let's get reel

Greta Gerwig started out as the so-called "queen of mumblecore," appearing in low-budget movies by people like Joe Swanberg and the Duplass Brothers. She’s now one of the most sought-after actresses around, having landed supporting roles in movies like No Strings Attached and Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love. Her latest film, Frances Ha, reunites her with Greenberg director Noah Baumbach. Exquisitely shot in black-and-white, the film follows a young dancer struggling to figure out what to do with her life. Monica Castillo talked to Gerwig on the phone about co-writing the film, real-life experiences that inspired it, and the role dance has played in her life.

SHOW NOTES:

About Our Guest:

Greta Gerwig first rose to prominence as the star of several films considered part of the "mumblecore" movement, including LOL, Hannah Takes The Stairs and Baghead. She previously worked with acclaimed filmmaker Noah Baumbach in his film Greenberg, and she has had supporting roles in movies like No Strings Attached and To Rome With Love.

The Episode:

0:06 - Introduction and clip
2:21 - Did you enjoy making the movie? What was the writing process like?
4:12 - The characters feel very real.
5:45 - Are any of Frances' experiences based on your life or the lives of people you know?
7:16 - Do you want to do more work behind the camera?
7:40 - How did you reach the decision to shoot in black-and-white?
9:10 - Do you have a background in modern dance?
13:36 - Do you have a favorite dance company?
14:46 - How do you feel about being called the "queen" of mumblecore?
15:47 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact us by emailing letsgetreel@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

One of the films playing this week at the Toronto International Film Festival this week is Thale, a low-budget dark fantasy film from Norway. Silje Reinåmo stars as the titular character, a strange creature from Scandinavian folklore called a Huldra, who is discovered by two unsuspecting forensic agents in a basement.  In this episode, Reinåmo joins Andrew to discuss the mythology behind her character, how she approached her performance, and what it's like to spend the majority of a film shoot in the nude, among other topics.

SHOW NOTES:

About Our Guest:

Silje Reinåmo is a Norwegian actress and musician. She stars in the Norwegian television series "Hjem" (Home) and can most recently be seen as the titular character in the dark fantasy film "Thale" from director Aleksander Nordaas. "Thale" has played at film festivals around the world and is now on DVD/Blu-Ray in Scandinavia. At the moment she is wrapping up production on the film "Patriot Act" directed by Wayne Slaten.

The Episode:

0:27 - Introduction
2:55 - What exactly is a Huldra?
4:27 - How did you approach the emotional extremes of the performance?
5:17 - How were the special effects handled on set?
5:56 - What inspired you to join this project?
7:20 - What was the atmosphere like on set since you're naked for most of the film?
8:47 - How did you approach the idea of having a tail?
10:00 - How do you view Thale's psychology?
12:40 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact us by emailing letsgetreel@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!