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Benjamin Duchek
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A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

  1. Jonny Durgan

    HÁ 1 DIA

    Jonny Durgan

    Making a film called G.S.W (2025) (gun shot wound in medical jargon) in a country with very little gun shot wounds is a choice by British director Jonny Durgan, and I'd argue it's an excellent one. The film works for all sorts of reasons -- Jonny's advertising background; a great script; a fantastic acting performance by Genevieve O'Reilly -- or ten other ones. We explore all the reasons in the pod. In this episode, Jonny and I discuss: whether his sense of humor is a reason for his success;naming a film G.S.W. and what he wants people to know going into watching it;his transition between advertising and filmmaking;how advertising informs his filmmaking;the release strategy process for short films and what he might do differently;his ability to find great actors for his films and its affect on getting his films made;don't be shy on sending out your script if you believe in it!;casting for short films;how the US market views the film given the higher rate of gun violence;making indie films in Britain.what's next for him. Jonny's Indie Film Highlight: A FRIEND OF DOROTHY (2025) dir. by Lee Knight; PROTEIN (2024) dir. by Tony Burke Memorable Quotes: "I grew up quite in a rural area, so to...say to someone, I want to be a film director, they might as well have said, I wanna be a NASA astronaut." "For short films in particular, you really have to be tight with your story because there's no...time to spare." "And then I put the phone down and immediately pick up the phone to the producer, and said good news and bad news. Good news: Genevieve's in. Bad news: we've got five weeks." "One of the things I've learned is to always leave space for the actors to do their thing." "I feel like the kind of the talent of people coming through is so much greater than it's ever been. It's just I feel now that we could be in a golden age of short film really, or independent film, hopefully." Links: Follow GSW On Instagram Jonny Durgan's Website Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    23min
  2. Joecar Hanna

    HÁ 4 DIAS

    Joecar Hanna

    It's hard for me to conjure up another word for Joecar Hanna's award-winning short films, DELIVER ME (2003) and TALK ME (2025), other than: masterpiece. They push the boundaries of cost, intimacy, and what the medium itself can deliver. If you're able to see them -- maybe reach out to Joecar on social media and be nice, it might work -- do so. Near the end of the episode, he gets to an important point: intimacy content still hasn't been taken over by AI. What a unique filmmaker here today for the podcast; director/writer/actor, even willing to work blue, Joecar Hanna. In this episode, Joecar and I discuss: what it's like having masterpieces of short films unavailable for viewing;if there's a part of filmmaking that doesn't appeal to him;how he got started in filmmaking and why he decided to get his MFA at NYU;telling "your story" if you don't have a story to tell;changing "find your voice" to "find your perspective";how to think of his last two films with similar names;his ability to pull off so many things with his films -- art department, makeup, intimacy coordination -- with so little money;the focus of his art at the intersection of intimacy and love;the amazing story (and Spike Lee's encouragement) about him acting in intimate scenes;why so many filmmakers shy away from the level of intimacy that's in his projects;if he's happy with NYU's focus on top festivals and his recommendations for others;what people are looking for in films if it's not quality?his next project and how people should approach film festivals. Joecar's Indie Film Highlights: AFTER THIS DEATH (2025) dir. by Lucio Castro; DRUNKEN NOODLES (2025) dir. by Lucio Castro; THE MAN FROM EARTH (2007) dir. by Richard Schenkman Memorable Quotes: "And they always tell you to keep it private and to preserve the status and all this kinds of things, right? That, for a short, I sometimes wonder really if it's necessary." "Racism in Europe -- in particular, Spain -- is completely different to how racism could be here, right? It's more invisible. It's more like little details." "Do I need to go to film school? And the truth is I could focus while I had all the other crafts, I could focus on the last one that I needed to train, which was writing."  "How can I tell this story and can I condense when I don't have tools or I don't have money."  "When you're in film school and you have many people helping you, obviously they're not getting paid." "For TALK ME, I had to go back and ask every single person I knew for the last 20 years favors." "I really like to talk about what I call little prisons of, or cages, from people...that we like to put ourselves in." "They have to know me and they have to know that I'm not a creepy person that is just...trying to get everyone naked." "There's 300 people in this room seeing our butts right now."  "When I won TIFF, no one called me next day."  "We can't be too precious about what we have." "Even if you go to Sundance Labs right now, you can find people struggling with financing. You better hurry." "Good thing for now is the [AI] limitation with intimacy content is not allowing people to do that yet." Links: Follow Joecar On Instagram Joecar Hanna Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    1h1min
  3. Indie Film Highlight: BUNNY (2025)

    HÁ 5 DIAS

    Indie Film Highlight: BUNNY (2025)

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BUNNY (2025) Director: Ben Jacobson Writers: Mo Stark; Ben Jacobson; Stefan Marolachakis Cast: Mo Stark; Ben Jacobson; Liza Colby SYNOPSIS Over one wild summer day and night in their East Village tenement, streetwise hustler Bunny and his friend Dino scheme with a crew of eccentric neighbors to cover up a dead body. Chaos reigns as the clock ticks and the heat rises. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Instagram Follow us on X Follow us on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on LinkedIn Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    2min
  4. Robert Kolodny

    2 DE JAN.

    Robert Kolodny

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Considering most of the episodes now from the previous three seasons are under paywall, the first episode of the New Year simply has to be excellent. It's what listeners throughout the year probably will listen to first, and thankfully, I found a guest that absolutely exceeds any expectation a listener might have when they click play: director Robert Kolodny of THE FEATHERWEIGHT (2023). If you google Criterion Collection, Robert's name, and Reddit, you'll get the comment I reference here about how he's going to be a "GOAT filmmaker in a couple of years, up there with Scorsese, Anderson, Fincher. Just watch." I didn't write it, but I wish I had. In this episode, Robert and I discuss: the obsession of what's next, from filmmaking to college football, and what that means for directors;how he got his start and his incredible preparation work of watching films for his craft;how he watches other films and his thoughts on film criticism;what he learned on his 14 year path from cinematography to directing his first feature;what he's looking for in terms of working on a project;the genesis of THE FEATHERWEIGHT and what people should expect to watch;how he came up with the style of the faux documentary for the film;the invented crew members for the film to help the actors;why there are so many siblings in independent films;whether indie filmmakers can go too far in pretentiousness;if THE FEATHERWEIGHT felt like a documentary while filming and his thoughts on the genre;AI in indie films;the incredible score in THE FEATHERWEIGHT and why the music was so important for the film;the casting process and the BAND OF BROTHERS (2001) connection;the underrated nature of this film;what he'd do differently for the release strategy of the film;what's next for him. Robert's Indie Film Highlights: PREDATORS (2025) dir. by David Osit; ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT (2025) dir. by Charlie Shackleton; EEPHUS (2024) dir. by Carson Lund; PETER HUJAR'S DAY (2025) dir. by Ira Sachs Memorable Quotes: "My philosophy has always been, in order to be a filmmaker, you have to be a working filmmaker. Now that doesn't just mean being a technician, but it does mean putting the hours in and looking at what contemporary cinema is and trying to be attached to it in as many meaningful ways as possible." "I've been incredibly privileged that there's never really been a time in my life where I did not know this is what I wanted to do." "I keep...a very extensive spreadsheet...it's December 11th that we're recording this. I have watched 362 movies in the year 2025 so far. And I'll probably get up to 380." "Will it be able to...hold the amount of prestige that I am attributing to it? That I believe that it deserves. You're like a parent waiting for your kid to get into college." "Do I think that some kind of digital actor is gonna give a better performance than a real actor? I would rather boil myself in a pot of soup than even consider such a ridiculous question." "There's a ton of music in the film but most of it is hidden. I could see people watching the film and being like there's just that one song at the end, which is not true."  Why the music was so important to him: "It's partially because I'm an insane person. And partially because, you're working in a period piece, right? The film takes place in 1964 and then intermittently in 1941. And if we're going to sell the idea of this is a documentary that was made half a century ago, how are we gonna stand up and believe in that?" "The originator of the idea of making this movie about Willie Pep was James Madio." "Despite people being like, oh, there's no good movies out. That's a fucking lie." Links: Follow Robert On Instagram Watch THE FEATHERWEIGHT On Mubi Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    50min
  5. John-Michael Powell

    31/12/2025

    John-Michael Powell

    Happy New Year! The perfect way to end the year is with director John-Michael, or JM, Powell, and his genre thriller, VIOLENT ENDS (2025). In this episode, JM and I discuss the astonishingly moody cinematography -- the deer scene and a shootout will stay with you way after the film; his journey through film school and a grant that made this film possible, and his steady and sure approach to indie filmmaking. And let me add: VIOLENT ENDS is a perfect New Year's Eve film. Let the shootouts remain on the screen, grab a bottle of Champagne, and welcome in the New Year with filmmaker JM Powell. In this episode, JM and I talk about: the incredible moody setting of VIOLENT ENDS and how setting portends to great filmmaking;how he got his start in filmmaking;whether you should go to film school;the story behind his first feature, THE SEND-OFF (2022);why he loves the Calgary International Film Festival;how he managed fatherhood and his advice for people having kids in the indie film space;the grant that made VIOLENT ENDS possible and his views on using film to shoot it (which was made impossible by a very mundane reason!);what people should expect to watch with VIOLENT ENDS;the moody cinematography, including whether the deer was real and more about the insane shootout scene near the end;how to handle both fantastic and negative reviews as a filmmaker;the vote of great actors on a particular project;what's next for him. JM's Indie Film Highlights: THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY (2023) dir. by Francis Galluppi; TOUCH ME (2025) dir. by Addison Heimann Memorable Quotes: "There's so many movies that take place in New York, but the good movies feel specific to that writer and that filmmaker." "I went to school in Dallas Fort Worth, so I think a lot of the people aspire to do like commercial work in Dallas." "I'm very much that personality where I'm...give me a problem and I'll figure out how to solve it." "Anywhere you can find yourself where you are orbiting and brushing up against story because story is everything." "You can create your own AFI community on YouTube." "In some ways, I think, micro budget, independent distribution is obsolete." "What matters to me more than shooting on film is capturing a good story." "I don't think most people are consuming film criticism. I think most film criticism, especially for cinephiles now lives on like Letterboxd...Rotten Tomatoes obviously, too, is a valuable asset. But these platforms cater to clickbait headlines and taglines that for better or worse...that has influenced our cinema discourse and our film criticism." Links: Follow JM On Instagram Watch VIOLENT ENDS Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    50min
  6. Indie Film Highlight: GRAND TOUR (2024)

    28/12/2025

    Indie Film Highlight: GRAND TOUR (2024)

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: GRAND TOUR (2024) Director: Miguel Gomes Writers: Telmo Churro; Maureen Fazendeiro; Miguel Gomes Cast: Gonçalo Waddington; Crista Alfaiate; Cláudio da Silva SYNOPSIS Edward, civil servant, flees fiancée Molly on their wedding day in Rangoon, 1917. His travels replace panic with melancholy. Molly, set on marriage, amused by his escape, trails him across Asia. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Instagram Follow us on X Follow us on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on LinkedIn Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    1min
  7. Charles Poekel

    23/12/2025

    Charles Poekel

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the new classic (if that's a thing) CHRISTMAS, AGAIN (2014) and director Charles Poekel. He's hosting screenings ten years on for the film, saying it's found a new audience, and it's easy to see why. The film captures Christmas in New York City -- or at least what it looks like in reality versus postcards -- and starred talent that exploded in the indie film scene in the last decade. It's the perfect time to catch up with its director. In this episode, Charles and I discuss: what makes a great Christmas film and why CHRISTMAS, AGAIN fits that bill;how he got involved in filmmaking;the truly insane story of creating your own tree stand and running it for FIVE years as a gateway for the film;how the film is a great case study for his students;how the film heralded so much great indie film talent for the subsequent decade;that film v. digital is such a project-specific question;who should be attending film school?the "everyone is a filmmaker" phrase and what that means for students and emerging filmmakers;what's next for him and avoiding cultural references in a film so that it ages better, especially for Christmas films. Charles' Indie Film Highlight: OBEX (2025) dir. by Albert Birney Memorable Quotes: "Every year there's a little bit of bump in people who discover it." "People really appreciate the familiarity of Christmas tree sellers in New York."  "There'd be a lot of complications trying to shoot a film like this at somebody else's Christmas tree stand."  "And then the third year we shot the film at the Christmas tree stand while it was open. So we had people working there selling trees while we were shooting. Our actors would stop and sell trees if customers came up right." "I was working documentaries. I'd never made a feature. I hadn't even made a fiction short since college at this point. My boss very smartly at the time was like, don't make a short, make a feature. And I was like I don't even know what I'm doing." "And I've shot some stuff on an iPhone and even if someone gave me a million dollars, I wouldn't have shot it on 35 because it just wasn't the right thing to do."  "Shooting on film is more than just like an aesthetic look of a one frame versus another frame." "Especially with cinephiles, we all kinda approach this as like, film is a holy thing that we have and let's treat it that way." Links: Follow Charles On Instagram Watch CHRISTMAS, AGAIN (2014) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    29min
  8. Indie Film Highlight: CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER'S POINT

    21/12/2025

    Indie Film Highlight: CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER'S POINT

    Watch This Episode On YouTube Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER'S POINT (2024) Director: Tyler Taormina Writers: Eric Berger; Tyler Taormina; Kevin Anton Cast: Matilda Fleming; Francesca Scorsese; Maria Dizzia SYNOPSIS A family gathers on Christmas Eve for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own. Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow us on Letterboxd Follow us on Instagram Follow us on X Follow us on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on LinkedIn Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    2min
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Sobre

A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

Informações

  • Criado por
    Benjamin Duchek
  • Anos de atividade
    2023 - 2026
  • Episódios
    86
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Benjamin Duchek 2023
  • Site do podcast
    First Time Go
  • Fornecedor
    Benjamin Duchek