Telling stories through film and conversation.
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WILDsound's The Film Podcast

In each episode, the C.E.O. of WILDsound, Matthew Toffolo, chats about all things storytelling and film. Conversations with talented individual from all around the world.

EP. 1589: Filmmaker Matthew Putnam & Actor Darren Emery (The Christopher Nolan Experience)

When struggling creative Christopher Nolan is dumped by his girlfriend upon her discovery that he is not the legendary director of films such as Oppenheimer and Interstellar, he decides to prove himself by staging a play adaptation of The Dark Knight. "The Christopher Nolan Experience" captures the behind-the-scenes efforts leading up to this anticipated disaster.

https://www.instagram.com/thechristophernolanexperience/

Conversation with director/co-writer Matthew Putnam and lead actor Darren Emery.

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EP. 1587: Filmmaker Tom White (Connection)

Conversation with filmmaker Tom White on the making of CONNECTION - a film he directed remotely.

A government agent is tasked with interrogating a silent prisoner—but the true danger lies in whether the voice in his head is his own… or something else entirely.

https://instagram.com/twch757

Director Statement

I didn’t just direct Connection from my living room — I directed it live, in real time, over an iPad, collaborating with my cast and crew from home.

After being diagnosed with a chronic disability that left me homebound, I feared my days of directing were over. For a long time, I grieved the version of myself who could run a set, work shoulder to shoulder with my DP, and block scenes in person. But this film became the experiment that proved I could still do all of that — just differently.

Remote directing forced me to trust my collaborators more deeply, communicate with absolute clarity, and lean into a process most filmmakers never attempt. The result isn’t just a short film — it’s proof that my voice still has a place, even if the way I use it has changed.

Connection is my reminder that creativity can evolve. That even when life rewrites the rules, we can still tell the stories that matter to us — and maybe tell them in ways no one’s tried before.

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EP. 1586: Filmmaker Heloísa Cardoso (SUBMERGED)

A young woman waits for her lover for a secret trip. However, he does not show up and does not respond to her messages. That’s when strange and inexplicable events begin to happen in her house. She asks for help from her lover, who ignores her. Realizing that she is hopelessly alone, she gives up waiting for salvation and surrenders to her own shadow.


https://www.instagram.com/cardosohelo/?hl=en

Director Statement

"Submerged" is my graduation film from Academia Internacional de Cinema. This short film is an extension of the research I’ve been developing in theatre and literature, proposing a reflection on the tendency to wait, something encouraged in girls from a very young age. The wait for a great love, a hope for something external that will give life meaning. The horror surrounding this waiting evokes the idea of a monstrous femininity: when left alone, the protagonist of "Submerged" unconsciously materializes her shadow, which ultimately consumes her and breaks the cycle of passivity.

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EP. 1585: Filmmaker Peter Andrew Coutavas (TROPOS)

TROPOS, 2min., USA, Environmental Feature

Director/Co-Writer: Peter Andrew Coutavas

In the wake of sudden and alarming climate change, a team of brilliant citizens are assembled by the United States Government to counter the threat. Will they succeed in time? Or will private agendas get in the way?

https://www.instagram.com/ardentroadproductions/

Director Statement

"TROPOS" comes from the Greek prefix "tropo" meaning "reaction", or "change", which is in reference to the moral of this story: People must change before the world can change. Both I and my sister, Christina whom co-produced this film, had developed this project partly out of concern for the state of our planet's future with regard to climate change. I believe it to be a symptom of a much larger problem; the lack of shared responsibility for our collective welfare. My intention with this film to appeal to a younger generation in the hope of inspiring change. The making of this film was also a personal challenge. Having never produced anything even approaching the scope of a full length feature, the production taught me a great deal about the complexity of the craft, and will forever remain an important footnote in my work history. I hope others may have the chance to appreciate it for what it was intended to be: a collaborative passion project that speaks candidly and earnestly about the price of indifference and the virtues of courage.

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EP. 1584: Filmmakers Cherie Carson & Micha Dunston (SPLIT FOCUS)

SPLIT FOCUS, 6min., Dance/Experimental

Directed by Cherie Carson. DP/Editor: Micha Dunston

"Split Focus" is a captivating dance film that delves into the intricate relationship between self-perception and external projection. Through mesmerizing shadow play, the film explores images of spirit and internal feelings versus outward appearances, prompting viewers to question which aspect demands more attention— the dancer herself or her shadow. Visually poetic, it offers a compelling examination of how we project ourselves into the world and the duality of inner and outer identities.


http://www.upswingaerialdance.org/

https://www.instagram.com/upswingaeriaDirector Statement

I explore the layers of human identity and emotion through movement and visual storytelling.

My choreography and filmmaking are driven by a desire to illuminate the unseen forces that shape our understanding of ourselves and others. "Split Focus" is a dialogue between the physical body and its shadow, using dance and shadow play as a metaphor for the internal and external worlds we inhabit.

I look to challenge perceptions, create imagery that encourages viewers to reflect on the projections, masks, and truths that define us. With a background rooted in both choreography and award-winning filmmaking, I strive to craft immersive, visually compelling narratives that resonate on a visceral level—highlighting the beauty, complexity, and often unseen depths of the human spirit.

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EP. 1583: Screenwriter Ryan Armstrong (SADDLED WITH)

Watch the best scene reading: https://youtu.be/biuPP3yLUY4

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

A gunslinger is hired to rescue and return a young person to their family despite all outlaws, odds, and attire.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Western, Action, Drama

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I believe, especially now, that understanding, listening, and accepting are something we need to get back to doing. Whatever form/medium necessary to push that, might be helpful.

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EP. 1582: Filmmaker Ryleigh Kennedy (THE BODY)

THE BODY, 6min.. Horror/Comedy Short Film

Alex thinks she is at home alone, finishing up her "work," when her brother Ansel interrupts. Now, she must clean up all the evidence before he can see it.


www.instagram.com/official.kennedy.productions

Director Statement

This film has been a seed in my mind for many years now. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this. It is my thesis to complete my undergraduate degree. I think it perfectly captures my weird sense of humor and love for all things horror. Making this film meant everything to me as my friends and family rallied around to support me. It is my baby, and bringing it to life has been one of my greatest honors. I hope it makes you laugh.

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EP. 1581: Filmmaker Kent Lloyd (WATERLOGGED)

WATERLOGGED, 4min., USA, Action/Crime

A cop gets under water with her CI's and needs to find a way out.

Conversation with director Kent Lloyd on the making of the film.

http://uvselfdefense.com/stunts

https://www.instagram.com/spearheadstunts

Director Statement

Waterlogged is meant to be an auditory experience. I was inspired by all of my live dance music players from college and season 2 of Daredevil to help the audience experience what our hero goes through.

This piece was a giant collaboration from my stunts class. Monica, Rayla and Tennyson did most of the heavy lifting in terms of choreography and costume design. But they asked me to help stunt coordinate and direct and help write the script since the action was developed without any specific dialogue at all.

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EP. 1580: Filmmaker Ben Harl (MARA)

MARA, 18min., USA, Horror/Thriller

After years spent recovering from a botched exorcism, Jake prepares to reintegrate into society. However, the mounting pressures of everyday existence trigger a harrowing regression back into madness. Conversation with filmmaker Ben Harl

https://www.instagram.com/scompassstudios/

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EP. 1579: Filmmaker/Musician Matt Cargill (Glistening Benevolence)

Glistening Benevolence, 6min., UK, Music Video

Directed by Matt Cargill

https://instagram.com/familydrone

Sly & The Family Drone Unleash ‘Glistening Benevolence’: Take the trip into slime-drenched folk horror and the cosmic unknown. . .

Neo-jazz wrecking-crew Sly & The Family Drone summon forth a new vision of terror and transcendence with the video premiere of ‘Glistening Benevolence’. Filmed at an undisclosed, shadowy music festival in the heart of Hampshire, the visual journey is a macabre ritual of psychedelic sludge, blending live performance footage with ominous vignettes of slime-coated landscapes, cosmic dread, and unholy rites under the moon.

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EP. 1577: Singer/Songwriter Olivia Millin (TTYL music video)

Jpop Music Video shot in New York City's Times Square.

Conversation with rising star Olivia Millin on the making of her music video with her team.

http://oliviamillin.com/

https://instagram.com/oliviaamillinn

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EP. 1576: Interview with Filmmaker Raph Isadora Seymour (YELLOW DRESS)

Yellow Dress, 4min., UK
Directed by Raph Isadora Seymour
What is she doing? Trying to make a garden? Trying to make something…and who or what is trying to stop her? Crude stop-motion makes startling and poetic images and tells a story of resilience and the desire for happiness for both the hero and the villain of the piece.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I wrote a poem and decided to animate it. My friend and I had gone to Peckham Common to feed the crows. I liked their movements and cunning and was also interested in their sinister connotations and their innocence.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The idea came to me in 2022 and I was finished in early 2024.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Puppet Poem.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The biggest obstacle in making the project was balancing my time. Working a job and having other creative projects, working in stops and starts and still maintaining a creative flow however I feel this alongside the stopwork animation and patchwork effects may have benefited the style of the piece.

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EP. 1575: Actor/Writer Lisa Maciel (Right Beside You)

Right Beside You, 3min., USA

Writer/Star: Lisa Maciel

The night before her cousin’s wedding—to her ex—Isabel hides away, desperate to escape. But Liam, her fiercely loyal best friend, follows her, and something shifts. Their laughter fades. A glance lingers. A touch lasts too long. Unspoken truths press between them—until reality slams back in.

www.instagram.com/lisamaciel13

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Matthew Toffolo
EP. 1574: Gabriel Milessis Braga (THE FIRST NIGHT)

The First Night, 7min., Brazil

Directed by Gabriel Milessis Braga

After collapsing at the altar, Elise awakens inside an old church, and something inside her has changed. Guided by a mysterious man who seems to understand her condition, she begins to confront a new, terrifying hunger. The First Night is a gothic meditation on becoming, resistance, and the quiet seduction of darkness in our lifes.

https://www.instagram.com/thegabrielwars/

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EP. 1573: Filmmakers Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg (BELONG TO YOU)

BELONG TO YOU, 6min., Iceland
Directed by Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg
Belong to you follows a swimming pool employee who thinks about his relationship with his coworker on a quiet night.

Get to know the filmmakers:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

We had just graduated from high school, where me and Ísak had worked quite closely together, and we wanted to continue our partnership and continue creating. I had this idea that was originally a poem and from that we started production. The poem was originally just meant for me to vent out my feelings.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The idea first came about when I wrote the poem in early 2024. From that there was the early drafts of the script, but that came to a halt until me and Ísak picked it up in august 2024. We started production but that also came to a short stop, because we couldn’t find the right actors. Then, by miracle, we found the two perfect ones. We shot the film in one day at a closed swimming pool on november 23rd and finished shooting after only eight hours of filming. Then came post production which took about two months and the film was finished in late february of 2025. So in total the film took about a year to complete, from idea to the big screen.

www.instagram.com/isak2814

www.instagram.com/olivertumi

BELONG TO YOU, 6min., Iceland
Directed by Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg
Belong to you follows a swimming pool employee who thinks about his relationship with his coworker on a quiet night.

Get to know the filmmakers:

What motivated you to make this film?

We had just graduated from high school, where me and Ísak had worked quite closely together, and we wanted to continue our partnership and continue creating. I had this idea that was originally a poem and from that we started production. The poem was originally just meant for me to vent out my feelings.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The idea first came about when I wrote the poem in early 2024. From that there was the early drafts of the script, but that came to a halt until me and Ísak picked it up in august 2024. We started production but that also came to a short stop, because we couldn’t find the right actors. Then, by miracle, we found the two perfect ones. We shot the film in one day at a closed swimming pool on november 23rd and finished shooting after only eight hours of filming. Then came post production which took about two months and the film was finished in late february of 2025. So in total the film took about a year to complete, from idea to the big screen.

EP. 1572: Filmmaker Alice Ioana Nicolae (NOW IT'S BETTER)

Now it's better, 12min., Romania

Directed by Alice Ioana Nicolae

In a world where it is easier to tear down than to build, to blame rather than to take responsibility, there are still resources for a better life. Although very painful and seemingly unique to each couple, the stories of our protagonists are almost universally valid, or perhaps very relevant in our current social and political context.Will the protagonist couples save their relationships? We will see in the short film 'Now It's Better.'

www.instagram.com/alicenicolaehl

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EP. 1571: Writer/Producer Rani Sitaram (GREYTOWN GIRLS)

The true story of a small-town girl, born with physical limitations, abandoned as a baby, bravely builds her life and creates a love story that crosses continents through the romance of letter writing. An empowering and cinematic story of love and resilience.


https://www.greytowngirlthemovie.com/

Conversation with screenwriter and producer Rani Sitaram on the making of the film.

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EP. 1570: Filmmaker Louis Rémillard (Folie Glacée)

Folie Glacée, 11min., Canada

Directed by Louis Rémillard

Eli et Vincent se commandent une collation à la crèmerie locale sans s'attendre aux horreurs qui ruineront leurs rendez-vous en amoureux

www.instagram.com/shotbypoui

What motivated you to make this film?

It all started with me and my friend, who's the director of photography on the film, hanging out in Montreal. We both got ourselves ice cream cones and as we were eating them, walking around, the idea of the story kind of came to us as a joke at first. I thought about it for a moment, and I ended up telling myself it would make a fun screenplay. I came up with the idea of the ice cream vendor being ill intended and serving contaminated ice cream and he suggested the idea of the couple being on a date. So I owe it a lot to my friend's encouragement and believing in my story once the screenplay was finally done. We were excited to make something that would be wacky, fun and horror since it is a genre we both liked very much.


From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
 As it is for most passion projects, everyone was either working their full time job or started working on other projects. The crew was mostly composed of my newly graduated classmates so it was a dance of work-fun balance.I think it took about six months of production but since it was all done in free and voluntary time, those six months were spreaded throughout a whole year. 


How would you describe your film in two words!?
Wacky and bloody!

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
It was definitely having to shoot the film almost entirely at night. Scheduling became complicated because I wanted everyone on deck, comfortable and up to work. Having to rest throughout the day and having to shoot everything before sunrise became particularly challenging for the biological clock. We did everything possible to make the experience as fun as it could be and playing with fake blood, making scary scenes definitely contributed to the good ambiance on set. Although it was challenging, we have good laughs to look back to.

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