Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Required Watching
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Technical Flex (The Revenant and Tangerine) | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:11:25 | |
Two films, one lesson: the gear was never the flex. Tangerine was shot on three iPhones and a $8 anamorphic adapter — and it played Sundance. The Revenant was shot on one of the most expensive cinema camera bodies ever built, in natural light only, in brutal cold. Same argument, opposite budgets: the discipline to fight a tool's defaults is the only technical flex that was ever real. | |||
| Film School is a Scam. Here's the Real Curriculum | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:09:36 | |
Eighty thousand dollars buys you the 180-degree rule and four years of fear. It doesn't buy you the three things every great film runs on: the Blueprint (how it was built), the Ghost (why it haunts you), and the Echo (what it changed). This is the real curriculum — through Kurosawa's power geometry in High and Low, the ending of Memories of Murder, and the reason Japanese sentence structure teaches screen tension better than any seminar.Films mentioned: High and Low (1963) · Memories of Murder (2003) · Pulp Fiction (1994) · Oldboy (2003) | |||
| Why Modern Actors All Sound Like They're Whispering | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:11:44 | |
There's a performance style that's taken over prestige cinema. Quiet, internal, barely-there. And everyone's blamed the actors. Wrong call. The whispering isn't coming from the performance. It's coming from the camera. This is a breakdown of the specific technical shift that changed how actors perform, why sound designers are furious about it, and what three films did differently that nobody gave them credit for. | |||
| For Glen - A Tribute to Glen Hansard | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:06:51 | |
A personal audio essay on Glen Hansard, Once, and twenty years of chasing the feeling of that first screening. Recorded the week the world lost him. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| EPiC: Baz Luhrmann Found 68 Boxes of Lost Footage and Made the Film He Actually Wanted to Make All Along | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:13:26 | |
Baz Luhrmann has made six feature films. Every single one is about the same thing — a person of extraordinary natural talent trapped inside a world that wants to commodify and contain that talent, expressed through maximalist visual language and music as emotional truth. EPiC, his first documentary, is the purest version of that argument he's ever made — because this time the subject is real, the footage is found, and the most interesting creative decision Luhrmann has ever made was to get completely out of the way. This episode makes the case for EPiC as the best thing in Luhrmann's filmography, explains why that's the argument his entire career was building toward, and asks what it means that the most maximalist director alive found his greatest work in restraint. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kokuho, EPiC, and the Biopic Problem: Why the Best Films About Artists Aren't Biopics | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:16:18 | |
Ten days. Ten episodes. This is the one where everything lands. Kokuho is a fictional film about a kabuki performer that tells the truth about what becoming an artist costs. EPiC is a documentary that refuses to be a documentary and presents Elvis at the peak of his powers with no mediation. The 2022 Elvis biopic has Austin Butler giving a career-defining performance inside a form that couldn't contain what it was trying to say. Three films about extraordinary artists. Three completely different formal approaches. And a structural argument about why the biopic — the most commercially reliable form for telling stories about artists — is almost constitutionally incapable of telling the truth about them. This is the synthesis. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kokuho: The Highest-Grossing Japanese Film Ever Was Made by Someone Japan Doesn't Fully Claim | 28 Jun 2026 | 00:12:29 | |
In October 2025, I was alone in Hiroshima. I wandered into a kabuki theater not knowing what kabuki was, and watched a performance of Princess Takiyasha. I didn't speak the language well enough to follow the dialogue. I followed every second of it anyway. Months later I watched Kokuho — Lee Sang-il's three-hour epic about kabuki's bloodline system, the outsider who transcends it, and what it costs — and something clicked. This episode is about the film, the director who made it, and the specific irony of Japan's highest-grossing live-action film of all time being made by someone Japan has never fully claimed as its own. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Memories of Murder: Bong Already Told You Everything in His Second Film. We Just Weren't Ready | 27 Jun 2026 | 00:13:35 | |
Everyone came to Bong Joon-ho through Parasite. Which means almost everyone is watching his career backwards — and missing the blueprint. Memories of Murder, his second film, contains every formal and political move he would spend the next seventeen years refining. This episode goes deep into the film most Western audiences still haven't fully understood: the political satire hiding inside the procedural, the tonal architecture that makes you laugh and then takes the laugh away, the final shot that became more devastating in 2019 than it was in 2003. And the specific things you miss when you watch this film without the cultural context it was made in. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why J-Drama Structures Its First Episode Like a Short Film and What That Does to the Rest of the Series | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:12:33 | |
Yesterday's episode made the case that Western TV pilots lie — that they're persuasion documents built for commissioners rather than honest first chapters built for audiences. Today is the answer. J-drama structures its first episode like a complete short film — establishing emotional register before plot, tone before event, the specific texture of who these people are before anything happens to them. This episode explains the structural reason why, what it produces in the shows that follow, and why it creates a fundamentally different contract between audience and story. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Pilot Episode That Lied to You: TV's First Impression Problem | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:12:19 | |
The TV pilot has one job: make you come back. The problem is that job has become structurally disconnected from the show that follows. Pilots front-load everything — spectacle, mystery, emotional hook — in ways that make for compelling first hours and then have nothing left to sustain the series behind them. This episode makes the structural case for why the pilot format is lying to you, which pilots told the truth, and what the ones that lied reveal about how Western TV gets made. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Shoplifters Won the Palme d'Or and Western Critics Still Couldn't Explain What It Was About | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:09:57 | |
Shoplifters won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2018. The reviews were glowing. The words "found family" and "poverty" appeared in almost all of them. And most of them described a film that is significantly less interesting than the one Kore-eda actually made. This episode makes the case that Western criticism landed on the warmth and missed the argument — and that the argument, which is cold and specific and directed at the Japanese state, is the reason the film is essential. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Black Filmmaker in the British Industry: What the Statistics Don't Say | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:12:30 | |
The British film industry produces diversity reports. It has standards, targets, tick-box initiatives, and annual announcements about progress. And the structural situation for Black filmmakers — in development, in commissioning, in creative control — has barely moved. This episode isn't another recitation of the numbers. It's about what the numbers can't capture: the specific texture of how exclusion works in a system that has learned to perform inclusion without delivering it. And what it looks like to decide not to wait. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Logline Problem: Why British TV Keeps Commissioning the Idea Instead of the Story | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:12:03 | |
Somewhere in the British TV development process, the logline became the product. Not the story. Not the characters. The pitch. The elevator concept that sounds clean in a commissioning meeting and then struggles to hold together past episode two. This episode makes the case that British TV has built a development culture that selects for ideas that are easy to explain — and what that's costing us in the actual television being made. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Aladdin | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:08:29 | |
Summary In this episode,we discuss the profound impact of Disney's 1992 film Aladdin on the animation industry and its cultural significance. He highlights how Aladdin redefined Disney's approach to animated musicals through innovative storytelling, memorable music, and the introduction of a relatable protagonist. The film's humor, particularly through Robin Williams' iconic performance as the Genie, attracted a broader audience and set a precedent for celebrity voice casting in animation. Epps also emphasizes the film's legacy in shaping future Disney films and its role in cementing Disney's place in pop culture during the 1990s. Chapters 00:00 The Impact of Aladdin on Disney's Animation 05:38 Cultural Significance and Legacy of Aladdin Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The King Of Comedy | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:08:01 | |
Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Human IP Bubble: Why Hollywood Is Manufacturing Stars Into Irrelevance | 14 Jun 2026 | 00:11:35 | |
You're tired of actors you actually like. That's not an accident — it's a business model. Hollywood is treating talent as intellectual property and audiences as brand targets, casting for TikTok engagement rather than craft. This episode breaks down the human IP factory, why it's going to collapse, and what Song Kang-ho and Paul Mescal's careers tell us about what's actually worth watching. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Lion King and the Most Perfectly Constructed Protagonist Desire Arc in Animation History | 13 Jun 2026 | 00:08:04 | |
A personal re-watch of The Lion King — this time with a kid and a writer's eye — surfaces something hiding in plain sight. "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" is Simba telling the audience exactly what he wants and the film giving it to him in the cruelest possible way. A breakdown of protagonist desire, emotional craft, and why this film hits differently as a parent. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Is Where Horror's DNA Begins — And Nobody Talks About It | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:07:51 | |
A 67-minute German silent film from 1920 is the foundation of modern horror, film noir, and psychological cinema. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari invented the unreliable narrator, the expressionist frame as psychological state, and the authoritarian villain. Here's why it still matters. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Chennai Express and the Mid-Budget Movie Hollywood Decided It Was Too Good to Make Anymore | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:07:40 | |
Hollywood abandoned the mid-budget everything-film. Chennai Express — Shah Rukh Khan, Rohit Shetty, every genre at once — proves Bollywood never did. A breakdown of why this specific kind of film is so hard to make well, and what it teaches about craft. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Twisters and the Real Disaster: When Blockbusters Are Scared of Themselves | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:05:24 | |
Twisters has some of the best storm sequences in recent cinema. It also abandons Daisy Edgar-Jones, pivots to a rom-com, and loses the thread entirely in the second half. Quick reaction on what went wrong, and why a film this well-made managed to underdeliver. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Kevin Hart Problem: What Does the Biggest Star in Hollywood Actually Want? | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:06:42 | |
Kevin Hart made a show about Kevin Hart wanting to be an action star — except he already is one. Die Hart is fun, disposable, and accidentally fascinating. This episode is a short rant that becomes a bigger question: what happens when enormous talent picks small bets? Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Patrice: The Movie and Why Disability Docs Are Actually About What We Choose Not to Notice | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:06:55 | |
A film from the London Film Festival about a disabled couple who want to get married — and can't, because the UK benefits system punishes them for it. Patrice: The Movie is playful, warm, and devastating. And it exposes a privilege most of us have never thought to question. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| But I’m a Cheerleader | Camp, Colour & Conversion Therapy | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:07:27 | |
What happens when a film about conversion therapy is so aggressively colour-coded that the production design becomes the argument? In this episode, we break down But I’m a Cheerleader — Jamie Babbitt’s 1999 queer camp classic that weaponises pink, pastel, and Natasha Lyonne against the logic of forced identity correction. We talk about camp as a protest language (not just an aesthetic), why Megan’s arc is actually about permission rather than discovery, what RuPaul’s casting choice tells you about the film’s entire argument, and why in 2025 this isn’t a time capsule — it’s a warning dressed in sequins. In This Episode
Film Mentioned
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Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What Black Cinema Taught Me About Storytelling | 26 Feb 2026 | 00:08:11 | |
In this special capstone episode, we reflect on our month-long journey through the world of Black cinema. This isn't just a recap; it's a personal synthesis of the most powerful and enduring lessons these films have taught me about the art of storytelling. From the pioneers of the 1920s to the worldbuilders of today, this is what Black cinema taught me about what it means to be a filmmaker. THE FOUR LESSONS: Introduction: The End of a Journey Lesson 1: Necessity is a Language, Not a Limitation. Lesson 2: Restraint is a Weapon. Lesson 3: The World is What You Make It. Lesson 4: Your Audience is an Act of Faith. A Mission Statement for the Future. ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE: What can filmmakers learn from Black cinema history? What is the importance of Oscar Micheaux? How does Black British cinema use restraint? What is the future of Black genre filmmaking? What makes a powerful story? This episode is the capstone to our entire Black Origins series. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why These Films Were ‘Too Early’ for the Industry | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:07:22 | |
In this critical companion to our "Reprogrammers" video, we ask a tough question: If these films were so brilliant, why did it take so long for the industry to recognize them? This is a deep dive into the systems of power, taste, and commerce that shape film history, and a celebration of the masterpieces that were decades ahead of their time. DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: The First Draft of History is Always Wrong Case Study: The Snubbing of Do the Right Thing The Gatekeepers: Who Gets to Fail? Aging Forward: How a Film's Legacy is Built What "Canonization" Really Means ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE: Why was Do the Right Thing controversial in 1989? Why did Daughters of the Dust not get wide distribution? How do films become classics over time? What is the role of the Criterion Collection in film preservation? How does box office failure affect a director's career? To see our formal analysis of these masterpieces, watch "The Black Films That Reprogrammed Cinema" Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Western Audiences Struggle With African Films | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:10:45 | |
Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Watching Black British Cinema as a Black American | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:07:29 | |
In this personal episode of the Required Watching podcast, I'm exploring what happens when Black cinema crosses borders. As a Black American living in the UK, I didn't grow up with these stories. I came to them later, and that distance changed how I heard them. This isn't about explaining Black Britain. It's about the profound shift that happens when you stop expecting art to sound like home. CHAPTERS (The Four Acts): Act I: Arrival Act II: Contrast, Not Comparison Act III: What Shifted in Me Act IV: Why This Matters for Filmmakers ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE: What is it like watching Black British film as a Black American? Analysis of Steve McQueen's Small Axe. What are the differences between UK and US Black cinema? How does national identity shape filmmaking? What can filmmakers learn from different cultural styles? To see the formal analysis that inspired this reflection, watch our video "The Grammar of Black British Cinema" Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why Black Film History Was Never Taught Like This | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:08:09 | |
This is a deep dive into the mechanics of how history is written, how "canons" are formed, and what we lose when we erase the origin stories of pioneering artists. DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: - The Question: Why Don't We Learn This in School? - What is "The Canon" and Who Decides? - The Four Filters: Archives, Academia, Criticism, and Commerce - The Cost of Erasure: What We Lose - What Early Black Cinema Teaches Us Today ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE: Why isn't early Black film history taught in film schools? How does a film become a classic? What is the film canon and who creates it? Why are so many early Black films lost? What can modern filmmakers learn from Oscar Micheaux? To understand the history we're discussing, watch our video on the pioneers of Black cinema Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Things We Can’t Say, So We Cook – Food, Family, and Emotional Fluency in Film | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:06:52 | |
In this episode of Required Watching, Tray Epps explores the theme of emotional fluency through cooking in cinema. He discusses three films—'Eat Drink Man Woman', 'Pieces of April', and 'The Farewell'—highlighting how food serves as a medium for expressing complex emotions and familial connections. The conversation delves into how these films illustrate the power of meals in conveying love, grief, and intimacy without the need for words, emphasizing the significance of rituals and the kitchen as a stage for emotional expression. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Family, Fantasy, and Feeling – How Global Cinema Makes the Personal Universal | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:07:48 | |
In this episode of Required Watching, host Tray Epps delves into the emotional depths of family dramas through the lens of three films: 'Kapoor and Sons', 'Painted Skin', and 'The Jacksons'. He discusses how personal stories can resonate universally by focusing on specific emotions and experiences. Epps emphasizes the importance of authenticity in storytelling, the power of silence, and the legacy of trauma that shapes family dynamics. The conversation highlights that the core of compelling narratives lies in the emotional truths they convey, regardless of cultural context. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How to Outline a Screenplay: A Guide to the Scene Card Method | Required Watching Toolkit | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:13:54 | |
You have a great idea for a movie. You have a compelling character, a killer ending, maybe even a few memorable scenes. But how do you get from a jumble of brilliant ideas to a rock-solid, 110-page script with a beginning, a middle, and an end that all connect? You don't just start writing. You build it, one scene at a time. In this episode of the RW Toolkit, we're getting analog. We're breaking down one of the most powerful, flexible, and time-tested outlining tools used by professional writers: the Scene Card Method. Using simple, cheap index cards, you can build, rearrange, and stress-test your story's architecture before you ever write a single line of dialogue. It’s the secret weapon used by everyone from Aaron Sorkin to the writers at Pixar. We'll walk you through the entire process, from creating your first card to laying out your entire film on your floor or wall. This is a practical, step-by-step guide to making your story's structure tangible, manageable, and powerful. Resources Mentioned:
Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Blank Page: 3 Ways to Start Your Screenplay | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:09:03 | |
In this episode of the Required Watching podcast, host Tray Epps discusses the challenges of screenwriting, particularly the fear of the blank page. He presents three practical methods to overcome this fear: the high concept approach, character-driven storytelling, and the final image technique. Each method offers a unique way to spark creativity and develop compelling narratives. Epps emphasizes the importance of understanding character desires and the emotional core of a story, ultimately guiding writers to find their unique voice and direction in filmmaking. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| My Top 10 Films of 2025 | 01 Jan 2026 | 00:19:45 | |
In this comprehensive review of the year in film, Tray Epps explores the trends, triumphs, and disappointments of 2025. He presents a definitive list of the top 10 films that are expected to resonate for years to come, while also addressing notable disappointments in filmmaking. The conversation emphasizes the importance of storytelling, the emotional depth of cinema, and the evolving landscape of the film industry. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Exploring 2026's Most Anticipated Films | 01 Jan 2026 | 00:17:55 | |
In this episode of East of Everywhere, Tray Epps explores the concept of filial piety in traditional East Asian society, contrasting it with Western individualism. The discussion delves into the philosophy of Confucianism, the importance of family harmony, and the evolving nature of filial duties in modern times. Tray reflects on the cultural tensions between personal freedom and familial obligations, inviting listeners to share their own experiences. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Food's Role in Emotional Storytelling | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:07:20 | |
In this episode of Required Watching, I dive into the fascinating role of food in cinema, focusing on films like 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' and 'Chef.' I explore how food serves as a metaphor for emotions, relationships, and character development, highlighting its universal appeal and emotional depth. Join me as I examine scenes where food acts as a stand-in for unspoken words, showcasing its power in storytelling. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| American Fiction | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:09:48 | |
In this conversation, Tray Epps discusses the film 'American Fiction,' a satirical exploration of race, identity, and the media's portrayal of Black narratives. He highlights the film's critique of the publishing industry's obsession with stereotypical stories and the pressures faced by Black creatives. Epps shares personal reflections on authenticity in storytelling and the complexities of representation in film, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to American Fiction 02:39 Satire and Stereotypes in Black Narratives 05:00 Personal Reflections on Authenticity and Experience 07:52 The Impact of Representation in Film Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Problem with Apu – Representation, Stereotypes & Filmmaker Responsibility | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:11:07 | |
Today on Required Watching, Tray breaks down the impact and legacy of the documentary The Problem with Apu, a film that forced Hollywood to confront its long-ignored issues around representation and stereotyping — especially for South Asian communities. This episode explores what the documentary got right, why it sparked such a seismic conversation, and what every filmmaker should learn from its fallout.
Filmmaking Insights
Subscribe to Required Watching and leave a 5-star review (podcast) or comment (YouTube) telling us your favourite film. Each entry counts toward the monthly giveaway. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kill – Violence as Storytelling & Fight Choreography Bible | 25 May 2025 | 00:04:06 | |
Tray Epps dissects Kill—the train-bound action film that weaponizes violence as narrative. We explore how evolving fight choreography, crushing foley work, and immersive camerawork turn every bruise and heartbeat into story. Drawing connections to The Raid, Oldboy, and RRR, this episode shows filmmakers how to harness rhythm, emotion, and consequence in genre cinema. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts—and pick up full show notes and bonus resources at requiredwatching.com. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bottoms – Queer Chaos & Fight-Scene Storytelling | 24 May 2025 | 00:05:08 | |
Tray Epps dissects Bottoms, Emma Seligman’s razor-sharp, bloodiest teen satire. We unpack how heightened absurdity, messy queer protagonists, and raw fight choreography carry emotional weight without a single set-piece feeling gratuitous. Learn how this film walks the tightrope between meta-comedy and genuine stakes, and why it’s a must-study for any filmmaker pushing genre boundaries. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts. Full show notes and resources at requiredwatching.com. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The King of Comedy – Parasocial Horror & Fame Satire | 23 May 2025 | 00:08:01 | |
Tray Epps explores Martin Scorsese’s cult classic The King of Comedy—the original parasocial horror story. We discuss Rupert Pupkin’s delusional quest for fame, Jerry Lewis’s poignant straight-man role, and how this film foresaw our current influencer culture. Episode Highlights: – Scorsese’s use of silence and dread to build tension – Robert De Niro’s portrayal of ambition vs. delusion – Satire on celebrity obsession long before social media – Takeaways for storytellers on character, tone, and satire Whether you’re editing your next short or mapping out your feature, this breakdown offers cinematic insights you won’t want to miss. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and visit requiredwatching.com for full show notes, timestamps, and exclusive filmmaker resources. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Rush Hour: Buddy Cop Dynamics and Cultural Exchange | 02 May 2025 | 00:04:09 | |
This episode explores why 'Rush Hour' endures as a beloved film 25 years after its release, dissecting the dynamic partnership between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The video delves into how the film combines action and comedy, the smart pacing, and its respectful handling of cultural differences. It discusses the director's role in creating a movie with perfect balance, the chemistry between the stars, and the film's lasting impact on the buddy cop genre. Concluding with a call for viewers to rewatch the film with a critical eye, the episode emphasizes 'Rush Hour' as essential viewing for understanding action comedies. 00:00 Introduction: Is Rush Hour a Buddy Cop Classic? 00:18 The Dynamic Duo: Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker 00:56 Balancing Act: Action and Comedy 01:33 Smart Pacing and Editing 01:56 Cultural Exploration and Respect 02:34 Director's Touch and Film Structure 03:01 Legacy and Impact 03:26 Conclusion: Why Rush Hour is Required Watching Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Robert Downey Jr. Returns to the MCU — But At What Cost? | 19 Apr 2025 | 00:09:53 | |
This isn’t about Iron Man. It’s about what happens when the biggest film franchise in the world chooses nostalgia over risk, legacy over originality, and comfort over challenge. In this raw and personal episode, Tray Epps breaks down what RDJ’s return to the MCU really signals:
We also touch on:
This isn’t a hot take. It’s a call for accountability, nuance, and better storytelling — on screen and off. 🎤 New episodes coming soon with filmmaker Kate Driver and more. 🎥 Subscribe and stay tuned for deeper dives into film, culture, and the future of media. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Are we watching the MCU reset or collapse? Should we separate the art from the artist — or hold studios to a higher standard? Let’s talk: @RequiredWatching on socials or drop a YouTube comment. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ek Tha Tiger: Bollywood’s Bold Blueprint for Spy Cinema | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:06:26 | |
What happens when you take a classic spy thriller and remix it with Bollywood flair? In this episode, Tray Epps explores how Ek Tha Tiger redefines espionage cinema through a uniquely Indian lens. From high-octane action and political undertones to an emotionally layered romance, Ek Tha Tiger is more than just a blockbuster—it’s the foundation of the YRF Spy Universe. We unpack:
Required or not? Absolutely. This is a case study in adaptation, scale, and storytelling beyond Hollywood’s shadow. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Have you joined the YRF Spy University yet? Is Ek Tha Tiger a guilty pleasure or a cultural milestone? Let us know on YouTube or @RequiredWatching on socials. Subscribe to Required Watching wherever you get your podcasts. Let’s watch better, together. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Speed (1994): The Blueprint for Modern Action Thrillers | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:06:36 | |
Speed has one of the cleanest high-concept premises in movie history: A bomb on a bus that can’t drop below 50 MPH. And somehow, that one idea gave us 116 minutes of nonstop tension, character chemistry, and genre-defining moments. In this episode, Tray Epps breaks down why Speed is more than a 90s action movie — it’s required watching for anyone learning to write or direct films. We talk about:
Filmmaker Takeaways:
Related Episodes:
QUESTION: What’s your favorite Speed moment — and what did it teach you about storytelling? Subscribe to Required Watching for weekly cinematic deep dives with lessons filmmakers can actually use. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Pather Panchali: The Greatest Debut in Film History? | 16 Apr 2025 | 00:06:53 | |
No budget. No experience. No film school. Just vision. In this episode, Tray Epps explores Pather Panchali, Satyajit Ray’s quiet epic that became a landmark of world cinema. We unpack:
This isn’t just a film. It’s a lesson in how to move people with less. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Does Pather Panchali still hold up? Have you seen it recently—or is it still on your list? Tell us on YouTube or @RequiredWatching. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly deep dives into global films and essential cinematic lessons. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Godzilla Minus One: Grief, Guilt & The Most Human Kaiju Ever | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:06:08 | |
What if Godzilla wasn’t just a monster—but a metaphor? In this episode of Required Watching, Tray Epps breaks down Godzilla Minus One and its black-and-white Minus Color version to explore why this movie hits harder than most modern monster films. This isn’t your dad’s Godzilla. We talk about:
This is more than spectacle. This is what monster movies should strive to be. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Did you see the color version or Minus Color? Let us know what you thought in the comments or @RequiredWatching on social media. Subscribe for more global film deep dives. Let’s watch better. Let’s make better films. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Michael Jackson: The King of Pop & Visionary Filmmaker | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:09:29 | |
Beyond music, Michael Jackson crafted groundbreaking short films. We dive into his cinematic influence, his storytelling techniques, and how his work reshaped music videos into an art form. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Shaun of the Dead: Perfecting the Zombie Comedy | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:16:07 | |
Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Renfield: The Untold Sidekick Story and Redefining the Vampire Myth | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:09:06 | |
Renfield offers a fresh, humorous take on the Dracula mythos. Discover how this film reinvents classic horror archetypes through dark comedy and memorable performances, and what that means for horror-comedy. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bulbbul: Bollywood’s Dark Ghost Story | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:07:48 | |
With its haunting visuals and feminist themes, Bulbbul stands out in Indian cinema. We explore its mythical storytelling and powerful themes, analyzing what makes it a modern horror masterpiece. Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller. ▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: ▶️ Website ▶️ Twitter/X ▶️ Instagram ▶️ Letterboxd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||