A Conversation with Eephus Writer & Director Carson Lund

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Hosts Benji Wade and Luke Baumgarten are joined by filmmaker Carson Lund, writer and director of Eephus. After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival Director’s Fortnight in 2024 and releasing in theaters in 2025, Eephus has become one of the year’s most acclaimed films, ranking near the top of the year's best list on Rotten Tomatoes among critics.This is not a typical interview. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that touches on both the challenges and joys of producing independent films.

Carson shares stories about making his debut feature, the quirks of shooting a baseball game across shifting daylight, and the details of financing films with help from supporters like Chapo Trap House. We also dive into Carson's influences (Hollis Frampton, James Benning, Liu Jiayin), his thoughts on modern film criticism, and his upcoming project about a candlepin bowling alley, another film that will contemplate the loss of communal spaces.Whether you’re a cinephile, indie filmmaker, or just curious about the creative process, this episode is a thoughtful deep dive into the thoughts, feelings, and ideas of a talented young storyteller and filmmaker.

Highlights of the conversation include:

How Eephus resonates with film critics, baseball fans, and lovers of cinema
Carson’s influences, from Hollis Frampton and James Benning to Liu Jiayin
The challenges of shooting a full baseball game across changing light and weather
Carson’s background as a film critic and his take on today’s criticism landscape
Nostalgia, community, and the disappearance of shared rituals in American culture
The surprising role of Chapo Trap House in financing Eephus
Carson’s next project: a story about a candlepin bowling alley and vanishing community spaces
Why Eephus is both a universal story and a deeply specific portrait of a cultural region

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