I was able to chat with actress Lexy Hammonds who plays Cara in the new, surrealist neo-noir film "Drive All Night" that recently premiered at Cinequest. In the film, Hammonds plays Cara, a mysterious passenger who gets in the backseat of a taxi driven by reclusive driver Dave (Yutaka Takeuchi). In the conversation, we discuss the film's premiere, what it was like building chemistry with Yutaka, costume design, video games, conspiracy theories and much more.
Month: March 2021
The Filmcraziest Show Interview: Director and co-writer Jessie Barr for “Sophie Jones”
Here's another interview I was able to do with Jessie Barr, director and co-writer of the new coming-of-age drama, "Sophie Jones," where we chat about the inception of the film collaborating with her younger cousin Jessica Barr on the film (who plays Sophie Jones), as well as the emotional rawness in the film, its music and locations. (Video and podcast are included.)
Review: The Toll (2021)
As the world advances in its technology, ridesharing services like Uber rise in popularity. While Uber feels safer as you can see the profile of who’s picking you up, you may never truly know your driver. Or, for that matter, you may never truly know your passenger. That is the starting point of the new psychological horror film from Michael Nader, The Toll, where Cami (Jordan Hayes, who also produces) is coming home from a trip and, instead of asking her father to come get her, decides to get in an Uber-adjacent for her hour-long trip home. That’s where the socially awkward Spencer (Max Topplin, who also produces) comes into play.
Cinequest Review: Non Western (2021)
Non Western is a documentary that follows Montana couple Thaddeus Red Bird and Nanci Red Bird as they prepare for their upcoming wedding and they have to adjust to each other's cultures as Nanci learns to become Northern Cheyenne. A film about gender roles and cultural differences, sometimes there's more context needed but as a character study, it shines.
The Filmcraziest Show Interview: Jordan Hayes and Max Topplin, “The Toll”
Here's a new interview podcast with Jordan Hayes and Max Topplin, stars of the new psychological horror film THE TOLL. We chat the anxiety of the film and what it was like butting heads on screen while being real-life best friends.
My Experience Drawing in an Animation Workshop for “Wolfwalkers”
For a different kind-of article, I was able to take part in an animation workshop for the film WOLFWALKERS. I've included some coverage of the event in the form of quotes and interesting tidbits, as well as my experience trying to follow along in the tutorial and how my own drawings turned out (like the one seen in the featured image).
Interview: Writers, directors Saman Kesh, Jeff Desom and Dugan O’Neal for “Doors”
I was able to join in on the press day for a new science fiction anthology film called Doors and I was able to chat with writer/director Saman Kesh, writer/director Jeff Desom, as well as writer/director Dugan O’Neal about their project.
The film is about mysterious Doors that appear all over the world and humans rush to figure out the purpose of them. In one segment, we see how the doors got there; in another we see what happens when characters go inside the doors; and in another we learn a bit more about their purpose here. Doors stars Wilson Bethel, Julianne Collins, Lina Esco, Kyp Malone and Josh Peck.
Review: Cosmic Sin (2021)
Set in the year 2524, where the galaxy is separated into three main colonies (Earth, Zafdie and Ellora), Cosmic Sins starts when a colonist makes first contact with a new alien civilization. Fearing the worst after the aliens make their way back to Earth as stowaways, a ragtag team of soldiers – including disgraced soldier James Ford (Bruce Willis) – go to the planet Ellora to stop an interstellar war before it starts.
Interview: Director Edward Drake for “Cosmic Sin” (The Filmcraziest Show, Podcast/video)
On this episode of my interview podcast The Filmcraziest Show, I was joined by Edward Drake, the writer and director of his latest team-up with Bruce Willis, Cosmic Sin. The film is about seven rogue soldiers who launch a pre-emptive strike against a newly discovered alien civilization in the hopes of ending an interstellar war before it starts. We chat all about the weapons in the film, our favourite Stephen King novels, what it was like working with Bruce Willis and their continued collaboration, and much more. I’ve included the podcast and YouTube versions (as well as two bits of our conversation).
Review: Fukushima 50 (2021)
Directed by: Setsurô Wakamatsu. Starring: Ken Watanabe, Kôichi Satô, Riho Yoshioka. Runtime: 2h. On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was struck by an earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami causes the situation, but the film Fukushima 50 is about the aftermath; where the workers at the power plant fought to prevent nuclear … Continue reading Review: Fukushima 50 (2021)