Backstory Sessions

A Klass Act.

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode we present an interview we did with actress Yulia Klass awhile back. We chat about a few of her memorable roles, as well as her recent movie “Captors”. She has worked alongside many action movie stars, such as Bruce Willis, Steven Segal, and many others, and enjoys playing strong roles that get to kick butt, as you will discover.It’s an interesting conversation with a hard working and very down to earth person who enjoys what she does. We hope to have Yulia back for a longer talk in the future, as she is a great guest..We also talk about Chicken, bricks, and a few other random items in the beginning part of the episode. We hope you enjoy another interesting chat!

Erzulie

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode, after talking about a few things happening in our neck of the woods, we chat  with writer/director Christine Chen and actress Leila Anastasia Scott from the movie "Erzulie". The story goes, A reunion between four friends quickly goes awry when they find themselves face to face with ERZULIE: the swamp mermaid goddess. Christine talks about the origins of this project, and her vision for it, as well as the challenges she faced in getting the project off the ground and filming a movie in a Louisiana swamp, sometimes at night. Leila shares her thoughts on playing the strong female character Erzulie, who features prominently in a Creole folk tale. This is a really interesting interview with 2 great guests. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Bowen’s Heart

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode we talk with Matt Hammitt, whose son Bowen was born with a severe heart defect. We discuss the range of emotions that he and his wife dealt with upon hearing the news, and the ensuing issues they dealt with leading up to Bowen’s birth, as well as things dealt with though various surgeries Bowen has had. They chose to document the process and have released a documentary to help families who are dealing with these sorts of issues. There are some grim statistics regarding the effects that a serious illness of a child can have on a family, and this family’s amazing story serves as a great example and reminder that we can get through many things with faith, hope, and love. Matt shares his family’s story, and fills us in on how Bowen is thriving and doing some inspiring things of his own. It’s a really unique story told from a different point of view rather than focusing specifically on Bowen. We thank Matt for sharing his family’s amazing journey with us. We also talk a bit before our conversation with Matt about the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky, and some of the great response by local businesses in our area to help the victims of the severe flooding that took place earlier this week. And, finally, we give a shout out to a new dinner theater murder mystery opening next weekend in our area at the Kentucky Playhouse in Corbin KY. 

Don’t Poke the Bear

Hello Backstory fans! We have a really great episode for you this week. We sit down and chat with actor Vernon Wells! If you've ever seen some of the Mad Max movies, Commando,  or Weird Science, among others, Vernon will be instantly recognizable as portraying some of the most intense and potentially scary roles in these movies. We found him to be quite the opposite from his on screen personas though. We have a long talk with him about his intro to acting, and he reveals lots of interesting and funny stories about his long career. He has worked with many icons in the film industry through the years, and talks about their influence on him. From listening to his stories of working with Mel Gibson, his first meeting with Clint Eastwood, and much more, we get the sense that Vernon has remained grounded, and continues to enjoy acting, as well as helping the other actors and directors he works with currently perfect their craft. We chat about his many upcoming and current projects as well. Definitely a genuinely nice, charismatic, funny, and sweet man. Until in front of the camera, or until you poke the bear. We thank Vernon for his time and being such a great interview guest. 

Bitcoin and Bigfoot

Hello again Backstory fans. In this episode we chat with film maker Darcy Weir, who has recently released his new documentary, “Bitcoin Field Guide to Understanding Cryptocurrency”
In the documentary, the concept of what bitcoin is, how it came to be, and where it’s headed is discussed, as well as topics like blockchain, uses for it, mining, and a long list of others that are explained in detail. We were fortunate to have been able to see the film, and it presents a lot of great information in a fun and entertaining way. The future of bitcoin, cryptocurrency in general, and blockchain is going to affect us all, and very soon, as the documentary points out. 
In our discussion discussion with Darcy, we talk about some of his other documentaries dealing with Bigfoot, as well as aliens, and he shares some of the surprising things he has uncovered in researching these and other topics. This is a really interesting and info packed episode we are sure you won’t want to miss!

Potato Dreams

Welcome back to our Backstory fans…In this episode we chat with writer and Director Wes Hurley, whose new film, “Potato Dreams of America” is out on all major streaming services. The film deals with a myriad of topics related to Wes’ childhood in the former Soviet Union, and his mother’s desire to get herself and Wes to The US. It is a mostly biographical account of what took place during Wes’ childhood, where he came to dream of a new life here by watching American movies with his mother.  His mother starts corresponding with a man from the US and ultimately Wes and his mother get there wish of moving to the US. This major life change is not without its challenges for each of them, and the film expertly depicts some of the events each dealt with after coming here. It is a sweet, interesting,  and funny story, yet it shows some of the hard decisions made by Wes’s mother in the hope of giving Wes a better life. For Wes’ part, the film also deals with his struggles to fit in and find himself here in the US.  We also get a bit of Wes’ backstory beyond the film, and a few things not included in it. We invite you to check out the film, and listen to this really interesting episode with Wes. We know you will enjoy both.

The Long Rider

Hello Backstory fans!..Our episode this week is another really interesting one where we talk with director Sean Cisterna, and journalist and author Filipe Leite, whose epic adventure is the subject of thier documentary: The Long Rider. We talk with Sean about how the project came to be, and the challenges he faced in sifting through a mountain of video to tell Filipe’s story in a compelling fashion. Filipe talks about his life changing journey, and his own challenges he faced along the way, as well as the motivation it takes to plan, attempt, and ultimately finish such an amazing feat. It is a truly inspiring story of courage, drive, and, maybe, to some, a dose of craziness. We admire Filipe’s adventurous spirit, and Sean’s ability to tell this story, that we know you will want to hear more about.
The Long Rider:
A documentary/western , the film follows Filipe Leite, an aspiring journalist who leaves his adoptive home of Canada on an epic quest to ride from Calgary to his family's home in Brazil - and later beyond - entirely on horseback. Inspired by Aimé Tschiffely's 1925 equestrian journey, Filipe's 8 year odyssey of over 25,000 kms across 12 international borders, sees the young immigrant battle intense heat, drought, speeding transport trucks, nature's wrath and corrupt border guards on his history-making long ride home.
Sean Cisterna Bio:
Sean Cisterna is a multi award-winning and versatile film director. His latest film is the feature documentary The Long Rider (2022), the expansive and inspiring story of Filipe Masetti Leite's journey from Canada to Brazil entirely on horseback, and filmed in 13 different countries. Cisterna found success with From the Vine (2020), an international coproduction starring Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, Memento, The Sopranos), and distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films. Cisterna directed the acclaimed cancer drama Kiss and Cry (2017), which topped the Canadian box office, and is currently streaming on Netflix worldwide. His 2015 feature Full Out, starring Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, The L Word), is based on the true story of gymnast Ariana Berlin. The film was broadcast on NBC, now residing with Netflix Worldwide and Disney Europe. Cisterna was awarded a Canada 150 Citizenship Award by the Federal Government for his dedication to and community engagement in the arts.
 
Filipe Masetti Leite Bio:
Filipe Masetti Leite is a world-renowned Long Rider, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author. The Brazilian born cowboy is the youngest person in the world to cross the Americas on horseback. In 2020 he was chosen as the Calgary Stampede’s Grand Marshal and ‘white-hatted’ by Mayor Naheed Nenshi. He is the author of the best-sellers, Long Ride Home (soon to be a motion picture) and Long Ride to the End of the World, published in Portuguese (Harper Collins) and English, soon to be released in Spanish. Filipe is a regular contributor to The Toronto Star, a frequent guest on Rede Globo’s Fantastico, Brazil’s most watched Sunday night television show, and is writing his third memoir, Last Long Ride. His feature Documentary, The Long Rider, will be released in 2022 on Super Channel and Amazon Prime Canada. The first pair of boots he wore on his Long Ride are on display at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto and two statues, more than five meters tall, have been erected in Brazil to celebrate his feat.

James at 49 3/4

Welcome back Backstory fans! In this great episode we ring up actor James Duval. He has been in a ton of movies, with some favorites of ours being “Donnie Darko”,“Independence Day” and “Gone in 60 Seconds”. James sits down with us and talks about these roles and more in this wide ranging episode where we get to know more about him. We discuss his backstory to getting into acting, what it was like being on the set of some of the larger budget movies he has been in, as well as some of the indie films he has enjoyed doing just as much. We discuss his love of music, and we were a bit surprised to find out his favorite genre. We also discuss his new film, “I, Challenger”, in which he plays a slacker who wants to change his life, and comes up with the idea of live-streaming a self-burial stunt. What could go wrong? James was funny, charismatic, humble, and very kind during our chat, and we really enjoyed talking with him. It’s an interview you don’t want to miss!

A Nomad’s Life

Hello Backstory fans! Welcome to another interesting episode!  A lot of people have had the fantasy of hopping in their car one day and just driving off on an adventure somewhere, but very few actually follow through because of obligations, time, fear, etc. in this episode we talk with Gypsy J, who has done exactly that. He had known from a very young age that he wanted to see the world on his own terms, and for the last 5 years, has been traveling to various places in the US in his van, dubbed Dorothy. He talks about his decision making process in getting started, and what his feelings were at the beginning of his journey. We chat about problems encountered and how he approaches the unexpected things that pop up when least expected. The nomadic life might not be for everyone, but with the right temperament, an ability to plan, and good equipment, Gypsy J shows that it is possible to live life in a van, and still be comfortable. We also chat about how he came to find Dorothy, and why he named his van this. This episode is a very interesting story about one man’s search for his own happiness, and we enjoyed talking with Gypsy J a lot. His story is inspiring and will appeal to the adventurous spirit in us all. 

Tess Frizzell:Full Circle

Welcome to Season 6 Backstory fans! We are excited to return and kick off the new season with you. Our amazing guest for this episode is country artist Tess Frizzell. She sits down with us to discuss her very unique and interesting journey to where she is today, and has many great stories of growing up with fame all around her. In alot of ways, Tess has come full circle with the release of her new single, "The Wrong One", which was started years ago, by Tess' grandmother, country legend Dottie West. The story of how the song came to be recorded by Tess is as sweet as it is fascinating. Tess also reveals how the song parallels her personal life in significant ways too.  .
Bobby Tomberlin, who is her good friend and co wrote "The Wrong One", had this to say about Tess:  "Tess Frizzell has a country music DNA like I’ve never seen but she has found herself musically and is carrying on a beautiful family tradition with a voice that is so rich with 100% heart in the vocal. Country Music hungry fans need what she has to offer."
We hope you enjoy our conversation with Tess as much as we did. She was very gracious, and candid, and we fell in love with her, as we are sure you will too. We thank Tess for her time, and hope to have her back on the podcast soon.