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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

24:48

Sam Jones

First Time Go ·

2024/03/15

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I talk with Sam Jones, Irish filmmaker and director of MY LOST RUSSIAN MOTHER. We talk about how he got into filmmaking, this incredible saga of man chasing down his birth mother and finding out so much about his own life. How did Sam make this film? What was his thought process regarding consent? How does he feel about the current state of documentary filmmaking?Special thanks to the director of the Capital Irish Film Festival, Solas Nua, Maedhbh Fiona Mc Cullagh, for

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42:32

Luc Forsyth

First Time Go ·

2024/03/12

“Be prepared to max out your credit cards”, my doc filmmaker professor told me. “We need to normalize working in a coffee shop”. Another advice panelist said. Documentary filmmakers get such bad advice. Luc Forsythe, documentary filmmaker, shares some great advice. He has built a YouTube following, tells the secret to his success as not really a big secret — it’s hard work — and will endeavor to not get shot at while filming his next documentary. But no promises.We talk about gear, the future of

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1:20

Indie Film Highlight: BERGMAN ISLAND (2021)

First Time Go ·

2024/03/10

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BERGMAN ISLAND (2021).Director: Mia Hansen-LøveScreenplay: Mia Hansen-LøveCast: Vicky Krieps; Tim Roth; Mia WasikowskaVSYNOPSISTwo American filmmakers retreat to Fårö Island for the summer and hope to find inspiration where Bergman shot his most celebrated films. As the days pass by, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and the couple is torn apart.Available on

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43:15

Emilio Vazquez Reyes

First Time Go ·

2024/03/08

Imagine the most incredible indie film story you've ever heard. It would have to involve a guy or gal in high school making a short, it premieres at a top film festival and then he takes on making a film touching upon challenging subject matter like, maybe...immigration and 9/11? So you can't rank stories but the story of Emilio Vazquez Reyes is close to as unbelievable as it gets. He's in his first year of film school, and he's earned everything he's gotten. He is currently

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36:34

Madeline McLaughlin

First Time Go ·

2024/03/05

There's something so inspiring about somebody who knows how the system is supposed to work and says, nah, I'm doing it my way anyway. That's Madeline McLaughlin, who is currently crowdfunding for her debut feature, NOT A GOOD PERSON.I know Todd Brown said a few episodes ago, specifically, don't mortgage your house to make your indie film, but I kind of want to get this made?In this podcast, we talk about:2:29 Friendship breakups?3:43 How did she get involved in filmmaking?4:27 She

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1:11

Indie Film Highlight: THE BOX (2021)

First Time Go ·

2024/03/04

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE BOX (2021).Director: Lorenzo VigasWriters: Paula Markovitch; Laura Santullo; Lorenzo VigasCast: Hernan Mendoza; Hatzin Navarrete; Elian GonzalezSYNOPSISA boy takes a bus from Mexico City to collect his father's remains after his death in a mining accident. However, he sees a man who looks just like his father, and the man takes the boy under his wing.Watch On YouTube:

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59:44

Tina Carbone

First Time Go ·

2024/02/27

Normally, I aim for 30 minute episodes, but with Tina Carbone, the legendary -- okay, we can use that word if you've helped make, produce, whatever word you want to use for being a part of over 70 films in 11 years -- the conversation flows. This is a masterclass of indie film producing and we cover hopefully most of the topics on your mind of what you would ask this amazing, prolific indie filmmaker. In this podcast, we talk about: 1:21 Welcome, Tina Carbone! Where does the kindness come from

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1:34

Indie Film Highlight: SWEAT (2020)

First Time Go ·

2024/02/26

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SWEAT (2020).Director: Magnus von HornWritten by: Magnus von HornCast: Magdalena Kolesnik; Julian Swiezewski; Aleksandra KoniecznaSYNOPSISSylvia Zajac, a fitness motivator-influencer surrounded by admirers and loyal employees, searches for true intimacy.Watch On YouTube: https://youtu.be/Yq9SFKkY3QEAvailable on MUBI now: https://mubi.com/en/us/films/sweat-2020Support this

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37:07

Bridge Stuart

First Time Go ·

2024/02/20

Step 1. Listen to this episode.Step 2. Buy passes to the Sedona International Film Festival (https://sedonafilmfestival.com/)Step 3. Buy plane tickets, train tickets...BUS tickets?! to Sedona.Step 4. Watch A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP on February 25th, the film's world premiere.I'm joined today by the film's director, writer, actor, comedian, former YouTube star, man of infamy, not obscurity, relative or otherwise, Bridge Stuart.In this episode, we talk about:01:38 Intro/The Concept Of

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1:21

Indie Film Highlight: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018)

First Time Go ·

2024/02/18

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (2018).Director: Boots RileyWritten by: Boots RileyCast: LaKeith Stanfield; Tessa Thompson; Jermaine FowlerSYNOPSISIn an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, Calif., telemarketer Cassius Green finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key that leads to material glory. As Green's career begins to take off, his friends and

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26:30

Elise McCave

First Time Go ·

2024/02/16

I talk with Elise McCave, filmmaker and head of film at Kickstarter. For the entire month of March, the crowdfunding website will be hosting "Long Story Short", a campaign to highlight short films on the site.It's fair to say that if you're an indie filmmaker, there's a better than even chance you've spent time on Kickstarter, either as a funder or raising funds. The list is incredible and many crowdfunders have now won awards at prominent festivals.It's an absolute joy

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45:30

Mark Bristol

First Time Go ·

2024/02/13

24 years between feature films? Talk about resilience. Mark Bristol, my guest today, has worked for the top directors of the last few decades. And now he's tied all of that together with his second feature film, ACCIDENTAL TEXAN. But nothing accidental about his success. In this episode, he'll give you a masterclass on indie filmmaking. In this episode, we talk about:how his Little League Baseball Coach made an enormous difference in his life (his coach was the extraordinarily Bill

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1:21

Indie Film Highlight: PLUS ONE (2019)

First Time Go ·

2024/02/11

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: PLUS ONE (2019)Directors: Andrew Rhymer, Jeff ChanWritten by: Andrew Rhymer, Jeff ChanCast: Maya Erskine; Jack Quaid; Ed Begley Jr.SYNOPSISLongtime friends Ben and Alice agree to be each other's plus one at every wedding they're invited to during a busy summer of wedding fever.Check out the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/tq3uXr445ykSupport this podcast at —

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29:15

Brett Smith (re-release)

First Time Go ·

2024/02/09

Hey, y'all, it's Ben -- I re-released this episode because FREEDOM'S PATH just got picked up by Paramount starting on February 1 -- and it's fantastic. It's on Showtime, a bunch of other places. It was streaming before but now it's in front of a larger audience.Check it out if you can and then listen to the interview I did back in September with Brett Smith. See you next week.I talk with Brett Smith about his feature directorial debut, FREEDOM'S PATH. In our conversation,

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50:58

Todd Brown

First Time Go ·

2024/02/06

Almost as soon as I finished watching Zarrar Kahn's film IN FLAMES, I emailed Todd Brown, head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films, asking: how did you find this gem of a film? In this episode, Todd tells me.The discussion is wide-ranging, all-encompassing, and fun. When we finished taping, I felt like I knew so many things about how independent film works that I never knew before. Todd answers every question about film production and distribution with authority, knowledge, and clarity.In

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1:17

Indie Film Highlight: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019)

First Time Go ·

2024/02/05

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (2019).Director: Celine SciammaScreenplay: Celine SciammaCast: Adele Haenel; Noemie Merlant; Luana Bajrami; Valeria GolinoSYNOPSISOn an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman. Check out the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/Jh2M1Pn5vlwSupport this podcast

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18:35

Jessica Lappin

First Time Go ·

2024/02/02

I talk with Jessica Lappin, president of the Alliance for Downtown New York and...film executive! The Alliance manages the country's largest Business Improvement District (BID) and recently came out with a Filmmaker In Chief program.Jessica is modest on this podcast, but she's knows great films and Lower Manhattan.Here are the details on the Filmmaker in Chief program:One filmmaker will win up to $50,000, plus two months in a paid luxury Mint House apartment and two months’ stipend to

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45:35

Nathan Rigaud & Mark Sunderland

First Time Go ·

2024/01/30

In a first for the show, we talk with the director (Nathan Rigaud) and the executive producer (Mark Sunderland) about an animated short, a beautiful film called SPLASH! Nate also serves as a creative executive at Whale Animation.In this episode, we talk about:how they got a love for filmmaking (Lord Of The Rings is probably up there with James Cameron for the podcast's guests);how the story of SPLASH! and the production company, Whale Animation, came to be;can a four minute story touch your

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3:31

Indie Film Highlight: FIRE ISLAND (2022)

First Time Go ·

2024/01/28

Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: FIRE ISLAND (2022)Director: Andrew AhnScreenplay: Joel Kim BoosterCast: Joel Kim Booster; Bowen Yang; Conrad Ricamora; James ScullySYNOPSISA group of queer best friends gather in the Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter, but when a sudden change of events jeopardizes their summer in gay paradise, their bonds as a chosen family are pushed to the limit

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30:23

Katrina Jackson & Catherine Bobalek

First Time Go ·

2024/01/26

I talk with Katrina Jackson, director/writer/editor of AROMCOM, and Catherine Bobalek, the producer. In this episode, we talk about:how they got involved in filmmaking and created the idea for AROMCOM;creating a wholly original genre of films as well as a trope-free romantic comedy;showing representation for aromantic and asexual individuals in film;what people should expect to see when they turn on AROMCOM;what the response if when they pitch their film;how the script was written and they chose

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227 results

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