EPISODE · May 15, 2025 · 1H 35M
From Turgenev to Tribeca: Jack Piatt & David Breschel of Highway West Entertainment
from Ojai: Talk of the Town · host Bret Bradigan
In this episode, we sit down with filmmakers Jack Piatt and David Breschel, the creative forces behind Highway West Entertainment, whose work spans literature, music, and the open road of independent cinema. Their short film The Singers, a haunting and poetic adaptation of Ivan Turgenev’s 19th-century story, has been selected for the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, where its timeless themes of memory, art, and loss will find a new audience. Jack and David share how they discovered the story, why it resonated with them today, and what it means to adapt classical literature in a modern cinematic language.We also talk about their powerful documentary I Need You, a heartfelt chronicle of the legendary band America, which was screened to great acclaim at last year's Ojai Film Festival, and also with more recently at the Ojai Playhouse with founding members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley.With behind-the-scenes access and deep reverence for their enduring legacy, the film captures the band’s extraordinary 50+ year journey — from their British-American roots to their emotional farewell tour. Jack and David reflect on the art of telling a band’s story with honesty, tenderness, and the kind of nuance that comes only from true fans.In both projects, you’ll hear their passion for storytelling—whether through fiction, film, or friendship. And you’ll get a glimpse of what it takes to shepherd meaningful, independent work into the world.Tune in for a conversation that travels from 19th-century Russia to the stage lights of the present, with two artists who are helping shape the future of narrative film.We did not talk about the in-migration of Sinaloa Cartel leaders, ghost ships of the Namibian Desert or the declining recruitment into the U.S. armed forces. For more information about Jack and David, check out their website at https://highwaywestent.com/
What this episode covers
In this episode, we sit down with filmmakers Jack Piatt and David Breschel, the creative forces behind Highway West Entertainment, whose work spans literature, music, and the open road of independent cinema. Their short film The Singers, a haunting and poetic adaptation of Ivan Turgenev’s 19th-century story, has been selected for the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, where its timeless themes of memory, art, and loss will find a new audience. Jack and David share how they discovered the story, why it resonated with them today, and what it means to adapt classical literature in a modern cinematic language.We also talk about their powerful documentary I Need You, a heartfelt chronicle of the legendary band America, which was screened to great acclaim at last year's Ojai Film Festival, and also with more recently at the Ojai Playhouse with founding members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley.With behind-the-scenes access and deep reverence for their enduring legacy, the film captures the band’s extraordinary 50+ year journey — from their British-American roots to their emotional farewell tour. Jack and David reflect on the art of telling a band’s story with honesty, tenderness, and the kind of nuance that comes only from true fans.In both projects, you’ll hear their passion for storytelling—whether through fiction, film, or friendship. And you’ll get a glimpse of what it takes to shepherd meaningful, independent work into the world.Tune in for a conversation that travels from 19th-century Russia to the stage lights of the present, with two artists who are helping shape the future of narrative film.We did not talk about the in-migration of Sinaloa Cartel leaders, ghost ships of the Namibian Desert or the declining recruitment into the U.S. armed forces. For more information about Jack and David, check out their website at https://highwaywestent.com/
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From Turgenev to Tribeca: Jack Piatt & David Breschel of Highway West Entertainment
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