An eclectic mix of fact and fiction based on fact with this episode of BEHIND THE LENS as we take a look at three wonderful films – COMING TO MY SENSES, LITTLE PINK HOUSE, and KODACHROME.
Kicking off the show is our exclusive interview with KODACHROME director MARK RASO. Starring Ed Harris, Jason Sudekis and Elizabeth Olsen, KODACHROME is based in part on the true story of the last film lab in the country to process Kodachrome film, Duane’s. Written by Jonathan Tropper based on the 2010 New York Times article “For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas”, this is the fictional journey of a renowned photographer to take a road trip with his estranged son in order drop off four found roles of film for developing before the lab closes. Harris plays photographer Ben Ryder, who is also dying, making this reconnective road trip of father and son even more poignant. The film features the actual photographs (end titles are a “must see”) of National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry. Shot on film by Raso (Kodak 5207 and 5219 35mm), listen as he talks about the allegory of the story, the visual design developed by Raso and cinematographer Alan Poon with the ideas of lensing through panes of glass, use of mirrors, framing, lighting, and the importance and value of the experience of shooting on film. Listen now to MARK RASO. Then watch the film on Netflix!
Then it’s all about COMING TO MY SENSES as we welcome director/editor/cinematographer DOMINIC GILL and co-writer NADIA GILL as they bring the story of AARON BAKER to life in this powerful and humbling documentary. Aaron was left a quadriplegic as the result of a motocross accident in 1999. Through sheer determination and willpower, Aaron spent more than 16 years working to regain not only his mobility but his physically active lifestyle. For Aaron, that meant ultimately undertaking the impossible – walking across Death Valley without benefit of braces, a walker, wheelchair or physical assistance. COMING TO MY SENSES chronicles Aaron’s journey and his indomitable spirit. Listen as Dominic and Nadia talk about how they met Aaron and learned of his story, developing a thru-line to maintain interest and pace, the fine line of editing, and more. You can watch COMING TO MY SENSES now on iTunes.
Rounding out the show is writer/director COURTNEY BALAKER and producer TED BALAKER as they talk about LITTLE PINK HOUSE. This is a story that rocked the nation when the battle of Susette Kelo battling the City of New London and the town of Ft. Trumble over eminent domain went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kelo, an EMT and eventually a nurse, had settled down in Fort Trumbull, living in her little pink house, finding a nice man and having the quiet life of which she’d always dreamed. Then Pfizer entered the picture with promises to the politicians from the local level all the way up to the governor if the town would exercise eminent domain and remove the entire Fort Trumbull community. Unfortunately, after a six-year fight, the Supremes voted against Kelo, opening the floodgates for millions of homeowners across the United States to lose their homes to eminent domain. On the upside, the ruling prompted many states to amend their own eminent domain laws to protect homeowners from losing their homes to governmental entities and big business. Hear our fascinating discussion on how the Kelo case and story found its way to Ted and Courtney and the logistics of bringing it to life in a narrative feature not only with story, but in crafting the visual tonal bandwidth, production design, costuming, and the legal wranglings inherent to the Kelo litigation. Plus, the casting of Catherine Keener and Jeanne Tripplehorn upon whose shoulders LITTLE PINK HOUSE rises and falls, not to mention the benefit of having these two veteran actors on hand for a first-time feature director.
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