About this episode

The episode features discussions with filmmakers Michael Glover Smith and Doug Bremner about their respective films HEKLA and THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG at the Dances With Films festival.

It’s another week of BEHIND THE LENS shining a spotlight on DANCES WITH FILMS and a couple of the wonderful films and filmmakers in this year’s festival, namely HEKLA and w/d MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG and w/d DOUGLAS BREMNER. First up - MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and HEKLA! HEKLA is a comedy/drama about the emotional cost of pursuing a creative life. Set over one hectic day in Chicago, it explores how ambition, identity, and vulnerability collide when you’re chasing something as personal – and uncertain – as an acting career. Hekla Gudmunsdottir (Elizabeth Stam), a determined actress, races through auditions, breakups, and self-doubt, risking her heart and career to claim her voice and step fully into the artist and woman she’s meant to be: Hekla goes on four auditions, gets new headshots, and plays Lady Macbeth in a dive bar, all while attempting to keep intrusive thoughts of a recently ended relationship at bay. Beneath the humor and dramatic momentum lies a story about the importance of showing up for yourself, even when the world isn’t clapping for you yet. Written and Directed by MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH and co-written by Elizabeth Stam, HEKLA stars…

People in this episode

Guests: MICHAEL GLOVER SMITH, DOUG BREMNER

Topics covered

• film festival
• independent film
• creative life
• acting career
• comedy/drama

Keywords

• Dances With Films
• HEKLA
• THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG
• Michael Glover Smith
• Doug Bremner

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: HEKLA, THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG

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• BTL Radio Show - 07/01/2026 Bonus! with JOSH DRAGOTTA and DOUG "FINI" FINICAL talking CABALI AND THE TIKI MUG OBSESSION · July 5, 2026 · 1h 18m
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• BTL Radio Show - 06/15/2026 with special guest director JAY SILVERMAN discussing YALE · June 15, 2026 · 1h 1m

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