Podcast

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 19 (Interview with Coach Stuart Krohn)

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The Meaning of a Mentor: A Conversation with Coach Stuart Krohn

by Christopher M. Rzigalinski

If we’re lucky, we get at least one mentor that changes the direction of our lives. That person could be a teacher, a coach, or a family member. The student athletes of the Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) Rugby program are lucky enough to have all three in Coach Stuart Krohn. After an All-American college rugby career and a professional playing career in France, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa, Krohn settled in Southern California to coach the Santa Monica Rugby Club in 1999. During that time he started teaching English and designing a plan to bring rugby to the economic disadvantaged communities of South Los Angeles.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 18 (Interview with Nicholas Bushman)

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Playing and Praying for Life: A Conversation with Nicholas Bushman

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

On this edition of the Cinephellas Podcast I’m chatting with director Nicholas Bushman about the DVD and Blu Ray releases of his movie Union Furnace, both out on August 15th. Union Furnace tells the story of Cody, a small-town criminal, played by Mike Dwyer, with little going for him. After crashing a stolen car, the mysterious Lion, played by the brilliantly sadistically Seth Hammond, offers Cody the chance for financial security and a way out of their small Ohio town. The only condition is that Cody must win an 8 round life or death competition against other town misfits. Only by avoiding death can he begin living.

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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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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 12 (Interview with Blake Freeman)

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Calling for Community: A Conversation with Blake Freeman

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

On this episode of the Cinephellas podcast we have my conversation with the multitalented Blake Freeman. We’re discussing his new comedy, All About the Money. Blake wrote the screenplay, directed, produced, and stars in the film. But he consistently points out that the project was only possible thanks to the community of people he worked with, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. He’s got some great co-stars, including Eddie Griffin and Casper Van Dien. This is Eddie’s return to the big screen after about two years doing other projects. And Casper gives a great performance playing against his usual all-American type. Blake also gave me some info about his upcoming TV project based on tech and gaming culture. It’s a timely look at contemporary digital culture.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 10 (Interview with Bobby V.)

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Bobby V. :  The Most Positive Man in Comedy

By Christopher M. Rzigalinski

On today’s episode of the Cinephellas podcast we’ve got my conversation with Bobby Venetz, known by his stage name Bobby V. He’s an up-and-coming stand up comedian in the Los Angeles area that performs regularly with the Rebels of Comedy revue organized by another insanely funny man that you’ve seen on shows like Comics Unleashed, TK Matteson.

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Cinephellas Podcast – Episode 9 (Peter Spirer and Peter Baxter Interview)

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Removing Borders: A Conversation with Peter Spirer and Peter Baxter

by Christopher Rzigalinski

On this episode of the Cinephellas podcast I’m talking to the Peter Spirer and Peter Baxter, co-directors of Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation. The documentary uses lacrosse, which the Iroquois nation calls its “medicine game,” as a lens through which to explore Iroquois history and indigenous peoples’ relationships with the United States and Canada. How is it, the film asks, that countless schools and universities across North America play teach the game to its students without relating its ceremonial past? To answer that question, the Peters and I discuss the Catholic Church’s oppressive Doctrine of Discovery, the Iroquois challenges to traditional ideas of sovereignty, and how sports can be used as a tool for activism. Spirit Game is a powerful statement about how popular culture can help change the world for the better.

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