Action! Magazine The Podcast

Director Jeremy Seifert on the Making of the Papertown Documentary

In this episode, we sit down with director Jeremy Seifert to discuss his new documentary Papertown, a powerful and emotional portrait of a North Carolina community facing the collapse of the industry that defined it for generations. The film follows the final months of a 115-year-old paper mill in Canton, North Carolina, as its sudden closure devastates the town’s economy and forces residents to confront an uncertain future. Told in real time, Papertown captures the heartbreak, confusion, anger, and resilience of workers, families, and neighbors as they navigate the loss of both jobs and identity. We talk with Jeremy about the filmmaking process, documenting such an intimate story as events unfolded, and the deeper themes of community, corporate power, and survival at the center of the documentary.

(Portuguese) - Entrevista com Diretora Rosane Svartman sobre novo filme Des(Controle)

No novo episódio do podcast, conversamos com a diretora Rosane Svartman sobre seu novo filme (Des)controle, estrelado por Carolina Dieckmann. Durante a entrevista, falamos sobre o processo criativo por trás da produção, os temas centrais da história e os desafios de construir uma narrativa tão intensa e atual. Rosane também compartilha como foi trabalhar com Carolina Dieckmann na construção da protagonista, a troca entre diretora e atriz durante as filmagens e a importância emocional da personagem dentro do filme. Uma conversa envolvente sobre cinema, criação artística e os bastidores de (Des)controle.

Friends & Neighbors: Benjamin Wagner on Stress, Trauma, and the Power of Connection

In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker Benjamin Wagner to discuss his new documentary Friends & Neighbors, a deeply personal and timely exploration of how chronic stress and trauma are reshaping life across America. Inspired by Fred Rogers’ enduring message to “look for the helpers,” Wagner shares how his own experiences with loss and the pressures of a high-stress career led him to examine the hidden toll stress takes on our bodies, relationships, and communities. The conversation expands into the heart of the film, highlighting the educators, therapists, artists, and leaders working to rebuild connection and resilience in meaningful ways. Through stories of healing, movement, and shared humanity, Friends & Neighbors offers a hopeful perspective on what it means to show up for one another in a disconnected world. We talk about the making of the film, the science and emotion behind it, and why connection might be our most powerful path forward. Friends & Neighbors begins streaming May 1 on PBS Passport and will also be available on VOD platforms like Apple and Amazon.

Inside Being Ola: Life, Community, and Connection in a Norwegian Village

Documentaries have the power to transport us into lives and places we might never otherwise experience and Being Ola is a beautiful example of that. In this episode, we sit down with director Ragnhild Nøst Bergem and the film’s subject Ola Henningsen to explore the story behind this quietly powerful documentary. Set in the small Norwegian village of Vidaråsen, the film follows Ola’s daily life in a community where people with and without disabilities live and work side by side. Together, we talk about the inspiration behind the film, the experience of filming in such an intimate environment, and what audiences can learn from a place built on empathy, simplicity, and human connection. This conversation goes beyond the screen, offering a thoughtful look at belonging, dignity, and the beauty of slowing down.

Inside Plastic Surgery: Guy Trevellyan on Directing Anna Popplewell in a Chilling Body Horror

In this episode, we sit down with writer and director Guy Trevellyan to discuss his chilling short film Plastic Surgery, a gripping body horror that confronts the real-world consequences of microplastic pollution. Starring Anna Popplewell and Daniel Ings, the film follows a surgeon on the brink of maternity leave whose final day takes a terrifying turn as patients begin revealing something unthinkable—plastic embedded deep within their bodies. What starts as a routine operation spirals into chaos, forcing an impossible choice between survival and duty. Fresh off winning Best Thriller at the HollyShorts Film Festival, Plastic Surgery blends visceral horror with urgent environmental commentary. Trevellyan shares the inspiration behind the film, his approach to grounded, high-stakes storytelling, and how genre can be used to explore pressing global issues. We also dive into his upcoming project, The Act of Learning, a deeply personal story rooted in his experience with undiagnosed dyslexia, and his mission to tell stories centered on identity, truth, and human resilience. A must-listen for filmmakers and fans of horror that hits uncomfortably close to home.