1st on Film

Writer and director David Wain joins the 1st on Film podcast to discuss his hilarious new comedy, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. Known for his signature brand of absurd, offbeat comedy, David takes us behind the scenes of creating a film that satirizes celebrity culture, Hollywood, and the idea of the infamous “celebrity pass.” We chat about collaborating with longtime creative partner...

Writer and director Christian Nilsson joins the 1st on Film Podcast to discuss his deeply personal new drama, Westhampton. In this conversation, Christian shares the inspiration behind the film, why themes of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption were so important to explore, and how his own experiences helped shape the story. We also dive into working with an outstanding cast led by Finn Wittrock, t...

What does it really take to bring Hollywood’s biggest action sequences to life? In this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with acclaimed stunt performer Luke Ha for an in-depth conversation about the craft of stunt work and the incredible career that has taken him behind some of the biggest productions in film. Luke shares stories from working on major films including Shang-Chi and t...

Writer and director Maya Gray joins the 1st on Film Podcast to discuss her gripping short thriller Animals. During our conversation, Maya shares the inspiration behind the film, explores its themes of trust, vulnerability, and human nature, and breaks down how she crafted the mounting tension that drives the story. We also dive into her creative process, directing performances, and what she hopes...

On this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with Gail Maurice to discuss her film Blood Lines. Our conversation explores the importance of Meiti language representation on screen, why authentic Indigenous storytelling matters, and how language can help preserve culture while connecting audiences to a deeper sense of identity. Gail also shares the story behind the film’s title, explaini...

In this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with writer and director Noam Argov to discuss her acclaimed short film, Verse, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Noam shares the inspiration behind the film, the creative process of bringing its story to life, and the challenges and rewards of crafting an emotionally resonant short. We also discuss the importance of authentic sto...

Music plays a vital role in shaping a film’s emotional impact, and in this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with music supervisor Cheryl Wang to discuss her work on I Love Boosters. Cheryl takes us behind the scenes of building the film’s sonic identity, from discovering the perfect songs to navigating the complex world of music licensing and clearances. We also dive into her journe...

What would you do if you woke up in a world you no longer understood? In this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with co-directors Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson, alongside stars Joe Bader and Oliver Woolf, to discuss their inventive dystopian dark comedy Littermates. We dive into the film’s unique post-apocalyptic premise, the challenges of balancing humor with psychological tensi...

In this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with costume designer Ariyela Wald-Cohain to talk about bringing the world of Scary Movie 6 to life through wardrobe. Ariyela breaks down the challenge of balancing the franchise’s signature comedy and horror influences, reimagining iconic genre-inspired looks, and designing costumes that help sell both the satire and the scares. We also discuss her crea...

This week on the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with filmmaker Sam Cutler-Kreutz to explore his journey as a director, cinematographer, and storyteller. From his early short films to his acclaimed collaborations with his brother David, Sam discusses the creative process behind crafting emotionally resonant stories, the challenges of independent filmmaking, and the experiences that have shaped hi...

We caught up with Allan Hawco on the red carpet at the Canadian Screen Awards to talk about the hit crime drama Saint-Pierre. During our conversation, Allan discussed the continued success of the series, what fans can expect moving forward, and the possibilities surrounding a potential third season. To make things a little more interesting, we also put Allan’s character to the test with a fun rapi...

In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed composer Sara Barone to discuss her work on Netflix’s psychological thriller series The Beast in Me. Sara takes us behind the scenes of crafting the show’s tense, atmospheric score, exploring how music helps shape suspense, character psychology, and emotional storytelling. We also discuss her creative process, collaborating with fellow composers, and the...

This week on 1st on Film, we sit down with acclaimed cinematographer Itai Ne’eman to discuss his work on the coming-of-age road trip comedy Driver’s Ed. Ne’eman takes us behind the camera to explore how the film’s visual style was developed, the challenges of shooting on the road, and his collaboration with director Bobby Farrelly. Itai Ne’eman is an award-winning Israeli cinematographer and direc...

In this episode, we sit down with filmmakers Woodruff Laputka and Tehben Dean, alongside actress Avise Parsons, to discuss their haunting new feature, The Man Whom the Trees Loved. Inspired by Algernon Blackwood’s classic supernatural tale, the film follows a couple whose vacation on a remote island takes a disturbing turn as an eerie connection between man and nature begins to unravel their relat...

In this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with filmmaker Jevon Boreland and actor Emidio Lopes to discuss their psychological thriller Welcome. Jevon shares the inspiration behind writing and directing the film, the challenges of crafting suspense and morally complex characters, and his journey from award-winning short films to feature filmmaking. Emidio reflects on bringing Darren Coleman to li...

At the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards, 1st on Film caught up with rising Canadian star Miku Martineau for a quick but engaging red carpet conversation. Best known for her breakout roles in Kate, Star Trek: Section 31, and Netflix’s hit series Bet, Miku discusses stepping into a variety of genre projects, what attracts her to unique characters, and her experience leading one of Netflix’s most talked-a...

This week on 1st on Film, we sit down with the creative team behind Kevin’s Series of Unfortunate Events, the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy that serves as the fourth installment in the anthology series Patterns. Joining us are director Rex Glensy, writer Asad Moghal, and lead actor Jake Watkins for an in-depth conversation about bringing this heartfelt and hilarious story to life. We discuss the inspirat...

Actor, writer, and first-time novelist Jon Duque joins the podcast to discuss his debut novel, Letting Go, a heartfelt coming-of-age story that explores grief, resilience, identity, and hope. Jon shares the inspiration behind the book, the personal experiences that shaped its emotional core, and the journey of transitioning from acting and screenwriting to novel writing. In this conversation, we d...

On this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with filmmaker Blake Winston Rice and actor/writer Victoria Ratermanis to discuss their acclaimed short film DISC. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film follows two strangers whose one-night stand leads to an unexpectedly intimate and chaotic predicament, blending sharp comedy with genuine human connection. Blake and Victoria ta...

Writer and director Alexandra Bahíyyih Wain joins the podcast to discuss her short film in the clouds, a poignant and imaginative work that explores identity, connection, and the complexities of growing up. In this conversation, Alexandra shares the inspiration behind the film, her creative process as both a writer and director, and the challenges and rewards of bringing such a personal story to t...

In this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with filmmaker Shin-Fei Chen to discuss her short film, A Mary Can Dream. As the film’s writer, director, and star, Chen shares the inspiration behind the project, the creative journey of bringing Mary’s story to life, and the themes that shaped the film’s emotional core. We explore her transition from acting to directing, the challenges and rewards of i...

This week on 1st on Film, we sit down with the creative minds behind County Blooms, the flower-powered Canadian lifestyle series celebrating growers, designers, and floral creatives across Ontario and Québec. Host and creator Jen Pogue and filmmaker Navin Ramaswaran join us to talk about building the series, capturing the beauty of floral culture on screen, and the passion behind telling stories r...

At the red carpet event for Shenanigans Toronto, we caught up with creator and host Jen Pogue for County Bloooms alongside directors Michelle Jedrzejewski and Navin Ramaswaran to talk about bringing the project to life. From the inspiration behind the series to the creative process and what audiences can expect, the trio shared insights into the heart, vision, and collaboration that shaped County...

This week on 1st on Film, we sit down with editors Erin DeWitt and Nate DeYoung to discuss their work on Oscar Boyson’s provocative dark comedy-drama Our Hero, Balthazar. The pair break down their collaborative editing process, balancing the film’s sharp tonal shifts between satire and emotional realism, and shaping two contrasting perspectives into one cohesive story. We also dive into their crea...

In this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with writer-director John Gray to discuss his powerful short film A Guest in My Country. Gray shares the inspiration behind the story, the themes of identity and belonging woven throughout the film, and the creative process of bringing such an emotional and timely project to life. We also talk about the challenges of independent filmmaking, storytelling...