First Time Go
A weekly podcast highlighting the creators of independent film and the business behind it. Hosted by Ben Duchek.
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 115
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Indie Film Highlight: I LIKE MOVIES (2022)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: I LIKE MOVIES (2022).
Director: Chandler Levack
Screenplay: Chandler Levack
Cast: Isai…
Nicolai Schumann
Bottle films, films made predominately in one location, are like playing with fire. There’s not a lot of room to make a good film if you don’t cast well, for instance, or if the location of your bott…
Jennie Butler
This is way easier said than done but when you’re making a short film, you need a couple things to exceptionally stand out. Whether it’s the writing, cinematography, subj…
Indie Film Highlight: NIGHT OWLS (2015)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: NIGHT OWLS (2015).
Director: Charles Hood
Screenplay: C…
Christian Swegal
SOVEREIGN (2025) is a filmmakers’ thriller and the story behind its director, my guest, Christian Swegal, is one of the best in independent film this y…
Indie Film Highlight: MARJORIE PRIME (2017)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: MARJORIE PRIME (2017).
Director: Michael Almereyda
Writers: Michael Almereyda; Jorda…
Nathaniel Lezra
Happy 2nd anniversary to the pod, and I can’t think of a more vital filmmaker for our time and for this episode than Nathaniel Lezra. His film ROADS OF FIRE (2025), winner of the Best Feature Documen…
Indie Film Highlight: YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (2000)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: YOU CAN COUNT ON ME (2000).
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan
Ca…
Antonio Harper & Abby Burton
Watch FORWARD THINKING (2025) Now
I’m not sure if the pod has ever gotten a bigger honor than what Antonio Harper & Abby Burton gave it in this episode — sure, they said, listeners can watch our short…
Blake Jarvis
An upcoming wedding, a film that made it into Tribeca -- filmmaker Blake Jarvis is having himself a summer.
IN JEFF WE TRUST (2025)'s logline is "two mentally ill girls regret joining a cult...but is…
Indie Film Highlight: HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES (2024)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES (2024)
Directo…
Max Morgan
Joining me today is…he is going to hate that I write it this way, as you’ll hear in the conversation…but the director with the most nominated film at Raindance, Max Morga…
Stephen Gerard Kelly
If you watch IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT (2023), you might get an idea about the director, and guess he has a cinematographer's eye for visuals and a humanist's approach to c…
Indie Film Highlight: 29,000 WISHES. 1 REGRET
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: 29,000 WISHES. 1 REGRET (2012)
Director: Oliver Robins
W…
Rick Stanton
The film, SPECTRUM (2024), directed by my guest, Rick Stanton, is a true triumph for art and sticking to one's own vision. As he said, “it’s a very honest take on what l…
Sky Sitney
DC/DOX is about to celebrate its third year, and I chat with co-founder Sky Sitney about its origin story, celebrity documentary, AI in docs, the financial plight of doc filmmakers, and more.
Befittin…
Indie Film Highlight: GOD'S POCKET (2014)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: GOD'S POCKET (2014)
Director: John Slattery
Writers: Peter …
Huiju Park
Go See WELCOME HOME FRECKLES at DC/DOX on June 14th, 12pm
What do you do when people question your style of filmmaking? If you know that the story is in your heart, as my …
Aoife Kelleher
With the baritones of Bono and U2 as the soundtrack, the globe-trotting world of Mary Robinson requires an epic film to depict her life, and thankfully, they found the di…
Indie Film Highlight: BEFORE/DURING/AFTER (2020)
Every Sunday, I'll post a quick video -- and podcast -- about an indie film from at least a year ago. Today's film: BEFORE/DURING/AFTER (2020)
Director: Stephen Kunken; Ja…