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Kimmy Gatewood is a director, writer and actor whose debut narrative feature Good on Paper (2021), starring Iliza Shlesinger, is out on Netflix.This contemporary romantic comedy shines a light on the darker side of dating and is based - at least in part - on Shlesinger's real-life experiences.In this in-depth interview with us, Gatewood explains how important it is to keep going as a filmmaker, her struggles of trying to make it as an actor, and provides advice for aspiring filmmakers. Kimmy's other credits include Glow (2017), The Baby-Sitters Club (2020) and Atypical (2017).CREDITS:Presenter: Aiysha JebaliVideo Editor, VFX & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Conrad BarringtonImages of Kimmy Gatewood: Mandee JohnsonThanks: Persona PR

'I was homeless and living in my car four years ago.'This is that kind of interview. An inspiring, genuine conversation about Edward Drake, the life of a filmmaker who hit rock bottom and is now making movies with Hollywood stars.Edward is the writer-director of APEX, starring Neal McDonough and Bruce Willis.LOGLINE: Five elite hunters pay to hunt down a man on a deserted island, only to find themselves becoming the prey.APEX is in Theaters, On Demand and Digital from November 12, 2021.Edward Drake studied at the University of Melbourne. A former assistant of Academy Award-winning producer Michael Sugar at Anonymous Content and director Mark Romanek, Drake has collaborated with Grammy-winning artists including The Fratellis, Jack Ü, and the Stanton Warriors. He is a member of the WGAw and has projects in development with 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, and Disney.----------CREDITS:Presenter: Sean JohnsonVideo Editor: Jack JuddVFX/Titles & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Danny MorrisonStills and/or footage courtesy of: RLJE Films

During the course of this interview director Amber Sealey conceded that there have been over 20 narrative movies about serial killer Ted Bundy.So, it begs the question (which she answers before I get the chance to pose it): why make yet another film about this?Amber more than provides the answer - whilst admitting that she had her doubts about whether she was the right filmmaker to helm this version.Sealey also discusses the role of movie star and producer Elijah Wood in the film and her journey as a female filmmaker in the industry. NO MAN OF GOD (2021) is available now on VOD & Digital HD. Also stars Luke Kirby, Aleksa Palladino and Robert PatrickLOGLINE:In 1980, Ted Bundy was sentenced to death by electrocution. In the years that followed, he agreed to disclose the details of his crimes, but only to one man. During the early days of the agency’s criminal profiling unit, FBI analyst Bill Hagmaier met with the incarcerated Ted Bundy in the hopes of understanding the psychology of the serial killer and providing closure for the victim’s families. As Hagmaier delves into Bundy’s dark and twisted mind, a strange and complicated relationship develops that neither man expected.  Based on actual transcripts of interviews between FBI analyst Bill Hagmaier and the incarcerated Ted Bundy.CREDITS:Presenter, Video Editor, VFX & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioStills and/or footage courtesy of: RLJE Films 

Isn't a showreel just a compilation of your best bits from your acting parts to date? No - at least, not according to a leading figure in the film and television showreel industry.Daniel Johnson is a writer and director from London who has made a name for himself by creating high quality showreel scenes for actors from scratch.In this lengthy and in-depth chat with actor and presenter Aiysha Jebali, Johnson explains why it's more important to choose one great scene for your showreel over five scenes from bigger parts that do not reflect your abilities as an actor. He also discusses the top mistakes actors make when it comes to putting together showreels and how to avoid them - and much, much more!Daniel has also written and directed short films including A Productive Lockdown - work which caught our attention here at Film Forums and led to this very enjoyable interview. CREDITS:Presenter: Aiysha Jebali Video Editor, VFX & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Danny MorrisonShowreel and film clips courtesy of: Daniel Johnson.Stills of Daniel Johnson: James Everett

In a filmmaker's roundtable-style interview, guest host Jim Page (Film & TV Editor) brings us an insightful conversation with the Watts Brothers, with a focus on their horror film Playhouse (2021) which Jim also edited.Fionn and Toby Watts discuss growing up in a creative family and making films in their childhood. For six years they worked on corporate films and then decided it was time to throw themselves into narrative filmmaking.PLAYHOUSE is available now on DVD/Blu Ray and VOD platforms in the UK and North America. Also available in Germany, Russia, Benelux, Taiwan and other international territories.LOGLINE: In a remote Scottish castle, an irreverent writer faces terrifying consequences when his daughter falls prey to an evil curse lurking within the walls.

Imagine getting your SAG-AFTRA card via Breaking Bad alongside Aaron Paul. Not bad, huh?That's what happened to rising actor Sarah Minnich, student of acting coach Lesly Kahn, who has gone on to feature alongside Hollywood greats like Nicolas Cage, Matthew Broderick, and can now be seen in the Netflix Original Army of the Dead (directed and co-written by Zack Snyder).In a generous interview Sarah shares with us the story of her acting journey, from being accepted into UCLA but being unable to attend due to financial circumstances, to game- changing acting coaching from Lesly Kahn, callback advice and things to avoid as an actor on set. Some of Sarah's other credits include Amazon Original Them (2021),  From Dusk Till Dawn: The TV Series (2016) and Better Call Saul (2015 - 2018).Army of the Dead (2021) stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell and Ana de la Reguera and is OUT NOW!CREDITS:Presenter: Aiysha JebaliYouTube Video Editor, VFX & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioShowreel courtesy of Elite Publicity / Sarah MinnichImages of Sarah Minnich: Lesley Bryce

If you love a Western, you’re going to love this episode's guest. Writer-director Justin Lee is a rising filmmaker who has made a number of feature-length movies in the genre, featuring the likes of Bruce Dern, Mira Sorvino and Thomas Jane.In this episode, Justin talks about the importance of making your first movie, whatever the budget, getting the right cast and crew on board more than one project, and why he would like to sit down with the great Alfred Hitchcock...Lee's latest film is APACHE JUNCTION, featuring Country music superstar Trace Adkins (Moms’ Night Out, The Lincoln Lawyer), Stuart Townsend (“Salem,” “Betrayal,” Queen of the Damned), Scout Taylor-Compton (Halloween I & II, The Runaways), Ed Morrone (Final Kill), Victoria Pratt (“Heartland”), and Thomas Jane (“The Expanse,” Deep Blue Sea, Boogie Nights). Apache Junction is an outpost of lawlessness, a haven for thieves and cold-blooded killers. After big-city reporter Annabelle Angel (Scout Taylor-Compton) arrives to write an article on the town, she becomes a target when notorious gunslinger Jericho Ford (Stuart Townsend) comes to her aid. Now Annabelle must entrust her future to a man with a deadly past, as Jericho heads toward a tense showdown in this thrilling Western that unloads a double-barreled blast of action. 

Our guests for this episode are Claire and Anthony of Bueno Productions who, in 2007, decided to make a documentary about Ghostbusters. Little did they realise what was ahead of them, as they interviewed the likes of Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver and the late Harold Ramis. The result, over a decade later, is the best documentary you could wish to see about a film franchise loved the world over. Here’s an insight into their long journey to making Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters.SYNOPSIS:CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters delivers the most complete account of how the classic film Ghostbusters was made.  UK  brother and sister team of director Anthony Bueno and producer Claire Bueno have travelled all over the United States from Lily Dale to Jacksonville cross country to San Diego, LA and San Francisco, gathering interviews with over 40 members of the cast and crew. Responsible for bringing these stories to life include actors Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver, director Ivan Reitman, producers Joe Medjuck and Michael C. Gross, Visual effects crew include Richard Edlund, John Bruno and editor Sheldon Kahn.AVAILABILITY (AS OF SEPT 2021)Blu-ray / DVD and VOD:UKBlu-ray release 15th June. Distributed by ScreenboundShop via Amazon UK – RRP £14.99Shop via Zavvi – RRP £14.99Available on demand from 8th November on iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Store, Sky Store, Rakuten----------CREDITS:Presenters: Richard Williams & Juana RubioAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioStills and/or footage courtesy of: Bueno ProductionsFILMMAKER WEBSITE: https://buenoproductions.com/MERCHANDISE: https://buenoproductions.com/shop/ WEB: https://film-forums.comFILM INTERVIEWS: https://bit.ly/film-interviewsACTOR INTERVIEWS: http://bit.ly/actor-interviewsDIRECTOR INTERVIEWS: https://bit.ly/director-interviewsWRITER INTERVIEWS: https://bit.ly/writer-interviewsPODCAST: Spotify: bit.ly/spotify-podcast-ffApple: bit.ly/apple-podcasts-ffAmazon: bit.ly/amazon-podcast-ffGoogle: bit.ly/google-podcasts-ffSOCIAL MEDIA:Twitter: http://bit.ly/filmforums-tw​​Instagram: http://bit.ly/filmforums-insta​​Facebook: http://bit.ly/filmforums-fbLinkedIn: http://bit.ly/filmforums-linkedinTikTok: https://bit.ly/filmforums-tiktok#Ghostbusters #HaroldRamis #SigourneyWeaver #DanAykroyd #Documentary #Filmmaking #BuenoProductions

Dan Mazer is a British filmmaker who just so happens to be Sacha Baron Cohen's co-producer and co-writer on Da Ali G Show (2000 - 2004), the Borat movies, Bruno (2009) and The Dictator (2012). Yes, if you've seen any of those, you know what you're getting into with Dan. Edgy? Tick. Comedy? Tick. Borderline uncomfortable? Gotcha.Other notable credits include I Give It a Year (2013), Bridget Jones's Baby (2016) and Dirty Grandpa (2016) with Robert De Niro.In this candid interview, Dan offers up some insights into the differences between directing and writing, how to make a film on a small budget (and much larger budgets), as well as providing plenty of useful advice for aspiring writers, directors and filmmakers.Dan's latest directing credit is The Exchange (2021), about an awkward teenager Tim (Ed Oxenbould), who hopes to find friendship with a French exchange student Stéphane (played by Avan Jogia). He discovers that the student is not as sophisticated and cultured as he assumed. Written by Tim Long ("The Simpsons," "Late Show with David Letterman").THE EXCHANGE is out on VOD and Digital July 30, 2021.Presenters: Aiysha Jebali & Millie HaywardVideo Editor, VFX & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana Rubio

Medalion Rahimi is an American actor perhaps best known for her roles in Before I Fall (2017) and as Princess Isabella in the Shondaland drama, Still Star-Crossed (2017). Since 2019, she has played Special Agent Fatima Namazi in NCIS: Los Angeles (2009 – ).In this interview, Medalion Rahimi discusses her journey into film and television; from working as receptionist and filming printer commercials, to sitting at a table read with Shonda Rhimes. She also talks about the importance of representation in the media, working on big budget sets and gives useful advice for actors starting out in their career.Credits:Presenter: Aiysha Jebali Video Editor: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioVisual Effects & Artwork: Richard WilliamsImages of Medalion Rahimi: Markhor Entertainment

Joshua had a difficult childhood, growing up homeless and in the foster care system. He also struggled with Childhood-onset Fluency Disorder Stutter. In this inspiring interview, he shares his harrowing journey to becoming a professional actor and how his experiences have empowered him. He discovered acting in his early teens when his foster parents put him into Catholic School. Those school plays led to professional theatre performances and then film and what started out as an escape from his day to day challenges and childhood traumas became his passion and long-term career.Joshua attended the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and got a BA in acting from Stony Brook University. After his studies, he fully immersed himself in acting, writing, directing and is building his reputation as a hardworking and talented creative.He was a recurring actor on the television series The Tick (2017 - 2019), starring Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014) and has recently written, produced and is acting in After (2021) for IFT Network.

James Capel is an actor and writer who, in 2020 decided it was time to create something he couldn't seem to find anywhere online: a dedicated writing community.Scribe Lounge offers writers' forums, spaces to collaborate and Q&As with writers in film and television, all for free, along with a paid subscription service. Whilst the platform was created with screenwriters in mind, it is open to all, with novelists, playwrights, bloggers and journalists all part of the fast-evolving network.In this interview, James explains how quickly this writing platform is growing, and how it has reminded him of his passion for connecting with, learning from and helping to guide other writers. He also touches on something all writers face: how to dealing with rejection and keep writing. Furthermore, Capel provides a unique insight into working with others in a TV writers' room, where he penned an episode from series 9 of the popular UK TV comedy drama Cold Feet (ITV/Big Talk), refining the script alongside fellow screenwriter Mike Bullen.James Capel is known for Stormhouse (2011), Interview with a Hitman (2012) and, more recently, Cold Feet (1997).He studied at Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in  2009.

In a rare opportunity to learn about the filmmaking process, we bring you an exclusive Q&A with the executive producer of Oscar-nominated Netflix movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020).Aiysha Jebali sits down with film producer Ryan Donnell Smith to find out what exactly a movie producer does and how to become one on big budget films like his.Have you ever wondered:Why are so many movies filmed in Atlanta, Georgia? What are the tax benefits for filmmakers shooting in Georgia? What are the different types of film producers?What does a line producer do?How do I become a movie producer?We cover all this and more as we discuss the business of filmmaking with the executive producer of Academy Award-winning director Aaron Sorkin's Netflix film.Winner of a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) tells the true story of the trial against civil rights activists and anti-Vietnam war protestors in 1969. This group of individuals all  protested against the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Their main charge was conspiracy to incite a riot, even though most of the accused were, in fact, not connected previously.A monumental and politically-charged trial took place under President Nixon’s presidency and is remembered for the farce it became. The film stars Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden, Alex Sharp as Rennie Davis, Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman, Jeremy Strong as Jerry Rubin, John Carol Lynch as David Dellinger, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Bobby Seale, Ben Sherman as Leonard Weinglass, Mark Rylance as William Kunstler, Danny Flaherty as John Froines, Noah Robbins as Lee Weiner and Frank Langella as Judge Julius Hoffman.Presenter: Aiysha JebaliVideo Editor: Millie HaywardSecond Editor, Visual Effects & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Danny Morrison (COMING SOON)Transcription by: Nicole MitchellImage of Ryan Donnell Smith: The Riker BrothersStills courtesy of Netflix / Persona PR

Kyle Klaus is not your typical actor. Whilst many struggle with side hustles to support themselves during a long-term struggle to find work in the acting profession, Kyle has gone in another direction with more of a jet-set lifestyle. Whilst he's jumped on the long-haul flight that is the film industry alongside others in the acting fraternity, he's anything but a passenger.For Kyle is also a successful entrepreneur with his own YouTube channel; he opened his first real estate business back in 2012 and has since become a retailer and restaurateur. One wonders how he fits acting in at all. Oh, and did we mention he writes and produces, too?Among his acting credits includes roles in Homeland (2011 - 2020), Standing Eight (2016), Billions (2016 - ), The Last O.G. (2018 - ), Happy! (2017 - 2019) and The Blacklist (2013 - ). In the following lengthy interview, Klaus gives us a great insight into his experiences of becoming an actor, securing roles and getting his work seen. We also discuss his love-hate relationship with agents, how the pandemic encouraged video-call casting and, of course, his many business interests.(PS. He's done the actor bartending thing too by the way...)

How do you make a high quality movie on a micro budget?  Filmmakers Hedy Wong and Hisonni Johnson have answered this question with Take Out Girl (2020), about Tera Wong (played by Hedy), who delivers Chinese food for her mother’s struggling restaurant in Los Angeles. She takes a job from a local drug lord to move “product” in an attempt to free her family from poverty, crime and their violent surroundings. Hissoni Johnson and Hedy Wong talk to us about the importance of believing in yourself as a filmmaker,  how you don't need to have all the answers when you write an outline, and offer tips and tricks on how to create a feature film that looks like a studio movie on a 'zero budget'. The moviemaking duo provide a fascinating insight into the process of shooting the movie, scouting locations, and and submitting the movie to competitions, even before the film had been finalised, for the purposes of feedback. Wong, who has appeared in music videos with the likes of Chris Brown and Lil Wayne, was ready to shelve her script for Take Out Girl (2020). As fate would have it, she crossed paths with creative artist  Johnson, who has made a name for himself for making films on a very low budget with outstanding results.Hisonni Mustafa Johnson is a talented writer, director, actor, and cinematographer - in fact, if you check the credits for the film, you'll see just how involved Johnson was and get some idea as to how many creative strings he has to his bow. TAKE OUT GIRL is out now on VOD and DigitalCredits Video Editor, Visual Effects & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioSpecial thanks to Katrina Wan PR & 1091 Pictures

Tania Sarra has worked as a successful executive in the film industry for 12 years, executive producing a number of films, a member of the Advisory Board for the London Film Academy and becoming Director of Acquisitions for MGM Studios.  A global pandemic hasn’t slowed her ambition and in 2020 she co-founded the Global Women in Film Club and launched Hot Sauce For Film, a consulting firm to help filmmakers, writers and producers. In this fascinating interview, Tania discusses the complex business of film distribution, the secret to delivering an excellent pitch deck, and how Hot Sauce is helping make the film industry more accessible.Credits Transcript & Edited by: Keren DaviesArtwork: Richard WilliamsVideo Editor: Ivan D'AvoineSecond Video Editor & Visual Effects: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Danny Morrison

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Brian A. Metcalf (WGA, PGA, DGA, VES, ASCAP) is an Asian-American, award-winning filmmaker (writer, director, producer and actor). In this interview, Brian talks us through the creative process for making his most recent film, Adverse (2020), a drama/thriller that he produced, directed, wrote and acted in. Brian explains how he and his filmmaking team managed to bring in a large ensemble cast with Academy Award® Nominees Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Sean Astin (Lord of The Rings, Stranger Things), Golden Globe® Nominee Lou Diamond Phillips, Golden Globe® Nominee Penelope Ann Miller and more. Adverse (2020) was picked up by Lionsgate's Grindstone Entertainment and is available now on VOD, Digital & DVD.Presenter: Aiysha Jebali Video Editor, Visual Effects & Artwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Danny MorrisonPrint version: Keren Davies Stills and Trailer courtesy of Lionsgate / Katrina Wan PR.

Actor Vikash Bhai is persistent. When he knows what he wants, he’s willing to do what it takes. Bhai tells our presenter how he auditioned 7 times for the role of Farhad, one of the main characters in Ben Sharrock’s BAFTA-nominated comedy-drama Limbo (2020). The film centres on four asylum seekers who are staying on a remote island in Scotland, taking cultural awareness classes, whilst waiting for their refugee claims to be processed.Credits Presenter: Aiysha JebaliArtwork: Richard WilliamsAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioThanks to MUBI & CLD Communications

Writer Emma Needell has had a long wait for success but is now living the dream.  After countless rejections, submissions, and evening classes, her script for family-friendly, coming-of-age fantasy adventure The Water Man (2020) brought her six figures up front, plus a cut of the movie's profits. It actually took Emma over seven years to get from the first words on the page to this point. Inspiring stuff for any aspiring writer struggling in front of a blank page or a blinking cursor right now.The Water Man (2020) movie features Hollywood stars David Oyelowo and Rosario Dawson, with none other than Oprah Winfrey as Executive Producer. In this interview, Emma provides a fascinating insight into the world of screenwriting, providing tips on what to focus on, the realities of crafting a script for the screen, and how important budget is to have in mind when you commit your imagination to the keyboard. The Water Man (2020) is available on Netflix.Presenter: Aiysha JebaliAudio Podcast Editor: Juana RubioArtwork & Web: Richard WilliamsImages & Trailer courtesy of RLJE Films / Katrina Wan PR

Keanu Reeves, Wesley Snipes, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock? Oh - and don't forget Denzel Washington...What would you give to work alongside any of these Hollywood acting stars? To learn from them, maybe even sit next to them on a film set and suggest to them that the scene they just filmed was going to be the shot for the movie's icon poster - in this case, John Wick (2014)? Actor, producer and writer Kazy Tauginas can tell you all about it. He's been there and done it on films such as The Equalizer 2 and Dolemite Is My Name (2019). Yet rather than letting his ego rise and his head graze the clouds, his feet remain firmly on the ground. Kazy graduated film school at the New York Film Academy where he started building his filmmaking network, participating in a Q&A with the late Christopher Plummer, as well as Melissa Leo who was nominated for an Academy Award at the time. A solid foundation, then, for what was to come.Having worked on set with Hollywood icons, Kazy Tauginas is able to provide a fascinating insight into how to make it as an actor. Kazy's advice to aspiring filmmakers comes from a place of hard work, determination and natural acting talent, alongside screenwriting and producing work. He also has the perspective of having worked as a restauranteur and amateur boxer prior to making it as an actor and filmmaker in Hollywood.Kazy's award winning short film, Standing Eight, is about professional boxer, Dusty Abrams who is forced to retire and contend with life outside of the ring after being diagnosed with lupus. Proceeds from the film will go to help fund lupus research.