SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Meet Chandler Riggs’ movie siblings
This is the first of 3 interviews featuring films at this year’s Richmond International Film Festival (Sep 24 – 29).
Nelson Tracey wrote and directed Breakup Season, about a couple whose relationship ends on a Christmas family visit. The boyfriend is played by Chandler Riggs (best known as the son on The Walking Dead) and his girlfriend was played by Samantha Isler (Teen Molly in Molly’s Game and one of the daughters in Captain Fantastic). My interview is with Nelson, as well as the 2 actors who played Chandler’s siblings, Carly Stewart and Jacob Wysocki. Since they provide much of the comedy in this drama, their interview is lots of fun, including:
– The fascination with La Grande, Oregon (NOT La Grange)
– Inspiration for trains, vegetarianism & hatchet throwing
– Chandler and Samantha’s “love scene”
– Creating the Tik Tok dance
– Those Christmas PJs
LINKS:
Richmond International Film Festival
The Ashland Theatre
My Ashland Theatre podcast
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear August 15th, 2024
Installing TV facilities from LA to NYC presents:
Installing TV facilities from LA to NYC
Alex Martin is founder and CEO of Digital Video Group, an industry leading supplier and system integrator of broadcast and production systems. Our lively discussion includes:
– How he ended up in the biz
– His band and where they played
– What exactly DVG does
– How big is the company
– Some of the coolest installations in LA, NYC and DC
– How tech has changed the business
– Getting involved with Shockoe Records and Shockoe Sessions
LINKS
Digital Video Group
Shockoe Records
Shockoe Sessions Live
This Room Sounds Great (Shockoe Sessions Live Podcast)
RVA Documentary Group
Jerry Williams August 9th, 2024
River City Limits presents:
RCL 8-3-24 Jay Smack Host
smack River City Limits August 3rd, 2024
Posted In: Blogging, Local, Music, Music Shows
Tags: rvamusic
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
He created THERE IS A MONSTER
Mike Taylor started his career as a producer in LA, but ended up back on the East Coast, where he started his own production company. Eventually, he ended up back in Richmond, where he decided to write and direct his first feature, There Is a Monster. We’ll discuss:
– Working “swing gang” for a Steven Segal film
– What he did for Disney
– The award-winning shorts he produced for Showtime
– When he decided to create his own feature
– Finding the locations
– Creating the visual effects for the “monster”
LINKS
Mike Taylor’s website
There is a Monster website
804 Day
NOTE: I said 804 Day is is Saturday, but it’s Friday 8/2.
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear August 2nd, 2024
What Wakes Me Up/Moccasin Tracks presents:
What Wakes Me Up episode 4
This episode of What Wakes Me Up is particularly compelling. Consider these guests and what they have to tell. Noon Wednesday, August 21
- Dawn Flores, artist, educator, installation designer and passionate historian who documented the strife over police violence, as well as the destruction of a forest. Her recent project The Atonement Flag tells the story of Monument Avenue and the world as it burned with change after George Floyd’s murder struck the match.
- Dan Mouer, artist, retired archeologist and professor, was called in to explore the well in which human remains, taken from graves in an African burial ground, had been tossed after being used as cadavers at the medical center.
- Paul DiPasquale, artist, builder, monumental sculptor, was called in to help remove bronze monuments to the Lost Cause of upholding the right to own and enslave people and perpetuating Jim Crow laws.
As is best practice in a situation like this, I say little while Dan, Dawn and Paul tell their history, their work and thoughts about these matters. Settle in to WRIR.ORG at noon Wednesdays for a compelling hour of news, history and music. You may even want to take notes.
Photo clockwise from seated: Dan Mouer, Paul DiPasquale, Sunny, Dawn Flores. 2nd photo: Our own Melissa Vaughn
Sunny Gardener What Wakes Me Up/Moccasin Tracks July 29th, 2024
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Double feature: a musician and a drag queen
This two-parter features Brandon and Brandi:
Part One:
Brandon Adams is the host of the Emmy award-winning series The Life Of A Musician on PBS Appalachia. It features small house concerts and interview with acoustic musicians. We’ll talk about:
– Where the idea come from
– How he finds artists
– Deciding between concerts and interviews
– The short history of year-old PBS Appalachia
– Selecting the venue and crowds
– Attending the Emmy ceremony
Part Two:
Calvin Fields is also know by his drag name, Brandi. This Emporia VA native had a small part in the new film National Anthem (my review). He discusses:
– When he started doing drag
– How he get cast
– Working with Charlie Plummer
– The dress and makeup
LINKS
The Life of a Musician (Brandon’s website)
The Life of a Musician (PBS site)
Calvin “Brandi” Fields on Facebook
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear July 26th, 2024
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Do you know Black chef Edna Lewis?
Deb Freeman is an award-winning writer, specializing in Black foodways throughout America, particularly in Virginia. She also hosts Setting the Table, a critically-acclaimed podcast that explores Black culinary history. Deb is now working on a documentary about famed influential Black chef Edna Lewis. It’s starting as a series of shorts on VPM’s YouTube channel and will evolve into a full-length doc to be released in February. Our topics include:
– Being named a “snailblazer” by Slow Food USA
– How she discovered Edna Lewis
– Being a guest for On Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall
– Preparing a dinner to honor Edna at the Roosevelt
– How the full-length doc will be different from the episodes
– Her article “Vegan is the new Black”
LINKS
The first episode will premiere on the VPM Culture YouTube Channel Friday, July 19
Deb’s website
Chasing Flavor featuring Deb (Ep. 4)
Podcast on Picturing the Obamas with Hannah Ayers
Richmond 48 Hour Film Project
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear July 19th, 2024
Unicorn Power presents:
Unicorn Power: New Schtuff in 2024 Pt. 2
More new power metal!
One Hit Wanda Unicorn Power July 12th, 2024
River City Limits presents:
RCL 7-6-24 Jay Smack Host
smack River City Limits July 6th, 2024
Posted In: Local, Music, Music Shows
SIFTER for the Ear presents:
Remembering Gene Wilder on Netflix
Remembering Gene Wilder looks at the comic actor’s films, including interviews with Mel Brooks, Alan Alda and Harry Connick, Jr. It played Richmond as part of the Weinstein JCC’s Israeli & Jewish Film Festival last January. Since it just dropped on Netflix, I’m “remembering” my interview with Ron Frank (billed as the director) & Glenn Kirschbaum (writer). Topics include:
– Mel Brooks and his great stories
– Why Harry Connick. Jr.?
– Using Wilder’s own voiceover
– Finding hilarious outtakes from Young Frankenstein
– The Alzheimer’s connection
LINKS
Remembering Gene Wilder (Netflix)
48HR Film Project
Jerry Williams SIFTER for the Ear June 28th, 2024