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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Thane Economou about his dark-comedy true-story film Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, starring Kal Penn as Dr. Kapoor amid the Anna Nicole Smith media circus, with Linda Hamilton and Abbie Cornish.

Economou explains discovering the project through Kapoor’s memoir, shaping an unreliable-narrator structure with lawyer interruptions, and balancing heartbreak with humor inspired by films like Goodfellas, The Social Network, I, Tonya, plus thematic touchstones Quiz Show and Shattered Glass. He details extensive research into Smith’s life and court records, casting Penn and Hamilton, directing key scenes like the diary reading, and filming inside the actual WeHo Pride Parade. He discusses mixed-media visuals, a 2005–2007 soundscape with composers Daniel Stockdale and Niles Dwyer (DJ KASHMIR) and Briarcliff’s theatrical release plan of hitting around 600 screens.

Trust Me, I’m a Doctor opens October 16.

00:00 Welcome and Premise
00:41 Finding the Story
02:02 Choosing Dark Comedy
03:14 Unreliable Narrator Setup
04:21 Film Inspirations
06:27 Deep Research Process
08:01 Casting Kal and Linda
09:49 Directing the Diary Scene
11:01 Shooting Pride Parade
14:34 Narration Rules and Edit
15:55 Building the Soundtrack
17:15 Nailing the 2000s Look
18:56 Distribution and Briarcliff
19:46 Briarcliff Takes the Risk
21:11 Mixed Media and Poking Bears
21:37 Is Kapoor Sympathetic
23:56 Quick Cuts Theater Habits
24:49 The Vista Theater Memories
26:06 Repeat Watches and The Room
27:46 IMAX Odyssey and Parenting
29:34 Final Cut Family Secrets
32:12 Where to Watch and Farewell

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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Kasia Adamik about Winter of the Crow, a political thriller set in Warsaw during martial law in 1981, starring Lesley Manville as British professor Joan who witnesses a secret-police murder and becomes trapped in a shut-down country.

Adamik explains the film’s long development from adapting Olga Tokarczuk’s seven-page novel, the challenge of capturing Tokarczuk’s absurdity and humor, and the decision to tell the story subjectively rather than with detailed political factography. She describes changing the protagonist from male to female after earlier script versions stalled, which clarified Joan’s vulnerability, ambiguity with students, and Thatcher-era context.

Adamik details recreating 1981 Warsaw largely in Luxembourg with slightly exaggerated realism influenced by Brazil, using Polaroids as proof and a “reality check,” and reflecting on her storyboard career before discussing the film’s themes of normalized oppression, lost freedoms, empathy, and audience reactions after its Toronto premiere.

Winter of the Crow opened in limited theaters October 9.

00:00 Show Intro and Setup
00:55 Origins of the Adaptation
02:53 Tokarczuk Tone and Subjective Approach
04:44 Why Joan Became a Woman
08:06 Casting Lesley Manville
10:09 Building Warsaw 1981
13:03 Polaroids as Proof and Paranoia
14:53 From Storyboards to Directing
16:29 Themes of Oppression and Empathy
18:38 Festival Premiere and Audience Reactions
20:49 Quick Cuts Moviegoing Q&A
24:03 Final Cut and Where to Watch

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This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Misty Green (2026)
California Schemin’ (2026)
Double Trouble (2026)
Ballroom (2026)
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Shaun Paul Piccinino about Double Trouble, a PG-13 holiday action comedy set during a Las Vegas casino jewelry heist starring sisters Madeleine and Violet McGraw with Andrew Koji.

Piccinino explains the film originated from a desire to showcase the McGraw sisters in a non-stereotypical holiday movie, blending influences like Home Alone, Ocean’s 11, Die Hard, and Jackie Chan-style environmental action. He discusses Vegas production challenges at the Palms Casino, including working with underage actors’ time limits and filming amid 4,000 football fans, plus staging sleight-of-hand, complex stunts, and an original song performance cross-cut with the heist. He hopes audiences take away a message about family and found family.

Double Trouble opens in limited theaters October 9 before streaming on Amazon Prime.

00:00 Show Intro and Premise
01:02 Origin of Double Trouble
03:14 Shooting in Vegas
06:14 Diamond Gauntlet MacGuffin
07:25 Movie Influences and Tone
09:22 Stunts and Fight Choreography
12:08 Heist Sleight of Hand
13:25 Production Challenges and Time Limits
16:57 Music Performance Crosscut
19:03 Directing the McGraw Sisters
21:44 Marketing the Comedy Shift
22:10 PG-13 Balancing Act
23:06 Cast Future Plans
23:32 Premiere Crowd Reactions
25:17 Letting Films Find Fans
27:03 Christmas Release Strategy
30:14 Quick Cuts Theater Habits
31:25 Star Wars Theater Memories
33:58 Rewatching Epic Cinema
37:49 Last Movie Seen
38:46 Family Message and Where to Watch

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This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Atonement (2026)
Lady (2026)
Nickels (2026)
Men of Law (2026)
Mulholland Drive (2001)

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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Carl Lentini about his indie thriller Men of Law, releasing September 29 on Amazon and other transactional VOD platforms through X4 Pictures. Lentini explains the film’s origin as a self-financeable concept he developed with Charles Guardiano, the New York–Texas character setup and Smithville, Texas locations, and inspirations such as the structure of The Untouchables.

He discusses taking on multiple roles (co-writer, director, producer, composer, and lead actor), the challenges of run-and-gun chase scenes, editing with Sarah Radle, and directing himself. Lentini describes losing Guardiano in 2021 and the actor who played Vito in 2024, and how the film led to a Men of Law podcast exploring child trafficking with real-world guests.

The episode also covers distribution strategy, meeting Reynolds via an Austin DVD connection, and quick-fire moviegoing questions.

00:00 Welcome and Film Setup
01:14 Origins of Men of Law
01:40 Writing Partners and Influences
04:49 Early Filmmaking Roots
05:32 Texas Locations and Casting Changes
07:21 Action Scenes and Production Challenges
08:53 Heroes or Vigilantes
09:58 Editing Choices and End Tease
12:36 Character Chemistry and Directing Yourself
14:36 Lessons Learned and Men of Law Podcast
16:33 Distribution Deal and Release Plans
20:43 Quick Cuts Theater Questions
23:10 Final Cut and Where to Watch

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This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Edie Arnold Is a Loser (2026)
The Scout (2026)
The Incomer (2026)
Resynator (2024)
Big Night (1996)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

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On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with writer/co-director Megan Ricco and co-director Kade Adwood about their debut feature, Edie Arnold Is a Loser, about an awkward Catholic schoolgirl who finds drumming, forms a punk band, and embraces what makes her different.

They discuss the script’s origins in Ricco’s Catholic school experiences and punk wish fulfillment, Adwood’s desire to make a low-budget film without waiting for approval, and why they chose to co-direct. They cover casting believably young actors, creating a respectful low-budget set, and developing the film’s cartoony sound effects and later-added animations that Ricco taught herself to make.

The filmmakers reflect on SXSW premiere and buzz screening, winning SIFF’s Golden Space Needle for Best Film, audience reactions, influences to avoid, and their 22-city theatrical roadshow with no current streaming plans.

00:00 Welcome and Film Intro
01:47 Origins of the Script
03:35 Choosing to Co-Direct
05:30 Why the Story Resonates
06:28 Title and Punk Influences
07:48 Casting Real Teens
10:52 Standout Performances
12:04 Sound Effects and Animation
14:28 Catholic Goth Aesthetic
15:32 Teen Movie Influences
17:50 SXSW Premiere Reactions
19:18 Screenings and Audience Surprises
22:39 Message for Teen Girls
24:15 What’s Next for Them
24:53 Quick Cuts Theater Trivia
28:07 Final Advice and Where to Watch
30:32 Closing Thanks

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