medical and administrative incompetence at every turn. The film analyzes the effects of the systemic factors and social conditioning women face when navigating sex and consent within the American patriarchy, along with exploring institutional racism from a Black female point of view. To purchase tickets for a virtual screening of TEST PATTERN go to loftcinema.org . This episode is made possible by a sponsorship from Bookmans. Please review this episode whe

Toby Oliver, ASC is an Australian film and television cinematographer best known for his work on over forty films including Get Out (2017), Happy Death Day (2017), and Insidious: The Last Key (2018). Variety named him one of the ten cinematographers to watch for in 2017. I had Toby on today to discuss his work on BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR. Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time - ever. This delightfully silly comedy from Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo will be available to rent on Feb 12th.

  Today I'm joined by Jason Richard Miller to discuss his latest film BLOODHOUND. Private investigator Abel Walker (Ackerman) along with his cameraman, Jim (Foy), are on the hunt for a missing woman. As they unravel the mystery of her disappearance, they become caught in a sick and violent game that will end in murder. To hear our conversation, press play on the embedded player below. Towards the end of the episode, Jason mentions his short film PROBED that I have enclosed below  PROBED from Jason Miller on Vimeo .

Accidental Climber tells the story of Jim Geiger, a retired forest-worker, and amateur mountaineer from Sacramento, CA who at 68 years old, attempts to become the oldest American and first great grandfather to summit Mt. Everest. The film follows Jim as he embarks on a journey to transform from a weekend hiker to attempting one of the most extreme and physically demanding feats known to man. Driven by a desire to prove that age is just a number, Jim pushes his body to the limits, in a record-breaking quest to summit the world's tallest mountain. What ensued, however, was the worst disaster in mountaineering history, leaving sixteen climbers dead in a tragic avalanche and forever changing Jim's life. Accidental Climber is currently available on Amazon Prime. To hear my conversation with Steve Oritt (director), Jim Geiger (subject), and Greg Vernovage (expedition leader) press play on the embedded player below  

Today I'm joined by Justin G. Dyck and Keith Cooper to discuss their Shutter film ANYTHING FOR JACKSON.  A bereaved Satanist couple kidnaps a pregnant woman so they can use an ancient spellbook to put their dead grandson's spirit into her unborn child but end up summoning more than they bargained for. We also chat about John Carpenter, commentary tracks, and my inability to hit the record button. To hear our conversation press play on the embedded player below

  Geraldine Singer is an actress, known for  Get Out  (2017),  Mudbound  (2017), and  Green Book  (2018). I had her on the show to discuss her latest film ARMY OF ONE that's currently available on VOD. To hear my conversation with Geraldine press play on the embedded player below

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Richard J Bosner is a Latinx award-winning Producer/Director who has established himself as one of the leading voices for a new generation of diverse, politically charged filmmakers. He is best known for producing the true story Fruitvale Station starring Octavia Spencer and Michael B. Jordan which received the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic category and the Sundance Audience Award along with 44 nominations/wins during the 2013 Awards Season. Bosner has also produced numerous breakout films such as Nick Sandow’s The Wannabe starring Patricia Arquette, with Executive Producers, Dean Devlin and Martin Scorsese; Other People starring Molly Shannon, Mapplethorpe starring Matt Smith; and Netflix’s Take the 10 starring Josh Peck and Tony Revolori. To hear my interview with Richard press play on the embedded player below:

  Today I'm joined by Kevin Mcdonald from The Kids in The Hall, Colin Mochrie from Whose Line is it Anyway, and director Mike Stasko to discuss their film Boys Vs. Girls. The film is set squarely in 1990 and is about a summer camp that is forced to go co-ed for the first time for financial reasons. The counselors don’t like the change and a battle of the sexes ensues. The film is currently available on VOD. To hear the interview press play on the embedded player below

The feature directorial debut for Brown, THE BEACH HOUSE is an indie apocalyptic sci-fi thriller that presents an alluring mix of scorching seaside imagery, claustrophobic isolation, mysterious contagion and gruesome body horror, with a breakout lead performance from Liberato. A hit on the festival circuit, and now available on Shudder. On this episode of the podcast director Jeffrey A. Brown joins me to talk about THE BEACH HOUSE, Killing Joke, Cronenberg, Lynch, and Carpenter. Check this film out!!! Even if you don't subscribe to Shudder, get the free trial and watch this thing. You spent $20 on Trolls World Tour for the kids? It's time you did something for yourself.

Today my guest is Thure Riefenstein, an actor, director, and producer best known for his work in THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE , 12 MONKEYS , and BEHIND THE CANDELABRA . I had him on the show to discuss his latest film TORPEDO U-235 . The film is about World War II: Resistance fighters who accept a suicide mission to deliver a stolen Nazi submarine carrying atomic uranium. It's one of the best films I’ve seen this year and is currently available on VOD. Do yourself a favor and watch this film. To hear my conversation with Thure press play on the embedded player below