Back

Explore every episode of the podcast The Oscar Project Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for The Oscar Project Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

Rows per page:

1–50 of 230

TitlePub. DateDuration
3.89-Filmmaker Interview with Tobias Eckerlin04 Nov 202500:12:03

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Tobias Eckerlin, director of the short film "A Sparrow's Song," a story of a widowed air raid warden in the midst of World War II struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy in her life.

Listen to hear about the challenges of creating a consistent look and feel in an animated virtual world, the importance of using sound and music to support and enhance the visual world, and what the experience of the Student Academy Awards was like.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Tobias on Instagram @tobiaseckerlin.visuals.

Support the show

3.88-Their Own Desire with Maria Banson31 Oct 202500:47:19

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Their Own Desire. I'm joined by Maria Banson from the Brunello Bombshell newsletter and we talk about Norma Shearer's place as an inspiration for women in Hollywood of the time, the portrayal of a young athletic woman on screen, and a special bond between father and daughter that is a throughline in the film.

You can watch Their Own Desire on YouTube or rent it from Amazon and be sure to check out Maria's newsletter.

Other films mentioned in this episode include:

Other referenced topics:

Support the show

3.79-Filmmaker Interviews with Loïck du Plessis D’Argentré, Maud Le Bras, and Jiaxin Huang and Atharva Raut (Student Academy Awards 2025)30 Sep 202500:32:27

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is the final episode of my series of double episodes featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees.

My first interview today is with 2025 Student Academy Award finalists Loïck du Plessis D’Argentré, Maud Le Bras, and Jiaxin Huang, collaborators on the animated short film "The Shyness of Trees." We discuss thoughts on being away from family, thoughts of losing a parent, and the ability to bring influences from multiple cultures into the film.

Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award semi-finalist Atharva Raut, director of the film "Beyond the Conflict." We talk about one of the workers who has developed a strong connection with the animals in his care and what Atharva hopes people learn about the leopard population in Mumbai from his film.

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

Follow "The Shyness of Trees" film account on Instagram @shynessoftrees.gobelins and Maud is @grumpymaud, Loïck is @_ciklo_, and Jiaxin is @huanggechi. For "Beyond the Conflict," follow Atharva @atharva.raut and check out his website at www.atharvaraut.com.

Support the show

2.51 Filmmaker Interview with Aaron Johnson19 Nov 202400:17:33

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Aaron Johnson, the director of the short film "The 17%," a documentary about Colette Divitto, a young woman with Downs Syndrome and her successful cookie business. The film received the silver medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the some of the people that Collete employs in her business, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the visual world of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"The 17%" is waiting to hear back from multiple festivals and is eligible for the 97th Academy Awards.

You can follow Aaron on Instagram @ajhoops and the film @the17percentfilm.

Support the show

2.50 Filmmaker Interview with Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle Bonnardel15 Nov 202400:35:12

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle Bonnardel, the directors of the short film "Au Revoir Mon Monde," an animated film about a man in a fish costume trying to reach the woman he loves before the world ends. The film received the gold medal in the animation category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Florian's own life, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the visual world of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"Au Revoir Mon Monde" has been presented at numerous film festivals around the world this year and is in the running for the 97th Academy Awards.

You can follow the film on Instagram @au_revoir_mon_monde and follow the Florian @vaulfe, Maxime @grenade_bio, and Estelle @fat_mimi_the_third.

Support the show

2.49 Filmmaker Interview with Rishabh Raj Jain12 Nov 202400:27:58

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Rishabh Raj Jain, the director of the short film "A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)," a documentary about a one young woman seeking an opportunity to escape a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh and receive education in the West. The film received the bronze medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Rishabh's investigative reporting in Myanmar and Bangladesh, how refugees have to adapt their language and lifestyle to try and fit into their host country, and how Rishabh's personal connection to the story affected how he put the final film together.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)" was presented at the Tasveer Film Festival in October and is looking for other .

You can follow Rishabh on Instagram @rishabh.jain403 and follow the film @adreamcalledkhushi.

Read some of Rishabh's reporting work at the links below:

Support the show

2.48 Filmmaker Interview with Hannah Rafkin08 Nov 202400:20:31

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Hannah Rafkin, the director of the short film "Keeper," a documentary about one man's effort to keep bees in the Bronx while raising his daughters as a single father. The film received the gold medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how a small 5-minute project blossomed into this film, how Hannah built the trust necessary continue filming when Flynn got sick, and some experiences that didn't manage to make it into the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"Keeper" will be playing at DOCNYC next week on November 13th and 15th and there will be several screenings in New York later this fall.

You can follow Hannah on Instagram @hannahrafkin and follow the film @keeperdoc to see when and where the film will be playing this fall. Find out more about Flynn's honey business @boogiedownbronxhoney and Flynn's daughter Alaura @alaura.flynn.

Support the show

2.47 Filmmaker Interview with Jens Kevin Georg05 Nov 202400:19:24

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Jens Kevin Georg, the director of the short film "Crust" which tells the story of a young boy in search of his first scar. The film received the silver medal in the narrative category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, how he knew he had selected the right actor to play his lead, how he found a roller coaster to fit in his film, and Jens' own first scar.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"Crust" will be playing at the Alcine Film Festival in Spain and the Izmir Short Film Festival in Turkey both in November.

You can follow Jens on Instagram @jens__georg and follow the film @kruste_film to see when and where the film will be playing this fall.

Support the show

2.46 Filmmaker Interview with Sarah Blok01 Nov 202400:19:16

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Sarah Blok, the director of the short film "Trouble" which explores the story of a family dealing with changing relationships amid the separation of the two parents. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the involvement of two actors in casting the film, how Sarah's background in playwriting contributed to the development of the characters in the film, and .

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"Trouble" recently screened at the BFI London Film Festival and will likely be screening at other festivals throughout the fall and winter.

You can follow Sarah on Instagram @bloksarah to see what she is working on.

Support the show

2.45 Filmmaker Interview with Jamie O’Rourke29 Oct 202400:23:55

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Jamie O’Rourke, the director of the short film "Calf." The film looks at a topic that is extremely relevant to many people around the world today, yet not talked about nearly enough and is it qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film in working on a documentary on abuse, some striking statistics around domestic abuse, and the benefits of being able to shoot almost the entire film on a recently retired farm.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • "Calf” directed by Jamie O’Rourke
  • Zone of Interest directed by Jonathan Glazer
  • La Chimera directed by Alice Rohrwacher
  • Aftersun directed by Charlotte Wells
  • Ghost directed by Jerry Zucker
  • Fargo directed by Joel Coen
  • Groundhog Day directed by Harold Ramis
  • "The Afters" directed by Jamie O’Rourke

Follow Jamie on Instagram @jamie_o_rourke and the film @calf_thefilm.

"Calf" recently screened at the Newport Beach International Film Festival and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last week and you can check out at the St. Louis International Film Festival November 7th-17th and the Norwich Film Festival November 11th-24th with more coming up this fall.

Find out more about domestic abuse in Ireland at the Women's Aid website.

Support the show

2.44 Filmmaker Interview with Kirsten Slemint25 Oct 202400:21:57

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Kirsten Slemint, the director of the short film "Burnt Country" which explores the threat of wildfire in Australia and the indigenous population who works hard to help manage the threat. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the editorial decision to juxtapose fire with water throughout the film, the importance of strategic cultural burns in managing wildfire risk, and how to manage shooting in remote locations as one person wearing all the hats of a complex production.

Books mentioned in this episode include:


Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • "Burnt Country" directed by Kirsten Slemint
  • All That Breathes directed by Shaunak Sen
  • Past Lives directed by Celine Song
  • We Are Still Here directed by Beck Cole, Dena Curtis, Tracey Rigney, Danielle MacLean, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Richard Curtis, and Chantelle Burgoyne
  • Mrs. Doubtfire directed by Chris Columbus
  • Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir


"Burnt Country" just screened at the Santa Fe International Film Festival and will be at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival this coming weekend. It is currently showing at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in Monterrey, Mexico and Australia Independent Film Festival in Kirsten's home town of Brisbane, Australia. Later this fall you can check out the film at the Canberra Short Film Festival November 6th-20th, the Ealing Film Festival November 25th-30th, and All Living Things Environmental Film Festival November 22nd-December 8th. 

Follow Kirsten on Instagram @kirstygrimm and the film @burnt__country.

Support the show

2.43 Filmmaker Interview with Bartłomiej Błaszczyński22 Oct 202400:20:23

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Bartłomiej Błaszczyński, the director of the short film "Take Me to Her" which explores the story of a woman who has gone through an incredible loss, and struggles to deal with it. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the genesis of the story of the film, a tragic connection Bartłomiej and I share, and a joke about difficult names to pronounce.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

"Take Me to Her" just screened at the Warsaw International Film Festival last week and you can check out the film at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival this November.

Bartłomiej is not on Instagram, but you can connect with him on LinkedIn to stay in touch with what he is working on.

Support the show

2.42 2024 Student Academy Award Recap18 Oct 202400:06:52

Send us Fan Mail

In honor of the Student Academy Awards that took place this past Monday October 14th, I'm providing a quick recap of the winners. You'll also hear a little bit of my interviews from earlier this year with two of the winners and some thoughts on the ceremony experience itself.

Check out my previous interviews with Robin Wang and Birdy Wei-Ting Hung while you wait for some new interviews next week and the rest of October as we head into awards season!

You can watch the entire ceremony on YouTube if you missed any of the acceptance speeches.

Support the show

3.78-Disraeli with Jeff Kramer26 Sep 202500:48:53

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Disraeli. I'm joined by Jeff Kramer from The Death Star Human Resources Department Newsletter and we talk about British politics in the late 1800s, how well George Arliss carries the entire film as the title character, and how it seems like the Russians always make good spies and adversaries in movies regardless of the time period.

You can watch Disraeli on YouTube and be sure to check out Jeff's newsletter.

Other films mentioned in this episode include:

Other referenced topics:

Support the show

2.41 Filmmaker Interview with Tom Potter16 Oct 202400:35:30

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Tom Potter, the director of the experimental short film "Lullaby for the Lost" which explores the memories of a man who is beginning to forget his mother. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear some incredible thoughts on dreams and memories, some very manual tactics used to create the images on screen, and the blending of the music and sound of the film to create the soundscape.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Tom on Instagram @tompotterr_ and the film @lullabyforthelost.bfs.

"Lullaby for the Lost" screened at the Watersprite Film Festival and the Greenwich International Film Festival and is still waiting to hear back on a number of other festivals. Follow Tom and the film at the links above to learn about upcoming festival screenings as soon as they are announced.

Support the show

2.40 Filmmaker Interview with Luke Morgan11 Oct 202400:20:26

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Luke Morgan, the director of the short film "The Boat." The film is based on a heartbreaking true story of a father who must make a difficult choice when his daughter begins exhibiting troubling medical symptoms and is it qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the work that Luke and his brother were doing that led them to the story, why they decided to make a film that highlighted the disease of leprosy, and the realities of quicksand as a danger in film production.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Luke and his brother on Instagram @morgan_bros and the film @calf_thefilm.

You can check out "The Boat" at the Offline Film Festival going on right now, and the Kerry International Film Festival from October 17-20. You can check out the trailer on morganbrother.ie.

You can also learn more about The Mission to End Leprosy at their website.

Support the show

2.39 Filmmaker Interview with Birdy Wei-Ting Hung08 Oct 202400:22:28

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Birdy Wei-Ting Hung, the director of the experimental short film "A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers." The film looks at the experience of a young girl in 1980s Taiwan and won a gold award at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear how the film was inspired by two other films, how important formative film experiences are, and the importance of the sound to create the world of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

You can follow Birdy on Instagram @birdymakesfilms and check out her website at https://www.birdyweitinghung.org/.

The film showed at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX last month and can be seen this month at the Kaohsiung Film Festival in Taiwan from October 12-27.

Read Birdy's essay about the two films that inspired her work at MaiFeminism.com.

Support the show

2.38 Filmmaker Interview with Louisa Connolly-Burnham04 Oct 202400:19:00

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Louisa Connolly-Burnham the director of the short film "Sister Wives," an exploration of the dynamics between two women in a polygamous relationship as they explore their love for each other.

Listen to hear about the real life cult the film is based on, the process of casting a film with the intention of playing one of the main characters, and the how she came across the perfect little log cabin for filming the story.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

The film showed at Hollyshorts in Los Angeles this summer and will be showing at the London Breeze Film Festival from October 23-27 and the North East International Film Festival from November 18-24. The film will also be available in the US on Film4 later this year.

Follow the film on Instagram @sisterwivesfilm for updates on screenings and festival selections and follow Louisa @louisaconnollyburnham.

Support the show

2.37 Filmmaker Interview with Daniel Salas01 Oct 202400:20:43

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Daniel Salas the director of the experimental short film "WIRED," a surreal look at the impact technology can have on a person. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear how the film changed in the editing process, some of the challenges in shooting the film in just three days, and the importance of the sound supporting the visuals of the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Daniel on Instagram @des_alas for updates on screenings and festival selections this fall.

Support the show

2.36 Filmmaker Interview with Zac Lazarou27 Sep 202400:16:39

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Zac Lazarou the director of the short documentary "The Undertakers," an beautiful look at the underappreciated world of vultures in Africa. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to learn a bit about the important place vultures hold in the ecosystems, the importance of the music in creating the mood of the film, and the goal of the film as it relates to hope versus reality.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Check out the film at the following film festivals this fall:

Follow Luke on Instagram @zacwildfilm.

Support the show

2.35 Filmmaker Interview with Julia Grupińska, Tian Westraad, and Ezequiel Garibay24 Sep 202400:21:30

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Julia Grupińska, Tian Westraad, and Ezequiel Garibay, three of the five directors of the short film "El Ombligo de la Luna." The short animated film is a heartwarming story of a boy reconnecting with his long lost father and was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how the team found the perfect voice for one of their main characters, the meaning of the title of the film, and what movies the directors all agree on as some of their favorites.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

You can check out the film on YouTube and find the work of Aldo Martínez who composed the music for the film on SoundCloud and Instagram.

Follow the film on Instagram @luna.gobelins, Julia @juliagrupinska, Tian @tian.ouest, and Ezequiel @ezequiel_garibay.

Support the show

2.34 Filmmaker Interview with Luke Purdye20 Sep 202400:43:38

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Luke Purdye the director of the short documentary "Mail Order Queens," an intimate film about the world of beekeeping. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to get a brief overview of honeybee history, the challenges of working with an animal like the honeybee, and just how many times a director can expect to get stung when making a documentary about bees and beekeeping.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Check out the film at the following film festivals this fall:

Follow Luke on Instagram @lukepurdye and send him a message to get information about private screenings in October. You can also check out his website at https://www.lukepurdye.com/.

Support the show

2.33 Author Interview with Craig Singer and Michael Benson17 Sep 202400:24:06

Send us Fan Mail

In today's interview, I speak with Craig Singer and Michael Benson, authors of the upcoming book Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck.

Listen to hear about some of the famous Hollywood stars that rubbed elbows with the Schencks, how Nick Schenck preferred running his amusement park over the movies, and how generous Joe Schenck was to those in Hollywood who may have been down and out.
 
Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Michael on Facebook and Craig on Instagram @craigsinger1.

Support the show

2.32 Filmmaker Interview with Loïc Girault and Anna Danton13 Sep 202400:18:05

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Loïc Girault and Anna Danton, two of the creators of the film "Coquille," an animated short that follows an adorable little hermit crab looking for safety on the beach. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how the inspiration for the film in Loïc's childhood, the challenges of creating realistic looking animated sand, and the importance of building relationships no matter what kind of creature we are.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Check out the film at the following film festivals this fall:

Follow the film on Instagram @coquille.movie and all of the creators @annaadrw @boldpictures_ @gatien_anim3d @gregoirecallies @lgirault_3d @justine.devys @maudz_art_est_la @chatnapandraw. Also subscribe to the ESMA YouTube channel to see the film when it publishes there later this year.

Support the show

3.77-Filmmaker Interviews with Megan Mullen (Student Academy Awards 2025)23 Sep 202500:12:05

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is part of my series of episodes featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees. I spoke with 2025 Student Academy Award semi-finalist Megan Mullen, director of the documentary short film "Secrets of Satellite Beach" and we discuss the light that she wanted to shine on the issue of contaminated water in her home town, working with two incredible activists for for the film, and the challenges of making a film about a topic so close to her heart.

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

Follow the film on Instagram @secretsofsatellitebeach and Megan on @meganmullenproductions. Also, be sure to check out her website www.meganmullenproductions.com.

Support the show

2.31 Filmmaker Interview with Roger Torres10 Sep 202400:23:48

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Roger Torres about his film "Irma," a personal story of family dealing with difficult choices that is based on his own life. The film was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how the intense personal experience that inspired Roger's film, how he used that to explore a unique storytelling angle, and the struggles of casting actors to play your own family members.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Video Games mentioned in this episode include:

Check out the film at the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival in November.

Follow Roger on Instagram @rog_torres and check out his YouTube series The Broke Filmmaker's Journey.

Support the show

2.30 Filmmaker Interview with Luke Salewski06 Sep 202400:20:21

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Luke Salewski about his film "The Lights Above," a genre crossing short film set in Los Angeles in the early day of 1942. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how Luke and his team creatively sourced their period furniture, a last minute casting change, and how they came to find the 1939 Cadillac convertible that is featured in the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Luke and the film on Instagram @lukejsalewski and @thelightsabovemovie and check out the film website at https://thelightsabove.com/.

Support the show

2.29 Filmmaker Interview with Tomás Orrego03 Sep 202400:12:46

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Tomás Orrego about his film "Fever," an experimental short film that was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the bold design choices employed in the film, how the film evolved based on budget and time constraints, and how music and sound play a part in the film.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Tomás on Instagram @fantomasengendro and check out his website https://www.tomasorrego.com.

Support the show

2.28 Filmmaker Interview with Robin Wang30 Aug 202400:25:40

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Robin Wang about his film "Neither Donkey Nor Horse," a blending of historical fiction with science fiction. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about how the story of Dr. Wu helped Robin become unstuck during Covid lockdown, parallels between 1910 and 2020, and the meaning behind the phrase "neither donkey nor horse."

You can check out Robin's film at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend on Saturday August 31st at 9 AM or the St. Louis International Film Festival in November.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Robin Wang on Instagram @robin_z_wang. 

Support the show

2.27 Filmmaker Interview with Lu Lu27 Aug 202400:18:38

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Lu Lu about her film "Invocation," a story of dealing with life's changes based on her own personal experiences. The film was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film rooted in her own experience, the importance of the Miao people in Guizhou to the development of the story, and what I think is the most practical dinner party yet recommended on The Oscar Project.

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Lu Lu on Instagram @grooffe_llu.

Support the show

2.26 Filmmaker Interview with Dur Jamjoom20 Aug 202400:20:14

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Dur Jamjoom about her film "Kum-Kum," a story of loss and grief built from her own personal experiences. The film was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival back in June.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, how her grandmother helped influence an important part of the film, and two versions of Tom Hanks coming to dinner.

Books recommended in this episode include:

  • Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
  • Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • “Kum-Kum” directed by Wendi Tang
  • The Grand Budapest Hotel directed by Wes Anderson
  • Brotherhood directed by Meryam Joobeur
  • The Girl with the Needle directed by Magnus von Horn
  • Toy Story directed by John Lasseter
  • Forrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis
  • Scarface directed by Brian De Palma

Follow Dur on Instagram @dur_jamjoom.

Support the show

2.25 Filmmaker Interview with Wendi Tang06 Aug 202400:18:02

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Wendi Tang about her film "Fishtank," a surreal story about a woman struggling to remain sober, but for some reason she can't stop vomiting goldfish. The film will be showing this August at the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival and the HollyShorts Film Festival.

Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, the importance of close collaboration between practical and visual effects, and a very Marvel dinner party.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • “Fishtank” directed by Wendi Tang
  • Life of Pi directed by Ang Lee
  • Interstellar directed by Christopher Nolan
  • Soul directed by Pete Docter
  • X-Men directed by Bryan Singer
  • Doctor Strange directed by Scott Derrickson
  • Guardians of the Galaxy directed by James Gunn

Follow the film on Instagram @fishtank.mov and Wendi @_wenditang.

Support the show

2.24 Filmmaker Interview with Rebecca King and Nina Yndis02 Aug 202400:29:28

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Rebecca King and actress/producer Nina Yndis about their film "Elsa" about a tense love triangle between a Norwegian civilian woman, her adoring neighbor and a German soldier during World War II. The film will be showing this August at the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival.

Listen to hear about where Rebecca and Nina got the inspiration for the story, what challenges they faced making the film, and if they worried about sharing the name of their film with a certain animated character.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • “Elsa” directed by Rebecca King
  • High and Low directed by Akira Kurosawa
  • Ratatouille directed by Brad Bird
  • Parasite directed by Bong Joon-ho
  • Burning directed by Lee Chang-dong
  • Cabaret directed by Bob Fosse
  • Pulp Fiction directed by Quentin Tarantino
  • Joker directed by Todd Phillips
  • Toy Story directed by John Lasseter
  • Babe directed by Chris Noonan
  • Frozen directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck
  • Bean directed by Mel Smith
  • Grease directed by Randal Kleiser

Follow the film on Instagram @womenlikeelsa. Rebecca is @rebeccajking_ and Nina is @ninayndis.

Support the show

2.23 HollyShorts 2024 Preview30 Jul 202400:12:51

Send us Fan Mail

As I gear up for a series of interviews with filmmakers featured at the 2024 HollyShorts Film Festival, I'm kicking off this coverage by bringing you a few interviews that I did with some of this year's filmmakers that I already spoke with previously on the podcast. If you like these excerpts, check out the full episodes below:

Be sure to check out their work at the HollyShorts Film Festival if you're in Los Angeles this August.

Check out this information about the "Red, White and Blue" impact campaign.

Rent "Red, White and Blue" today.

Support the show

2.22 Filmmaker Interview with Dana Koops23 Jul 202400:20:02

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Dana Koops about her upcoming short film “La Bibliothèque” an intimate look at a young woman dealing with grief. The film has its world premiere at ComicCon this July 28th as part of the San Diego International Children's Film Festival.

Listen to hear about how Dana's inspiration for the film, how she went about casting someone to play her brother, and a very magical dinner party.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

  • “La Bibliothèque” directed by Dana Koops
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King directed by Peter Jackson
  • The Quiet Girl directed by Colm Bairéad
  • You've Got Mail directed by Nora Ephron
  • Black Panther directed by Ryan Coogler
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever directed by Ryan Coogler
  • The Artful Dodger
  • Thor directed by Kenneth Branagh
  • Loki Season 2
  • Anne of Green Gables directed by Kevin Sullivan
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them directed by David Yates
  • The Amazing Spider-Man directed by Marc Webb
  • Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children directed by Tim Burton
  • Good Omens

Follow Dana on Instagram @danakoops.

Support the show

3.76-Hallelujah with Jonathan Hammond19 Sep 202500:56:27

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Hallelujah. I'm joined by Jonathan Hammond, film director who has multiple shorts on the festival circuit this fall. We talk about many of the problems of the film even though it does include an all African American cast, some interesting images of what life was like at the time in the South, whether or not the film qualifies as a "musical" as we would define it today, and what representation looks like in film both in the past and today.

You can watch Hallelujah on YouTube and be sure to give Jonathan a follow on Instagram @jonohamm.

Other films mentioned in this episode include:

Other referenced topics:

Support the show

2.21 Filmmaker Interview with Antonina Kerguelén Román04 Jun 202400:29:18

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Antonina Kerguelén Román about her short film “¡salsa!” a look at the world of music through the experience of someone who cannot hear. The film will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.

Listen to hear about how Antonina explored experiencing music as a physical sensation through a character who cannot hear, the decisions that went into the sound design of the film, and her own memories of visiting the coast of Columbia growing up.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Antonina and the film on Instagram @antoninakr and @salsashortfilm.

Support the show

2.20 Filmmaker Interview with Courtney Dixon28 May 202400:15:09

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Courtney Dixon about her short documentary "Depression is a Beast," a frank look at how horror films can help people cope with anxiety and depression. The film was inspired by a New York Times article and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.

Listen to hear about how Courtney starts exploring her documentary subjects, how actor Jenna Kanell uses her horror roles to help deal with her depression, and how Courtney uses visuals, sound, and animation to tell the story in this short film.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Courtney and the film on Instagram @courtneydixon and @depressionisabeast.

Support the show

2.19 Filmmaker Interview with Julia Aks and Steve Pinder22 May 202400:28:23

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview the writer/director pair of Julia Aks and  Steve Pinder about their short film "Jane Austen's Period Drama," a hilarious comedy about well, periods, set in England two centuries ago. The film played at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.

Listen to hear about how Julia and Steve collaborate on their comedy, some of the challenges they faced making the film, and  what we might be able to expect in a feature length version of this film.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow the film on Instagram @janeaustensperioddrama along with Julia @jaksicle and Steve @stevecpinder. Also check out their videos on YouTube.

Support the show

2.18 Filmmaker Interview with Nick Russell and Nick Musgrove14 May 202400:31:33

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview director Nick Russell and writer Nick Musgrove, about their short film "Favourites,"  about parents who are forced to make an impossible choice. The film has been showing at festivals including Australia's Flickerfest and the San Diego International Film Festival and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.

Listen to hear Nick and Nick discuss his how they developed the story for the film together, their incredible crew that they worked with, and one of the craziest dinner parties ever put together on The Oscar Project Podcast.

Books recommended in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow the film and Nick Russell on Instagram @favouritesfilm and @nickrussdog and follow Nick Musgrove on Twitter @Nickmusgrove

Support the show

2.17 Author Interview with Andrew Stanley Kiste16 Apr 202400:31:42

Send us Fan Mail

In today's interview, I speak with Andrew Stanley Kiste, a campus life director and life long lover of all things Disney. He has written articles and books including Walt Disney and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, and three volumes of A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World. He joins me today to talk about his new book, The Early Life of Walt Disney. 

Listen to hear how Walt Disney's father Elias impacted how Walt became the man we know, where Walt learned his storytelling and artistic abilities, and some of the early animated creations before Walt's famous mouse Mickey.
 
Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Andrew on Facebook (@Andrew Kiste-Author) and check out his website and Amazon Aut

Support the show

2.16 Movie Chat with Kyle, winner of the 2024 Oscars Prediction Contest04 Apr 202400:33:11

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I am joined by Kyle, the winner of the 2024 Oscar prediction contest on The Oscar Project. We talk about a little of everything including what we liked from the 96th Academy Awards, other movies from 2023 we enjoyed, and things we're looking forward to in 2024.
 
Books mentioned in this episode include:

The list of films we mentioned is too long to include in the show notes, but check out the full Letterboxd list for this episode. A few films mentioned in this episode include:

  • Oppenheimer directed by Christopher Nolan
  • Poor Things directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
  • The Creator directed by Gareth Edwards
  • Godzilla Minus One directed by Takashi Yamazaki
  • The Zone of Interest directed by Jonathan Glazer
  • The Killer directed by David Fincher
  • The Boy of the Heron directed by Hayao Miyazaki
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
  • Maestro directed by Bradley Cooper
  • Killers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese
  • 20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav Chernov
  • The Holdovers directed by Alexander Payne
  • "The Last Repair Shop" directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
  • May December directed by Todd Haynes
  • How to Blow Up a Pipeline directed by Daniel Goldhaber
  • Godland directed by Hlynur Pálmason
  • Anatomy of a Fall directed by Justine Triet
  • Society of the Snow directed by J. A. Bayona
  • Asteroid City directed by Wes Anderson
  • "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" directed by Wes Anderson
  • Origin directed by Ava DuVernay
  • The Iron Claw directed by Sean Durkin

Check out Kyle on the Picture Box Cinema Hour Podcast with Gavin.

Support the show

2.15 Sadie Thompson-When it Rains, it Pours29 Mar 202400:14:47

Send us Fan Mail

Today I am discussing the 1928 film Sadie Thompson. The film tells the story of Sadie Thompson, a woman of questionable moral character, and Mr. Davidson, the devout missionary who makes it his mission to reform her while they are both forced to stay on a remote Pacific island. Listen now to hear about the troubles the film faced in being made, how Swanson's performance can be related to her later work in Sunset Boulevard, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.

Resources:

Support the show

2.14 Author Interview with Lisa Stein Haven26 Mar 202400:20:00

Send us Fan Mail

In today's interview, I speak with Lisa Stein Haven, a Professor of English at Ohio University and expert in all things Charlie Chaplin. She has written extensively on the actor and director and hosted the first international Charlie Chaplin conference ever held on American soil in 2010, the 100th anniversary of Charlie's first trip to America. In addition to several works on Charlie Chaplin, she has published books about hi brother Syd Chaplin and Max Linder. She joins the show to talk about her latest book, The Early Years of Charlie Chaplin: Final Shorts and First Features. 

Listen to hear how Chaplin dealt with the media when he was making movies, what type of person Chaplin truly was, and why Chaplin has been such an inspiration to actors over the last century.
 
Books mentioned in this episode include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Lisa on Instagram (@lisasteinhaven) and check out her Amazon Author Page for links to all of her books.

Support the show

2.13-The Crowd-Love, Happiness, and Family Struggles24 Mar 202400:14:22

Send us Fan Mail

As I announced in my spring preview episode earlier this week, today I am discussing the 1928 film The Crowd. The film focuses on the story of John and Mary Sims as they build a family together and face life's challenges in early 1900s New York City. Listen now to hear about the creative people behind the film, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.

Support the show

2.12 Spring Preview19 Mar 202400:03:08

Send us Fan Mail

On today's episode, I give a quick preview of some of the things I'm working on for the podcast in the coming weeks a months. Be sure to subscribe to the show in your podcast player and follow The Oscar Project for all the updates.

I'm appearing on the next episode of The Playlist Project podcast with my friend Stacy. Check out her podcast all about the music people love at the link above.

Support the show

3.75-Filmmaker Interviews with Tatiana McCabe and Xindi Zhang (Student Academy Awards 2025)16 Sep 202500:27:05

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode is part of my series of double episodes featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees.

My first interview today is with 2025 Student Academy Award winner Tatiana McCabe, director of the documentary short film "Tides of Life." We discuss how she came to wildlife filmmaking to help realize a lifelong dream and the challenges that come with being a one woman show filming a documentary.

Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award Winner Xindi Zhang, director of the film "The Song of Drifters." We talk about the inspiration for the film in her own experience and the viability of AI as a tool to use in filmmaking.

Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Tatiana on Instagram @tatianamccabe and Xindi at @xindizhangfilm. You can also check out the website for Tatiana's film studio SecondHeart at secondheart.tv and Xindi's website at www.xindizhangart.com.

Support the show

2.11 96th Academy Awards Recap12 Mar 202400:36:28

Send us Fan Mail

With the 96th Academy Awards in the book, I am joined today by Luis Mendez to discuss all the happenings at the Oscars on Sunday night.

Check out Luis at The Mendez Report and follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Threads, and Letterboxd.

Support the show

2.10 96th Academy Awards Preview09 Mar 202400:19:56

Send us Fan Mail

It's time for me to break down who I think will win at the Oscars this weekend. In this episode I go over all 23 categories, letting you know who I think will win the Oscar and who I think should win. They don't always match, so listen in to win your Oscar prediction pool!

Support the show

2.9 Filmmaker Interview with Vincent René-lortie27 Feb 202400:22:22

Send us Fan Mail

In today's episode, I interview Vincent René-lortie, the director of "Invincible",  an ode to the memory of Marc-Antoine Bernier and the tale of a young man yearning for his freedom. The film is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy® Awards after winning Best Live Action Short Film at Chicago Children’s Film Festival in 2022 and Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma in 2023 .

Listen to hear Vincent discuss his personal connection to the story, how he got to work with some tremendous young actors and how he has dealt with being an Oscar nominee.

Books recommended by Vincent include:

Films mentioned in this episode include:

Follow Vincent on Instagram @vincentrenelortie and the film Invincble @invincibleshortfilm

Support the show

© My Podcast Data
About usPrivacy Policy