This week on BEHIND THE LENS, it's all about mysteries thanks to director STEPHEN SHIMEK talking about MURDER AT THE EMBASSY, and writer/director LOTFY NATHAN discussing THE CARPENTER'S SON. But first, let's take a little trip to Cairo with director STEPHEN SHIMEK and MURDER AT THE EMBASSY. The second film in the Miranda Greene franchise, this story is fun, and the film is as entertaining as it is beautiful, as it drenches you in the beauty and wonder of Egypt. Set in 1930s Cairo with pyramids and antiquities at the height of Egyptology and archaeology, private detective Miranda Green is called to investigate a suspicious murder inside Cairo's seemingly impenetrable British Embassy when she discovers a second crime has been committed that could spark war across the globe. Everyone within the walls of the embassy is a suspect, but the ultimate evil force is lurking right around the corner. Directed by STEPHEN SHIMEK and written by Mark Brennan, MURDER AT THE EMBASSY stars Mischa Barton, Mido Hamada, Kojo Attah, Nell Barlow, Raha Rahbari, Antonia Bernath, and Richard Dillane. Now let's switch gears and talk about another type of mystery with writer/director LOTFY NATHAN and THE CARPENTER'S SON. Not your cut-and-dry faith-based or historical religious film, Lotfy pushes the envelope here as he draws from the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas for this story. This is a film that has already drawn some ire in the Christian community as it is developed from the apocryphal Infancy Gospel of Thomas about the childhood of Jesus and fills in the New Testament canonical gospels, often clashing with some of those accepted writings. A powerful and fascinating film that is exquisitely made. And did I mention it stars Nic Cage as Jesus' father, the carpenter Joseph? Written and directed by LOTFY NATHAN, THE CARPENTER'S SON stars Nic Cage as "The Carpenter", Noah Jupe as "The Boy" aka Jesus, and FKA Twigs as "The Mother" aka Mary.

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, it's all about action thanks to director SHANE DAX TAYLOR and his new film, EXIT PROTOCOL, and director MICHAEL DOWSE and his latest film, TRAP HOUSE. First up, let's take a look at TRAP HOUSE and my exclusive interview with director MICHAEL DOWSE. TRAP HOUSE is set in El Paso, Texas, at the border where DEA Agent Ray Seale and his team infiltrate a drug trafficking operation run by notorious cartel boss 'Guzman'. But things go wrong, and one of his team is shot and killed. In the aftermath, the slain agent's son, Jesse, is devastated and struggles financially, having to move back to Spain with his mom. Ray's own son, Cody feels sorry for Jesse and bands together a group of other DEA kids to utilize their skills and access to resources to enact revenge, stealing money from trap houses operated by the Guzman family. Directed by Michael Dowse and written by Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O'Connor, TRAP HOUSE stars Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale as DEA agents Ray Seals and Andre Washburn, Jack Champion as Ray's son Cody, and Sophia Lillis, Whitney Peak, Zaire Adams, and Blu del Barrio as Cody's friends Deni, Sophia, Kyle, and Jesse. Plus, Inde Navarette and Kate del Castillo. Now let's keep the action going with director SHANE DAX TAYLOR and his new film, EXIT PROTOCOL. I love this film. I had so much fun watching the film with a terrific blend of action, emotion, humor, and performances from some of my favorite actors, ike Dolph Lundgren, Michael Jai White, Charlotte Kirk, and Scott Martin. And the story itself is great! A simple tale of assassins, aka hitmen. A notorious hitman, Sam Hayden, who made a career of killing other assassins, wants out. But walking away is not that easy. He's got one last job to do, and that is to take out his rival Charles Mangold. Unfortunately, Hayden gets double-crossed by his boss, who has hits out on Mangold AND Hayden. Now marked for death, Hayden unexpectedly finds himself partnering with Mangold to outrun his boss and the third hitman in the mix. Directed by Shane Dax Taylor and written by Chad Law, EXIT PROTOCOL stars Scott Martin, Dolph Lundgren, Charlotte Kirk, Lina Maya, Stephanie Beran, and Michael Jai White.

Extending Halloween a bit longer this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we chat with documentarians BRADFORD THOMASON & BRETT WHITCOMB about THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN. Plus, writer/director MATT WHITAKER discusses the powerful and important narrative film TRUTH & TREASON. But first, let's keep that Halloween feeling going with THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN. Who hasn't seen or doesn't know about the utterly charming HALLOWEENTOWN franchise? It became a Halloween staple from the moment it released, with Debbie Reynolds as the magical Grandma Aggie Cromwell and Kimberly J Brown as Aggie's granddaughter Marnie, along with Judith Hoag as Aggie's daughter and Marnie's mom, Joey Zimmerman as Marnie's brother Dylan, and Emily Roeske as their younger sister Sophie. So beloved, that original film spawned three sequels! But it all started in the little town of St. Helens, Oregon, where the original film was shot. And now, all these years later, Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb return to St. Helens to discover how this picturesque town of St. Helens and its Halloween happy residents decided to capitalize on the town's starring role in HALLOWEENTOWN and each year invites tourists to come and celebrate the film and Halloween with them. Shifting gears, I want to talk about an important and powerful film that is in theatres right now – TRUTH & TREASON. TRUTH & TREASON is based on the true story of German youths Helmuth Hubener, Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, and Rudi Wobbe, who fought Hitler and the Third Reich with the most powerful weapon of all – their words. An amazing true story that has remained untold for too long and now, thanks to Whitaker and Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, comes into the light.

It's my favorite week of the year for BEHIND THE LENS – Halloween Week! And to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year, I've got some chilling, spooky, terrifying tales for you as PEDRO KOS breaks down his new film, the horrifying IN OUR BLOOD, while JON BERARDO talks about the blood-drenched noirish THE MANNEQUIN. First up, let's take a look at IN OUR BLOOD. Directed by Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker PEDRO KOS in his first narrative feature, IN OUR BLOOD masterfully blends psychological mystery with chilling horror. The film weaves a twisted tale of reconciling with the ghosts of our past and confronting the complicity we share in creating a world that preys on the most vulnerable. Directed by PEDRO KOS with a script by Mallory Westfall, IN OUR BLOOD stars Brittany O'Grady, E.J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach, Krisha Fairchild, Leo Marks, Bianca Comparato, and Steven Klein. Now, it's time to get a bit bloody, a bit supernaturally creepy, a bit mysterious, and a bit noirish thanks to writer/director JON BERARDO and his new film THE MANNEQUIN that transports us hauntingly through time from a glorious black and white prologue to a grisly exorcism. Written and directed by Jon Berardo, THE MANNEQUIN stars Isabella Gomez, Lindsay Lavanchy, Shireen Lai, Maxwell Hamilton, Gabriella Rivera, with Krystle Martin and Jack Sochet. In THE MANNEQUIN, Liana Rojas, a creatively starved stylist assistant, discovers that the historical downtown Los Angeles factory building where her fashion designer sister mysteriously died is haunted by a serial killer posing as a headshot photographer for film studios who brutally murdered and dismembered his victims half a century earlier. This knowledge forces Liana and her friends to find a way to free themselves from the curse and escape the sinister ghost before they lose their own body parts.

A terrific BEHING THE LENS for you this week as you're about to hear from two directors whose work I am a huge admirer of and have been for years, both of whom I love chatting with, and each with a new film out – NEIL MARSHALL joins me to discuss his new psychological erotic thriller COMPULSON, while BRANDON SLAGLE is back with me for the 5th or 6th time talking about his latest, the powerhouse martial arts-action-sci-fi film AFFINITY. But first, we've got director BRANDON SLAGLE discussing his latest film, AFFINITY. Set and shot in Bangkok, Thailand, AFFINITY stars Chilean martial-arts star Marko Zaror as Bruno, an ex-SEAL struggling with PTSD. He lives a life in fear of his demons until one day, when he discovers a beautiful woman named Athena with no past of her own. Together they begin to build a life, but when she disappears, Bruno must return to his violent past if he's going to save her from a shocking conspiracy. Now, another director who has spread his visionary wings and stepped somewhat outside of the box from what we have come to expect from him – NEIL MARSHALL. Inspired by Neil's admiration for erotic thrillers of the 1980s and 1990s such as "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct", something woefully missing from cinema today, he's out to blend the sensuous, suspenseful style of those films with an homage to giallo—a genre of stylish Italian thriller/horror movies—resulting in Compulsion's unique mix of erotic thriller and murder mystery elements. The inspiration to set the story in a visually distinct locale was also influenced by his desire to film somewhere bright and warm, ultimately leading to Malta, which further shaped the film's visual and narrative style. Written and directed by NEIL MARSHALL, COMPULSION focuses on the story of a young woman's visit to her stepfather's villa in Malta that spirals into danger when she's targeted by con artists and a violent murder forces her into a deadly cover-up. As a local detective closes in, trust cracks and dark secrets are exposed. The film stars Anna-Maria Sieklucka, Charlotte Kirk, Zach McGowan, Giulia Garietti, and Harvey Dean.

BEHIND THE LENS is kicking off the Halloween season today with a terrific making-a-movie-within-a-movie full of blood and hacking, madness, mayhem, and ridiculum – THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. And joining me to talk about this bloody (and funny) gem are writer/editor RAY SPIVEY and actor/executive producer ALLEN DANZIGER. But first, we're going Down Under with writer/director KIAH ROACHE-TURNER and his WWII film, BEAST OF WAR. Inspired by the real-life story of the HMS Armidale, which was sunk by Japanese zeroes in WWII while crossing the Timor Sea, along with some of the personal WWII experiences of Kiah's grandfather, BEAST OF WAR is the tale of a young troop of Australian soldiers who must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft which was nothing more than a small hunk of their ship that hadn't been obliterated. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark. Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, BEAST OF WAR stars Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, Maximillian Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, and Aswan Reid. But now, let the fun begin with ALLEN DANZIGER and RAY SPIVEY and THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE. Directed by Jody Stelzig and written by Ray Spivey, who also serves as editor, THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE, is filled with weird and wondrous characters like Digger, Skunk, Dufus, Rufus, and Mayor Dick Gunter, Willie Wonder and Pokerface, all played by a talented cast, among them Allen Danziger as Sheriff Danzinshoos, Sean Reyna as Pokerface, David Trevino as Willie Wonder, Parrish Randall, Jody Stelzig, and more. As we hack into the making of THE WEEDHACKER MASSACRE with Allen and Ray, Ray shares the inspiration behind the film, which is that of a friend's hair (seriously), and the concept of an indie film group facing challenges in making a film. Highlighting the large cast, the fun on the set, the music, and the complexity of filming a film within a film, there are plenty of laughs in our conversation that are inspired by the antics of the film itself. Filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, perhaps the greatest revelations and fun come from Allen Danziger himself as he talks about "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the fan love and Chainsaw Jerry Bobbleheads, his 48-year absence from acting, and some fun surprises. And yes, the three of us have ideas for merch…and a sequel.

We've got some multi-tasking, multiple-hat-wearing filmmakers on this week's BEHIND THE LENS as we're looking at two indie gems with two wonderful filmmakers – LISA BRENNER, who is discussing her feature narrative screenwriting debut, ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, which she also produces and in which she stars alongside Linda Lavin in her final big screen performance; and DEVIN MONTGOMERY, who makes his feature directorial debut with the drama MONSTERS WITHIN. And like Lisa, he also stars in his film, as well as serving as writer and editor. ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY, which is based on Lisa's own life, explores themes of family, identity, and unity, all done with heart and laughter. On her 40th birthday, Rachel is grappling with a looming midlife crisis and the nerve-wracking task of delivering a speech at her daughter's Bat Mitzvah. But when a DNA test unexpectedly reveals that she's only half-Jewish and her beloved father isn't her biological parent, Rachel's life is thrown into disarray, and suddenly, she's embarking on a hilarious journey with her eccentric mother Lenore to find out who she really is. And as if you hadn't already guessed, Linda Lavin plays eccentric mother Lenore to Lisa's Rachel. Then we go a bit darker with DEVIN MONTGOMERY and MONSTERS WITHIN, the story of Luke Wolf, a war veteran, who returns to his hometown, where his sister Elle is, who has Down Syndrome. Things are different, or maybe it's just that now he's different. After years of running from his problems, Luke must face his monsters. Written, directed, produced, edited, and starring Devin as Luke Wolf, MONSTERS WITHIN also stars Samuel French, Skeeta Jenkins, Daniella Montgomery, Kendall Cavener, and Katy Hayes.

I'm excited for this week's BEHIND THE LENS, thanks to a director whom I adore and have been chatting with for multiple decades, RENNY HARLIN, who goes in-depth with me for THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2, and writer/director MATTHEW BISSONNETTE, who brings us a film I immediately connected with, DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN starring Gabriel Byrne. THE STRANGERS began back in 2008 thanks to w/d Bryan Bertino, who treated us to the tale of James Hoyt and Kristen McKay, who visit an isolated vacation home to enjoy some time together. Hopeful bliss turned into terror making their stay a nightmare. In 2018, director Johannes Roberts, with a script by Bryan Bertino and Ben Ketai, rebooted the franchise with THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT starring Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman, and Christina Hendricks. Now in 2025, we have the chilling next chapter of THE STRANGERS franchise with THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2. Directed by Renny Harlin and written by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland, Madelaine Petsch returns as Maya, and joining her are, among others, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Richard Brake, and Pedro Leandro. Now let's turn to DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN with writer/director MATTHEW BISSONNETTE. Described as a "lyrical dramedy", DEATH OF A LADIES' MAN is poetic and emotionally charged, infused with the music and spirit of Leonard Cohen, tackling multiple themes that evoke heartbreak, absurdity, and hope. Gabriel Byrne stars as the hard-drinking, twice-divorced professor Samuel O'Shea whose life seems to be going into the toilet. First, he starts seeing things – Frankenstein at the bar, strangers breaking into Leonard Cohen songs, a woman with a tiger's head and face, and conversations with his long-dead father, Ben O'Shea. He chalks it up to stress. But a terminal brain tumor diagnosis sends him reeling into a surreal, darkly funny odyssey through memory, regret, and an unexpected romance in Ireland. Retreating to his family's remote Irish cottage, Samuel tries to write the novel he's always avoided—and instead begins rewriting his own story.

An interesting show this week on BEHIND THE LENS as we take a look at two very different films and filmmakers, thanks to producer/actor Johnny Danks talking about his new film, SHAKEY GROUNDS, the first one produced under the banner of his company Dank Productions, and director/editor VINCENT GRASHAW discussing the emotionally powerful character study BANG BANG. First up, Johnny Danks and SHAKEY GROUNDS. What began as a short film about coffee and a coffee shop, after 15 years, morphed into the feature film we have today, SHAKEY GROUNDS, which is not about coffee, but a film that features grunge music and captures Seattle's 1990s vibe. SHAKEY GROUNDS is the story of a troubled musician and his band as they navigate personal demons and a shot at redemption with a disgraced record executive. After multiple obstacles, they rise together, finding purpose in their music and each other. Switching gears, we move into the world of boxing with BANG BANG, an exquisite character study courtesy of director and editor VINCENT GRASHAW. I love this film and every element of the storytelling. In BANG BANG, retired boxer Bernard "Bang Bang" Rozyski finds a renewed sense of purpose when he reconnects with his estranged grandson and begins training him in the very sport that destroyed his life. As the bond between them grows, questions arise about Bang Bang's true motivations – including from an old flame who witnessed his explosive rise in the 1980s and his bitter rivalry with her cousin, now a formidable political figure and Detroit mayoral candidate, Darnell Washington. Is Bang Bang simply passing down his anger, or is there real redemption in his mentorship?

We're chatting about some wonderful films with some terrific filmmakers this week on BEHIND THE LENS, starting with director/co-writer ALLAN UNGAR talking about his new film, the action buddy comedy road trip, LONDON CALLING. Then in the second half of the show, director/co-writer CHRISTOPHER LEONE and writer/former paramedic PATRICK PIANEZZA are on hand for their new comedy/dramedy, CODE 3. Directed by Allan Ungar with script by Omer Levin Menekse, Allan Ungar, and Quinn Wolfe, LONDON CALLING stars Josh Duhamel, and along with Josh is the scene-stealing Jeremy Ray Taylor, Aidan Gillen, Arnold Vosloo, Rick Hoffman, and Daniel Lasker, who is a solid standout here. In this exclusive interview, you'll hear Allan discuss LONDON CALLING, highlighting the dynamic between Tommy and Julian, played by Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor. He praises cinematographer Alexander Chinnici for the film's visual grammar, particularly the use of light and lens in South Africa, as well as the collaboration of his production team, including production designer Warren Gray, art director Kerry Von Lillienfeld, and set decorator Roberto Bassi, and their successful recreation of London and Los Angeles in Cape Town. Then, we're coming in hot with sirens roaring and lights flashing thanks to director and co-writer Christopher Leone and writer/former paramedic Patrick Pianezza and their new film CODE 3. Directed by Christopher Leone, CODE 3 is a high-octane action dramedy that follows a world-weary paramedic on his final 24-hour shift as he trains his eager but inexperienced replacement. What begins as a routine night quickly unravels into a chaotic, citywide odyssey, testing their endurance, instincts, and sense of humor as they race from one emergency to the next. Blending heart, irreverent comedy, and edge-of-your-seat action, CODE 3 offers a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the life of first responders, where every call could mean disaster or redemption.

Let's kick things off talking about movies with TINA and my exclusive interview with MIKI MAGASIVA and actor ANAPELA POLATAIVAO. Written and directed by Miki Magasiva and starring Anapela Polataivao, Antonia Robinson, Zac O'Meagher, Beulah Koale, Dalip Sondhi, Nicole Whippy, and Jamie Irvine, among others, TINA is an inspiring drama, a light-hearted rhythmic tear-jerker, and the story of Samoan teacher Mareta Percival. Struggling after the death of her daughter in the Christchurch earthquakes, Mareta reluctantly takes on the role of substitute teacher at an elite, wealthy private school and is surprised to find children crying out for guidance, inspiration, and love. Using the symphony of her culture to empower her students, she forms a choir, bringing them together while unexpectedly rediscovering her passion for being a teacher and mother. Then, we shift some gears with director CHAD HARTIGAN's THE THREESOME. Directed by Chad and written by Ethan Ogilby, THE THREESOME stars, as our threesome, a flawlessly funny and heartfelt Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz, with some wonderful supporting performances by Jaboukie Yang-White and Josh Segarra, among others. As you can imagine, an impulsive night leads to a wild threesome between Olivia (Zoey Deutch), Connor (Jonah Hauer-King), and Jenny (Ruby Cruz), leaving both women facing unexpected consequences, thrusting all three into the raw and beautifully messy chaos of adulthood. And we've got a brief recap and some congratulations for this weekend's Creative Arts Emmy Award winners, including Supervising Stunt Coordinator Jon Koyama and this stunt team for The Boys who got two pieces of hardware, the amazing soundies at Formosa Group who picked up Emmys for their work on multiple shows (Yay, George Haddad!), and the team at Jeopardy! (including my friend, writer John Duarte), as well as other winners like Barack Obama, who nabbed his third Emmy for Outstanding Narration of the documentary Our Oceans, while Julie Andrews picked up gold for her work as Best Character Voiceover on Bridgerton. The smash hit The Studio nabbed nine trophies on Saturday while The Penguin waddled away with eight. And this is all before the main event on September 14th!

A fun show this week on BEHIND THE LENS as I get to take a look at two new films that just opened in theatres on Friday and speak with three filmmakers whom I've spoken with in the past, all of whose work I admire, respect, and in the case of one director, can't get enough of. I'm talking about the wonderful filmmaking team of MICHAEL ANGELO COVINO and KYLE MARVIN and their hilarious new non-rom com rom com, SPLITSVILLE, along with one of my fave filmmakers and the man who I believe helped put Taylor Sheridan on the map as a writer with the fabulous "Hell or High Water", director DAVID MACKENZIE and his new thriller RELAY. So let's kick things off with the comedy stylings of Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin and SPLITSVILLE. It's a story of two couples. Ashley and Carey. And Julie and Paul. All best friends. And all with personalities as different as night and day. But while Ashley and Carey are on a road trip, driving down a multi-lane highway, out of the blue and left field Ashley asks Carey for a divorce. Let the hilarity and hijinks begin! Good-natured and kind of wimpy, Carey runs to besties Julie and Paul for support and a place to crash while he figures out what to do. It's then that he finds out their secret to their happy marriage. It's an open marriage. Shocked and curious, things take a left turn with Carey crossing the line, resulting in chaotic madness and mayhem for all concerned. So now, let's switch gears and ratchet up the thrills and tension with RELAY and director DAVID MACKENZIE. I have been champing at the bit, sitting on this interview with David since early June, as the publicity team asked me to hold it until the film's release. Now the release has arrived, and I can share this interview with all of you. RELAY is a tense, New York thriller which has a timelessness to it while echoing the great paranoid thrillers of the 70s. In RELAY, Riz Ahmed plays Ash, a world-class quot;fixerquot; who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client named Sarah (Lily James) needing his protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change. RELAY is like a puzzle, with each production element integrating or interlocking with another. It's always fascinating to get inside David's mind and understand his vision, and what a vision this is with RELAY. So take a listen as director DAVID MACKENZIE talks the taut and tense paranoid thriller RELAY.

We're going a bit dark this week on BEHIND THE LENS thanks to writer/director JEREMY RUDD and his directorial feature debut with DIE'CED: RELOADED, and the fabulous veteran director CHUCK RUSSELL and his latest dive back into the darkness with WITCHBOARD. Let's kick things off with JEREMY RUDD and his feature debut, DIE'CED: RELOADED, which follows the story of Benny, an infamous serial killer who escapes a high-security asylum on Halloween night, turning 1980s/90s Seattle into a blood-soaked nightmare. Reborn behind a twisted scarecrow mask, he leaves a trail of carnage across the suburbs, as whispers of his gruesome past resurface, fueling panic in a city soaked in neon and fear. But Benny isn't just killing for pleasure – he's hunting someone. A young woman unknowingly tied to the darkest chapter of his madness becomes his fixation, and the closer he gets, the bloodier it gets. The result is a brutal, synth-drenched scarecrow slasher soaked in nostalgia, where Benny carves his place in horror history – one body at a time. Then we shift gears with the wonderful director, writer, and producer CHUCK RUSSELL. Resurrecting the '80's horror classic with a chilling new vision, WITCHBOARD takes place in present-day New Orleans, where a cursed artifact unleashes a vengeful witch, drawing a young couple into a deadly spiral of possession, temptation, and occult terror. Directed by Chuck Russell and co-written by Chuck and Greg McKay, WITCHBOARD stars Madison Iseman, Aaron Dominguez, Melanie Jarnson, Charlie Tahan, Antonia Desplat, and, one of my favorites, Jamie Campbell Bower.

I'm very excited about this week's BEHIND THE LENS and for you to hear from these two fabulous directors – KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS talking about the delightful, charming, and funny MY MOTHER'S WEDDING and HOWARD J. FORD talking up RIVER OF BLOOD and a "leisurely kayak ride" through the jungles of Thailand, complete with indigenous tribes who don't like outsiders. What could possibly go wrong! Directed by KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS and co-written by Kristin and John Micklethwaite (her real-life husband), MY MOTHER'S WEDDING stars Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, Freida Pinto, and Kristin Scott Thomas and is the tale of three sisters who return to their childhood home for a momentous occasion: the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother. Over the weekend, the family gathers to celebrate the new marriage, but mother and daughters alike are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, all with help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests. An absolute joy speaking with Kristin about her writing and directorial process, from the first moment, it is clear that she not only was and is passionate about this very personal story, but understands the intricate details of the production and storytelling process and its collaborative nature. Now we go from the beautiful, joyful, and fun, to the terror and horror of a Thai jungle. Directed by HOWARD J. FORD and written by Tom Boyle, RIVER OF BLOOD stars Joseph Millson, Louis James, Ella Starbuck, Sarah Alexandra Marks, and David Wayman, many of whom you may recognize from Howard's prior films. As you'll hear Howard break it all down, he goes deep into his processes, starting with the challenges of filming in Thailand, including the search for jungle locations and the use of a local crew. With nothing but praise for his Thai cinematographer Park, we discuss the creation and use of smoke, along with the choice of Sony FX3 and FX6 cameras. And laying dolly track in the jungle? Amazing. But always at the forefront is Howard's desire and demand for authenticity. Speaking of authenticity, how about the use of real indigenous tribes as well as practical effects? One of the truly outstanding elements of RIVER OF BLOOD is the sound design and sound mix. WOW! We really get into Joe Vince's sound design and the mixing work of Graham and Adam Daniel, particularly when you layer in the very cool score by Anthony and Jack Wade.

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we're looking at two films that, at their hearts, are about fathers and daughters/a father and son – the wonderful family film SKETCH and the fugitive thriller SHE RIDES SHOT GUN. Besides being solidly entertaining films, each delivers incredible performances by the young stars. And joining me to talk about these films are two amazing filmmakers, NICK ROWLAND, director and co-writer of SHE RIDES SHOTGUN, and SETH WORLEY, who makes his feature directorial debut as the writer, director, and editor of SKETCH. First, let's take a look at SHE RIDES SHOTGUN. Based on the 2017 Edgar Award-winning novel of the same name by Jordan Harper, SHE RIDES SHOTGUN is an intimate two-hander and fast-paced fugitive thriller that turns heartrending and pulse-pounding. This is the story of "Nate" McClusky and his daughter, Polly, who are on an emotional, thrilling, terrifying road trip across New Mexico as Nate tries to escape his own past — or at least to protect his 11-year-old child from paying for his mistakes. Along the way, they take shocking risks, survive daunting threats, and become profoundly close. Polly musters courage and insight well beyond her years, and Nate displays vulnerability and fortitude he didn't know he had. Switching gears to another father-daughter/father-son film, this one is for the whole family to enjoy – SKETCH. I love this film!!! It is fabulously fantastic. Creative, imaginative, vibrant, colorful, and filled with heart. Making his feature directorial debut with SKETCH is SETH WORLEY, who not only directs the film, but is writer and editor, as well as working on some of the CG compositing. SKETCH is the story of the Wyatt family – dad Taylor, daughter Amber, and son Jack – along with Tony's sister Liz. Grieving the loss of their wife and mother, Amber is having a particularly difficult time coming to terms with her mom being gone. And Taylor and Jack are so worried about Amber that they forget about dealing with their own grief. Focusing her anger and grief into her art, the school psychologist encourages Amber to continue to draw, as it will channel her grief.

It's madness, mayhem, and a whole lotta fun on BEHIND THE LENS this week as we're talking THE OMRO HEIST!! And let me just kick off the show by saying – HEEEEEEE'S BAAAACK!!! SIMON PHILLIPS is back with us today for his fifth appearance on #BTLRadioShow, which makes him the record holder with the most appearances by a single guest in the 11 years of the show! And it looks like he'll be back one or two more times before the end of 2025. However, adding to the joys of having Simon on board today, his collaborator/partner in production crime, director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, JAMIE BAILEY, is also with us! It's a real treat to have Simon and Jamie both on the show together, especially as we're talking about their latest venture – THE OMRO HEIST. THE OMRO HEIST is the story of a bank robbery that goes wrong in a once quiet Wisconsin small town called Omro. When an FBI agent goes undercover during the bank siege in his hometown, he discovers the robbery is actually an elaborate cover-up orchestrated by a corrupt politician to destroy evidence of his criminal conspiracy. The locals must then stand up to take down an evil gunman who will kill anyone who gets in his way. No spoiler, but needless to say, SIMON PHILLIPS is the evil gunman, and a delicious one at that. THE OMRO HEIST is directed by Jamie Bailey, written by Jamie Bailey and Simon Phillips, and stars Simon Phillips, Ken Bressers, Anthony Crivello, Damir Kovic, Nick Biskupek, Adam Huel Potter, Al Dias, Heather Arendt, and more.

This is a fun week on BEHIND THE LENS as we're going back to nature and into the forest. That's right! It's back to nature this week as we take a look at a fantastically informative and entertaining short documentary that you can watch right now FOR FREE (and you all know how much I love FREE stuff) – CHARMIN WIPES OUT A FOREST. In my exclusive chat with writer/director/editor STEVE MIMS and producer BRIAN RODGERS, we delve into the making of this doc and Charmin toilet paper specifically. Then, get ready for director and editor DAN ALLEN, who joins me discussing his latest film from The Twisted Childhood Universe – BAMBI: THE RECKONING. Kicking things off with CHARMIN WIPES OUT A FOREST, who would have thought someone would make any film about toilet paper, let alone one about Charmin, the biggest-selling brand in the United States, accounting for 25% of the US toilet paper market today. Most of us remember the early ad campaigns for Charmin with Mr. Whipple and the unforgettable "Please, don't squeeze the Charmin". And for quite a few years now, we've been seeing multiple ads with the animated bear family using Charmin. But now, thanks to STEVE MIMS and BRIAN RODGERS, we find out the truth behind the toilet paper. CHARMIN WIPES OUT A FOREST is a comic in-depth exposé of the massive deforestation required to deliver the nation's most popular bath tissue. Although we are greeted with a comic opening to the doc, Steve and Brian deliver a shocking yet hopeful message to consumers. This is a big problem that manufacturer Procter & Gamble will never do anything about, but we as consumers can. Next, we go deep into the part of the forest that hasn't been cut down for toilet paper, with BAMBI: THE RECKONING. The official synopsis for BAMBI: THE RECKONING reads: "After a mother and son get in a car wreck, they soon become hunted by Bambi, a mutated, grief-stricken deer on a deadly rampage seeking revenge for the death of his mother." Directed and edited by DAN ALLEN and written by Rhys Warrington based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel "Bambi Life in the Woods", the film maintains the original book's themes of family, love, and hardship, and has some added 21st-century subtext on the horrors of man towards nature.

Took a little 4th of July break, but BEHIND THE LENS is back this week with two interesting interviews talking about some impactful and entertaining films: the character-driven post-apocalyptic thriller 40 ACRES with director R.T. THORNE, and the action thriller OFF THE GRID with director JOHNNY MARTIN. First up, let's take a look at R.T. THORNEt's narrative feature directorial debut, 40 ACRES. A bold, no-holds-barred action-thriller from debut filmmaker R.T. Thorne, 40 ACRES is set in a famine-decimated near future where a former soldier and her family struggle to safeguard their farm as they make one last stand against a vicious militia hell-bent on taking their land. Co-written by Thorne together with Glenn Taylor and Lora Campbell, 40 ACRES stars, among others, Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem Ot'Connor, Michael Greyeyes, and Milcania Diaz-Rojas. Shifting gears, we move on to a fun interview with director JOHNNY MARTIN talking about his new film OFF THE GRID, in which he takes Macgyvering to a new level. OFF THE GRID is the story of Guy, a man who has gone t"off the grid." But why? After a morally bankrupt company tries to weaponize a brilliant scientist's revolutionary technology, he goes off the grid to safeguard humanity. When the company sends a strike force to find him, they make their biggest mistake of all – they weaponize the man they are trying to catch. Armed with unrivaled brains and brawn, the wild genius turns Guerrilla warfare into a deadly science. Directed by JOHNNY MARTIN with script by Jim Agnew, OFF THE GRID stars Josh Duhamel, Greg Kinnear, Peter Stormare, Maria Elsa Camargo, and a breakout performance by Michael Zapesotsky.

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we're taking a look at a new indie film that just released in select theatres and on Eventive VOD on Friday, SWEET RELIEF, with writer/director/editor NICK VERDI. And we'll take one more look at Dances With Films 2025 with the oh-so-funny mockumentary AMERICAN COMIC with director/cinematographer/editor DANIEL J. CLARK and writer/actor JOE KWACZALA. AMERICAN COMIC helped close out the festival last night. First up, let's turn our lens to SWEET RELIEF. Written and directed, and edited, by NICK VERDI, SWEET RELIEF is a film that starts as a slow burn, gaining momentum as seemingly unrelated characters and storylines begin to interweave until the shocking, explosive climax in this arthouse thriller. Parents and teachers in a small New England town are in a panic over kids playing SWEET RELIEF, an online murder challenge in which the player must nominate someone they'd like to see die. Three teenagers play the game as a joke, unaware of the dire consequences awaiting them. Meanwhile, Jess and Nathan are a bored, millennial couple struggling to get by. Nathan is annoyed with his mother, and Jess is annoyed with Nathan. Jess's curiosity and boredom lead to a dangerous situation of her own when she meets Gerald, a confidential police informant and perhaps a sadistic child killer. Switching gears now, let's bid farewell to Dances With Films 2025 with one of its closing night films – the hilarious mockumentary AMERICAN COMIC and my exclusive conversation with director/DP/editor DANIEL J. CLARK and writer and actor JOE KWACZALA, who I had a chance to speak with on Saturday before the world premiere of AMERICAN COMIC debuted last night. AMERICAN COMIC is a verité-style mockumentary that follows two up-and-coming stand-up comedians, who, despite their superficial "cultural" differences, share remarkable similarities when it comes to egotism, self-destruction, and social ineptitude. As the film satirically pulls back the curtain on the unique subculture of stand-up comedy, self-absorbed competitiveness intensifies, leading to some shocking and unexpected revelations.

This week it's all about DANCES WITH FILMS on BEHIND THE LENS, which is taking place right now at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. Get ready for one of the most fun-filled and hilarious, yet philosophical, conversations about filmmaking as writer/director/editor/cinematographer JESSE COWELL breaks down his award-winning short film B!TCH I'M EARLY. B!TCH I'M EARLY is brought to us by JESSE "JESKID" COWELL, and is a comedy short that follows two women in the corporate world vying for a promotion. Their conflict escalates from arguments to a race to the office. The six-minute film satirizes corporate culture with effective comedic timing and increasing tension while also providing tacit commentary on ageism, racism, and diversity. Now we shift gears for the thirst-quenching tasty treat, the series pilot. Directed by SERGIO COMACHO and written by JONATHAN ADELSON, UNITED CRAFTS OF AMERICA offers an intimate look into America's most vibrant craft beer cities, uncovering the country's most innovative breweries and the passionate people behind them. The journey begins with New York City's Interboro Spirits & Ales, where co-owners Laura Dierks and Jesse Ferguson blend beer and hip-hop to create one of NYC's most influential breweries, breathing new life into the city's rich brewing heritage. In this exclusive interview, Sergio and Jonathan break down this pilot episode discussing the inspiration for the series, finding Interboro Spirits & Ales, research, developing a through line, filming (which is simply gorgeous thanks to DP Joel Froome and the Sigma Cine Series and Laowa 2x macro lenses used), beer styling!!!, calling on author/ journalist/and beer critic John Holl to serve as a guide, musical score, and creating an intimacy with the storytelling and the imagery, among others.