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DEEPFAKING SAM ALTMAN with Adam Bhala Lough on THE SOUNDS OF FILM In this episode of Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough about his bold, provocative, and darkly funny new documentary Deepfaking Sam Altman. When Lough is unable to secure an interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, he takes a radical turn—building an AI version of Altman using publicly available data and cutting-edge technology. The result is “SamBot,” an artificial co-director that becomes both collaborator and mirror, reflecting Lough’s own fears, ambitions, and blind spots. Blending investigative journalism, satire, and deeply personal reflection, Deepfaking Sam Altman explores our culture’s growing obsession with simulation, power, and connection in the digital age. In the conversation, Lough discusses the ethics and legal complexities of deepfakes, the emotional experience of bonding with an AI, the blurred lines between parody and responsibility, and what it means to be human

Remembering Scott Adams — creator of Dilbert, host of Real Coffee with Scott Adams, and an early champion of The Sounds of Film.

He generously joined us when the show was just getting started, and those conversations about the simulation, his books, and big ideas will always be special.

Muppet Christmas Carol & Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas: Paul Williams on a CLASSIC SOUNDS OF FILM This week on a Classic SOUNDS OF FILM, Tom Needham welcomes legendary singer-songwriter, actor, and recovery advocate Paul Williams for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary career and his work with Jim Henson’s Muppets. Williams, whose iconic songs include “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Evergreen,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” and “The Rainbow Connection,” shares stories from his decades in music, film, and television. The conversation highlights Williams’ timeless contributions to the Muppets universe, with a special focus on The Muppet Christmas Carol and the beloved holiday classic Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Originally broadcast on HBO in 1977 and nominated for four Emmy Awards, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas features Williams’ music performed by an all-puppet cast of woodland creatures. He also discusses his CD collection of music from the special and

THE LAST 600 METERS: Michael Pack’s Gripping Documentary About the Iraq War on THE SOUNDS OF FILM On this episode of Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Michael Pack, director and producer of The Last 600 Meters, a compelling look at two of the deadliest battles of the Iraq War told through the firsthand testimony of the Marines and soldiers who fought them. The conversation explores Pack’s approach to documentary storytelling, the challenges of capturing the realities of modern combat, and the enduring relevance of this film in today’s world. The Sounds of Film podcast grew out of Tom Needham’s long-running radio show of the same name, dedicated to in-depth conversations about cinema, music, culture, and ideas. Over the years, the program has featured a remarkable range of guests from the worlds of film, television, music, literature, and activism, including Alexander Payne, D.A. Pennebaker, and

Remembering Rob Reiner and the wonderful music from his movies featured on the Sounds of Film over the years.

Director Johnny Ma on the SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast In this episode of The Sounds of Film, host Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Johnny Ma, writer and director of The Mother and the Bear. The film tells the story of a Korean mother who travels to Winnipeg after her daughter’s accident and unexpectedly finds herself on a path of personal transformation. Johnny Ma explains how the project began years earlier during a stay at a small hostel in Seoul. A conversation with the woman running the hostel planted the initial seed for the film’s emotional core. The discussion explores how the movie balances humor with deeply human themes, its cross-cultural lens, and the creative challenges of shooting in the stark Winnipeg winter. Ma also reflects on the film’s intimate performances and the story’s focus on identity, family expectations, and the process of rediscovering oneself. The Sounds of Film is a

So glad, that I had the opportunity to attend Hamptons Doc Fest’s event honoring filmmaker Alan Berliner!

At the festival, Chris Hegedus presented the Pennebaker Career Achievement Award to Alan Berliner at Bay Street Theater.

Afterwards, there was a screening of BENITA, one of my favorite films of the year.

Photo courtesy of Hamptons Doc Fest

Oscar Nominee Scandar Copti Talks HAPPY HOLIDAYS on SOUNDS OF FILM In this episode of The Sounds of Film, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker and visual artist Scandar Copti, the writer and director of the powerful new film Happy Holidays. The multi-layered drama follows four interconnected characters—Rami, Hanan, Miri, and Fifi—as they navigate the pressures of patriarchal values, cultural expectations, and the social systems that shape their realities. Known for his Oscar-nominated debut Ajami, Copti once again challenges viewers to confront the mechanisms of perception and oppression that define everyday life for Palestinian and Israeli communities. Through his innovative use of non-actors, shifting perspectives, and emotionally intimate storytelling, Copti offers a bold exploration of identity, generational conflict, and the human cost of systems that regulate truth and behavior. The Sounds of Film is the nation’s longest-running film-themed radio show, featuring in-depth interviews with directors, actors, writers, and composers

The Sounds of Film is looking forward to attending the Hamptons Doc Fest running December 4-11. The highlight of the festival is a Gala honoring Alan Berliner on Saturday, December 6th at Bay Street Theater. Berliner will be receiving the Pennebaker Award. There will be a Q&A and a screening of BENITA. Learn more about some of the films screening in the festival like Monk in Pieces, Ask E. Jean, She Runs the World, and Between Goodbyes by listening to Tom Needham’s conversations with the movies’ directors on The SOUNDS OF FILM Podcast. The SOUNDS OF FILM is the nation’s longest running film, music and ideas themed show. For over 35 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to radio and podcast listeners on Long Island and worldwide. Past guests on the show include Billy Joel, Whit Stillman, DA Pennebaker, Carter Burwell, William H. Macy,

Jota Mun Talks BETWEEN GOODBYES, POV & Hamptons Doc Fest on SOUNDS OF FILM Tom Needham’s The Sounds of Film welcomes director Jota Mun, whose feature documentary Between Goodbyes offers an intimate and emotionally layered view of international adoption and family reunion. The film follows Mieke Murkes, a queer Korean adoptee raised in the Netherlands, as she travels to Seoul to reconnect with her original mother, Okgyun Kang. Their time together reveals decades of unspoken regret, cultural distance, humor, and deep affection, creating a portrait of two women trying to understand one another after a lifetime apart. Drawing from years of observational footage and archival material, Mun brings the often-sidelined experiences of original mothers to the forefront, reframing how audiences understand adoption and kinship. Before its national broadcast debut on POV on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10pm on PBS, Between Goodbyes will be featured at the Hamptons Doc Fest,