It's a Feeling Seen feed drop! One of Maximum Fun's newest shows is one that Switchblade Sisters fans oughta know.

In this episode, host Jordan Crucchiola (a former Switchblade Sisters guest) talks with Bridget Everett, a comedian, singer, and the star of her own new HBO series, Somebody Somewhere. Her journey to the semi-autobiographical series had lots of twists and turns along the way.

Bridget shares how she sees herself in the title character of 1993's Rudy -- from being underestimated to being cheered on by heroes when she needed it most. BRIDGET! BRIDGET! BRIDGET!

***

Subscribe to Feeling Seen!

Follow Feeling Seen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

With Jordan Crucchiola and Bridget Everett

Well, we did it. It’s the final episode of Switchblade Sisters. Instead of doing a traditional show, April invited Katie Walsh, Drea Clark, and producer Casey O’Brien to discuss the making of Switchblade Sisters. We listen to messages from listeners and past guests and share our stories from the history of the podcast. We laugh, we cry, and Drea says “connective thread” at least 300 times. Thank you to everyone who listened and supported us. We will miss you. The episodes will stay up forever. So if you ever need any filmmaking advice, or maybe some assurance to follow your dreams, the show will always be there.

Keep up with April Wolfe on her Twitter. And give Drea Clark and Katie Walsh a follow, too.

Writer and director Tara Miele joins host Katie Walsh this week to discuss 1990’s massive hit, Ghost. Tara explains the connection between this film and her latest movie, Wander Darkly, and how both explore the space between life and death. She goes on to tell the story about the horrific car accident she and her husband were in that inspired her movie. Tara talks about the casting of Diego Luna and how she was influenced by his reaction to the Mexico City earthquake. She also elaborates on the importance of casting people of color in lead roles. And, at the end of the interview, Katie, Tara, and possibly the listener, gain an appreciation for the earnestness of Ghost and films of its ilk.

You can watch Wander Darkly on VOD now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Ghost – c’mon, you gotta.

With Katie Walsh and Tara Miele.

Julia Hart was a school teacher for eight years before she quit to make a go of screenwriting. Her debut screenplay, The Keeping Room, landed on the 2012 Black List and was made into a feature directed by Daniel Barber (Harry Brown) and starring Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld and Sam Worthington. Julia's directorial debut, Miss Stevens, is based on Julia’s experience as a teacher. It starred Lily Rabe, Timothee Chalamet, Lili Reinhart, and Rob Huebel.

In 2018, Julia’s second feature, Fast Color, debuted at SXSW. It tells the story of a family of women afflicted/blessed with a mysterious power and stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lorraine Toussaint, and David Straithairn. Most recently, Julia directed and co-wrote (with Jordan Horowitz) Star Girlfor Disney, starring Grace Vanderwall and based on the best-selling book by Jerry Spinelli.

Although Julia only recently saw One False Move, she was shocked at how thematically similar her film Fast Color compares to it. She and April discuss the use of violence in cinema, and how a filmmaker can make it have an emotional impact on the audience. Julia also reveals how she rewrites her scripts once the films have been cast in order to tailor the role to the actor. And she and April also adulate the performance and career of the late, great Bill Paxton.

You should check out Fast Color in theaters on April 19.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch One False Move.

With April Wolfe and Julia Hart.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Identical twins Sylvia and Jen Soska, known as The Soska Sisters, are an unstoppable force. You may know them best from their films Dead Hooker in a Trunk and American Mary. You may also know them as the hosts of the Blumhouse game show, 'Hellevator.' Or even as the writers for the most recent installment of the Black Widow comics. They are on the program this week for a very special Max Fun Drive episode talking about David Cronenberg's masterpiece, Dead Ringers. The sisters are avid Cronenberg devotees and, not to mention, this film centers around identical twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle. The pairing of guest and movie is truly a match made in heaven. The sisters also discuss what went into making their body modification horror, American Mary, and why agents and managers warn actors about working with them.

And in celebration of the Max Fun Drive, we have an additional segment this week. April talks to writer and filmmaker Michele Meek about her new book, Independent Female Filmmakers: A Chronicle Through Interviews, Profiles, and Manifestos. They discuss the travesty that not one film made by a woman is on the AFI Top 100 Films list. And how movies actually influence society's concept of consent.

This episode has a little bit of everything. And it's all in celebration of our annual Max Fun Drive. If you would like to support this show, please become a monthly member at:

maximumfun.org/donate

You should check out American Mary by The Soska Sisters.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Dead Ringers.

ALSO, go and buy Michele's book - Independent Female Filmmakers: A Chronicle Through Interviews, Profiles, and Manifestos

With April Wolfe, The Soska Sisters, and Michele Meek.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Debra was a Boston independent filmmaker before she picked up and left for NYU’s graduate film program. Her first short film there, “Snake Feed,” was accepted into the Sundance Labs, where she developed the concept into her first narrative feature, Down to the Bone, starring Vera Fermiga. From there, Debra and her creative partner Anne Rossellini developed a film based on Daniel Woodrell’s 2006 novel, Winter's Bone. The film was released in 2010 and tells the story of a girl who’s the sole caretaker of her family who must hunt down her missing father to avoid being kicked out of her house and losing everything. The girl was played by Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence was nominated for an Academy Award, as was Debra’s film and screenplay. In 2018, she directed Leave No Trace, a story about a father with PTSD trying to raise his teen daughter off the grid when some well-meaning people intervene and change the course of their lives. Starring Ben Foster and newcomer Thomasin Mckenzie Harcourt, Leave No Trace has been on multiple Top Ten lists, and won Debra the Best Director award at the 2019 LAFCA awards ceremony.

The film that Debra has chosen to discuss is Samuel Fuller's classic noir, Pickup on South Street. This is a personal favorite of Debra's and it becomes clear with how much appreciation and thought she has for the film. Debra discusses how she is able to create realistic dialogue for people who aren't from her "bougie, liberal" world. She talks about working with actress Dale Dickey, and why people love watching her on screen. Debra also elaborates on the use of guns in cinema, how we rely on them to tell stories, and how she is trying to "restore meaning to the woundable body."

You can watch Leave No Trace on Amazon Prime.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Pickup on South Street.

With April Wolfe and Debra Granik.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Katie Tibaldi is a writer, director and producer born and raised in Michigan. She also has the distinction of being childhood best friends with the host, April Wolfe! Between working on shows such as Broad City, Nurse Jackie and Damages, Katie's already worked on over 300 episodes of television. She’s currently producing the documentary feature Street Fighting Men, which will be distributed by First Run Features later this year. Her work on that made her a 2016 Sundance Institute Doc Fellow. She’s also Co-Producer on truTV's Emmy-Nominated comedy series, At Home With Amy Sedaris. She recently directed the independent half-hour comedy pilot, Ian Owes U, that had its world premiere at the New York Television Festival in July. She is also the writer, director and executive producer of Seeking Sublet, a comedy series with 9 full episodes debuting later this year. The series has been showcased by MovieMaker Magazine, Script Magazine, Tumblr and Funny or Die.

The movie that Katie has chosen to discuss this week is the vampire mockumentary, What We Do in the Shadows. Katie and April discuss the improvisational style of the film and how it contrasts with that of Amy Sedaris on her show, At Home With Amy Sedaris. They also dissect the anatomy of comedy; how jokes can age badly, what makes a physical joke work, and grounding comedy in reality. Plus, they discuss vampire movies in general, and how even though something's been made a million time, it can be made unique by simply adding a personal touch.

You can watch 'At Home with Amy Sedaris' on truTV in theaters now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch What We Do in the Shadows.

With April Wolfe and Katie Tibaldi.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Ondi is a Floridian, born in Miami, but she studied film, literature, and theater at Yale University. Her 2004 documentary Dig! made waves on the indie circuit, winning her the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Dig! followed two indie bands — The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols — on a journey that would bring art and commerce to collision points. She then directed Join Usbefore returning to Sundance with 2009’s documentary We Live in Public, about the work of Josh Harris, an “internet visionary” and dot-com entrepreneur who was one of the most prominent people to sacrifice his privacy and peace for a very public internet life. We Live in Public also took home the Grand Jury Prize, making her the sole director to do it twice. This year, though, she’s releasing her first narrative feature, Mapplethorpe, a look at the life of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe from his rise to fame in the 1970s to his untimely death in 1989.

The movie that Ondi chose to discuss this week is Alex Garland's Ex Machina. Based on her work with Josh Harris, Ondi has some fascinating things to say about the terrifying rise of A.I. and how we will inevitably be overtaken by machines. She elaborates on shooting her latest feature, Mapplethorpe, in just 19 days and how that frenetic energy seeped into the film - which is a good thing. Ondi reveals that for her, behind every creation there must be love. And lastly, she discusses the role of the director, as conductor, and the necessity of collaboration with the many departments on a film.

You can watch Mapplethorpe in theaters now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Ex Machina on Netflix.

With April Wolfe and Ondi Timoner.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Born in Singapore, Sandi began her career as a film critic at The Straits Times, Singapore’s largest newspaper. She then threw that all away to run off to film school at Columbia University. Sandi most recently wrote, directed, produced, and co-edited Shirkers (2018) which won the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award after its Sundance 2018 premiere. It was picked up as a Netflix Original Documentary and was on the shortlist for the 2019 Best Documentary Academy award. Shirkers reconstructs the story of an unfinished feature film Sandi made as a teenager using actual footage from the film combined with personal interrogations exploring how exactly the film came to be before it went missing.

The movie that Sandi chose to discuss this week is David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Although this film may not seem to have much to do with her own film, Shirkers, throughout the conversation she and April discover a great deal of overlap. Both movies are steeped in murder, reconciling the past, and mysterious disappearing male figures. Sandi details the incredible story of how she came to make the documentary. And she and April explore the intuitive filmmaking of David Lynch, and why he wanted to tell Laura Palmer's side of the story.

You can watch Shirkers on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Twin Peaks: Fire Walks with Me.

With April Wolfe and Sandi Tan.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Tchaiko graduated from Columbia University before going on to intern for Spike Lee and Mira Nair. While assisting directors George C. Wolfe and Tom Vaughan she directed several short-form projects, including America's Shadows: HIV Risk in Black & Latino Youth. In 2012, she wrote the script called Solace, which would eventually become her feature debut. At that time, it was a semi-finalist for the Sundance Writers Lab. In 2015, the project became a recipient of the Panavision New Filmmakers Program. Solace premiered at the LA Film Festival 2018, winning Special Jury Mention Best Ensemble Cast. Tchaiko was a 2017 School of Making Thinking resident fellow where she created the VR film Shapeshifters. In between her independent projects she produces and directs commercials and branded content.

The movie that Tchaiko has chosen to discuss this week is the wonderful, wacky, goblin-y, Labyrinth. April and Tchaiko touch upon the arousing gender fluidity of David Bowie's character "Jerith." Tchaiko talks about how she strives to make "imperfect" films. She also elaborates on being inspired by nature in the writing of her next fantasy film. Plus, there's a lot of puppet talk - from the construction to the puppeteering itself. If you love Labyrinth, you will love this discussion.

You can watch the trailer for Tchaiko's feature Solace here.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Labyrinth.

With April Wolfe and Tchaiko Omawale.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Kansas is a born-and-raised-in-Hollywood writer and director. She wrote her first feature when she was only 15, and then went on to direct it for release at 17. The film, titled, B.C. Butcher, is a “pre-historic slasher” starring Kato Kaelin. B.C. Butcher was distributed by Troma Entertainment, and Kansas was inducted into the Troma Institute for Gifted Youth. Since then, she has directed 25 music videos for artists including Collapsing Scenery, Boyd Rice, Iggy Pop, and the Death Valley Girls. Aside from directing, Kansas also acts. She’s appeared in more than 30 projects, including the upcoming directorial debut of Glenn Danzig, and also Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. She also starred in a short film series called 'Curious Females', which premiered on Refinery29 in 2017.

The movie that Kansas has chosen to discuss on this week's episode is the 1968 freak-out fest by The Monkees called, Head. It's evident immediately that Kansas has a deep love for The Monkees and this film. She points out that The Monkees were very self aware in the film, as they comment on being "wind-up dolls" meant to distract people from the Vietnam war. She describes how her favorite films have a frenetic editing style, like Head, and also incorporate elements of "artistic non-fiction." Kansas covers some of her craziest experiences working on her own movies, like getting Kato Kaelin to appear in her film B.C. Butcher for free when she was only seventeen. Or like the time she called up Iggy Pop and asked if he'd be in a music video - and he said yes. If there's anything you should take away from this interview, it's that it never hurts to ask.

You can see B.C. Butcher streaming online.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Head.

With April Wolfe and Kansas Bowling.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

What a fascinating episode we have in store for you this week. We are so lucky to be joined by writer/director, Emma Forrest. Emma has lived a life. She started out as very young journalist in London, when at the age of 15, she wrote a lauded story on Madonna for The Sunday Times, which prompted her to leave school at 16 to become a full-time writer for the Times. In 1998, she moved into writing fiction with the publication of her novel Namedropper. From there Emma began writing screenplays, selling one to Plan B, another to Miramax, and subsequently being named by Variety as one of the "Top Ten Screenwriters to Watch in 2009." Emma, however, has taken her screenwriting into her own hands and in 2018 debuted her first feature, Untogether, at the TriBeca Film Festival. Untogether stars Jemima and Lola Kirke, Ben Mendelsohn, Jamie Dornan, and Billy Crystal, and tells the story of two sisters in the middle of their own artistic and life crises — one a recovering addict, and the other in a withering relationship she doesn’t understand but can’t let go of.

In addition to discussing her newest film, Emma has chosen to talk about Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now. Emma describes how she feels so connected to this film - having seen it at an inappropriately young age and also being burdened by the feelings of premonitions. She and April admire all the incredibly unique aspects of the film - the writing, editing, cinematography, and even the performances of the leads Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Emma even notes the similarities between Don't Look Now and her own film, Untogether, in how both movies take place in cities that seem to know the fates of the protagonists before the characters do. Emma also opens up about the difficulties of working on her newest release, in particular having to direct her ex-husband Ben Mendelsohn while they were going through a divorce, and how that emotion on set powered many of the performances in the film.

You can see Untogether in select theaters and streaming on February 8th.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Don't Look Now.

With April Wolfe and Emma Forrest.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are graced by the presence of the wonderful writer/director, DeMane Davis (Lift, 'Queen Sugar', 'How to Get Away with Murder'). She's on the program this week to discuss The Wiz. She and April begin the conversation by fawning over the performance of the one and only Diana Ross as Dorothy. They also cover the technical prowess of director Sidney Lumet, and why he considers this film somewhat of a failure. The conversation then turns towards DeMane's work as a TV director. They go in depth on what a day on set actually looks like. DeMane tells a story about a time when the producers of her feature Lift brought on another editor. But she also stresses that the most important thing is getting your work out in to the world. And lastly, DeMane emphasizes the lessons she learned from The Wiz about believing in yourself, and that when you are comfortable and confident in the work that you're doing, that's when you become really dangerous.

You can see DeMane's episode of How to Get Away with Murder on February 14.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Wiz.

With April Wolfe and DeMane Davis.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Katie Walsh returns to take over hosting duties this week, and she is joined by the truly talented filmmaker, Channing Godfrey Peoples. The movie that Channing has chosen to discuss is Pedro Almodóvar’s classic, Volver. Channing elaborates on the relationship between Almodóvar’s film and her latest, Miss Juneteenth. She explains how both movies are about the struggles of women and the work that women do in order to survive. Channing also chats about the writing of her film, how it was written in a Texan dialect, and how there are specific differences between the way people talk in Fort Worth and Houston. And lastly, Channing covers the importance of naming her film Miss Juneteenth.

You can watch Miss Juneteenth on VOD now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Volver – c’mon, you gotta.

With Katie Walsh and Channing Godfrey Peoples.

This week we have the amazing writer/director Vicky Jewson (Lady Godiva, Born of War) on the program. Her new film, Close, stars Noomi Rapace as a counter-terrorism expert and bodyguard tasked to protect a wealthy heiress. It's a gritty, intimate action film, and that's why the movie Vicky has chosen to discuss is so apt. This week Vicky will be discussing 2002's, The Bourne Identity. Vicky elaborates on the influence this film had on her, and how the Bourne series has had a huge influence on the current iterations of the Bond movies. Vicky goes in depth on mapping out action sequences and working with stunt coordinators to achieve a spontaneous feel in her film. She also talks about working with Noomi Rapace, and why it was difficult for her to call "cut." Vicky and April also go behind the scenes of The Bourne Identity and outline Doug Liman's career trajectory from indie films to directing an unorthodox blockbuster action film.

You can see Close on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Bourne Identity.

With April Wolfe and Vicky Jewson.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky to have on the program this week, cinematographer and director Skye Borgman. Her most recent documentary, Abducted in Plain Sight, follows the story of a young girl in a tight-knit LDS community, who is abducted twice by her neighbor and parent's best friend. It's an intense and serious film, which makes Skye's chosen genre movie all the more interesting. She has decided to discuss 2015's Polish, horror, mermaid musical, The Lure. She and April pinpoint how this film is able to deftly deliver harsh truths about female sexualization within the framework of a mythic fairytale. The two also marvel at the director Agnieszka Smoczynska, and what she was able to do in terms of pushing the limits of the mermaid's fin designs. Skye also touches upon working with the Broberg family on her doc, and how she was able to get them to discuss incredibly difficult subjects like pedophilia and child abuse.

You can see Abducted in Plain Sight on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Lure.

With April Wolfe and Skye Borgman.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we slice and dice with writer/director Logan Kibens. She's on the program to discuss Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life. This is one of Logan's favorite films as well, and she explains the philosophical aspects of it that keep her coming back to watch over and over again. She and April point out how this film is a precursor to shows like 'The Good Place.' Logan elaborates on working with actors and getting past the intimidation phase. She discusses convincing people to invest in her first feature, even though she'd never directed one before. Logan also talks about working on that debut feature, Operator, starring Martin Starr and Mae Whitman. Plus, they examine how even though Defending Your Life flopped upon its release, it has endured due to its universal message of living without fear.

You can see Operator on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Defending Your Life.

With April Wolfe and Logan Kibens.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got director Jen McGowan (Rust Creek, Kelly & Cal) on the program to discuss Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin. Jen takes April deep into the world of filmmaking as she discusses the concept of "process dictating product." They examine the differences between making films in Europe and the US. They break down the genius of Jonathan Glazer and the exact steps he took to complete this film. Jen explains what it's like pitching as a director for hire. Plus, she and April dissect Scarlett Johansson's risky performance and how she's both sexy and scary at the same time.

You can see Rust Creek in limited theaters and VOD on January 4th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Under the Skin on Netflix.

With April Wolfe and Jen McGowan.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got writer and director Shaz Bennett on the program to talk about Kathryn Bigelow's classic, Point Break. As Shaz says on the show, this is the movie she most wishes she had directed. She and April also discuss Shaz's newest film, Alaska Is a Drag, which follows an aspiring drag queen turned boxer stuck working at a cannery in Alaska. The two of them dissect the masterful directing of Bigelow during the visceral chase scenes. They look at the unconventional casting of Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. They praise the performance and genius of Lori Petty. And Shaz elaborates on being yourself while directing, and being close to your actors on set. April has a special connection with this film as well, having written a retrospectivefor Rolling Stone last year.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Point Break.

With April Wolfe with Shaz Bennett.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are so lucky to have on director, actress, and dancer, Delila Vallot. Delila is a prolific worker and has too many credits to list. But some of her films as director include the thriller Tunnel Vision and the documentary Can You Dig This? which won a Jury Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. On this episode she is here to discuss Black Panther. She and April talk about Michael B. Jordan's acting techniques and the effects of going method for a role. They touch upon how director Ryan Coogler was able to take a huge property like Black Panther and still make it personal. And they cover the intentional use of the actor's natural hair in the film and the importance of representing it in media.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Black Panther.

With April Wolfe with Delila Vallot.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This episode specializes in creepy haunted houses with potentially crazy women living inside them. And who better to have on the show than director and actor, Bridey Elliott. She's on to discuss her new film Clara's Ghost. Her film features Bridey's own mother, Paula Niedert Elliott, playing Clara, an isolated woman who begins seeing a ghost around the house. And appropriately, the film Bridey chose to discuss today is Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis. Davis' character Charlotte also believes she's seeing ghosts in her family's plantation home. These movies work well together thematically as they both touch upon paranoia, disbelief of women, and a real confusion on who is actually going crazy. Bridey talks about making her new film with her entire family, including her mother who had never acted before. She even shares a story about how she was able to shoot a scene with a naked woman walking around her childhood neighborhood. April and she also discuss the history of Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, all the behind the scenes drama, and how this is a feminist film.

Check out Clara's Ghost in theaters and streaming.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

With April Wolfe with Bridey Elliott.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a truly fascinating conversation on this week's episode with 'Dirty John' showrunner Alexandra Cunningham. Her new show is based upon the wildly popular LA Times true crime podcast of the same name. It deals with deception, seduction, and intrigue. These are all themes found in the film that Alexandra chose to discuss, the 1945 technicolor noir classic Leave Her to Heaven. As 'Dirty John' deals with the mind of a manipulative conman, Alexandra has become somewhat of an expert on the mindset of villains. And she has some enlightening words on Gene Tierney's coldhearted Ellen in Leave Her to Heaven. Alex comes from a playwriting background and explains how she learned to show rather than to tell. April and she dissect the famous drowning scene in the film. And Alex has a fascinating story about working for a suicide hotline, and reveals how sometimes the scariest things happen in the light of day.

Check out Dirty John on Bravo.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Leave Her to Heaven.

With April Wolfe with Alexandra Cunningham.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A great new episode coming your way with the director of the new road comedy The Long Dumb Road, Hannah Fidell. Her film follows the sheltered Nat (played by Tony Revolori) as he drives cross country to attend art school in Los Angeles. On his way he picks up a hitchhiker (played by Jason Mantzoukas) who shakes up Nat's close minded worldview.

The movie that Hannah has chosen to discuss this week is Michael Haneke's Funny Games. She sort of picks both the American and Austrian version since they are almost perfectly identical films. April calls Hannah's own film The Long Dumb Road a comedic Funny Games, since both deal with an intruder breaking the unwritten rules of politeness and social decency. Hannah and April really dig into the genius of Haneke and his masterful filmmaking. They elaborate on how Funny Gamesis eerily prescient in its prediction of the emergence of "alt-right trolls." April also reveals that this movie was somewhat born out of Haneke's hatred for Natural Born Killers and how this Austrian film was really intended for American audiences.

Check out The Long Dumb Road streaming now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Funny Games, either the Austrian or the American version.

With April Wolfe with Hannah Fidell

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

In this season of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for our wonderful guest this week. We've got the writer and producer of the new film Cam, Isa Mazzei. We're so excited about having her on the show that we dropped the episode a day early! She's on the program to talk about the much under appreciated Jennifer's Body. Isa is a former camgirl herself and discusses the expertise she brought in creating her film. She also discusses her role on set and how she needed to direct some scenes to maintain the female gaze. She and April also discuss Jennifer's Body and how it subverts the expectations of a teen comedy. They elaborate on the role of director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody and the results of having an all female creative team. This a great episode and one that should be recommended to your in-laws over Thanksgiving dinner.

Check out Cam, now streaming on Netflix.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Jennifer's Body on HBO Go.

With April Wolfe with Isa Mazzei.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week’s episode is truly one of our most powerful…and, of course, the film being discussed is Jackass: The Movie. April is joined by cinematographer and director Kirsten Johnson, recording from her closet in New York City. Kirsten has so many poignant and beautiful observations about pain, the body, life, and death. And she somehow connects it all back to Jackass and her latest film Dick Johnson Is Dead. In her latest film, Kirsten explores mortality and the impending death of her ailing father by staging him in a series of comical fake death scenes. Throughout the course of the episode, discussing this film allows April to open up about the recent passing of her own grandfather who raised her. This episode is funny, touching, heartening, life-affirming, and incredibly gripping. Share it with a loved one.

You can watch Dick Johnson Is Dead on Netflix now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Jackass: The Movie – c’mon, you gotta.

With April Wolfe and Kirsten Johnson.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off

On today's episode, we're talking about the movie for which the masses have been clamoring. That's right, we've got comedian Emily Heller on to talk about The Mask. Emily is a stand-up comedian, but also an actor and Emmy nominated writer. She's written for 'Crowded', 'People of Earth', and most recently 'Barry.' On this episode, she gives April an inside look of what it is like to be in a writer's room. She discusses how she got started as a TV writer, what she did to get hired, and what kind of pilot's people are looking to read. She and April also dive right into the mixed messages of The Mask and how the movie is basically one giant meme. This is a hilarious episode and one not to be missed. Some would say it's "SMOKIN'!" (Sorry).

Check out Emily's new stand-up album, Pasta, which is out November 19th.

Also check out Emily's podcast on Maximum Fun, Baby Geniuses.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Mask on HBO Go.

With April Wolfe with Emily Heller.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are so lucky to have the director of the new film Unlovable, Suzi Yoonessi. Her movie follows Joy, played by Charlene deGuzman, a recovering sex and love addict who finds solace in making music with the gruff brother (John Hawkes) of her sponsor (Melissa Leo). The movie that Suzi has decided to discuss is 2006's Korean monster masterpiece, The Host. While maybe not immediately recognizable as an influence, Suzi explains that director Bong Joon-ho's focus on character and relationships has had a great effect on her work. She and April go over the process of pitching a movie that's never been made before, and the kind of work that goes into those types of meetings. Suzi also elaborates on working with John Hawkes and Melissa Leo. She even explains how it was difficult to cast John Hawkes because he doesn't have an email address. And lastly, Suzi and April compare how both The Host and Unloveable take real elements from the lives of the filmmakers in order to create a truly believable and engrossing story.

Check out the trailer for Unlovable which is streaming and in select theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Host.

With April Wolfe with Suzi Yoonessi.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a great episode this week with the director of the new film Lez Bomb, Jenna Laurenzo. While her film is a romantic comedy about a woman attempting to come out to her family on Thanksgiving, the film that Jenna chose to discuss is nothing like that at all! The movie Jenna picked is 2005's The Skeleton Key. While many have probably forgotten about this movie, we certainly haven't. Jenna and April discuss some of the more "delicate" issues that are brought up in the film - e.g. the opening lynching scene. Plus they touch upon the genius of Gena Rowlands and John Hurt. Jenna dives deep on the process of making her debut feature. She elaborates on how she was able to secure actors like Bruce Dern, Kevin Pollak, and Cloris Leachman for a film she shot in her own parents house. And she explains the lessons she learned from working with the Farrelly brothers.

Check out the trailer for Lez Bomb which will be in select theaters on November 9th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Skeleton Key

With April Wolfe with Jenna Laurenzo

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

If you listen to this episode you don't have to go to film school. Our guest this week is Daisy von Scherler Mayer. You may know her best for her "debut tour de force" Party Girl. She is a prolific television director who has worked on everything from Mad Men to Orange Is The New Black. The movie she has chosen to talk about this week is one of her favorite films, Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. Daisy takes April through exactly how this film has influenced her life, and even names specific scenes she has stolen from the movie (a practice she heartily encourages for film students). Daisy does a wonderful job of explaining how she speaks to actors and creates a supportive environment for them. This episode is also particularly enlightening as Daisy and April really get into the creative process and the emotional rollercoaster it can be. She also discusses the genius of Bob Fosse and how he was able to create a "perfect film." This episode is required listening for anyone who wants to be filmmaker. Take notes during this one.

Check out the trailer for Party Girl.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch All That Jazz.

With April Wolfe with Daisy von Scherler Mayer.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are very lucky to have award winning writer and director Nijla Mu'min on the program. In 2014, she was selected for the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Intensive and her debut feature, Jinn, won the Special Jury Recognition Award for screenwriting at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Jinn tells the story of a high school senior whose mother becomes taken by the beliefs and practices of Islam, which sets up a series of trials for the girl as she tries to navigate her own belief systems. The central character uses dance as a type of release. So it's fitting that the film Nijla has chosen to discuss is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. April and she explore the different ways that Nijla's film and Aronofsky's film use dance as a form of expression for the protagonists. Nijla also describes how she relates to Natalie Portman's character Nina Sayers in her pursuit of perfection. Plus, Nijla elaborates on her desire to honor her community in the representation of Islam in her film Jinn.

Check out the trailer for Jinn. The film will be in select theaters on November 15th and streaming on November 16th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Black Swan.

With April Wolfe with Nijla Mu'min.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we have the director of the new drama Sadie, Seattle's own Megan Griffiths. The genre film that she has chosen to discuss is Terry Gilliam's weirdo time travel movie 12 Monkeys. Megan and April really get into the ins and outs of working in independent cinema; from the casting to achieving control on set. Megan discusses how she and Terry Gilliam have the similarity of not working within the Hollywood system; Gilliam living in London while Megan lives in Seattle. She elaborates on her new movie Sadie and shooting in a trailer park with Melanie Lynskey. April and she also cover shooting nudity and the need for the actors to be completely comfortable. This is a great conversation that proves you don't have to work within the confines of Hollywood in order to be a successful filmmaker.

Check out the trailer for Sadie which is in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch 12 Monkeys

With April Wolfe with Megan Griffiths.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are very lucky to have the prolific documentary producer Erikka Yancy on the program. The movie she chose to discuss is the beloved 1996 film Matilda. Erikka discusses her documentary career and what is like having to do research for films with such dark subject matter. She goes on to talk about having to go through footage from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and how it's still important to offer some hope in even the most depressing of films. She also elaborates on her love for the movie Matilda and how it is rooted in the fact that the parents are so mean to the main character. April and her cover the directing career of Danny Devito and the history behind his production company Jersey Films. Plus, Erikka talks about the character of Lavender, and how having the representation of a black character is so vital to her enjoyment of the film. If you love this movie, you will love this conversation.

You can watch Erikka's film Homegrown: The Counter-Terror Dilemma on HBO.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Matilda

With April Wolfe with Erikka Yancy

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

You are looking LIVE on Switchblade Sisters at Fantastic Fest. Recorded at The Highball theater at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. April welcomes one of the filmmakers from the festival, Amanda Kramer, to discuss the Rainer Werner Fassbinder masterpiece, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Amanda's film Ladyworld screened right before the recording of this episode. The day also marks her birthday! April and Amanda note that both of the films in this discussion share a similar theme of hysterical women trapped in a confined space. Amanda talks about her love of melodramatic performances and pushing her actresses to reach beyond realism. She also coins a term for her type of filmmaking: "Tamponnui." Plus, she discusses the fact that she never uses a camera, rarely bathes, and would happily be crowned "The Female Fassbinder."

Check out the trailer here for Ladyworld.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

With April Wolfe with Amanda Kramer

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are so lucky to have actor, writer, and director Jess Weixler on the program. Most people know her from her breakout role in the 2007 film, Teeth. But she has a new movie out called Chained for Life. In it she stars opposite Adam Pearson, who some may remember from Under The Skin. And the movie she chose to discuss is Tod Browning's infamous 1932 film, Freaks. Jess reflects on her own experiences working and living with people with disabilities. She touches upon the experience of acting with Adam and other actors with facial differences. April and she also crack open whether or not Freaks is an offensives film. And they try to tackle the fine line between exploitation and celebration. This is a truly enthralling conversation that is entertaining, funny, and very heartfelt.

If you are attending Fantastic Fest this year in Austin, go check out Jess' movie Chained For Life.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Freaks

With April Wolfe with Jess Weixler

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got the fantastic director of the new film Nancy, Christina Choe. She's on the program to talk about the vampire classic, Let the Right One In. This episode is really gripping because throughout the show Christina slowly realizes the similarities between her film and Tomas Alfredson's: the snowy backdrop, the vampiric characters, the bleak eeriness. Christina elaborates on the the amount of flexibility required to direct a feature. She discusses the importance of casting great actors and how she got Steve Buscemi and Andrea Riseborough to be in her film. Plus, she talks about the difficulties of shooting in the snow.

Nancy is streaming now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Let the Right One In.

With April Wolfe with Christina Choe.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the phenomenal writer and director Zeina Durra. She’s on the program to discuss Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger. Zeina elaborates on how this film influenced her latest movie Luxor. She goes on to discuss the production of her most recent movie, shooting in Egypt, and how cigarette breaks almost sabotaged her production schedule. Zeina also chats about her research in making the film, interviewing nurses on the Jordanian/ Syrian border and hearing the horrific, literal “Sophie’s Choice” situations that women face in the region. Lastly, she talks about showing The Passenger to her children and how Disney has destroyed their movie palettes.

Luxor is available on Digital and On Demand December 4th.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen The Passenger – you should!

With April Wolfe and Zeina Durra.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

This week we've got fellow Maximum Funster, podcast host of Reading Glasses, actor, writer, and director, Brea Grant. She has chosen, maybe, one of the most fun and fascinating movies we've discussed on the show, 1982's cult classic, Basket Case. The story follows a young man named Duayne, who keeps his formerly conjoined, mutant brother Belial in a picnic basket. Duayne and Belial move to New York in order to seek out and murder the doctors who surgically separated them. A truly lovely tale that April and Brea fully dissect. They go in depth on what makes this gritty, New York classic just so memorable; the commitment of the actors, the gore, and the execution of the ridiculous concept. Brea also details the life of a working actress. She explains the struggle of acting in a movie that never gets released, returning clothes for an audition to the store, and always carrying around a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This is a truly fun episode that touches upon the honorable practice of making art for the sake of making it.

Dead Night stars Brea Grant and former Switchblade Sisters guest Barbara Crampton. It is streaming now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Basket Case

With April Wolfe with Brea Grant

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we're so lucky to have the director of the critically acclaimed new movie Night Comes On, Jordana Spiro. She is maybe best known for her acting roles in shows like 'My Boys,' 'The Mob Doctor,' and 'Ozark.' But after receiving her Masters degree in film from Columbia, she began directing shorts and her most recent debut feature. She's on the show to talk about another "Night" movie, Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter. She finds many parallels between this film and her own. And she even shares a similar career path to the director, actor Charles Laughton. April and her discuss the film's completely unique but assured visual style, along with the incredible performances of Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Shelley Winters. Plus, they cover the reason that this is the only film Charles Laughton ever directed.

Night Comes On is streaming now

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Night of the Hunter

With April Wolfe with Jordana Spiro

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week, we could not be more excited to have the director of the new film Like Father, Lauren Miller Rogen! Like Father stars Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer as an estranged daughter/father who accidentally end up taking a honeymoon cruise together after Bell's character is left jilted at the altar. The movie that Lauren chose to talk about this week is M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. Lauren discusses the effect this film had on her when she was in film school and how it recently resurfaced in her life with the release of the trailer for its sequel, Glass. She elaborates on the process of shooting a movie on a cruise ship - from clothing choices to working with the parrot donning captain. Plus she discusses what it was like directing Kelsey Grammer and allowing him the opportunity to play a character that he does not normally get to play.

You can see Like Father on Netflix now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Unbreakable

With April Wolfe with Lauren Miller Rogen

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are elated to have the director of the new film The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Desiree Akhavan. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a young gay teenager in the early '90's forced to attend a conversion therapy camp. Desiree's choice of film to discuss this week is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Desiree shares her special connection to the film and how it reminds her of her father. She is also critical of the movie, in particular the scene where Frankenstein's monster "ravages" Madeline Kahn. April and her explore how certain jokes have not aged well. Desiree discusses directing her current film; working with Chloë Grace Moretz, not making Christianity the butt of a joke, and trying to make her version of a "John Hughes film." She also bemoans the fact that American studios are totally unwilling to take any creative risks and how she had to move to London to get her TV show made.

You can see The Miseducation of Cameron Post in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Young Frankenstein

With April Wolfe with Desiree Akhavan

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got one of the director's of the new film Summer of 84, Anouk Whissell. Anouk is a member of the Montreal film collective known as RKSS, along with François Simard and Yoann Whissell. You may know them best for their previous effort, 2015's uber-violent Turbo Kid. Anouk is on the program to discuss Ti West's The Innkeepers. April and her praise the beauty of the "slow horror" genre and how it puts the audience ill at ease. Anouk describes her love for practical effects and the realness of the image on screen. She details the breakdown of directing duties between her and her RKSS fellows. And she goes through the freedom and challenges of making an independent horror film. Plus, she elaborates on her love for American horror and how that has influenced all of her work.

You can see Summer of 84 in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Innkeepers on Amazon.

With April Wolfe and Anouk Whissell.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we're very lucky to have the director of A24's new film Never Goin' Back, Augustine Frizzell. She's on the show to talk with April Wolfe about the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. April and her discuss the friendship on screen between Jeff Bridge's character 'The Dude' and John Goodman's 'Walter', and how that relationship is the emotional center of the film. Augustine relates this to the friendship she crafted in her film, and how writing for those characters was walking a fine line between pathetic and endearing. They also compare these two films in terms of capturing the essence of a city; Los Angeles for The Big Lebowski and Dallas for Never Goin' Back. Plus, Augustine has a pretty fascinating story of how she came to filmmaking after being a broke, single Mom at the age of eighteen. And she explains how those life experiences helped shape her debut film.

You can see Never Goin' Back in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Big Lebowski

With April Wolfe with Augustine Frizzell

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we're joined by friend of the podcast, writer and director Sarah Adina Smith. You may know her from her feature film Buster's Mal Heart starring Rami Malek. But she's also directed episodes of 'Wrecked', 'Room 104', and 'Legion'. Sarah was actually the very first guest on our pilot episode of the podcast, so it's so good to have her back to discuss Damián Szifron's Wild Tales. The film is made up of six short films of comical revenge. Sarah and April dive in to what makes this movie "clean" and "perfect" - as they call it. Sarah reveals that she shares some similar obsessive qualities with director Szifron. She also talks about how a location is just another form of casting. This episode is a really fun discussion about following your instincts when creating art.

You can watch Buster's Mal Heart on Netflix now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Wild Tales

With April Wolfe with Sarah Adina Smith,

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we're joined by writer and director Vera Miao. You may know her best from her acting roles on 'Eastsiders', 'NCIS', and 'State of Affairs'. But since then she's switched her focus to writing and directing. Her most recent work was as creator and showrunner of the 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' horror anthology series, of which she wrote every episode and directed the two installments 'Ma' and 'Singularity.' She's on Switchblade Sisters this week to talk about the Wachowskis' classic, The Matrix. Vera reveals what she finds most inspiring about the film; from the non-linear story to the diverse casting. She discusses why she loves genre films and how they are the perfect vehicle for promoting a message in a film. Plus, she talks about the things she would never say to an actor when directing. This is a truly fascinating conversation that goes in depth on philosophy, art, and the process of putting together a visual story.

You can watch Vera's episodes of 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' on go90 now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Matrix

With April Wolfe with Vera Miao,

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are joined by the wonderful comedian, writer, and actor Kate Berlant. She's on the show to talk about the underappreciated Jonathan Glazer film, Birth. April and Kate dive right into this truly unique movie about a woman who's dead husband may have come back as a 10 year old boy. They make the case for this being Nicole Kidman's best performance as the role is so perfectly catered to her. They discuss the inspired vision of Jonathan Glazer and how he was the only one who could make this film. The two talk about Kate's role in Sorry to Bother You and her short film series 555. Kate elaborates on what goes into writing comedy and the kinds of white people she makes fun of. Plus, she explains why she feels compelled to make silly faces as a form of protest.

You can watch 555 on Vimeo now.

Check out Kate in Sorry to Bother You

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Birth

With April Wolfe with Kate Berlant,

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a full house this week as the writers for Netflix's 'Lost In Space' are in the studio. We've got Vivian Lee, Kari Drake and Katherine Collins on to discuss Steven Spielberg's classic, Jurassic Park. The three of them touch upon what it's like having to write a sci-fi/action show for the whole family, and how they use Jurassic Park as inspiration. They elaborate on what it's like writing for a big budget action-adventure with a ton of special effects. They give us an inside look into the writers room for 'Lost in Space' and how the group comes up with solutions and ideas. Plus, they discuss what makes Jurassic Park a more intimate film than people realize. And don't worry - the sexy Robot is thoroughly discussed.

You can watch Season 1 of Lost in Space on Netflix now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Jurassic Park

With April Wolfe with Vivian Lee, Kari Drake, and Katherine Collins

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the celebrated writer and director Alice Winocour. She calls in from Paris to talk about David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence. Alice and April dissect the film and admire Cronenberg’s craft of layering intricate depth on top of a simple story idea. Alice points out the “69-ing” sex scene in particular and explains how it inspires her to create images that she has never seen before. She also discusses how being a mother influenced her latest space drama, Proxima. And lastly, Alice talks about working with Eva Green, and how Eva claims to be from another planet.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Proxima on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen A History of Violence – you should!

With April Wolfe and Alice Winocour.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

This week we've got the multi-talented actor, writer, producer Cleopatra Coleman. You may know her best from her role as Erica on the beloved 'The Last Man on Earth' with Will Forte. But she's on the show this week to talk about Alfonso Cuarón's masterpiece, Children of Men. Cleopatra discusses the direct influence this film had on her new movie, the apocalyptic thriller that she wrote and produced, Hover. They discuss what the future looks like in both of these films and how the advertising and technology affect the lives of the characters. Cleopatra opens up about writing her first feature and the relationship she had with the film's director. She also reveals that she actually auditioned for a role in Children of Men. Plus, April discusses what went into the famous one take finale shot of the film and how it all went wrong.

You can watch Hover in select theaters now. It will be available on VOD on July 3.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Children of Men

With April Wolfe with Cleopatra Coleman

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky this week to have TV creator, writer, and director Veena Sud on the program. She's most well known for creating the TV show, The Killing. But she's got a new show out now called Seven Seconds. It follows the aftermath of the death of a 15 year old black cyclist who is killed in a hit and run accident by a white police officer. She's also on the program to discuss Alfred Hitchcock's classic Rear Window. Veena elaborates on the effect that Hitchcock has had on her career, and how it has influenced her being drawn to darker stories. She reveals that she's just completed her first feature about a teenage girl who accidentally kills her best friend. She also tells a wonderful story of working with the late Jonathan Demme on her show Seven Seconds. This is a truly engrossing episode that deals with the craft behind writing and cultivating a meaningful story.

You can watch Seven Seconds on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Rear Window

With April Wolfe with Veena Sud

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a packed house today with Angela Trimbur, Lauren Parks, and Jenée LaMarque of the new film The Feels. The three women all act in the film with Jenée directing and co-writing with Lauren. They're on the show to discuss Robert Zemeckis' Death Becomes Her. Although not similar in tone or genre, April and the guests quickly find that both of these films are united in their commentary on women's bodies. The Feels analyzes the shame felt by women unable to have an orgasm. While Death Becomes Her addresses the pressure women face to constantly look young - in, albeit, a very violent and supernatural way. Plus, they all discuss the special effects, the production design, and, of course, the delicious performance of Meryl Streep as the aging movie star, Madeline Ashton.

The Feels is available on Amazon.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Death Becomes Her

With April Wolfe with Angela Trimbur, Lauren Parks and Jenée LaMarque

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.