Episode 31 - Brenda Avila-Hanna - “Pueblos”
Photo Credit: Craig Hanna
[image Description: Brenda is pictured from the chest up and has black shoulder length and light brown skin. She wears a dark green tank top and a necklace with a multi-colored star charm. She stands before a background filled with green foliage and bright pink flowers.]
In this episode, I speak with Mexican filmmaker and Co-Director of Video Consortium Mexico, Brenda Avila-Hanna. During our conversation, we chat about her latest feature project Libertad, the professional needs of Mexican content creators outside of urban strongholds such as Mexico City, the immigration conversation that’s happening or actually not happening in Mexico, and the educational distribution co-op New Days Films. The song for this week’s episode is PUEBLOS, by Lila Downs and Sara Currichich. The song speaks about Indigenous solidarity and strength without borders. Currichich is Guatemalan and Downs is Mexican-American with roots in Oaxaca, which feels particularly resonant to Libertad and many other themes of transnational solidarity addressed throughout the episode. As a plus, one of Libertad's Producers and DP's, Casandra Casasola, is the DP for the video to this song. Casandra is a Mexican, Indigenous (Mixteca) filmmaker.
Episode 25 - Matt Lauterbach, Grishma Shah, & Reveca Torres - “My Future”
Photo Credit: Ryan Gleeson
[Image Description: Matt is pictured from the chest up. He wears a plaid, white, tan, and black shirt over a black t-shirt and glasses. His hair, mustache, and beard, closely cropped. He stands against a brick and cement wall.]
In this episode, I speak with Matt Lauterbach, Grishma Shah, and Reveca Torres of All Senses Go. During our conversation, we chat about how their work with organizations and content creators ensures that media that is created is accessible for all, the accessibility changes the team would like to become the norm as we move into a post-Covid world, and how people with disabilities and their co-conspirators can work together effectively to make lasting, sustainable change that benefits us all. Because organizations like All Senses Go and others disrupt the notion that those who are labeled not mainstream need to seek outside validation, this episode’s song is Billie Eilish’s self-acceptance and self-love anthem, “My Future.”
Episode 7 - Dante Alencastre - “Finally”
Photo Credit: John Skalicky
[Image Description: Filmmaker Dante Alencastre is shown from the chest up and at a slight angle. He wears a black T-shirt. In the background is a black chair with a patterned pillow. He smiles.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with the filmmaker, Dante Alencastre, director & producer of AIDS Diva: The Legend of Connie Norman. This episode’s song is one of Connie’s favorites, CeCe Peniston’s “Finally.”
Episode 6 - Lily Zepeda - “Waterfalls”
Photo Credit: Lily Zepeda
[Image description: Lily Zepeda pushes her hair back as she stands on a sidewalk. She wears a green top.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with Lily Zepeda, director, producer & writer of Mr. Toilet: The World’s #2 Man. Because she is a self-proclaimed of the child of the nineties, this week’s song is TLC’s “Waterfalls.”
Episode 5 - Ani Mercedes - “Money”
Photo Credit: Aymeé Cruzalegui
[Image description: Ani Mercedes smiles. She wears a black top.]
In this week’s episode, I speak with Ani Mercedes, CEO, Founder, & Impact Producer at Looky Looky Pictures. Because she’s a fearless hustler, this episode’s song is Cardi B’s “Money.”
Episode 2 - Emily Cohen Ibañez & Ashley Solis Pavon - "It Takes Two"
Photo Credit: Andrew Kemmis Photography
[Image description: Ashley Solis Pavon sits in a chair. She wears a grey sweater and blue jeans. Emily Cohen-Ibañez sits next to her on the arm of the chair to Ashley’s right. She wears a beige sweater, a burgundy blouse, and blue jeans. The background is black.]
In this episode, I speak with director/writer, Emily Cohen Ibañez, and protagonist/writer Ashley Solis Pavon about their upcoming project Fruits of Labor and what it’s like to collaborate on the filmmaking process. Like Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock say, “It Takes Two.” I spoke with them at the 2020 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.