Summer kicks off with a bang this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we take a look at three winning films and speak with their gifted filmmakers who are not only good storytellers, but really good guys. And here’s a bonus for you – all three films open in theatres this week on June 7!
First up, take a listen to our exclusive interview with RON HOWARD talking about his new documentary, PAVAROTTI! The film is, in a word, Bellisimo! Exquisitely told and emotionally beauteous, the detail and depth with which Ron Howard tells the story of the man behind the voice is not only told with an objective eye, but a caring one. By film’s end, one feels as if they know “Luciano”, that they sat at the table and ate pasta with him, shared laughs. Listen as Ron talks about the research and assimilation of archival materials and the technical challenges presented with the use of old footage and recordings, gathering interviews, finding a throughline and working with his editor Paul Crowder, opting for sound mix in Dolby Atmos and the genius of sound recording mixer Chris Jenkins, not to mention selecting very specific arias for which Pavarotti is best known and then using them to highlight moments of Pavarotti’s live versus the chronology of performance. As always, it’s a thoughtful, intelligent and joyous conversation with Ron.
Then writer/director MICHAEL MELSKI joins is live talking about his new film, THE CHILD REMAINS. Based on the true story of the “Butterbox Babies” and the surrounding legend that has permeated not only Candian folklore, but Scottish and Irish as well, Michael crafts a chilling tale steeped in ambient cinematographic excellence. Listen as he talks about finding the right location, the universality of the psychological terror which unfolds in the film, developing the script so as to embrace the rich frightening history while fictionalizing the events, and of course, casting.
Rounding out the show, Australian actor ANDREW STEEL is with us live talking about his first North American feature, WISH MAN. You’ll quickly hear why Andrew is just one more reason why we love Australia. Classically theatre trained and with a successful career in Australia primarily on stage with the Australian Shakespeare Company and in television, Andrew makes the leap to the United States with the story of Frank Shankwitz, the man who founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Handpicked by Shankwitz to be the man to depict him on screen, the stars seem to have perfectly aligned for Andrew who is also known for his own philanthropic endeavors, namely the international film festival Flicks4Change.org and its offshoot, Scripts4Change.org. Listen as Andrew talks about WISH MAN, his serendipitous meeting with Shankwitz and how the role came to him, developing the character through working with writer/director Theo Davies and Shankwitz, nailing a midwestern US accent and learning to ride a motorcycle, working with veteran actors Fay Masterson, Danny Trejo, Frank Whalley, Kirby Bliss Stanton, Carey Scott, Dale Dickey, Bruce Davison and, in the coolest cameos possible, Robert Pine and Larry Wilcox, and more.
