It’s all about the trials and tribulations of family and the human condition this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we take a look at two distinctly different films – DESOLATE and SWORD OF TRUST – and two distinctly different approaches to filmmaking.
First up, take a listen to our exclusive prerecorded interview with writer/director LYNN SHELTON as she talks about her new film, SWORD OF TRUST. Always a laugh-filled joy to speak with Lynn, we kick off our conversation talking about her directorial lessons learned over the past few years while focusing on episodic television versus feature films and now her return to the humor of her earlier works like “Humpday”. In true Shelton fashion, SWORD OF TRUST is a darker comedy that arises from the inheritance of an antique sword believed to be proof that the South won the Civil War (needless to say, with a set-up like that, antics and hijinks ensue), and is a story that relies heavily on the improvisation of its actors. Listen as Lynn talks about the genesis of SWORD OF TRUST and her influences in staging and shooting in the deep South (her first time shooting away from the Pacific Northwest), curating a very specific cast, production design, cinematography and embracing the natural light of the South, acting and directing concurrently (just how well does actor Lynn listen to director Lynn?), and the importance of a Southern icon – Piggly Wiggly.
And then writer/director FREDERICK CIPOLETTI joins us live talking about his new film DESOLATE, a story that focuses on farmers decimated by drought, turning their farm, the town, and community to the brink of collapse while allowing conflict, crime, and violence to erupt as each struggles to survive. Focusing on the Stone family, youngest son Billy is left for dead by his brothers after a robbery gone wrong; only Billy is not dead, but he now knows he must do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means seeing revenge against his family. There is an intensity to DESOLATE that is not only imbued within each character and performance as well as the story, but within the visuals and overall tone of the film. Take a listen as Frederick talks about how California’s drought served as the inspiration for this story, working with cinematographer Isaac Bauman to create a beautiful visual tone that embraces the browns and golds of dead crops and dry lands while blue-ebony night skies and tight framing metaphorically serve to showcase the uncertainty and unknown of what’s to come, casting, detailed sound design, editing, and more.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@BTLRadioShow
@moviesharkd
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/BTLRadioShow
#BTLRadioShow
. W/D FREDERICK CIPOLETTI is on hand to talk about his new film DESOLATE. Plus hear what w/d LYNN SHELTON has to say about her new film SWORD OF TRUST!
