Filmmaking Confidential

To celebrate the release of our film "Alchemy Of The Spirit" this week we revisit Mr. Balderson's discussion with cult icon Mink Stole! Mink co-stars in "Alchemy" alongside Xander Berkeley and Sarah Clarke Watch "Alchemy Of The Spirit" on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8RLM38M Alchemy of the Spirit stars Xander Berkeley (Candyman, “24”), Sarah Clarke (“24”, “Covert Affairs”), and cult icon Mink Stole (Female Trouble, Pink Flamingos). The film premiered in Europe at Fantasporto in April, 2022, picking up a nomination for Best International Feature, and went on to screen around the globe to critical acclaim, including the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (taking home Best Feature Film Science Fiction), the Atlanta Underground Film Festival (taking home Best Director) and the International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival (dominating the awards with Best in Show, Best Director for Balderson, Best Actor for Berkeley, and Best Actress for Clarke). Mink Stole is best known for her work in the films of John Waters. Her film career began as a party guest in Waters' film Roman Candles. Since then, she has appeared in all of John Waters' feature films from Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Desperate Living, Cry Baby, and Serial Mom (opposite Kathleen Turner) to name a few. She has appeared in a number of films and television shows, such as Stuck! directed by Steve Balderson, and is the lead singer of Mink Stole and Her Wonderful Band, of which musicians Kristian Hoffman, George Baby Woods, and Brian Grillo have been members. For more information, visit: https://www.dikenga.com/alchemy-of-the-spirit (repeat episode)

To celebrate the release of our film "Alchemy Of The Spirit" this week we revisit Mr. Balderson's discussion with Dr. Joseph Suglia, who offers his analysis of the film. Philosopher and Author Dr. Joseph Suglia dissects Steve Balderson's new art film ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT which stars Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, and cult icon Mink Stole. The film premiered in Europe at Fantasporto in April, 2022, picking up a nomination for Best International Feature, and went on to screen around the globe to critical acclaim, including the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (taking home Best Feature Film Science Fiction), the Atlanta Underground Film Festival (taking home Best Director) and the International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival (dominating the awards with Best in Show, Best Director for Balderson, Best Actor for Berkeley, and Best Actress for Clarke). In the discussion today: the illusion of time, ancient religions, archaic religiosity, life and death, resurrection, the regeneration of time, the birth of the cosmos, the end of the world, Alan Watts, David Lynch, Shakespeare, and consciousness. (Correction: At one point, Dr. Suglia misnames the character Leontes by calling him "Leonatus.") Watch "Alchemy Of The Spirit" on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8RLM38M For more information, visit: https://www.dikenga.com/alchemy-of-the-spirit (repeat episode)

This special Season Two finale features producer/director Anthony Pedone. Pedone has produced, written, directed, or shot over 24 features, documentaries, and short films. In 2015, he produced THE STRONGEST MAN, which premiered at Sundance and was released theatrically and on VOD by Film Buff and Sundance Global. In 2018, his directorial debut AN AMERICAN IN TEXAS won the Dutch Golden Stone Award at the Scenecs Film Festival in Hilversum, Holland and was distributed by Gravitas Worldwide. Most recently, he produced HBO's ONE NATION UNDER STRESS, with director Marc Levin and Dr. Sanjay Gupta; STOCKTON ON MY MIND (HBO) and MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO (TRIBECA 2020).

Clara Ritger grew up in the small town of Huntington Beach, California, where she learned what real Mexican food tastes like and how to cut the line at Disneyland. At the ripe old age of two she ran as far ahead of her parents as her child leash would take her on the Yosemite trails to ask random strangers questions about why they were hiking and if they would be her friend. Since then, she has continued to ask why but usually refrains from asking subjects during interviews if they want to be her friend. She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and Film, Television and Theatre in May 2013. She also has a minor in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy, because why do college if you can’t do it all? Clara is a freelance video director and producer based in New York, NY. She works across mediums in digital, TV and film, and has recently worked with NBC News, the Wall Street Journal and PBS. Her curiosity about the world has led her to tell stories across industries, including finance, health, food, travel, fashion, and the environment. She partners with media companies, brands, and nonprofits to create emotional, shareable stories. Prior to moving to NYC, Clara was based in the Washington, D.C. area as a Producer at Green Buzz Agency, where she created documentary style videos for major brands and nonprofits, including Upworthy and Make-A-Wish. She has also written and/or done multimedia work for National Journal, The Indianapolis Star, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Patriot-News, Morning Call, Capitolwire, Northern Virginia Magazine, 88.1 WVPE NPR, the Reno Gazette-Journal, NDtv News and the oldest collegiate publication in the United States, Scholastic magazine. Clara really likes coffee, and once bought everything on the menu at Starbucks because she had extra monopoly money at school and wanted to find out what her favorite drink actually was. It cost her $134.80. She also enjoys cooking and a good book. She is not one of those freak people who enjoys running, but she does it anyway, because it is good for you, or something like that. Her middle name is Lucille, which invariably comes up in conversation, so now you know. Clara does not feel that autobiographies – especially at her age – should be taken seriously.

John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as four other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," "A Christmas Carl," "The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists." He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond. In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films. Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats.

Austin Young is from Reno, Nevada and currently lives and works in Los Angeles. The foundation of his career is from studying at Parsons in Paris. Early in his career, Austin transferred his interests from traditional portrait painting towards a long celebrated career in portrait photography. In many ways, Austin is more accurately described as an image-maker: his projects illustrate the sublime qualities of character that make celebrated people unique. Based on a nuanced visual language of pop-culture iconography, his trademark style and techniques have captured a broad palette of musicians, artists and celebrities including Debbie Harry, Leigh Bowery and Margaret Cho, among others. In multiple bodies of work, Austin confuses personality and identity issues in confrontational and unapologetic image making about people who often split gender roles, stereotypical constraints and socially-constructed identities. Austin is co-founder and artist of Fallen Fruit, artist duo Austin Young and David Allen Burns, a contemporary art collective that uses fruit as a material for projects that investigate the hyper- qualities of collaboration. “Austin Young reconstructs tropes of pop art and pop culture into alarmingly brilliant new icons” - Shana Nys Drambot "Working with Austin Young is like being alone in a room with a spirit who wants to meet you. He is not interested in your mortality: he is interested in your immortality. [...] He reminds me of the great Hollywood portrait photographers from another era, of George Hurrell, in particular, who was interested in the painting, not the snapshot. There is always a place for the secular in journalism. Thankfully that place will not be in Mr. Young's studio." - Diamanda Galás "Austin Young is the best artist working in photography today. His work captures beauty at its most vital, carnal, visceral, alive! His exuberant intensity is matched by his innate sense of balance and upmost respect for glamour, in all of its many decent and indecent forms. His work will be seen as important historical reference for our times, and his name will be legend." - Margaret Cho "Austin's images are, like me, the best of both worlds. Flawless and perfect, they are dreamily artificial -- while somehow simultaneously remaining organic, genuine and very real." - Jackie Beat “I was beyond thrilled when Austin Young expressed interest in photographing Peaches Christ, not only because I knew Austin would create a gorgeously iconic Peaches image (which he did) but because it meant I’d be included in a brilliant body of work I’ve admired for years. Austin Young’s subjects are my idols and his portraits pay glamorous tribute to the often over-looked world of dark divas, drag superstars, and underground film icons." - Peaches Christ “I’m pretty unabashed in my enthusiasm for Austin Young’s work. I think he’s the most original photographer to emerge in America since David LaChapelle.” -Richard Metzger

Felix Jones is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and a Magician Member of the Academy of Magical Arts and a regular performer in the Magic Castle showrooms in Hollywood, California, where he performs his acclaimed comedy magic and mind-reading show. Felix has been a featured performer at Jeff McBride's Wonderground and MINDvention. His many corporate clients include Amazon, Pratham USA, Talego Country Club, 21st Century Experience, John Hancock Investment, and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Felix unlocks everyone's inner magical self in his fast-paced, funny, and mystifying show that will leave you wondering "how did he do that?"

Kristian Hoffman ran away from his boyhood home in Santa Barbara, California, to New York City where he and his high school friend, Lance Loud, formed a band called The Mumps. This was quite soon after both had made dramatic appearances in what is now known as the first reality TV series: PBS' award winning "An American Family". Flourishing in the New York club scene in the late '70s, Lance and Kristian became obsessed with the New York Dolls and lead to Kristian drawing the infamous "Bendover Girl" which was included as an insert in the Doll's first LP. While still performing as Mumps, Lance and Kristian subsequently appeared in a show called "New Wave Vaudeville" , produced by Ann Magnuson, who was to prove a life-long collaborator with Kristian. Thus they met met the headliner Klaus Nomi, the eccentric legendary German counter-tenor mutant glam virtuoso visionary. Kristian approached Klaus Nomi about forming a band. Kristian's collaboration with Klaus included writing several songs for him, including "Total Eclipse." Kristian made his mark on rock and roll history as the first musical director for chamber pop singer Rufus Wainwright's touring band, has played keyboards and written songs for the atmospheric torch band Congo Norvell, has produced, toured with, and written songs for punk/cabaret singer Abby Travis, toured and recorded as keyboardist for El Vez, the Mexican Elvis all over the U.S., and toured for five years with and played on several albums with Kinks founder and lead guitarist Dave Davies. Kristian's third solo album, called & because it consists mainly of duets with other musicians (including Russell Mael of Sparks, Rufus Wainwright, Maria McKee, El Vez, Paul Reubens, Anna Waronker, Lydia Lunch, Stew, and Ann Magnuson), was released to great critical acclaim. "Uncut" Magazine called it a "spectacular, operatic art rock power-pop album." Aquarian Weekly called it a "flawlessly crafted, ornately embellished pop opera," and the L.A. Weekly said "& is the record that every fan of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Kinks and great songcraft in general has been pining for. Frighteningly Excellent!" As for where this multifaceted singer/songwriter, musician, poet and artist will be headed next, it's a safe prediction that he has a surprise or two in store.

Iris Berry is the co-founder of Punk Hostage Press. She is the author and editor of several books and has a vast fan base for her unique voice and formidable writing style. She’s an L.A. Pop culture historian, actress, and musician. She’s appeared in numerous films, TV commercials, documentaries, and iconic rock videos. In the 1980s & 90s, she sang, performed, wrote songs and recorded with the Lame Flames, the Ringling Sisters, the Dickies, the Flesh Eaters, and Pink Sabbath. She served four years on the Board of Directors for Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center. In 2009 she received her 2nd Certificate of Merit Award from the city of Los Angeles for her contribution as a Los Angeles writer, and for her extensive charity work. Iris continues to champion and advocate for original voices. Books by Iris Berry: All That Shines Under The Hollywood Sign and The Daughters of Bastards and The Trouble with Palm Trees “There are far too few writers today who write from the heart about the damned. Far too few who let lost souls scream from the page once more. Iris Berry is one of these writers. Her words are haunting and her imagery cinematic. Iris Berry is a straight Razor wrapped in a garter belt. She leaves nothing but her blood on the page." - Edaurdo Jones

JAMES OSELAND travels extensively in search of the world’s best restaurants, street food stalls, markets, and home cooks. Long before he was a judge on Top Chef Masters, he was a teenage rebel growing up in the pre–Silicon Valley, California, suburbs, yearning for a taste of something wild. His remarkable memoir Jimmy Neurosis captures the quest that led him from the mosh pits of San Francisco to the pop world of Andy Warhol’s Manhattan. He is most recently the author and editor of World Food: Mexico City and World Food: Paris, part of World Food, a new book series from Ten Speed Press. He was the editor-in-chief for nine years of Saveur, America’s most acclaimed food magazine, where his work garnered many accolades, including seven James Beard Awards and three awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors. His cookbook Cradle of Flavor was named one of the best books of 2006 by the New York Times and Good Morning America. Additionally, James’s writing has appeared in Gourmet, Vogue, Food and Wine, and the Wall Street Journal, where he writes the “Cook’s Playbook” column. He has appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, the Today Show, Iron Chef America, and was a permanent judge on all five seasons of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. James is a popular cooking teacher and has taught at the Institute for Culinary Education, the New School, and New York City’s Natural Gourmet. He has lectured at culinary institutes and food societies around the world; in 2011, he delivered the keynote speech for the International Food Bloggers Conference. In 2013, he starred as himself in a series of Wendy’s commercials. He has lived in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, and now calls Mexico City home.

Peaches Christ (aka Joshua Grannell) is a filmmaker and cult leader living in San Francisco. Her infamous movie events at the Castro Theatre regularly draw over 1,000 attendees to each new production before they tour. Events have featured special guest stars John Waters, Cloris Leachman, Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell, Linda Blair, Bruce Campbell, Apollonia, Barry Bostwick, Pam Grier, and more. Peaches is the alter- ego of Joshua Grannell, the writer and director of the feature film All About Evil. The award-winning dark comedy gore film stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole, and Peaches Christ herself. Peaches Christ has been featured in the films Milk, I Am Divine, Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Mansfield 66/67, Tura!, Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street, You Don’t Nomi, and more. All About Evil is a wild ride that’s as horrific as it is hilarious. It’s been called “a riotous experience” (Horror News), “clearly ahead of its time” (Geekscape) and “made for lovers of horror by someone who loves the genre” (Daily Dead). Now the “demented, outrageous and hysterical” (PopOptiq) debut feature from writer/director Joshua Grannell can finally be experienced by audiences everywhere: When a mousy librarian (Natasha Lyonne of RUSSIAN DOLL) takes over her late father’s struggling movie theater, a series of grisly murders caught on camera will transform her into the new queen of indie splatter cinema. Thomas Dekker (TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), Cassandra Peterson (ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK), Noah Segan (DEADGIRL), Mink Stole (FEMALE TROUBLE) and drag legend Peaches Christ co-star in this “huge fun nod to forgotten horror and exploitation via loads of blood and black humor” (Yell! Magazine) produced by Darren Stein (JAWBREAKER). You can see All About Evil now streaming on Shudder.

Elliott Hunter is an international award winning magician and sleight of hand artist. Elliott began magic after seeing his first magic show at the local library, and then reading all of the magic books he could to learn the craft. As he progressed, he sought professional mentorship and training. In 2011 he had the opportunity to train at the most prestigious magic school in the world, and learn from the best of the best. Over the years, Elliott has been able to combine his skills in other aspects of entertainment, such as drama, dance, theatre, sleight of hand, comedy and grand illusion to create a truly multifaceted show that appeals to all audiences young and old alike. Elliott aims to create an authentic evening of entertainment… which is kind of ironic, considering that a magician’s job is to deceive… however, Elliott uses this to his advantage by skillfully combining magic and storytelling. When you watch Elliott’s show, it’s more than just a magic show. Elliott aims to connect with his audiences by sharing personal and socially relevant stories that elicits certain emotions in the audience. Everything is Elliott’s show stems from his own personal reality… meaning what you are seeing is true, authentic, and real... He uses magic to remind his audiences that even the seemingly impossible can be made possible, and no matter the obstacle, it can be overcome. As his mentor told him… “You can have the best production value, the most expensive equipment, and even be the best performer in the world, but if you fail to connect with the audience, then you lose all aspects of entertainment.”

Susan Traylor is an award-winning actress, writer and film director. She was born in New York and raised in Los Angeles in and around the theater. Her parents were legendary acting teachers Peggy Feury and William Traylor who worked with the likes of Sean Penn, Meg Ryan, Anjelica Huston, Nicolas Cage, and Michele Pfeiffer. Their school, the Loft Studio, served as a second home to Susan. At fifteen she insisted on officially studying with her parents. She continued her formal education by going to film school at NYU and while in New York she studied acting with Rochelle Oliver. Susan’s breakthrough role came in Robert Redford’s A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Susan also starred in HEAT with Robert DeNiro, in Gus Van Sant’s TO DIE FOR, GREENBERG with Ben Stiller, and numerous television series. In 2005 she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in an amazing film called WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA. She was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in VALERIE FLAKE. She has also appeared in a number of Steve Balderson's films.

Davey Wavey is an American Producer who covers LGBT topics related to sex, relationships, and coming out. His YouTube channel has over 1.4 million subscribers. Wavey is also the creator of Himeros.TV - a site that pushes the boundaries of sex, sexuality, and new ways to experience pleasure, discover desires and express oneself in ways that bring joy and ecstasy. Wavey described Himeros.TV to The Advocate saying, "We don't market it as educational porn or porn that's good for you, but it kind of is. It's porn, that when you watch it, you see either a technique that's being demonstrated or a concept that you feel like you can apply to your life. As gay men in a vacuum of sex education, we learned about sex by doing what? Watching porn." At Himeros.TV there's even a porn star bill of rights! Wavey discusses the policy to provide his models with post-filming mental health support and free counseling. He also pays livable wages, creates drug-free filming sets, and ensures a fully consensual environment. The wide-ranging content on Himeros.TV is co-created with a team of sex coaches, tantric instructors, psychotherapists, sexologists, world-class directors, talented cinematographers, and models who embody ecstasy.

Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said “Poetry Store” and discovered something surprising: all over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, “What do you need a poem about?” To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian’s poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life. In The Poetry of Strangers, Brian tells the story of his cross-country journey in a series of heartfelt and insightful essays. From Minnesota to Tennessee, California to North Dakota, Brian discovered that people aren’t so afraid of poetry when it’s telling their stories. In “dying” towns flourish vibrant artistic spirits and fascinating American characters who often pass under the radar, from the Mall of America’s mall walkers to retirees on Amtrak to self-proclaimed witches in Salem. In a time of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, Brian’s journey shows how art can be a vital bridge to community in surprising places. Conventional wisdom says Americans don’t want to talk to each other, but according to this poet-for-hire, everyone is just dying to be heard. Thought-provoking, moving, and eye-opening, The Poetry of Strangers is an unforgettable portrait of America told through the hidden longings of one person at a time, by one of our most important voices today. The fault lines and conflicts which divide us fall away when we remember to look, in every stranger, for poetry.

Bruce LaBruce is an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, photographer, writer, and artist based in Toronto. His latest film is "St. Narcisse" a comedy-drama starring Félix-Antoine Duval as a pair of identical twins who were separated at birth and did not previously know of each other's existence, but who fall in love and begin a twincest relationship with each other after being reunited. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival. LaBruce's earlier film Gerontophilia won the Grand Prix at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal in 2013, and Pierrot Lunaire, which won the Teddy Award Special Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2014. As a visual artist he is represented by Peres Projects in Berlin, and has had numerous gallery shows around the world, the latest of which, called Obscenity, a photography exhibit, caused a national ruckus in Spain in 2011. His feature film L.A. Zombie was notably banned in Australia in 2010 after having been programmed at the Melbourne International Film Festival. It later premiered in competition at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland that same year. LaBruce has written and directed three theatrical works at the Hau Theater in Berlin, including a production of Arnold Schoenberg’s avant-garde piece Pierrot Lunaire at the legendary Hebbel am Ufer Theater. He adapted the latter project into an experimental film, incorporating footage from the stage production combined with additional material shot on location in Berlin. He has also directed theatrical works at the Theater Neumarkt in Zurich, Switzerland, and he participated as a director in the Hau Theater’s ambitious X-Homes project in Johannesburg, South Africa. LaBruce has written a premature memoir called The Reluctant Pornographer, and has had two books published about his work: Ride, Queer, Ride, from Plug-In Gallery in Winnipeg, and Bruce(x)ploitation, a monograph from his Italian distributor, Atlantide Entertainment. LaBruce has contributed to a variety of international magazines, newspapers and websites as both a writer and photographer, including index magazine, for which he also acted as a contributing editor, Vice, The National Post, Purple Fashion, The Guardian UK, and many others. He has also been a regular columnist over the years for Eye, Exclaim! and Vice magazines. Additionally, LaBruce has directed a number of music videos, two of which won him MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada. Most recently, LaBruce has been honoured with film retrospectives at both TIFF/Bell Lightbox 2014, and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, 2015. The MoMA retrospective featured all nine of LaBruce’s features as well as a program of short films. All of the films have now become part of MoMA’s permanent film collection.

Season Two is officially here! For our premiere episode, Philosopher and Author Dr. Joseph Suglia dissects Steve Balderson's new art film ALCHEMY OF THE SPIRIT which stars Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, and cult icon Mink Stole. The film premieres in Europe at Fantasporto (the Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal) where it is in the main competition (1-10 April, 2022). In the discussion today: the illusion of time, ancient religions, archaic religiosity, life and death, resurrection, the regeneration of time, the birth of the cosmos, the end of the world, Alan Watts, David Lynch, Shakespeare, and consciousness. (Correction: At one point, Dr. Suglia misnames the character Leontes by calling him "Leonatus.")

While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the chapters: "Distribution Middlemen" "You Don't Need to Yell" "What Festival Premieres Mean" "A Chair is a Chair is a Chair" For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books

While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the chapters: "Marketing: You vs The Big Boys" "How to Read a Screenplay" "Musicians are Famous Too!" "Waiting to Work" For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books https://www.amazon.com/dp/173545690X

While Season Two is being produced, I'd love to share an excerpt from the Audible version of my book "Filmmaking Confidential." Today I'll read the Introduction, followed by the chapters: "Finding Your Perception," and "The Floor Plan" (with some secret screenwriting tips!). For more information: https://www.dikenga.com/books https://www.amazon.com/dp/173545690X