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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

2:08

Indie Film Highlight: EX MACHINA (2014)

First Time Go ·

2024/05/05

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: Ex Machina (2014). Director: Alex GarlandScreenplay: Alex GarlandCast: Alicia Vikander; Oscar Isaac; Domhnall Gleeson; Sonoya MizunoSYNOPSISCaleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) a programmer at a huge Internet company, wins a contest that enables him to spend a week at the private estate of Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), his firm's brilliant CEO. When he arrives, Caleb learns that

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50:48

Lola Aikins

First Time Go ·

2024/05/03

I talk with South African filmmaker Lola Aikins, who is currently crowdfunding for her film NALEDI on Kickstarter through May 27, 2024.Lola is a one of a kind artist -- literally, I mean, 1 out of 7 billion type artist -- who is blazing a trail in independent film in the medium of animation and bringing people along with her. In this conversation, we talk about her start; how she looks for representation in front of AND behind the cameras; her challenge to Christopher Nolan; how the next big

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1:57

Indie Film Highlight: 5 TO 7 (2014)

First Time Go ·

2024/04/29

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 5 TO 7 (2014)Director: Victor LevinWritten by: Victor LevinCast: Anton Yelchin; Berenice Marlohe; Olivia Thirlby; Glenn Close; Frank LangellaSYNOPSISA young writer (Anton Yelchin) begins an affair with an older woman (Bérénice Marlohe) from France whose open marriage to a diplomat (Lambert Wilson) dictates that they can meet only between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Watch The

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31:27

Peter Kimball

First Time Go ·

2024/04/26

Peter Kimball is an inspiration for many reasons -- and not just for what you might think. For me, it's helping people feel seen -- some of his films, for instance, feature an all-Deaf cast and are entirely in American Sign Language -- without explaining why. Because it doesn't need explanation. It's bold only because more people aren't willing to do it, but I'm lucky enough to talk with one guy who is.We talk about how he got his start; the state of documentary and independent

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41:11

Jason Adam Maselle

First Time Go ·

2024/04/23

I talk with filmmaker Jason Adam Maselle, the graduate winner of the 2024 First Run Film Festival. The First Run Film Festival is hosted "by the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. It is the longest continuously running film festival in New York City, dedicated to showcasing the advanced work of NYU graduate and undergraduate film students."His award-winning film, PUNTER, is phenomenal but so is his own story -- growing up in South Africa and

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2:12

Indie Film Highlight: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING...

First Time Go ·

2024/04/22

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING (2023)Director: Rachel LambertScreenplay: Stefanie Abel Horowitz; Kevin Armento; Katy Wright MeadCast: Daisy Ridley; Dave Merheje; Bree Elrod; Megan StalterSYNOPSISA lonely and socially awkward woman tries to make a connection with a friendly new co-worker who takes her out on a date..Watch The Indie Film Highlight On YouTube:

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38:59

'A THOUSAND SUNS' Creators (Live)

First Time Go ·

2024/04/20

In the first First Time Go live episode -- it streamed on YouTube -- I talk with the creators of 'A THOUSAND SUNS'. I was joined by:MacGregor (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2021435/)Tim Hyten (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2719211/)Ruairi Robinson (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099711/?...)Tyson Wade Johnston (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4098234/?...)We talk about how this series and model got started and the authentic nature of the films; the role shorts play in a director's career and

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27:00

Cara Yeates

First Time Go ·

2024/04/16

I talk with Cara Yeates about her new film, GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES, and her tremendous career spanning film festivals, one woman shows, running her own production company, and making gorgeously moody films.In this episode, we talk about the intentionality behind her films, including GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES; balancing corporate work and creative work; the financial viability of short films; festival strategy; and the benefits of owning a production company. If you feel like we have a lot of Canadian and

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1:16

Indie Film Highlight: JESS + MOSS (2011)

First Time Go ·

2024/04/15

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: JESS + MOSS (2011).Director: Clay JeterScreenplay: Clay Jeter; Debra Jeter; Will Basanta; Isaac HagyCast: Austin Vickers; Sarah Hagan; Haley Parker; Haley StrodeSYNOPSISJess, age 18, and Moss, age 12, are second cousins in rural Western Kentucky. Over the summer they go on a journey exploring deep secrets and hopes of a future.Watch The Indie Film Highlight On

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21:08

Kim Steele

First Time Go ·

2024/04/12

In the works is a film I've been looking for my entire life -- a climate romcom. And it couldn't be in better hands.In this episode, I talk with Kim Steele, a narrative climate storyteller with an amazing background in acting, filmmaking, and Broadway theater. We talk about utilizing LinkedIn for filmmaking connections (who knew?!); the transition from Broadway; the importance of climate films -- but in an engaging way and the need for a Bechdel test for climate; the benefits of seeking

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26:44

Erik Barmack

First Time Go ·

2024/04/09

If you love the easy accessibility of international TV shows and films, part of the plaudits go to my guest for this show, Erik Barmack. Among other roles, he served as vice president of international originals at Netflix and now runs his own production company, Wild Sheep Content. We get the story behind Wild Sheep and his rise to prominence in international productions; how he keeps a hand on the pulse of global TV and moviemaking; what kind of pathways people take to wind up working with his

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1:30

Indie Film Highlight: 45 YEARS (2015)

First Time Go ·

2024/04/07

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 45 YEARS (2015).Director: Andrew HaighScreenplay: Andrew HaighCast: Charlotte Rampling; Tom Courtenay; Geraldine JamesSYNOPSISKate Mercer and her husband are excitedly planning a party to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. However, one week before the celebration, a letter arrives for her husband. The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen in the icy glaciers

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38:44

Jules Rosskam

First Time Go ·

2024/04/02

After talking with Jules Rosskamp, the director of the 2024 Sundance-premiered documentary DESIRE LINES, I just felt smarter: about filmmaking, how to use the medium to be a commentary on your story line, the specific reason he chose to create DESIRE LINES, trans storytelling, and almost everything about making an independent, uniquely creative film.I imagine that's how his students feel at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County do as well: just blown away by the knowledge and

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1:30

Indie Film Highlight: THAT EVENING SUN (2009)

First Time Go ·

2024/03/31

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THAT EVENING SUN (2009).Director: Scott TeemsScreenplay: Scott TeemsCast: Hal Holbrook; Ray McKinnon; Walton Goggins; Mia WasikowskaSYNOPSISVowing not to die in a nursing home, Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) leaves the facility and returns to his Tennessee farm. There, an unpleasant surprise awaits him: Abner's son has leased the property to ne'er-do-well Lonzo Choat (Ray

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30:20

Lorenzo Vigas

First Time Go ·

2024/03/29

Translating life to art and art to life is the subject of my discussion with Venezuelan director, screenwriter, film producer, and Golden Lion recipient Lorenzo Vigas.There's just something about Lorenzo's deeply moving films -- he refers to his three feature films as a trilogy about fathers and sons -- that makes a viewer think more deeply about...well, more deeply about everything. And the same thoughtfulness you see in his films is on full display here: his thoughts on film school and

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23:13

Khaula Kai Mahmood

First Time Go ·

2024/03/26

Everything that my guest, Khaula Kai Mahmood, makes sounds easy is actually really, really hard. Making films is hard. Speaking Pashto and Farsi is hard. Making a film about veterans is extremely difficult. But she does all of these things...so easily. Khaula has lived around the globe, gotten a degree in architecture, worked in tech, but she's now a filmmaker and on this podcast, talking about raising money for her film FRAYED FLAGS. She shares her experience growing up the daughter of a

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1:20

Indie Film Highlight: THE DELINQUENTS (2023)

First Time Go ·

2024/03/24

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE DELINQUENTS (2023)Director: Rodrigo MorenoWritten by: Nick PinkertonCast: Daniel Elias; Esteban Bigliardi; Margarita MolfinoSYNOPSISBank employee Morán steals enough money to never work again, then offers his colleague a cut if he hides the cash while Morán confesses and does what he calculates will be a short jail sentence. Soon under investigative pressure, accomplice

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45:28

Joe Amodei - 2024 Edition

First Time Go ·

2024/03/22

You know what our algo told us? Have Joe back on the podcast.I welcome back our favorite Philadelphian Joe Amodei to find out how things are going in 2024. We discuss what the post-strike landscape looks like for indie filmmakers; whether your social media brand matters -- yes, Joe says, in general, but not to algo-dependent streamers; what the streamers are looking for in terms of indie films; the importance of independent studios like A24 and Neon; and a chance for Joe to look smart by predicting

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52:42

Ben Mullinkosson

First Time Go ·

2024/03/19

I could have clipped about twenty parts of this. Thirty. Fifty. THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS is blowing up your screen on Mubi right now, IndieWire (https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-last-year-of-darkness-review-documentary-1234963718/) gave it an A, which I’ve never seen. And Ben Mullinkosson shares how he made it happen. He gives his rules for making a documentary and then talks about how they decided to break them. Ben is breaking the mold of what it means to film a

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1:35

Indie Film Highlight: THE SWEET EAST (2023)

First Time Go ·

2024/03/17

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE SWEET EAST (2023)Director: Sean Price WilliamsWritten by: Nick PinkertonCast: Talia Ryder; Earl Cave; Simon RexSYNOPSISA high school senior from South Carolina gets her first glimpse of the wider world, picturesque cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard on a class trip to Washington, D.C.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

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227 results

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