Telling stories through film and conversation.
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WILDsound's The Film Podcast

In each episode, the C.E.O. of WILDsound, Matthew Toffolo, chats about all things storytelling and film. Conversations with talented individual from all around the world.

Posts tagged matthew toffolo
September 24, 2022 - Former NASA Engineer turned Filmmaker Michael McCulloch (ONE STEP AT A TIME)

Michael McCulloch, a retired NASA engineer, would like to bring you along on an incredible journey – the 4-day trek along the Classic Inca Trail to one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu, Peru. It is a little over 26 miles and scales two nearly 14,000-foot mountain passes. The appeal of this particular trek is the stunning combination of Inca ruins, magnificent mountains, exotic vegetation and extraordinary ecological variety. The trail goes over high passes with unforgettable views, through cloud forests, and finally into subtropical vegetation.

https://youtu.be/_043vAPMSVI

At 64, Michael is the oldest blind person to hike this amazing trail. He had three able-bodied volunteers who helped train and get him in shape for the trek. He trained and prepared for more than a year. Then, the three sighted guides provided him step-by-step instructions in undertaking one of the most demanding hiking trails in the world in June 2019. The film highlights the teamwork, commitment, and personal and physical obstacles Michael had to overcome on his journey. It will empower you to get out of your comfort zones, take on new challenges and see that all things are possible regardless of your abilities.


Film playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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September 24, 2022 - Former NASA Engineer turned Filmmaker Michael McCulloch (ONE STEP AT A TIME)
Matthew Toffolo
July 22, 2022 - Screenwriter Adam Kelly Morton (VIKE)

VIKE was the winner of best TV PILOT at the FANTASY/SCI-FI Film & Screenplay Festival. Conversation with writer Adam Kelly Morton, followed by the best scene reading of the script.

Watch the screenplay reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/vike-tv-pilot-screenplay

Writer Biography - Adam Kelly Morton

Adam Kelly Morton is a Montreal-based husband and father (four kids, all eight-and-under), who teaches acting and writing. His films and stories have been screened and published in Canada, the US, and Europe. In October, 2021, Adam completed his MA in Creative Writing with Distinction from Teesside University, UK (distance). His award-winning play "The Anorak" is to be produced for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, 2022.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

July 22, 2022 - Screenwriter Adam Kelly Morton (VIKE)
Matthew Toffolo
July 12, 2022 - Filmmaker Josh Li (BAOBEI (BABY))

BAOBEI (BABY) played at the June 2022 STUDENT Film Festival.

Conversation with teenage filmmaker Josh Li on the making of this personal documentary about this mother.

“This short film highlights the struggles of my mom trying to teach me about the piano and pass down her passions that were never achieved.”

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

July 12, 2022 - Filmmaker Josh Li (BAOBEI (BABY))
Matthew Toffolo
July 11, 2022 - Screenwriter Paul Mortsolf (Innocence of a Guilty Mind)

“A true crime novelist teams up with a former FBI profiler to prove the existence of a serial killer that uses hypnosis to get others to confess to his crimes before and innocent man is executed.”

Interview with winning Horror Festival screenwriter Paul Mortsolf on the process writing the script. Followed by the best scene reading (audio version) of the screenplay.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

July 11, 2022 - Screenwriter Paul Mortsolf (Innocence of a Guilty Mind)
Matthew Toffolo
July 9, 2022 - Filmmaker Johanna J. Lunn (In the Realm of Death & Dreaming)

“In the Realm of Death & Dreaming” was the winner of BEST FEATURE FILM at the WILDsound Film Festival.

In the documentary they ask the big question: What happens when we die? Does consciousness continue or is it lights out? The director, Johanna Lunn, guides viewers on her quest to find out.

Project Links

Conversation with Johanna J. Lunn on the process making this film and the other films in the works.

Playing at the Virtual Festival on July 14/15 on the APP. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook


July 9, 2022 - Filmmaker Johanna J. Lunn (In the Realm of Death & Dreaming)
Matthew Toffolo
July 1, 2022 - Filmmaker Mario d'Anna (MANUEL)

MANUEL was the winner of “Best Cinematography” at the May 2022 Black & White Film Festival.

Conversation with Italian filmmaker Mario d’Anna on the making of the film.

“In 1943, a Jewish family hides from the nazi roundups. Adam, a 10-year-old boy, following a strange dream, starts a mysterious countdown.”

Watch film today! You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

July 1, 2022 - Filmmaker Mario d'Anna (MANUEL)
Matthew Toffolo
April 28, 2022 - Filmmaker Fahim Hamid (COUNTY)

COUNTY was the winner of BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT at the March 2022 POLITICAL Feedback Film Festival.


”The biggest secret in politics is the smallest office you could possibly run for. "County" is a documentary about County Committee—the fundamental building blocks of our democracy that our Parties don’t want you to know about—and the activists in NYC fighting to unveil and reform a corrupt system.”

https://www.facebook.com/countyfilm

Conversation with Fahim about the making of this short film and his personal experience of not only doing political organizing but also running for County Committee himself.

Film also showing on the WILDsound TV app. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.


Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

April 28, 2022 - Filmmaker Fahim Hamid (COUNTY)
Matthew Toffolo
April 26, 2022 - Filmmaker/Choreographer Lena Strützke (CONTEMPLATION)

“Contemplation” is a multidisciplinary concept video merging the arts of music, dance, videography and fashion .

The winner of BEST MUSIC FILM at the March 2022 Film Festival.

https://www.instagram.com/strutzkovia/

Conversation with filmmaker Lena Strützke on the making of the film.

Film also showing on the WILDsound TV app. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.


Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

April 26, 2022 - Filmmaker/Choreographer Lena Strützke (CONTEMPLATION)
Matthew Toffolo
February 1, 2022 - Screenwriter Alex Surowitz (A Death In The Family)

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY is the winning Crime/Mystery Festival from 2021. Listen to interview with writer followed by a best scene screenplay reading.

WATCH the best scene reading

Former detective August Cavett and his new wife Elizabeth return from their honeymoon to learn that Elizabeth’s father has died. Now the family matriarch is threatening to cut ties with the rest of the family and keep the inheritance. When she ends up dead, the Cavetts are reluctantly drawn into the investigation. Between drinking copious amounts of alcohol and dealing with crazy relatives, August agrees to dig into the family secrets to solve the crime.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Steve Rizzo
Elizabeth: Julie Sheppard
Auggie: Allan Michael Brunet
Cecile: Allison Kampf
——

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

February 1, 2022 - Screenwriter Alex Surowitz (A Death In The Family)
Matthew Toffolo
May 6, 2021 - Filmmakers Anna Paddick, Vanessa White (EVERYTHING I KNOW)

Three extremely creative people, who each have their own set of skills, get together to make a tremendous dance short film. EVERYTHING I KNOW was the winner of BEST SOUND & MUSIC at the May 2021 BLACK & WHITE Film Festival.

WATCH the BLACK & WHITE Film Festival NOW and Stream it wherever you are.


Interview with co-directors Anna Paddick & Vanessa White who collaborated with dancer Kevin Jaymes on making a tremendous short film.

Follow WILDsound Podcasts on all social media channels: @wildsoundpod

Submit to the festival anytime via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/WILDsoundFilmandWritingFestival

Subscribe via Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildsoundfest

May 6, 2021 - Filmmakers Anna Paddick, Vanessa White (EVERYTHING I KNOW)
Matthew Toffolo
October 28th 2020 - Interview with Screenwriter Alex Gold (CLAW CON)

Terrific conversation with the winning LGBT screenwriter Alex Gold. Chat about Fury Conventions, which the script is based about, and the art & future of video games, as the writer has a great front seat point of view working in the industry.

Watch the screenplay reading of CLAW CON: https://youtu.be/ajGsJRioZcQ

Love, hope and heartbreak at a Furry convention.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Allison Kampf

Berry: Geoff Mays

David: Steve Rizzo

Silver Blade: Cassandra Guthrie

Curl Power: Fabio Abreu

Berry: Allan Michael Brunet

Submit to the festival anytime via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/WILDsoundFilmandWritingFestival

Subscribe via Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildsoundfest

Watch more festival videos on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WildsoundFestivalMonthly

October 28th 2020 - Interview with Screenwriter Alex Gold (CLAW CON)
Matthew Toffolo
#66 - Watch & Listen: WATCH: short film LOVE & FEAR. LISTEN to director of film Catriona Ni Chadhain

Before you listen to this podacst, WATCH the short film LOVE & FEAR

Then come back and listen to the interview with the director of the short film Catriona Ni Chadhain.

Great podcast on the art of making a documentary short film.

Grá & Eagla is a short documentary examining Irish people’s attitudes towards our native language.

The story follows comedian Áine Gallagher as she prepares material for her bilingual stand-up comedy show, giving her an opportunity to explore why so many Irish people feel passionately about the Irish language but lack the confidence to speak it.

Project Links

This episode was sponsored by the 1 page short story contest.


#66 - Watch & Listen: WATCH: short film LOVE & FEAR. LISTEN to director of film Catriona Ni Chadhain
#63 - Interview with Screenwriter Thomas Clary (THE SWITCH)

The theme of this episode is “It’s all about self assurance”

Thomas Clary gets very candid in chatting about his career to date (interview starts at 4:28) . He’s a successful Visual Effects Artist in the industry, having worked on many big budget films like Spider-Man 3, X-Men, and Titanic. And he’s also a very talented writer who really hit a home run with his TV Pilot “The Switch”. As soon as you hear the concept, you’ll want this show to be on television.

Watch the winning Screenplay Reading of THE SWITCH.

See Thomas’ full IMDB page of credits.

This episode was sponsored by the 1 page short story contest.

#63 - Interview screenwriter Thomas Clary (THE SWITCH)
Matthew Toffolo, WILDsound
#61 - Interview with Screenwriter Paul Watkins (Kenobi: A Star Wars Story)

The theme of this episode is: “Who deserves an origin story!”S

Chat with the fan fiction screenplay winner Paul Watkins. He wrote an Obi Wan Kenobi Star Wars origin story screenplay.

You can watch the winning reading HERE.

Synopsis of screenplay:

When a hidden settlement on the system of Tatooine is attacked by a force from the past a mysterious villager and his odd ball team will seek out a legendary Jedi Knight.


This podcast was sponsored by the 1 Page Screenplay Contest. Submit your 400 word or less story and get it performed by a professional actor and made into a video.

#61 - Interview with Screenwriter Paul Watkins (Kenobi: A Star Wars Story)
#57- Watch & Listen. Watch: BEFORE YOU WOKE short film. Listen: To Director David Bradburn on making the film

Before you listen to this podcast, WATCH the 4 minute short film BEFORE YOU WOKE on Vimeo.

Then come back here and listen to the podcast with Director/Writer of the short film David Bradburn.

If there is a theme to this episode, it's would be: “It’s All About your Team!” or “It’s All About your Crew!”

A great episode on the art of making a short film. David praises his terrific cast and crew.

His Cast: Christian Litke (and Stunt Coordinator) & Kiea Houseton

His Producing team: Teresa Mathew & Angela Verdino (and Production Designer)

Composer: DC McAuliffe

Cinematographer: Joel McGinty

Film Editor:B.A. Lewandowski

Sound Designer: Evan B. Hisey

Key Grip: Francis Edward

Camera Operator: Joe Mastrino

This episode was sponsored by the 1 page short story contest.

#57- Watch & Listen. Watch: BEFORE YOU WOKE short film. Listen: To Director David Bradburn
by Matthew Toffolo, WILDsound
#55 - Interview with Screenwriter Katie Grotzinger (SCOOBY-DOO: AGE OF AQUARIUS)

If there is a theme to this episode it would be “Modern Nostalgia”

Great chatting with the very talented writer Katie Grotzinger. You can see for yourself at her website filled with all of her writings: https://www.kathleengrotzinger.com/

Matthew chats with Katie (2:03) about her winning Scooby-Doo TV spec screenplay, plus her other spec scripts and original works.

You can also watch the Winning Screenplay Reading performed by professional actors at the Fan Fiction Screenplay Festival.

This episode was sponsored by the 1 page short story contest.

#55 - Interview with Screenwriter Katie Grotzinger (SCOOBY-DOO: AGE OF AQUARIUS)
by Matthew Toffolo. WILDsound Podcast
#54 - Interview with screenwriter Michael Meade (Friday the 13th: Vengeance, Fan Fiction Festival Winner)

The theme of this episode is that Screenplay Contests Work! As we see from interviewing Michael Meade from Portland, Oregon.

Interview starts at (3:17). Matthew Toffolo chats with Michael about his Fan Fiction screenplay win “Welcome to Crystal Lake”, based on the Friday the 13th series, in 2017.

Watch the screenplay reading here: https://fanfictionfestival.com/2017/09/20/winning-fan-fiction-screenplay-welcome-to-crystal-lake-friday-the-13th-by-mike-meade/

Two years later, Michael is the writer of the feature film of Friday the 13th, called “Vengeance”, coming to a cinema near you in a few weeks.

Watch the Trailer for Friday the 13th: Vengeance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AwA6V39Tu0

And join the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/F13Vengeance/

Michael also talks about currently working rewrites on the feature film “Nightfall”, his original screenplay that was optioned and is set to go into production next year, directed by Matthew Tibbenhaum.

This podcast was sponsored by the 1 Page Screenplay Contest. Submit your 400 word or less story and get it performed by a professional actor and made into a video.

#54 - Interview with screenwriter Michael Meade (Friday the 13th Vengeance, Fan Fiction Fest Winner)
#53 - Interview with Filmmaker David S. Armstrong (PLEASURE PALS)

Matthew Toffolo chats with Filmmaker David S. Armstrong about his “Toy Story meets Sex Toys” short film that played at the Comedy Festival in Los Angeles. Starts (3:30). David also chats about his experiences working as an editor on the TV show SURVIVOR (25:18).

Watch PLEASURE PALS Animation Short Film - Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnfnSWXplu0

Watch PLEASURE PALS Episode 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnSe2eYxIJc

A tale of discrimination…against adult novelties.

Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video from the Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGTPIE4pe8M

Interview with Filmmaker David S. Armstrong (PLEASURE PALS)
David S. Armstrong, Matthew Toffolo
#51 - Neal Doran - WILDsound Feature Screenplay Winner (CHANGES)

Matthew Toffolo chats with UK writer Neal Doran about his winning feature screenplay CHANGES.

Watch the full reading performed by professional actors at the festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP2MwbsZsmk

Submit your Screenplay (any) or short film to the festival via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/WILDsoundFilmandWritingFestival

Toby is a typical gamer kid approaching the woes of puberty. The after school routine with his bookish friend Nic is spent navigating the London tube line trying to figure the most efficient route to make the infamous 1609 train. However, when one of the popular kids start riding the tube with them they become increasingly involved with a group of girls from another school travelling the same way.

CAST LIST:

Various: Sean Ballantyne
Clare: Leanne Hoffman
Nik: Caleb Jaques
Chris: Ross Cummings
Narration: Carina Cojeen
Toby: Aaron Williams
Jen: Victoria Murdoch
Mandy/Smiley: Natalie Morgan

Neal Doran - WILDsound Feature Screenplay Winner (CHANGES)
Matthew Toffolo, Neal Doran
Bonnie Brookby - LGBT Festival Winning Screenplay Writer. (THE THINGS WE MISS)

Matthew Toffolo chats with the Winning LGBTQ Feature Screenplay writer Bonnie Brookby (02:13). They chat about the feature script writing process, adding character depth to your story, her roots in Texas, and the importance of LGBTQ themed screenplays.

You can watch the full reading performed by professional actors here: https://youtu.be/ld2MiyYVX3A

Then Matthew says good-bye to longtime WILDsound employee Kierston Drier, who set up this very podcast (33:15). Using his high school football career as an analogy to her career at WILDsound.

PODCAST will upload 2-3 times a week from here on out, mainly interviewing the winning filmmakers and screenplay writers from the various WILDsound festivals in Los Angeles & Toronto.

Submit your LGBT Short Film & Screenplay via FilmFreeway to the LGBT Toronto Film Festival: https://filmfreeway.com/LGBTTorontoFilmFestival

Submit any screenplay or short film to the WILDsound Film Festival: https://wildsoundfestivalreview.com/

Bonnie Brookby - LGBTQ Screenplay Festival Winner (THINGS WE MISS)
Matthew Toffolo