Explore every episode of the podcast Saints and Cinema
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 89 - WAKE UP DEAD MAN with Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti | 12 Feb 2026 | 00:58:07 | |
Tim and Jay talk to Ryan Tinetti, professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, about the newest Knives Out mystery, Wake Up Dead Man. Religion in movies, Christianity, pastors, and culture war in the church and in the world. Check it out! Also, Ryan has a new book out (which we should have mentioned!), Quiet Ambition, which you can find here. Some of the films we mention in this episode: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Silence, Godfather Part III, Calvary, Stars in My Crown Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 88 - Christmas with THE CHOSEN | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:34:34 | |
Tim and Jay watch Christmas with The Chosen - Holy Night and continue the discussion from episode 85 on what works well and what doesn't work as well, along with what comes from the Gospels and what does not. Choices were made. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 79 - What the Oscars Got Right and What They Got Wrong | 10 Mar 2025 | 01:06:53 | |
Jay and Tim talk about what the Academy Awards got right and what they got wrong. We talk about Hollywood, agendas, propaganda, and Oscar surprises. Some of the movies we mention in this episode are: Oscar nominees. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 78 - What We Loved and Didn't in 2024 | 05 Feb 2025 | 01:44:46 | |
Jay and Tim get into the films they saw from 2024, their favorites, and their less-than-favorites. Some of the films we mention in this episode: The Brutalist, Gladiator II, Challengers, The Substance, Joker: Folie á Deux, Civil War, Trap, Hard Truths, Smile 2, Heretic, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Hundreds of Beavers, Monkey Man, Dune II, Long Legs, Didi, A Different Man, Nosferatu, The Wild Robot, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 77 - LONG DECEMBER with Writer/Director/Producer Thomas Torrey | 09 Dec 2024 | 01:08:39 | |
Jay and Tim reconnect with Thomas Torrey about his film Long December, new to streaming. We talk about the creative process, music and film, marathon running (well, Jay and Thomas), and how new projects come together when things fall apart. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 76 - HERETIC, Religion, and True Believers | 26 Nov 2024 | 01:07:38 | |
Tim and Jay talk about the new movie Heretic, true belief, and playing games with choice and control. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 75! Newport Beach Film Festival 25th Anniversary Preview with Travis Garcia | 04 Oct 2024 | 01:06:56 | |
Jay and Tim talk with Travis Garcia, the co-director of the features programming team for the Newport Beach Film Festival, two weeks out from its 25th anniversary. We hit some of the films we've already seen, as well as some we're looking forward to. Come and join us, October 17-24! Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 74 - Party Like It's 1999, Major Director Edition: BRINGING OUT THE DEAD and THE INSIDER | 27 Sep 2024 | 01:13:24 | |
Jay and Tim talk about vocation, doing the right thing, how do you know what the right thing is, ambulances, and cigarettes...plus far too many outtakes Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 73 - Party Like It's 1999, Documentary Edition: ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER and AMERICAN MOVIE | 20 Aug 2024 | 01:18:34 | |
Tim gets echoey in his new house as he and Jay talk documentaries, history rhyming, and the life you make when you're trying to make something else. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 72 - Party Like It's 1999, Foreign Language Edition: BEAU TRAVAIL and RUN, LOLA, RUN | 15 Jul 2024 | 01:07:44 | |
In this episode, Tim and Jay talk about two seemingly opposite films, the primarily French-language Beau Travail and the German-language Run, Lola, Run. But maybe the themes and questions aren't as far apart as we initially thought! Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 71 - Party Like It's 1999: BEING JOHN MALKOVICH with Collin Insley | 18 Jun 2024 | 01:17:49 | |
In this episode, we get existential, philosophical, and humanistic with Boise-based filmmaker (and NBFF alum) Collin Insley. We work through the implications of Being John Malkovich and Charlie Kaufman's filmography for fame, identity, and what it means to be human. Also puppetry. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 70! - Party Like It's 1999, Horror Edition: THE SIXTH SENSE and THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT | 15 May 2024 | 01:11:18 | |
Tim and Jay talk about two of the highest grossing movies of 1999: M. Night Shyamalan's first major hit, The Sixth Sense, and the beginning of the found-footage explosion, The Blair Witch Project. How do they play 25 years later? What do they tell us about our fears and traumas? What makes a genre film work, or not? Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 87 - FRANKENSTEIN with Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer | 22 Nov 2025 | 01:02:08 | |
Tim and Jay talk about Frankenstein, being human, technology, death and life with professor, pastor, and bioethicist, Scott Stiegemeyer, as well as a few horror films from Newport Beach Film Festival. Scott teaches at Concordia University in Irvine, California. Some of the films we mention in this episode: Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Loud, Pontypool, Men, The Bride! Our other episodes with Scott: Episode 33, on The Amusement Park. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 69 - Party Like It's 1999: THE MATRIX and FIGHT CLUB | 22 Apr 2024 | 01:09:55 | |
Tim and Jay talk about two defining movies of 1999: The Matrix and Fight Club. How do they hold up? Why do they hold up? Should Tim have kept his word to preach a sermon focused on The Matrix? Or was he just dumb (with sincere apologies to all college students who are not as dumb as he was)? Plus, some good feedback for our Magnolia episode. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 68 - Party Like It's 1999: MAGNOLIA with Pr. Mark Pierson | 01 Apr 2024 | 01:10:39 | |
Jay and Tim talk with Pr. Mark Pierson of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Long Beach, CA) about the first in our 25th anniversary series of films from 1999. We talk about where we were in 1999, and then get into free will, chance, fate, God, confession, forgiveness, salvation...and frogs. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 67 - Oscar Predictions and Expectations | 04 Mar 2024 | 01:06:53 | |
Obviously we haven't seen all of the Oscar-nominated films. Who do you think we are? But we have fun talking about the ones we have seen. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 66 - Our Favorite Films of 2023 | 12 Feb 2024 | 01:21:27 | |
First episode of 2024, we talk about our favorites of 2023. These might be our most divergent best-of lists so far. Is your favorite on our lists? Are our favorites on your list? Let us know! Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 65 - Serious or Frivolous? with Philip Marinello of The Substance Podcast | 24 Dec 2023 | 01:15:24 | |
In only our second-ever joint episode, we spend some time with Philip Marinello of The Substance discussing whether movies are serious or frivolous. Are they just entertainment or something more significant? How seriously should we take them? Then we each offer up our own frivolous and serious picks. Enjoy! Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 64 - Two Years in the Making with Phillip Yaw Domfeh | 19 Oct 2023 | 01:05:43 | |
On the last day of the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival, we finally catch up with Phillip Yaw Domfeh, NBFF alum, filmmaker, producer, and Senior Manager of Disney's Launchpad short film incubator. We talk about all sorts of things, from music, to his films, including Cary in Retrograde (which he made with his wife, Priya), to the films he's working on now for Disney's Lanchpad, to religion and what he's learned about faith. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 63 - NBFF 2023 Preview | 02 Oct 2023 | 01:10:44 | |
Jay and Tim preview their favorite week of the year, the Newport Beach Film Festival. We talk film festival programming, feature films, short films, what we've seen, and what we're looking forward to watching. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 62 - THE EQUALIZER 3 and Action Franchises | 11 Sep 2023 | 01:05:27 | |
In this episode Tim and Jay talk about The Equalizer 3 and what's going on with some of the symbolism and religious references in the movie. Then we talk about other action franchises, and what sets some apart from others. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 61 - OPPENHEIMER | 15 Aug 2023 | 01:06:44 | |
Jay and Tim talk about Christopher Nolan's latest, and where it fits among our favorite Nolan films. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 60! Fear Not! with Josh Larsen | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:59:55 | |
In our 60th episode, we talk with Josh Larsen of Think Christian and the Filmspotting podcast about his new book Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 86 - NBFF Preview with Olivia Blue and Decker Sadowski of THEATER IS DEAD | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:59:30 | |
Jay and Tim talk to the writers/producers/actors of Theater Is Dead, Decker Sadowski and Olivia Blue. Their film premiered at Fantastic Fest, and is coming to Newport Beach Film Festival in less than a month. We talk about the filmmaking process, how it works to write, produce, and act in a film, and Washington State. Then we look at a few of the films coming to NBFF October 16-23. Join us! Tickets to Theater Is Dead Some of the films we mention in this episode: Theater Is Dead, Tow, Sirât, The Pantone Guy, Never Get Busted, Bad Haircut, Omaha, American Clown, Still Life, The Floaters, The Mastermind, Frankenstein, The Ride, Something in the Night, The Littles, Magdalena, Te Amo, (music videos:) 909, Make It Until You Make It, Second Skin, and Shadow Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 59 - Selling or Telling? JESUS REVOLUTION and Cinematography with Ryan Spacone | 03 Jul 2023 | 01:43:50 | |
Jay and Tim talk to cinematographer (and fellow Lutheran) Ryan Spacone about Jesus Revolution, Christian movies, cinematography, and how Lutherans understand vocation with respect to film. What does a cinematographer do? How does Ryan choose the jobs on which he's going to work? What makes a film "Christian," and is Jesus Revolution that? What would make a good Christian film? We talked about all that and more. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 58 - Getting Weird With BEAU IS AFRAID | 05 Jun 2023 | 01:14:28 | |
We're not going to lie; the episode gets a little weird. But so is the movie. Tim and Jay talk Beau Is Afraid, the new neurotic nightmare from Ari Aster. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 57 - The (Pope's) Exorcist | 08 May 2023 | 01:09:10 | |
Tim and Jay talk about what they liked and didn't like about Russell Crowe's new movie, The Pope's Exorcist. How much is Fr. Amorth's story and how much is Hollywood invention? What is it about priests that they make regular appearances in horror movies? Why do exorcism movies continue to get made? Can anyone make an original exorcism movie after The Exorcist? Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 56 - THE WHALE and Christian Imagery | 10 Apr 2023 | 01:03:35 | |
Jay and Tim talk about all sorts of things stemming from The Whale. Does Aronofsky intend Charlie to be a Christ figure? What kind? Are people naturally good? What is religion good for? What does the ending signify? And more. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 55 - Oscar Predictions/Desires | 10 Mar 2023 | 00:49:19 | |
Bonus episode! Tim and Jay talk about the Academy Awards, the movies they would like to see win, and the movies they think will win. Then they mention a few movies that were robbed of nominations and awards. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 54 - Movies for Lent | 06 Mar 2023 | 01:10:35 | |
Jay and Tim forget to say who they are, and then talk about Lenten-themed movies. (With an outtake because Tim can never figure out how to end things.) Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 53 - 2022 Top 10 | 24 Jan 2023 | 01:21:37 | |
In the first episode of the year, Tim and Jay share their top 10 favorite movies of 2022 (as well as a few honorable mentions); Tim tries to prevent Jay from sharing his top 2 (just kidding); and we talk about a couple movies we're anticipating in 2023. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 52 - Revisiting our Top 100 Movies with Marco Montenegro | 27 Dec 2022 | 01:48:43 | |
In our final episode of 2022, we revisit our very first episode and our top-100 lists with friend and fellow NBFF programmer, Marco Montenegro. And what is the point of making lists, anyway? Then we talk about the once-a-decade Sight and Sound movie poll, and the top film, Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. Time for you to make your own list! Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 51 - Change and Forgiveness with Mokotsi Rukundo and Brian Lucke Anderson | 21 Nov 2022 | 01:32:38 | |
Jay and Tim talk with the writer/producer, Mokotsi Rukundo, and director, Brian Lucke Anderson, of the newly available (and Newport Beach Film Festival alum!) film East of Middle West about sons repeating the sins of the fathers, forgiveness, and the possibility of change. Tim wrote something about East of Middle West a year ago. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 50! - No More Promises! (NBFF Postview) | 31 Oct 2022 | 01:05:25 | |
Tim and Jay resolve to make no more promises about recording episodes at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Instead, here's a recap of what we saw and what we liked. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 85! Season 5 of THE CHOSEN | 09 Sep 2025 | 01:01:09 | |
Tim and Jay talk about what they like and don't like about Season 5 of The Chosen. Interpretation, the Bible, Jesus, religious art--and the band Whiteheart. (Stay to the end for a long outtake where Tim takes the episode completely off the rails.) We pretty much stick to The Chosen in this episode. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 49 - Preview of the 23rd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival | 16 Sep 2022 | 01:18:12 | |
Jay and Tim preview their favorite week of the year, the Newport Beach Film Festival. It's happening October 13-20 (less than a month away!) in beautiful Newport Beach, California. Jay says this is the best program in the history of the NBFF, so take a listen and find out what we're looking forward to watching. (There's even a movie that was filmed in Wenatchee, Washington!) Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 48 - JESUS OF MONTREAL | 05 Sep 2022 | 01:10:32 | |
In this episode of Tim Badly Pronouncing French, we look at the 1989 film Jesus of Montreal by Denys Arcand. We talk about efforts to update Jesus and make Him relevant to modern times--and how He refuses to be so. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 47 - The Winterstein Brothers (All of Them!) Talk Movies and Marriage | 02 Aug 2022 | 01:19:40 | |
All five Winterstein brothers are together in Olympia for the celebration of their parents' 50th wedding anniversary, so what else would we do but record an episode with all of us? (Excuse the microphone bumps, as we were sitting around a card table...) Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 46 - FATHER STU | 04 Jul 2022 | 01:07:18 | |
Tim and Jay talk about Father Stu, "Christian" movies, and where Mark Wahlberg's labor of love fits, both in the cinematic and theological landscapes. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 45 - Movies at Church, with Mark A. Pierson | 30 May 2022 | 01:09:35 | |
Jay and Tim talk with Pastor Mark A. Pierson about the men's movie night at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 44 - Resurrections in Film | 02 May 2022 | 01:22:42 | |
It's the third week of Easter, so Jay and Tim make a list of films where resurrection shows up: Ordet (1955), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Silent Light (2007), The Kid with a Bike (2011), and Happy as Lazzaro (2018). Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 43 - AFTER YANG, with Scott Stiegemeyer | 31 Mar 2022 | 01:11:42 | |
Tim and Jay talk with Rev. Dr. Scott Stiegemeyer, professor of theology and bioethics at Concordia University in Irvine, California, about the new movie After Yang. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 42 - Pre-Oscars, Blockbusters, and More Movies We Want to See This Year | 14 Mar 2022 | 01:12:20 | |
Tim and Jay mess around, talk about Academy Award nominations and possible winners, don't really put to rest the highbrow/lowbrow art debate, and mention a few more films they hope to see this year. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 41 - Best of 2021 | 31 Jan 2022 | 01:14:55 | |
Everyone has to have a best-of list. This is ours. Some honorable mentions, and then our top five films of 2021 (at least of those we've seen), and then a couple we're looking forward to in 2022. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 40! Curmudgeonly Christmas Cinema with Brian Bowes | 21 Dec 2021 | 01:05:23 | |
'Tis the season! Tim and Jay talk to Pastor Brian Bowes about his annual Christmas movie watch list and what makes a movie a "Christmas movie." Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 84 - Halfway Through 2025 | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:37:13 | |
Tim and Jay talk a little about what might end up on their best-of-2025 lists at the halfway point, and what they still want to see. What's on your list? Some of the films we mention in this episode: Life of Chuck, Nobody 2, Eddington, Together, No Other Choice, One Battle After Another, Caught Stealing, Black Phone 2, Materialists, Omaha, Werwulf (2026), Frankenstein, Sketch, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Weapons, Keeper, Bugonia, The Rivals of Amaziah King, Twinless, Honey Don't!, The Way of the Wind Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 39 - Ice Mrozek Explains Everything | 13 Dec 2021 | 01:16:30 | |
Jay and Tim get all the answers to all their questions about him & her from writer and director Ice Mrozek. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 38 - NBFF Wrap-up | 08 Nov 2021 | 01:04:10 | |
Tim's and Jay's good intentions go unrealized, they talk about their favorite films from the festival and what they still want to see, what it's like to be a film festival programmer. They also tell you why you should go to a film festival, and why it's like summer camp. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 37 - The Electric Jesus Joy Explosion with Chris White and John J. Thompson (NBFF 2021) | 18 Oct 2021 | 01:37:03 | |
Jay and Tim keep the Newport Beach Film Festival episodes rolling with the writer/director of Electric Jesus, Chris White, as well as Contemporary Christian Music historian and music advisor for the film, John J. Thompson. We talk about the film, the unique subculture of CCM, '80s Christian rock, the detailed reconstruction of the musical and period setting for the film, and a lot more. Listen to ELECTRIC JESUS (now!): https://lnk.to/ElectricJesus Official Website: www.ElectricJesusFilm.com Insta: www.Instagram.com/ejesusfilm FB: www.Facebook.com/ejesusfilm Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ejesusfilm YouTube (music videos and more!): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVRvi9RexlwqF9NyYTbB6XAGGqnE064K_ Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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| Episode 36 - him & her with Writer/Director Ice Mrozek (NBFF 2021) | 11 Oct 2021 | 01:10:45 | |
Jay and Tim talk about the film him & her with writer/director/actor Ice Mrozek. We get into a little of how [REDACTED] came about, and what it was like to [REDACTED]. We talk about the filmmaking process, the difference between an idea and the finished product, and look forward to the world premiere screening of him & her at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 24. Come find us: YouTube (starting with Episode 81)
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