Jethro Waters Exclusive Interview: "Gunfighter Paradise" (2025)

A Conversation with Jethro Waters. In this episode, our panel—Eric Trommater, Erin Brown, Jennifer Trujillo, and Sila Blume—sits down with a true polymath of modern film: Jethro Waters. Jethro serves as the writer, director, editor, and cinematographer for his debut feature, Gunfighter Paradise. He even steps in front of the lens as the film’s lead actor under the nom-de-plume Braz Cubas. Together, we explore the grueling yet rewarding journey of bringing a first feature to life, the intentionality behind the film's striking visual language, and the technical artistry of the lenses and camera techniques used to capture it. We also engage in a broader dialogue on the future of independent cinema as it navigates the shifting tides of a streaming-dominated world.​Music Featured in This Episode:​Sci-Fi Music for YouTube Videos (No Copyright) – https://youtu.be/2a-VL1VoHJ0​Sid Hemphill: Complete Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942 – https://youtu.be/cTjA1a1CjQs​Muddy Waters: Field Recordings 1941-1942 – https://youtu.be/co52GGV1SYc​Nouth Jazz - B. White (1920) – https://youtu.be/sB6jXSr7_wQ​Chapters:​0:00 Eric's Provocative Godard Comparison and Erin's AI Test​2:36 The Story Behind Jethro's Alias and Nancy Buirski 's Influence ​8:58 Exploring Gunfighter Paradise's Religious Themes and Dark Humor​16:40 Geeking Out and Unpacking Gunfighter Paradise's Layered Visuals and Narrative Structure​27:52 Jethro Waters on Gun Culture and Southern American Identity​41:25 A Technical Dive into Gunfighter Paradise's Cinematography​59:35 Navigating the Independent Film Landscape and Building Community​1:10:58 The Film's Emotional Impact and the Mummified Cat Story​1:20:50 Jethro Waters' Future Projects and Podcast Preview for The Road to Godard​Connect With Us:​YouTube: World Cinema History​Apple Podcasts: World Cinema History on Apple​Spotify: Listen on Spotify​X (Twitter): @etrommater​Join the World Cinema History DVD Extras Club​Support the show and get closer to the booth! Your contributions through Ko-fi help us keep the film history conversation alive. Recurring monthly payments of any amount make a massive difference.​Member Benefits Include:​Exclusive Bonus Episodes​Access to attend Live Recordings​Future exclusive perks​The high honor of having your name mispronounced on air (our sincerest apologies in advance!)​Join the club here: https://ko-fi.com/worldcinemahistory