A BEHIND THE LENS so big we had to expand to ninety minutes!!
Kicking off this episode of BTLRadioShow, we go in search of what went into the making of SEARCHING, the latest feature utilizing the visionary ScreenLife language as a storytelling tool. Take a listen to excerpts of our exclusive interviews and get caught up in the excitement and passion of director and co-writer ANEESH CHAGANTY as he talks about story development and how the ScreenLife language (telling a whole narrative within the frames of a computer screen using a multiplicity of the devices with which we connect to our daily world) impacted the story of SEARCHING itself, not to mention the visual structural design. Moreso with SEARCHING than in the two prior ScreenLife designed films – “Unfriended” and “Unfriended: Dark Web” – editing is the heart and soul of the film, and Aneesh is effusive in his praise of his editors Will Merrick and Nick Johnson.
And then hear from the producer of SEARCHING, the man who conceived the ScreenLife language, visionary filmmaker TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV, as he talks about the conception of this cinematic language, his philosophies on ScreenLife as a storytelling tool, and his process as a producer and mentor to the filmmakers embracing and exploring the ScreenLife language of filmmaking.
But then we go from the windows of our daily life to the expanded windows of the universe when writer/director JONATHAN BERMAN joins us live talking about his latest documentary, CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS. In the documentary, Berman explores the first UFO cults, the cult society today living in the California desert, and most important, George Van Tassel, a one-time Howard Hughes confidante and the man believed to be one of the gurus of the UFO societal phenomenas we have seen take shape and thrive within our culture over the decades. Anyone who has visited Joshua Tree in the Mojave Desert knows of Van Tassel’s greatest invention, the domed electro-magnetic Integratron which presides over the spiritual canvas of the region. Listen as John talks about discovering the story of Van Tassel and his work with Howard Hughes and Van Tassel’s alleged enlightening encounter with an alien named Solganda which gave rise to the building of the Integratron, surprising ties between Nikola Tesla and Van Tassel’s work, developing a narrative throughline for the documentary, interviewing experts as well as spiritualists, believers, caretakers of the Van Tassel legacy, and even some of Van Tassel’s family. The truth is out there about UFO’s and Van Tassel, and about the making of CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS, and John Berman talks about it all!
Diving into our expanded part of the show we’re talking DAVI’S WAY, the latest project from renowned actor ROBERT DAVI. You know him as an actor, a heavy, a mobster, a Bond villain, but did you also know he is a classically trained opera singer who loves Sinatra? An insightful documentary set against the backdrop of Davi attempting to recreate Sinatra’s 1974 “Main Event” from Madison Square Gardens, as a way to honor the 100th birthday of Sinatra, the journey is revelatory for those who don’t know or who are unfamiliar with the real Robert Davi, as that is the real story being told; the story of Robert Davi the singer.
Wrapping up the show, we’re digging deep into the fabulousness of felt and THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS thanks to screenwriter TODD BERGER. Originally slated to appear live on BTL this week, due to a last minute conflict, Todd was unable to do so but we tried to make up for it with an exclusive interview on Sunday, much of which you’ll hear now. Currently in the critical minority, I am a huge fan of THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS with its irreverent and laugh-out-loud funny humor, and relished the chance to speak with Todd about all things felt – story development (crime noir meets puppets in a puppet-human world), character development both from a visual and emotional standpoint, working with director Brian Henson and puppet captain Kevin Clash, the challenges of visual storytelling with puppets and the workaround for Todd as a writer, the importance of background and ambience, finding that tonal balance of comedy and empathy, and more!
