Woodstock Film Festival LET'S TALK FILM! Podcast

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #1Meira Blaustein is the Co-Founder / Executive Director / Programmer of the Woodstock Film Festival. The Festival was launched in 2000 and has quickly become one of the most respected and influential regional film festivals in the US. Blaustein has been running it ever since.Submit your film to the Woodstock Film Festival on FilmFreewayConnect with WFF on  Linktree

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #4Harris Doran is an award-winning independent film writer, actor, director, and producer. Some of his work includes BEAUTY MARK (2018), which won Best Ultra Indie Film Award at the Woodstock Film Festival, and the new award-winning film KOKOMO CITY (2023). He shares his experiences at festivals and how they have impacted his filmmaking career + more!Topics discussed:Doran’s directorial debut Doran as a producer Doran and Film FestivalsThe importance of film festivalsLearning from film festivals as a producerDoran as an actor Kokomo City 

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #3 Adam Shartoff, founder of Filmwax Radio, musician, and armchair film historian, talks about the spirit of independence, the importance of deep cuts, and providing a platform for lesser-known artists, whether through film, music, or any creative medium.Filmwax Radio Podcast:WebsiteInstagramTopics discussed:Shartoff’s history with the Woodstock Film Festival Why people should come to the Woodstock Film Festival Favorite festival memories Filmwax highlights Film favorites

LET’S TALK FILM! EPISODE #6 James Schamus serves on the negotiating committee of the Writers Guild of America, whose members are currently on strike. He talks about fake unions created by Hollywood, the history of the Writers' Strikes, provides insight into industry practices that prevent career stability for working writers + much more! James Schamus is an award-winning screenwriter (The Ice Storm), producer (Brokeback Mountain), director (Indignation), showrunner (Somos.), and former CEO of Focus Features. James is also the Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of the Arts, where he teaches film history and theory. James Schamus: Twitter WGA WebsiteTopics discussed:-Trailblazer Award -History of Writers Guild Strikes-2007-’08 Writers Strike -New Media and the Impact of Strikes-Current Strike’s Incentives-Career Instability in Entertainment-Possible Outcomes & Solidarity-Globalization 

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #5In this episode, Edwards-Beal and Youngelson talk about their recent film HERE. IS. BETTER. (2023) regarding cinematography, the special music created for the film, healing from PTSD, and working with veterans. Jack Youngelson is a highly accomplished documentary filmmaker and writer. Sian Edwards-Beal is “an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and director who has created and delivered a comprehensive range of film, television, and web content for networks including HBO, the BBC, National Geographic, and Channel 4.” Info and links: Watch HERE. IS. BETTER: WebsiteTwitterInstagramJack Youngelson: TwitterInstagramSian Edwards-Beal: TwitterInstagramTopics discussed:World premiere experience at Woodstock Film Festival Process of creating the film More on PTSD Treatments Military and wider response Learning veteran's stories About the team of filmmakers, the soundtrack and cinematography 

LET'S TALK FILM! EPISODE #2Nancy Buirski, founder of Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, talks about her latest film, DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY, AND THE LEGEND OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY. We also get into her work as Director/Producer/Writer OF THE LOVING STORY (2011), the definitive account of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage, and Producer of the narrative film LOVING (2015) inspired by THE LOVING STORY.Nancy Buirski:Website Instagram Topics discussed:Importance of film festivals The inspiration behind the film Choice of cinematography in the documentary X Rating of Midnight Cowboy Filmmaker statements Director, producer, writer How an idea becomes a documentary THE LOVING STORY Documentary film distributionWhere to watch Buirski’s filmsNarratives vs documentaries The importance of independent voices