cinephellas interview

AND THEN I GO – Interview with Vincent Grashaw

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Friendship, Childhood, and Guns in the Post-Columbine Era

Director Vincent Grashaw Discuss And Then I Go

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

How far would you go for your best friend? If they were the only person in the world to which you felt connected, would you let anything jeopardize that bond? Would you sacrifice your own life to make them happy? Director Vincent Grashaw uses the United States cultural epidemic of school shootings to examine the roots and depths of friendship in his latest project, And Then I Go (2017). But he was quick to point out that this film is not about topical tragedies; rather, mass shootings by disaffected young boys are treated as manifestations of a broken society.

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Survivors Guide to Prison – Interview with Matthew Cooke

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Matthew Cooke talks art, activism, and Survivors Guide to Prison

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

What does it mean to be an activist? On the basest level, it means promoting social change by raising awareness about an issue or idea. Activism is often depicted in historical narratives through larger-than-life figures and mass movements. But the greatest activism takes place when ordinary individuals work to connect with others on a one-on-one level. From those small gestures, hope transforms into promise for everyone. Director Matthew Cooke (How to Make Money Selling Drugs) and I discussed this interpersonal activist approach as it appears in his latest documentary project, Survivors Guide to Prison (2018).

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Entanglement (2018) – Interview with Jason Filiatrault

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Jason Filiatrault Talks Physics, Thomas Middleditch, and Entanglement

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

Consider the circumstances that led to this moment. You’re in front of a screen, reading the words I wrote. One difference in either of our lives could have prevented this moment from happening. We’ve hurdled along almost infinite combinations of pathways just to get here. Was it a conscious trip, or were we guided by quantum entanglement?

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 23 (Interview with Rachel Belofsky)

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Screamfest 2017: An Interview with Rachel Belofsy

by Logan Myerz

What does it take to be an artist? Is it the passion you put into your craft or is it the countless hours perfecting your craft? These are questions I ask myself everyday by researching, writing, reviewing, and creating videos on the Cinephellas website. Being a film-maker isn’t as easy as it looks and getting the film showcased in the industry isn’t an overnight process. The horror film genre is one that is easily overlooked for its creativity, chilling story-line, and jump scares. The Academy has not taken too kindly to the horror genre and it seems many great films are snubbed come Oscar Season. But does it really matter? With many film festivals today, there are movies awarded for the Best Feature, Directing, Cinematography, as they should be for the distinguished film-making skills. What I appreciate about this genre of film making is the blood, sweat, and tears put into every shot of the movie. More importantly, it’s not about making money or the fame, rather it’s about the art-form and making a piece that is memorable.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 22 (Interview with Zack Andrews and Bobby Roe)

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The House October Built 2: Interview with Zack Andrews and Bobby Roe

by Logan Myerz

When you think of the Halloween season, you probably think of two things, Haunted Houses and Horror movies. Both go hand in hand and if you’re an avid Haunted House attendee like myself, you can almost guarantee you will get the shit scared out of you before the month is over. But, what really draws people to these Haunted Attractions? Is it the adrenaline rush, overcoming your worst nightmares, or confronting the evil that lies beneath these houses?

The Houses October Built was a film that tackled these very questions in 2013 where a group of friends embarked on a road trip to find the ultimate Horror attraction. What they found out was more than they asked for and left the audience with many questions. The first film was one of my favorites of the year and I saw the film do well domestically with a pretty large following. I think the film did so well was the original premise, real life events that people can relate to, and showcasing the scariest places you can visit during the Halloween season.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 20 (Interview with Angelic Zambrana)

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Life Imitating Art : A Conversation with Angelic Zambrana

by Christopher M. Rzigalinski

On today’s episode of the Cinephellas Podcast I’m chatting with Angelic Zambrana about her role in the film Bushwick (2017), which hits theaters and VOD on this Friday, August 25th. Bushwick is the horrifying story about a present-day civil war in which several southern states decide to secede from the United States. A group of mercenaries from Texas invade the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York and martial law is declared. Stupe (Dave Bautista) and Lucy (Brittany Snow) have to retrieve Lucy’s sister Belinda (played by Angelic) and escape this war zone with their lives.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 17 (Interview with Brendan Muldowney)

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Fostering Faith: A Conversation with Brendan Muldowney

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

What is faith? What does it mean to actively have faith in something? How necessary is it to have faith in yourself versus a higher power? These are just some of the philosophical questions I discuss with Irish director Brendan Muldowney on this edition of the Cinephellas Podcast. I got keen insight into the quest for spirituality that informs his new film Pilgrimage, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 16 (Interview with Marko Zaror)

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A Conversation with Marko Zaror

by Christopher M. Rzigalinski

On this episode of the Cinephellas Podcast, I’m talking with Marko Zaror about his role in film Savage Dog. The film is written and directed by Jesse V. Johnson and produced in association with our good friends XLrator Media. It stars Scott Adkins in the origin story of the myth that gives itself to the title. Set in Indochina at an anarchic moment in 1959, the story takes place after the French military had left the area and a few years before the American presence during the Vietnam War. The region is filled with Vietnamese warlords and European war criminals avoiding prosecution in the wake of both World War II and the Korean War. Scott Adkins plays “Martin Tillman,” a former-champion boxer that ends up stuck competing in an underground fighting ring, battling for his life. That’s until he’s forced on a journey of revenge. Marko Zaror plays “Rastignac,” the man responsible for destroying Martin’s last vestiges of hope.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 15 (Interview with Mathieu Ratthe)

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Following Passion : A Conversation with Mathieu Ratthe

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

What scares you most? For me, it’s the unknown. If Freddie Kruger, Jason Vorhees, or Chucky showed up at my door, I’d have to check my underwear. But at least I’d know how to defend myself. The first step to conquering a fear is facing it. But what about terror you can’t see?

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 14 (Interview with Michael Alago)

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Translation of Beauty : A Conversation with Michael Alago

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

We’re often reminded that beauty exists in the eye of the beholder. But that revelation takes for granted that the beholder is already positioned in front of the subject she or he is admiring. Seldom do we hear about the influencers that make the relationship between subject and admirer possible. Without them, how would we even have the opportunity to recognize beauty? Michael Alago has made a career of interpreting art and presenting it for large audiences. Who the F**k is that Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago, director Drew Stone’s documentary about Alago’s life and career, explores Michael’s ability to translate his personal passions into shareable ideas. Whether in the role of show booker for the legendary Ritz club in New York, A & R (Artist & Repertoire) scout for Elektra Records, or as an independent photographer, Alago has a vision for understanding the talent that makes his subjects unique and different. And in the film, we get to see the world through his eyes.

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