Slamdance First Film Podcast

• Rosanna Xia & Daniel Straub: How to Turn an LA Times Article into a Documentary Feature

  Live from the Egyptian! Today's filmmaker guests include Pulitzer Prize finalist environmentalist journalist Rosanna Xia & co-director Daniel Straub discussing their documentary feature OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT, which was the Opening Night Film at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival. Learn how the filmmakers turned an LA Times article into an Award-Winning documentary feature by partnering with the journalist. This podcast was recorded LIVE after screening at the Slamdance film Festival. Our panel includes cinematographer/editor/producer Austin Straub, and Composer James Ellington. OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT is currently playing the festival circuit and seeking distribution.  Links: OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT Slamdance First Film Podcast is created and hosted by Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher. Produced by Peter Baxter. Edited by Daniel Angarita. QC by Max Brown & Tara Blossom. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special Thanks to Paul Rachman, and the entire Slamdance Team. Follow the Slamdance First Film Podcast: Instagram (@SlamdanceFirstFilm) X (formerly known as Twitter) (@FirstFilmPod) YouTube (/Slamdance) Please share, rate, and review! For sponsorship, booking, and business inquiries, email us at: TheSlamdanceFirstFilmPodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Azazel Jacobs: Keep Making Films

  Today's guest is award-winning writer/director Azazel Jacobs. His short film, KIRK AND KERRY, won the best dramatic short award at the 1997 Slamdance Film Festival. Then his debut feature film, NOBODY NEEDS TO KNOW, was rejected from Slamdance. Azazel talks candidly about making his first feature in New York City over two summers, handling bad reviews, the freedom of "no expectations" that led to his acclaimed second feature, THE GOODTIMESKID and his subsequent films such as TERRI, THE LOVERS, and FRENCH EXIT. His most recent feature, HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, won the Robert Altman award at the 2025 Indie Spirit Awards and is now streaming on Netflix. Links: 'Kirk and Kerry' (1996) Short Film 'Nobody Needs to Know' (1997) Debut Feature 'The GoodTimesKid (2005) Second Feature 'His Three Daughters' (2024) Feature Slamdance First Film Podcast is created and hosted by Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher. Produced by Peter Baxter. Edited by Daniel Angarita. QC by Max Brown & Tara Blossom. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special Thanks to Paul Rachman, and the entire Slamdance Team. Follow the Slamdance First Film Podcast: Instagram (@SlamdanceFirstFilm) X (formerly known as Twitter) (@FirstFilmPod) YouTube (/Slamdance) Please share, rate, and review! For sponsorship, booking, and business inquiries, email us at: TheSlamdanceFirstFilmPodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Mo Perkins: How to Shoot a Feature Film In Your Apartment

  Today's guest is award-winning writer/director Mo Perkins. Her debut feature film, A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE, won the grand jury prize at Slamdance in 2009 and was released by IFC Films. Mo first met her two leads, Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Cy Carter, on her UCLA thesis short film "Piss Hat" which was nominated for a Student Academy Award. The trio got together and collaborated on the script in a process reminiscent of Mike Leigh. Using limited budget and resources, the film was designed to film in an apartment— Mo's apartment. The team asked friends to come play supporting roles in the film (including Charlie Day, Melanie Lynskey, and Jimmi Simpson) and the feature was completely shot in 10 days. A QUIET LITTLE MARRIAGE world premiered at the AFI Film Festival. Mo has gone on to direct the indie hit THE LAST TIME YOU HAD FUN and episodes of television series such as NBC's MANIFEST and CW's I SHIP IT.  Slamdance First Film Podcast is created and hosted by Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher. Produced by Peter Baxter. Edited by Daniel Angarita. QC by Max Brown & Tara Blossom. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special Thanks to Paul Rachman, and the entire Slamdance Team. Follow the Slamdance First Film Podcast: Instagram (@SlamdanceFirstFilm) X (formerly known as Twitter) (@FirstFilmPod) YouTube (/Slamdance) Please share, rate, and review! For sponsorship, booking, and business inquiries, email us at: TheSlamdanceFirstFilmPodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• The Russo Brothers: The Mastermind Principle

  Anthony Russo and Joe Russo join the podcast this week to discuss the making of their feature film debut Pieces, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 1997. The film was shot in the brothers hometown of Cleveland, Ohio for a production budget of $30,000. During their press screening at Slamdance, a majority of the audience walked out of the divisive film except for one person who loved it: Steven Soderbergh. While Pieces never was released due to issues involving music rights, the brothers have gone on to direct four of the highest grossing Marvel films of all time, including Avengers: Endgame. Outside of James Cameron, Joe and Anthony are the only other filmmakers to have made two films that have earned over $2 billion dollars each. Their company AGBO is a great supporter of independent cinema, producing Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. Since 2018, The Russo Brothers have set up an annual fellowship at Slamdance offering a $25,000 prize and mentorship to a filmmaker at the festival. Season 3 of the Russo Brothers "Pizza Film School" is out now on YouTube. Their latest feature film, The Electric State, will be streaming on Netflix starting on March 14th. Links: The Electric State | Netflix Pizza Film School | YouTube The Mastermind Principle Follow @Agbofilms on Instagram! Slamdance First Film Podcast is created and hosted by Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher. Produced by Peter Baxter. Edited by Daniel Angarita. QC by Max Brown & Tara Blossom. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special Thanks to Paul Rachman, and the entire Slamdance Team. Follow the Slamdance First Film Podcast: Instagram (@SlamdanceFirstFilm) X (formerly known as Twitter) (@FirstFilmPod) YouTube (/Slamdance) Please share, rate, and review! For sponsorship, booking, and business inquiries, email us at: TheSlamdanceFirstFilmPodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou: How to Make a Feature Film for $3000

  This week award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou join the podcast to discuss the making of their acclaimed feature film TAKE OUT, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2004. The film was shot in New York City on a DV camera for a budget of $3,000 with only a two-person crew. TAKE OUT has been restored and re-released through the Criterion Collection and is now available on Blu-Ray. Sean and Shih-Ching dive into their process of finding the story, casting actors off of craigslist, funding the film with their rent money, and having to let go of their only PA because there were too many people on set. Sean's latest film, ANORA, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. Links:  TAKEOUT (2004) on Criterion Collection ANORA (2024) on Neon Slamdance First Film Podcast is produced and hosted by Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher. Edited by Daniel Angarita. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special Thanks to Peter Baxter, Paul Rachman, and the entire Slamdance Team. To learn more about Slamdance, please visit Slamdance.com.  Email us at TheSlamdanceFirstFilmPodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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