INTERVIEWS
Conversations with creatives.
In Conversation: ‘Plastic Surgery’ Director Guy Trevellyan and Actress Anna Popplewell
Through tight acting, eerily realistic practical effects, and a suspenseful climax, the film is a graphic depiction of the dangers plastic poses even more now that it’s inside of us. We sat with Director Guy Trevellyan and Actress Anna Popplewell to discuss these themes.
In Conversation: ‘The Things You Kill’ Writer, Director, and Producer Alireza Khatami
With decisive visuals, fantastic performances, and a genre-defying story, The Things You Kill is a brilliant dissection of masculinity, patriarchal inheritance, and cyclical violence. We had a chance to sit down with the writer-director to untangle the film’s themes and explore how his background as a self-described man between nations contributed to their development.
In Conversation: ‘Deadly Vows’ Co-stars Shiva Negar and Peter Facinelli
Deadly Vows (2025) by Jared Cohn follows Darya and Sam in a psychological thriller inspired by true events. With a story of survival, resilience, and wit, we sat down with co-stars Shiva Negar and Peter Facinelli to hear about the message of the film and how they prepared to tell such a harrowing story.
In Conversation: ‘Primavera’ Writer and Director Damiano Michieletto
Damiano Michieletto’s debut film is a beautifully nuanced perspective on the patriarchal reality of a young girl’s ambitious desire for freedom. We had a chance to sit down with Michieletto during the 61st Chicago International Film Festival to discuss the film’s evolution and how his background as one of the most acclaimed opera directors of his generation helped shape his vision.
In Conversation: ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Actor Vincent Rodriguez III
Vincent Rodriguez III shared what it means to represent the Philippine heritage, the importance of this month, and his advice to Filipinos who also dream of being on stage or on screen.
In Conversation: ‘A Bear Remembers’ Directors Zhang and Knight
Fitting such a beautiful, touching story into 20 minutes is no easy feat, but Zhang & Knight effectively captured the emotional journey of memory. The duo shared insight into the filming process and the origin of the story in A Bear Remembers.
In Conversation: ‘The Rose: Come Back To Me’ Director Eugene Yi and Producer Diane Quon
Having premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, The Rose: Come Back to Me (2025) is an intimate look at the global rise of the Korean indie rock band, The Rose. I got the chance to talk to the film’s director, Eugene Yi, and producer, Diane Quon, about the band, being Asian American creatives, and filmmaking.
The Cast of ‘The Wedding Banquet’: Queering the House and More
In today’s ever-regressing landscape, Andrew Ahn’s 2025 multi-layered reimagining of The Wedding Banquet is sure to become a fruitful place for vivid responses and discourse. At a roundtable discussion alongside other vibrant AAPI journalists, 0613focus had the opportunity to hear directly from the cast of The Wedding Banquet prior to its official theatrical release on the experiences and themes embedded within their performances.
In Conversation: ‘BAGGAGE’ Director, Writer, and Artist Lucy Davidson
We spoke to director, writer, and stop-motion artist Lucy Davidson about her experiences watching her film come to fruition, the value of comedy in emotional storytelling, and the influence of personal preferences on creating and developing artistic styles.
In Conversation: ‘A Lien’ Director David Cutler-Kreutz
A Lien (2023) is a 15-minute short film directed by brothers Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, highlighting the burdensome process of obtaining U.S. citizenship. We spoke with Filmmaker David Cutler-Kreutz about the complexities in the U.S. immigration system, challenges during production, and the future plans of the filmmaking duo.
In Conversation: ‘Plainclothes’ Cinematographer Ethan Palmer
Carmen Emmi’s feature-film debut, Plainclothes, follows Lucas (Tom Blyth), a talented young police officer in the 1990s who works undercover to entrap and arrest gay men. The complication? Lucas is secretly gay himself, and his carefully concealed world begins to unravel when he falls in love with one of his targets.
In Conversation: ‘Rocky’s’ Directors Benjamin Cohen and Max Strand
This coming-of-age film is set in a small town, where the food and drinks from the local deli mean community, and conversations are more than just segues into reunions between old friends. We spoke to co-directors and writers Benjamin Cohen and Max Strand about their experience making the film together as childhood friends, curating distinct character arcs, and the role of nostalgia in film narrative and form.
In Conversation: ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Director Kiran Rao
The comedy-drama film follows two young newly-wed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes, offering a uniquely Indian commentary on female agency and identity. We talked with director Kiran Rao about what it’s been like to represent India on a global screen, intersectionality, and her plans for the future.
In Conversation: ‘The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent’ Director Nebojša Slijepčević
In an unexpected yet welcomed opportunity, I had the chance to speak with Director Nebojša Slijepčević about his Cannes Palme d’Or winning short film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (2024).
In Conversation: ‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ Director Pat Boonnitipat and Actress Usha Seamkhum
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024) is a family drama about a college dropout who elects himself as the caretaker of his cancer-stricken grandmother in hopes of receiving an inheritance. I had the chance to speak to the two about the process and inspiration behind How to Make Millions as well as what the future may hold for them.
In Conversation: ‘The Boat’ Filmmaking Duo Luke and Jake Morgan
Based on a heartbreaking true story, The Boat (2024) is an intimate look at the decisions a father must make when his youngest daughter contracts leprosy. I got the chance to sit down with Director Luke Morgan and composer Jake Morgan who worked alongside the Mission to End Leprosy to speak about their latest short film.
In Conversation: ‘The Mountain’ Director Rachel House and Actor Terence Daniel
A coming-of-age adventure film, The Mountain (2024) follows a trio of Kiwi pre-teens in their journey for healing, culture, and heritage as they attempt to scale the glorious Mount Taranaki. I had the opportunity to speak with both Rachel House and Terence Daniel—a young actor making his debut through the role of Bronco, a sharp-minded Māori boy—on their personal influences, shooting experience, and thematic goals for the film.
In Conversation: 'All I've Got & Then Some' Co-directors Rasheed Stephens and Tehben Dean
All I’ve Got & Then Some (2024) is an autobiographical feature inspired by the life and events of star and co-director Rasheed Stephens. I had the opportunity to speak to Stephens and Tehben Dean—his talented co-director, co-writer, and cinematographer—about the filmmaking process, dreams, and what it means to tell a story so uncut and personal.
In Conversation: ‘Crumb Catcher’ Director Chris Skotchdopole
Crumb Catcher works with an absurd premise—what if a business pitch went really, really wrong?—and pushes it as far as it’ll go. I spoke with Chris Skotchdopole about the inspirations for his debut feature film, writing from a place of character, and what goes into a great car chase scene.
In Conversation: 'Chuck Chuck Baby' Director Janis Pugh
Chuck Chuck Baby is a musical comedy that centers on working-class women and their friendship and love. I had the chance to sit down with director and writer Janis Pugh on her first feature, set in Pugh’s hometown in Northern Wales.