BTL Radio Show – 03/02/2026 with guests NASTASYA POPOV talking IDIOTKA and CINQUE LEE discussing LAST RIDE

It’s a jam-packed show this week on BEHIND THE LENS with two fantastic films and two equally fantastic filmmakers, both of whom are enthusiastic, energetic, and excited about filmmaking.  You’ll be hearing from writer/director CINQUE LEE in the second half of the show, talking about his new film, the survival thriller LAST RIDE.  But first up is my exclusive interview with writer/director NASTASYA POPOV, going in-depth about her narrative feature directorial film, the oh-so-funny fashion and family comedy IDIOTKA.

In this sharp, irreverent comedy, a disgraced fashion designer with a dangerously low credit score, Margarita, enters a reality show (a la Project Runway) with a six-figure cash prize that would save her babushka’s West Hollywood apartment. But as the competition intensifies, the show’s slick producer Nicol pushes her to spin her family’s struggle into spectacle, forcing Margarita to decide whether to play along or take control of her own narrative, one unhinged look at a time.

Written and directed by Nastasya Popov, IDIOTKA stars Anna Baryshnikov, Camila Mendes, Julia Fox, Benito Skinner, Saweetie, Owen Thiele, Galina Jovovich, Mark Ivanir, Nerses Stamos, and Ilia Volok.

In this conversation, NASTASYA POPOV goes deep into the making of IDIOTKA, a film inspired by her own semi-autobiographical experiences and blending themes of immigration, housing issues, and intergenerational family dynamics with a reality TV satire.  We spend a lot of time talking about the production elements, particularly the film’s cinematography and Nastasya’s work with DP Kristen Correll in developing the film’s visual grammar, the production design by Francesca Palombo, and costuming by Sophie Kay and Natasha Simchowitz.  These three elements work synergistically in terms of color, lighting, and the balance between cinematic style and reality TV.  Editing is also crucial, and we dive into the work of Taylor Joy Mason and Rob Paglia.  For my money, it was a smart move to bring Rob on board, given his television editing experience and the reality-TV aspect of IDIOTKA.  Nastasya is also quite candid about the creativity required for this film, given the budgetary constraints, as well as the collaborative effort of her team. Filled with heart and a film dedicated to Nastasya’s grandmother, you’ll see and feel that as you watch the film.

IDIOTKA is currently in theatres.

Now we go from the fun of comedy to the fear, tension, and friendship that we find in the survival thriller LAST RIDE from writer/director CINQUE LEE.

LAST RIDE is set in the winter of 1982, where three 12-year-old American boys find themselves stranded in a cable car with a dead body, suspended midair in the mountains of Norway during a rare celestial planetary alignment. Ironically, we just had a 6-planet planetary alignment on Saturday night.

Written and directed by CINQUE LEE (and yes, he is Spike’s brother), LAST RIDE stars Roman Griffin Davis (JO JO RABBIT, THE LONG WALK, GREENLAND 2), Felix Jamieson (GAME OF THRONES), Charlie Price (THE GREAT), and Kristofer Hivju.

I love Cinque.  He is so enthusiastic, so passionate, but also so filled with heart when you speak with him, that it’s no surprise that you see and feel all of that onscreen.  In this exclusive interview, Cinque breaks down the production for us with great insight into much of the movie magic he brought into the mix.  Highlighting the visual and emotional depth achieved within a cable car setting, he emphasizes the importance of capturing the authenticity of 12-year-old boys’ behavior and the innovative visual grammar, including using multiple cameras and practical effects like real Northern Lights and “painting on water” to achieve visuals that are organic versus CGI.  He also shares the challenges of filming in Finland (which stands in for Norway), the meticulous sound design, and the personal inspiration drawn from lost childhood friendships, which leads to the film’s themes of trauma, friendship, and the impact of past experiences on present lives.  A fascinating conversation.

LAST RIDE is now available digitally on Prime Video, AppleTV, and other platforms.

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