Xan Aranda – Duplass Brothers producer, Andrew Bird director

Xan Aranda has collaborated with the Duplass brothers on a number of projects including Blue Jay, a film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival with critical acclaim. It is now available for streaming on Netflix. Xan also helped the Duplass brothers produce Room 104, their upcoming series for HBO.

Xan has also produced and/or directed a couple of music videos for Andrew Bird and directed the feature-length documentary Andrew Bird: Fever Year. Another one of her notable music-related credits includes directing an album trailer for Neko Case.

This is Me, the docu-series she produced to supplement Amazon’s Transparent, got nominated for an Emmy.

Very often producing can be matchmaking.” – Xan Aranda 

Some of the things we discuss in this episode include

• What a creative producer can bring to a project
• Working with artists to help them express themselves
• What goes into producing a music video with animation
• How a producer can get better performances from actors
• When it might make sense to do an album trailer instead of a music video
• The unexpected benefits that come from hanging out with those we cherish
• Exploring challenging topics like transgender issues with people of faith

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Listen to the Episode

• Andrew Bird: Fever Year
• Blue Jay 
• Room 104
• This is Me 
• Transmormon
• Transparent

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• “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen

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