Episode 30 - Mike Cuenca

Mike Cuenca! A conversation with a wonderful filmmaker Mike Cuenca, who was recommended to me by cinematographer Jessica Gallant, with whom we both have worked with. Jessica is currently shooting my feature film Reunion, which is getting done slowly but surely. Mike's episode can also be found on YouTube channel: With Miska Podcast Episodes. https://youtu.be/NTdVnJUzrp4 This is a wonderful, inspiring, and also a very down to earth conversation about the reality of making it happen in LA. Mike shares with us how it is to be a truly indie filmmaker. Mike wants to do his films in a way that they are true to his artistic vision, and he doesn’t want to compromise this, even though it may be more difficult to get funding for his projects. He has made various indie films and series, and what makes his film I’ll Be Around exceptional is how big it looks. The shooting style is very indie, but the film has many locations, a big cast, bands… lots of stuff. In our conversation Mike tells how he creates all this with a very low budget. I loved talking with Mike, he’s a true artist and a cinephile. This talk is a wonderful reminder how good it is to stay true to your own artistic voice instead of trying to please everyone. We also talk lots about Mike’s adventures as a musician, and we share few words about the Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki! Mike’s films: I’ll Be Around: The Double Album https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08H847PB1/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r By the Wayside https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08V85JHBF/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Jerry Powell & the Delusions of Grandeur https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B091SS8DTJ/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Mike’s Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/mikecuenca Mike’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikecuenca_/ This episode has been supported by Arts Promotion Center Finland (Taiteen edistämiskeskus). Enjoy!