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PODCAST

First Time Go

Benjamin Duchek

A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

2:01

Indie Film Highlight: FREMONT (2023)

First Time Go ·

2024/09/29

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FREMONT (2023).Director: Babak JalaliWritten By: Carolina Cavalli; Babak JalaliCast: Anaita Wali Zada; Gregg Turkington; Jeremy Allen WhiteSYNOPSISFormerly a translator for the United States military in Afghanistan, Donya struggles to rebuild her life in San Francisco and works for a Chinese fortune cookie factory. In a moment of sudden revelation, she decides to send out a

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24:35

Ross McDonnell (Re-Release)

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2024/09/24

This is a re-release of my discussion with Ross McDonnell. His film, SWIFT JUSTICE, is up for a News & Doc Emmy in Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary. The awards will be revealed live on September 26, 2024.Ross died on November 5, 2023. His co-director, Victor Blue, writes movingly about his work. Later on this year, I'll post an episode remembering Ross and the legacy of independent filmmakers.In this episode, I talk with Ross McDonnell, co-director of the new documentary short, SWIFT

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1:31

Indie Film Highlight: SYNONYMS (2019)

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2024/09/22

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SYNONYMS (2019).Director: Nadav LapidScreenplay By: Nadav Lapid; Haim LapidCast: Tom Mercier; Quentin Dolmaire; Louise ChevillotteSYNOPSISA young Israeli man, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary, travels to Paris to flee his nationality.Watch The Episode on YouTube.Subscribe to our YouTube channelSupport the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at —

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31:42

Vallée Duhamel

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2024/09/20

AI is the most controversial topic in filmmaking right now. I talk about it with the directors' duo of Julien Vallée and Eve Duhamel, artists who are now exploring the medium in the best possible way -- as an extension of their own art.In this episode, we talk about:how they got started in filmmaking and their exceptional career, which has included jobs for top corporate clients including Apple;their thoughts on AI filmmaking;the reaction to critics, who in many cases they said haven't even

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1:36

Indie Film Highlight: FORTY SHADES OF BLUE (2005)

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2024/09/14

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FORTY SHADES OF BLUE (2005).Director: Ira SachsScreenplay By: Ira Sachs; Michael RohatynCast: Dina Korzun; Rip Torn; Darren BurrowsSYNOPSISAfter moving from Moscow to Memphis, Tenn., Laura (Dina Korzun) feels isolated living a new, privileged life with her boyfriend, Alan James (Rip Torn), a famous music producer. As time passes, Laura becomes increasingly lonely, while James

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34:32

Nathan Schiltz

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2024/09/13

I mean this in the best possible way: Nathan Schiltz doesn’t give a fuck. About chasing laurels for your short films. The professors at Woodbury. THE FABELMANS saying you are going to get the girls by becoming a film geek.What he does care a lot about is the quality of his art. This is what made the episode so much fun for me. If you think I’m describing somebody with a nihilistic point of view, that’s not what I’m saying. He’s that dedicated to his art that he’s tuning out everything else and

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50:10

P.D. Viner

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2024/09/09

I can say with certainty I've never laughed more when discussing dead bodies than I did with P.D. (Phil) Viner, currently crowdfunding for LAST NIGHT TOGETHER on Kickstarter. You can tell straightaway Phil is a born storyteller, whatever the medium.In this episode, we discuss:how he got started in filmmaking;whether crazy trips to film school in Moscow was part of a concerted plan to get "out there" or not (it was not);"write what you know" -- Phil considers it bollocks;his

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1:15

Indie Film Highlight: WILDLIFE (2018)

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2024/09/07

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: WILDLIFE (2018).Director: Paul DanoScreenplay By: Paul Dano; Zoe KazanCast: Carey Mulligan; Ed Oxenbould; Bill Camp; Jake GyllenhaalSYNOPSIS14-year-old Joe is the only child of Jeanette and Jerry—a housewife and a golf pro living in a small town in ’60s Montana. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages, and when Jerry loses his job, he decides to join the cause of fighting it,

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32:09

Tanya Upshur

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2024/08/21

The UnShushed! Film Festival is coming to Washington, DC on October 13th, 2024 for its inaugural year. In this episode, I talk with its founder, filmmaker Tanya Upshur.The UnShushed! Film Festival is a "festival for fantasy, horror noire, Southern Gothic and Afrofuturism films by Black women and emerging filmmakers creating genre films with Black women protagonists."Tanya brings so much energy to the conversation, talking about how she got started in film; her work as a filmmaker and the

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1:58

Indie Film Highlight: THE HYPNOSIS (2023)

First Time Go ·

2024/08/18

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE HYPNOSIS (2023).Director: Ernst De GeerWriters: Ernst De Geer; Mads SteggerCast: Asta Kamma August; Herbert Nordrum; Andrea EdwardsSYNOPSISYoung entrepreneurial couple André and Vera get the chance to pitch their female health app at a prestigious competition. Before going there, Vera tries hypnotherapy to quit smoking and her attitude changes. André starts to behave

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28:46

So Young Shelly Yo

First Time Go ·

2024/08/15

This is what you have to give to be successful in indie films: everything.I'm so proud to share my conversation with So Young Shelly Yo at the start of her Los Angeles theatrical run with SMOKING TIGERS. The film won the AT&T Tribeca "Untold Stories" competition in 2022 and after it screens in LA, it will stream on MAX starting August 23, 2024. Expect it to show up in indie awards season.In this episode, we talk about how she got started in film; the deeply personal nature of SMOKING

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20:25

Leonardo Perez

First Time Go ·

2024/08/13

Have you ever watched a film about a middle-aged man falling in love with a public bus? In the spirit of Yorgos Lanthimos comes Leonardo Perez and his film MOTORIZED LOVE, currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo.In this episode, Leonardo and I talk about his Mexican-American heritage, the originality of absurd films; how best to tell culturally appropriate films; why he chose Indiegogo and how he secured the nonhuman portion of the film (i.e. the bus). Cheers for Mexican-American filmmaking, cheers for

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2:21

Indie Film Highlight: BARNEY'S VERSION (2010)

First Time Go ·

2024/08/11

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BARNEY'S VERSION (2010).Director: Richard J LewisStory by: Mordecai RichlerScreenplay: Michael KonyvesCast: Paul Giamatti; Rachelle Lefevre; Rosamund Pike; Dustin HoffmanSYNOPSISToward the end of his life, Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti) looks back on his triumphs and tragedies, beginning with an ill-fated relationship with Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), whom he marries when she

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46:10

Daniel Lesser

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2024/08/09

Speeding in a Mini and filming it for a short? Aussie-born? That's our podcast gold, and Dan Lesser blew away all expectations, as he crowdfunds for his film ONE TWENTY SIX.In this episode, we talk about how he got his start in film as an Australian in Los Angeles and how his commercial work influences his narrative style. We get into the state of comedy; the weeds of what it's like, technically, casting child actors and filming a moving car; whether he views brand activations as possible in

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23:47

Hyejin "Grace" Park

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2024/08/06

Filmmaker Hyejin "Grace" Park has such incredible range as an indie filmmaker: she's directed everything from sci-fi to gangster films and made them her own in a way that's utterly enchanting and unique. Her Vimeo page is a testament to her range as a filmmaker.In this episode, we discuss how she got started in filmmaking; her goal of making sure minority filmmakers feel seen; how life experiences have made her a better filmmaker; the depth of the story behind her genre-breaking film

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1:57

Indie Film Highlight: THE VISITOR (2007)

First Time Go ·

2024/08/05

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE VISITOR (2007).Director: Tom McCarthyWritten by: Tom McCarthyCast: Richard Jenkins; Haaz Sleiman; Danal GuriraSYNOPSISWhen professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) travels to New York for a lecture, he's stunned to find illegal immigrants Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) living in his apartment. It comes out that it was rented to them by a swindler, and

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40:33

Straight 8 Competition Winners

First Time Go ·

2024/08/02

On July 24, 2024, I recorded this episode live with several of the 2024 Straight 8 winners. Check back soon for our next live episode.Straight 8 is a filmmaking challenge that invites anyone to make a film on a single cartridge of super 8mm film without editing or post production.If you're reading this and haven't seen the Straight 8 films, go see them. And here are the five films we'll be talking about. I'll wait.Ready? Shocked? I was -- by how amazing these films are. In this

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41:33

Will Mustin

First Time Go ·

2024/07/30

If you like filmmaking with film, “slice of life”/character studies, and 1980s camp party films, you’re welcome to join our club. In today’s episode, I talk with filmmaker Will Mustin about all these things and his new film currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter, WHILE THE SUN SHINES.In this episode, we talk about how he got his start; the importance of building your team, whether it's at film school or not; how utilizing film makes him a more disciplined filmmaker; the importance of mood,

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1:56

Indie Film Highlight: THE PERFECT CANDIDATE (2019)

First Time Go ·

2024/07/28

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE PERFECT CANDIDATE (2019).Director: Haifaa al-MansourScreenplay: Haifaa al-Mansour; Brad NeimannCast: Mila Al Zahrani; Khalid Abdulrahman; Nojoud Ahmed; Reem FahadSYNOPSISA determined young doctor runs for city council after the incumbent repeatedly ignores her request to fix the muddy road leading to her clinic. Despite the community's struggle to accept her as the

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41:20

Bloomberg Green Docs Part 2: The Finalists

First Time Go ·

2024/07/26

After listening to all five finalists of the Bloomberg Green Docs, be honest -- there's no way you can tell who won. They are all that good. In part 1, I talked to the judges and today, you'll hear from the five finalists.LIFE WITH BATS by David LuffCLIMATE DIARIES: HEATHER'S STORY by Berit Anderson and Ali ScattergoodFINDING HOME by Maria StanishevaGROVE OF GIANTS by Bree SandersSAVING GLACIERS by Ciril JazbecAnd you'll hear who won. But as David Luff says, they all won by being a

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227 results

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