Andrew DeYoung is the director of the magnificent Friendship, starring Tim Robinson as a suburban dad who becomes platonically smitten with a cool new neighbor played by Paul Rudd. We talk about men's struggle to stay connected, a dark theory about one of the central relationships in the film, and something audiences have guessed at but that wasn't intentional. Friendship is his directorial feature debut, and he was delighted by the support he received. Andrew DeYoung photo by Monica Schipper....
Jun 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 189
A lot of things have happened to Freddy MacDonald that aren't supposed to happen anymore. His short film "Sew Torn" got him into AFI and scored him a meeting with Joel Coen, who urged him to turn it into a full-length film. He did. Sew Torn, out now, is the story of a seamstress who comes across a drug deal gone awry on a beautiful, isolated Swiss road. She must decide on one of three courses of action. Things spin out from there. You can read a bit more about Freddy MacDonald and watch and excl...
May 15, 2025•39 min•Ep. 188
Joe List and Tom Dustin both started out as Boston-area comedians more than 20 years ago. They quickly became friends, drinking buddies and roommates, with a shared dream of moving to New York City to pursue comedy greatness. List followed through on the dream. He got sober, scored a slew of TV appearances and standup specials, and started a thriving podcast, Tuesdays With Stories, with his friend and fellow comedian Mark Normand. He's also just directed his first film — a documentary — about hi...
May 08, 2025•39 min•Ep. 187
Sail away with us as we discuss 'Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary,' the new film from director Garret Price. Part of Bill Simmons' Music Box series, the doc explores the rise—and modern-day reevaluation—of the breezy, easy-listening rock that emerged from Southern California in the late '70s and early '80s. Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer Guest co-host: Jason Betrue Send us a note at actualfactspod@gmail.com Our show's theme music is by Yalls: https://www.dancasey.me/ For more from MovieMaker Ma...
Dec 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 186
We discuss ‘The House From …,’ a fun new documentary about iconic homes from movies and TV shows like ‘Home Alone,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Friday,’ ‘The Outsiders,’ ‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’, ‘A Christmas Story,’ and many more. The film looks at the lives of the homeowners who navigate the unique challenges and joys of living in pop culture landmarks. We wrap up the episode with an interview with the film’s director, Tommy Avallone. Actual Facts is hosted by Eric Steuer Guest co-host: Jason Betrue Sen...
Nov 26, 2024•58 min•Ep. 184
We talk with Benjamin Ree about his documentary 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' (2024). The film tells the story of Mats Steen, a young man in Norway born with a severe form of muscular dystrophy that left him physically isolated for most of his life. Through the online multiplayer game 'World of Warcraft,' however, Mats found connection with a community of people around the world. Unbeknownst to his family, he had created a second life in the game as his character, Ibelin, building deep friends...
Nov 14, 2024•26 min•Ep. 183
Joining us is Nicholas Ma to discuss his documentary 'Leap of Faith' (2024), which follows twelve diverse Christian leaders from Grand Rapids, Michigan, as they gather for a series of retreats led by Michael Gulker, organizer of a project called the Colossian Forum. Over a year, these pastors—five women and seven men from various denominations and with differing beliefs and approaches—engage in deep conversations on divisive issues, exploring perspectives shaped by their faith and experiences. W...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Ep. 182
We speak with Nick August-Perna about his documentary 'Tell Them You Love Me' (2023). The film explores the complex and controversial case of Anna Stubblefield, a former Rutgers ethics professor who was convicted in 2015 for the sexual assault of Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal Black man with cerebral palsy. Stubblefield, a white woman, met Johnson while working to improve his communication skills using Facilitated Communication, a controversial and often disputed method in which a facilitator help...
Oct 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 181
Damien Leone is the director of four films that star the mugging, murdering Art the Clown — All Hallows Eve and Terrifer , Terrifier 2 and the new Terrifier 3. Even if you've never seen his films, you've probably read about them, because of the hype that surrounds the walkouts and episodes that inevitably accompany screenings. We talk about making a $250,000 movie that earns $15 million, the Terrifer 3 scene inspired by American Psycho , and creating the best slasher villain since Freddy Krueger...
Oct 11, 2024•32 min•Ep. 185
Ed Pressman was one of Hollywood's most impressive producers — a man who worked on films from American Psycho to The Crow to Wall Street to cult classics like The Phantom of the Paradise and Bad Lieutenant . His son Sam Pressman took over Pressman Films when his father died last year at 79. Sam Pressman has bold ideas about how to keep making daring films, and one of those ideas is turning to a favorite practice of scrappy DIY filmmakers, crowdfunding. But why is a business known for making clas...
Oct 04, 2024•50 min•Ep. 180
Clair Titley joins to discuss her documentary 'The Contestant' (2023). The film tells the surreal story of Nasubi, an aspiring Japanese comedian who, in 1998 at the age of 22, was selected for a reality TV show produced by the team behind the popular series 'Denpa Shonen.' Stripped of his clothes and placed in a tiny apartment, Nasubi was tasked with surviving solely on magazine sweepstakes winnings until he amassed 1 million yen in prizes. For 15 months, he lived in isolation, unaware that his ...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min•Ep. 179
We talk to filmmaker Elisa Levine about her documentary 'Sweetheart Deal.' The film tells the story of four women—Kristine, Krista, Tammy, and Sara—who navigate life on Seattle's infamous Aurora Avenue, a street packed with traffic, motels, and liquor stores, and known for being one of the city's main hubs for street-based sex work. 'Sweetheart Deal' explores the women’s complex relationships with each other, their families, and a man named Elliott, a self-proclaimed healer who offers the women ...
Sep 19, 2024•24 min•Ep. 178
Micah Khan is one of our favorite people in moviemaking. After years of making shorts and writing his own scripts, he's making his directorial debut on The Weekly World News film THE ZOMBIE WEDDING, the story of the first ever human-zombie wedding, with an ensemble cast that includes Cheri Oteri, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Seth Gilliam, Heather Mattarazo, Vincent Pastore, and many more. We talk with Micah about how he brought his love of visual storytelling, even when time and budget are tight. Hoste...
Sep 17, 2024•35 min•Ep. 177
Jeremy Saulnier has done it all with Rebel Ridge. It's an action thriller Netflix hit... but also a smart indictment of a law enforcement policy almost everyone hates. And a movie for grown-ups. And a win for the kind of mid-budget movies that aren't supposed to be hits any more. But as we talk about Saulnier's rise as a filmmaker, we see that he's very much paid his dues in the micro-budget indie world. Here is Jeremy Saulnier's very frank 2014 piece on the making of his breakthrough film, Blue...
Sep 11, 2024•33 min•Ep. 176
We speak with filmmaker Alice Gu about her 2020 documentary 'The Donut King.' The film tells the story of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who escaped the Khmer Rouge and built a donut empire in California in the 1970s. Ted's success helped hundreds of fellow refugees start their own shops, transforming the West Coast's donut industry. But as Ted enjoyed the American Dream, personal struggles with gambling and infidelity led to a dramatic fall from grace. In our conversation, Alice reflects on the ...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min•Ep. 175
We talk with acclaimed filmmaker Ondi Timoner about her deeply personal 2022 documentary, 'Last Flight Home.' The film chronicles the last days of Ondi’s father, Eli Timoner, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded a successful airline in the 1970s. 'Last Flight Home' captures the final weeks of 92-year-old Eli’s life after he decides to end it under California’s End of Life Option Act. The film offers a profoundly intimate portrayal of love, loss, and the courage it takes to say...
Aug 22, 2024•24 min•Ep. 174
We’re joined by sister-and-brother filmmaking duo Rebecca and Pete Davis, whose new documentary, 'Join or Die,' examines the pivotal role that joining clubs and civic groups plays in shaping the future of our society. Drawing on the work of renowned social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking book 'Bowling Alone' exposed the alarming decline of community connections, 'Join or Die' offers profound insights into the current crisis facing our democracy. The film combines Putnam’s story wit...
Aug 08, 2024•24 min•Ep. 173
Elgin James, co-creator and showrunner of the FX hit Mayans MC, is a former member of an anti-racist gang whose Hollywood rise coincided with a prison sentence. He'll share his insights next week at the Austin Film Festival's Ghost Ranch Writer's Retreat , open to rising writers who want to seek inspiration in the same land that was the longtime home of Georgia O'Keeffe and provided crucial locations for Oppenheimer . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 06, 2024•41 min•Ep. 172
Hit Man star Glen Powell and director Richard Linklater talk about co-writing their story of a quiet college professor who goes undercover to impersonate a hitman and catch people looking for hired killers. He ends up falling in love. We talk about Steely Dan, submitting to passion to become the person you want to be, thinking, overthinking, and sex scenes. You can read our print version of this interview here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 05, 2024•51 min•Ep. 171
Vera Drew is the creator of The People's Joker , which evolved from an attempt to re-edit Todd Phillip's 2019 into its own completely original work of art — a very affectionate parody of Batman mythology and all the ideas it takes for granted. Combining comedy, animation, and Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher's flair for cartoonish drama, it's a punkish, dreamy dismantling and rebuilding of Gotham as we know it, made with verve and daring. We talk with Drew about making a microbudget masterpiece, d...
Apr 12, 2024•42 min•Ep. 170
Some people think of virtual reality as an escape from actual reality. But helping you escape reality is the opposite of what Felix Lajeunesse and Paul Raphaël hope to do through their immersive virtual reality company, Felix & Paul Studios. The Emmy-winning Montreal-based studio takes audiences to places they might otherwise never go — to the International Space Station, inside the Oval Office, even back in time. You can watch Inside Felix & Paul Studios here. Hosted on Acast. See acast...
Feb 05, 2024•59 min•Ep. 169
Coss Marte created a prison-based workout program in solitary confinement, then turned it into a thriving business called Conbody that employs ex-inmates. Their recidivism rate is zero. Debra Granik, the brilliant Oscar-nominated director of films including Winter's Bone and Leave No Trace, tells the story in Conbody vs Everybody, premiering today at Sundance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 23, 2024•39 min•Ep. 168
MovieMaker Magazine's documentary podcast Actual Facts is back to talk docs! Eric and Jason discuss 'American Pain,' a film that tells the story of twin brothers and bodybuilders Chris and Jeff George, who operated a notorious network of pain clinics in Florida, raking in millions by prescribing and dispensing large quantities of opioids with reckless abandon. The film's director, Darren Foster, stops by to chat. Hosts: Eric Steuer and Jason Betrue Theme music: Yalls ( https://yalls.bandcamp.com...
Jan 07, 2024•51 min•Ep. 167
Cory Choy's Esme, My Love is a mother-daughter thriller, set in the wilds of upstate New York and powered by visual and auditory experimentation. Choy relied not just on his extensive experience as a sound designer (he runs NYC's Silver Sound ) but also on his own life experiences, from recording music with his friends in his early teens to being a parent to listening to supernatural stories. Esme, My Love is now available on your favorite VOD platform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Dec 21, 2023•42 min•Ep. 166
Brian Helgeland has won an Oscar for the screenplay of L.A. Confidential and was nominated again for Mystic River . He wrote and directed films including Payback , A Knights Tale and 42 . But the film he always wanted to make is Finestkind , inspired by his experience on a fishing boat off the coast of his Massachusetts hometown. It's now out on Paramount+. Photo by Maarten De Boer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 20, 2023•46 min•Ep. 165
Filmmaker Sharon "Rocky" Roggio is a lesbian filmmaker who hopes to someday change her Christian pastor father's mind about homosexuality. Like many Christians, he believes that the Bible condemns it. But her new documentary, 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture , argues that mistranslations at a 1946 gathering led to widespread misunderstandings used to justify bigotry and violence. It's a scholarly, fascinating film, but also an achingly personal one. Roggio takes a love-your-enemies ...
Nov 16, 2023•34 min•Ep. 164
John Carney and Gary Clark tell stories of scrappy amateurs trying to break into the music industry — because they've both been there. Flora and Son is about a working-class young Irish woman (Eve Hewson, magnetic) who picks up a guitar for her son, and ends up learning to play it herself with help from an American teaching lessons online (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Because Carney is also the writer-director of the gorgeous Once and Sing Street, you can be assured that Flora and Son will make your h...
Nov 08, 2023•33 min•Ep. 163
Cinematographer Steven Holleran doesn't do anything the easy way. For A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love on Election Night , he shot one continuous 90-minute film while racing down Sunset Boulevard. For Missing , he handed off cameras to the actors. And for his latest project, Sympathy for the Devil , he found ways to make a car ride with Nicholas Cage and Joel Kinnaman freakishly compelling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 28, 2023•38 min•Ep. 162
Extraction 2 director Sam Hargrave thought long and hard about how to top the 12-minute nonstop action sequence in the first Extraction , and thought of one way to do it when he saw a weather forecast calling for snow: "What if we light Chris Hemsworth on fire?" Here's our full talk with Hargrave about stunts, Oscars, the writer's strike, and yes, fire. And also the insane prison break sequence. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out our previous interview with Sam Hargrave about 2020's...
Jun 21, 2023•32 min•Ep. 161
The new doc IT'S BASIC examines how the idea of Universal Basic Income – giving people money to do with as they please —plays out in the real world. The doc by Marc Levin explores how innovators like former Stockton, California mayor Michael Tubbs have helped introduce programs that get money directly into the hands of those who need it. What do they do with this money? It's not what cynics would expect. Pictured: Marc Levin, left, and Michael Tubbs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Jun 13, 2023•42 min•Ep. 160
