KUCI: Film School

Music Within / Steven Sawalich Interview

An interview with Steven Sawalich the director of Music Within, the true story of Richard Pimentel, a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past, who returns from Vietnam severely hearing-impaired and finds a new purpose in his landmark efforts on the behalf of Americans With Disabilities. Guided through the journey by Pimentel's (Ron Livingston) acerbic sense of humor, we see a world that through other eyes would appear devastatingly tragic. Instead, Richard uses it to fuel his plight for the underdog. Music Within won the Audience Award for Narrative Feature Film (Steven Sawalich) at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival.

Kurt Cobain About a Son / AJ Schnack Interview

Stephen Duncombe / Taking Celebrity Seriously

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars / Zach Niles Interview

Killer of Sheep / Charles Burnett Interview

Manda Bala / Jason Kohn Interview

Self Medicated / Monty Lapica Interview

An interview with Monty Lapica director of Self Medicated. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lapica moved to Los Angeles after his high school graduation to pursue a lifelong goal of becoming a filmmaker. During his time at Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television, Lapica began outlining what would later become his first feature film, Self Medicated, which he wrote, produced, directed and acted in. Based on true events, Self Medicated takes place on the edges of Las Vegas, where a 17-year-old's life is spiraling out of control, descending into a world of drugs and violence. It is the most award-winning independent film of the year, garnering 39 international film awards

Larry Flynt: The Right to be Left Alone / Joan Brooker-Marks Interview

Chops / Bruce Broder Interview

An interview with Bruce Broder director of Chops, the story of a group of kids, born with extraordinary musical ability, who learn to make the most of their gifts in an acclaimed public school jazz program in Jacksonville, Florida. From their early, squeaky scales to their soaring improvisational solos, we have a front-row seat for their fascinating transformation. The film culminates at the Essentially Ellington Festival, the annual competition of high school jazz bands from across the country hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center and its artistic director Wynton Marsalis. Chops will screen at The International Documentary Association's DocuWeek in Los Angeles August 17-23.

Hear and Now / Irene Taylor Brodsky Interview