In this week’s episode of BEHIND THE LENS we welcomed in the holiday season with our very special BTL friend, SIMON PHILLIPS talking SILENT BITE while giving a big hello to NICO SANTUCCI who makes his feature directorial debut with SAROGETO.
Leave it to SIMON PHILLIPS to fill us with the Christmas spirit and get us in the holiday mood with his latest film, SILENT BITE. Written and produced by Simon, with Simon also starring alongside several other talented folks and friends of his, only Simon could come up with a film that melds a bank heist, Christmas, and vampires! This film is so much fun!! And of course, a conversation with Simon is always more fun than a sleigh full of Santas.
Listen as we talk SILENT BITE and its inspiration, Simon’s secrets to writing this particular film, casting and characters (and what characters they are!), melding Christmas with lusty vampires, the secrets to shooting in snow-filled -20 degree weather, what led him to his first-time feature director Taylor Martin and her team for SILENT BITE, and more. Plus, we get a teensy weensy tidbit about THE MOUSE TRAP: WELCOME TO THE MICKEYVERSE, a sequel to the horror hit THE MOUSE TRAP. For our listeners in Japan, THE MOUSE TRAP will be premiering there in early 2025 and Simon along with his mouse collaborator Jamie Bailey will be in Japan for that premiere.
SILENT BITE is now streaming on Prime Video and other digital platforms.
And as we bid adieu to Simon, writer/director NICO SANTUCCI joins me in talking about his new film, the exquisitely delicate and moving narrative SAROGETO; a meeting of East meets West philosophies on life, past life, future life, and mortality. An insightful and thoughtful conversation with Nico as we cagily break down the film without giving away spoilers and discuss the cinematography, color palette and lighting, casting and some very specific character requirements, the editing process, a special location Nico was allowed to shoot in, using the beauty of Mother Nature as powerful yet serene and calming element within the film, the beauteous score, and more. A delicate, elegant, and quiet film from a very thoughtful and meticulous filmmaker whom I hope to hear more from in the future.
SAROGETO releases on digital platforms on December 20, 2024.
