Ep 216: Carl Deal & Tia Lessin • Michael Tully • PJ Raval & Ty Martin

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Carl Deal & Tia Lessin (Trouble the Water) return to the podcast to discuss their latest documentary, Citizen Koch which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Their film illustrates the changing American political landscape through the eyes of three Wisconsin state employees, all lifelong Republicans, who suddenly find their party taking direct aim at them, stripping away the economic ground their families have built and depended on for generations. We see billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, who are among Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s biggest financial supporters. As Republican working class voters witness the Tea Party takeover, they are torn between loyalty to the GOP and the realization that their own party has made them the enemy. The film is opening in NYC at the IFC Center. But check out their website to learn about organizing a screening in your community.

Up next director Michael Tully returns to the podcast to discuss his new nostalgia comedy, Ping Pong Summer. The movie stars Lea Thompson, John Hannah, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, and Susan Sarandon, and is about the Miracle Family’s family vacation in Ocean City, MD during the summer of 1985. It’s a funny and moving look at one young boy’s coming of age and a most memorable table tennis tournament. We’re also joined by three of the young stars of the movie, Emmi Shockley, Marcello Conte, and Myles Massey. Ping Pong Summer debuted at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and recently had its NY premiere at Rooftop Films, and opens theatrically on Friday, May 30th around the country.

Last up on the show, is filmmaker PJ Raval whose documentary Before You Know It about three gay seniors, premiered at the 2014 SxSW Film Festival. In PJ’s film we get to know three different gay men —Dennis, Robert, and Ty Martin (who also appears on this segment)— who all open their lives through participating in this moving documentary. The film is currently screening at the Quad Cinema in NYC and will be opening wider around the country in the coming weeks.

Filmwax Radio is presented by Rooftop Films. Like us on Facebook.