We’re getting into the swing of Spring a bit early on this episode of #BTLRadioShow thanks to EMILIO PALAME as he joins us live talking about his new film KNIGHTS OF SWING. And it’s “ride ‘em cowgirl” as YAYA GOSSELIN talks about her new film HEART OF A CHAMPION.
First up is my prerecorded exclusive interview with the wonderful YAYA GOSSELIN. YaYa has long been a favorite actor of mine and it’s always a joy to speak with her about any project she’s working on. This time it’s a film very close to her heart, HEART OF A CHAMPION. A champion barrel racer and horsewoman in real life, it’s as if HEART OF A CHAMPION was written just for her as she plays – you guessed it – a girl desperate for her own horse who learns to barrel race. And YaYa does all of her own riding and barrel racing! Are you listening Taylor Sheridan? Quite a few firsts for YaYa with this film, including a first “puppy love”, and how about balancing school, work, barrel racing, and everything else? And you don’t want to miss her imitation of Jen Landon in character as Teeter from “Yellowstone.” What I love about speaking with YaYa is that her unbridled joy and enthusiasm for her craft, for her characters and films, and just about life comes through loud and clear.
HEART OF A CHAMPION is currently streaming on Prime Video, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu.
Then get ready to swing as writer/director/musical arranger/composer/actor EMILIO PALAME joins us live talking about his swinging new film KNIGHTS OF SWING. And what a swinging film this is!!
Set in 1947 as America is recovering from WWII, and the Civil Rights Movement is still years away, Big-band swing music is all the rage. KNIGHTS OF SWING chronicles the adventures of a determined group of high school jazz musicians who recruit their reluctant science and math teacher, Mr. Miller, to help them form a “really swingin’ big band.” Things get complicated when school administrators and community leaders object to the band’s diversity and alliances form and lines are drawn. Dealing with multiple themes still as relevant today as they were in 1947, KNIGHTS OF SWING illuminates the power of music and unconditional love and friendship in bringing about forgiveness and moving forward into a brighter future.
It was beyond a joy speaking with Emilio about KNIGHTS OF SWING. My longtime readers and regular listeners know my love of the movie musical which are currently few and far between but, thankfully, are becoming a little more frequent with this film being the latest welcome entry into the genre. Scoring, composing, co-writing, acting and co-directing the film, Emilio discusses every aspect of “the making of”. As with YaYa Gosselin, Emilio’s passion and joy for music and film is infectiously ebullient as we discuss the challenges of casting (actors who could also sing and/or play musical instruments or vice versa), period considerations with cars, clothes, hair and make-up, challenges of lo budget/no budget/micro-budget, shooting during Covid, stepping into the director’s chair, working with a cinematographer, and music, music, music!
KNIGHTS OF SWING is currently available on Tubi and Vimeo On-Demand.
