Explore every episode of the podcast Perf Damage
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alchemy In Technicolor: The Post-1950s | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:46:46 | |
In this episode Adam and Charlotte discuss the later years of Technicolor with their special guest, author Bob Hoffman. Bob wrote a book that focuses on the post-1950s era of Technicolor, after they had abandoned their film cameras and embraced film print manufacture. Bob's book Alchemy In Technicolor also examines Technicolor's forays into other countries and the downfall of physical prints. And of course, you cannot discuss Technicolor without discussing Natalie Kalmus, along with several other heroes of the company that aren't as well known. Contact Us At: | |||
| Popeye Intro - Friend of the Fest American Cinematheque | 02 Nov 2025 | 00:20:06 | |
Adam and Charlotte had a wonderful opportunity to introduce Charlotte's amazing new Restoration of Popeye (1980) at the American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest movie festival in August. Now in celebration of that restoration appearing on the Criterion Channel, we want to share it with you. Contact Us At: | |||
| VistaVision invades the TCM Film Festival - and It's Our Fault! | 06 Apr 2025 | 00:14:52 | |
We can finally share the news we've been teasing for months - Charlotte is heading to the TCM Film Festival to give a talk on The History of VistaVision alongside Craig Barron! In this special mini-episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this widescreen deep dive, the classic films she’ll be introducing, and how this whole crazy project came to life. From behind-the-scenes stories to the magic of VistaVision on the big screen, we’re giving you a sneak peek at what’s in store. See you at TCMFF (and yeah, this one’s totally our fault)! Contact Us At: | |||
| The Controversial Aspect Ratio of The Country Girl | 12 Feb 2025 | 00:34:30 | |
Building on our last episode about widescreen formats in the 1950s, we’re taking you inside a virtual restoration room for a hands-on look at how we determined the correct aspect ratio for The Country Girl (1954). You'll see clips of the film in multiple aspect ratios so you can decide for yourself—was it meant to be seen in 1.66:1 or 1.85:1? If you’ve ever wanted to be a film restorationist for a day, this is your chance to experience what the job is really like. Join us as we compare the film side by side, break down the visual and historical evidence, and reveal how the final decision was made—no lab coat required! Contact Us At: | |||
| Widescreen Chaos! Unveiling The Truth About Aspect Ratios with Special Guests! | 27 Jan 2025 | 00:58:46 | |
Join us for an eye-opening (and hilarious) deep dive into the wild world of Hollywood aspect ratios! We’re thrilled to welcome Bob Furmanek and Jack Theakston from the 3D Film Archive, who share their extensive research and experience restoring classic films and solving aspect ratio mysteries. Contact Us At: | |||
| The Lydeckers: Pioneers of Practical Effects | 30 Nov 2024 | 00:46:10 | |
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of Republic Pictures and the two brothers who turned a B-studio into an A-list innovator: Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Known as the masters of miniature effects, the Lydecker brothers created jaw-dropping special effects that set Republic Pictures apart in the 1930s through the 1950s. Their groundbreaking work inspired generations of filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Contact Us At: | |||
| White Christmas: The Real Story Behind the New Restoration | 09 Nov 2024 | 00:35:14 | |
Perf Damage returns to White Christmas for a third time, but in this episode, we're diving deep into the dazzling 2024 restoration that breathes new life into this holiday classic. Join us as we unpack the unique challenges of restoring a VistaVision film, from tackling flickering and stabilizing stock shots to managing color breathing and other quirks of the original negative. We’ll reveal how crucial detailed notes from past transfers were in shaping this restoration, helping to capture every frame’s brilliance. And because this ambitious project involved so many skilled hands, we’re giving special shoutouts to everyone who played a part in making this restoration a reality. Contact Us At: | |||
| To Catch a Thief: The Real Story Behind the New Restoration | 15 Oct 2024 | 00:52:44 | |
In this episode of Perf Damage, Adam and Charlotte take a deep dive into the 2024 Film Restoration of Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief, overseen by Charlotte herself! They discuss the painstaking process of sourcing materials for the restoration, the unique challenges presented by the VistaVision format, and how modern technology was used to address issues with the original film elements. Along the way, they share some fascinating lesser-known trivia about the production and discuss why VistaVision played a crucial role in capturing the film's stunning visuals. If you're a classic cinema and film restoration fan, this episode is not to be missed! Contact Us At: | |||
| Film Restoration Explained - Teaser! | 28 Sep 2024 | 00:02:52 | |
In this exclusive interview, Charlotte talks to Heath Holland from Cereal at Midnight, about her job as the Director of Film Preservation and Restoration at Paramount Pictures. She takes us behind the scenes of the fascinating world of film restoration. Check out this sneak peek and head over to @CerealAtMidnight to see the full interview! Contact Us At: | |||
| Natalie Kalmus: The Woman Who Nearly Ruined Technicolor | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:42:26 | |
This is the audio from our recent YouTube version of "TECHNICOLOR PART II: THE DRAMA." This version is slightly different than the original audio-only version. Contact Us At: | |||
| Cinecon: The Longest Running Classic Film Festival You've Never Heard Of! - EXTENDED EDITION | 19 Aug 2024 | 00:40:32 | |
In this episode of Perf Damage, we dive into the world of classic cinema with Bryan Cooper, co-producer of the Cinecon Film Festival—an unmissable hidden gem for film buffs and a must-have on your festival bucket list! Bryan, a staple of Cinecon for years, reveals his behind-the-scenes secrets and discusses the meticulous selection process for the festival’s lineup which includes the world premiere of many rare, recently restored classics from Paramount. Hear how he collaborates with Charlotte to bring you films that are virtually unseen anywhere else. With its star-studded atmosphere and unpretentious charm, Cinecon—held every Labor Day weekend—is a mecca for classic film aficionados. From previously lost Clara Bow films like "The Pill Pounder" with a live score to Roy Rogers gems like "Song of Arizona" Cinecon has something for everyone. Contact Us At: | |||
| Crafting Stars: The Westmore Makeup Dynasty - Part Two | 23 Jul 2024 | 00:28:29 | |
In Part Two of our examination of the Westmore family, the founders of makeup in the movies. Contact Us At: | |||
| VistaVision Expert: The Best Way to Watch One Battle After Another | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:17:29 | |
VistaVision is back—and you won’t believe how epic it looks on the big screen! In this episode of Perf Damage, we break down every way you can watch Paul Thomas Anderson's new film One Battle After Another: the ultra-rare 8-perf horizontal VistaVision screenings (only four theaters in the world!), massive 70mm, towering IMAX 15-perf film, and DCP. Charlotte—recently quoted as the VistaVision expert—explains why this is a historic film event that hasn’t happened since Strategic Air Command in 1955, and what makes VistaVision different from every other format. Adam shares his favorite line from the movie, we compare formats head-to-head, and we give you the inside scoop on the best way to see this must-watch release. Contact Us At: | |||
| Crafting Stars: The Westmore Makeup Dynasty - Part One | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:22:31 | |
Join us as we delve into the captivating saga of the Westmore family, the unsung heroes who revolutionized Hollywood's makeup industry. In 1917, George Westmore blazed a trail by establishing the very first makeup department in Tinseltown, forever altering the landscape of cinema. Contact Us At: | |||
| Who is Kroger Babb and What is His Connection to John Waters?! - Part 2 | 25 Feb 2024 | 00:47:39 | |
In Part 2 of this episode, we continue our exploration of the question “Who is Kroger Babb and what is his connection to John Waters?” Contact Us At: | |||
| Who is Kroger Babb ...and what is his connection to John Waters? Part One | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:26:22 | |
In part one of this two-part episode, we explore the question “Who is Kroger Babb and what is his connection to John Waters?” Contact Us At: | |||
| Top Films of 2023 | 27 Jan 2024 | 00:38:46 | |
In this episode, we dive into all the cinematic gems of 2023! Join us as we passionately discuss our favorite films, agree on some, and less so on others. Grab your popcorn and wine, and join the conversation on the best films of the year! Contact Us At: | |||
| Dreaming in VistaVision: The Making of White Christmas | 22 Dec 2023 | 01:15:22 | |
In this special episode, we take a nostalgic journey into the enchanting world of the timeless classic, "White Christmas." Join us as we uncover the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped this beloved film and explore the captivating history of VistaVision, the innovative cinematic technology that brought this holiday gem to life. Contact Us At: | |||
| Top 5 Horror Musicals | Episode 35 | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:24:00 | |
On their way to a Halloween karaoke party, Adam and Charlotte stop by to discuss their top 5 Horror Musicals. The pair highlights the swinging 60s classic Mad Monster Party, the glee-inspired zombie musical Anna and the Apocalypse and the underseen Japanese horror comedy Happiness of the Katakuris. They couldn't agree on the number two position, so they split it between Rocky Horror Picture Show and its sequel Shock Treatment. Of course, the number one position goes to one of their all-time favorites, Phantom of the Paradise. Come sing along and drink some wine... No costume required! Contact Us At: | |||
| Killer Robots Double Feature | Episode 34 | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:33:08 | |
In this episode of Perf Damage, Adam and Charlotte each spotlight a Killer Robot Double Feature. They go head-to-head, Adam highlighting trash favorites like Chopping Mall and Hardware, while Charlotte pivots, highlighting underseen classics like Death Machine and Space Truckers. They discuss the differences between a cyborg and a robot, and Charlotte throws in a bonus double feature, recommending the 1950s classics Tobor the Great and Robot Monster. Contact Us At: | |||
| HBO : A Cautionary Tale for Netflix | Episode 33 | 02 Oct 2023 | 01:00:41 | |
Welcome to Perf Damage, a movie podcast hosted by a husband and wife team who work in the film industry . Adam works in production and Charlotte works in film restoration, and together they uncover and discuss stories both new and old about Hollywood. Join them as they dissect HBO's journey, share insights, and ponder the future of this iconic network in the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment. Contact Us At: | |||
| The Paramount Decrees Are Gone! What's Next for Movies? | Episode 32 | 16 Sep 2023 | 00:58:39 | |
Hollywood has undergone a seismic shift with the 2020 rescinding of the long-standing Paramount Decrees. The film industry, which has been shaped by these historic antitrust measures for decades, now finds itself in uncharted territory. Contact Us At: | |||
| José Ferrer : Turmoil and Triumph | Episode 31 | 28 Aug 2023 | 01:03:19 | |
Adam and Charlotte detail the Communist controversy in Hollywood around José Ferrer's historic Oscar win for Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) at the 1951 Academy Awards. They also examine the mystery of his missing Oscar, the Carl Foreman High Noon (1952) communism debacle and discuss the Ferrer lost-gem Anything Can Happen (1952). Contact Us At: | |||
| Sunset Boulevard: The Real Story Behind the New Restoration | 04 Sep 2025 | 00:48:47 | |
Step into the world of faded glory and timeless brilliance as Charlotte and Adam dive into the restoration of Billy Wilder’s masterpiece, Sunset Blvd. (1950). Charlotte takes you behind the scenes of the meticulous restoration process—sharing the challenges with picture and audio, and triumphs of bringing this classic back to life—while Adam peels back the curtain on the original production, with tales of Wilder, Swanson, Holden, and the making of one of Hollywood’s sharpest portraits of itself. Contact Us At: | |||
| Five Branded Women and the Hollywood Blacklist Pt. 2 | Episode 30 | 18 May 2023 | 00:53:07 | |
Adam and Charlotte wrap up Five Branded Women, discuss the careers of Paul Jarrico and Michael Wilson and offer up a couple of great double feature ideas. They discuss the first film by Hollywood to tackle the blacklist head-on, The Front. They also bring up a modern masterpiece about the subject, Guilty By Suspicion. Contact Us At: | |||
| Five Branded Women and the Hollywood Blacklist : Part 1 | Episode 29 | 10 May 2023 | 00:58:26 | |
Charlotte is back! In this episode Charlotte and Adam look into the film Five Branded Women and discuss blacklisted writers Paul Jarrico and Michael Wilson along with the film's blacklisted director Martin Ritt. They give some background on the HUAC hearings, the significance of the Hollywood Ten and even explore the only blacklisted film Salt of the Earth. Contact Us At: | |||
| Adam Takeover: Action Movies | Episode 28 | 03 May 2023 | 00:55:09 | |
Charlotte is still out this week, so Adam invites his longtime friend and Screenwriter Shawn Knox to co-host a discussion about Action movies. Shawn chooses a long-lost gem with a stellar cast Let's Get Harry. While Adam chooses a lesser known Chuck Norris film, Silent Rage, that mixes action and horror. They talk about sifting through films to find gems and how action is such an expansive genre that it encompasses multiple sub-genres. Contact Us At: | |||
| Adam Takeover : Super Mario Brothers | Episode 27 | 27 Apr 2023 | 01:00:10 | |
Charlotte is out of town this week, so Adam invites his colleague David to co-host. David is an animator and video game enthusiast, so they tackle both movie adaptations of Super Mario Brothers. They discuss the weird delights and groans of the 1993 live-action version and compare it with everything that they got right in the new animated version from 2023. Contact Us At: | |||
| Death Becomes Her | Episode 26 | 19 Apr 2023 | 00:42:31 | |
Adam and Charlotte are joined by a very special guest this week, Charlotte's childhood friend Crissy. They discuss a film that left a lasting impression on both of them, the Robert Zemeckis 1992 classic, Death Becomes Her. The team gets into some of the intricacies of sound restoration, what films they didn't like as kids and even discuss Crissy's early obsession with The New Kids on the Block. Contact Us At: | |||
| Cursed Films: The Conqueror | Episode 25 | 12 Apr 2023 | 01:02:20 | |
In this episode, Adam and Charlotte tackle The Conqueror, a film said to be cursed from its very conception. The story of the Conqueror is wrapped up in the story of Howard Hughes, RKO and the United States testing of the atomic bomb. Widely considered one of the worst films ever produced, bad casting, endless reshoots and possibly causing deadly cancer, the Conqueror has left a legacy of what not to do while making a studio film. Contact Us At: | |||
| Powell -vs- Powell | Episode 24 | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:56:45 | |
This week Adam and Charlotte go head to head, discussing actors William Powell and Dick Powell. The pair debate which Powell reigns supreme, highlight their careers, love lives, awards and so much more. Which Powell will win in the first ever Perf Damage showdown? Tune in and find out! Contact Us At: | |||
| Music Documentaries | Episode 23 | 21 Mar 2023 | 01:14:21 | |
Adam and Charlotte welcome Jeff McCarty back to discuss a topic near to all of their hearts, music documentaries. They ponder the relevance of outsider art in Daniel Johnston, keeping artistic integrity with Sugar Man and the open discourse on Alzheimer’s in Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me. Jeff laments his never realized music doc and regales us with run-ins that he had with the band Brian Jonestown Massacre. Contact Us At: | |||
| Technicolor Part Two : The Drama | Episode 22 | 14 Mar 2023 | 01:14:41 | |
In this episode, Adam and Charlotte dive into the drama behind the booming innovation of Technicolor. They examine the rise and fall of Natalie Kalmus, the face of the business. Herbert Kalmus built her into the most powerful female executive in Hollywood, but she would ultimately be undone by her public squabbles over money. This is a story of divorce, public infatuation, ego out of control, exile, lawsuits and theatrics all in pursuit of the art of color film. Contact Us At: | |||
| King of Western Themes: Frankie Laine | Perf Mini 3 | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:21:35 | |
Adam and Charlotte examine the career of the King of Western theme songs, Frankie Laine. They discuss his family ties to the mafia, his appearances in films and his wonderful commercial jingle for Campbells soup. Contact Us At: | |||
| Inside the Archive: How Lost Director's Cuts Like Jade and Star Trek: The Motion Picture Are Found! | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:41:35 | |
Ever wondered how lost director’s cuts are uncovered in a studio archive? Or how deleted scenes and forgotten footage resurface decades later? In this episode, we go deep with film librarian Jeffrey Osmer from the Paramount Archives, the behind-the-scenes legend who helps bring hidden film history back to life. Contact Us At: | |||
| Technicolor Part 1: The History | Episode 21 | 28 Feb 2023 | 01:09:40 | |
Adam and Charlotte tackle the history of Technicolor. They discuss watershed moments in technology and the films that propelled color forward. They name their favorite Technicolor films and even invent a theme song for Gone With the Wind. Contact Us At: | |||
| Film Composer Harry Nilsson | Episode 20 | 21 Feb 2023 | 01:12:29 | |
In this episode, Adam and Charlotte sing along to the soundtracks of some of their favorite musicals composed by the great Harry Nilsson. They discuss the fine and not so fine points of his films, how he crushes a cover song, and the possibilities of why he isn't more revered. Join us as Perf does Nilsson! Contact Us At: | |||
| Spotlight On: Burt Lancaster | Episode 19 | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:58:49 | |
This week Adam and Charlotte discuss one of their favorite actors, Burt Lancaster. Adam goes from jealous to joyous and even breaks out into a few songs while Charlotte goes giddy talking about her screen crush. Contact Us At: | |||
| Season 2 Premiere: Letterboxd Redux | Episode 18 | 07 Feb 2023 | 00:53:30 | |
Adam and Charlotte are back! This week there are no tears... but there absolutely might be some singing. They drill down into last year's Letterboxd stats and discuss some of their favorite discoveries of 2022. Contact Us At: | |||
| Sundance Film Festival 2023 Wrap-Up | Perf Mini 2 | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:26:58 | |
To start off Season Two, this week Adam and Charlotte share their top picks from this years online edition of the Sundance Film Festival. They also tease what is coming for the new season. Contact Us At: | |||
| The Big Finale: Our Top 10 Films of 2022 | Episode 17 | 14 Dec 2022 | 01:02:32 | |
In this exciting episode, Adam and Charlotte list-off their Top 10 movies of 2022. There are lots of surprises, including a lot of films that you won't see on other Top 10 lists. They lament the fact that all of their favorites couldn't make the list. Adam breaks down while talking about one of the top three and cries like a little baby. And they are constantly harassed by their dogs Ripley and Asta. Contact Us At: | |||
| Film Composer Wendy Carlos | Episode 16 | 06 Dec 2022 | 00:45:51 | |
This week Adam and Charlotte jump way outside of the box to examine the exceptional life of film composer Wendy Carlos. They dive deep into her contributions to electronic music at large, through her development of the the synthesizer and vocoder with Robert Moog to her invention of ambient music and her obsession with alternative tunings. Wendy's avid Eclipse chasing sparks a conversation about Adam and Charlotte's own experience with a total solar eclipse. Contact Us At: | |||
| Our Thanksgiving Double-Feature Tradition | Episode 15 | 29 Nov 2022 | 00:53:16 | |
This week, Adam and Charlotte discuss their unusual annual Thanksgiving tradition of watching two action sci-fi films from 1987 back to back : Robocop and Predator. They discuss the origin of the tradition, why these two films work so perfectly together and deep dive on the making-of of both films. People are fired, leeches are removed, people get married and the Robocop Musical is a revelation. You read that right, Robocop the Musical is a real thing! Tune-in to find out more. Contact Us At: | |||
| Micro-Budget Films (under $100k) | Episode 14 | 15 Nov 2022 | 01:26:25 | |
In this episode, Adam and Charlotte are joined by fellow preservationist Jeff McCarty for a lively discussion of the scrappy world of Micro-Budget filmmaking. They get into the finer points of the punk movement and even dive into the messy world of Splatter films. Adam sings the Female Trouble theme song and Adam and Charlotte have several jinx moments about films they love. Contact Us At: | |||
| William Castle Part 2: The Later Years (1959-1977) | Episode 13 | 08 Nov 2022 | 01:17:00 | |
Charlotte and Adam dive deep into the gimmick years of William Castle. They explore his biggest triumph, and most people have no clue that he was even involved. They even take a quick peek at his final film as director, the uniquely bizarre Shanks. Adam even has a few fun stories about his final film as producer, Bug. Contact Us At: | |||
| We Took VistaVision to Italy! And Introduced Restorations at an Italian Film Festival | 20 Jul 2025 | 00:28:23 | |
We just got back from Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, and it wasn’t just a vacation—it was a full-blown film restoration adventure. In this episode, we’re sharing what it’s like to not only attend one of the most beloved film festivals in the world, but to be part of it! Contact Us At: | |||
| William Castle Part 1: The Early Years (1914-1958) | Episode 12 | 01 Nov 2022 | 01:04:16 | |
In this exciting episode of Perf Damage, Adam and Charlotte examine the remarkable life of director William Castle. This episode focuses on his early life and career in the theater and as an executive at Columbia, before he became the independent king of gimmick films. Contact Us At: | |||
| Vampires: Another Spooky Edition | Episode 11 | 25 Oct 2022 | 00:58:57 | |
In this Halloween episode, Adam and Charlotte explore the exciting and varied world of vampire movies. They discuss why vampires are popular, the problems behind the scenes of several of the films (including a murder), and The Count himself, even makes an appearance. Contact Us At: | |||
| Werewolves: An Episode With Teeth | Episode 10 | 12 Oct 2022 | 00:52:53 | |
On this week's episode Adam and Charlotte embrace the darkness of Halloween by sharing a few of their favorite Werewolf films. Adam recounts his personal experience on the set of one film, Charlotte brings up a chance encounter with a star at the grocery store, and the pups, Asta and Ripley, get to weigh in on their favorite. Contact Us At: | |||
| Films in 3-D: Part 2 (1981-2022) | Episode 9 | 04 Oct 2022 | 00:52:11 | |
Adam & Charlotte keep their polarized glasses on and share more tales from the third dimension. Adam spills the beans about why studios went crazy for 3-D in the 2000s, and Charlotte talks about a 3-D film she worked on. If you're looking to micro-dive into the world of 3-D films, you've come to the right spot. Contact Us At: | |||