Cinemascope

Genevieve is a film and media strategist and on-camera and voiceover actor.

In late 2022, she began volunteering in eastern Ukraine — initially as a one-time trip to better understand and document life near the frontline so she could communicate those realities to Western audiences. The experience was life-changing, and she has since split her time between the U.S. and Ukraine.

She is currently hosting and producing the upcoming NMPBS TV series ¡COLORES! Ukraine: Art, Belief and Resistance, which explores the role of arts and culture in Ukraine’s resistance. She also serves as the City of Al...

Drew Lopez is a New Mexican actor and director, known for the short film Sunset and his feature film Riley: You're Never Out the Fight, which he also directed. His short film The Way We Carry Water is in film festivals and will screen at the upcoming Las Cruces International Film Festival.  

Drew is from a small town; Las Cruces, New Mexico. He and his family moved around a lot as a child but eventually they found their way back to Las Cruces. Drew enjoys being outdoors and playing sports. He picked these hobbies because of the c...

Piyush Gupta is an Indian-American actor whose journey has been a bit of a scenic route.
 
 Piyush was born and raised in a small town in India so, obviously, it started with an engineering degree. With no Bollywood connections and only an American dream in his pocket, Piyush moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2016 for graduate school and started building a new life from scratch. In sweet North Carolina, Piyush earned his dual master's in international business, which came with the opportunity to study at a French business school in Paris.
 
 Piyush has pursued acting oppo...

Writer and Executive Producer of recently released A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS, Catherine Fridey was born in Paris and grew up in Chicago. She co-wrote her original story ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS, the first Christmas film on Hallmark with lead Latino characters and actors. Most of her feature and television scripts have placed in notable competitions/festivals. She’s also written and produced several shorts, two of which she directed. OVERTURNED BUCKET is a proof of concept based on an award-winning New Mexico memoir by Rose Spader. Based on her family’s experiences during WWII, she co-produced, wrote, and is the lead...

Anna Elizabeth James is a top director, writer and producer who first caught the filmmaking bug after being given the opportunity to create her own TV show in junior high school. Ever since then Anna has had an insatiable desire to collaborate and bring artists together towards a common goal.  Anna finds great satisfaction in supporting other artists whom she believes in, especially if the project provides an opportunity for her to create dynamic roles for women. 

 Her films include Held Hostage in my House (available now on Netflix) and Deadly Illusions, which was a no.1 hit on...

Born in South Korea, adopted at 3 months where he was raised in Grand Rapids Michigan. Kevin started his martial arts training at the age of 5. At the age of 12, he was first in the state of Michigan for Forms and Sparring. Second in the state of Michigan for weapons. After earning his black belt in Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate, he decided to explore other martial arts including Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do.

In 2008, Kevin decided to move to Los Angeles California for acting. Through his training at LACC Theatre Academy he had the...

Courtney Glass is an English Professor who runs the Pluribus fan group on Facebook and the YouTube channel Courtney's Reviews. She also likes cats!

Alex Quiros is a fan of hard science fiction, and of Vince Gilligan. She has a penchant for analysis, a BA in English Lit, and moderates another fan group on Facebook. She also loves cats, but they make her sneeze.  

George Demetrides is 45 years old. Born and raised in Maryland and have lived there all his life. He works as a project manager during the day but also a musician and a...

Cheri Montesanto is a three-time Emmy Award–winning makeup artist and Makeup & Hairstyling Award honoree whose career in film and television spans decades of innovation, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Entering the entertainment industry at just 17 years old, she quickly established herself as a dynamic creative force, bringing depth, texture, and emotional resonance to every character she touches.

Her diverse body of work reflects both her versatility and her mastery of character-driven design. Her credits range from iconic films such as RoboCop 2 and Forces of Nature to culturally defining television series including The X-Files, CSI: Miami, Better Call Saul, an...

Dr. Paul Heinzelmann is a  Primary Care doctor trained in Public health who was pulled into the world of film sets when tax incentives brought film work to Massachusetts. His observations as an outsider reveal a workplace in need of reform. He produced the movie Safe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry, where he investigates hazardous working conditions in Hollywood, and discovers untold stories of enormous personal sacrifice and life-threatening risks.

10/31/2025 with Haraz Divine

Matt Page is an Actor, Writer and Director best known for creating the martial arts comedy web series "Enter The Dojo" and starring as the lead character Master Ken. His videos have received over 300 million views on YouTube. He has performed the Master Ken LIVE! comedy show across the U.S.A., Canada, Scotland, England, Wales, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia. Page has also appeared in feature films including “Kill Me Again”, “The Stress Is Killing Me”, "The Paper Tigers", "Sicario", "Shotcaller", "Maze Runner 2: Scorch Trials" and "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot". His television appearances include “Big Sky” (ABC), "Messiah” and ”Chambers" (Netfl...

DaJuan Johnson is an actor known for his role as Detective Pierce in Bosch, Detective Noah Oakley in NCIS: Origins, and most recently he plays Principal Jeffers in the Disney+ show Electric Bloom. He coaches actors and provides them with the guidance at ThinkBiggerCoaching.com. For bookings, contact DaJuan at DaJuanJohnson.com. 

Petru Cotarcea, Violinist 

Petru Cotarcea is a virtuoso violinist and the founder of Lycaeum Music, a company that connects professional music educators with students. This fully integrated online platform offers flexible home lessons, online lessons, courses, workshops, and competitions for students to build a musical community. Cotarcea also built a MusicOnWheels bus, a refurbished musical double decker bus that offers free music lessons to students who normally can't afford it. Lycaeum Music has served over 9,000 children since its founding in 2017. His latest venture MuseCool works on building the future of music education for 5-11 year olds, with T...

 Kira is an accomplished creative and business professional, currently serving as the Executive Director of AFMX. She combines her background in business operations and entrepreneurship with her expertise as an award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director.

A New Mexico native, Kira's work includes the award-nominated short film "The Autumn Waltz", available on Amazon Prime, and she was selected for the prestigious New Mexico Film Office New Voices program. Her filmmaking credits also include the viral short films "Period" and "Jameson", which have millions of views online.

In addition to her creative work, she founded her own p...

Lindsy Campbell is an American actress and award-winning filmmaker based in Albuquerque, NM. A graduate of The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, she began her professional acting career with a co-star role on Longmire and has since appeared in The Messengers, Cents, Foreseeable, and The Short History of the Long Road starring Sabrina Carpenter. Her filmmaking journey began in 2010 and led to her award-winning directorial debut The Brazilian in 2013. After earning her B.A. in Media Arts from UNM, she directed The Divorce starring Navid Negahban and Laura Niemi, which opened the door to commercial campaigns and branded...

Chad Terry has been making audiences laugh, cry, and occasionally cringe since 2000, with a career that spans film, television, theater, and podcasting. He’s the creator and host of Craft Beer and Comics: A Podcast, streaming on Spotify. On stage, Chad has portrayed standout roles like Gollum in Lord of the Rings, Remnar in Escanaba in Da Moonlight, and Carl in Lonely Planet, balancing larger-than-life performances with quiet emotional depth. He helped launch a theater group in Ridgecrest, California, previously served as City Producer for The 48 Hour Film Project in Denver and Albuquerque, and after a three-year hiatus has re...

Minefield Film Festival.

Aaron Alexander is a filmmaker and producer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the founder of Silence Fiction Films. He has directed and produced a range of projects, including the upcoming proof-of-concept short Bad River, featuring a cast of acclaimed actors. Aaron is also the Executive Director of the Mindfield Film Festival – Albuquerque, now entering its eighth year, where he has built an international platform that celebrates independent voices while connecting local filmmakers with the global community. With a background spanning directing, producing, and festival leadership, Aaron has developed a reputation for balancing creative vi...

Born in Laredo, Texas and raised in Mexico, Alejandro began his career in film by studying at the prestigious Vancouver Film School. In 2018, he was hand selected by director Robert Rodriguez to be a participant in his documentary series "REBEL WITHOUT A CREW". The film he produced on the show, "MONDAY", was screened at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Alejandro’s follow-up feature film, "Millennium Bugs", was crowdfunded and ultimately distributed by Indican Pictures. In 2022, he was inducted into the New Mexico Film Hall Of fame. The following year, 2023, he co-starred in Eva Longoria's film “Flamin’ Hot” and joined the Director...

Originally from New Mexico, Michelle Tomlinson is an award-winning Actress with a long list of IMDb credits.

A recipient of the bronze Best Director & Best Web/TV Pilot Award for the Palm City Film Festival for her Directing work in "Deeply Superficial," she loves working behind and in front of the camera.

Tomlinson was first inspired by a conversation with former Governor James Mountain of San Ildefonso Pueblo about language being a living thing that can die and lead to catastrophic events for Native American cultures. That conversation started the journey that has become the...

Film and Television Writer and Director Megan Griffiths and Writer and Producer Eliza Flug 

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking for the second time with film and television writer and director Megan Griffiths and for the first time with writer and producer Eliza Flug. They started working together in 2018, and both have multiple, acclaimed independent films under their belts. This episode will focus on their latest feature together, Year of the Fox, which Eliza wrote based on her own personal experiences. Megan and Eliza will also talk about their thoughts on independent film opportunities in t...

Adad Warda, Writer and Director

Adad Joel Warda is an award-winning Assyrian American filmmaker based in San Francisco. He writes and directs branded content and narrative films that explore diverse perspectives and reflect his international experiences. Fluent in three languages, Adad spent 12 years living abroad in Prague and traveling the world, which inspired his compassionate approach to storytelling. His films and screenplays focus on family and social-impact issues such as diversity, and the environment.

Adad's short film "Miss Her" has won multiple awards, including placement in the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival and "Best...

Jason Martinez - 

A seasoned producer of independent films and TV shows, Jason shows the utmost professionalism on set, whilst at the same time ensuring that cast and crew is well cared for. He is known for Millennium Bugs, The Unexpecteds, Rebel Without a Crew: The Series and the TV show Southern Hospitality. He has worked in New Mexico and around the USA.

Levi Gordon - 

Levi Gordon's passion for film has driven him to forge his own path in the industry. He independently studied screenwriting and producing, which laid the foundation for hi...

About the film: 

To save her family's farm in 19th Century Shanghai, a young woman disguises herself as a man and journeys to the American West, risking everything to take down a ruthless railroad tycoon and ignite a revolution. 

Guest Bios:

Max Gail - 2 time Emmy winner, Max Gail has over 50 years of acting experience, working on shows such as Barney Miller and General Hospital, as well as many films. He will play the character James Cannon in Midnight Shanghai. 

Hal Haixu Liu - An up and coming dir...

Producer, Elizabeth Marrs

Liz has been acting and telling stories since being cast as a child clown for a brief stint with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum Baily Circus. After college she moved from the stage to the classroom, becoming a college professor teaching art history. Since leaving academia she has appeared in many theater productions in Albuquerque and non-union films and commercials in
New Mexico and Utah. Working as a producer for Cactus club has been a pleasure and she looks forward to seeing the series go into production in the next year. Currently, Liz  i...

Born in Roswell, New Mexico; Merritt's first encounter with performing, aside from the plays and stories she performed on her own for family, was at the age of seven. A movie called 'Silent Tongue,' by Sam Shepard, came to Roswell to film in the desert surrounding her home town. As a request of her mother's first time position as the on set tutor, Merritt auditioned for Sam Shepard as a featured, recurring, background player. "I wanted to give Merritt an outlet for her strong tendencies toward performance that she showed since, well, pretty much birth," chuckles her mom. "...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with two-time Emmy Award-winning Co-Executive Producer, Line Producer, Director, Writer and Production Executive Stew Lyons. This is Stew’s second time on the show.

With the current retraction in the industry, Genevieve is speaking to Stew about his thoughts on how producers can best pitch and position themselves to work on projects, as well as trends in producing and line producing.

Stew’s experience includes TV series and pilots with Netflix, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Brothers, Amazon, Starz, Apple, HBO, FX, AMC and three...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with New Mexico Film Office Director Steve Graham about the long-awaited return of the New Mexico Film and Media Conference, which takes place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, and will focus on filmmakers, crew, businesses and industry leaders coming together to collaborate and discuss the future of film and television in New Mexico. They're also talking about the elephants in the room, including the slow industry and the proposed tariffs, and what new opportunities are also bubbling up as a result.

For more information on the New Mexico Film and Media...

In this episode, Cinema Scope host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Kyiv-based Babylon’13 Film Collective Producer and Cinematographer Andrii Kotliar. This is their third conversation for Cinema Scope but their first one in person — they sat down in the Babylon‘13 office in Kyiv to talk about the important role filmmakers in Ukraine have in documenting Russia’s full-scale invasion and, globally, the fight for democracy and human rights.

Host Kira Sipler speaks with Ross Kagan Marks, American filmmaker and professor at New Mexico State University.

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Kyiv-based award-winning director Alisa Kovalenko about her latest documentary feature, My Dear Théo. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (on February 24, 2022), Alisa left the editing room of her film We Will Not Fade Away and joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

As a soldier, she served on the frontline in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, fighting in the trenches for four months. During those four months on the frontline, Alisa filmed a video diary for her then 4-year-old son, Théo, in case she didn't re...

This week on CinemaScope, guest host Kira Sipler interviews Brent Morris, a UPM & Line Producer

Check out Brent's IMDb page at www.imdb.com/name/nm0606400/

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor sits down with NM Film Office Director Steve Graham, who’s giving Cinema Scope listeners exclusive info that he “might get in trouble for” — but it’s worth it. Steve is a native New Mexican and longtime L.A.-based producer, and he’s bringing his experience to NMFO by leading some exciting developments for 2025 and beyond, which he’ll discuss.

Writer, Producer and Director Michiel ten Kleij's Insights and Advice on Making a Film That Transcends National and Cultural Barriers.

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with writer and director John Alfone; writer, producer and editor Michael David Raso; writer, director and producer Sheila Warren; and director, actor and writer Tiffany Cole about their advice for pitching projects and pivoting during this uncertain time.

Based in major film markets in the U.S. and Canada and each with decades of industry experience, they’ll also talk about what projects they’re seeing at markets like AFM, the European Film Market (Berlinale) and more.

For more info on their projects:

John and Mich...

Ivan Wiener is the Founder/Past Executive Director of the Albuquerque Film & Music Experience which began in 2013 with the support and participation of close friend, Robert Redford. He is the owner of Reel Solutions, one of the most trusted companies in the New Mexico entertainment industry that provides airport meet & greet services, personal assistance for talent working in New Mexico, and consulting for productions that saves time and money for clients.

With 30+ years of experience in hospitality and entertainment, Ivan has brought his vast resources, and relationships with some of the biggest names in entertainment, together to...

Sherri Chung is a trailblazing force in the film and television music industry, she is renowned for her dynamic compositions that transcend genres and bring filmmakers' visions to life. As a woman of color, her contributions have been pivotal in shaping the landscape of modern scoring. Her work on the Emmy-nominated Based on a True Story and projects like Netflix’s Happiness For Beginners, NBC’s Found, and CW’s Riverdale solidifies her status as a leader in the industry.

Sherri’s talents extend beyond composing; she is an accomplished pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. Her voice has been fea...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Emmy Award-winning producer Antonio Ayala and producer Matt Stoner about their new satirical horror short, Princeton's in the Mix, an official selection at this year’s now-Oscar-qualifying Santa Fe International Film Festival. It will screen at the Center for Contemporary Arts on Friday, October 18, at 5:30 PM. Genevieve is speaking with Antonio and Matt about the making of the film and how they managed to cut through the noise in a sea of short films this year and gain significant festival and media attention.

For more information on the fi...

As a writer, J. Barton Mitchell has developed properties for Warner Bros, Twenty First Century Fox, Sony, Valve Software, and Boom! Studios, and is a published author of four novels. He is also the creator of the sci-fi narrative podcast series DERELICT, and the writer and voice director of the video games STASIS: BONE TOTEM and the upcoming ANIMAL USE PROTOCOL.

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Ganna Zagorodnia, co-founder and co-lead designer of Dress Art Mystery, which makes costumes for period film, TV and private customers all over the world. In addition to the challenges any business faces that deals with the ebbs and flows of the film and television industry, they also face another challenge: working in a country facing war. 

Matt Walsh was born on October 13, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Into the Storm (2014), The Hangover (2009) and Ted (2012), as well as for the TV show Veep. He performed with Second City and continued his career on to Hollywood. He has been married to Morgan Walsh since March 21, 2009. They have three children.

Born in Laredo, Texas and raised in Mexico, Alejandro began his career in film by studying at the prestigious Vancouver Film School. In 2018, he was hand selected by director Robert Rodriguez to be a participant in his documentary series "...

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kira Sipler has a passion for storytelling ignites both on-screen and behind the scenes. Raised in New Mexico, this filmmaker crafts award-winning content through her company, Jouska Road Productions. Sipler's passion for the film industry led her to take on critical roles in prominent organizations. In 2020, Sipler joined AFMX as its Volunteer Coordinator, then advanced to its Director of Operations, navigating projects from drive-in movies, events, and virtual and live festivals. As the Volunteer and Logistics Director for the Seattle Film Summit, she played a pivotal role in revamping operations, resulting in a staggering reach of...

Nick and Trevor Marcotte have made movies since they were kids — with their first serious effort being the 2012 short western, 'The Weight'. They're currently developing a retro vampire film called 'Sunset'. Their short proof of concept, 'A Scene from Sunset', will premiere at AFMX in Albuquerque this fall. 'Sunset' is a love letter to 80s vampire films (think The Lost Boys and Fright Night) and is about the dangers we face in growing up. It's a coming-of-age horror/comedy that's dipped in green chile, as the film is set in New Mexico. The project will be written and directed by...

Derek Bauder, a native of Yuma, Arizona, USA, began his journey after graduating from Cibola High School.
He then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, dedicating six years to conducting Helicopter Search and Rescue missions out of California.
Following his honorable discharge in 2020, Bauder transitioned into the world of entertainment, establishing himself as an American Director, Writer, Actor, Producer, and Social Media Influencer.
Bauder has showcased his versatility and dedication through various roles in film productions, including 'Pollo Loco' (2023), which received critical acclaim and recognition, along with many awards. Additionally, his notable contributions can be...

Jijo is a third generation Los Angeles native and the grandson of Alan Reed who was the voice of FRED FLINTSTONE and acted in such movies as Breakfast At Tiffany's and Postman Always Rings Twice.Jijo’s latest feature films include Crescent City starring Alec Baldwin and Terrence Howard, THE BLACKENING directed by Tim Story for MRC, Village Roadshow's CINNAMON, and MENDING THE LINE starring Brian Cox (Succession)… also, MACHINE GUN KELLY'S LIFE IN PINK 2022 documentary for Hulu/Disney and BACK ON THE STRIP with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish.

Aaron Alexander, a New Mexico native, has established himself as a creative force in the film industry over the past 15 years. His journey began as an actor, with notable appearances in productions like "Longmire." About 12 years ago, Aaron transitioned into directing, producing, and writing—a move that has defined his career. Specializing in drama, psychological thrillers, and horror, Aaron has crafted award-winning films such as "Opal," "The Weeping," "Detention," and "Perfect Vision." His latest project, "Rivals," promises to captivate audiences and further establish his legacy as a visionary filmmaker. As the Executive Director of the Mindfield Film Festival, Aaron pl...

Drew Lopez is from a small town; Las Cruces, New Mexico. Him and his family moved around a lot as a child but eventually they found their way back to Las Cruces. Drew enjoys being out doors and playing sports. He picked these hobbies because of the competition and for a split second his mind is silent. He started boxing as a kid and been training for the last 16 years. He is now a certified boxer, boxing coach, and personal trainer. Just recently, Drew started helping out at the local church as a youth pastor to give back to...

As a native of Denmark, Daniel Stilling started his career as a Steadicam and camera operator in Scandinavia. In 2001 he moved to Los Angeles where he honed in on his passion for camera work, working in many acclaimed TV series, such as "Scrubs" and "Criminal Minds".

He continued in his path as a Cinematographer in several films, such as independents "Chasing Bullitt" (a Steve McQueen biopic), the Christmas hit "A Christmas Karen", "Priceless" distributed by Roadside Attractions and Universal, and also shooting the NASA Unit of Ridley Scott's Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominated "The Martian"...

Jia Rizvi is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and writer who pursues stories of wrongful convictions. Her debut film, Conviction, chronicles the shortcomings of the American Criminal Justice system. Conviction saw success on the festival circuit and won awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and an Award of Distinction, prior to releasing on Amazon Prime. Jia is also the Co-Host of Speaking of Crime, a true crime podcast series investigating mysterious cases. Jia was awarded the Digital Trends DEI Award in 2022 for her work on the film and podcast, and has hosted numerous episodes of the Emmy-Award winning...

Based in Albuquerque, Tiffany’s background in the film industry with acting, directing, writing and producing experience enhances the New Mexico Film Foundation's focus of supporting Above-the-Line talent. Former faculty member at the USC School of Dramatic Arts, Tiffany's notable film roles include "Sharknado" (you read that correctly!) and "The Last Girl", as well as "True Blue" and "Park 33", both currently in the festival circuit. She is finishing her feature film script, "SOS Paperclip", which she is set to direct, based on her directing-debut short, already starting world-wide distribution while on the festival circuit. In her former, pre-pandemic theatre li...

Recently named a “2024 Rising Star of Animation” by Animation Magazine, Ashleigh Crystal Hairston is a multi-hyphenate in the truest sense of the word. She is the lead voice actress on Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish, a series she also helped co-create. As a writer, story editor, and co-EP on the show, Ashleigh has helped shape its voice since its inception. She ran the writers room alongside Lindsay Katai, crafting the arc of the series and developing entirely new characters and relationships. She even served as lead writer on three episodes!

Ashleigh is so proud to be...

Sopapilla Productions is an Albuquerque-based production company that focuses on highlighting and uplifting local businesses, artists, and creatives through film and media. It is led by the dynamic husband and wife duo Keith Allen and Felicia Masias who bring impactful collaboration, creative approaches, and truly local and original media content to Albuquerque. Recently, they have taken on the position of Executive Producers for Comcast Channel 26, Albuquerque’s Local and Original Channel, where they were awarded 'Best Overall Excellence in Public Access" in the Nation. As a result, hundreds of poets, artists, comedians, musicians, filmmakers, and content creators have been gi...

'Daredevil: Scales of Justice' is a fan film featuring Rising Star Stunt Team. When a man accused of murder is released, a blind lawyer with hyper senses takes justice into his own hands. It is written by Nick Marcotte and directed by Phoenix Zito. Gary Choi and the Rising Star Stunt Team, including Daniel Moen and Phoenix Zito, coordinated and performed stunts.

Phoenix Sol Zito is a filmmaker, actor, cinematographer, and stunt man. He has an expansive body of work, including multiple award winning films, documentaries, and PSA's . Phoenix's work can be seen occasionally on television, on...

Jacques Paisner is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation. He is the former Director of Programming at Jean Cocteau Cinema. Jacques serves on the Advisory Board for California American Indian Film Festival, and he is a former Santa Fe Film Commissioner. Jacques was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Santa Fe, and is a 1998 graduate of Santa Fe High School, and received a BA degree in Philosophy in 2003 from the University of New Mexico. He is the producer on the forthcoming feature film from indie auteur Jon Moritsugu, the writer...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Emmy Award-winning director and producer Lois Lipman, whose film First We Bombed New Mexico is bringing critical and timely attention to the untold story of the Trinity nuclear bomb. We’re discussing the power of film to impact public policy and what listeners can do to help bring awareness — and change — to one of the largest coverups in U.S. history.

Trinity, the world’s first nuclear bomb, was detonated in New Mexico one month before the bombing of Hiroshima.

Thousands of New Mexicans, mostly Hispanic and Nati...

Mark is an independent filmmaker working on his second feature documentary film about a captivating artist who has made a difference. His first feature documentary, Awakening in Taos, was inspired by Mabel Dodge Luhan’s work and he is currently developing a feature dramatic film on her memoir Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality. Awakening in Taos was narrated by actor/activist Ali MacGraw and is currently being broadcast nationwide over PBS stations. The success of Awakening in Taos inspired us to produce Man of Many Colors.

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV. In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” which premiered at DOC NYC and was supported by the Ford Foundation and The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). She was awarded the prestigious Better Angels Lavine Fellowship in 2023.

Corky...

About the film: The Hard R is a film that explores cultural appropriation of Black culture. A white drug runner's cultural appropriation is called out by his black partner when they are on a drug run that goes wrong and leads to unintended consequences.

In this episode, Cinema Scope guest host and actor, writer and producer Jamie H. Jung is speaking with When Angels Fear director, writer and co-producer Peter DeAnello and the film's stars, Harper Frawley and Louie DeAnello.

The film also stars Dan Lauria, of The Wonder Years fame (he played the father) and many other films and series.

When Angels Fear screens at the Santa Fe Film Festival this Saturday, April 27, 3:00-5:00 pm, at the El Paradiso.

Guest host Jamie H. Jung and actor and filmmaker Bree Klauser discuss disability empowerment in the film industry

In this episode, Cinema Scope guest host and actor, writer and producer Jamie H. Jung is speaking with Philadelphia-based actor and filmmaker Bree Klauser about disability empowerment in the film industry. Both Bree and Jamie have low vision. Bree is a queer actor and filmmaker whose credits as an actor include the Apple TV+ show See and the upcoming feature film A Perfect Union.

Bree and Jamie recently put together a short film for the Easterseals Disability...

Ross Kagan Marks is an award-winning director best known for directing WALKING WITH HERB, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS and HOMAGE. His other credits include THE HEART OUTRIGHT, FOWL, TARRANT COUNTY, SHOWDOWN ON RIO ROAD, FLUFF and PRINCESS, which was on the short list for the Academy Award live-action shorts. His films have won awards at the Sundance Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film festival and festivals throughout the world. He is a graduate of the American Film Institute and a member of the Writers Guild. The Executive Director and founder of the Las International Film...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Kyiv-based producer and cinematographer Andrii Kotliar, a member of one of Ukraine’s biggest production companies, Babylon’13. Andrii and Babylon’13 produced recent genre-bending documentary Iron Butterflies, which premiered at Sundance 2023 and examines Russia’s 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Eastern Ukraine. The flight killed all 298 people on board, and Russia was never officially held accountable. We’re discussing the importance of film in fighting propaganda.

Watch full Babylon’13 films, including some with English subtitles, on their YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrJIIeADD45RsffK2yYgmSw

Learn...

Tony Doupé is a SAG-AFTRA actor and producer with an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. A successful actor for over 34 years in LA, New Orleans, and Seattle, he has been teaching and coaching actors for 25 years, both privately and at the college level. He currently serves as the Film/Theatre Department Chair, at Shoreline Community College.

With over 130 film and television credits, Tony has had roles in a wide variety of film and television projects. Tony co-starred in the feature film The River Murders with Ray Liotta and Christian Slater, which premiered at the C...

Lisa Zambetti is a casting director, known for the long-running crime drama series Criminal Minds as well as independent films and video game casting.

Originally from the Bay Area, Lisa spent over a decade in NYC as an actress on Broadway and Off, writer, director and producer for many award-winning theatre companies. While working at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lisa met casting legend Billy Hopkins who opened her eyes to the wonders of the casting world. After interning with Billy, Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee and Suzanne Smith, Lisa moved to Los Angeles where she worked her way...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with film and television writer and director Megan Griffiths, whose recent television work includes serving as producing director for S2 of Amazon’s The Summer I Turned Pretty. Megan's giving her advice on building a successful career for others who, like her, live in markets outside L.A.

Megan’s built a successful writing and directing career from her home base in Seattle, Washington. She’s directed shows for HBO, EPIX, TNT, Hulu, USA, Fox, Netflix and Amazon. Her recent feature films include Year of the Fox, starring Sarah Jeffer...

In 2016, as a relatively unknown electro-pop artist (MEMORYY), Shaun was selected to score the theme song for Netflix's first-ever streaming nightly talk show, Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea, beating out A-listers and Grammy winners for the job.

He then exploded into the film and television music scene and launched Neon Moon Studios (neonmoonstudios.com). He quickly started working with a roster of clients like Amazon, YouTube, Revlon, MTV, Pfizer, Gatorade and The Hallmark Channel. Recently, he started scoring feature films.

Filmmakers at War: A Rising Fury Director and Producer Lesya Kalynska and Producer TJ Collins

In this episode, we’re speaking with director and producer Lesya Kalynska and producer TJ Collins about their documentary film A Rising Fury, which is receiving global attention for exposing Russia's hidden war techniques in Ukraine that have drastic, worldwide implications.

A Rising Fury was more than nine years in the making. Lesya and co-director Ruslan Batytskyi initially sought to make a film about peaceful revolution in Ukraine; but they ended up filming with troops along the frontlines in Eastern Uk...

Director Alisa Kovalenko and Producer Kasia Kuczyńska

Director, Actor and Writer Andy Kastelic on His Latest Film, The Countryman, and the Importance of Small Things

In this episode, writer, actor and director Andy Kastelic is discussing his new film, The Countryman, and his advice for other filmmakers looking to make an impact in the industry through short films.

Andy is from Albuquerque and, after training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Los Angeles, earned a BA in Film from the University of New Mexico. Through his production company, Balian Pictures, he has written and directed several award-winning short films of...

Local filmmaker Brent Peterson discusses his new, already viral fan film, Star Wars: Rendevous

In this episode, we're speaking with New Mexican filmmaker and Antigravity Films, LLC President Brent Peterson about his latest film, Star Wars: Rendezvous. The film is a fan film, and -- despite not premiering until August 18, 2023 -- has already gone viral. Brent discusses what it's like to make a fan film, why other filmmakers should consider making a fan film, and his advice for local filmmakers looking to elevate their careers.

Tickets to the premiere (which are free): https://www.nhccnm...

In this episode, Emmy Award-winning editor and producer Paul Barnes discusses the magic behind the curtain of documentary filmmaking and his more than 30-year collaboration with legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. Paul has collaborated with Ken Burns since 1984, when Paul edited Statue of Liberty, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Their partnership has produced some of the most seminal work in the history of documentary filmmaking. Their series The Civil War became the highest-rated series in the history of American Public Television at the time it aired. It won more than forty major film and television awards, including...

Filmmakers Jules Jones & Sam Akina on filming in a foreign country

In this episode, we’re speaking with writing, producing and directing pair Jules Jones and Sam Akina, a powerhouse team and real-life partners from the U.S. who unexpectedly found themselves living in Poland after what was supposed to be a short stint for a film there in 2017. Six years later, they have five of the past decade’s highest-grossing films in Poland and a slew of projects in the pipeline. Today, we’re talking about being open to new opportunities and how to build a film c...