The first interview is with Amanda Young, one of the directors behind Every Two Minutes, a compilation of stories relating to human trafficking. The short was done through StoryGive, which partners filmmakers in Nashville with non-profits that tackle various social issues. For Every Two Minutes, StoryGive connected local filmmakers with End Slavery Tennessee, a non-profit dedicated to caring for survivors of human trafficking and tactically addressing the issue.

The second interview is with Chilean director Vicente Manzano. His experimental short Bubble uses bubble framing in a novel, story-driven way. Virtually everything in the film was custom-designed for the film, which involved careful planning to pull off.

Some of the things we discuss include

• Using film to address a social issue in an impactful way
• How to collaborate with accomplished filmmakers and crew members on limited budget
• How to make a short film that is driven by stylized production design

Sponsors for this Episode

nsavides productions 

I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.

I shot this New Orleans wedding video for Cece & Andy last year. Even one year later, I’m still getting positive feedback about the video from the couple’s friends and family.

More of my videos are here.

Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com

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MasterClass

Online training from some of the world’s best filmmakers, musicians, and creative leaders.

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Related Episode

Emmy-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Stillmotion, Patrick Moreau, talks about the challenges of putting together a high-quality, issues-driven documentary in this episode.

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Related Things

• Nashville Film Festival
• Amanda Young
  • Instagram

• StoryGive
• End Slavery Tennessee 
• Vicente Manzano
  • Instagram
• More of my podcast coverage of Nashville Film Festival

• Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show

Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.

If You Liked the Show

• Donate $1 to help keep the show going.
• Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
• Subscribe or leave an honest review:

Apple Podcasts

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• Say hello on Twitter:  @nsavidesPRO

Thank you for visiting!

The post Two Notable Shorts from Nashville Film Festival appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

My Nashville Film Festival podcast coverage began with this interview I did with some of the filmmakers behind Lost Bayou. More filmmaker interviews are coming soon.

Here, I’ll recap some of the notable films and experiences I had at the festival and share some of the things I learned while attending. The filmmakers, musicians, and creative people who I aim to serve with this podcast are those who seek truth and care about exploring big ideas, and so I will strive for both, as I’ve done with other festivals I’ve covered.

The first pass at my podcast commentary of Nashville Film Festival came in close to three hours, so I’ve broken it up into three parts.

Part I

Part I includes

• General observations and strengths of the festival
• Music insights from a few panels and films
• Reactions to Marriage Story, the new Noah Baumbach film; Speed of Life, a narrative film in which the death of David Bowie causes a disruption to the space-time continuum that threatens the romance of a young couple; and Chuck Berry, the documentary about the founding father of rock n roll that premiered at the festival.

This is the player for Part I:

Part II

Part II is the meat of my coverage, where I go through a number of feature films I saw at the festival and discuss what worked for me and what didn’t. Some of the related topics that come up include doing the right thing in spite of social pressure, police brutality on screen, gender identity issues, and more.

This is the player for Part II:

Part III

In Part III, I share my top five films from Nashville Film Festival and why I picked them. It’s a more personal take, so I also share some related things that came up when trying to put together the list.

Sponsor for this Episode

nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people.

We got to explore all kinds of places in Houston while making this music video I directed for the chamber-rock band Mystery Loves Company. Not long after the video was released, the band got an opportunity to perform at a few venues in France.

More of my videos are here.

Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com

Related Episodes

A number of the films that screened at Nashville Film Festival this year also screened at SXSW 2019. Episodes from my SXSW 2019 podcast coverage are here.

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Johnny Cash influenced how actor John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard) thinks about faith, which came up in this podcast interview.

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Related Things

• Nashville Film Festival
• Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Collegiate film T-shirts from Chad McClarnon
• SNL’s 1950s music sketch featuring Will Ferrell
• Tunefind, useful for finding music featured on films, TV shows, and games
• Bureau of Justice Statistics 2018 report on police encounters with the public
• The court battle in Dallas for the gender identity of a seven year
• Dr. Anne Georgulas’s Google reviews
• Unplanned, the documentary about Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood employee of the year who became a pro-life activist, is now streaming online

• Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show

Additional music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.

Films Discussed

• III
• Alice
• America, America
• Appalachian Holler
• Bluebird
• Berry Hill: From Creative Workshop and Beyond
• Chuck Berry 
• Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore
• Country Music (the docuseries from Ken Burns)
• Eternal Winter
• Five Women in the End
• The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash
• A Hidden Life
• Jojo Rabbit
• The Kill Team
• Lost Bayou
• Manuel
• Marriage Story
• Mickey and the Bear
• The Planters
• Reckoning
• Red Dog
• The Sheriff of Mars
• The Short History of a Long Road
• Stuffed
• The Thin Red Line
• Tuscaloosa
• Unplanned
• The Way you Look Tonight
• What’s Eating Ralphie May
• VR films
  • Accused #2: Walter Sisulu
  • Ambrosia
  • Agreda’s Dungeon
  • Only at the Air, Only at Each Other

Bands & Musicians Discussed

• Bob Dylan
• Bruce Springsteen
• Chuck Berry
• Corey Hart
• Dave Bartholomew
• Garth Brooks
• Hank Williams
• Haroula Rose
• Jimmy Buffett
• Johnny Cash
• John Carter Cash
• June Carter Cash
• Kanye West
• Lauren Daigle
• The Lumineers
• The National
• Taylor Swift
• Vince Gill

If You Liked the Show

• Donate $1 to help keep the show going.
• Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
• Subscribe or leave an honest review:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Overcast

• Say hello on Twitter:  @nsavidesPRO

Thank you for visiting!

The post Nashville Film Festival 2019 Recap appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

During the Nashville Film Festival, I had the chance to interview director Brian Richard, writer-producer Hunter Burke, and actor Jackson Beals about the film.

Some of the things we discuss include

• Honoring, not exploiting, the Cajun faith-healing community
• Getting the Cajun accents right and using them for story purposes
• Working with the Grammy-winning band Lost Bayou Ramblers on the soundtrack
• Nurturing a family-like atmosphere on set
• Exploring a crisis of faith on screen

Sponsor for this Episode

nsavides productions – I make friendly, engaging videos for earnest people. My videos are here.

Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com

Related Episode

A few years ago I had the opportunity to interview Brian and Hunter about their short film Atchafalaya. That conversation is included in my coverage of the New Orleans Film Festival 2015.

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Related Things

• Nashville Film Festival
• Lost Bayou
  • Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

• Good for What Ails You, the doc directed by Glen Pitre that explores Cajun faith healers.
• Lost Bayou Ramblers, the band that provided the music for the film
• If you are in or near New Orleans, you can catch Lost Bayou on Oct. 17 & 23 at the New Orleans Film Festival.

• Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show

Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.

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If You Liked the Show

• Sign up for The nsavides Newsletter.
• Subscribe or leave an honest review:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Overcast

• Say hello on Twitter:  @nsavidesPRO

Thank you for visiting!

The post Capturing Authentic Cajun Culture on Screen: Lost Bayou appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

The sequence was featured at SXSW 2019 in a compilation of compelling title sequences, and it made enough of an impression that it won SXSW’s jury-awarded Excellence in Title Design accolade. As part of my festival coverage of SXSW 2019, I sat down with title sequence co-director James Ramirez to learn more about what went into making the sequence.

Some of the things we discuss include

• The different styles of animation that went into the sequence and how they put it together in Cinema 4D
• How they worked with the filmmakers behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse to supplement the ideas and characters of the film
• The way they implemented the half-tone look
• What filmmakers should keep in mind when planning for a title sequence

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to see some of the concept art for the sequence provided by Alma Mater.

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Related Episode

To hear more about how vintage animation styles have influenced computer animation, check out this interview with Limbert Fabian and Brandon Oldenburg, Oscar-winning directors from Moonbot Studios, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

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From concept 1

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The post Into the Spider-Verse Title Sequence Director: James Ramirez appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

SXSW isn’t just a prominent film and music festival. It’s also where presidential hopefuls and thought leaders gather to share their perspectives on the world, and so the festival can serve as a bellwether for where the culture is heading.

This episode is a little different than the typical coverage I do, but it does allow for a more in-depth discussion on some of the ideas and political outlooks behind the films and music at the festival. It also gave me an opportunity to share some things on my heart.

I hope some of you will find it helpful.

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Related Episode

The first episode I did on SXSW 2019 highlights some of the memorable films, music, and experiences that stuck out for me.

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The post Big Ideas & Politics at SXSW 2019 appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

Forest Road Company’s CEO Zach Tarica and Director of West Coast Operations Eric Boshart came on the podcast to break down the film financing process and what filmmakers should know when preparing to secure financing.

Financing is a huge aspect of filmmaking, but for all kinds of reasons film financing companies are often hesitant to go on record about how they do business. Defying those tendencies, Zach and Eric spoke openly about their process and advocated for more transparency in the industry.

Here’s a photo of Zach:

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And here’s Eric:

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Some of the things we discuss include

• How to protect the equity behind a project
• Fees to watch for during the budgeting process
• What should a good term sheet and opinion letter include
• How to determine which states have the best tax incentives for film
• Highlights from SXSW 2019

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Related Episode

If you appreciate Zach and Eric’s transparency about the filmmaking process, you might also appreciate the transparency that 1091 (formerly The Orchard), a prominent film distributor, brings to their filmmaker collaborations. When I met Richard Matson during SXSW 2017, he was the vice president of theatrical distribution at The Orchard, and he shared some helpful insights about the distribution process.

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The post Film Financing Done Right: Forest Road Company appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

Part I of my coverage includes some general observations about the festival, what captured my attention and why, and some of my favorite film and music experiences

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A post shared by Nick Savides (@nsavides)

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Related Episode

Producer Sam Claitor from Fable House helped me put together my coverage of SXSW 2019. Back in 2018, I did this live episode of the show as an official event of SXSW 2018:

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The post SXSW 2019: Notable Films, Music, & Experiences appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

Frontman Ben Hardesty came on the show to discuss

• The story behind their evolving sound
• What went into making their latest music video
• How they create a unified experience for their fans across the country
• What getting signed by a label has meant to the band
• Staying true to one’s values while building an audience

Make fans that are friends.” – Ben Hardesty

After the interview, you can hear Last Bison’s song “Dark Am I.”

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Related Episode

Want to hear more music-interviews from SXSW? Check out this interview I did with the singer from Gothic Tropic from SXSW 2018.

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The post Last Bison: Southern Folk Rock Returns to SXSW appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

Here are my prior interviews from #LIFF2018. On the recap below, I share some of the highlights from each interview, what it was like getting to screen my short at the festival, and some of the new discoveries and filmmaking observations, and life lessons I learned while attending.

Films from LIFF2018 that I discuss on this episode include

• 1000 Year Flood
• And Then I Go 
• Blaze 
• Brimstone & Glory 
• Cut Off 
• Do U Want It 
• Gabriel & the Mountain 
• Hearts Beat Loud
• Larger Than Life: The Kevin Aucoin Story
• Mixed Signals (short)
• Mr. United States (short)
• Stay Woke (short)
• Stuck
• Tinker
• Through the Banks of the Red Cedar

Want to learn more about one of the bands that played at the festival? Then check out this interview I did with Peter Simon, the lead singer of Minos the Saint, which was one of the bands that played at LIFF’s Filmmaker Lounge this year.

Sponsor for this Episode

nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here!

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My short film Mixed Signals premiered at LIFF 2018 on April 21.

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Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com

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Related Things

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Other Films & Shows Mentioned

• Breaking Bad
• Gunslinger
• Godfather
• Home Remedy (web series)
• Lost

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Bands & Musicians Mentioned

• Minos the Saint
• Pappa Grows Funk
• Ryan Harris

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Spotify

The post Louisiana International Film Festival Recap #LIFF2018 appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.

The term producer has many connotations, but Tom wasn’t just in charge of getting the money. He was also one of the writers, did a voice-over for one of the character, and his other on-screen credits include unit production manager, line producer, travel coordinator, assistant editor, props, locations, and cast.  All that to say, Tom has been intimately involved with Tinker from pre-production to post and foreign sales, and he offered lots of helpful filmmaking insights when we spoke a few days ago.

It doesn’t matter what your belief is, it doesn’t matter how you were raised, who you are, if you help people, anybody can do the smallest things and make a big difference in someone’s life.” – Tom Bhramayana

My coverage of #LIFF2018 continues with this interview I did with Tom Bhramayana. Some of the things that we discuss include

• How the filmmakers behind Tinker were able to raise over $100,000 in their first Kickstarter campaign
• The way the filmmaking team shot the film in spurts that were months apart
• How feedback from festivals helped them to refine their film and increase their festival acceptance rate
• What the visual-effects process was like
• What goes into developing a DCP that can be screened in theaters
• How the film was budgeted and how Tom anticipates they will make a profit from VOD and foreign sales

Sponsor for this Episode

nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here!

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My short film Mixed Signals premieres at LIFF 2018 on April 21.

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Say hello: podcast@nsavides.com

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Related Things

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Films Mentioned

• Dallas Buyers Club
• Mixed Signals (short)
• A River Runs Through It
• Sling Blade
• Tinker 
• Trent’s War (short)

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Spotify

The post How $100,000 Kickstarter Campaign Became Crowd-Pleasing Sci-Fi #LIFF2018 appeared first on NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW.