Ep 298: Saila Kariat on Jesus Land: Adapting Trauma and Directing Juliette Lewis

How do you bring someone’s most painful memories to the screen with honesty and care?Damien Swaby speaks with writer and director Saila Kariat about Jesus Land, her adaptation of Julia Scheeres’s memoir exploring racism, religious extremism and the bond between siblings Julia and David. Saila shares her journey from engineering to filmmaking and the five-year process of bringing her second feature to the screen. She discusses directing Juliette Lewis, Ella Anderson and Xavier Jones, supporting actors through emotionally demanding scenes, and recreating different locations and decades on an independent budget.From a lightning storm that disrupted the first day to financial pressures near the end of production, this is a candid conversation about completing an ambitious film in just 25 shooting days—and the love, grief and compassion behind it.In this episode:Adapting a memoir and deciding what to preserve, reshape or leave out.How Saila’s own experiences of racism informed her approach.Casting, rehearsals and working with Juliette Lewis.Production design, colour grading and the importance of sound.Keeping a cast and crew supported under pressure.Film festivals, sales agents and navigating distribution.Why the sibling relationship remains the heart of Jesus Land.https://sailakariat.com/

When someone helps rewrite your script, who owns the finished story? And what happens when the person financing your film wants to change it?Entertainment lawyer Joshua Lastine joins Damien Swaby on Filmmaking Conversations to explore the agreements behind creative work—and the disputes that can arise when expectations are left unwritten.Drawing on his experience across independent film, animation and talent deals, Joshua discusses when to involve a lawyer, what to look for beyond the headline fee, and how ownership disagreements can follow a project all the way into production. We also explore his cautious approach to fair use, the distinction between fair use and public domain, and the questions AI raises around authorship and copyright. Joshua shares his journey from Iowa to Hollywood, including work at Marvel Studios and time in the CAA mailroom.In this episode:Defining ownership, credit and responsibilities with creative collaborators.Understanding payment schedules, milestones and contract details.Securing rights and organising production paperwork.Negotiating creative control when someone else provides the money.Discussing clearance, fair use and the risks of relying on supposed shortcuts.Navigating AI tools and questions of human authorship.Building a career through relationships, adaptability and a love of film.https://lastineentertainmentlaw.com/

Mike Gallant and Seled Calderon join Damien Swaby to discuss BACKPAY, an independent neo-noir crime thriller about financial desperation, family and the consequences of believing one bad decision can fix everything.Written, directed and produced by Gallant, who also stars, the film follows Steve, a desperate father fighting to save his marriage. Alongside Murphy, a cop caught up in life as an informant, he attempts to extort a corrupt politician and crack a safe—with increasingly dangerous consequences.Mike discusses how the frustration of chasing payments, rising living costs and providing for a family gave him a personal connection to the story. Seled reflects on bringing her experience as a mother to her performance and how a supportive crew helped her take emotional risks.Their conversation offers a candid look at independent filmmaking, from developing a short proof of concept into a feature to overcoming self-doubt and creating opportunities for yourself.In this episode:Mike’s beginnings in filmmaking and Seled’s move from modelling into acting.Expanding BACKPAY from a short film into a feature.Financial pressure, wage theft and the responsibilities of parenthood.Casting and building a team of trusted collaborators.Balancing acting with responsibilities behind the camera.Creating a set where performers feel safe to explore.The influence of Michael Mann and Penélope Cruz.Moving beyond perfectionism and getting the film made.BACKPAY stars Mike Gallant, Dwain Murphy, Seled Calderon, Golden Madison and Jason Pennell.Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q12ypJOEb3g

Documentary filmmaker Luchina Fisher joins Damien Swaby to discuss the people and experiences that shaped her work.Growing up in a military family took Luchina from Texas to Germany and North Carolina. She reflects on how moving between places taught her to observe, adapt and connect with people.An early love of cinema led her towards storytelling, though her first professional path was journalism. While working as a reporter, she studied film and television at the University of Bristol and began making films alongside her day job. Luchina speaks about losing her mother when she was 19 and how her brother Gary encouraged her to use her skills to tell stories about Black people affected by AIDS. That encouragement led to her first short documentary, The Black Faces of AIDS. She also discusses Gary’s writing, his continuing influence, and the family history that helped inspire The Dads.The conversation turns to the fathers of transgender children at the heart of The Dads, and to Locked Out, which follows Black women confronting housing injustice in Detroit. Luchina explains how she makes large social issues personal, builds relationships with contributors, and looks for the strength of community within difficult stories. Finally, she reflects on reaching a long held filmmaking goal in her 50s, what she hopes her children take from her life, and a question documentary makers rarely ask themselves: when you hold space for other people, who holds space for you?In this episodeGrowing up in Texas, Germany and North CarolinaMoving from journalism towards filmmakingMaking The Black Faces of AIDS after her brother’s encouragementFamily, grief and the origins of The DadsBuilding trust while making Locked OutFinding a filmmaking path later in lifeStorytelling, love and healingChapter times (approximate, based on the transcript)01:35 Growing up across different places09:15 Journalism, Bristol and learning to make films16:00 Giving herself permission to be a filmmaker17:35 Gary’s encouragement and The Black Faces of AIDS20:30 Her mother’s story and the power of being heard30:30 Family history and The Dads37:00 Gary’s writing and its continuing influence40:40 Making Locked Out personal45:00 Building relationships with documentary contributors51:45 Why dreams don’t expire54:40 Holding space for others, and finding healinghttps://www.luchinafisher.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.comLuchina’s latest documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight, has won Black Public Media’s PitchBLACK twice, including this year. The team is finishing production and moving into post-production, and is raising funds for completion and licensing. Learn more about the film belowhttps://givebutter.com/Hiding

Filmmaker Katie Cokinos joins Damien Swaby to reflect on a career shaped by independent cinema, personal vision and the determination required to get unconventional films made. Katie recounts beginning her career at the Southwest Alternate Media Project—better known as SWAMP—in Houston.It was there that she first encountered Richard Linklater and helped his groundbreaking film Slacker secure completion funding, reach international festivals and ultimately find distribution.She discusses the film’s initially difficult reception, including a sparsely attended screening at the Berlin International Film Festival market, and the small but decisive encounters that helped it connect with the right audience.The conversation also explores Katie’s transition from supporting other filmmakers to finding her own voice as a writer and director.She reflects on the influence of the French New Wave, the difficulties historically faced by women filmmakers and the experience of being overlooked on the festival circuit while pregnant.Katie takes us behind the making of Portrait of a Girl as a Young Cat and I Dream Too Much, her coming-of-age feature starring Eden Brolin, Danielle Brooks and Diane Ladd, with Richard Linklater serving as executive producer. She reveals how motherhood changed her writing practice, how the film emerged after a 15-year gap between features and how an extremely low-budget production created convincing performances without conventional rehearsal time.Damien and Katie also discuss:• Why a filmmaker’s personal vision matters• Helping Slacker find its audience after an early Sundance rejection• Learning the language of cinema outside film school• The influence of Agnès Varda and the French New Wave• Writing in the margins while raising children• The Jane Austen inspiration behind I Dream Too Much• Creating chemistry between actors on a limited schedule• Shooting through three weeks of heavy snow• Using slow motion to expand emotional time• Filming on an iPhone in New York without attracting attention• Richard Linklater’s support across more than three decades• The challenge of bringing audiences back to cinemas after COVID• Why Katie prefers the economy of feature films to television series• Programming films for Upstate Films• Developing The Do Right, a period mystery set in 1973 Beaumont, TexasThis is a warm and candid conversation about artistic survival, creative identity and the unpredictable journey between imagining a film and finally bringing it to the screen.LINKSLearn more about Katie Cokinos:https://www.idreamtoomuch.com/katie-cokinos Follow Katie Cokinos on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/katiecokinos/Connect with Katie on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-cokinos-99180a9/I Dream Too Much — official website:https://www.idreamtoomuch.com/ Watch I Dream Too Much on Amazon Prime Video:https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Too-Much-Katie-Cokinos/dp/B0CGQJ3ZQB Katie Cokinos on FilmFreeway:https://filmfreeway.com/KatieCokinosUpstate Films:https://www.upstatefilms.org/Slacker with Katie Cokinos — Upstate Films:https://www.upstatefilms.org/slackerAustin Film Society:https://www.austinfilm.org/Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP):https://www.swamp.org/Richard Linklater / Detour Filmproduction:https://www.detourfilm.com/Former Filmmaking Conversations guest and entertainment attorney Reena Sehgal is the founder of Thoolie, a platform offering independent filmmakers accessible, professionally drafted contracts and practical legal resources: https://thoolie.com/?fbclid=PAdGRleAUMIhRwZG9mAmZkaWQWUN_VLZ5O00wAG5VJwcYKLJR7IDzX22V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8YqORNw4HfUrakr47-VQNHxfRIZjdKym2B6azcV1UcQ8_XZ-K3QtetIdYci_aem_tFWU2agJYHfjePj36n5zqA

Rob Hollocks has spent more than two decades on both sides of the film business — helping major studios sell some of the biggest films in the world, while ultimately pursuing his ambition to write, direct and produce films of his own.In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby sits down with the British-born, Los Angeles-based filmmaker, writer, producer and former studio executive for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of building a sustainable career in film.Rob takes us inside his years at Paramount Pictures, where his work in international marketing brought him into campaigns connected with films and franchises including Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Indiana Jones, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.He explains how studios adapt campaigns for different territories, why an actor who dominates a poster in one country might be secondary in another, how contractual billing affects key art, and who ultimately decides what audiences are being sold. But Rob argues that understanding marketing shouldn't be something filmmakers leave until their film is finished.For independent filmmakers, he believes thinking seriously about audience, positioning and distribution should begin while a project is still being developed — without allowing those commercial considerations to dictate the story itself.The conversation also explores Rob's work in animation and production finance, including his involvement with Riot Games and Netflix's acclaimed series Arcane. Rob explains what managing production finance on a project of that scale actually involves and how huge creative ambitions can coexist with financial discipline.That philosophy carries into his own filmmaking.Through his independent work, Rob has developed an approach he describes as making films that are low-budget, high-quality and commercially responsible — putting as much of the available money as possible onto the screen while paying crews, treating people properly and avoiding unnecessary expenditure.Damien and Rob then examine the journey of Rob's psychological horror thriller The Observance, starring Kate Dailey, Ted Raimi and Alec James.After an international festival run and multiple awards, Rob and his team took an unusually hands-on approach to distribution, retaining control of the film's marketing and securing a limited theatrical release through AMC cinemas in the United States.Rob explains what he discovered about getting an independent film into cinemas, why theatrical distribution may be more accessible than many filmmakers assume, and why filmmakers need to remain the strongest advocates for their work throughout its entire life cycle.That experience also led him to write The Indie Theatrical Playbook, a practical guide containing the templates, checklists and planning tools he developed while navigating his own theatrical campaign.The conversation becomes more personal as Rob reflects on leaving the security and salary of the executive world to become an independent filmmaker. He talks candidly about earning less money, the constant hustle of financing the next project, and wishing he'd had the confidence to pursue directing much earlier.Rob also shares the childhood experiences behind his love of cinema: his mother vividly retelling the Hammer horror films he wasn't allowed to watch, Sunday afternoon Westerns with his father, discovering the 1933 King Kong at school, and sitting through Raiders of the Lost Ark three times in the cinema — years before he would find himself working with the Indiana Jones franchise at Paramount.It's a conversation about something filmmakers sometimes prefer not to discuss: making the film is only part of the job. Original theatrical trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nov3gaDj_MgStreaming trailer: https://youtu.be/xRDBESIZcYAThis is the viral website (in -world) and  has the viral video ’sermons’  we did for the  US theatrical:  https://theobservance.com/The UK Apple link:  https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/the-observance/umc.cmc.1pmsko668w97s5b772dmdj7ijRob's website: https://robhollocks.com/#c1ccd530-40b9-4821-aba3-8248c23f2049Book:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Indie-Theatrical-Playbook-releasing-independent-ebook/dp/B0GQRJ4C2J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25C24Q57M9UE6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1Tis5f4DOTPOVCHdppik7g.p3EEm_EZ-Sed8C30Tb88EBs-sMKuZSOTCBeg7_CADYo&dib_tag=se&keywords=indie+theatrical+playbook&qid=1788279505&sprefix=indie+theatrical+playboo%2Caps%2C288&sr=8-1

Show NotesProducer, director and Ignite Studios founder Erin Mae Miller joins Damien Swaby for a wide-ranging conversation about the realities of independent filmmaking and her new feature If I Tell You.Erin began her career in unscripted television, working across productions for Discovery, TLC, History and VH1. She describes documentary filmmaking as being like sculpting from a block of marble — discovering and shaping a story from the material reality gives you — while scripted filmmaking is more like painting something that first existed in your imagination.She discusses working on Love & Hip Hop, the importance of extensive pre-interviews when dealing with vulnerable documentary participants, and why filmmakers have a responsibility to ensure contributors retain agency over deeply personal stories.The conversation then turns to If I Tell You, Ignite Studios' debut feature. Erin first encountered the screenplay while working at Big Indie Pictures and couldn't forget it. After leaving the company, she contacted the writer and began what ultimately became an eight-year journey to get the film made.Erin discusses adapting Lisa O'Donnell's Closed Doors from its original Scottish setting to northern Minnesota, finding the isolated Boundary Waters community of Ely, casting young lead Etienne Kellici from approximately 3,000 submissions, working with director Tessa Blake and creating the film's carefully controlled visual palette.She also opens up about the changing economics of independent film, the impact of streaming on traditional international financing, and why producers today need to think about the film they write, shoot, edit, distribute and market.The conversation also tackles AI and filmmaking. Erin sees possibilities for technologies that could make historically expensive recreations achievable for independent productions, while arguing that documentary filmmakers must be extremely careful not to destroy the audience's trust in the reality they're watching.Finally, Erin reflects on beginning her career as a stand-in and photo double for Kristen Bell and Isla Fisher, why she ultimately chose producing over acting, and her belief that films can influence our collective cultural narrative.If I Tell You opens in select AMC cinemas across the United States on August 27.In this episodeErin discusses unscripted TV and Love & Hip Hop; ethical documentary interviewing; working at Big Indie Pictures; the eight-year development of If I Tell You; casting a child lead from thousands of submissions; shooting for 25 days in Minnesota; colour as an affordable filmmaking tool; the changing economics of independent film; AI, authenticity and documentary ethics; and why “stories unite us.”https://www.ignitestudios.tvhttps://www.ifitellyoufilm.com

Episode Show NotesWhat happens when the dream of becoming an actor collides with the reality of earning a living? In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, Damien Swaby sits down with actor Chantelle Levene for an open conversation about ambition, rejection, resilience and what it really takes to keep pursuing a creative career when opportunities become harder to find.Chantelle reflects on the EastEnders performances that first inspired her to act, how the audition landscape has changed, and why she misses the days when aspiring actors had greater access to open auditions. She also discusses her frustrations with self-tapes and the difficult experience of going four years without booking an acting role.The conversation goes beyond auditions.Chantelle talks about agents, independent filmmaking and the importance of creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for permission from an industry that may not always make space for you. She and Damien also explore a reality familiar to many working creatives: how do you balance a 9-to-5 job, financial responsibilities and everyday life with a creative purpose that refuses to disappear? It’s a conversation about the less glamorous side of pursuing a career in film and television — and about finding ways to keep moving forward when the phone stops ringing.In this episodeThe EastEnders performances that made Chantelle want to become an actorWhy open auditions seem to have disappearedThe realities and frustrations of self-tape cultureGoing four years without booking an acting roleWhat actors should expect from their agentsBalancing acting with a 9-to-5 careerIndependent filmmaking and creating your own workStaying visible in an increasingly competitive industryResilience, reinvention and maintaining a sense of creative purposeAs Chantelle's story demonstrates, the route may change and the industry may change, but the desire to tell meaningful stories can remain.Follow Filmmaking Conversations for more candid conversations with actors, filmmakers and other creatives about the craft, careers and realities behind working in the film industry.

Show NotesWhat does it really mean to film something that can't be seen?In this episode of Filmmaking Conversations, I sit down with award-winning documentary cinematographer Liz Moughon to explore the emotional and technical craft of visual storytelling.Liz has worked with ProPublica, Blue Chalk Media and some of the world's leading documentary filmmakers, creating films that explore grief, illness, identity, hope and resilience. From documenting families affected by stillbirth to investigating one of the largest medical device recalls in history, her work demonstrates how cinematography can reveal emotional truth through observation rather than spectacle.We discuss why perspective matters just as much as composition, how documentary filmmakers earn trust during intimate moments, and the importance of knowing when to keep filming—and when to simply listen.Liz also opens up about living with Type 1 diabetes, explaining how she transformed a deeply personal experience into an artistic project by photographing an entire year's worth of the medical supplies that kept her alive. Rather than seeing them as waste, she began seeing them as evidence of resilience, creativity and survival.This is a thoughtful conversation about empathy, collaboration, vulnerability, emotional landscapes, and why the most powerful stories are often found in the quiet moments people overlook.In this episode we discuss:• How Liz discovered filmmaking through photojournalism• Why documentary cinematography is about perspective rather than simply beautiful images• Capturing grief, hope and emotional truth on camera• Filming intimate moments ethically• The visual language of documentary filmmaking• Working with ProPublica and investigative documentaries• Turning Type 1 diabetes into an artistic project• Why details and visual metaphors create emotional impact• The importance of collaboration in filmmaking• Why curiosity is a filmmaker's greatest strengthMentioned in this episode• Liz Moughon's website https://lizmoughon.com/about• Before a Breath• With Every Breath• Blue Chalk Media• ProPublicaFrom Liz MoughonA to Z music video https://tennmore.com/atoz/Inspired by movement, identity, Baltimore street culture, discipline, and emotional transformation, the film blends intimate visuals with a reimagined performance of Ludovico Einaudi’s “Experience.”Filmed across Baltimore with a focus on texture, motion, stillness, and human connection, A to Z represents the beginning of a larger body of work from TennMore Studios – combining documentary sensibilities, cinematic filmmaking, and emotionally grounded storytelling. Team Type 1 https://lizmoughon.com/teamtype1Type 1 Diabetes is full of routines no one sees, especially the supplies that pile up quietly in the background. Most of the time, those supplies get thrown away. What if we turned them into something cool?For one year I saved every pod, sensor, alcohol wipe, etc. that helped keep me alive, and I made a self-portrait surrounded by all of it. I'm inviting you to do the same thing – your way. Save your supplies for a few months, a year or whatever feels right. Then create something: a photo, video, sculpture, collage, anything. This is your invitation. Support Independent FilmmakingPlease check out the links below to support two previous Filmmaking Conversations guests.🎬 A Life Together https://seedandspark.com/fund/a-life-together-short-film#story — Michael Ferrell and Devin Sanchez's heartfelt comedy-drama about family, ambition and unexpected relationships. The film is currently raising funds as both a festival short and proof-of-concept feature.🎬 The Deer https://www.shelterfilm.com/thedeerfilmcampaign— Julia Campanelli's powerful short film exploring PTSD through the eyes of a first responder following the aftermath of a school shooting, helping shine a light on the often unseen emotional cost carried by emergency workers.If you're able to pledge, share either campaign or simply follow their journeys, you'll be helping independent filmmaking continue to thrive.Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:25% Off More Labshttps://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Strong Coffee Companyhttps://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off Tusslehttps://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Eric Javitshttps://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY25% Off Quantum Energy Squarehttps://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Long Tablehttps://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off HyperNaturalhttps://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off wearplaygroundhttps://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off STAND+https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY10% Off Molly Bzhttps://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY41% Off Cozy Earthhttps://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABYX (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en Also, you can check out my documentary The People of Brixton, on Kwelitv here: https://www.kweli.tv/creator/damien-swaby

Show Notes Award-winning director Minkie Spiro joins Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby for a deeply personal and insightful conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the emotional responsibility of directing. Minkie reflects on her unconventional journey into film and television, revealing how growing up in a highly academic household — where television was rarely allowed — unexpectedly shaped her artistic instincts. She discusses studying graphic design at Central Saint Martins and how visual communication, photography, and composition became the foundation of her directing style.The conversation takes a powerful turn as Minkie opens up about her early years as a reportage photographer, documenting war zones including Bosnia during the conflict. She shares the emotional impact of photographing child landmine victims and explains how those formative experiences changed the way she observes humanity, emotion, and truth on screen.Damien and Minkie also explore:How photography trained her eye for cinematic storytellingThe transition from still images to directing actors and movementThe emotional intelligence required to direct performanceWhy vulnerability and trust matter on setThe evolution of television into a cinematic art formWorking across British and American productionsDirecting acclaimed series including Dead to Me, Pieces of Her and All Her FaultCollaborating with actors including Sarah SnookBuilding tension, atmosphere, and emotional realism on screenThe difference between “coverage” and true visual storytellingWhy directing is as much about listening as it is leadingMinkie also discusses balancing instinct with preparation, finding authenticity in performances, and how her life experiences continue to shape the kinds of stories she wants to tell. This episode is an honest and fascinating look inside the mind of a filmmaker whose work consistently blends emotional depth with cinematic scale. If you’re passionate about directing, storytelling, cinematography, performance, or the creative process behind prestige television, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.W: https://www.minkiespiro.com/Use Promo Code "FILMMAKINGSWABY" for all my deals or just click the link:25% Off More Labshttps://www.morelabs.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Strong Coffee Companyhttps://strongcoffeecompany.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off Tusslehttps://www.tusslegear.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Eric Javitshttps://ericjavits.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY25% Off Quantum Energy Squarehttps://quantumsquares.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off Long Tablehttps://longtablepancakes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off HyperNaturalhttps://hypernaturalstyle.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY20% Off wearplaygroundhttps://wearplayground.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY15% Off STAND+https://www.standshoes.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY10% Off Molly Bzhttps://mollybz.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABY41% Off Cozy Earthhttps://cozyearth.com/discount/FILMMAKINGSWABYX (Twitter): @DamienSwaby https://x.com/DamienSwaby/status/1864468655582437405Instagram: @filmmaker__damien_swaby. https://www.instagram.com/filmmaker__damien_swaby/?hl=en Also, you can check out my documentary The People of Brixton, on Kwelitv here: https://www.kweli.tv/creator/damien-swaby