Director's Cut
Charles Monroe-Kane hosts this series for fans of independent films and creative thinking. Director's Cut introduces narrative and documentary films made by indie directors, and explores the Wisconsin connections.
Contact us at directorscut@wpt.org.
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Steve Burrows - Chump Change
Charles Monroe-Kane
An experienced broadcaster and a passionate fan of independent filmmaking, Charles brings a fresh and enthusiastic style to Director's Cut. He welcomes viewers to join his conversations with guests to explore the world of Wisconsin filmmaking.
THE FILMMAKERS
Bob Pondillo — The New, True, Charlie Wu
Premiere broadcast July 29, 2010
Charlie's an accountant, who dreams of becoming something more, something he loves. For anyone who has struggled with, "Do I do what I love or do I do what makes me money even if I hate it?" Charlie Wu will inspire viewers to follow their dreams.
JJ Kelley and Ben Gottfried — Paddle to Seattle: Journey through the Inside Passage
Premiere broadcast July 22, 2010
"Paddle to Seattle: Journey through the Inside Passage" is an independent documentary chronicling the progress of two intrepid adventurers paddling handmade wooden Pygmy kayaks from Alaska to Seattle.
James Bett Jr. and William Zenobia — Into the Pit: The Shocking Story of Deadpit.com
Premiere broadcast July 15, 2010
"Into The Pit" tells the story of Wes Vance and Aaron Frye, two seemingly unremarkable Kentuckians who have lived in the small town of Prestonsburg their entire lives. Looking for a change, they turn their love of horror films into a radio show that soon takes on a life of its own.
Peter Rudy and Ivo Knezevic — No Sleep 'til Madison
Premiere broadcast July 8, 2010
30-year-old Owen Fenby loves his girlfriend but he loves high school hockey more, or does he? One by one his friends are deserting his annual pilgrimage to the Wisconsin State High School Hockey Tournament forcing him to confront some harsh truths about his bizarre obsession.
Scott Smith and John Fromstein — Being Bucky
Premiere broadcast July 1, 2010
When you are being Bucky for the first time, you are confused and disoriented, and wondering why you ever got yourself into this. By the time you're done, you don't ever want to stop. Meet the seven students who play Bucky Badger during the 2007-2008 school year.
Corey Kealiher and Chris Rye — For Liberty: How the Ron Paul Revolution Watered the Withered Tree of Liberty
Premiere broadcast June 24, 2010
This documentary follows the historic Ron Paul campaign from the perspective of grassroots activists and showcases the unique often bizarre, yet, groundbreaking projects they undertook as they brushed aside traditional campaign methodology.
Rob Yeo — UWM Peck School of the Arts Student Films
Premiere broadcast June 17, 2010
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Peck School of the Arts shares films from its 29th-Annual UWM Student Film Festival. Department of Film Chair Rob Yeo discusses the student program, plus several young directors join us to talk about their films.
Jarrod Crooks — Thieves Like Us
Premiere broadcast June 10, 2010
"Thieves Like Us" is an action-packed comedy about Toby who intends to give up his life of thieving and marry his longtime girlfriend. But a kidnapping blackmail plot and one more big heist puts a snag in his plans. Can he pull it off and win back Lindsey's heart?
Justine Nagan — Typeface
Premiere broadcast May 20, 2010
In a time when people can carry computers in their pockets and watch TV while walking down the street, "Typeface" dares to explore the twilight of the analog craft of wood type printing that is freshly inspiring artists in a digital age.
Dao Chang & Jenny Plevin — My Way Home
Premiere broadcast May 13, 2010
This documentary is about a Hmong woman (a docUWM film student) who goes back to Laos to meet her aunt and other family members who did not flee to Thailand or the U.S. Along the way, she discovers what home really means.
Aaron Yonda & Matt Sloan — Chad Vader
Premiere broadcast April 29, 2010
Life is hard for Chad Vader, the younger and less charismatic brother of Darth Vader, who is the day-shift manager of a grocery store named Empire Market. The story presents Chad's clash with customers and other employees while incorporating dialogue and concepts from "Star Wars."
Steve Burrows — Chump Change
Premiere broadcast April 22, 2010
"Chump Change" traces the rise, fall, rise, fall and rise of Milwaukee Steven whose descent into the nightmare of Los Angeles sends him fleeing back to his native Wisconsin. It is a film about life, love and laughter, hope, dreams and redemption; but mostly it's a film about fame, fortune, cheese and beer.
Meg Hamel - Film Festival Edition
Premiere broadcast April 4, 2010
The 11th-annual Wisconsin Film Festival (WFF) is the state's premier film festival. WFF Director Meg Hamel joins us for an hourlong special to discuss this year's festival and preview clips from some of the films featured. Plus Bob Trondson shows viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the WFF.
Halloween Special: William J. Meyer, Ben Wydeven, Doug Gordon
Recorded June 13, 2009
"The House That Jack Built" is a horror romantic fairy tale. A secret threatens to consume Jack, who must decide between deceiving his wife and losing her for all time. "The Medium" tries to discover the hidden secrets in an old rundown movie theatre. "The Zombeatles: All You Need Is Brains" recasts the story of The Beatles in an undead world.
Steve Levin
Recorded June 13, 2009
"Jerabek" is an intimate portrait of one family that confronts the tragedy of war.
Cathy C. Cook
Recorded June 13, 2009
"Immortal Cupboard: In Search of Lorine Niedecker" is a portrait of poet and experimental writer Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970).
Eric J. Nelson
Recorded June 13, 2009
"Fishin’ For Tradition: A Lutefisk Saga" The joy of lutefisk, the Norwegian cod treat preserved with caustic soda, is captured through interviews with dozens of diners at Sons of Norway lodges, church suppers and other gatherings.
Louis Lapat
Recorded April 2, 2009
"Win or Lose: A Summer Camp Story" is a powerful documentary about boys at summer camp who push themselves to win an ultra competitive event at the end of camp. Learning how to lose is a devastating but valuable lesson learned by the end of the competition.
Melody Gilbert and Mitchell Lundin
Recorded April 2, 2009
"Disconnnected" is a documentary that follows three well-wired college
kids as they go offline for three weeks. In no time flat, eight students,
who co-created the movie under the supervision of professional filmmaker
Melody Gilbert, suffer Facebook withdrawal and are forced to discover
themselves.
Patrick Cady
Recorded April 2, 2009
For the past 40 years, thousands have come to Stevens Point on one weekend for one thing – the world's largest trivia contest. "Triviatown" follows the teams as they cluster together in basements, garages and living rooms for 54 straight hours playing trivia.
Matt Sienkiewicz
Recorded March 10, 2009
"Live: From Bethlehem" chronicles the struggles, failures and triumphs of the Ma'an News Network, the only major independent news source in the Palestinian Territories. The film focuses more on people than politics and the freedom of expression in the evolving Palestinian mediascape.
Ben Wydeven and Doug Gordon
Recorded March 10, 2009
"The Medium" is a short suspense film where a medium tries to discover the hidden secrets in an old rundown movie theatre. "The Zombeatles: All You Need Is Brains" is a mockumentary that recasts the story of The Beatles in an undead world.
Wisconsin Film Festival
Recorded March 10, 2009
The 11th-annual Wisconsin Film Festival is the state’s premier film festival. WFF Director Meg Hamel joins us for an hourlong special to discuss this year’s festival, and preview clips from eight of the films featured. Plus, Bob Trondson will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the WFF.
Troy and Frances Perkins
Recorded Jan. 13, 2009
Husband and wife Troy and Frances Perkins are UW professors who moonlight
as a successful directing-producing team. They discuss their short
films "Tractor
for Sale," "Brothers," and "Test Day" and their
passion for independent filmmaking.
Rod Beaudoin and Ron Nief
Recorded Jan. 13, 2009
The Beloit International Film Festival is in its fourth year and shows more than
150 films from around the world. It’s the Sundance for small-town
Wisconsin. Two films featured at this year’s BIFF are "Loose
Cannons" and "Treasure Diversity."
Brad Lichtenstein and Nicole Brown
Recorded Jan. 13, 2009
"Chosen Towns" follows the lives of nine Jewish families who span
the breadth of the state and 150 years. "Almost Home" follows
a nursing home working to transform the impersonal, regimented hospital-like
institution into a warm "home."
Frank X. Sommers & Frank Caruso
Recorded Dec. 10, 2008
"Going Great White" is a well-crafted satire of the American Dream, skewering
everything from homeschooling to fitness programs along the way. "Going
Great White" is a zany journey into the desperate world of pyramid sales
schemes. It's "Best in Show" meets Amway.
Melissa Lawrenz
Recorded Dec. 10, 2008
"Heather" is a high school drama that follows Heather, a teenage outsider, who tries to get closer to popular boy Steve. At a weekend party he rapes her. Heather must again defend herself against those who don't believe her.
Christian Otjen
Recorded Nov. 18, 2008
"Reeseville" is a murder mystery set in the rural Midwest. David Meyers returns to Reeseville to find his father committed suicide or did he? The outwardly peaceful appearance of Reeseville begins to unravel as the town's dark underbelly is exposed.
Frank Anderson and Barry Poltermann
Recorded Nov. 18, 2008
"The Life of Reilly" is an adaptation of Charles Nelson Reilly's acclaimed one-man show. Famous for his game show innuendo, Reilly takes viewers through his bizarre, tragic, hilarious, and ultimately amazing life with a potent blend of tenderness and quick one-liners.
Jason Gullickson and Matthew M. Cribben
Recorded Nov. 18, 2008
"Breakdown" is the story of a band that never made it out of the incubator but created an environment of inspiration and provided another generation with the knowledge that the creative venture, not financial success, is the true reward.
Milwaukee Spotlight Student Film Fest
Recorded Oct. 2, 2008
Milwaukee Spotlight Student Film Fest Directors Dominic Inouye and James Carlson discuss the fest's success. Plus, two very talented young directors, Sam Shapson and Mike Cheslik discuss their films and upcoming projects.
Brian Standing
Recorded Sept. 8, 2008
Director Brian Standing discusses several of his wide range of films
including "Pedalphiles," "War Is Sell," and "Counter-Revolution" as
well as discuss the purpose and origins of the film studio he founded,
Prolefeed Studios.
Scott Rivera
Recorded Sept. 8, 2008
"Exact Change" follows 25 Milwaukee high school students on a civil rights bus tour through Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham and Memphis, for a firsthand look how the experience changes their attitudes toward race relations.
Jim Carrier
Recorded Sept. 8, 2008
Director and originator of Wisconsin Film School Jim Carrier discusses "Faces in the Water," a documentary that tells the stories carved on the Civil Rights Memorial, as well as "Midnight in Montgomery," an uncompleted film about Hank Williams fans.
Seth Hedrington and Nick Holle
Recorded Aug. 28, 2008
The crime comedy "Illegal Use of Joe Zopp" tells the story of Joe Zopp, who returns to his hometown after years in anonymity only to discover everyone thinks he's dead. He's forced to unravel the mystery of his own death.
Brent Notbohm
Recorded Aug. 28, 2008
"Madison" tells the story of Michael, traumatized war correspondent and UW alumnus, who has recently returned from Baghdad. Michael struggles with the horrors of war, and looks for answers and hope in his old stomping grounds.
Tashai Lovington and Robert Lughai
Recorded Aug. 28, 2008
"Mad City Chickens" weaves multiple stories and issues on city chickens and their keepers in a non-linear fashion rarely seen in a documentary. Experience the humor and heart of what's fast becoming an international backyard chicken movement.
Andy Beversdorf
Recorded June 24, 2008
"Here, Kitty, Kitty" looks at the 2005 debate in Wisconsin on whether to legalize the shooting of cats. The film scratches beneath the surface to reveal a surprisingly nuanced tale of ruthless cat lovers, unapologetic cat drowners and deposed politicians.
Amrys O. Williams
Recorded Apr. 8, 2008
"I Have a Sister" tells the story of
how an adverse reaction to the DPT vaccine left the filmmaker's younger
sister with brain damage.
Erik Gunneson
Recorded Apr. 8, 2008
"Milk Punch" follows a couple of aimless young
punks, Boot and Curly, who decide one hot day to steal a mint 1972
Delta '88. On a long joy ride with unemployed Verona, they initially
elude the owners of the vehicle, who are seeking retribution.
