Authors — Filmmaker Staff
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“The Students Provide a Heartfelt Example We Can All Follow” | Robert May, Bucks County, USA
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? When Jason Sosnoff, Barry Levinson, and I began the project and started filming in April 2022, our intention was to talk with and get to know adults on both sides of the political divide, to begin a journey—a respectful deep dive, if you will—to gain trust and present a sense of humanity by generously […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“These Small Letters Can Cause Such Instability”: DP Paulius Kontijevas on The Librarians
The Librarians shines a light on the people on the frontlines of the ongoing war on education, focusing on the renewed wave of book bans in Florida, New Jersey, and especially Texas. The film, directed by Kim Snyder (Us Kids) is part of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s Premieres section. Paulius Kontijevas (camera op on Janet Planet) and Derek Wiesehahn (How to Survive a Plague, Welcome to Chernobyl) served as the film’s cinematographers. Below, Kontijevas talks about lighting and staging interviews that protect librarians’ anonymity and the beauty of light refracting through glass. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“The Censorship Our Librarians Face is One We Will Face in Our Field”: Producer Janique L. Robillard on The Librarians
Director Kim A. Snyder (Us Kids) turns her camera to the frontlines of the contemporary book-banning wave that is sweeping many U.S. states, particularly Florida and Texas, in The Librarians. The film is part of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s Premieres section and marks the first producer credit of Janique L. Robillard. Below, Robillard discusses the film’s origins and how the film’s subject connects to today’s film production industry. See all responses to our annual Sundance first-time producer interviews here. Filmmaker: How did you connect with this filmmaker and wind up producing the film? Robillard: I first worked with director-producer Kim A. […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“The Turning Point for the Entire Project” | David Ngo, Never Get Busted!
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? Our first meeting with John Battsek and Chris Smith was quite a moment, as I’m a fan of both their works. My partner in crime Erin Williams-Weir and I took a bit of risk personally funding the initial production for Never Get Busted! We cut together a teaser and pitched the project to John, […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“A Mix of Natural Indie Style, Theatrical Spotlights and Neon Colors”: DP Dustin Supencheck on Touch Me
Following his 2022 film Hypochondriac, writer-director Addison Heimann’s Touch Me centers on two best friends (Olivia Taylor Dudley and Jordan Gavaris) who fall under the erotic spell of the same guy (Lou Taylor-Pucci). At least he looks like a guy; the truth is, he’s an intergalactic being ensconced in a human flesh suit. As the best friends vie for his affection, they gradually realize that they’re fighting for their right to live as much as love. Cinematographer Dustin Supencheck discusses his working relationship with Heimann, the importance of capturing vibrant colors and the influence of 20th century Japanese cinema on the […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“Capturing a Kenyan Point of View as a Central Theme”: DP Christopher King on How to Build a Library
Shiro and Wachuka are two Nairobi women who attempt to transform the McMillan Memorial Library, a whites-only library until 1958, into a modern and vibrant cultural hub. Their attempts to navigate local politics and Kenya’s colonial history is tracked in How to Build a Library, husband-and-wife duo Christopher King and Maia Lekow’s follow-up to The Letter. King, besides co-directing, also served as the film’s cinematographer. Below, he explains the importance of capturing a Kenyan point of view and why working as a two-person crew helps build trust with their subjects. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“A Deeply Important Gap in Kenya’s History” | Maia Lekow & Christopher King, How to Build a Library
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? One unforgettable day was following our subjects into the basement of the decaying McMillan Library and witnessing them unearth from a pile of junk a miniature photograph of the first hanging in Kenya, in 1907, conducted by the Imperial British East Africa Company. We all got chills and, in this tiny photograph, found a […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“We Did These Sensual Slow-Motion Close-Up Shots with Our Actors” | Addison Heimann, Touch Me
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? There are so many memorable and important days throughout the process that I hold near and dear to my heart, but I think the wildest one was within our first week of filming. Because of the nature of our filming schedule, we had a light first week and then an extremely heavy three weeks […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“A Grueling 12-hour Interview Day” | Cristina Costantini, SALLY
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? My favorite part of making SALLY was getting to know Tam O’Shaughessy, and the most memorable day of shooting was a grueling 12-hour interview day which now serves as the primary narration for our film. National heroes like Sally Ride inspire us, give us hope, and show us just how far we can go. […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025 -
“People Are Willing to Show Up if You Create Something Important” | Mathias Broe, Sauna
Films are made over many days, but some days are more memorable, and important, than others. Imagine yourself in ten years looking back on this production. What day from your film’s development, production or post do you think you’ll view as the most significant and why? The day when we shot two big party scenes for the film at two iconic Copenhagen clubs was a very memorable day for me. More than 300 people showed up to show support and attended to make the scenes feel as real and energetic as possible. Afterwards I was filled with so much pride […]
by Filmmaker Staff on Jan 28, 2025
