Behind The Lens

debbie lynn elias

Join noted film critic debbie lynn elias and a line-up of talented co-hosts and informed guests each week as she goes BEHIND THE LENS and below the line with in-depth looks at films and filmmaking with the movers and shakers and up and comers of the industry, along with movie reviews, interviews, box office round-ups, awards, festival coverage, specialty segments like Tech Talk, Legalese and Classic Corner, and more every Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET - only on Adrenaline Radio!

  1. 6d ago

    BEHIND THE LENS #525: Featuring Michael Glover Smith and Douglas Bremner

    It's another week of BEHIND THE LENS shining a spotlight on DANCES WITH FILMS and a couple of the wonderful films and filmmakers in this year's festival, namely HEKLA and w/d MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG and w/d DOUGLAS BREMNER. First up – MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and HEKLA! HEKLA is a comedy/drama about the emotional cost of pursuing a creative life. Set over one hectic day in Chicago, it explores how ambition, identity, and vulnerability collide when you're chasing something as personal – and uncertain – as an acting career. Hekla Gudmunsdottir (Elizabeth Stam), a determined actress, races through auditions, breakups, and self-doubt, risking her heart and career to claim her voice and step fully into the artist and woman she's meant to be: Hekla goes on four auditions, gets new headshots, and plays Lady Macbeth in a dive bar, all while attempting to keep intrusive thoughts of a recently ended relationship at bay. Beneath the humor and dramatic momentum lies a story about the importance of showing up for yourself, even when the world isn't clapping for you yet. Shifting gears, and I do mean shifting, we move into a medical legal tale told from a very unique perspective – that of the medical expert. THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG is inspired by a true story involving writer/director DOUG BREMNER. In addition to being a filmmaker, Doug is also a professor of psychiatry and a medical researcher. He did brain imaging research on the effects of an acne medication, isotretinoin (Accutane), on the brain, and as a result became an expert witness in multi-district litigation related to depression and suicide in teenagers who had taken the drug. The research was funded by private donations from affected families. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    1h 43m

  2. Jun 15

    BEHIND THE LENS #524: Featuring Jay Silverman

    Last week was all about Tribeca Film Festival on BEHIND THE LENS and some wonderful animated short films that had their premieres there. This week it's all about Dances With Films, which starts this week on June 18 and runs through June 28 at the TCL Chinese Theatre complex in Hollywood. And there are some great films for you to look forward to seeing, starting with the opening night film – the world premiere of YALE from director JAY SILVERMAN. I love this film! YALE is based on a true story about screenwriter Van Billet’s maternal grandfather. When he first learned about his family lore as a young teen, he couldn't believe it was true and knew he had to write about it. YALE is directed by Jay Silverman and written by Van Billet and stars Kevin Dunn, Caitlin McGee, Kathleen Gati, Rachael Harris, Dominic Leeder, Nene Nwoko, and Benjamin Mackey. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    1h 1m

  3. Jun 8

    BEHIND THE LENS #523: Featuring Sarah Affleck and Jesse Weglein

    It's all about animation and Tribeca Film Festival this week on BEHIND THE LENS! And not just any animation, but world premiere animation shorts – DEAR UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS and ROAR, both animated gems led by filmmakers with a Pixar pedigree – animation editor SARAH AFFLECK and writer/director JESSE WEGLEIN, respectively. First up, we're gonna roar with writer/director/editor/dp/and songwriter JESSE WEGLEIN and his beautiful short ROAR! ROAR follows a neurodivergent young girl with selective mutism who, after being uprooted from Tokyo to San Francisco, must navigate a chaotic new culture and an isolating silence by transforming her internal K-Pop soundtrack into a vibrant visual language to find her place—and her new roar. Then, more animation goodness for you from animation editor SARAH AFFLECK and DEAR UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS. DEAR UPSTAIRS NEIGHBORS is the fantastical and all-too-relatable story of one woman's epic battle against her noisy neighbors for a good night's sleep. As I told Sarah Affleck, this short from director Connie He could directly pertain to my condo neighbors, and I'm betting some of your neighbors, too! This is one high-energy, FUN, short film! http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    1h 25m

  4. Jun 1

    BEHIND THE LENS #522: Featuring Katie Cassidy and Jon Keeyes

    Welcome back to a new week and a new month of BEHIND THE LENS! I've got a terrific show for you today, thanks to actor and producer KATIE CASSIDY and director JON KEEYES talking all things SPEED DEMON! And what a film it is! A runaway train. A demon named Asmodeus. A nun called upon to perform an exorcism. On paper, it sounds like the kind of high-concept supernatural action-horror mash-up that could easily veer into camp. Instead, director Jon Keeyes and star/producer Katie Cassidy deliver something far more compelling. Beneath the demonic possession, biblical imagery, and escalating terror lies a deeply human story about grief, addiction, faith, and self-discovery. And at the center of the story is Sister Lu. The official synopsis of SPEED DEMON is: When Father Novak and Sister Lu board a train from Montreal to New York City, they aren't prepared for the danger and evil that would pursue them. After the train is taken over by the demon Asmodeus, Father Novak and Sister Lu must battle possessed passengers on a runaway train, with Sister Lu forced to overcome her faltering faith and perform the first exorcism done by a nun. SPEED DEMON is directed by JON KEEYES, written by Domenico Salvaggio, and stars Katie Cassidy, William H. Macy, Allen McCullough, Sari Arambulo, Jeremy Matthew Feight, Sky Vaux Fuller (scene stealer!!), Noriko Sato, Michael John Importa, and John Patrick Jordan. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    43 min

  5. May 18

    BEHIND THE LENS #521: Featuring Jing Ai

    This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we turn our attention to the Miami art world and first-time feature director JING AI NG with her film FORGE. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from a story perspective and from a directorial and production perspective. As I've been seeing in quite a few films of late from first-time feature directors, once again, production values are high, but story and character are at the center of it all. On seeing FORGE, I would never believe that this was Jing's first feature directorial effort. And she is the screenwriter, as well! FORGE is written and directed by JING AI NG and stars Kelly Marie Tran, Andie Ju, Brandon Soo Hoo, and Edmund Donovan, among others. Some fabulous artisans showcasing their talents on FORGE, including cinematographer Leo Purman, editor Briana Chmielewski, production designer Arielle Ness-Cohn, and composers Marco Carrion & Ian Chang. BUT I'm not only talking about FORGE today, how about some DUTTON RANCH?? And yes, I did watch the first two episodes four times on Friday, starting at midnight on Paramount+ when it released, and then on linear television at 8pm Friday night on Paramount Network. This is THE series to watch. This is everything you love about "Yellowstone" and more. Fingers crossed for a Season Two announcement sooner rather than later. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    53 min

  6. May 11

    BEHIND THE LENS #520: Featuring John Michael Kennedy

    What a terrific show I've got for you this week on BEHIND THE LENS as I get to introduce you to a wonderful British filmmaker, writer/director JOHN MICHAEL KENNEDY, who makes his narrative feature directorial debut with the mystery thriller, AN ENEMY WITHIN. Not only is this John's narrative feature directorial debut, but as I found out, this interview that you are about to hear was his very first interview, something I found surprising given the excellence of his short films. So this is a real treat for all of you – and for me. There is something deliciously venomous pulsing through AN ENEMY WITHIN, writer-director John Michael Kennedy's tightly coiled debut narrative feature. Part Gothic chamber thriller, part psychological standoff, part family bloodsport, Kennedy constructs a sharply staged mystery where inherited privilege, buried resentment, emotional insecurity, and self-delusion become loaded weapons aimed squarely at everyone trapped inside a sprawling English estate. And the beauty of Kennedy's film lies in the fact that virtually nobody inside that house deserves our trust. Written & Directed By John Michael Kennedy, AN ENEMY WITHIN stars William Moseley, Patrick Baladi, Kim Spearman, Alexander Lincoln, Tristan Gemmill, Kate Isset, Toyin Omari-Kinch, Frances Wilding, Mollie Dorman, and Harrison Daniels. The film's cinematographer is Lorenzo Levrini, the editor is Gustav Lindquist, and the composer is Caleb Blood. A couple of other films I briefly want to mention to you today that are absolute "Must See" films. First is THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, which is a tale that follows George Hardy (Hugh Jackman), a shepherd who loves to read murder mysteries to his sheep, never suspecting that they can understand him. When George is found dead under mysterious circumstances, the sheep decide to solve the crime themselves, even if it means leaving their meadow for the first time and facing the fact that the human world isn't as simple as it appears in books. The other film you must see, also based on a novel, is REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES on Netflix, starring Sally Field as an older widow named Tova, whose life is changed by a friendship with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus, and Cameron, a new-in-town employee looking for his father, played by Lewis Pullman. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    1h 1m

  7. May 4

    BEHIND THE LENS #519: Featuring Renny Harlin

    I'm very excited about this week's BEHIND THE LENS because I get to talk about RENNY HARLIN and his new film DEEP WATER! After 33 years of chatting with Renny and talking about his films, he truly is not only one of my favorite filmmakers, but one of my favorite people. His intelligence, his skill, his dedication to the craft of moviemaking and storytelling, his directorial vision, and his kindness. I adore him. Chatting with Renny is always a joy, and no matter how long we talk, it's never long enough. And that's what happened last week when we sat down for an exclusive interview to discuss DEEP WATER. Renny wanted an hour. Publicists said no and offered 4 minutes. I begged and got 15 minutes. BUT, undeterred, when the formal interview (which ran 20 minutes) ended, Renny and I spent another 30 minutes together on our own, talking about the film, filmmaking, and other things. For those who aren't familiar with the film as yet, DEEP WATER is the story of an airline flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai that goes down in the middle of the Pacific. After surviving the crash, the survivors soon discover they're not alone, and they must survive the shark-infested waters. Simple right? Not the way Renny Harlin tells it. DEEP WATER is directed by Renny Harlin, written by Pete Bridges and John Kim, and stars, among others, Aaron Eckhart, Sir Ben Kingsley, Molly Belle Wright, Angus Sampson, Kelly Gale, Elijah Tamati, and Kate Fitzpatrick. Cinematographer is D.J. Stipsen, with editing by Geoff Lamb, with Fernando Velázquez providing the score. I also give you some pearls and fun takeaways from this weekend's TCM Classic Film Festival. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    39 min

  8. Apr 27

    BEHIND THE LENS #518: Featuring David Mackenzie

    As promised, this week on BEHIND THE LENS is all about director DAVID MACKENZIE and his new explosive film, FUZE. Directed by David Mackenzie and written by Ben Hopkins, FUZE boasts an amazing cast – Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Saffron Hocking, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elham Ehsas, and Sam Worthington. Executed with razor-sharp precision, FUZE is a tightly coiled, high-wire heist thriller that unfolds like a cinematic shell game—constantly shifting perspective, redirecting attention, and daring audiences to keep up. Built around the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in London, the film uses its premise not just as a ticking clock, but as the perfect cover for a meticulously orchestrated crime. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur and moral boundaries are crossed, the film deftly propels audiences through a series of calculated twists, delivering a wildly entertaining ride. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com

    32 min
See All (519)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Join noted film critic debbie lynn elias and a line-up of talented co-hosts and informed guests each week as she goes BEHIND THE LENS and below the line with in-depth looks at films and filmmaking with the movers and shakers and up and comers of the industry, along with movie reviews, interviews, box office round-ups, awards, festival coverage, specialty segments like Tech Talk, Legalese and Classic Corner, and more every Monday at 11am PT/2pm ET - only on Adrenaline Radio!

Information

  • Creator
    debbie lynn elias
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    519
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elias Entertainment Network
  • Show Website
    Behind The Lens

You Might Also Like