Awards season may be over but film continues on and so does BEHIND THE LENS!
Talk about a fun post-awards season/post-Oscars/post-Spirits show! #BTLRadioShow is jam-packed and fun-filled thanks to four very special guests as we sprinkle some Valentine’s love on two new films opening this week.
After a recap of the weekend’s final awards ceremonies – the Academy Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards – we welcome our first pair of guests – writer/director/editor PAUL OSBORNE and, returning for his second time to BTL, actor PATRICK DAY discussing their latest film CRUEL HEARTS. What would you do if you were sitting at work, minding your own business, going over financials, and a man sits down next to you and says, “I’ve been sleeping with your wife.”? And that’s what kicks off CRUEL HEARTS; a noir film that boasts a smart and smartly constructed script, nice production values, a beautiful visual texture, keen editing, and terrific performances starting with Patrick Day. As you listen to our conversation and the collaborative jovial dynamic between Paul and Patrick, you’ll understand why the film is so well done. Their friendship and collaborative spirit behind the lens flows into the work that we see on screen. Delving into the genesis of the story, the production aspects, cinematography and judicious use of ECU’s, casting (including standout turns by Eddie Jemison, Melora Hardin, Bonnie Root, and Alev Aydin), Patrick’s range of performance as our poor husband “Burt”, and so much more, the boys are candid and entertaining with plenty of laughter thrown in. CRUEL HEARTS releases everywhere from digital and VOD to select theatres on February 11th.
Then we’ve got some more love to share with director DREW MYLREA and actor/producer DREW VAN ACKER and their film SPY INTERVENTION. Opening on Valentine’s Day in theatres and on VOD, SPY INTERVENTION reinvents the spy thriller in parody form a la “Batman” 1966 while adding a bit of rom com, using visuals to poke fun at the genre and itself while solid serious grounded performances are led by Drew Van Acker as we find out what happens when a spy picks marriage, track lighting, and dinner parties over the excitement of being a spy. Or does he? In a word, SPY INTERVENTION is FUN . . . and funny! And so are “The Drews”. Listen to our interesting and fun discussion as we talk about Roger Suen’s score and his “Bond-esque” motifs, use of models and purposeful green screen, distinguishing worlds through Danny Grunes’ cinematography and changing aspect ratios to create a wonderful visual tonal bandwidth, the importance of preparation, casting and chemistry and improv, grounding the film in a former spy’s everyday married existence, and when it comes to Drew Van Acker, a thoughtful discussion on his own career of movies versus television and the gift and ability to “play”.
