KUCI: Film School

Punch 9 for Harold Washington / Film School Radio interview with Director Joe Winston

In this epic story of American politics, race, and triumph against all odds, director Joe Winston chronicles the captivating rise, surprising reign, and enduring legacy of Chicago’s first African American Mayor, Harold Washington. Steeped in archival footage capturing a 1980s Chicago rife with corruption and discrimination, PUNCH 9 FOR HAROLD WASHINGTON features candid interviews with Rev. Jesse Jackson, David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett and others on the frontlines and in the backrooms of power as it follows the charismatic politician’s shrewd maneuverings, stinging betrayals, and unlikely victories. Inspiring and compelling, Washington’s journey continues to resonate for a city and nation confronting the same enduring social issues. Director Joe Winston, along with producers Raymond Lambert and Sonya Jackson, premiere the first feature documentary to tell Washington’s story in a moment that could not be more timely. As racism in American politics has taken an ugly turn, while minorities and women are gaining political clout they’ve never had before, a showdown is inevitable. While PUNCH 9 FOR HAROLD WASHINGTON is a thrilling story with unforgettable characters, it’s also a playbook for how to restore our American democracy. Director Joe Winston (What’s the Matter with Kansas, Flannery) joins us to talk about a dynamic, committed reformer, proponent of racial equity and the politician that broke the parade of corrupt, white establishment, racist, machine political hacks.
For news and updates go to: facebook.com/Punch9HaroldWashingtonMovie

The Cannons / Film School Radio interview with Co-directors Steven Hoffner & AJ Messier

THE CANNONS is an immersive feature documentary following the day-to-day lives of Coach Neal Henderson and his team of young African American hockey players in the longest serving minority hockey program in North America, the Fort Dupont Hockey Cannons in Washington DC. The goal of the Cannons is to provide educational purpose and teach young people discipline, via sports activities, to establish self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and to offer an incentive to excel academically. THE CANNONS chronicles one pivotal hockey season, following the lives of two Black teenage hockey players and one legendary coach, in one of America’s toughest neighborhoods: Southeast, Washington DC. Part coming of age story, part social-political commentary on the Black American experience, the film chronicles the Fort Dupont Cannons, one of America's only predominately Black hockey teams, as they must overcome the challenges of life on and off the ice. THE CANNONS is a story about hope; the power of sport; and the pursuit of the American Dream. Co-directors Steven Hoffner and AJ Messier join us for a conversation on the different paths that led them into the lives of Neal Henderson and the remarkable extended family of Cannons’ players, parents, supporters and alums.
For news and screenings go to: thecannonsdocumentary.com

The Sleeping Negro / Film School Radio interview with Director Skinner Myers

Skinner Myers’ debut feature film THE SLEEPING NEGRO Confronted with a series of racially charged incidents, a young black man must overcome rage, alienation, and hopelessness in order to find his own humanity. The young black man, simply identified as “Man,” must resolve the personal meaning of his blackness when his white boss orders him to commit fraud to benefit the corporation. Struggling with an overwhelming sense of shame for going through with the illegal demand, Man seeks consolation by discussing his unease with a black former friend and his white fiancé. In the aftermath of these confusing, frustrating and maddening interactions, Man realizes he’s been looking at his life through the wrong lens. Following on the footsteps of the LA Rebellion filmmakers, Charles Burnett (The Killer of Sheep) and Billy Woodberry (Bless Their Little Hearts), director Skinner Myers tells a very personal and intimate Black story in a radically non-traditional cinematic style as a means to express freely his feelings as a Black man in America. Director, co-producer, writer and lead actor Skinner Myers joins us for a conversation on the production challenges of a filming in Los Angeles on a micro-budget, juggling the responsibilities in front and behind the camera and the significance of author / provocateur James Baldwin.
For news and updates go to: thesleepingnegro.com
For more go to: skinnermyers.com

The Super Bob Einstein Movie / Film School radio interview with Director Danny Gold

From the team behind HBO’s “If You’re Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast” and “The Bronx, USA” HBO’s THE SUPER BOB EINSTEIN MOVIE celebrates the life and legacy of the late actor, writer and producer Bob Einstein. Written, produced, and directed by Danny Gold, THE SUPER BOB EINSTEIN MOVIE features some of Einstein’s greatest comedic contributions, including his iconic alter-ego Super Dave Osborne, his work both behind and in front of the camera on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” and his defining role as the unforgettable Marty Funkhouser on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” THE SUPER BOB EINSTEIN MOVIE explores Einstein’s unlikely discovery and enduring career, sharing the many evolving layers of Einstein’s comedy from the people that knew him best including comedic peers, Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman, Jimmy Kimmel, Norman Lear, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Rob Reiner, Jerry Seinfeld, and Sarah Silverman, as well as many additional friends & family members. Director and producer Danny Gold joins us to talk about one of the most revered comedic talents in the history of television and the brother of another comedic genius, Albert Brooks.
Watch at: hbo.com/movies

Wojnarowicz: F**ck You F*ggot F**ker / FIlm School Radio interview with Director Chris McKim

Wojnarowicz: F**ck You F*ggot F**ker is a fiery and urgent documentary portrait of downtown New York City artist, writer, photographer, and activist David Wojnarowicz. As New York City became the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Wojnarowicz  weaponized his work and waged war against art world’s indifference to the plague until his death from is in 1992 at the age of 37. Exclusive access to his breathtaking body of work - including paintings, journals, and films - reveals how Wojnarowicz emptied his life into his art and activism. Rediscovered answering machine tape recordings and intimate recollections from Fran Lebowitz, Gracie Mansion, Peter Hujar, and other friends and family help present a stirring portrait of this fiercely political, unapologetically queer artist. Director Chris McKim (Out of Iraq, Tammy Faye: Death Defying) joins us for a conversation on the life and times of artist David Wojnarowicz, why his art defied easy consumption and how his fury defined his art and challenged the straight world’s cruel ambivalence during the scourge of the AIDS epidemic.
For news and screenings go to: kinolorber.com/film/wojnarowicz

AGNES / FIlm School Radio interview with Director Mickey Reece

From the filmmakers who brought you CLIMATE OF A HUNTER, we are excited to share Mickey Reece’s new film AGNES, which will be open theatrically and on VOD starting December 10 this year. AGNES is the story of a nun’s disturbing behavior as it sparks rumors of demonic possession at a remote Roman Catholic Carmelite convent. When a priest in waiting and his disillusioned mentor are sent to investigate, their methods backfire, leaving a wake of terror and trauma. After attempting to exorcise the dark entity from Sister Agnes, Father Benjamin and Father Donaghue realize they’re dealing with something much darker. Anchored by an array of captivating performances from Molly C. Quinn, Ben Hall, Sean Gunn, Jake Horowitz, and Chris Browning along with Agnes’ haunting images will stay with you long after the final credits. AGNES co-writer (John Selvidge) and director Mickey Reece joins us for a conversation on his expansive perspective on faith and religious dogma and how he has brilliantly subverted traditional horror story cliches with humor and humanity, turning them into something much more compelling.
For news and updates go to: magnetreleasing.com/agnes
Theatrical screenings at: magnetreleasing.com/agnes/screenings
To watch at home: magnetreleasing.com/agnes/watch-at-home

The Murders at Starved Rock / Film School Radio interview with Director Jody McVeigh-Schultz

THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK explores this 60-year-old murder mystery. The convicted killer, Chester Weger, maintains his innocence after sixty years in prison and seeks exoneration. Haunted by the murders in his hometown, David Raccuglia has spent the last 15 years delving into the case files, convinced that the whole truth has yet to be uncovered. As a child growing up in LaSalle, David lived in fear of Weger, who was characterized as the local “bogeyman.” Further complicating David’s search for answers is the role his own father played in the trial; Anthony Raccuglia was the determined, young prosecutor who put Weger behind bars, believing steadfastly in his guilt. With a complicated father/son relationship at its core, THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK traces a twisting path of inconsistencies, cover-ups and lies, unearthing new clues and potential suspects while questioning the very nature and reliability of memory. At the heart of THE MURDERS AT STARVED ROCK is David’s tension-filled interview with his late father that speaks to the divisive feelings that the case still engenders. Hard-boiled investigators, local reporters, family members and eccentric townsfolk, each with their own theories, also lend their insight to the series and a wealth of archival materials transports us back to 1960. Several interviews with Weger himself reveal a sympathetic man steadfast in his claims of innocence, but is he an unreliable narrator of his own story? Director Jody McVeigh-Schultz (McMillion$, Drunk History joins us for a conversation on the fascinating trajectory of this thoroughly engaging docu-series, the wide-ranging reaction to the murders from the people living in LaSalle, the impact that David’s film project has had on his own family and the ambiguity that continues to shadow this tragic tale.
For news and updates go to: hbo.com/murders-at-starved-rock

The Novice / Film School Radio interview with Director Lauren Hadaway

In Lauren Hadaway’s award-winning feature film debut, THE NOVICE, Isabelle Fuhrman plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. Intent on outperforming her teammates, Alex pushes herself to her limits—and beyond, alienating everyone around her in the name of success. Furhman’s fierce lead performance collides with Lauren Hadaway’s bold direction and dynamic editing, creating a visceral window into a cutthroat world. THE NOVICE’s stylish cinematography and a seductive soundtrack complete the experience, evoking the romance and danger of falling in love; the attraction, the drama and the fallout. This unapologetic debut from Hadaway, based on her personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, heralds a bold new voice in storytelling. Inspired by her own experience nearly destroying herself while rowing competitively in college, THE NOVICE is a thrilling take on the coming-of-age story, starring Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan), Amy Forsyth (Beautiful Boy), and Dilone (Halston). At its Tribeca Film Festival premiere in June it won multiple awards including Best US Narrative, Best Actress, and Best Cinematography. Director / writer Lauren Hadaway joins us for a lively conversation on the lived experience of her own story and it’s impact on The Novice, her ambitious blending of soundtrack, sound design and kinetic visual look into a cohesive whole and the performances she pulled from her superb cast, led by Isabelle Fuhrman.
For news, screenings and updates go to: novicemovie.com
The Novice - In Theaters and On Digital, 2021
THE NOVICE will be released by IFC on December 17

Storm Lake / Film School Radio interview with Co-directors Jerry Risius and Beth Levison and Storm Lake Times Editor Art Culle

In this eye-opening look into decline and the importance of small town journalism, Storm Lake follows Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Art Cullen and his family as they fight to unite and inform their Iowan farming community through their biweekly newspaper, The Storm Lake Times—come hell or pandemic. Dark clouds hang over the cornfields of Storm Lake, Iowa, which has seen its fair share of change in the 40 years since Big Agriculture came to town. Farmers blow their life savings on new equipment they hope will keep their livelihoods intact. Migrant workers flock here—welcome and not—for their slice of the American Dream. The people of Storm Lake confront a changing and precarious existence. Enter: Art Cullen and his family members who deliver local news and editorials on a shoestring budget for their 3,000 readers. This paper means a fighting chance for their beloved hometown, and by hook or by crook, they’ll make the most of it. There’s simply too much at stake. Co-directors Jerry Risius and Betty Levison join us for a conversation on the decline of local news, quantifiably and qualitatively, why it matters and why Art Cullen and his family’s business is a lynch-pin of a functioning democracy.
For news, screenings and updates go to: stormlakemovie.com
Support the stormlake.com

The Great Balloon Bomb Invasion / Film School Radio interview with Executive Producer Stuart Chait

The Great Balloon Bomb Invasion challenges what most Americans were taught that the United States mainland was not attacked during WWII. But it was. Between 1944 and 1945, the Japanese launched more than 9000 bomb-rigged balloons across the Pacific, resulting in tragic deaths in Oregon. These lethal "Fu-Go" bombs reached as far east as Indiana and as far south as Texas…but only 300 have ever been found, leaving potentially thousands of deadly bombs scattered across the US. For the first time ever, an investigation is launched into the hidden history of this attack, with a high-tech hunt for the unexploded remnants.  Executive Producer Stuart Chait, (Lost Gold, 10 Things You Don't Know About) making his feature directorial debut with The Great Balloon Bomb Invasion joins us for a conversation on how he came to know about this little know story and why a small band of dedicated bomb sleuths are actively trying to track down these very dangerous World War II “artifacts”.
The Great Balloon Bomb Invasion is now streaming on discover+