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First Time Go

First Time Go

Di: Benjamin Duchek
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A proposito di questo titolo

A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.

Benjamin Duchek 2023 Arte
Episodi
  • Jeffrey Roth

    Jeffrey Roth
    Jan 23 2026

    Filmmaker Jeffrey Roth has never shied away from intriguing topics, looking to find the humanity behind some of the world's most influential stories: the Apollo astronauts, vice presidents of the United States, or a famed Egyptologist like he does in THE MAN WITH THE HAT (2026). He brings an eye for the story, not the politics, and that's what makes him an amazing filmmaker .

    In this episode, Jeffrey and I discuss:

    • what's the best way to describe his newest film;
    • how he got started in filmmaking;
    • why he's interested in the human element of history;
    • film in documentaries and his view on hybrid docs and re-enactments;
    • the political environment and reaction if he announced he was doing a documentary on any sort of figure today versus when he did 41 (2012);
    • the wild and bold story of how he secured the ability to make THE MAN WITH THE HAT;
    • what he owes a subject as a documentarian;
    • how he structured THE MAN WITH THE HAT;
    • the name of the film and how he chooses topics;
    • what's next for him.


    Jeffrey's Indie Film Highlight: FOR ALL MANKIND (1989) dir. by Al Reinert

    Memorable Quotes:

    "It's always one step ahead of you then where you really think that you should be."

    "I was with a buddy at a an event with these Apollo astronauts and we were just sitting around listening to them. And somebody had just mentioned it would be very interesting to see and watch a story about who they are as opposed to the science or the technology."

    "41 is not how to love or hate a Republican. It's about a story and a man...who happened to become president."

    "I would rather go to Egypt and shoot the antiquities there and shoot it either artistically, stylistically, whatever you wanna call it rather than get on a set."

    "I don't think the [political atmosphere] has changed. I would say it's probably heightened."

    "They made a big event with George and Barbara, with eight Apollo astronauts, six of the guys that walked on the moon in this one event. We showed the room and I walked out of there that night thinking I'll never see this guy again. But that was fun."

    "I owe them respect. I owe them honesty and to try to let them know really what the goal is. I don't want to tell them too much about what I'm trying to do. Because I don't want them to think about it. I want to...try to get the real person if I can. So when I'm sitting in an interview situation, I do not like to give the questions in advance."

    "I don't like to put somebody's name or really hit home to make the title too specific to what you're doing."

    Links:

    Watch THE MAN WITH THE HAT (2026)

    Follow THE MAN WITH THE HAT



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
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    34 min
  • Indie Film Highlight: TO THE WONDER (2012)

    Indie Film Highlight: TO THE WONDER (2012)
    Jan 18 2026

    Watch This Episode On YouTube

    Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: TO THE WONDER (2012)

    Director: Terrence Malick

    Writer: Terrence Malick

    Cast: Ben Affleck; Olga Kurylenko; Javier Bardem

    SYNOPSIS

    After falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.

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    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
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    2 min
  • Robert Ham

    Robert Ham
    Jan 16 2026
    My guest today, director Robert Ham, has lived a life of service -- to his country, to art, to his family -- and it moved me deeply to host him for the podcast. We talk about his military service in the Army as a combat cameraman; losing his wife to cancer and making a documentary about her beautiful life, of honoring a 9/11 family with his latest film, ZZASLOW K-427, which is screening in New York City on January 18th, 2026.And if this sounds heavy, that's the duopoly of sometimes difficult service. I can't speak to any other profession like medicine that often walks the line so closely with the fragility of life, but in the military, a positive outlook even in the harshest conditions is the only way you'll make it through, and that spirit is reflected today on the podcast. Welcome to our world. In this episode, Robert and I discuss:the instant rapport of veterans, immaterial of branch and age;how he joined the military as a combat cameraman and the advice he'd giving aspiring filmmakers thinking about joining the military (OCS is officer candidate school; new recruits can attend with a four-year degree);how he became the most decorated combat cameraperson in Army history;graduate school at USC and earning a Tillman Scholarship from the Pat Tillman Foundation;why he started his own production company, HAMMR Productions;the challenge of showing PTSD on screen and what he thinks of veteran-focused films;weighing his own mental health with making realistic films about painful parts of his life;his reflections on MADE WITH MELANIE (2022) and his advice for people embarking on a similar journey;releasing indie films on YouTube;working on different topics than military related films?how INTERPRETERS WANTED (2023) is a great primer for learning more about the U.S. relationship with Afghanistan;why he edits his own projects;the story behind ZZASLOW K-427 (2025), which is screening in NYC on January 18th;the festival strategy for his films;what's next for him.Robert's Indie Film Highlights: WARFARE (2025) dir. by Ray Mendoza; MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE (2024) dir. by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes; HOLLYWOOD GRIT (2025) dir. by Ryan Curtis; SAND CASTLE (2017) dir. by Fernando Coimbra and Chris Roessner; Rebecca Murga; Maximilian Uriarte; Mike DowlingMemorable Quotes:"As going through the unique experience of being in the military and then coming out of the military and now being labeled a veteran, which becomes so much part of our personality...when I meet other veterans, it is that common bond.""I did extra work. I was a Marine in FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (2006) as an extra.""Same thing with everybody in the military. It's hard. You're asked to do morally complicated things that you have to then live with. And so that's the first thing that I would approach it with is that like, where do you stand?""It feels like the further you get away from the source of anything, the further from the truth you're gonna get, right?""I've always used the camera to almost separate myself from the trauma.""All I could do was film. I don't know, I'm not a doctor, I'm not, I'm like trying to read these crazy things that she's researching and that we're looking together and taking notes when doctors tell us diagnoses and what we're trying to do and what options and medicines and stuff I've never heard of before.""We had the conversation about how we share this with the world and she just basically said, I trust you." "She was a great person. She was a wonderful woman. She deserved a film to be made about her." "It does come back down to my own inability to know how to help a helpless situation.""I have four kids. I'm married, I have a mortgage. So whoever calls up and says, we got a budget, I'm like, okay, let's do this.""I'm very self-critical of my edits and I don't hold onto things very closely. As a director, you shoot something and you're like, oh, this is it. And then the editor has to be like, no, that wasn't it."Links:Follow Robert On InstagramHAMMR ProductionsWatch MADE WITH MELANIE (2022)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content
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    1 ora e 3 min
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