LET’S TALK FILM! Podcast
Dive into the world of indie film with the WFF Podcast! Join engaging discussions with Woodstock Film Festival alumni and festival friends as they share their passion for independent filmmaking and showcase their creative journeys. The podcast serves as a vibrant platform for filmmakers to explore their craft and celebrate the art of storytelling. In addition to exclusive filmmaker interviews, we feature a curated selection of the best panels from our annual festival plus three days of livestreams featuring behind-the-scenes stories. Are you an Alumni with a new film or project? We'd love to have you as a guest! Watch/Listen/Subscribe on Youtube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | + More | Episodes 15-33A.I. VS HUMAN CREATIVITY AND BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH CINEMA WITH KIM JACKSON
In this episode, we chat with Kim Jackson who is a critically acclaimed producer and production manager. Some of her work includes DOWN WITH THE KING (2021), TRUST MACHINE: THE STORY OF BLOCKCHAIN (2018), and BLUE CAPRICE (2013). She currently serves as the VP of development for New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT). Among other things, she is also a co-founder of Evotion, a creative studio for film, television, and media production.
We discuss NYWIFT, the benefits of membership, equality of women in film in 2023, artificial intelligence vs human creativity, monitoring AI and the lack of ethics in the US, the age of technology, storytelling on a screen, cinema is community, Kim’s film DOWN WITH THE KING (2021) and what film producers do.
WFF PANEL DISCUSSIONS: CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF INDEPENDENT CINEMA
In the 1990s, original storytelling rose on the back of new technology, as VCR and DVD revenue flowed into the recoupment waterfall. Risking $1 million to make and market a new film became a “why not” – Until streaming platforms eclipsed all distribution. Audiences increased while revenues diminished. Today, the monolithic streaming model has proved unsustainable. When Hollywood studios are stumped, what's the hope for the Indies? This panel considers how we got here and the pathway out.
2023 WFF PANEL: ACTORS WHO DIRECT WITH STEVE BUSCEMI & MATTHEW MODINE
At the 2023 Woodstock Film Festival panel series, Steve Buscemi and Matthew Modine discussed, with Mary Stuart Masterson, the difference between being a director and an actor during film production. More and more actors choose to also work behind the camera as directors, and/or producers of narrative films, television series, and experimental shorts, along with other genres and formats. Hear what compels them to work behind the camera, and how different those experiences are.
2023 WFF PANEL: A CONVERSATION WITH SHEILA NEVINS & BARBARA KOPPLE
In the first of our 2023 Woodstock Film Festival panel series, multiple Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody awards winner and a legend in her field, Sheila Nevins chats with two-time Academy Awards® winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple, who leads the conversation. The two talk about their legendary careers, the state of documentary filmmaking now, and their present and future film projects. Nevins is credited for producing over 1,000 (!) documentary films for HBO and MTV Documentary Films, and with decades as the top leader in the documentary filmmaking space, Nevins is still going strong!
SAG ON STRIKE, THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVISM AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ARTIST WITH THOMAS SADOSKI
In this episode, we chat with actor and producer Thomas Sadoski about SAG strikes, independent films, and his work with non-profit organization War Child USA. A 20+ year veteran of the theatre, Tom has numerous Broadway and off-Broadway credits, including the award-winning revival of Alice Childress’ WEDDING BAND, Suzan Lori-Parks’ WHITE NOISE, OTHER DESERT CITIES, REASONS TO BE PRETTY, THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, and RECKLESS. On the big screen, he has starred in the epic film “Devotion,” and in “Lilly,” across from Patricia Clarkson. On television he has acted in the Aaron Sorkin HBO series “The Newsroom,” the CBS comedy “Life in Pieces,” and the Apple series “The Crowded Room,” alongside Amanda Seyfried and Tom Holland. He is the Founding Ambassador of the renowned charity War Child USA, a member of the advisory council for the human rights organization Fortify Rights, a board member emeritus of Refugees International, and a member of the board of directors for INARA, which provides life-saving medical care to children who are wounded as a result of war.
INDIGENOUS STORIES IN FILM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO NATURE WITH TSANAVI SPOONHUNTER AND ALEX SMITH
In this episode, we chat with filmmakers Alex Smith and Tsanavi Spoonhunter about this year's Woodstock Film Festival’s Filmmaker Residency and Tsanavi’s upcoming documentary feature HOLDER OF THE SKY. Alex is a filmmaker and educator and currently serves as the Creative Director for Woodstock’s Filmmaker Residency, where he helped mentor Tsanavi this past year. He and his twin brother have written and directed three feature films: WALKING OUT (2017), WINTER IN THE BLOOD (2013), and THE SLAUGHTER RULE (2002). Tsanavi Spoonhunter is a Northern Arapaho and Northern Paiute nonfiction film director, producer, and writer from the San Francisco Bay Area. Spoonhunter is a 2022-2024 Firelight Media Documentary Lab fellow and Woodstock Film Festival resident who collaborated with other filmmakers and mentors to develop her upcoming project.
TAKING A STAND IN DOCUMENTARY FILMS, RISKY JOURNALISM AND DIRTY WARS WITH RICHARD ROWLEY
This episode features Rick Rowley, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist. He is best known for his films DIRTY WARS (2013), DOCUMENTING HATE (2018), and 16 SHOTS (2019). Rowley recently received a Peabody Award for FRONTLINE: Micheal Flynn's Holy War. Rowley’s films highlight his willingness to take risks to bring dark truths to light. Rowley has been a jury member and is a long-time friend of the festival.
LYME DISEASE CONTROVERSIES AND THE FILM THE QUIET EPIDEMIC’S RALLYING CRY FOR PROPER RESEARCH WITH CHRIS HEGEDUS AND LINDSAY KEYS
In this episode, the filmmakers discuss their documentary film THE QUIET EPIDEMIC's rallying cry for proper research on Lyme disease. We also highlight Keys’ experience with Lyme and the film's impact at festivals. The film was featured at the Woodstock Film Festival in September 2022.
Aside from being the director, producer, and cinematographer of her film feature film, Lindsay Keys is an accomplished photographer with a versatile range of clientele. Chris Hegedus is an experienced documentary filmmaker. Along with THE QUIET EPIDEMIC, some of her work includes Oscar-nominated THE WAR ROOM (1993) and Emmy-award-winning ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY (2002).
WRITERS’ STRIKES THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND WRITERS GUILD UPDATES WITH JAMES SCHAMUS
James Schamus serves on the negotiating committee of the Writers Guild of America, whose members are currently on strike. He talks about fake unions created by Hollywood, the history of the Writers' Strikes, provides insight into industry practices that prevent career stability for working writers + much more!
James Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain), director (Indignation), showrunner (Somos.), and former CEO of Focus Features. James is also the Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of the Arts, where he teaches film history and theory.
ON PTSD: HEALING, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK IN FILMMAKING WITH JACK YOUNGELSON AND SIAN EDWARDS-BEAL
In this episode, Edwards-Beal and Youngelson talk about their recent film HERE. IS. BETTER. (2023) regarding cinematography, the special music created for the film, healing from PTSD, and working with veterans.
Jack Youngelson is a highly accomplished documentary filmmaker and writer. Sian Edwards-Beal is “an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and director who has created and delivered a comprehensive range of film, television and web content for networks including HBO, the BBC, National Geographic, and Channel 4.”
HOW FILM FESTIVALS FOSTER MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH HARRIS DORAN
Harris Doran is an award-winning independent film writer, actor, director, and producer. Some of his work includes BEAUTY MARK (2018), which won Best Ultra Indie Film Award at the Woodstock Film Festival, and the new award-winning film KOKOMO CITY (2023). He shares his experiences at festivals and how they have impacted his filmmaking career + more!
WHY INDIE FILMMAKERS LOVE TO SHOW THEIR FILMS IN WOODSTOCK WITH ADAM SCHARTOFF
Adam Shartoff, founder of Filmwax Radio, musician, and armchair film historian, talks about the spirit of independence, the importance of deep cuts, and providing a platform for lesser-known artists, whether through film, music, or any creative medium.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE GIVEN A VOICE IN INDEPENDENT FILM WITH NANCY BUIRSKI
Nancy Buirski, founder of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, talks about her latest film, DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY, AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY. We also get into her work as Director/Producer/Writer OF THE LOVING STORY (2011), the definitive account of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage, and Producer of the narrative film LOVING (2015) inspired by the THE LOVING STORY.
WHY YOU SHOULD SUBMIT TO THE WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL WITH MEIRA BLAUSTEIN
Meira Blaustein is the Co-Founder / Executive Director / Programmer of the Woodstock Film Festival. The Festival was launched in 2000 and has quickly become one of the most respected and influential regional film festivals in the US. Blaustein has been running it ever since.
