3.71-Filmmaker Interviews with Lucas Ansel and Zolomon Zelko (Student Academy Awards 2025)

Today's episode is the first of a series of double episodes you'll be getting throughout the month of September all featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees.

My first interview is with 2025 Student Academy Award Winner Lucas Ansel, director of the animated film "The 12 Inch Pianist." We discuss where he found the story the film was based on and some of what went into making the setting seen on screen.

Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award finalist Zolomon Zelko, director of the film "PhotoPlay XX." We talk about how the film is an emotional character arc instead of a narrative arc and getting the perfect abandoned house ready to film in.

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

• "The 12-Inch Pianist" directed by Lucas Ansel
• "PhotoPlay XX" directed by Zolomon Zelko
• Shrek directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
• Paris, Texas directed by Wim Wenders
• Cool Hand Luke directed by Stuart Rosenberg
• Ratarouille directed by Brad Bird
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl directed by Gore Verbinski
• The Big Lebowski directed by Joel Coen
• The Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson
• The Silence of the Lambs directed by Jonathan Demme
• The Girl with the Needle directed by Magnus von Horn
• She is Conann directed by Bertrand Mandico
• Megalopolis directed by Francis Ford Coppola
• Spy Kids directed by Robert Rodriguez
• Titus directed by Julie Taymor
• Ponyo directed by Hayao Miyazaki
• Star Wars directed by George Lucas

Other topics referenced in this episode include:

• "Guy Walks Into a Bar" by Simon Rich
• Charming Disaster (musical duo who comprise the cast of "PhotoPlay XX")
• Kotorino (musical project of Jeff Morris from "PhotoPlay XX")

Follow Lucas on Instagram @lucas_ansel and Zolomon at @swampzik.