{"id":42372,"date":"2026-06-22T11:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/?p=42372"},"modified":"2026-06-21T19:19:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T02:19:53","slug":"btl6222026-with-hekla-and-the-goose-that-laid-the-golden-egg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/miscellaneous\/behind-the-lens-podcast\/btl6222026-with-hekla-and-the-goose-that-laid-the-golden-egg\/","title":{"rendered":"BTL Radio Show – 06\/22\/2026 with MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH talking HEKLA and DOUGLAS BREMNER talking THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s another week of BEHIND THE LENS shining a spotlight on DANCES WITH FILMS and a couple of the wonderful films and filmmakers in this year\u2019s festival, namely HEKLA and w\/d MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG and w\/d DOUGLAS BREMNER. Dances With Films runs through June 28th at the TCL Chinese Theatre complex in Hollywood.<\/p>\n

First up – MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and HEKLA!\u00a0 HEKLA is a comedy\/drama about the emotional cost of pursuing a creative life. Set over one hectic day in Chicago, it explores how ambition, identity, and vulnerability collide when you\u2019re chasing something as personal \u2013 and uncertain \u2013 as an acting career. Hekla Gudmunsdottir (Elizabeth Stam), a determined actress, races through auditions, breakups, and self-doubt, risking her heart and career to claim her voice and step fully into the artist and woman she\u2019s meant to be: Hekla goes on four auditions, gets new headshots, and plays Lady Macbeth in a dive bar, all while attempting to keep intrusive thoughts of a recently ended relationship at bay. Beneath the humor and dramatic momentum lies a story about the importance of showing up for yourself, even when the world isn\u2019t clapping for you yet.<\/p>\n

Written and directed by MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and co-written by Elizabeth Stam, HEKLA stars Elizabeth Stam, Wendy Robie, \u00a0Mary Tilden, Brookelyn Hebert, and Sadieh Rifai. \u00a0And let me put these folks on your artisans’ radar right now because their work in HEKLA is beyond outstanding – cinematographer Jose Perez, editor Eric Marsh, production designer Heather Kuhlmann, and composer Trev Gibb. \u00a0These magicians give HEKLA the visual textures and excitement that it has.<\/p>\n

In this exclusive interview, Michael and I break down HEKLA and all of its production elements. \u00a0There\u2019s much to see and much to unpack with this film, starting with its unique structure of five acts, each with distinct titles and styles, inspired by both classic cinema and personal experiences with casting. The film follows a day in the life of HEKLA, an actress navigating multiple auditions, with each act able to stand alone as a short film. Michael collaborated closely with lead actress Elizabeth Stam, who co-wrote the script, and credits the film\u2019s visual impact to cinematographer Jose Perez and production designer Heather Kuhlmann. The movie uses mostly black-and-white visuals with bursts of vibrant color to reflect HEKLA\u2019s inner world, drawing inspiration from classic Hollywood and the French New Wave. Editing by Eric Marsh and a pre-recorded, dreamlike score by Trev Gibb further enhance the film\u2019s tone. The interview also touches on the film\u2019s open, ambiguous ending and the collaborative, fast-paced production process.<\/p>\n

HEKLA makes its West Coast Premiere at Dances With Films on June 23, 2026, at 6:30pm PT.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n