First Time Go
Benjamin Duchek
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1 Creator
A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.
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Top 10 First Time Go Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best First Time Go episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to First Time Go for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite First Time Go episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Kyle Prohaska
First Time Go
06/11/24 • 69 min
There's been (roughly) 100 episodes of the podcast. So when you hit on topics you haven't talked with anybody about before (IRAs, 401(k)s, faith-based organizations), you know you are in for something special.
But I knew that already from his trenchant social media posts. In this episode, I talk with filmmaker Kyle Prohaska about perseverance, resilience, and becoming a jack of all trades in the filmmaking business. We talk about his start as a filmmaker and working in the faith-based sector; the problems with expensive short films that just have to make festivals; the lack of QC in indie filmmaking; and where you should expect to see Kyle in a couple of years. "Prepare for your future" is Kyle's main advice; if yours is indeed in filmmaking, chances are you'll see Kyle Prohaska there.
Kyle's Indie Film Highlight: (the first time we ever had a recommendation for a film that has been an episode on the podcast): YOUR LUCKY DAY (2023) dir. by Daniel Brown; THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY (2023) dir. by Francis Galluppi; MASS (2021) dir by Fran Kranz
Links:
Kyle Prohaska's Threads Account
Kyle Prohaska's X Account
Kyle Prohaska's Instagram
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
'A THOUSAND SUNS' Creators (Live)
First Time Go
04/20/24 • 38 min
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 whether this can be a new model; AI in filmmaking; episode specific questions; and what's next for these ultra-talented filmmakers. If MacGregor is to be believed, expect them to be living in Iceland and making 200 more.
Those kind of jokes made this a fantastic way to record an episode. I look forward to having more live episodes.
To watch on YouTube, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=851mSkRXRis&t=611s
Tim's Indie Film Highlights: BURNING (2018) https://boxd.it/hHUa; THE DEATH OF DICK LONG (2019) https://boxd.it/kIoA
Ruairi Robinson's Indie Film Highlights: TANYA'S ISLAND (1980) https://boxd.it/2dbE; COME TRUE (2020) https://boxd.it/iG90; THE WAILING (2016) https://boxd.it/9fLy
Tyson Wade Johnston's Indie Film Highlight: LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL (2023) https://boxd.it/zo6G
Links:
1K Suns Website (https://www.1ksuns.com/)
Blackmilk Studio (https://www.blackmilk.studio/)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Elise McCave
First Time Go
02/16/24 • 26 min
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 to talk about film with somebody who is responsible for shepherding so many films to creation: an estimated 30,000 through Kickstarter! Incredible.
In this conversation, we talk about:
00:00 The Case For Kickstarter
00:55 Elise McCave Intro
01:37 Hi, Elise! The Dreams Kickstarter Made True
02:35 Elise's Journey Into Filmmaking
03:47 The Importance of Understanding People in Filmmaking
04:53 The "Secret Sauce" of Kickstarter: All-or-Nothing Funding
07:34 Elise's Involvement In The Filmmaking Process
09:41 Long Story Short Program and the Diversity of Short Films
12:34 The Role of Shorts In A Filmmaker's Career
15:02 Film Festivals and Kickstarter
16:28 Monetizing Shorts and Revenue Models
18:32 Future Innovations at Kickstarter
20:32 Elise's Personal Projects
22:30 Indie Film Highlight: Molly Manning Walker; Georgia Oakley; Charlotte Regan; Natalie Jasmine Harris's GRACE; Alexandra Qin's THIRSTYGIRL; Angela Moneke's ESSEX GIRLS; Jules Rosskam's DESIRE LINES (all had Kickstarter campaigns); Phoebe Jane Hart's BUG DINER
24:34 Conclusion And Promotion of Long Story Short
Links:
Long Story Short 2024 (https://updates.kickstarter.com/long-story-short-2023-join-kickstarters-annual-celebration-of-short-films-in-march/)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Mark Bristol
First Time Go
02/13/24 • 45 min
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/)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Morgan Chen
First Time Go
05/14/24 • 36 min
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/)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Indie Film Highlight: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (2016)
First Time Go
06/02/24 • 2 min
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (2016).
Director: Richard Linklater
Screenplay: Richard Linklater
Cast: Glen Powell; Tyler Hoechlin; Zoey Deutch
SYNOPSIS
In 1980 Texas, a college freshman meets his new baseball teammates, an unruly group of disco-dancing, skirt-chasing partyers, and they navigate their way through the freedom and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.
Watch The Episode: https://youtu.be/krhyTGFexng
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Patrick Schweiss
First Time Go
09/22/23 • 29 min
I talk with Patrick Schweiss, executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival.
If you can listen to this podcast and not up and make a film specifically so you can apply to Sedona, let me know how you did it. In our conversation, Patrick outlines how the Festival treats its filmmakers like celebrities, what you should have for your festival strategy, what he thinks of hybrid festivals, and what the future of the Sedona Film Festival looks like.
When Patrick took the festival over, it was bankrupt. It can’t be any further away from that now in terms of vitality and importance in celebrating the creators of independent film.
Links:
- Sedona International Film Festival (https://sedonafilmfestival.com/)
- Film Freeway Account: https://filmfreeway.com/SedonaInternationalFilmFestival
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Bridge Stuart
First Time Go
02/20/24 • 37 min
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 Anticipatory Jokes & Laughter
02:58 The World Premiere at Sedona International Film Festival On February 25, 2024...In A Theater!
03:15 Early Career and Journey Towards Filmmaking (this part of the conversation refers to the very complimentary article by Simon Owens on Bridge https://simonowens.medium.com/its-impossible-to-reverse-engineer-bridge-stuart-s-sketch-comedy-videos-23caa88c5964)
05:46 Discovering His Talent for Comedy
06:40 Discussing Putting A Joke Early On To See If The Audience Is With You (this was an idea pointed out by Matthew Robinson https://www.firstgopod.com/vault/matthew-s-robinson)
08:03 Crafting Moments of Comedy Payoff
08:35 How Did A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP Came To Be?
11:30 The Goal of A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP
13:54 How Should You Decide On Including Contemporary Jokes?
15:25 Timeline and Festival Strategy
18:16 Tricks For Low Budget Indie Films
18:40 The Sedona International Film Festival, a filmmakers' film festival
20:30 How Do You Make The Decision To Act In Your Own Indie Film?
23:42 Is It Harder For Someone To Direct And Act Without Writing The Script?
24:35 The State of Comedy in Indie Film
26:57 Expanding into Different Genres; Are We Going To See a Bridge Stuart Horror Film? (Yes, we are.)
28:11 The Pigeonholing of Indie Directors
29:58 Focus on Writing and Directing
31:32 Bridge's Upcoming Projects
33:45 Indie Film Highlight: Jim Cummings (Follow Jim https://www.instagram.com/jimmycthatsme/?hl=en); Danny Madden (Follow Danny https://www.instagram.com/stuffbydanny/)
36:29 Close/Time To Fly To Sedona To Watch A FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP
Links:
Follow Bridge On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/bridgeofstuart/?hl=en); X (https://twitter.com/BridgeofStuart); YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/BridgeStuart)
Conversation With Patrick Schweiss, executive director of the Sedona International Film Festival Season 1, Episode 21 (https://www.firstgopod.com/vault/patrick-schweiss)
Follow The Sedona International Film Festival (https://sedonafilmfestival.com/)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Indie Film Highlight: THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (2017)
First Time Go
08/25/24 • 2 min
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE SENSE OF AN ENDING (2017).
Director: Ritesh Batra
Adapted Screenplay: Nick Payne
Cast: Jim Broadbent; Charlotte Rampling; Michelle Dockery; Emily Mortimer
SYNOPSIS
A middle-aged business owner who lives a quiet life in London reunites with his first love after his mother unexpectedly receives a letter from his ex-girlfriend from school which forces him to confront the past.
Watch The Episode on YouTube.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Support the Podcast Through MembershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
Jane Macedo Yang & Jennifer Macedo Yang
First Time Go
12/22/23 • 35 min
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)
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
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FAQ
How many episodes does First Time Go have?
First Time Go currently has 175 episodes available.
What topics does First Time Go cover?
The podcast is about Film Interviews, Visual Arts, Podcasts, Arts and Tv & Film.
What is the most popular episode on First Time Go?
The episode title 'Indie Film Highlight: AWAY FROM HER (2006)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on First Time Go?
The average episode length on First Time Go is 23 minutes.
How often are episodes of First Time Go released?
Episodes of First Time Go are typically released every 2 days, 14 hours.
When was the first episode of First Time Go?
The first episode of First Time Go was released on May 28, 2023.
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