Explore every episode of the podcast The Oscar Project Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.88-Their Own Desire with Maria Banson | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:47:19 | |
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.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.87-Filmmaker Interview with David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz | 28 Oct 2025 | 00:23:06 | |
In today's episode, I interview David and Sam Cutler-Kreutz, the duo over brother directors behind the film "A Lien" which was nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 97th Academy Awards last March. Their latest short film "Trapped" is also qualified for the 98th Academy Awards. Listen to hear about the inspiration for the story based on their own childhood as sons of a teacher, a creative effects solution that solved the central problem of their film, and the story of shooting alongside a much bigger production at the same location.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow the film on Instagram @_trappedfilm, David @davidcutlerkreutz, and Sam @samcutlerkreutz. | |||
| 3.86-Sally with Dan Pal | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:53:08 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Sally. I'm joined by Dan Pal from the PalCinema, Television, & Music newsletter and we talk about the use and re-use of popular songs in movies even in the 1930s and 40s, the innovative use of early Technicolor in the film, and how the film might have been much different if made a few years later once the production code was in place.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.85-Filmmaker Interview with Elham Ehsas | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:15:34 | |
In today's episode, I interview Elham Ehsas, director of the short film "There Will Come Soft Rains," a story of a young woman confronting the personal implications of rising sea levels resulting from global warming. Listen to hear about the importance of understanding the personal stories of people impacted by climate change, the importance of layered identities in creating a complex character, and the poem that inspired the film's title.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Elham on Instagram @zoradzo and the film @softrainsfilm. You can also find Elham on his website at https://elhame.co/. Find out more about Climate Spring and the work they do on their website. | |||
| 3.84-The Love Parade with Enrico Banson | 19 Oct 2025 | 00:44:33 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Love Parade. I'm joined by Enrico Banson from the Director's Notes newsletter and we talk about some uses of editing we haven't seen much in early sound films, how gender roles and class differences are portrayed in the film, and what people mean when they talk about "Lubitsch Land" in the director's films.
Other referenced topics: | |||
| 3.83-Filmmaker Interview with Daniel Persitz | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:18:01 | |
In today's episode, I interview Daniel Persitz, director of the short film "Key of Genius," a story of a young blind autistic savant and the teacher determined to unlock his genius through music. Listen to hear about the process of casting such a specific character, a brief communication with royalty, and the task of picking which music to feature in a film that focuses so much on playing music.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Other media mentioned in this episode:
Follow Daniel on Instagram @dpersitz and the film @keyofgenius_film. Check out the 60 Minutes video Daniel mentions at the beginning of the interview on YouTube. | |||
| 3.82-Condemned with Luis Mendez | 10 Oct 2025 | 00:46:06 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Condemned. I'm joined by Luis Mendez from The Mendez Movie Report and we talk about whether or not it is smart for a prison warden to bring in a prisoner to work in his home, the ongoing development of story pacing in films at this time, and some choices that were made with the intent of taking advantage of the use of sound even in the early stages of sound cinema.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.81-Filmmaker Interview with Sam Davis | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:19:12 | |
In today's episode, I interview Sam Davis, director of the new short film "The Singers," a beautiful exploration of untapped talent and raw emotion. Listen to hear about the Russian short story that served as the inspiration for the film, some practical steps the production took to make the film feel more timeless, and the process of finding the incredible singers that populate the film.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Sam on Instagram @samdavis and the film @thesingersfilm. You can also follow the singers featured in the film online by checking out @mikeyung, @chrissmithermusic, @sailing_vessel_harlott, @judah_kelly, @tooloudtenor, and @venicedhutch. | |||
| 3.80-The Trespasser with Kevin Pettit | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:53:02 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Trespasser. I'm joined by Kevin Pettit from the See You at the Movies newsletter and we talk about comparisons between relationships of the 1920s and today, the impact of the stock market crash of 1929 on the film industry (and greater economy), and an unexpected hometown connection with the film.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 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 2025 | 00:32:27 | |
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. | |||
| 3.78-Disraeli with Jeff Kramer | 26 Sep 2025 | 00:48:53 | |
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.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.77-Filmmaker Interviews with Megan Mullen (Student Academy Awards 2025) | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:12:05 | |
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. | |||
| 3.76-Hallelujah with Jonathan Hammond | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:56:27 | |
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.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.75-Filmmaker Interviews with Tatiana McCabe and Xindi Zhang (Student Academy Awards 2025) | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:27:05 | |
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. | |||
| 3.74-Bulldog Drummond with Gareth Bradwick | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:43:59 | |
Today's episode is the first film discussion episode of the 3rd Academy Awards and my conversation about the 1929 film Bulldog Drummond. I'm joined by Gareth Bradwick from the "Popped" newsletter and we talk about the film's influence on subsequent films in the genre, how the absence of music affects the overall mood of the film, and how this early example of a franchise film is different from what see today.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.73-Filmmaker Interviews with Tushar Bhojwani and Mati Granica (Student Academy Awards 2025) | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:30:24 | |
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 semifinalist Tushar Bhojwani, director of the animated film "Roar of the Tiger." We discuss his experience growing up in what's known as "the land of urban tigers" in Bhopal, India and the delicate balance between humans and nature. Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award Winner Mati Granica, director of the film "flower_gan." We talk about what actually happens when you ask an AI like ChatGPT to generate an image and the implications of using copyrighted content to train AI models. Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Tushar on Instagram @tusharbhojwani_wildlife and Mati at @matigranica. You can also check out Mati's website at https://matigranica.co.uk/. | |||
| 3.72-Kicking Off the 3rd Oscars with Beth Lisogorsky | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:27:49 | |
Today's episode is the beginning of my conversations about the films nominated at the 3rd Academy Awards. I'm joined by Beth Lisogorsky who writes the Beth's TV & Film Recommendations newsletter and we break down some of the history of the 3rd Academy Awards, all of the nominees, and take some a few moments to discuss the one missing film that won't get an individual episode this season. You can check out a short clip of some of the awards being handed out on YouTube along with the video Beth mentioned in the episode from Awards Contender on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get all the news episodes delivered to your device every Friday from now through February 2026 and if you want to be a guest for a film from the 4th Academy Awards, send me a message replying to this episode and let me know you're interested. Nominees of the 3rd Academy Awards (linked films will take you to where you can watch the film online as of the recording of this episode):
Wikipedia article about Oscar nominated | |||
| 3.71-Filmmaker Interviews with Lucas Ansel and Zolomon Zelko (Student Academy Awards 2025) | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:39:12 | |
Today's episode is the first of a series of double episodes you'll be getting throughout the month of September all featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees. My first interview is with 2025 Student Academy Award Winner Lucas Ansel, director of the animated film "The 12 Inch Pianist." We discuss where he found the story the film was based on and some of what went into making the setting seen on screen. Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award finalist Zolomon Zelko, director of the film "PhotoPlay XX." We talk about how the film is an emotional character arc instead of a narrative arc and getting the perfect abandoned house ready to film in. Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Other topics referenced in this episode include:
Follow Lucas on Instagram @lucas_ansel and Zolomon at @swampzik. | |||
| 3.70-The General with Joshua Ytreberg | 29 Aug 2025 | 00:22:27 | |
Today's special episode is a conversation I had with my son Joshua about the 1926 film The General, written by, directed by, and starring Buster Keaton. Joshua recommended this film to me after he saw it in a Film Studies class in school and when I realized I'd never seen the entire thing, we decided to make a podcast episode about it. Take a listen to hear us discuss .
Other referenced topics: | |||
| 3.69-Mia Mask Interview Replay | 26 Aug 2025 | 00:26:48 | |
Today's episode is a replay of the very first interview episode from back in June 2023. My guest was Mia Mask, a professor at Vassar College where she teaches African American cinema, Documentary History, and seminars on topics including horror film and auteurs like Spike Lee, Charles Burnett and Ava DuVernay. She also teaches feminist film theory, African national cinemas, and other genre courses. Her commentary can be heard on NPR and her first book Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film was published in 2009. She joined me back in 2023 to talk about her latest book Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western.
Films mentioned in this episode include:
Check out Wikipedia for more information about the Lobo Comics mentioned in the interview. | |||
| 3.68-2nd Oscars Recap | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:14:32 | |
Today's episode is my recap of everything from the second Academy Awards back in 1930. I run through all the nominees and winners of every category and give a final ranking of all 19 films I was able to watch from this year of the Oscars. If you missed any of the episodes discussing specific films, you can go back in this feed or just tap on the links below.
I have a special episode planned for next Friday and then the following week we jump right in with a preview of the 3rd Academy Awards. And if you want to be a guest for an upcoming episode of the podcast and help me discuss a future Oscar nominated film, send me a message replying to this episode and let me know you're interested. I would love to add your voice to my stellar list of guests for the show. | |||
| 3.67-Filmmaker Interview with Dylan Trupiano | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:26:47 | |
In today's episode, I interview Dylan Trupiano, director of the new short film "Recesses," a poignant reflection on hidden childhood trauma and education system. Listen to hear about the inspiration for the story in his own childhood experience with a teacher for a parent, the nature of childhood memories versus adult memories, and the difficulties of figuring out how to tackle such a serious topic with the right young actor for the film. Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Dylan on Instagram @dylantrupiano and the film @recessesfilm. | |||
| 3.66-Dynamite with Murray Mintz | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:41:28 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Dyamite. I'm joined by Murray Mintz from the "CineVibez Fanzine" newsletter and we talk about what the going rate for "buying a husband" was in 1929, some wonderful twists and turns throughout the plot, and innovative uses of sound in director Cecil B. DeMille's first fully sound feature.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.65-Filmmaker Interview with Meron Alon | 12 Aug 2025 | 00:14:33 | |
In today's episode, I interview Meron Alon, director of the new short film "Too Good," a humorous take on what happens when we die and meet God at the gates to heaven. Listen to hear about the process of casting the two stars of the film, some unconventional questions that God asks at the gates of heaven, and one of the best character names I think I've heard in a long time.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Meron on Instagram @meronalon. | |||
| 3.64-Madame X with Dan Pal | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:48:22 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Madame X. I'm joined by Dan Pal from the "PalCinema, Television, & Music" newsletter and we talk about the theme of forgiveness which appears in the film, director Lionel Barrymore's conscious decision to limit the amount of music in the film, and whether the story might have worked better as the original stage production.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.63-Filmmaker Interview with Hannah Rose Ammon | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:12:53 | |
In today's episode, I interview Hannah Rose Ammon, director of the new short film "We Do Our Best," a tender, true-to-life portrait of motherhood, girlhood and growing up in New York. Listen to hear about the real life event that inspired the film, what it was like filming in a small bar environment in New York City, and the importance of music in telling a story like this.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannah.rose.a and the film @wdobfilm. | |||
| 3.62-The Last of Mrs. Cheyney with Shawna Carroll | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:32:45 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Last of Mrs. Cheyney. I'm joined by Shawna Carroll from the "Notes From Post" newsletter and we talk about some interesting visual choices from the director and cinematographer throughout the film, incredible costumes (especially on Norma Shearer's Fay Cheyney), and how the plot of the film doesn't quite land in the third act.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.61-Filmmaker Interview with Aizzah Fatima | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:17:30 | |
In today's episode, I interview Aizzah Fatima, writer, producer, and star of the feature film Americanish, a look at several young Pakistani-American women living in Queens as they chase their American dreams. Listen to hear about the roots of the story in Aizzah's one woman show she was performing in New York, the importance of portraying young Muslim women with agency and abilities on screen, and what went into building an ensemble cast for the film.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Aizzah on Instagram @aizzahfatima and the film @americanishfilm. | |||
| 3.60-Thunderbolt with Jake Myshrall | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:43:08 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Thunderbolt. I'm joined by Jake Myshrall from the "Film Runner" newsletter and we talk about the innovative ways von Sternberg used sound even in this early sound film, the prevalence of gallows humor throughout the second half of the film, and how various actors are adjusting to the use of sound in film.
Other referenced topics: | |||
| 3.59-Filmmaker Interview with Frank Sun | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:19:56 | |
In today's episode, I interview Frank Sun, whose latest film "We Are Kings" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and will be playing at the 2025 HollyShorts Film Festival this August. Listen to hear about how Frank's immigrant background informed the way he looked at the world even from a young age, the benefit of discovering his characters through a feature length version of the script, and how Frank's own mother supported him in achieving his dreams.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Frank on Instagram @xfranksun and the film @wearekingsfilm. | |||
| 3.58-The Hollywood Revue of 1929 with Chris Mann | 18 Jul 2025 | 00:34:08 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Hollywood Revue of 1929. I'm joined by Chris Mann from the "Daily Movie Question" newsletter and we talk about how the film truly feels like watching a stage revue like those that were popular at the time, some interesting visual effects that the film employed at various points, and the propensity for women to be physically carried off stage by a group of several men throughout the film.
Other referenced topics: | |||
| 3.57-Filmmaker Interview with Nicola Rose | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:20:46 | |
In today's episode, I interview Nicola Rose, whose latest film Magnetosphere is playing at ComicCon and the San Diego Children's Film Festival this summer. Listen to hear about the challenges of bringing a character with synesthesia to the screen in a realistic way, realizing that life is a combination of funny moments and emotionally challenging moments, and the experience of working with a young cast that felt like they all naturally belonged together.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Other works mentioned:
Follow the film on Instagram @magnetospheremovie and Nicola @nicolarosedirects and check out Nicola's Substack. If you've seen the film, Nicola would love for you to leave a review on IMDb and Letterboxd. | |||
| 3.56-The Valiant with Matthew Carlson | 11 Jul 2025 | 00:48:55 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Valiant. I'm joined by Matthew Carlson from the "What Am I Making" newsletter and we talk about an unexpected prison jazz band, how the limitations of the film technology of the time impacted how stories were told on film, and how a very short play was adapted into a substantially longer film for this story.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.55-Filmmaker Interview with Amalie Atkins | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:26:02 | |
In today's episode, I interview Amalie Atkins, whose film Agatha's Almanac is playing at the Galway Film Fleadh this July. Listen to hear about the force that Amalie's aunt Agatha was in her life, the importance of being present in one's life, and the inherent challenges of shooting on film, especially when some of your film goes missing.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow the film on Instagram @agathasalmanac and check out Amalie's website amalieatkins.ca. Check out music from the artists whose work appears in the film including Castle If, Green-House, and Katarina Gryvul. | |||
| 3.54-Alibi with Jeff Kramer | 04 Jul 2025 | 00:42:02 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Alibi. I'm joined by Jeff Kramer from the "Death Star Human Resources Department" newsletter and we talk about the innovative uses of the new sound technology to accompany the film images, the portrayal of both the police and gangsters in the film, and some of the interesting camera shots that the film employs to keep up the visual end of the story.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.53-Filmmaker Interview with Jake Wachtel | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:23:52 | |
In today's episode, I interview Jake Wachtel, whose film "The Sentry" recently screened at SXSW London, Raindance, and the Palm Springs International ShortFest. Listen to hear about the idea for the film that came from wanting to get to know one of the anonymous henchmen from an action film like James Bond, the challenges of filming in the former residence of a king, and how visual effects and sound combined to create a ghostly character.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Listen to "Love You Only" by Ros Sereysothea whose music is featured in the film. Follow Jake on Instagram @jakewachtel.director and the film @thesentryfilm. | |||
| 3.52-The Letter with Lewis Beer | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:50:02 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Letter. I'm joined by Lewis Beer from the "Slow Moving Pictures" newsletter and we talk about the importance of sound right from the beginning of the film, the structural differences between the play and the film versions of the story, and the force that was Jeanne Eagles in this film that was sadly lost not long after its release.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.51-Author Interview with John DiLeo | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:19:12 | |
In today's episode, I interview John DiLeo, a film writer whose most recent book Not Even Nominated: 40 Overlooked Costars of Oscar-Winning Performances, was published in 2024. Listen to hear about the process for picking actors and films for this book, some things the Academy might be able to do to revamp the acting categories at the Oscars, and a movie character dinner party for the ages.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow John on Instagram @john.dileo.12, check out his website at johndileo.com and buy the book on Amazon and check out all his books on his Amazon author page. | |||
| 3.50-Coquette with Maria Banson | 20 Jun 2025 | 00:35:37 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Coquette. I'm joined by Maria Banson from the "Brunello Bombshell" newsletter and we talk about how the filmmakers used light and darkness to highlight aspects of Norma's personality, a technical snafu that derailed an early showing of the film with sound, and the way the entire film centers around Mary Pickford.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.49-Filmmaker Interview with Nina Gantz | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:17:46 | |
In today's episode, I interview Nina Gantz, whose film "Wander to Wonder" was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Listen to hear about the original even darker version of the story that never made it to the screen, some thoughts about how you can tell stories in animation that you can't tell anywhere else, and how eyelids can become one of the biggest challenges on a film set.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Nina on Instagram @ninagantz, check out her website at ninagantz.com and watch the film on demand on Vimeo. | |||
| 3.48-The Divine Lady with Janelle Miley | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:48:33 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Divine Lady. I'm joined by Janelle Miley from the "Right Now, You Like Me" newsletter and we talk about how closely the film aligns with the real life story of Emma Hamilton, some incredible naval battle sequences for the time period, and compare this film to some other Frank Lloyd directed films of the time that we have seen.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.47-Filmmaker Interview with Radha Mehta | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:18:34 | |
In today's episode, I interview Radha Mehta, who co-directed the short film "Witness" with Saif Jaan. The film tells the story of an Imam of a small town mosque who is faced with choosing between upholding the values of his mosque or protecting the safety and spiritual belonging of a trans man congregant. Listen to hear about the story's basis in Saif Jaan's real experience, how difficult it was to find a working mosque willing to allow a story about a trans character to be filmed inside, and what it's like to land your ideal casting for an important role in a film.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Radha on Instagram @radhamehta and the film @witness.shortfilm | |||
| 3.46-The Leatherneck with Gareth Bradwick | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:36:21 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Leatherneck. I'm joined by Gareth Bradwick from the "Popped" newsletter and we talk about the uneasy balance in the film between comedy and drama, how the film effectively uses the framing device of a military trial to tell its story, and how both filmmakers and theaters were dealing with the transition from silent to sound films.
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.45-Filmmaker Interview with Aaron Blaise | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:21:48 | |
In today's episode, I interview Aaron Blaise, director of the animated short film "Snow Bear," a story of a lonely polar bear navigating a rapidly changing Arctic in search of connection. Listen to hear about how Aaron found his way into animation, what he learned from his many years as an animator at Disney, and the emotional inspiration for the story of this new film.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Aaron on Instagram @aaronblaiseart, check out his work at www.creatureartteacher.com and be sure to check out the film at Tribeca this June. | |||
| 3.44-Weary River with Jonathan Hammond | 30 May 2025 | 00:39:21 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Weary River. Director Jonathan Hammond returns to the podcast to discuss the film and we talk about possibly the most compassionate prison warden character in film history, a theme song that gets played way too much in one film, and whether or not the film works as a part silent and part talking film.
Other referenced topics: | |||
| 3.43-Filmmaker Interview with Ida Melum and Laura Jayne Tunbridge | 27 May 2025 | 00:27:07 | |
In today's episode, I interview Ida Melum and Laura Jayne Tunbridge, the director and writer of the animated short film "Ovary-Acting," a look at the complex decision of whether or not to have children facing many people in the world today. Listen to hear about the personal inspiration for the story, the importance of finding humor even in the darkest moment in life, and the ambitious musical number that pops up in the middle of the film that has to be seen and heard to be believed!
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Podcasts mentioned in this episode include: Follow Ida on Instagram @iidamelum and at www.idamelum.com, Laura @lauratunbridge and be sure to check out the film at Tribeca this June. | |||
| 3.42-The Broadway Melody with Kevin Pettit | 23 May 2025 | 00:41:43 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Broadway Melody. My friend Kevin Pettit from the See You at the Movies newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about whether the film was there just to support the music being played, the degree to which this film is was considered scandalous at the time, and whether or not the film earns the love triangle (quadrangle?) that serves as the centerpiece to the "action."
Other referenced topics:
| |||
| 3.41-Filmmaker Interview with Sarah Goeke and Julia Sears | 20 May 2025 | 00:30:44 | |
In today's episode, I interview Sarah Goeke and Julia Sears, the writer and director of the web series "Forked," a story of a woman recovering from the purity culture of the Bible Belt through sobriety and dragon fantasy erotica. Listen to hear about Sarah trusting her director on the shoot for And Through the Portal We Go, keeping the cast of "Forked" very much in the family, and finding humor in some of life's most serious moments.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Follow Sarah on Instagram @sgerk, Julia @juliacsears and the series @forkedwebseries. | |||
| 3.40-In Old Arizona with Joanne Thornborough | 16 May 2025 | 00:44:07 | |
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film In Old Arizona. My friend Joanne Thornborough from the POP! Goes My Brain newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about how some traditional western stereotypes are turned on their heads in this film, the ingenious uses of sound in the film at the dawn of the talkie, and yet another love triangle in late 1920s film.
Other referenced topics:
Find out more information about the Barrymore Theatre. | |||
| 3.39-Filmmaker Interview with Jessica J. Rowlands | 13 May 2025 | 00:18:05 | |
In today's episode, I interview Jessica J. Rowlands, the director of the short film "Rise," a heartwarming story of resilience and determination set in Zimbabwe. The film will make its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this June. Listen to hear about the individual who inspired the film, the importance of using local talent both in front of and behind the camera to tell the story, and how the film uses local music to help establish an authentic local identity.
Films and TV shows mentioned in this episode include:
Musical Artists mentioned in this episode include: Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessiejrowlands and the film @rise.zimbabwe. And if you're in the New York in June, check out the film at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8th at 12 PM, June 14 at 8:30 PM and June 15th at 2:30 PM. | |||