Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Wildes.
Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love of cinema has been at the forefront and a constant in my life ever since I was a kid and has grown in ways I never could have foreseen. I love film analysis, researching film history, being involved in film production- basically, if it involves cinema, I’m interested. Some of my earliest memories of developing an interest in film were watching behind- the- scenes, making- of featurettes on DVDs of animated movies. I was fascinated by the level of detail and moving parts that make a film whole. I actually learned a lot through watching the Harry Potter franchise but I credit the work of Christopher Nolan as being what changed my life and first elevated my interest in cinema. I was introduced to Nolan’s films at about 11 years old and ever since, he has remained my favorite director. Inception was the first film I really analyzed as it was the first time I encountered an ambiguous ending, leaving me determined to “solve” the film. After a full day of watching the film back and taking notes, I knew precisely how the film ended and had written my first mini analysis in the process. From a production standpoint, I started editing and filming videos when I was in fifth grade but it wasn’t until high school where I was really able to take film- related classes. In college, I majored in Film & Production and was able to take some of the greatest film classes, mostly under Dr. Jillian Smith, which very much expanded my love and understanding of cinema. Aside from school, I have always had my own focuses of study that often revolved around an actor, director, era I was interested in. After graduating college, I got an internship with a social media app where I could host a podcast about anything I wanted, so I naturally chose to talk about film and named it All the Film Things. I never thought I’d host a podcast but it has proven to be a great outlet for me as it combines film analysis and production. My friends, who I met in college film classes, were often my guests on what was then a live weekly podcast exclusively on the app. We all enjoyed it so much that we kept coming up with topics and films to discuss, which was really what sparked the idea to take All the Film Things to the next level. About a year later, I “wide- released” All the Film Things on more accessible platforms, namely Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Now that I am three years in, I’m proud of how its grown and the opportunities it has led me to but there is plenty of room for further growth so hopefully I will be able to make this podcast a true success.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Well, I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road but I’m sure its been smoother than others who face more serious, significant struggles on a daily basis. In regards to the podcast, there’s often challenges in each phase of production. Sometimes the audio isn’t recorded correctly or at all, sometimes a guest cancels last minute, sometimes the editing software crashes and doesn’t save my work. There’s a lot of little challenges like that that add up to alter an episode’s release or even, frustratingly, the cancellation of an episode. I may be a one- person crew but All the Film Things is nothing without its brilliant guests! I have been told I am a bit “Kubrickian”, in other words a “perfectionist”, which makes everything more time consuming and challenging but I can’t help it. I want to make All the Film Things as high- quality as possible because I hope it can take me to the opportunities and goals I hope to achieve working in the film industry. A consistent struggle in regards to the podcast is growing the number of listeners. If a video I make that is posted on Instagram does well in terms of views, that doesn’t always translate to the success of an episode. Its a different audience and because there are various formats within All the Film Things, that makes it harder to find a consistent audience. Thankfully, I have seen some growth, especially over the past several months, but I understand it takes some time so I hope it will continue to grow and hit a breakthrough soon in order to continue the podcast!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from working on local film productions, I host a film- focused podcast called All the Film Things which is available to listen on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I’m most proud of the opportunities I’ve had to interview accomplished people in the film industry, consistently being told I ask good questions, and having a platform to help promote the work of my filmmaking friends. The first “wide- released” episode (episodes posted on the major podcasting platforms) was an interview with NYC- based film historian/ author/ lecturer Max Alvarez and from then on I’ve interviewed brilliant Jacksonville filmmakers Franklin Ritch and Michelle Calloway, the Film Production Coordinator for the City of Jacksonville Adam Madrid, and, most recently, screenwriter/ novelist/ film director Steven Bernstein. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the most exciting opportunities I recently had, and am very proud of, was to have interviewed author/ professor James Miller who wrote an incredible book about Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. The publisher was very kind to send me a copy of the book a few months before it was published in order to prepare for the interview.
What sets All the Film Things apart from other film podcasts is that it is all encompassing of film with various types of formats. Each film podcast I have learned of is different but many seem to make one film the subject of each episode. With All the Film Things, there are analytical episodes, interviews, and casual- format episodes because I didn’t want to limit myself. I love talking about a range of films from various countries and time periods and getting creative with different topics while also learning from those working in the industry. What each episode shares, regardless of format, is connection with others through cinema and a shared passion for this singular art- form. To promote each episode, I make video edits that are posted on both Instagram and YouTube pairing an audio snippet of a guest talking during the episode with clips from the film they’re discussing. That aspect of the podcast has more recently become popular with guests, which I have also become proud of.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Hmm… something that has surprised people about All the Film Things is that I am the one- person crew behind it but something that people may be surprised to learn about me personally is that I’m quite shy. It doesn’t make too much sense why someone shy and more introverted would host a podcast but because of my love of cinema, I can talk all day about it with others who share that passion. That’s probably why my episodes are so long! I think, also, enjoying the solitude experience of going to the movies alone and having a movie night in comes with being more introverted and self- contained.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all.the.film.things?igsh=dWg3bXppOGN1cmJx&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlltheFilmThings
- Other: https://linktr.ee/allthefilmthings
