First Time Go

Benjamin Duchek
  • 0.0 (0)
  • FILM INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
First Time Go
DIRECTOR'S CLUB

Listen to all the episodes before anyone else!

0,99 €/month or 14,99 €/year

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

  1. Indie Film Highlight: SOY NERO (2016)

    4 DAYS AGO

    Indie Film Highlight: SOY NERO (2016)

    Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOY NERO (2016). Director: Rafi Pitts Written By: Rafi Pitts; Razvan Radulescu Cast: Rory Cochrane; Khleo Thomas; Michael Harney SYNOPSIS Nero, a deported Mexican, eventually succeeds in making it back to Los Angeles. Unsatisfied with being an undocumented worker, Nero joins the U.S. Army to obtain citizenship. Watch the episode on YouTube 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 Subscribe to our YouTube channel Support the Podcast Through Membership Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    5 min
  2. Matt Cascella & Jen Cordery

    22 OCT

    Matt Cascella & Jen Cordery

    Let's throw it back to how things used to be -- date night movies, romcoms, leaving the theater feeling good about what you just watched. I don't want to get too nostalgic about the past because right now we have access to so many great films from so many new creators than we ever had before, but we can all agree (I hope) that we need more films like HANGDOG (2023) in theaters. And thanks to filmmakers Matt Cascella (director + writer) and Jen Cordery (writer), we can. I would go see HANGDOG in a theater, but if circumstances don't permit that, it's available for streaming starting today...on October 22, 2024. In this conversation, we discuss: how the couple got started in filmmaking; what it's like for couples to work together in indie filmmaking and the importance of setting boundaries; the importance of understanding relationship dynamics led to a fresh authenticity in HANGDOG that you rarely find and how they decided to make the film; their indie film release plan, with a significant theater run before its streaming release on October 22, 2024; how many people miss these types of films. And if you took a date to HANGDOG, let me know. I think it's the right move. Jen's Indie Film Highlight: Kelly O'Sullivan Matt's Indie Film Highlight: Corey Gegner; Rob Bone Stream HANGDOG now Links: HANGDOG Website Follow HANGDOG On Instagram Big Shins Films Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    25 min
  3. Matthew Heineman

    15 OCT

    Matthew Heineman

    There is no other filmmaker working today that personifies being the "man in the arena", as Theodore Roosevelt so eloquently put it, than Matthew Heineman. His films have ranged from the frontlines of wars to the sweet and touching portrayal of Jon Batiste in AMERICAN SYMPHONY (2023). Just making one such film could be a career pinnacle -- Matthew has directed 14 wholly original, extraordinary special artistic contributions to the medium -- and he's here to share the details. In this episode, we discuss: you don't just walk onto the stage of Radio City Music Hall, in a special operations team room, or in a emergency room during COVID -- these are remarkably unique places. How did he manage that?how he is comfortable in such a wide array of different topics;whether he would recommend his path (he says it's important to have a "curiosity about the world");how his first film, OUR TIME (2009) was in a way his film school;how he sees the difference between journalism and documentary;his process regarding trust between filmmaker and subject ("trust is everything"), and he talks about how he earned the trust for the closeups in AMERICAN SYMPHONY;the story behind the creation of AMERICAN SYMPHONY;his reaction to the whiplash of the media regarding its chances at the Oscars and how he views awards as a filmmaker; Matt talks movingly about his relationship with awards as his career has evolved;"why do we make art and who do we make art for are questions that we constantly need to be asking";his relationship with the art of filmmaking, his friendship with Roger Deakins, and the importance of sound;what's next for one of the most talented filmmakers we have in both the narrative and documentary world and how he is able to toggle between both successfully. Matt's Indie Film Highlight: MURDERBALL (2005) dir. by Dana Adam Shapiro; Henry-Alex Rubin; SHERMAN'S MARCH (1986) dir. by Ross McElwee Links: Our Time Projects Follow Matthew on Instagram Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    32 min
  4. Indie Film Highlight: SOMEWHERE (2010)

    13 OCT

    Indie Film Highlight: SOMEWHERE (2010)

    Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: SOMEWHERE (2010). Director: Sofia Coppola Screenplay By: Sofia Coppola Cast: Stephen Dorff; Elle Fanning SYNOPSIS While recuperating from an injury at Beverly Hills' famed Chateau Marmont, bad-boy actor Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) receives a visit from his young daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning). Though his mind is not on parenting, she has a way of inserting herself into her father's daily routine. Slowly, the two bond, forcing Johnny to re-examine his life of excesses and his relationship with Cleo. Watch the episode on YouTube 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 Subscribe to our YouTube channel Support the Podcast Through Membership Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    2 min
  5. Sian Astor-Lewis

    8 OCT

    Sian Astor-Lewis

    The debut feature, TO NOWHERE (2020), of Sian Astor-Lewis is one of the best films I've seen this year, and she's here to talk about it. It's available now for streaming on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Sian-Astor-Lewis/dp/B0CWN8K3M3/), Tubi (https://tubitv.com/movies/100025711/to-nowhere), and Apple. The story of how she directed such a moody, original, character-driven film is an extraordinary one. The sets and vision are big, bold, and she's here to talk about it. In this episode, we discuss: how she got a start in filmmaking; what it's like when the distance between what you dreamed about and what you're doing (making your first feature) close to zero; how you create characters that come across as amazingly authentic; the importance of casting in character study filmmaking; how she made the universe of TO NOWHERE so large even with a lower budget; ** the problems with trusting the wrong producer in indie films (this happens more often than we know) ** what it's like being a female director; the environment in the UK for an indie filmmaker; and what's next for this character-driven filmmaker. Sian's Indie Film Highlight: FEMME (2023) dir. by Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping (https://boxd.it/ASQw); LA CHIMERA (2024) dir. by Alice Rohrwacher (https://boxd.it/vzVi) Links: Watch TO NOWHERE (2020) Now On Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Sian-Astor-Lewis/dp/B0CWN4815B/) TO NOWHERE Website (https://tonowherefilm.com/) Follow Sian Astor-Lewis on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sianastorlewis/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    38 min
  6. Indie Film Highlight: THE LONELIEST PLANET (2011)

    6 OCT

    Indie Film Highlight: THE LONELIEST PLANET (2011)

    Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: THE LONELIEST PLANET (2011). Director: Julia Loktev Screenplay By: Julia Loktev Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal; Hani Furstenberg SYNOPSIS An incident on the trail tests two lovers' (Gael García Bernal, Hani Furstenberg) relationship as they take a guided hiking tour through the Caucasus Mountains. Watch the episode on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Q2X1SaKWw7A) Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@firstgopod Follow us on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/9BMgH Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firstgopod/ Follow us on X https://twitter.com/firstgopod Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/firstgopod Follow us on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@firstgopod Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/98995039/admin/feed/posts/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@firstgopod) Support the Podcast Through Membership (https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9ddc691d-2273-47d5-a1b9-5a4acb0670f5/exclusive-content) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    2 min
  7. Hoku Uchiyama (Re-Release)

    4 OCT

    Hoku Uchiyama (Re-Release)

    Welcome to spooky season in this re-release of my conversation with filmmaker Hoku Uchiyama. Published last year while he was crowdfunding for WHITCH, we talk about: his filmmaking in the Bay Area starting when he was around 10; his new project, a horror comedy short; his fantastic team and whether you could put together such a cool group of people if you were a horrible person (his answer: probably not); behavior standards in indie film, the constraints and excitements of a five minute project, and more. Links: Hoku Uchiyama's Website (https://www.hokuuchiyama.com/) Hoku Uchiyama's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hoku_chan/) WHITCH (https://seedandspark.com/fund/whitch#story) Photo By Victor Giovanny Parra (https://www.instagram.com/victorgparra/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    21 min
  8. Vladan Nikolić

    29 SEPT

    Vladan Nikolić

    Be prepared to get a bill from The New School after this episode -- it's an hour with Vlad Nikolić, dean of the School of Media Studies at The New School. In this episode we talk about: how he got started in filmmaking and his advice for new students ("make something every day"; "watch films every day"); what the average day is like as dean of media studies at The New School; can all indie filmmakers be teachers? how does he feel about gen z as filmmakers? he talks about the ethos of The New School; would he recommend film school?; how does The New School handle admissions? what would his advice be for a potential applicant?; are students fearless enough? I talk about the boundary pushing of filmmakers like Christian Kamaal (https://www.firstgopod.com/episodes/christiank); the importance of nuance in filmmaking; shout out to the brilliant Hannah Fidell; (https://newschoolmediastudies.org/alumni/hannah-fidell/) the career progression for film school graduates -- working as a PA or starting their own YouTube channel? discussing the differences between NY and LA for independent film; what's next for him? he's excited about AI; the equipment isn't as important as the story. Apologies to Will Mustin (https://www.firstgopod.com/episodes/willmustin) -- he's shooting in 16mm, not 35. Links: Vladan Nikolić Biography (https://www.newschool.edu/media-studies/faculty/vladan-nikolic/) Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

    59 min
See All (117)

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Benjamin Duchek
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Benjamin Duchek 2023
  • Show Website
    First Time Go
  • Provider
    Benjamin Duchek

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada