DIRECTOR'S CUT
Director's Cut is a new studio-based television series produced by WPT and hosted by Charles Monroe-Kane. This series features Wisconsin filmmakers and provides a venue to discuss and screen independent film. Each 30-minute episode provides an opportunity for guest artists to discuss the creative process and screen clips from their completed projects or works-in-progress. Contact us at directorscut@wpt.org.
Watch on
demand or on the Wisconsin
Channel.
April & May
4/11 – The Life of Reilly
4/18 – Here Kitty, Kitty
4/25 – Almost Home
5/9 – Triviatown
5/16 – Reeseville
5/23 – Win or Lose: A Summer Camp Story
June
6/6 – Illegal Use of Joe Zopp
6/13 – The Life of Reilly
6/20 – Disconnected
6/27 – Fishin' For Tradition: A Lutefisk Saga
July
7/11 – Mad City Chickens
7/18 – Immortal Cupboard: In Search of Lorine Niedecker
7/25 – Jerabek
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
Halloween Special: William J. Meyer, Ben Wydeven, Doug Gordon
Recorded Sept. 1, 2009.
"The House That Jack Built" is a horror romantic fairy tale when a secret threatens to consumer 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 a 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 here, 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 Worlds 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 Festiva is the state’s premiere film festival. WFF Director Meg Hamel joins us for an hour long special to discuss this year’s festival, and preview clips from 8 of the films featured. Plus Bob Trondson will show you a behind the scenes look at 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 4th year and shows over
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 Reesevill 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, CNR takes us 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 twenty-five Milwaukee high school students along a civil rights bus tour through Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Memphis, for a first-hand 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" is 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 hes dead. Hes 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.