WILDsound's The Film Podcast

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 23, 2026

EP. 1836: Filmmaker Francisco Passuelo (LUIS AT HOME)

Matthew Toffolo interviews Francisco Passuelo about his documentary film "Luis at Home," a 10-minute short film that premiered at the LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Francisco, an Argentinian-Canadian cinematographer based in Vancouver, discussed his 10-year friendship with Luis, a Mexican immigrant who came out as gay after arriving in Vancouver 20 years ago. The documentary took 2-3 months to shoot and edit, with Francisco filming Luis's daily routine and conducting interviews to capture his journey of immigration, coming out, and cultural integration. Francisco explained his approach of filming naturally, including a 3-4 minute kitchen scene and scenes at Luis's workplace at The Two Parrots restaurant, while focusing on the loneliness and self-reflection inherent in an immigrant's experience. The film was well-received, and Francisco is now working on new projects, including a music video for an El Salvadoran artist and developing a new script for a fictional romantic queer story about a teenager.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 20, 2026

EP. 1835: Writer/Producer/Chef Chris Scott (WHAT'S LEFT)

Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/ChefChris512/

Matthew Toffolo chats with CHEF Chris Scott about his short film "What's Left," which tells the story of a former executive chef now working as a dishwasher while raising his special needs son. Chris explained that the film is the first in a planned series aimed at highlighting the untold stories of marginalized workers in the restaurant industry, addressing themes like ageism and racism. He discussed the film's production process, his collaboration with director Odinger Mitchell, and the casting of Paul Brown in the lead role. Chris shared personal connections to the story, including his own experience as a chef and having a son on the autism spectrum. The discussion also touched on the evolution of the chef profession, the authenticity of kitchen life as depicted in media like "The Bear," and the challenges and traumas faced by restaurant workers. Chris mentioned his next project, which will focus on a Latin chef, and the conversation ended with a brief tangent about basketball and Taylor Swift's influence on Knicks fandom.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 17, 2026

EP. 1834: Filmmaker David Goo (Tragically, a make or break question)

Matthew Toffolo chats with filmmaker David Goog about his one-minute film, which has been accepted into multiple film festivals. David explained that the film, based on his personal feelings rather than a true story, centers on a first date where he judges his date based on her liking Ed Sheeran, reflecting on how people's tastes and fandoms can define their identities and create judgmental attitudes. The film was made for about £100 with his creative partner Jackie Tamayo, who also co-starred, and was shot in an authentic cafe setting. David discussed how the film resonates with audiences because it speaks to universal experiences of judgment based on likes and dislikes, particularly in today's social media era where everyone's preferences are publicly known. He expressed surprise at the film's success and mentioned his plans to create a larger project called "Chango" about an eco-revolutionary character, though he questioned whether he has the energy to direct a full feature film.

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 14, 2026

EP. 1833: Filmmaker Aaron Penney (THE TRANSITION ROOM)

Matthew Toffolo chats with filmmaker Aaron Penney about his short film "The Transition Room," which screened at the WILDsound Festival. Penney discussed the film's genre-bending approach, blending comedy, drama, and fantasy to address the sensitive topic of suicide. He explained the film's origins from a conversation about making a funny story on a dark subject. He also described the production process, including shooting in one day and the intentional use of color. Penney shared that the film has won numerous awards and that there are discussions about developing it into a feature. He also talked about the strong independent film community in Las Vegas and his upcoming projects, which similarly explore finding humor in tragic situations.

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 11, 2026

EP. 1832: Filmmaker Kacy Boccumini (I'M SURE IT'S NOTHING)

Kacy Bacamini chats with Matthew Toffolo about their short horror film "I'm Sure It's Nothing," which was played at the Under 5 Minute Film Fest. Kacy explained the choice to use French Creole for authenticity and to add an element of mystery, as the film is about internal monologue and fear. They discussed the film's themes of self-gaslighting, isolation, and societal structures of fear, with Kacy describing how they played with sound design, black-and-white to color transitions, and the use of feet to create tension. Kacy shared that the film was made with a zero budget, shot in their apartment, and that they handled the sound design themselves due to cost and a desire for control. They also talked about their future projects, including feature screenplays, and shared thoughts on genre filmmaking, dance, and societal perceptions of gender and body movement. The interview ended with Matthew Toffolo praising the film and encouraging Kacy to pursue feature filmmaking.

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 7, 2026

EP. 1831: Filmmaker Sandy Parker (A Paradox of Quantum Superposition)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Sandy Parker about her short film "A Paradox of Quantum Superposition." Sandy discussed her background in photography and script supervising, which influenced her directing style. She explained the film's themes of alternate life paths and personal choices, inspired by her own experiences. Sandy shared details about the production, including shooting in her own home, working with lead actress Kate, and collaborating with DP Nathan Tape. They also talked about the film's dreamy tone, the decision to use subtle sound and pacing, and the challenges of editing. The conversation touched on Sandy's career, her plans for a feature film, and broader topics like the film industry, reality, and personal observations about life in New Orleans.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 5, 2026

EP. 1830: Filmmaker Nathan Porter (BLUE)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Nathan Porter, a filmmaker from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, about his short film "Blue," which is a 22-minute film about grief that he wrote and directed. Nathan discussed his extensive experience making films, having created approximately 46 short films, including a period where he made one movie every week as a learning exercise. He explained that the film explores grief and identity through abstract imagery and a claustrophobic visual style, with particular focus on a six-minute single take scene that required extensive preparation and multiple takes to capture the emotional depth needed. Nathan revealed that the film was written as part of a larger artistic piece that he plans to expand into a feature-length road trip horror movie, demonstrating his commitment to transitioning from short films to longer projects.

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloAugust 3, 2026

EP. 1829: Filmmaker/Animator Sandrine Lambert (27 YEARS OLD)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Sandrine Lambert, a filmmaker from Belgium, about her one-minute animation film from the Under 5 Minute Film Festival. Sandrine explained how she wrote down memories daily and transformed them into short films, with this particular piece depicting her personal experience of discovering she wanted to be pregnant while her partner wasn't ready yet. She described creating the film entirely by herself, including drawing, voice-over, and piano music, investing 130 hours in the animation work over approximately one month of overtime work. Sandrine discussed her background in children's book illustration for over 25 years and her more recent discovery of stop-motion animation, preferring analog methods to maintain simplicity and avoid AI technology. The film, set in a bathroom, explores themes of isolation and personal decision-making, with Matthew suggesting potential for future sequels following her pregnancy journey. Sandrine mentioned she is currently working on an erotic film and expressed interest in future collaborations, particularly with sound designers and her son, who is studying animation.

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 31, 2026

EP. 1828: Chef Ryann Morris (FOOD IS EVERYTHING)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Ryann Morris, the subject of the documentary "Food Is Everything" from the Documentary Film Festival. Ryann explained that the film explores how society doesn't have a food problem per se, but rather a relationship with the food problem. She focuses on how food can be used to connect with oneself, nature, and others through cooking, gardening, and sharing meals. The film was originally developed as a proof-of-concept for Ryann's cookbook, with producers at Archivist Films finding director Julio Palacio to bring the project to life over three days of filming in Ryann's Florida home. The documentary follows Ryann's personal journey through her kitchen, garden, and community spaces, including scenes with her family making papaya tacos and a community potluck at the Swinton Community Growing Project in Delray Beach. Ryann, who works as an Ayurvedic chef and recipe developer, shared that the film has been well-received and is currently available on YouTube before entering additional film festivals.

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https://www.instagram.com/amen_project/

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 29, 2026

EP. 1827: Filmmaker Hasmik Chakhmakhchyan (SILENCE OF MY SOUL)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Hasmik Chakhmakhchyan about the music video "Silence of My Soul," which featured music by Armenian composer Araxia Muhusharyan. Hasmik explained that the video aimed to depict the internal world and feelings of a person when they experience music alone, using minimalistic visual techniques with natural lighting in a single studio location. The two-month preparation process included storyboarding and careful attention to detail, with post-production taking additional months where both the director and musician reviewed every aspect of the final cut. Hasmik indicated they have worked on diverse projects, including documentaries and crossover opera, and while they are unsure about future music videos, they continue to create different types of content across various genres.

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 27, 2026

EP. 1826: Filmmaker Tayler Gladue (Intertwined in Blue)

Matthew Toffolo chats with Taylor Gladue about their short film "Intertwined in Blue," which premiered at the LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Taylor, who is from Calgary, Alberta, explains that the French title was chosen as a tribute to Jean-Luc Godard and discusses the film's themes about people presenting false versions of themselves to the world while ignoring their true identities. The film was shot entirely on an iPhone Max Pro 15 with local Calgary actors and was filmed in various locations throughout the city, including a friend's Airbnb and The Attic lounge. Taylor, who is primarily a producer but made this his first film as writer, director, and producer, plans to continue making films and has several upcoming projects, including a short documentary and a web series.

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 24, 2026

EP. 1825: Filmmaker Dylan Delaney (Death by Passive Aggressive Interpretive Dance)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Dylan Delaney, the filmmaker of the short experimental film "Death by Passive-Aggressive Interpretive Dance." Dylan discussed the creative process behind his unique film, which was shot in County Wicklow, Ireland, and features religious and spiritual themes presented through interpretive dance. He explained how the film was influenced by Michel Gondry music videos and the 3D documentary "Pina" about German choreographer Pina Bausch and described the challenges of creating a two-minute one-shot dance sequence with lead actress Ellen Costa. Dylan also detailed the film's special effects, including animated elements and a scene with a "dance god" character painted in gold, and mentioned his upcoming project based on Henry Fuseli's painting "The Nightmare."

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 23, 2026

EP. 1824: Filmmaker Sarah Vansandt (BEST KEPT SECRET)

Matthew Toffolo interviews Sarah Van Sant, director of the short film "Best Kept Secret." Sarah discusses her first foray into directing after a career in acting, modeling, and stunt work. Sarah explained how she and her husband developed the concept during COVID, collaborating with writer Jameson Brawley to adapt the story into a cost-effective short film about a couple trapped in a mattress store after closing hours. The film was shot in a local furniture store in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with Sarah working closely with cinematographer Axel Marshall and editor Jameson Brawley to bring her vision to life. The production involved casting actors from Atlanta via Zoom auditions, with Kathleen Graham winning Best Actress at the Broad Street Film Festival. Sarah expressed enthusiasm for directing and plans to continue making films, including adapting a previous screenplay into a feature-length project.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 23, 2026

EP. 1823: "Mer – Of Oceans and Bodies" team (Katrina Piacek, Sarah Rose Mercer, Tomas Cepeda Baeza)

Matthew Toffolo interviews the creative team behind a short film exploring hydrofeminism, featuring Katrina as director, Sarah as choreographer and dancer, and Tomas as sound designer. The team discussed their collaborative process in creating a black-and-white experimental film with colored ocean sequences, shot at Botanical Beach and Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. Sarah explained the concept of hydrofeminism as a framework examining how patriarchal structures affect both female bodies and land/oceans in similar ways, while Tomas described his organic sound design process using underwater recordings and Sarah's breathing filtered through distortion to create wave-like sounds. The film was shot entirely by the three collaborators with equal creative input, and they discussed their plans to continue working together on future projects after completing their current festival run.

Katrina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrinapia_/

Sarah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosemercer/
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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 21, 2026

EP. 1822: Screenwriter Joaquin Hernandez (Sadie and the Summer Serve)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Joaquin Hernandez about his screenplay "Sadie and the Summer Serve," a romantic drama set in the world of tennis that explores personal growth and integrity against nepotism in a local tennis club setting. Joaquin revealed he has written approximately 12 screenplays with five completed ones, including projects like "Green Juniper" (a Harvard student becoming a plant-controlling superhero), "Rigged" (a Fast and Furious-style Seattle-based film involving the Japanese Yakuza), and "Ab Oceano" (featuring a mermaid Navy SEAL leading a rescue mission). Joaquin explained his writing process began in 2019 and he writes daily in the mornings, taking about a year to complete "Sadie and the Summer Serve" including revisions.

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 21, 2026

EP. 1821: Filmmaker Véronique Paquette (LOCA)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed Véronique Paquette, a Canadian filmmaker who directed a 5-minute animated dance film about Argentine tango created at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal. Véronique discussed her 20-year career in animation before directing her first professional film, explaining how she combined her passion for tango dancing with her animation skills to create a unique black-and-white film that explores natural movement and intuition. The film took five years to complete due to personal circumstances including having three children during the process, and Véronique collaborated with a tango choreographer and dancers to create reference footage before animating the final work entirely herself using traditional ink-on-paper techniques with computer animation software. WILDsound praised the film's sound design and artistic merit, noting how it represents a counter-trend to AI-driven animation by emphasizing human expression and natural movement.

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——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 18, 2026

EP. 1820: Filmmaker/Actor Cameron Moon (THE YARD)

This interview discusses Cameron Moon's short film "The Yard," a 9-minute Christmas romance shot entirely on a smartphone at a garden center location. Cameron, who plays Santa in the film, collaborated with cinematographer Gary Rogers and actress Emily to create a traditional Christmas story with an LGBTQ+ twist. The film was shot in November at a Christmas-decorated garden center, with Cameron finding the location through a contact he knew, and the production involved an organic approach to casting and crew, including using local artists for the poster and credits sequence. Cameron explained his filmmaking philosophy of keeping crews small and maintaining collaborative environments and discussed his upcoming project "Sudade," a silent thriller over 40 minutes long that combines multiple cinematic styles.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

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Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 16, 2026

EP. 1819: Poem George Sarantopoulos (Inheritance)

Matthew Toffolo interviewed George Sarantopoulos about his poem "Inheritance," which has been adapted into a movie. George explained that the poem is written as a letter to a son he hasn't had yet, addressing uncomfortable truths about the world being built on violence and the need for protection. He discussed his personal connection to these themes through his father's military service during the Vietnam War and his own battle with prostate cancer, which led him to begin writing poetry as therapeutic outlet. George shared his concerns about modern parenting approaches, arguing that children are being coddled too much and not being prepared for life's challenges, while also noting how cancer treatment affected his mental health and the importance of therapy in the healing process.

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Subscribe to the podcast:

——

Love for you to try the Indy Film Festival AP.

• Daily new film festival of the best new films from around the world. New archived festival to watch anytime.

• Library of over 500+ award-winning films to watch anytime.

Go to https://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 3-day trial.

Check out the daily film festival (and previous ones from last month) at https://www.wildsound.ca/browse

Always an amazing lineup of films. Inspiring for storytellers.

Matthew ToffoloJuly 15, 2026

EP. 1818: Filmmakers Jay Woelfel & Jose Cardenas (FIRST TIME MACHINE)

Interview with the filmmaking team of "First Time Machine," discussing their short film adaptation of Frederick Brown's story. Jay explained how he discovered the original one- or two-page short story at a used book fair and decided to adapt it into a film featuring an all-Black cast except for the time traveler. The team discussed the creative process of building a realistic-looking time machine with production designer Caius Duncan, the challenging lighting setup in a real lab at Bowling Green University, and the thematic elements about race and personal connections. They also explored the possibility of making additional shorts based on other Frederick Brown stories, with Jay mentioning they had already acquired rights to another story called "Across the Line."

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