Episode 032 – Producer Director Actor Brad Coolidge – Part 1

10/19/14 • 31 min

Stephen Bittrich and Brad Coolidge after whacking some golf balls.

My good friends Brad and Melissa Coolidge helped me transition to Austin. That’s the kind of lovely, awesome folks they are!

And they also happen to make thoughtful, exciting independent movies.

In part one of this two part interview I talk to Brad about the movies he and his wife have been producing or co-executive producing (along with their partner, Todd Labarowski). These include, What Maisie Knew (with Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård and Steve Coogan – inspired by a Henry James novel), Prince Avalanche (directed by Austin filmmaker David Gordon Green and starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, Joe (with Nicholas Cage and again directed by David Gordon Green), The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her (which can now be seen as intended in the big markets like New York — and a combined version “Them” is playing in some smaller markets), Manglehorn, (with Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Chris Messina, directed by David Gordon Green) and The World Made Straight (with Noah Wiley, Minka Kelly, Haley Joel Osment, and Jeremy Irvine). These last 2 films have not yet been released.

In part 2 of the interview we’ll talk about Brad’s experiences directing a “creature feature” horror film. So keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon.

If you’re in New York or other select cities go see The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him/Her. Click here for tickets in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

Hello to Brad, an introduction (3:51)
Death of a Popstar a short film, Glasgow Film Festival (5:19)
What Maisie Knew, co-producers (8:05)
The move to Austin, Prince Avalanche (10:17)
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, shooting in NYC, Dreambridge (14:25)
Joe, Nicholas Cage comes down early to Austin to prepare (21:45)
The World Made Straight (24:45)
Manglehorn, shot in Austin (27:35)

Stephen Bittrich and Brad Coolidge after whacking some golf balls.

My good friends Brad and Melissa Coolidge helped me transition to Austin. That’s the kind of lovely, awesome folks they are!

And they also happen to make thoughtful, exciting independent movies.

In part 2 of the interview we’ll talk about Brad’s experiences directing a “creature feature” horror film. So keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon.

If you’re in New York or other select cities go see The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him/Her. Click here for tickets in New York.

Topics covered in the interview:

Hello to Brad, an introduction (3:51)
Death of a Popstar a short film, Glasgow Film Festival (5:19)
What Maisie Knew, co-producers (8:05)
The move to Austin, Prince Avalanche (10:17)
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, shooting in NYC, Dreambridge (14:25)
Joe, Nicholas Cage comes down early to Austin to prepare (21:45)
The World Made Straight (24:45)
Manglehorn, shot in Austin (27:35)

Previous Episode

Episode 031 – Actor Mindy Raymond

Mindy getting made up for Bigfoot action

Mindy Raymond and C. Thomas Howell

The stars of Bigfoot Wars

Mindy Raymond in The Adventures of Pepper and Paula

I’ve moved to Austin, and actor Mindy Raymond is a new friend I met at a pool party given by my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge (see exciting news about their big movie project at the bottom of this post).

While swimming around in the pool, Mindy mentioned this project she’d done with C. Thomas Howell called Bigfoot Wars that promised the potential cult status of a Sharknado, and I was all over that! I knew we needed to have an interview about her experience making that movie.

Right after Bigfoot Wars, because of the great work she did and because of a new connection she made on set with Robin Nations, she was cast in a family movie called The Adventures of Paula and Pepper based in part on a real woman with the stage name of “Pistol Packin’ Paula” who is a modern day Annie Oakley-type persona here in Texas.

Mindy is a charming, bubbly, positive force, and I hope you’ll enjoy our talk!

By the way, there were a few awesome attractions here in Austin mentioned during the course of the interview, so here are some links you might find helpful if you’re ever visiting the Austin area:

1) the Austin Steam Train in Cedar Park,
2) Hamilton Pool, an amazing natural grotto,
3) Natural Bridge Caverns,
4) Enchanted Springs Ranch and old west town,
5) and The Georgetown Palace Theater.

Topics covered in the interview:

Hello to Mindy... and what do you call more than one Bigfoot? (2:24)
How Mindy got the acting bug (3:32)
Yoga in Mindy’s life (9:17)
Mindy and Nate (12:04)
A little about Austin near the Lakeway area (13:49)
Finding acting work in Austin (16:27)
Top 3 things to do in Austin (21:12)
Mindy directs a short film (25:19)
Teaching classes at 4 Reelz (28:48)
Talking about Bigfoot Wars experience ... and how cool Alamo Drafthouse is (29:54)
Audition process for Bigfoot Wars (37:48)
Talking about the Bigfoot legend... please don’t kill Bigfoot! And, yes, there was a Legend of Boggy Creek movie in the 70s when I was 10 years old! (40:30)
Talking about The Adventures of Pepper and Paula (43:48)
“Bizarre, Interesting and/or Horrible Audition Stories” (49:35)

I mentioned my friends, Brad and Melissa Coolidge above (and this interview was actually taped in their guest house, so you’ll hear us mention at the end how Brad got stuck in a sudden downpour). They are co-executive producers of an AMAZING movie that I saw screened 2 nights ago here in Austin at the Violet Crown called The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby with Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and an amazing all-star supporting cast. It’s in theaters. Go see it now!

Next Episode

Episode 033 – Producer Director Actor Brad Coolidge – Part 2

Filmmaker Brad Coolidge likes hockey

Here is part 2 of my interview with Brad Coolidge.

If you’ve ever thought you might want to direct a film, this is a great interview for you because my buddy Brad talks honestly about some of the challenges he faced as a first time director shooting a “creature feature.”

Sometimes the elements don’t cooperate, or your creature gets held up in customs and arrives late, or you don’t have enough days on the schedule. There are so many obstacles awaiting you when you make a film.

Brad and his wife, Melissa, along with their producing partner, Todd Labarowski, make beautiful indie movies as well. We talked about these in detail in part 1 of the interview, but here are the links again to those great films: What Maisie Knew, Prince Avalanche, Joe, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him AND Her, Manglehorn, and The World Made Straight.

Enjoy the interview. Topics covered:

Back to our conversation in progress, El Chupacabra (1:25)
Setting the movie in Austin, paring down the budget, casting in NY, LA and locally (5:06)
Approaching go time, creature creation by Mario Torres, Jr. (7:22)
First day — driving scenes, Texas State University (9:50)
Relying on experienced crew, location scouting, spending a lot of time on the master (12:29)
Complication at the beginning of the first week (19:19)
Weather does not cooperate, steady cam (22:22)
Creature challenges, no time to rehearse (24:56)
Reworking, editing what’s in the can (33:00)
Inspiring the troupes, “Once more unto the breach!” (34:56)
A little about raising money (39:46)
Working on a script with Brad, Drilling Company connection (44:16)
Treating people well on a film set (46:37)