Filmmaker and co-producer Julia Kots speaks with WNET Up Next host Elisa Lichtenbaum about the making of Inez & Doug & Kira, her independent film about a bipolar woman who commits suicide and the impact of her death on her sister and her sister’s fiancé. The film, written, directed, edited, and co-produced by Kots and starring Tawny Cypress (Yellowjackets) as Inez, Michael Chernus (Severance) as Doug, and Talia Thiesfield (FBI) as Kira, premieres on Reel 13 Double Feature – THIRTEEN/WNET’s Saturday night film series – on Saturday, September 10 at 12:25 a.m.

Kots talks about the challenges of shooting the dramatic feature with a micro budget and tight schedule, its complex narrative structure, and its exploration of mental illness, suicide, and addiction. She also shares insights on the casting and audition process, and explains how her experience as professional TV and film editor – her credits include the public media series Great Performances, Reel 13, NYC-ARTS, Treasures of New York, and Treasures of New Jersey – informed how she directed the film.

WNET Up Next takes listeners behind the scenes of favorite public media programs, featuring conversations with the people who make them. Browse and enjoy past episodes at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wnet.org/podcast.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design, On-Air Promotion, Fundraising, and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

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Recorded: August 16, 2022

Audio Engineer: Josh Broome

Producer/Host: Elisa Lichtenbaum

Executive Producer/Editor: Daena McBride

Production Coordinator: Rita Graffeo

Special Thanks to Julia Kots.

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

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