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Scream or Cry? Jessica Brown on COVID Filmmaking, Carriers, and Being a Disruptor
When filmmaker Jessica Brown sits down with Tim Russ on The Emergent Lens, the vibe is equal parts funny, honest, and razor-sharp. After screening her eerie lockdown short Carriers and her father-penned psychological piece Damn You!, Brown breaks down what it really takes to make compelling work when resources are thin and the world is…
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The Emergent Lens Episode 8 – Zach Valdry Talks Horror Craft with Tim Russ
Horror filmmaker Zach Valdry joins Tim Russ on The Emergent Lens for a conversation that’s equal parts creepy, thoughtful, and packed with real craft lessons. After screening two shorts, his post-apocalyptic desert story Waste and the demon-driven thriller Broken Iris, Valdry breaks down what it actually takes to make horror work on screen. Making Waste…
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The Emergent Lens – Episode 5: Asha Chai-Chang on Comedy, Short Films, Resilience, and Filmmaking
Pants or No Pants? It is more than a playful question. It sets the tone for a conversation that is honest, funny, and deeply human. Filmmaker and musician Asha Chai-Chang sits down with Tim Russ following screenings of her wildly inventive music video No Pants On and her satirical short film Spoiler Alert, and the result is a…
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The Guest House – A Psychological Thriller Short Film Review
At Fancy A Movie, we’re always drawn to short films that understand how to do more with lessand The Guest House fits squarely in that category. Written and directed by Vince Kumar, this psychological thriller short film drops two women into an isolated guest house as a violent storm rages outside, immediately establishing an atmosphere thick with…
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Tehana Weeks on Finding Truth, Humor, and Grit in Indie Filmmaking
In this episode, filmmaker Tehana Weeks sits down with Tim Russ for a candid, grounded conversation about creativity, resilience, and the realities of making independent films. Following the screening of her debut short Coin, Weeks reflects on how lived experience fuels authentic storytelling and why problem-solving is one of a director’s most valuable skills. Turning…
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POWER OR FAME? Micole Williams on 365 Days in LA and the Urgency to Create
If you’ve ever wondered what pushes a storyteller to bet on themselves, the 365 Days in LA documentary conversation on The Emergent Lens lands like a deep breath and then a wake-up call. Host Tim Russ welcomes documentarian Micole Williams after screening her film 365 Days in LA, a personal, reflective documentary about moving across…
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TREK OR WARS? Jared Leighton Opens Up About Family First
Family First Jared Leighton isn’t just a film discussion—it’s a lived experience turned into craft. In this episode of The Emergent Lens, Tim Russ sits down with filmmaker Jared Leighton after screening Family First, a raw drama rooted in Jared’s childhood and his father’s fight with DCFS. The conversation is honest, personal, and filled with…
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The Emergent Lens: Episode 2: Madison Russ Interviews Tim Russ (Hoodie or Sweater?)
In Episode 2 of The Emergent Lens, Madison Russ turns the camera around and asks the questions fans rarely hear, because this time, Host and Director Tim Russ, is the one in the hot seat. If you’ve ever wondered how a filmmaker balances craft, chaos, and heart, this conversation delivers the on-set truth—warm, sharp, and…
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The Emergent Lens: Episode 1: “Bananas or Oranges?”
Featuring Tim Russ & Charles M. Cartwright Episode 1 of The Emergent Lens,“Bananas or Oranges?”, launches the series with an energetic and revealing conversation between host Tim Russ and filmmaker Charles M. Cartwright. This story-first filmmaking series begins by screening Charles’s work before diving into how it was made, giving viewers a rare perspective from…
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The Emergent Lens
Hosted by actor/director Tim Russ and created/produced by Calix Lewis Reneau, this filmmaking series offers a sharp, story-first look at the craft and chaos of filmmaking through the eyes of African-American creators. Each episode begins the way filmmakers actually live: with the work itself. Before Tim asks a single question, viewers are dropped directly into…