Sifter

Marc Weinberg & Victoria Fraser were on this show talking “Outrage,” the thriller they co-wrote and produced. This show will take them back to their time as writers in Hollywood: – Getting a nasty letter from Leonard Nimoy – Pitching a thriller to Dick Clark Productions – Henry Winkler’s project on dyslexia – What it means to have a script in turnaround – Story cr...

“Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War” features the profiles of four unique individuals who were involved in the creation of our nation. This doc is part of our nation’s 250 th anniversary and was produced locally by VPM PBS. Today’s podcast features producer/director Stacey L. Holman and her co-producer Maya Tepler. Our discussion includes: – Their backgrounds and partici...

The 3rd annual Fredericksburg Film Festival runs from June 25 – 28. Today’s guests are Dalton Okolo, President and Executive Director, and Carlos Naranjo, Partnership Director of the festival. Our discussion includes: – How the festival began? – How it’s changed in 4 years. – Working with the community – This year’s theme – Extended discussion of “Shallow” LINKS...

Jon Burkett started at CBS 6 as a photographer and worked his way up to become known as the “Crime Insider,” reporting on thousands of cases. He recently announced his retirement, which will be official on September 29, marking the day he started 26 years ago . We’ll talk about: – Getting his start at Wendy’s – A mistake that took him from radio to TV in the Navy &#82...

Filmmaker Sasha Waters was on this podcast in 2022 to talk about her previous doc: “ Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable.” She returns with her new film, “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” about the acclaimed poet. It will air Aug. 26 on the on the PBS series “American Masters.” Our discussion includes: – Where Pieshake Pictures got its name – Making short films...

Victoria Fraser & Marc Weinberg are partners in life and work. They’ve written for numerous film and TV projects, the most recent being “Outrage.” It stars Reed Birney as a conservative talk show host who’s being held captive in a basement. They also served as Executive Producers. Our lively chat includes: – Marc as a film critic for Richmond Magazine – Victoria working for Disney...

Max Fischer is a Richmond cinematographer who’s worked on numerous commercials, movies and TV shows. In addition to shooting the new thriller, “Saturnalia,” Max also served as Executive Producer. We’ll discuss: – The film’s idea born out of the strikes – The meaning of the title & Easter eggs – Giallo’s influence – Shooting at Dover Hall & the Pump House – Mus...

Richmond native Steve Segal started animating as a young boy and his first major project was “Futropolis” (my podcast about the movie with him and co-director Phil Trumbo is linked below). After he left Richmond, his career included: – Creating animations on early computers – Getting to meet John Lassiter – Scenes he animated on “Toy Story” – Being a scene planner on “A Bug...

Brandon Shillingford started Exposure Cinema in 2024 for people to explore, watch, discuss and connect through film. There have been several screening events with the next one coming up this month, “One for the Money,” which he’ll describe in this interview. We’ll also discuss: – Why he’s in Rome – Taking film class in high school – His previous jobs at NPR, CNN and VPM – W...

Phil Trumbo was born and raised in Virginia and he started his career as an animator here with the movie he co-produced with Steve Segal, “Futropolis” (podcast with them about the movie is linked below). After he left Richmond, Phil’s career took him “careening” in several directions: – Not getting accepted in VCU’s art program – Being in bands, including The Orthotonics – Workin...

Julian Glander is an accomplished designer, illustrator and animator who’s first feature, “Boys Go to Jupiter” is showing at this year’s Richmond Animation Festival (April 25 & 26). Julian will be here for the screening on April 26 at the Byrd and the animated shorts will show on the 25 th at Studio Two Three. Julian has lots of cool things to say: – Reciting the alphabet backwards on “J...

VCU’s Institute of Contemporary Art (or the ICA) opened in 2018 and has continually shown films in their auditorium. Amber Esseiva, Senior Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, and Mimi Luse, Head of Program Production, join me to talk about the numerous offerings that are available including: – Why cinema programs at the ICA? – Films from The Kadist Foundation – The New Ri...

University of Richmond professors Anthony Russell and Sonja Bertucci are the guiding forces behind the Italian and French Film Festival that’s running at the University from March 27 thru April 3. We discuss: – Their early film inspirations – Her documentary – How this festival come about – Why the French/Italian combo? – What we can expect in addition to screenings L...

Steve Segal and Phil Trumbo co-directed “Futuropolis” a zany animated sci-fi adventure that was released in 1984. It’s being screened at the 32nd annual James River Film Festival (March 29 – April 4). Steve went on to work at Pixar on the first two “Toy Story” movies and Phil won an Emmy for his work on “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” but we’ll save those discussions for future podcasts. This show is about...

This year’s Indie Short Film Festival runs from March 20 – 22 in Charlottesville. Two directors from the festival talk about their films. Jamal Hodge has 2 films: “Take it to the Grave” and “Mourning Meal” Kelsey Nerrie is premiering her first short “Repurcussion(s)” They’ll give us insight into their backgrounds, their inspirations and the challenges for their projects. LINKS Indie Short Film Fes...

Andy Edmunds, Director of the Virginia Film Office, is back for this 5 th year to talk about the activity in Virginia’s production industry last year. This also includes a discussion of the film that Andy wrote and directed here. LINKS Virginia Film Office “The Cashier” on Insta “The Cashier” on Facebook The Byrd Theatre Previous podcasts mentioned Griffin in Summer Bird in Hand Daphne Reid...

This year’s RVA Environmental Film Festival runs from 2/21 to 3/7 in venues all over town. Today’s show features 2 locally made docs. CATCHING PINECONES tells the story of Jan and Herb Conn, who were pioneering rock climbers, cavers and nature preservationists. Director Chad Heddleston discusses: – The 10-year journey to get this made – Inspiration from the lives of the Conns – T...

Patrick Michael has been acting since the 3rd grade. His big break came from “Travelers,” an early reality series that ran on the Discovery Channel from 1996 to 1998. He was one of the hosts who visited cities around the world to experience the culture. He later went to Hollywood where he worked in TV shows and movies before returning back here. We’ll cover: – His real name – What is “...

Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Richmond several times and the documentary “Echoes of a Dream: MLK’s Legacy in Richmond, Virginia” is playing around the state to celebrate his connections to our city. The film’s director is Tyrone Nelson, Jr., who’s the Founder and CEO of Newviews Agency, a local creative agency and production company. Our discussion includes: – How he got noticed by Adidas...

Ward Howarth produces promotional videos for the Lockwood Broadcast Group. Lockwood is a television, digital and advertising company that owns and operates 13 television stations and programs 33 channels in eight markets. Our chat includes: – How he started his career with skate videos – Being a “dub cub” – A creepy Halloween spot from “Family Feud” – Challenging and cool a...

Nicholas Kleczewski is a Richmonder who edited the documentary “Song Sung Blue,” which inspired the current film of the same name starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. He’s had a varied career as an editor and director. Our discussion includes: – Starting with extreme sports docs – Two years creating videos for Beyoncé – Getting the “Song Sung Blue” gig via Craigslist – Co...

Walid Chaya is an actor, director, writer and teacher who worked in Richmond before moving to Los Angeles. He’s acted in TV shows and movies, as well as directed shorts and taught acting classes. Our lively discussion includes: – Getting inspired as a child in Lebanon – How he got to Richmond – Moving to LA – Being cast in stereotypical Middle Eastern roles – Working...

“Bad Shabbos” is a comedy about family that gathers for the traditional Shabbos dinner, when the son brings his new Catholic girlfriend. That’s just the beginning of what happens before it takes a surprising turn. Zack Weiner co-wrote this film with his director Daniel Robbins. It will be the first film playing at the 17 th annual Israel and Jewish Film Festival at the Weinstein JCC. T...

Hard Light Cinema is run by 8 cinephiles who screen independent and international films in various venues around Richmond. Since founding last November, they’ve screened 35 films. They have 3 slated for January and the first is Frederick wiseman’s 1968 documentary “High School” (free at the Richmond Public Library Main Branch, 1/4, 2pm). For this interview Lewis Peterson, Warner West & Syd Mil...

Charles D. Thompson Jr. is a prolific author and director. His most recent documentary is “Rock Castle Home,” which is about this unique community in the Blue Ridge Mountains and how it evolved and later vanished. It’s being screened as part of a series of programs at the Library of Virginia that highlight stories of displacement in Virginia communities, “House to Highway: Reclaiming a Community H...