When it comes to films dealing with tragedy and loss, it’s not very hard to identify some blueprints that every piece of the plot follows. It seems Hollywood is set on showing a final moment, a grief stricken character that can’t let go, and the burning sensation of “it was all for nothing”. I’m sure not every film has to meet these rules, but it’s part of a general, manipulative trend. Death appears to sell. In The Water Man, we feel like we’re part of a known scheme. This is something that can clearly be identified in its first act. However, as the plot is unraveled we come to understand…
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Exclusive: Interview…Stephanie Economou Discusses Collaboration and Inspiration on ‘Jupiter’s Legacy’
Stephanie Economou is a composer and violinist based in Los Angeles, CA. Her early successes have emerged from her exploration and study of widely varying musical styles, including classical, experimental, folk and rock. Stephanie’s experience in film scoring extends from drama to action to comedy, which has demanded the synthesis of an electronic and acoustic musical palette. It is her uniquely hybridized compositional voice which has proven a valuable asset across a wide spectrum of visual media. Stephanie is the composer of the upcoming Netflix TV series Jupiter’s Legacy, based on the comic series by Mark Millar. She has written the music for the Lionsgate/Starz series Step Up: High Water,…
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Interview…Travis Andrade on Guts and Gun Culture in ‘Wesley’
Travis Andrade is an award winning filmmaker whose short films have screened at international film festivals in North America, Europe and Australia. Early on in his career, Travis shot and directed awarding winning branded content. Andrade’s music videos for the likes of Interscope and Virgin amassed tens of millions of hits and have been featured in numerous online publications. His latest endeavor a stunning short film that follows a young boy in a world where gun culture and live shooting drills has changed our education system forever. The success of the short is that is does not point a finger at anything or anyone. Instead, he shows a sort of…
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Sweet Trailer…Season Two of ‘Ted Lasso’
One of the most surprising things to come out of 2020 was the ever-charming Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. And who says you can’t have a jolly good time in a pandemic. What the show has going for it – aside from the cast, the writing, the chemistry of the leads, the care-free charm of Jason Sudeikis, the gorgeous cinematography, and Dani Rojas, Rojas, Rojas – is simple: it is delightful up, down, and sideways. As such, it should surprise no one that a new season is on the way, so all you Lassoites (yes, I made that up just now) don’t have long to wait to get back to…
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Sweet Trailer…’Take Out Girl’
We’re always on the look out for something different. If, like us, you’re a little burned out on super heroes, sequels and zombie films, then look no further. This impressive looking film is inspired by real events, and it feels pretty real in the trailer. Actress/Co-Writer Hedy Wong and Indigenous Director/Co-Writer Hisonni Johnson choose to amplify their AAPI/Indigenous voices by focusing on commonalities in their upbringing. They came together on this project to show how their shared familial bonds, poverty, and the lack of upward economic mobility, led to crime in their minority communities. Take Out Girl tells the story of Tera (played by Wong), a 20-year-old Asian-American woman who parlays her family restaurant delivery expertise into a…
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G-S-T Review…’Minari’
It took me a while to begin writing Minari’s review. As entrapped as I was in its fine and safe depiction of a social setting, at first I wasn’t able to understand the force of its simplicity, the strength in its silent but provoking statement. Sometimes praising comes in strange ways. Forget about the awards and the social imperatives that continue to arise. This is a straightforward portrayal of a basic fact. However, the definite tone of the film is commendably welcoming. Even though we are dealing with drama, and typically, tragedy sets in in the genre, I remained with a smile from start to finish. And this is something…
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Interview…Chandler Poling and Thomas Mikusz from White Bear PR
One of the best parts about running this site is the opportunity we’ve had to speak with people in the film business. Over the years, our staff has been fortunate enough to meet some of our heroes: actors, directors, and composers. Now I’ll tell you up from that GoSeeTalk wouldn’t have half our current interview content if it wasn’t for the help of PR firms handling the public relations on any particular campaign. It should be no surprise to you readers that we hold composers and film music in high regard. We do our best to shine the brightest light on the talent. However, it all goes back to the…
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Interview…Composer Kate Simko on Awareness and Acceptance in ‘Underplayed’
American composer, electronic music producer, and leader of her ensemble London Electronic Orchestra, Kate Simko blends distinctive influences from her hometown, Chicago, and formal training in classical piano and jazz. Kate’s music has been licensed by ABC Television, Victorinox, and Giorgio Armani, and she has written original music for films, commercials and shows featured on the BBC, Netflix and PBS. After graduating Northwestern University’s music school Kate’s career started in Los Angeles interning on feature films, and then took a surprise turn as her live electronic music career took off. She spent her twenties performing at revered clubs and festivals across the globe, from underground venues in Berlin and Tokyo…
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Off the Netflix Queue…’Mank’
Films like Mank are so incredibly rare nowadays, that people dissect them as strange specimens of something that went extinct decades ago. Its artistic rendering of a past era is magnificent, and trailers drove everyone wild at the expectation of reliving the golden era of Tinseltown. David Fincher makes Mank with the confidence he always holds. Netflix opens the wallet and lets him get away with making an improbable film about Hollywood. This is work of passion by one of today’s most important filmmakers, and it regards one of the most important films ever made. It’s not explosive, or luxurious as you would expect. It’s an honest rendition of a…
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Interview…Composer Jermaine Stegall on ‘Coming 2 America’ and the New Sound of Zamunda
Jermaine Stegall is an accomplished and versatile composer and conductor. Stegall’s extensive music studies include a BA from Northern Illinois University’s School of Music, a Master’s degree in Music Composition from the University of North Texas, and the prestigious Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at USC. Following his formal education, he was selected as a Sundance Composer Lab Fellow, as well as the BMI Conducting Workshop. With over 50 projects to his credit, Stegall’s professional career began as a music intern for the film I, Robot, and Stegall’s scoring and conducting assignments have included film and TV shows in all genres, to leading bands at major musical events.…
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Interview…Composer Alec Puro on ‘The Crew’, ‘Black Summer’ and ‘The Mighty Ones’
The composing world is a fast paced industry. It’s a lot of hustle just to get in the door, and then, once you got the job, it’s even faster. Oh, and if you’re in composing for television, it’s faster still. So why would anyone want to do this for a living? Well, if you’re like Alec Puro, it’s just too much fun not to. Alec has a lifetime of experiences playing and making music. A seasoned drummer, producer and all around nice guy, Alec makes it look easy and has done music (both composing and licensing) for multiple, multiple TV shows. On his crowded plate are a trio of projects…
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Interview…Director John Swab on the Facts and Finances of ‘Body Brokers’
One of the more eye opening films we’ve seen in a while is John Swab’s Body Brokers. A kind of medically-focused sister to The Big Short, Swab manages two things with his narrative: it is an exposé as well as an autobiography. Tulsa native writer/director John Swab lived the life portrayed by Jack Kilmer’s character in the film. He similarly got swept up in the true-life business happening in the healthcare world where drug treatment served as a cover for a predatory business, enlisting addicts to recruit other addicts. This is as wild a story as it comes, and Swab gives us some first-hand insight into it as well as…
