The award-winning indie film history podcast celebrating the history and legacy of movies you know, and movies you don't.
Have you ever wondered how your favourite movies were made? Hosted by Em, Verbal Diorama is a movie podcast that takes you behind the scenes to discover the extraordinary stories of cast and crew who bring classic films, blockbuster films, and cult films to life.
Movies are tough to make, and this podcast proves how amazing it is that they actually exist. From Hollywood classics to hidden gems, each episode explores the behind-the-scenes history, legacy, and untold filmmaking stories that make cinema history.
Ear Worthy 2024 Best Movie Podcast Winner | Golden Lobes 2025 Earworm Award Nominee | Ear Worthy 2025 Best Movie Podcast Nominee | Golden Lobes 2026 Earworm Award Nominee
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Bong Joon-hoβs dedication to making Snowpiercer, and making it his way, is as always a true testament to his greatness as a director, and a visionary director at that. You donβt start something in 2005 and take seven years to develop it if you donβt have that passion for the project.
In many ways the scale and scope of Snowpiercer led Bong to want to make smaller films - his next film would be Okja for Netflix, and then heβd make Parasite - undoubtedly his most important, acclaimed and successful film, and the gateway for many in the west to truly accept Korean and international cinema after it swept the boards at the Oscars.
But Snowpiercer remains one of his most special, and most overlooked entries, despite the star-studded cast, terrific action set pieces and thoughtful social commentary. This would be Bong's first English language movie, and the irony is that in a movie where the entire train is controlled by a wealthy white power-mad elitist, a wealthy white power-mad elitist would end up controlling its release...
It's also the annual birthday episode; I've got a lovely black jelly birthday cake here, I wonder what it's made out of....
I would love to hear your thoughts on Snowpiercer (μ€κ΅μ΄μ°¨) (2013) !
Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!
Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio
Patrons: Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell, Philip K and Adam!
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Hollywood cinema has often featured Native American men in Westerns as brutal, hypermasculine barbarian warriors, and Native American women as hyper-sexualised or a quiet subservient. They'd also often be portrayed by white actors in brownface.
How remarkable that a Predator prequel aimed to set this injustice right?
Despite not being of Native American descent, director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison knew that they needed to make this movie as authentic as possible to the 1700s in the Great Plains, and not only did they get the advice of the Native communities, they involved them in every aspect of making Prey, and this started with producer Jhane Myers - the VIP of this movie.
Myers was instrumental on the authenticity and representation of the Comanche in Prey, as well as ensuring that a variety of roles, both in front and behind the camera, were First Nations people, with Native interns in the crew at all levels, as well as first time Native actors, led by an impeccable lead performance by Amber Midthunder.
But the greatest contributions came from community and tribal elders, who advised not only on language and specific tribal culture, including weapons, customs, face painting and regalia. Comanche is classified as a severely endangered world language, which makes it even more incredible that we got a Comanche dub of this movie. Itβs more important than ever to preserve this language.
Prey is as authentic to Comanche tradition as it can be, and it's the best Predator movie by far. Yeah, I said what I said.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Prey (2022) !
Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! I won the Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards recently. I am beyond thrilled, and hugely grateful to the Ear Worthy team. It means so much to me to be recognised by a fellow indie outlet, and congratulations to all the other winners!
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Season 6 Β· Episode 259
Thursday, June 13, 2024 β’ Duration 57:05
Star Trek ran for three seasons on NBC before being cancelled in 1969 due to low ratings. It was after this that the show went into syndication, that its popularity started growing, and it developed a cult following.
Due to the original series' popularity in syndication, Paramount Pictures began to consider making a Star Trek film as early as 1972 and by 1975, a film version of Star Trek was announced - Star Trek: Planet of the Titans (although that wasn't the only one!)
Star Trek: Planet of the Titans would become the TV series Star Trek Phase II.
Star Trek Phase II would be the basis for what would become Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but it would take a huge amount of both time and money to become what we got. With actors embroiled in lawsuits, constant script issues and a visual effects company that didn't deliver any visual effects, given all that transpired in the years leading up to Star Trek: The Motion Pictureβs release in December 1979, itβs a miracle that the film was released at all, let alone coherent.
I would love to hear your thoughts on Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) !
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Ex Machina (ft. Jack from Sequelisers)
Season 4 Β· Episode 169
Thursday, August 18, 2022 β’ Duration 02:11:16
Auguest continues!
Impulse. Response. Fluid. Imperfect. Patterned. Chaotic. All words to describe this podcast, but also uttered by Nathan describing the brain of his ultimate creation; Ava. But can Ava pass as human? Let's find out as we delve into Alex Garland's (sort-of!) directorial debut,EX MACHINA!
This week's guest wasn't lucky, he was chosen. I had to use all of my self-awareness, imagination, manipulation, sexuality and empathy to be joined by the terrific Jack Chambers-Ward from Sequelisers, who was made to be on this podcast talking about Ex Machina.
Despite all of his work so far, Ex Machina might very well be Alex Garland's masterpiece. A complex, character-driven piece, on the power of nature vs future, nature vs nurture and man vs object of desire.
Basically this movie and this episode.... is all about Kyoko. Kyoko is the key. Don't believe us? Listen in and we'll explain why....
If you've created a conscious machine, it's not the history of man. That's the history of gods.
The YouTube video we mention several times, by Shaun, is titled How Wikipedia Got Ex Machina (2014) Wrong and is available here
Jack (@jlwchambers) hosts Sequelisers alongside Matt Stogdon and Tim Maytom. You can find their back catalogue of brilliant episodes in your podcast app of choice, and they're on Twitter as @Sequelisers
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Dogma (ft. Andy from Geek Salad)
Season 4 Β· Episode 168
Thursday, August 11, 2022 β’ Duration 01:21:21
Auguest continues!
Snootch to the motherf**king nootch! Verbal Diorama returns for another guest hosted episode for probably the best movie writer/director Kevin Smith has ever made - DOGMA.
There's no pleasure, no rapture, no exquisite sin greater than being joined for Dogma by the human embodiment of the Buddy Christ, Andy from Geek Salad, for his Holy Trinity of guest appearances. He has a penchant for the dramatic, but unlike other fallen angels, he won't kill you for your sins.
Kevin Smith tapped into his lapsed Catholicism and wrote an ambitious, controversial and theologically actually-rather-respectful; reverent, yet irreverent story.
You people! If there isn't a movie about it, it's not worth knowing, is it?
Andy (aka Perennial Commenter Andy!) hosts Geek Salad along with regular contributors Mike, Katherine and Joe. You can find their back catalogue of brilliant episodes in your podcast app of choice, and they're on Twitter as @geeksaladradio
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Basic Instinct (ft. Gali from The Rewind Movie Podcast)
Season 4 Β· Episode 167
Thursday, August 4, 2022 β’ Duration 01:24:17
Auguest, a month of amazing guest-hosted episodes, begins!
I'd have to be pretty stupid to host a podcast about killing and then kill him the way I described in my podcast. I'd be announcing myself as the killer. I'm not stupid.
TW: This episode includes a discussion about a scene which depicts forced sex/sexual assault/rape as well as Sharon Stone's recent revelations that she did not consent to her genitals being shown on screen.
It's not just global warming, Verbal Diorama is officially getting hotter, and finally tackling the definitive erotic thriller of the '90s - BASIC INSTINCT! A spec script that Mario Kassar of Carolco paid $3 million for, which became the movie everyone was talking about, but mainly for one infamous scene in particular.
Joining me for this sexy investigation is a man who can wield an ice pick like no other. A man who likes rough edges, and a podcaster who falls for the wrong guest appearance. Itβs Gali from The Rewind Movie Podcast.Β
Will Gali make it out of the episode alive? Will I charge him with smoking? Will he get off before he gets offed? Or will we f**k like minks, raise rugrats, and live happily ever after?
Maybe forget the rugrats...
Gali hosts The Rewind Movie Podcast along with Devlin, Patrick and Matt. You can find their back catalogue of brilliant episodes in your podcast app of choice, and they're on Twitter as @rewindmoviecast
I would love to hear your thoughts on Basic Instinct!
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Airplane!
Season 4 Β· Episode 166
Thursday, July 28, 2022 β’ Duration 51:10
Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts for the latest episode of this podcast. What is it? Well, it's an audio file you can listen to at any time, but that's not important right now.
Surely Verbal Diorama can't be serious? Well, Verbal Diorama is serious, and don't call me Shirley. I'm Em, I'm your pilot for this flight, and the life of everyone on board depends upon just one thing: finding a podcast host who can not only fly this plane, but who didn't have fish for dinner.
We have clearance, Clarence. Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit podcasting...
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete and brand-new patron Heather!
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Promising Young Woman
Season 4 Β· Episode 165
Monday, July 25, 2022 β’ Duration 30:33
Another Nanorama (episodes slightly shorter, but focusing on interesting titbits of information) on the history and legacy of Promising Young Woman, and how important this movie is, regardless of your gender.
If this movie makes you feel uncomfortable, it's doing its job.
TW: This episode covers suicide, rape, sexual abuse, lack of rape convictions, as well as a rant on the recent overturning by the US Supreme Court of Roe vs Wade, making abortions illegal in some US States and limiting reproductive healthcare.
It was a fever dream while making Piranha II: The Spawning that gave James Cameron his idea for a terrifying metal endoskeleton crawling through flames. From that initial idea, he would write a draft, and with the help of Gale Anne Hurd, he would have a script that would sell to Orion, and funding from Hemdale Film Corporation.
That script was called The Terminator. Made for a comparatively tiny $6.5 million, The Terminator would surpass all expectations, including that of Orion, and of its star Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a role that he'd admit in later life was his personal favourite character.
With practical effects by Stan Winston Studio and Fantasy II, a tightly paced story and taking inspiration from slasher horror, The Terminator terminated the competition on its release in October 1984. It created a franchise, created a star and created a director.
Come with me if you want to listen...
I would love to hear your thoughts on The Terminator !
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
District 9
Season 4 Β· Episode 163
Thursday, July 14, 2022 β’ Duration 51:52
It's not every first time director who hits it out of the park with their first feature, especially one based on an original idea, with an unknown cast.
Luckily (or rather unluckily for Halo), an existing project that had brought them together had crumbled, and so a partnership began between powerhouse producer Peter Jackson, fresh off his The Lord of the Rings trilogy and newcomer Neill Blomkamp.
Based on Blomkamp's 6-minute short film Alive in Joburg, District 9 takes South Africa's recent history and translates it into a science fiction satire, asking the simple question of "How would humans treat alien refugees?" and is it really any different to "How would white people treat black people?"
While District 9 has its controversies and critics, it was a fresh and interesting take on the alien invasion genre in 2009, and while you would have thought a sequel would be forthcoming rather quickly, District 10 has never quite materialised...
Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio
Patrons: Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete, Heather, Danny, Aly, Stu, Brett, Philip M, Michele, Xenos, Sean, Ryno, Russell, Philip K and BRAND-NEW PATRON ADAM!
Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique Studio
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete and Heather.
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete and Heather
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas, Zo, Kev, Pete and Heather
T-shirts inspired by The Mummy (1999) with more collections to come!
EPISODE THANKS TO....
Most excellent patrons:
Andy and Mike for their patron thoughts. You can find them @geeksaladradio / @gundam_guyver on Twitter and their podcast Geek Salad on all your podcast apps.
Pete for his patron thoughts. You can find him @TheRealPEEEETE on Twitter and his podcast Middle Class Film Class on all your podcast apps.
Nicholas, Stuart and Ian for their patron thoughts, too!
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas, Zo, and brand-new patrons Kev and Pete!
Thank you to all the patrons Simon E, Sade, Claudia, Simon B, Laurel, Derek, Vern, Kristin, Cat, Andy, Mike, Griff, Luke, Emily, Michael, Scott, Brendan, Ian M, Lisa, Sam, Will, Jack, Dave, Chris, Stuart, Jason, Ian D, Sunni, Drew, Nicholas and Zo!
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