First Time Go

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 Wittliff);
• the importance of mentorship and "paying it forward" in his success;
• what he learned from having 24 years between feature films;
• his experience working as a storyboard artist with some of the best directors of the last few decades, including Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and more;
• he also points out he learns from everyone, demonstrating a humility that is rare, and from Ken Kwapis, how to "bring the joy of filmmaking";
• he recommends Ken's book, "But What I Really Want to Do Is Direct: Lessons from a Life Behind the Camera";
• his thoughts on audiences' reaction to ACCIDENTAL TEXAN, of just going for a pleasurable experience -- "you'll laugh, you'll cry, it's beautifully shot";
• he encourages people to watch ACCIDENTAL TEXAN to watch the trailer to understand the film;
• how he used coloration to tell the story;
• what he would tell gearheads about the importance of telling the story;
• his thoughts on the future of comedic indie films;
• what he learned from Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise working on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE films about how to listen to audiences;
• how he'll define success for the ACCIDENTAL TEXAN;
• the importance of efficiency and preparing for an mid-budget indie film (this is where the masterclass kicks in);
• advice he'd give young filmmakers just starting out -- how "nothing is precious...and rely on your own creativity to solve it"
• what's next for this utterly exciting and unique filmmaker -- a late 80s based film called GENERATION X which I will be first in line to see.

Links:

ACCIDENTAL TEXAN Trailer (https://youtu.be/Cvalr_gHRDk)

Mark Bristol's Website (http://markbristol.squarespace.com/)

I talk with filmmaker Morgan Chen about his amazing life story -- from Oregon to Atlanta, and now about an upcoming documentary -- SCHOOL OF THE OPEN -- in New Hampshire. It's a journey you won't want to miss.

In this episode, we talk about his unique and powerful journey; his style of documentary filmmaking; his excitement (with trepidation) for hybrid docs and AI; the underlying values that underpin his upcoming feature doc; and what's next for this visionary, thoughtful filmmaker.

Morgan's Indie Film Highlight: THE WAR ROOM (1993) (https://boxd.it/1tWa); Errol Morris (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001554/)

Links:

Morgan Chen Productions (https://www.morganchenproductions.com/)

Morgan Chen's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/speedomorgan/)

I am so pleased to be joined by groundbreaking filmmaker Mira Shaib, director of Arzé, a brilliant first feature comedy-drama about the relationship of a family in Lebanon. (In North America, it should be released early next year.)

Mira Shaib is an alumnus of prestigious film development labs and residencies, including Robert Bosch Stiftung, where she attended the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Film Independent's Global Media Makers LA Residency, the Red Sea Lodge, and the Torino Film Lab. Her first feature film was among the first recipients of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation Production Fund. Mira is the cofounder of Cinema For All, an arts initiative with a mission to make cinema accessible in rural Lebanon. The initiative was launched in 2019 in Ain Ebel with film-making workshops and outdoor screenings of Sophie Boutros' Mahbas and Cyril Aris's documentary feature The Swing.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how she got started and the amazing sense of place for this film -- did she ever feel pressure to downplay the Lebanese aspect?
• what they should expect to see when they watch the film;
• how she made a first feature without writing the script and the importance of making it as team with the writers;
• what it's like being a female director with a Lebanese film and the inspiration of other female directors like Nadine Labaki being nominated for the Oscars;
• the strength of her female characters in the film;
• the importance of the sense of place in Arzé and how she showed the colors of Lebanon;
• how she wouldn't feel comfortable making a film in a place she didn't know intimately;
• her thoughts on production grants, Arab film, and the Red Sea Film Festival;
• what the process was like for Arzé to be Lebanon's selection to the Oscars;
• how she feels about where she lives -- Montreal -- and its role in independent film;
• and what her next film will be -- "set in Lebanon...about sisters fighting over a house"

Mira's Indie Film Highlight: TO A LAND UNKNOWN (2024) dir. by Mahdi Fleifel

Links:

Follow Mira On Instagram

Follow Arzé On Instagram

Arzé On Letterboxd

Arzé On Wikipedia

Watch This Episode On YouTube

Attend A Screening Of PAPER MARRIAGE in Washington, DC

To paraphrase Walt Whitman, Jeff Man is a man that contains multitudes. He often plays a character, like in PAPER MARRIAGE (2024) and SANTA CLAUS (2017), that is reserved and unsure of himself, and the stories, at least partially, revolve around how he -- and the outside world -- reacts to those personality traits. During our conversation, he talks about how he grapples with these questions in his own life and utilizes his art to get to a greater truth.

And yet.

In many of his short films and his debut feature, PAPER MARRIAGE, he writes, directs, and acts in a lead role. He is an extraordinarily talented, supremely unique filmmaker, which I'd argue makes for a great podcast guest. I think you'll agree.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how he got started in filmmaking and the story behind his debut feature, PAPER MARRIAGE -- he originally thought he'd be a film critic;
• why he wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature -- the Duplass brothers forced him to do it! (out of love, of course);
• how he handled the work flow of directing...himself...and other characters;
• his thoughts on the current political debate surrounding immigration, DEI, and his film, especially on the eve of its Valentine's Day screening;
• his relationship with the Duplass brothers and how supportive they are of his vision as executive producers;
• why he loves Washington, DC;
• keeping up an active Instagram for a debut feature film;
• how much we love SMOKING TIGERS and the work of So Young Shelly Yo;
• the real-to-life feeling of PAPER MARRIAGE and how Jeff emotionally and intellectually got there to create such a film;
• what's next for him.

Jeff's Indie Film Highlights: 9500 LIBERTY (2009) dir. by Annabel Park and Eric Byler; DEAD TALENT SOCIETY (2024) dir. by John Hsu; BECOMING WHO I WAS (2016) dir. by Moon Chang-young; Jeon Jim; SMOKING TIGERS (2023) dir. by So Young Shelly Yo

Trivia:

The quote "chance favors the prepared mind" is from Louis Pasteur, not Thomas Edison.

Links:

Follow Jeff Man on Instagram

Follow Jeff Man on Vimeo

Attend A Screening Of PAPER MARRIAGE in Washington, DC

I talk with Jane Macedo Yang and Jennifer Macedo Yang, the dynamic sister duo behind the documentary film PARASTOO.

The documentary represents a seven year journey following a young Afghan girl "through the growing pains of young adulthood, the heartbreaking refugee resettlement process, and her dreams of becoming an actress."

In this conversation, we talk about their amazing story of getting into filmmaking; the wild background of a seven year journey that touches upon so many modern events in Malaysia, Afghanistan, and elsewhere; their thoughts on the documentary film market; and what's next for these two powerful women.

I'm so touched by their story, and I think you will be too after listening to this episode.

Jennifer's Indie Film Highlight: Elizabeth Lo HOTEL 22(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5pGdrizZMg); MOTHER'S DAY (https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000005004440/mothers-day.html)

Jane's Indie Film Highlight: FOR AHKEEM, directed by Jeremy S Levine; Landon Van Soest (https://tubitv.com/movies/452736/for-ahkeem)

Links:

PARASTOO Seed and Spark Campaign (https://seedandspark.com/fund/parastoo#story)

PARASTOO Website (https://www.parastoofilm.co/)

PARASTOO Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/parastoodoc/)

PARASTOO Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Parastoo-a-short-documentary/61554030419626/)

Jane Macedo Yang Website (https://www.janemacedoyang.com/about)