Indie Entertainment Podcast

Vivien Benjamin Villani is a French-Italian classically-trained film composer, professor of film scoring and writer. His classical training took place in several Schools of Music in Paris. He has studied music analysis with Bruno Plantard and Anthony Girard, composition with Laurent Saudain and Renaud Grandemange, piano with François Kerdoncuff, orchestration with Guillaume Connesson and orchestra conducting with Adrian McDonnell. In 2003, he graduated with high honors in Film Studies from University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne and holds a Master's Degree equivalent. He studied under the guidance of Nicole Brenez. His graduation thesis was focused on the analysis of the soundtracks in the movies of Rainer Werner Fassbinder. As a composer, Vivien Villani has scored many short films, feature films and documentaries since 2001. Most of his soundtracks have been performed by the Cinema Orchestra, an orchestra of young musicians that he created in Paris in 2008 with which he's also working in the framework of US

"BIG TIME" opens in NY see times below: DOC NYC Wed, November 15th – 9.15pm – Cinépolis Chelsea 5 Thu, November 16th – 10.30am – IFC AND -  December 1 @ Landmark at 57 West in New York for a week-long run.  - get your tickets now. Landmark Theater @ 57 West - NY  TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK0mGdMKMW4 On this podcast Monica speaks to danish director Kaspar Astrup Schröder has followed the Danish star-architect over the course of five years. Most people know Bjarke Ingels for his work, but the film BIG TIME gets up and close to the person that is Bjarke Ingels.   ABOUT: Bjarke Ingels started out as a young man dreaming of creating cartoons. Now, he has been named "one of architecture's biggest stars" by The Wall Street Journal. BIG TIME follows Bjarke during th course of 5 years (2011-2016), while he struggles to finish his biggest project so far. We are let into Bjarke's creative processes as well as the endless compromises that his work entails, and we are on the side when his personal life st

Recorded live at AFM, in Santa Monica California. Unedited and unscripted Monica speaks to - Chairperson Mako TANAKA of Japan Film Commission.  She explains a bit about filming in the lovely country of Japan. Here is a message from Mako  -  Greetings Though the role of Chairman of Japan Film Commission is a great challenge for me, I hope that my experience as Vice-Chairman of the organization as well as board director of organizations such as AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) and AFCNet (Asian Film Commissions Network) will enable me to contribute to the development of the organization. If you are interested in filming in Japan, our members, comprised of over 100 regional film commissions and governments, will be happy to assist you in finding the best locations and support for your project. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions regarding shooting in Japan. Film in Japan, start here! Japan Film Commission  

Recorded live at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California @ Lowes Hotel and poolside with Documentary Filmmaker Jeff Witzeman. Please visit his website and trailer http://cancercanbekilled.com/ The cancer can be killed website is a place to affirm everything we know about cancer, how it can be killed, but also its place in this world, why it exists and what it hopes to teach us. There are a million ways to kill cancer, non-toxically, and I hope to show that through film and data. The film releasing summer of 2017 is a good start and gives you the basic information you need to recover. At the heart, cancer is something that grows as a result of an imbalance. Restore the body to balance and cancer ceases to exist. The key to killing cancer, as with any disease is the immune system. Cancer frequently grows because of a compromised immune system. Chemotherapy, radiation, radical surgery the three main western medical treatment options, are all flawed because they compromise the immune system further

Recorded live in Santa Monica, California poolside at the Lowes Hotel. The American Film Market draws companies from all over the world.  Monica speaks to Val Kupeev who is representing the Russian Film Commission at the American Film Market. He will be giving a presentation "Myths and Reality of Filming in Russian Event at AFM Studio on Nov 5th.  Visit: Russian Office of Film Commissions    

Recorded live in Santa Monica poolside at the Lowe Hotel during AFM2017- unedited conversation with David Risotto - filmmaker. His film is a true story of a courageous boy who becomes a legend. Living a dream that wouldn't die; his passion empowered him to historically change the course of baseball. Facing challenges on every front he conquers all with his belief and determination; a true hero. A life changing story! About David: DAVID RISOTTO – Executive Producer/Director, As a USPA (United States Powerlifting Association) 3 time Gold Metal winner, Mr. Risotto also holds 3 World records in his age and weight class. Mr. Risotto's dedicates himself and puts 100% into everything he does. Mr. Risotto has 25 years managerial experience, has a degree in Arts and Science and has 30 years experience in the entertainment industry as an actor, writer, director, editor and producer. He has worked at Fox in the Post Production Accounting Department where he learned Production Accounting and Budgeting. He wrote, co-direc

Monica speaks to Director Sean Meehan about his film Lost Face.  Sean Meehan's Lost Face has been making a mark around the world, having won at many prestigious film festivals including Edmonton International Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival and Palm Springs International Shortfest. This award-winning short is based on Jack London's short story and stars Gerald Auger (Hell on Wheels), Martin Dubreuil (Felix Et Meira) and Morris Birdyellowhead (Apocalypto). In mid-1800's Russian America, Subienkow finds himself the second-to-last survivor of a group of Russian fur-thieves who have just been defeated by liberators from the local tribe they have enslaved as forced labour.  Now Subienkow faces a long, protracted and painful death unless he can come up with a plan for escape.  Subienkow calls over the tribe's chief, Makamuk, and he begins to bargain…  Writer and Director Sean Meehan fell in love with Jack London's short story Lost Face as a teenager and as an adult, adapted it into a screen play.

Monica speaks to Actor Alexander Bedria's about his directorial debut The Zim, which he also wrote, took home the top prize when it recently premiered at LA Shorts International Film Festival. Almost 300 shorts were in contention for the award.  The Zim is the story of one man's struggle to protect his farm and loved ones from a violent land invasion. Inspired by true events that occurred during the controversial Zimbabwean land seizures in the early 2000's, The Zim follows the story of farmer Daniel Silva (Alexander Bedria) who must decide between fleeing the country or standing his ground. William Zimunya (native Zimbabwean Tongayi Chirisa), his farmhand, is torn between loyalty to his lifelong friend and fear of the powerful men who lead the charge to invade the farm. "I was inspired by the men and women who endured extraordinary hardship, yet never lost their humanity. I hope the film honors them," said writer/director Alexander Bedria who nearly five years researching, developing and crowdfunding the fil

Monica speaks to Director Mike Day about his journey and about the passion behind whales and the clash the exists between man and the sea. Day captures the awesome visual power of the land as sweeping cinematography shows the Faroe Islands shrouded in mist and suspended in time. The film gains impressive access to the community, which proves particularly advantageous for obtaining footage of the whale hunt. The immersive aural tracks let the wind blow and the birds squawk as the film depicts a land worth preserving. The soundtrack affords a sense of being present on the Faroe Islands and right in the thick of the fight. – Point of View Magazine THE ISLANDS AND THE WHALES has its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV (Point of View) on Monday, October 9, 2017 (check local listings). POV is American television's longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 30th season. About the filmmaker: Mike Day is a Scottish director and cinematographer. His debut film THE GUGA HUNTERS

Bridget Higgins currently leads the Aloft Hotels brand at Marriott International. Bridget is the GLOBAL BRAND LEADER. She speaks to Monica about the exciting Aloft Hotels Brand and emerging artists.  About Aloft Hotels With more than 125 hotels now open in nearly 20 countries and territories around the world, Aloft Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For the 'always on' next generation of traveler, the Aloft brand offers a tech-forward, vibrant experience and a modern style that is different by design. Aloft is proud to participate in the industry's award-winning loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®. Members can now link accounts with Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL'S MUSIC-DRIVEN A

Director/Editor Sam Pollard speaks openly to Monica about his passion and filmmaking. His passion is expressed about the iconic Sammy Davis Jr.  American Masters Pictures proudly presents - SAMMY DAVIS, JR: I'VE GOTTA BE ME -  the new documentary from legendary award-winning filmmaker Sam Pollard that brings an intimate, in depth and candid look into the life of one of our most groundbreaking and iconic performers in the world, Mr. Sammy Davis, Jr.  Premiering at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, this moving and compelling film lets viewers see the highs and lows of this extraordinary man as he reached out to accomplish his goals to entertain the world, while people and situations continued to try and hold him down. His life and his legacy has never been documented in a feature film before now. We encourage your coverage on this compelling film and prolific filmmaker Sam Pollard. Please find below more information on the film including screening dates and times. SAM POLLARD is an accomplished fea

Kavi speaks to Monica about his new film "The Black Prince" as a storyteller it's one that is close to his heart. Opens nationwide July 21st. Kavi Raz is an Indian-born British actor, writer, director and producer. Born in Punjab, Raz left India at a young age for the United Kingdom, where he grew up. He acquired national prominence as an exceptional hockey player in the Midlands. He attended university in the San Francisco Bay area. Raz was a founder and artistic director of the Wandering Players' Theatre Company. The company staged several World and US premieres of plays from India. Western audiences were exposed to the works of Rabindranath Tagore for the first time, in addition to plays like Sakharam Binder and Shakuntala. This was the first professional South Asian theatre company in the USA. In the mid-1970s, Raz arrived in Hollywood: a career as an actor was unheard of at a time when roles for South Asian actors in Hollywood television shows and films were limited. Raz had been quoted: "People, especia

Sammy Chand speaks to Monica about his roots, his heritage and his music. Sammy has transformed both the musical landscape and the South Asian community with a storied career spanning over two decades. In 1996, he laid the foundation for Rukus Avenue, as an independent record label and platform for an emerging scene of South Asian musicians in North America. This seminal company was at the forefront of a community-driven movement to establish a new identity for South-Asian Americans, that were charged with the task of reconciling traditional cultural values with American ones. Throughout his career, Chand and his music have built a formidable bond with the film and television community. His notable placements include CBS News, PBS, The Oprah Winfrey Show, America's Most Wanted, Leela, So You Think You Can Dance?, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and the Weather Channel's Storm Riders. In 2008, he partnered with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles to bring a live musical component to the festival that wo

Director Timothy Woodward Jr. speaks to Monica about his new film "Hickok"  about Wild Bill Hickok. In the hopes of escaping his past as a notorious outlaw, "Wild Bill" Hickok seeks redemption as a small town lawman.  Unfortunately, as the titular gunslinger discovers, the past has a way of catching up with you in HICKOK, a frontier thriller starring Luke Hemsworth ("Westworld") in his first leading role in a feature film; the period Western from Cinedigm and Status Media also stars Trace Adkins (Stagecoach, Traded, Deepwater Horizon), Country Music Hall of Famer and Golden Globe®-winner Kris Kristofferson (Traded, A Star is Born, Blade, Billy the Kid) and Oscar®-nominee Bruce Dern(The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained, Nebraska).  On July 7, HICKOKopens theatrically in eleven markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Detroit, Seattle, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Minneapolis, Portland, Oregon, Kansas City and Austin; and, day-and-date, it will also be available on demand and Digital HD.   The story

Filmmaker Gabi Hayes speaks to Monica about their new documentary  "Skid Row Marathon" Skid Row Marathon is a feature length documentary that follows Judge Craig Mitchell and his running club as they prepare for a variety of running events including the Accra International Marathon in Ghana, the LA Marathon and the Rome Marathon. Many of the club members have been living on the streets or in homeless shelters for significant periods of time. They've lost everything - their homes, their jobs, their families and relationships. As they run with the Judge, they struggle with their demons and attempt to regain their self-esteem and self-sufficiency. Not everyone succeeds. DIRECTED BY - MARK HAYES http://skidrowmarathon.com/ WORLD PREMIERE SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2017 - 12:00 PM ArcLight Santa Monica 8

ALL THE RAGE, a new documentary, explores the connection between emotions and health, by chronicling the work of renowned physician Dr. John Sarno and his radical methods of treating chronic pain, the greatest crisis in American healthcare system. Monica speaks to Director Michael Galinsky and Co-Director Suki Galinsky about their explosive documentary All The Rage. A wonderful and candid conversation about the state of health care and society norms or discomfort with new ideas. ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS: An award-winning independent film studio, RUMUR collaborates with high profile clients like HBO, A&E, ESPN, MSNBC, DIRECTV, PBS, and to create critically acclaimed, documentary films. Their work has been shortlisted for the Academy Awards and screened at the top film festivals around the world. As the lines between film, television, and the web continue to blend together, RUMUR integrates its productions across multiple platforms, starting at the early development stages through final product and distribution

Director Stan Jacobs speaks to Monica about his new film 96 Souls. He speaks about his passion for indie filmmaking.   It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness. -- A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859)   96 Souls  A lab accident changes the routine life of biochemistry professor Jack Sutree. He's left with the ability to see fragrances flowing off organic substances. When he looks at a person he sees an alternate vision of their true self. Jack and his predoctoral candidate, Ram, struggle to understand these visions. Jack encounters a homeless musician, named Bazemint, and is taken by a haunting vision and music associated with her. He determines Bazemint is his best chance at understanding the phenomenon. Dr. Redfield, a university Regent with strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry, gets wind of Jack's discovery and wants it for developing new psychoactive drugs.  He confronts Jac

  Melissa Kent is well known in the industry as a highly respected film editor, her impressive filmography includes The Age of Adaline, The Virgin Suicides, and American Pastoral starring Ewan McGregor. Now Kent's work in her directorial debut Bernie and Rebecca is turning heads with multiple awards and nominations. This prestigious film has been selected for the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival. After a blind date, Bernie and Rebecca imagine a future life together, but it's not the perfect marriage with angelic kids, a big house and white picket fence... Kyle Davis (Dexter/Enlisted) stars as Bernie and Brianna Barnes (A Midsummer Night's Dream) as Rebecca, with both of their performances nominated at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in Berlin. The music was composed by David Carbonara (Mad Men), cinematography is by Nicole Whitaker (Homeland) and the sound was designed by Christopher S. Aud (Mad Max: Fury Road, Neighbors). Kent produced alongside Mary Pat Bentel (Ani

Female producer, Saleah Smith, who has worked on award-winning films and television shows including Evil Lives Here and My Dirty Little Secret speaks with Monica about producing films. Fellow producer of The Foster Portfolio, Joel Pincosy, is another award-winner, whose short films have screened at festivals across the US.  Based on the original short story by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., The Foster Portfolio is an offbeat, mid-century tale about a rookie investment counselor who discovers that his penniless client is hiding a million-dollar inheritance in order to conceal a strange, double life. In the role of Jim Crane is Roe Hartrampf, known for his work in Romeo Vs. Juliet, Broker, and A Good Marriage. His television credits include Boardwalk Empire, Elementary and Blue Bloods. Joel Nagle, playing Herbert Foster, is also no stranger to the screen, known for his work in Spike Lee's Oscar nominated Do the Right Thing, We Are What We Are and Palimpsest. Rounding off the talented cast is Rebecca Watson whose extensive

Award-winning director, Danielle Katvan, has had her films selected by numerous respected film festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, and San Francisco International Film Festival, with her work also being featured on MTV, NBC Universal and VH1. Her short film, Stranger Things, was the recipient of an award from Kodak for Excellence in the Craft of Filmmaking, and she was both named one of Film News Briefs 'Filmmakers to Watch' and selected as a finalist in the 2016 HBO Access Directing Fellowship.  Joining forces with female director, Katvan, is female producer, Saleah Smith, who has worked on award-winning films and television shows including Evil Lives Here and My Dirty Little Secret. Fellow producer of The Foster Portfolio, Joel Pincosy, is another award-winner, whose short films have screened at festivals across the US.  In the role of Jim Crane is Roe Hartrampf, known for his work in Romeo Vs. Juliet, Broker, and A Good Marriage. His television credits include Boardwalk E