BEHIND THE LENS #359: Featuring Alex Harz and Christine Chen

Last week BTL RADIO SHOW started some cinematic summer globetrotting with films about Mongolia & Genghis Khan and Syrian immigrants rebuilding lives in Canada. This week we continue our cinematic trek and go from the steamy swamps of the bayou in the Southern United States with CHRISTINE CHEN and ERZULIE to the highest point on the Earth – the summit of Mt. Everest – with ALEX HARZ and THE QUEST: NEPAL. First up, director/writer/editor/adventurer ALEX HARZ joins us live talking about his new documentary THE QUEST: NEPAL. Talk about an up close and personal journey!! Alex takes us along on his trek through Kathmandu and up into the Himalayas as he makes his way up Mt. Everest to its summit. Amazing cinematography with even more jaw-dropping images not only shows us the splendor of nature but the beauty of the Nepalese people and their culture. An engaging and entertaining adventurer and filmmaker, I could have chatted with Alex all day talking about THE QUEST: NEPAL. And as you listen to this show, you'll feel the same. I was gobsmacked watching this documentary and even moreso hearing Alex talk about the preparation and journey itself, and the filming process and challenges, especially when it became just Alex filming his first-person POV due to a crew that slowly fell ill from the physical strain and altitude acclimation. And then we travel to the Louisiana Bayou with writer/director/editor CHRISTINE CHEN as Christine joins us talking about her new narrative feature ERZULIE. A little bit of voodoo and four friends reconnecting but each with hidden issues and secrets, a beautiful location serves as the perfect backdrop to a story with socially relevant themes wrapped around a bit of fantasy. As you'll hear from Christine, she brings a wealth of experience as a Second Unit Director and as a Director of shorts and episodics to the table, stepping into this feature directorial. And that experience shows, something that Christine talks about as she dives into research and writing, collaborating with her writing partner Camille Gladney, planning and preparation, night shoots, shooting in water, location, casting and the need for cast bonding, production design and costume, score, the mermaid culture (Yes! It's a thing!), and more. http://eliasentertainmentnetwork.com