Podcasts by The Pestle: In-depth Movie Talk, No Fluff | Film Review | Spoilers
Cinema lovers unite! Two actors and filmmakers decided to cut through all the fluff and start a movie podcast where they actually discuss the film and not a million other things you don
Further podcasts by Wes Evans: Actor, Filmmaker, Director, Writer; Todd Sapio: Actor, Producer, Musician, Athlete
Podcast on the topic Filmrezensionen
All episodes
Ep 258:“Napoleon” from 2023-12-12T07:00:51
We invade Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and discuss: Cinematography, fight sequence; Story & Writing, nudity, Josephine; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “There is no...
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Ep 257:“Unforgiven” from 2023-11-29T19:03:26
We deserve Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” and discuss: Cinematography, contrast; Story & Writing, Will vs Bill, deserve’s got nothing to do with it; New Mad Valley Tra...
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Ep 256:“No Country for Old Men” from 2023-11-21T07:00:25
We flip a coin on the Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” and discuss: Cinematography & Editing; Story & Writing, luck, fate, and evil; Actor Trent Moore discusses ...
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Ep 255:“Adaptation” from 2023-11-15T20:51:05
We grow into Charlie Kaufman’s “Adaptation” and discuss: Wes discusses losing his grandmother (00:00-13:38); Cinematography; Story & Writing, subplots vs settings, Charlie&...
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Ep 254:“The Creator” from 2023-10-31T07:00:36
We scan Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” and discuss: Story & Writing, humanizing the enemy; Performance; Music & Sound Design; and other such stuff and things and stuff. ...
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Ep 253:“Talk To Me” from 2023-10-24T07:00:56
We shake hands with RackaRacka’s “Talk To me” and discuss: Directing & Cinematography, visceral storytelling; Story & Writing, keeping us off-balance, possessing the ha...
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Ep 252:“Paranormal Activity” from 2023-10-17T07:00:02
We stalk “Paranormal Activity” and discuss: Cinematography, combining style and story; Writing & Story, selling the world, slow burns and slow payoffs; Directing and Editing, fas...
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Ep 251:“Ghostbusters”(1984) from 2023-10-10T07:00:25
We grab a Twinkie, call the “Ghostbusters” and discuss: Story & Writing, efficient storytelling, comedy; Sound & Music, soundtrack; New Mad Valley track: “Only Good Thi...
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Ep 250:“The Sixth Sense” from 2023-10-03T07:00:01
We float through M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense” and discuss: Cinematography, reveals, coverage and theatrical flair; Writing & Directing, pacing; and other such stu...
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Ep 249:“The Revenant” from 2023-09-26T07:00:30
We bear down on Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Revenant” and discuss: Cinematography, immersive storytelling; Guest Sergio Trejos, sound engineer joins us; New Mad Valley track!; and...
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Ep 248:“Crimson Tide” from 2023-09-19T07:00:39
We concur with Denzel Washington’s “Crimson Tide” and discuss: Cinematography, dutch angles for dramatic effect and for the setting; Story & Writing, betrayals, conversatio...
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Ep 247:“Source Code” from 2023-09-05T07:00:14
We loop through Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Source Code” and discuss: Cinematography, contrast, breaking the 180º rule; Story & Writing, details, theme, stakes; Todd’s new sin...
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Ep 246:“Chernobyl”(HBO Series) from 2023-08-29T07:00:55
We fly over Craig Mazin’s “Chernobyl” and discuss: Cinematography, lens flares, stabilizing a handheld shot; Story & Writing, horror, tragedy, tension, threats; and other s...
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Ep 245:“Barbie” from 2023-08-22T07:00:19
We float into Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and discuss: Cinematography, wides, closeups; Story & Writing, pop culture references, Ken, Ruth, Gloria & Sasha; Performances, Se...
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Ep 244:“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” from 2023-08-15T07:00:07
We sail through Russell Crowe’s “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” and discuss: Cinematography, night scenes, camerawork; Story & Writing, friendship vs duty...
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Ep 243:“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part 1” from 2023-08-01T07:00:14
We wreck Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part 1” and discuss: Story & Writing, motivated storytelling, exposition; Action, consequential chases; and other ...
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Ep 242:“Oppenheimer” from 2023-07-25T07:00:21
We react to Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and discuss: Cinematography, color, black & white, fission vs fusion, IMAX considerations; Story & Writing, fast starts, T...
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Ep 241:“Apollo 13” from 2023-07-18T07:00:22
We stir the tanks on Ron Howard’s “Apollo 13” and discuss: Cinematography, vertigo shot, selling space-gravity; Story & Writing, exposition, building stakes & tension; ...
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Ep 240:“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” from 2023-07-11T07:00:13
We do our own thing in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and discuss: Story & Writing, leaning into exposition, moral dilemmas and the trolley problem; using Music to tell an...
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Ep 239:“Run Lola Run” from 2023-07-04T07:00:07
We dash through “Run Lola Run” and discuss: Visual signature; Story & Writing, Chaos Theory, time, soccer, runtime; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “It is a test (a po...
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Ep 238:“The King’s Speech” from 2023-06-27T07:00:38
We articulate “The King’s Speech” and discuss: Cinematography & Directing, framing Bertie; Story & Writing, British dry humor, Bertie’s struggles; Performance, vo...
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Ep 237:“Spirited Away” from 2023-06-20T07:00:43
We devour Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” and discuss: Cinematography, editing; Story & Writing, Chihiro’s journey from weak to strong, complex emotions; What’s it a...
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Ep 236:“The Secret of Kells” from 2023-06-06T07:00:50
We discover “The Secret of Kells” and discuss: Wes shooting a music video (0:00-18:00); Story & Writing, dialog, Aisling, Pangur Ban; Music, art style, hand-drawn animation; and ...
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Ep 235:“RRR” from 2023-05-30T07:00:06
We roar at Tollywood’s breakout sensation “RRR” and discuss: Cinematography, frame rate; Story & Writing, musical storytelling, heightened tone; and other such stuff and th...
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Ep 234:“Slumdog Millionaire” from 2023-05-16T07:00:34
We interrogate Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” and discuss: Cinematography, Directing; Story & Writing, exposition, the Dickensian aspect; Gift and curse of winning an ...
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Ep 233:“The Book of Eli” from 2023-05-09T07:00:29
We feel our way through The Hughes Brothers’ “The Book of Eli” and discuss: Visual style; Story & Writing, theme, outline; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “There...
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Ep 232:“Menace II Society” from 2023-05-02T07:00:32
We drive by The Hughes Brothers’ “Menace II Society” and discuss: Story & Writing, opening scene, morality tales; Hollywood gangster films; and other such stuff and things ...
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Ep 231:“The Dark Knight” from 2023-04-25T07:00:45
We swear to Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” and discuss: Cinematography and Directing, cheating for speed; Story & Writing, Batman vs Joker, philosophical stakes, Jok...
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Ep 230:“The Great Dictator”(1940) from 2023-04-11T07:00:25
We crash into Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” and discuss: Cinematography, old aspect ratios, classic glow-up; Story & Writing, destroy something beautiful, how mach...
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Ep 229:“Prisoners” from 2023-04-04T07:00:19
We trap Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners” and discuss: Cinematography, camera movement; Story & Writing, good detective/bad detective, testing faith; Wes unintentionally overs...
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Ep 228:“Enemy”(Denis Villeneuve) from 2023-03-28T07:00:57
We double-check Denis Villeneuve’s “Enemy” and discuss: Story & Writing, what’s it all about? What’s up with the spider?; and other such stuff and things and st...
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Ep 227:“The Fountain” from 2023-03-21T07:00:47
We journey through Darren Aronofsky’s “The Fountain” and discuss: Cinematography and editing; VFX, and setbacks; every film is its own universe; and other such stuff and things...
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Ep 226:“Cyrano” from 2023-03-14T07:00:31
We yearn for Peter Dinklage’s “Cyrano” and discuss: Todd’s path to being a full-time producer, building a creative career (0-23 min); Cinematography & Directing, crea...
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Ep 225:“Barbarian” from 2023-03-07T07:00:35
We check into Zach Cregger’s “Barbarian” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork; Story & Writing, playing with the audience; Directing, ambience & tone; and other such...
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Ep 224:“The Whale” from 2023-02-28T07:00:47
We obsess over Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” and discuss: Cinematography, aspect ratio; Directing, acting and performances; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I’...
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Ep 223:“Jerry Maguire” from 2023-02-21T07:00:53
We complete Cameron Crowe’s “Jerry Maguire” and discuss: Story & Writing, using audience expectations against them; Cinematography, traditional lighting; and other such stu...
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Ep 222:“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” from 2023-01-23T18:47:39
We get to Shane Black’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” party and discuss: Story & Writing, humor, subverting expectations; Screenplay snippets, how Shane Black’s voice is dist...
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Ep 221:“Pulp Fiction” from 2023-01-10T21:19:54
We massage Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” and discuss: Story & Writing, out of sequence storytelling, creating contrast, Tarantino’s dialog; Directing & Produ...
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Ep 220:“Training Day” from 2022-12-27T07:00:14
We ride along on Antoine Fuqua’s “Training Day” and discuss: Cinematography, the horizon line; Story & Writing, story outline; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “R...
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Ep 219:“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” from 2022-12-20T07:00:39
We migrate through “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and discuss: Humor, absurdism, dry humor; Comedy period piece; Guest Scott Garrett Graham joins us; and other such stuff and thin...
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Ep 218:“Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong” from 2022-12-13T07:00:28
We bump into Emily Ting’s “Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong” and discuss: Cinematography, filming in public spaces; Low budget filmmaking; and other such stuff and things and stuf...
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Ep 217:“Braveheart” from 2022-12-06T07:00:25
We gallop across Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” and discuss: Cinematography, recreating moonlight; Story & Writing, romance, symbolism; Directing & Performances, visual stor...
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Ep 216:“Taxi Driver” from 2022-11-29T07:00:27
We’re talkin’ to Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and discuss: Story & Writing, character studies; The Ending; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I don&#...
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Ep 215:“Reservoir Dogs” from 2022-11-22T07:00:44
We hole up with Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork, off-screen violence; Story & Writing, “single location” filmmaking, skippi...
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Ep 214:“My Blueberry Nights” from 2022-11-15T07:00
We devour Wong Kar-Wai’s “My Blueberry Nights” and discuss: Music, keeping heavy moments light; Cinematography, step-printing, lighting, reflections, shallow depth of field; St...
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Ep 213:“The Mummy Returns”(2001) from 2022-11-08T07:00:42
We unwrap Brendan Fraser’s “The Mummy Returns” and discuss: Story & Writing, expanding the universe; Shifting the tone of a sequel; and other such stuff and things and stuf...
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Ep 212:“Everything Everywhere All At Once” from 2022-11-01T07:00:18
We get googly-eyed over the Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and discuss: Writing and Directing, crafting the edit in the script; Humor and drama, making tough subj...
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Ep 211:“The Mummy”(1999) from 2022-10-25T07:00:54
We resurrect Brendan Fraser’s “The Mummy” and discuss: Physical comedy, flourishes, and committing to the bit; Story, Writing, and keeping it PG-13, death in the shadows, expos...
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Ep 210:“Predator” from 2022-10-18T07:00:15
We target Arnold Schwarzenegger’s regular “Predator” and discuss: Cinematography, framing bodybuilders; Predator fun facts; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “This sto...
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Ep 209:“The Host”(Bong Joon Ho, 2006) from 2022-10-11T07:00:48
We slip ‘n fall into Bong Joon Ho’s “The Host” and discuss: Monster origin story; Everyone’s a moron; Directing and editing, match cuts; and other such stuff and th...
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Ep 208:“Jaws” from 2022-10-04T07:00:31
We chew on Spielberg’s “Jaws” and discuss: Cinematography, day for night; Story & writing, Quint vs Hooper, shark cage; Shark fun facts! and other such stuff and things and...
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Ep 207:“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” from 2022-09-27T19:58:12
We kneel before Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and discuss: Cinematography, a grand reveal; Story & writing, new depth to an old character; and other such...
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Ep 206:“Munich”(Spielberg, 2005) from 2022-09-20T07:00:11
We attempt to responsibly discuss Spielberg’s “Munich” and discuss: Cinematography, heightening a moment through contrasting camerawork; Story & Writing, questions being ra...
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Ep 205:“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” from 2022-09-13T07:00:15
We swing through Spielberg’s “Raider’s of the Lost Ark” and discuss: Cinematography, framing, blocking, cheating; Story & writing, setting up the supernatural, Indy t...
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Ep 204:“Jurassic Park” from 2022-09-06T07:00:17
We excavate Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” and discuss: Cinematography, motivated camera moves; Story & writing, exposition, dialog cues, where the original succeeds and seque...
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Ep 203:“Oldboy”(Chan-wook Park, 2003) from 2022-08-30T07:00:04
We’re charmed by Chan-wook Park’s “Oldboy” and discuss: Wes’ editing process and screenwriting blues; Story & writing, the opening shot, sex scenes in movies, h...
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Ep 202:“Pan’s Labyrinth” from 2022-08-23T08:00:27
We toast a bottle of wine to Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” and discuss: Story & writing, rule of threes, setting up tension, is this a metaphor?; and other s...
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Ep 201:“Children of Men” from 2022-08-16T07:00:59
We cruise through Alfonso Cuarón’s “Children of Men” and discuss: Cinematography, immersing the audience; Story & writing, the real genre we’re in, who are the good g...
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Ep 200:“Interstellar”part 3 from 2022-08-09T07:00:08
We stay for Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” and discuss: Story & writing, adding texture, 90% honesty, emotional storytelling; Directing, moments of breathing, the scene...
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Ep 199:“Lightyear” from 2022-07-12T07:00:40
We fly through Pixar’s “Lightyear” and discuss: Story & writing, character and story arcs; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “KEEP IN MIND THAT progress is not alw...
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Ep 198:“Memories of Murder” from 2022-06-28T07:00:52
We process Bong Joon Ho’s “Memories of Murder” and discuss: Cinematography, oner of crime scene, first frame + last frame; Story & writing, themes of misconduct; True crime...
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Ep 197:“Captain America: Civil War” from 2022-06-21T07:00:25
We feud through Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” and discuss: Story and writing, structure, and ramping up tension with precision; Directing, delivering a meaningful line,...
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Ep 196:“Men”(Alex Garland) from 2022-06-14T07:00:47
We mansplain Alex Garland’s “Men” and discuss: Cinematography, showing disconnect through framing; Story & writing, lessons, symbolism overload; and other such stuff and th...
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Ep 195:“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” from 2022-06-07T08:00:05
We arrive at Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s “The Return of the King” and discuss: Story & Writing, is there a Deus Ex Machina problem?; Sound design and music cues; and spec...
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Ep 194:“Top Gun: Maverick” from 2022-05-31T07:00:26
We hit mach 10 through Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun: Maverick” and discuss: Story & writing, do great artists steal, who is Mary Sue; Cinematography, natural lighting for continui...
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Ep 193:“Top Gun”(1986) from 2022-05-24T08:00:47
We kick the tires and light the fires through Tony Scott’s classic “Top Gun” and discuss: Cinematography; Editing & Music, aerial combat, connecting sequences through music...
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Ep 192:“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” from 2022-05-17T07:00:27
We punch our faces through Sam Raimi’s “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and discuss: Netflix’s core problem and what their action plan should be to fix it (T...
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Ep 191:“Dual”(2022, Riley Stearns) from 2022-05-10T08:00:47
We drive around Karen Gillan’s “Dual” and discuss: Story & writing, tone, “boring” finale, symbolism; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “And you may as...
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Ep 190:“Chungking Express” from 2022-05-03T08:00:09
We sneak into Wong Kar-Wai’s “Chungking Express” and discuss: Cinematography, step-printing, the emotional impression of motion blur; Story; Directing & Acting without line...
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Ep 189:“The Northman” from 2022-04-26T08:00:42
We raid Robert Eggers’ “The Northman” and discuss: Cinematography, locations, set design; Story & writing, exploring historic cultures; and other such stuff and things and ...
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Ep 188:“A Ghost Story” from 2022-04-19T08:00:53
We haunt David Lowery’s “A Ghost Story” and discuss: Existentialism, the end of everything; we discuss what we remember from a Q&A at a screening with director David Lowery...
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Ep 187:“The Hurt Locker” from 2022-04-12T16:10:23
We defuse Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork, transitions; Story & writing, opening scene, what’s in a title; Interview an Ar...
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Ep 186: How to Podcast or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Pestle from 2022-04-05T07:00:08
Todd interviews Wes about this odyssey of creating and running The Pestle Podcast. We discuss: How to start and maintain a podcast; What goes into every Pestle episode?; A “Lightning Round” with...
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Ep 185:“Aliens” from 2022-03-29T11:50:51
We take the express elevator through James Cameron “Aliens” and discuss: Editing, director’s cut vs theatrical, tightening an edit to remove performance indicators; Story &...
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Ep 184:“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”(2011, David Fincher) from 2022-03-22T07:00:13
We mind our manners with David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and discuss: Story & writing, structure, Mikael and Lisbeth’s strengths and weaknesses, soc...
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Ep 183:“Sound of My Voice” from 2022-03-15T07:00:58
We devour & purge Brit Marling’s “Sound of My Voice” and discuss: Low-budget filmmaking, keeping the budget on screen; Cinematography, fitting the style to the story and bu...
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Ep 182:“The Batman” from 2022-03-08T07:00:36
We investigate Robert Pattinson’s “The Batman” and discuss: Cinematography, edge lighting; Story & writing, Batman’s breaks, Catwoman’s story told through her b...
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Ep 181:“The Count of Monte Cristo”(2002) from 2022-03-01T07:00:03
We break into Jim Caviezel’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” and discuss: Cinematography, framing, depth of field, and shutter angle; Story & writing, why comedic beats cut the...
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Ep 180:“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”(1967) from 2022-02-22T07:00:53
We pull up a seat to Sidney Poitier’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and discuss: Cinematography, eye lights, and breaking the 180 rule; Story & writing, setting the ...
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Ep 179:“Get Out” from 2022-02-15T19:50:31
We sink into Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork and how it relates to the story, the sunken place, using long holds; Story & writing, social h...
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Ep 178:“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”(2005) from 2022-02-08T07:00:35
We grab our towel for Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and discuss: Cinematography, framing, and production design; Story & writing, hiding expos...
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Ep 177:“Don’t Look Up” from 2022-02-01T07:00:03
We dig into Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up” and discuss: Cinematography and editing, use of detail shots; Story & writing, what is being critiqued; and other such stuff ...
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Ep 176:“Spider-Man: No Way Home” from 2022-01-25T07:00:05
We do the math on Marvel’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and discuss: Story & writing, using humor to hide a weak setup; Bucking the trend of superhero films; and other such st...
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Ep 175:“CODA”(Patreon Bonus archive) from 2022-01-18T07:00:21
We have all we need to get through “CODA” and discuss: “big dog little dog” exercise; simple exposition; strong characters; changing perspectives; and other such stuff an...
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Ep. 174:“Underwater”vs“Sunshine”(Patreon Bonus archive) from 2022-01-11T07:00:21
We crawl up the water spout to compare and contrast “Underwater” vs “Sunshine” and discuss: best viewing order for this double-feature; the difference between the crews o...
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Ep 173: Kevin M. Faulkner, author of“The Sixth Traveler”(interview) from 2022-01-04T07:00:21
We take a break from our normal format to interview Kevin M. Faulkner about his new novel, “The Sixth Traveler” and discuss: what does the process of working with an editor look like...
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Ep 172:“The Raid: Redemption” from 2021-12-28T07:00:57
We break into Gareth Evans’ “The Raid: Redemption” and discuss: Cinematography, camerawork; Fight choreography, fast & fluid fighting; Story & writing, simple storytell...
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Ep 171:“Mad Max: Fury Road” from 2021-12-21T07:00:26
We witness George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and discuss: Cinematography, blue night, speed ramps, and packing the frame; Story & writing, fatal moments, henchmen fodder...
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Ep 170:“The Matrix”(1999) from 2021-12-14T07:00:15
We follow the white rabbit through The Wachowskis’ “The Matrix” and discuss: Cinematography, slomo, cheap b-roll, fight choreography; Story & writing, world-building cool s...
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Ep 169:“Before Midnight” from 2021-12-07T07:00:49
We time travel to Richard Linklater’s “Before Midnight” and discuss: Story & writing, how the conversations have shifted; Production differences from previous Before films,...
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Ep 168:“Before Sunset” from 2021-11-30T07:00:29
We show up to Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” and discuss: Cinematography, framing; Wardrobe, creating fresh looks without switching outfits; Directing, changing energy for...
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Ep 167:“Before Sunrise” from 2021-11-23T07:00:47
We talk through Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise” and discuss: Cinematography & directing, benefit of long takes for actors; Story & writing, 3-dimensional character...
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Ep 166:“Squid Game” from 2021-11-16T07:00:50
We secretly inspect Hwang Dong-hyuk’s “Squid Game” and discuss: Iconography of Squid Game; Netflix business model, pros and cons; Odds ‘n ends of the story & writing,...
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Ep 165:“Ted Lasso”Season 2 from 2021-11-09T07:00
We run a lap around season 2 of Jason Sudeikis’ “Ted Lasso” and discuss: Highlights & lowlights from season 2; Missed opportunities; Nicely written characters, complex char...
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Ep 164:“No Time To Die”(James Bond, 007) from 2021-11-02T07:00:37
We take all the time in the world with Daniel Craig’s “No Time To Die” and discuss the: Resourcefulness of Bond; Summoning characters & red herrings; Future of Bond; and ot...
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Ep 163:“Dune: Part 1”(Denis Villeneuve, 2021) from 2021-10-26T21:51:41
We sandwalk through Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” and discuss: Cinematography, day-for-night scenes; Writing & directing, the voice, visions; and other such stuff and things an...
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Ep 162:“The VVitch” from 2021-10-19T07:00:13
We bathe in Robert Eggers’ “The VVitch” and discuss: Killing children in movies; Cinematography, natural lighting, setting up a new location; Story & writing, sitting on a ...
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Ep 161:“Dawn of the Dead”(Zack Snyder, 2004) from 2021-10-12T21:49:42
We take a bite of Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead” remake and discuss: Austin City Limits recap from 1:04 – 17:33; Entertainment value, iconic moments; Cinematography and...
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Ep 160:“Let the Right One In” from 2021-10-05T07:00:44
We open the door to “Let the Right One In” and discuss: Cinematography, hiding adults in the frame; Story & writing, classic vampire rules, using failure to propel the story; and...
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Ep 159:“Ready Player One” from 2021-09-28T07:00:57
We virtually experience Spielberg’s “Ready Player One” and discuss: cinematography, packing the frame, and cheating for the camera; story & writing; special guest Ricky Hol...
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Ep 158:“Sicario” from 2021-09-21T07:00:44
We set our sights on Denis Villeneuve “Sicario” and discuss: cinematography and pacing; what the walls in Sicario can tell us about the story; writing & story, the rule of repeat...
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Ep 157:“Blade Runner 2049” from 2021-09-14T07:00:41
We interlink with Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049” and discuss: Building on the original’s visuals, ideas, et al; Story and writing, Joi as exposition and expansion...
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Ep 156:“Blade Runner”(1982) from 2021-09-07T07:00:48
We test Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” and discuss: Styling the Future, the visuals and world-building of Blade Runner; Story & writing, the pacing, and meaning of the story...
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Ep 155:“Rudy” from 2021-07-22T00:20:01
We try our hardest with “Rudy” and discuss: turning a small story into a big story; dramatizing real life, how movie lies can communicate the truth to the viewer; And other such stuf...
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Ep 154:“Meet Joe Black” from 2021-07-13T07:00:50
Yes, we linger on “Meet Joe Black” and discuss: Establishing characters; Pacing and how it can reveal character; Cinematography, the shadow of death, Bill’s one-candle wish; an...
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Ep 153:“Schitt’s Creek” from 2021-07-06T07:00:54
We paddle through Eugene & Dan Levy’s “Schitt’s Creek” and discuss: Cinematography: sitcom lighting; Story & writing: the setup, the situation and why it works, c...
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Ep 152:“The Tree of Life” from 2021-06-29T07:00:39
We whisper about Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” and discuss: cinematography, recreating childhood, symbolism of shadows; grace vs nature; and other such stuff and things ...
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Ep 151:“A Quiet Place Part II” from 2021-06-08T07:00:03
We sneak through John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place Part II” and discuss: Cinematography, framing horror for a PG-13 movie; Story & writing, differences between part 1 and 2; ...
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Ep 150:“Good Will Hunting” from 2021-06-01T07:00:55
We gotta see about Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting” and discuss: story & writing, Boston as a character, character driven vs plot driven, the climax & ending; mood, a...
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Ep 149:“Aladdin”(1992, animated) from 2021-05-25T07:00:24
We summon Disney’s “Aladdin” and discuss: Story & writing, pushing the story forward, theme; Notes from the screenwriters; Wes reveals the first movie he ever saw in theate...
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Ep 148:“Dead Poets Society” from 2021-05-18T07:00:07
We seize Robin Williams’ “Dead Poets Society” and discuss: cinematography, spinning cameras; story and writing, what’s in a name?; and other such stuff and things and stu...
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Ep 147:“The Fighter” from 2021-05-11T08:00:52
We knock down David O. Russell’s “The Fighter” and discuss: cinematography, 360 lighting, natural lighting vs available lighting; story; at the end of the episode we’ll t...
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Ep 146:“Creed” from 2021-05-04T07:00:36
We step into the ring with Ryan Coogler’s “Creed” and discuss: cinematography, boxing as a camera language; writing & Story, scene pacing, reaction shots, Donnie’s mo...
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Ep 145:“Rocky”(1976) from 2021-04-27T07:00:37
We swing at Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” and discuss: Cinematography; Writing & story, defying genre, story breakdown; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Every cha...
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Ep 144:“Nomadland” from 2021-04-20T07:00:48
We take the scenic route through Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” and discuss: cinematography, filming in widescreen; story, what’s the deal with Fern?; performance, some things ...
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Ep 143:“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” from 2021-04-14T18:10:31
We choose the skuxx life in Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” and discuss: deadpan humor; using perspective to tell a story; and other such stuff and things and stuff...
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Ep 142:“Ted Lasso” from 2021-04-06T07:00:33
We grin through Jason Sudeikis’ “Ted Lasso” and discuss: cinematography, blurring the line between comedy and drama; writing & story, why we trust Ted Lasso; speculation on...
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Ep 141:“Fire in the Sky” from 2021-03-30T07:00:20
We probe “Fire in the Sky” and discuss: cinematography, timing your titles, how lens compression can create danger; inserting doubt; Aliens! Are they out there, are they among us?; a...
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Ep 140:“Underwater” from 2021-03-23T07:00:50
We drill into William Eubank’s “Underwater” and discuss: cinematography, the effects of handheld; story & writing, Norah the action hero, creating tension; how Kristen Stew...
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Ep 139:“Do The Right Thing” from 2021-03-16T07:00:29
We sweat through Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” and discuss: cinematography, how the infamous title sequence sets the style for the movie; writing & story, rich character...
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Ep 138:“Notting Hill” from 2021-02-16T07:00:43
We enter the blue door in “Notting Hill” and discuss: cinematography, how you can see this is a drama and not a comedy; acting, Julia Roberts’ performance; writing & Story,...
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Ep 137:“Magnolia” from 2021-02-09T07:00:33
We rain on Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” and discuss: cinematography, long takes, transitions, anamorphic framing; ensemble writing; music; magnolia flower facts; and other...
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Ep 136:“Soul”(Pixar, 2020) from 2021-02-02T07:00:30
We search Pixar’s “Soul” and discuss: death; side missions, making it all add up to something; the zone; we have a surprise guest appearance; and other such stuff and things an...
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Ep 135:“Hamilton” from 2021-01-26T07:00:41
We take a shot at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” and discuss: live performances on stage vs film; wardrobe, set design; musical songwriting vs albums; and other such stuff and...
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Ep 134:“Casting, Auditioning, and Picking a Monologue”(Special Edition) from 2021-01-19T07:00:03
We pull a bonus episode out of our Patreon archive and discuss: the casting process, going through hundreds of submissions, what Wes looks for in an audition; how Todd did in all three rounds of...
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Ep 133:“Wonder Woman 1984” from 2021-01-08T10:00:51
We put the lasso of truth on Gal Gadot’s “Wonder Woman 1984” and discuss: themes, and conversational subtext in Wonder Woman; Chekhov’s Gun, wasted story elements; using ...
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Ep 132:“Amadeus” from 2020-12-29T07:00:40
We prance through F. Murray Abraham’s “Amadeus” and discuss: cinematography; story & writing, engaging the audience; living in the shadow of Mozart; special guest Scott Gar...
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Ep 131:“Burning” from 2020-12-22T07:00:39
We put a match to the Korean film “Burning” and discuss: cinematography, natural lighting vs available lighting; editing, how long takes and rhythm of edits affects the experience; s...
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ep 130: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers from 2020-12-15T07:00:41
We slink through Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and discuss: cinematography, lighting the middle Earth; story & writing, morality, demonstrating po...
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Ep 129:“Memento”(2000, Christopher Nolan) from 2020-12-08T07:00:49
We back our way through Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” and discuss: cinematography, setting the tone for a mechanically complex film; writing & story, why this film would no...
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Ep 128:“Following”(1998, Christopher Nolan) from 2020-12-01T07:00:19
We break into Christopher Nolan’s “Following” and discuss: cinematography, shooting on 16mm film; writing & editing, adding intrigue to a simple story; locations on a small...
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Ep 127:“Once” from 2020-11-25T18:19:15
We busk through John Carney’s “Once” and discuss: cinematography; rules of a musical; story, movie trailer moments; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “If you look at m...
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Ep 126:“Lady Bird” from 2020-11-17T17:24:38
We leap into Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” and discuss: cinematography, lighting, and communicating a feeling; writing & story, efficiency with locations; and other such stuff...
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Ep 125:“Primer” from 2020-11-10T07:00:49
We experiment with Shane Carruth’s sci-fi cult classic “Primer” and discuss: Cinematography, shooting ratios; Audio, selling a location; Story & writing, advancing the stor...
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Ep 124:“Shattered Glass”(2003) from 2020-11-02T22:33:33
We report on Billy Ray’s “Shattered Glass” and discuss: the anatomy of a liar; journalism’s function, process, weaknesses; the state of journalism today; at the end of th...
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Ep 123:“World War Z” from 2020-10-28T17:56:53
We look for weaknesses in Brad Pitt’s “World War Z” and discuss: establishing zombie rules; making a hero; making bad situations for the hero; and other such stuff and things a...
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Ep 122:“Shaun of the Dead” from 2020-10-20T07:00:57
We invade Edgar Wright’s “Shaun of the Dead” and discuss: cinematography, revealing a punchline; comedic editing; humor, apocalypse humor; and other such stuff and things and s...
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Ep 121:“Tucker and Dale vs Evil” from 2020-10-13T07:00:16
We take a stab at “Tucker and Dale vs Evil” and discuss: story & writing, Final Girls, dramatic irony, violent humor, hiding exposition through humor; cinematography, supporting ...
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Ep 120:“Dope” from 2020-10-06T07:00:18
We pedal through Rick Famuyiwa’s “Dope” and peddle: story & writing, coming of age stories, writing humor, upping the stakes, kick the dog storytelling; and other such stuf...
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Ep 119:“I Am Legend” from 2020-09-29T07:00:30
We survive Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” and discuss: cinematography: using light for dramatic effect & storytelling; writing & storytelling: what makes this fun to watch,...
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Ep 118:“Tenet” from 2020-09-24T17:58:56
We invert storytelling convention with Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and discuss: cinematography, was an actor underexposed?; writing and storytelling, loading the gun film theor...
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Ep 117:“Miami Vice” from 2020-09-08T07:00:39
We re-mem-buh Michael Mann’s “Miami Vice” and discuss: cinematography, shooting multiple formats, emulating a style; story & writing, starting deep into the story, groundin...
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Ep 116:“Love Jones” from 2020-09-01T07:00:38
We get together, fall apart, and start all over again with Theodore Witcher’s “Love Jones” and discuss: acting, adding subtext through performances; Story & writing, how a ...
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Ep 115:“Casino Royale” from 2020-08-25T07:00:23
We go all-in on Daniel Craig’s “Casino Royale” and discuss: cinematography, camerawork; Storytelling, rebooting a character, 7 ingredients to a Bond film, and the ending; and o...
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Ep 114:“Steve Jobs”(2015, Danny Boyle) from 2020-08-18T18:32:38
We compute Danny Boyle’s “Steve Jobs” and discuss: cinematography, camerawork; music; Story & writing, dramatic conflict; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I defi...
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Ep 113:“Moonlight” from 2020-08-11T17:16:52
We quietly watch Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” and discuss: cinematography, camerawork, and lighting; Directing, visual storytelling; Makeup, how it can affect the schedule; Story...
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Ep 112:“Inception” from 2020-08-04T18:41:26
We invade Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” and interpret: directing: riding the line between dramatic and hokey; writing: creating a new universe, the meaning in a name; the end...
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Ep 111:“A Few Good Men” from 2020-07-27T20:57:49
We salute Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men” and discuss: cinematography: background and blocking; writing: strong characters, subtext, character descriptions in a screenplay; and...
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Ep 110:“13th”(Ava DuVernay) from 2020-06-19T02:00:38
We look at Ava DuVernay’s “13th” and discuss: cinematography, inserting metaphor into the frame; editing; stories of casual encounters with police; protests in Austin; and othe...
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Ep 109:“The Shawshank Redemption” from 2020-06-16T07:00:28
We dig our way through Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” and discuss: cinematography, color, camerawork, and lighting; editing, the use of dissolves; story & writ...
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Ep 108:“Parasite” from 2020-06-09T00:29:18
We latch onto Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” and dissect: cinematography; writing & story, setups, payoffs, simple exposition; contextualizing art; and other such stuff and thin...
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Ep 107:"Seinfeld"(pilot) from 2020-06-02T07:00:37
We find serenity in Jerry Seinfeld’s “Seinfeld” and discuss: story & writing; cinematography; and other such stuff and things and stuff. Calvin & Hobbes – “Calvin...
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Ep 106:"How I Met Your Mother"(Pilot) from 2020-05-26T23:13:51
We gather our rosebuds to watch the pilot of “How I Met Your Mother” and discuss: writing & story, how HIMYM is different from Friends; cinematography; casting a project; and oth...
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Ep 105:“Friends”(Pilot) from 2020-05-19T07:00:12
We grab a spoon and dig into the pilot episode of “Friends” and discuss: cinematography; editing a laugh track and establishing shots; writing, how Friends shifts over its entire ser...
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Ep 104:"Cheers"(pilot) from 2020-05-12T07:00:04
We drop in for a quick brew at Ted Danson’s “Cheers” and discuss: cinematography; TV comedy writing; theme song; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “And I will make it ...
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Ep 103:"Devs" from 2020-05-05T07:00:43
We gaze into Alex Garland’s “Devs” and discuss: cinematography, deterministic camera movement; music; story & writing; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “History i...
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Ep 102:"Little Women"(2019) from 2020-04-27T23:04:28
We weep through Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” and discuss: cinematography, distinguishing past from present; editing, using pace to set expectations; story & writing; and o...
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Ep 101:“1917” from 2020-03-10T07:00:27
We march through Sam Mendes’ “1917” and discuss: cinematography, first and last frame, creating coverage in a long take; story & writing, setups and payoffs; editing, tips ...
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Ep 100:“Interstellar”Redux from 2020-03-03T16:47:20
We travel through Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” and discuss: cinematography, resetting the frame; audio + music; writing & storytelling, immersive storytelling; and ot...
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Ep 99:“Mindhunter” from 2020-02-13T20:26:18
We profile David Fincher’s “Mindhunter” and discuss: cinematography, and use of color and camera movement; editing; writing & storytelling, some of the subtle psychological...
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Ep 98: 3 Rules of Fat Loss (Special Edition) from 2020-02-01T05:14:02
So many people exhaust themselves trying to lose weight in the most inefficient way. Don’t put 95% of your effort where only 5% of the results come from. The 3 Rules of Fat Loss are where ...
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Ep 97: National Lampoon’s“Christmas Vacation” from 2019-12-31T21:42:04
We sing through National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” and discuss: editing; physical comedy; story; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “What’s funny is funny. T...
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Ep 96:“Twilight” from 2019-12-18T19:13:27
We sparkle through “Twilight” and discuss: writing and story, what makes Twilight an awful movie; special guest Scott Garrett Graham; Wes maybe gets stoned on air as a coping mechani...
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Ep 95:“Moneyball” from 2019-12-10T07:00:34
We do the math on Bennett Miller’s “Moneyball” and discuss: plot and subplots; performances; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I don’t want a lot of guys like m...
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Ep 94:“Ford v Ferrari” from 2019-12-03T18:00:35
We speed through Christian Bale’s “Ford v Ferrari” and discuss: super in-depth cinematography breakdown; writing, and keeping a story on topic; and other such stuff and things ...
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Ep 93:“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” from 2019-11-21T03:56:09
We try to recall Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and discuss: cinematography; writing and story, subtle commentary; we are joined by special guest Dr. J...
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Ep 92:“Edge of Tomorrow” from 2019-11-12T07:00:30
We relive Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” and discuss: shooting a time travel story; writing and story; cinematography, how color grading, lenses, and lighting impacted the sto...
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Ep 91:"Joker" from 2019-11-05T07:00:18
We cackle through Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” and discuss: cinematography; story; performances; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Remorse for what? You people have done...
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Ep 90: John Carpenter’s“The Thing” from 2019-10-23T00:56:16
We tiptoe through John Carpenter’s “The Thing” and discuss: cinematography; special effects and how they tie into the theme; building suspense; and other such stuff and things ...
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Ep 89:“The Cabin in the Woods” from 2019-10-16T19:23:49
We stalk through Drew Goddard’s “The Cabin in the Woods” and discuss: cinematography; story and writing; allegory; the role of horror films in society; and other such stuff and...
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Ep 88:“28 Days Later” from 2019-10-09T01:39
We sprint through Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” and discuss: cinematography, how the film medium affects the story; story and writing; and other such stuff and things and stuff...
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Ep 87:“Collateral” from 2019-10-01T17:14:30
We ride through Michael Mann’s “Collateral” and discuss: cinematography, film and digital; emotionally investing in characters; challenging the characters; and other such stuff...
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Ep 86:"The Prestige"(2006) from 2019-08-03T02:42:58
We jazz-hands our way through Christopher Nolan’s “The Prestige” and discuss: writing tricks; story; the film’s real “prestige”; and other such stuff and thin...
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Ep 85:"Finding Forrester" from 2019-07-17T01:18:24
We fly through Gus Van Sant’s “Finding Forrester” and discuss: cinematography, and how lens selection affects the perception of the story; writing; story, and inciting incident...
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Ep 84:“Arrival” from 2019-07-10T17:20:51
We decipher Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” and discuss: cinematography; color; story; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “A language is not just words. It’s a cultu...
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Ep 83:“Saving Private Ryan” from 2019-07-03T16:34:37
We venture into Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” and discuss: cinematography, camerawork, and lighting; story & writing; storming the beaches in the opening scene; ...
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Ep 82:“John Wick: Chapter 3–Parabellum” from 2019-06-18T22:08:18
We kickpunch, blast, and stab our way through Keanu Reeves’ “John Wick 3” and discuss: world building; fighting; we interview Aaron Alexander, an actor, stuntman, and fight cho...
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Ep 81:“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” from 2019-05-29T17:41:15
We blast our way through James Cameron’s “T2: Judgment Day” and discuss: wardrobe; vfx; story & writing; scifi rules of time travel; and other such stuff and things and stu...
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Ep 80:“The Terminator”(1984) from 2019-05-22T16:52:50
We stalk our way through James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi/horror/action film “The Terminator” and discuss: visual storytelling; fx; robots & AI; and other such stuff and things ...
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Ep 79:“Sideways” from 2019-05-08T17:57:57
We drink our way through Alexander Payne’s “Sideways” and discuss: story; cinematography; performances; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “It is better to hide ignoran...
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Ep 78:“Avengers: Endgame” from 2019-05-01T18:44:29
We blast into Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” and discuss: story; theme; genre mixing; and a plethora of more things such as this. “The end of a melody is not its goal: but ...
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Ep 77:“Cast Away” from 2019-04-24T14:33:40
We drift into Tom Hanks’ “Cast Away” and discuss: cinematography; story & theme; how subtext creates powerful emotions; and a plethora of more things such as this. “B...
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Ep 76:“Man on Fire”(2004) from 2019-04-16T21:52:25
We burn through Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire” and discuss: editing; performances; writing, how writing drama for film can differ from TV; And many of the things. “There came this ...
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Ep 75:“Apollo 11”(2019 Documentary) from 2019-04-09T07:00:06
We land on “Apollo 11” and discuss: cinema verite vs direct cinema; power of editing; celluloid vs digital; and a plethora of more things such as this. Clip of the Day: Notes & R...
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Ep 74:“The 40 Year Old Virgin” from 2019-03-26T07:00:39
We slide into Judd Apatow’s “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and discuss: defining the romantic comedy genre; cinematography; comedy story structure; and other such stuff and things an...
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Ep 73:“Million Dollar Baby” from 2019-03-19T07:00:50
We take a swing at Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” and discuss: cinematography; boxing as a metaphor; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Don’t count the d...
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Ep 72:“The Hunger Games”(2012) from 2019-03-12T07:00:41
We scope out Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” and discuss: Camerawork, why so much handheld; Katniss as a character; Set design; Kuleshov effect; and other such stuff and thin...
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Ep 71:“Annihilation” from 2019-03-05T21:55:54
We explore Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” and discuss: Cinematography and composition; Story & theme, what is it really about; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “No...
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Ep 70:“Alita: Battle Angel” from 2019-02-26T07:00:24
We slice through Robert Rodriguez & James Cameron’s “Alita: Battle Angel” and discuss: VFX; story; what was learned from a Robert Rodriguez Q&A; and other such stuff an...
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Ep 69:“Bill&Ted’s Excellent Adventure” from 2019-02-20T17:17:01
We party through “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and discuss: cinematography, consistent framing, immersion; paradoxes of time & success; the theme & lesson of t...
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Ep 68:“Black Swan” from 2019-02-12T07:00:24
We dance through Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” and discuss: Super 16mm film, and how it affects the story; building tension and anxiety; and other such stuff and things and s...
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Ep 67: Alfonso Cuarón’s“Gravity” from 2019-02-05T07:00:06
We orbit Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” and discuss: cinematography, motivated camera moves; theme & symbolism; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Give sorrow words; t...
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Ep 66:“A Very Long Engagement” from 2019-01-29T07:00:46
We limp through Jeunet’s “A Very Long Engagement” and discuss: color; story; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong...
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Ep 65:“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” from 2019-01-09T06:36:52
We journey into JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” and discuss: cinematography; adapting a novel; Wes’s favorite edit in the movie; we are ...
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Ep 64:“Die Hard” from 2019-01-01T10:35:16
Yipikaye, melon farmers!! We slomo jump into “Die Hard” and discuss: is “Die Hard” the best action movie and the best Christmas movie of all time; story & theme; cine...
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Ep 63:“Birdman” from 2018-12-19T11:00:02
We fly through Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s oner “Birdman” and discuss: cinematography, mirror shots, motivated camera moves, upstage lighting; themes and story; acting; we are join...
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Ep 62:“Free Solo” from 2018-12-11T07:00:57
We trek through the documentary “Free Solo” and discuss: Lens compression and how it affects the story; love and climbing; we interview Aicacia, a badass rock climber; and other such...
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Ep 61:“The Martian” from 2018-12-04T19:46:20
We explore the Ridley Scott space film “The Martian” and discuss: performances; cinematography; story; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “My advice to other disabled people ...
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Ep 60:“Drive”(2011) from 2018-11-27T07:00
We roll through Nicolas Winding Refn’s crime drama “Drive” and discuss: cinematography; colors and allegory of “Drive”; performances; And other such stuff and thing...
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Ep 59:“Bohemian Rhapsody” from 2018-11-21T19:49:38
We jam out with the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” and discuss: the score; Queen; Wes goes off the grid using research instead of notes; And other such stuff and things a...
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Ep 58:“Your Name.” from 2018-11-13T18:26:23
We journey into the anime film “Your Name.” and discuss: animation; story; we also interview Justin Kaufman, a concept artist with experience in animation; And other such stuff and t...
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Ep 57:“A Star is Born”(2018) from 2018-10-30T07:00:24
We jam out to Bradley Cooper’s “A Star is Born” and discuss: cinematography; music; performances and story; And other such stuff and things and stuff. “Wanting to be someone el...
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Ep 56:“First Man” from 2018-10-23T16:54:48
We explore Damien Chazelle’s “First Man” and discuss: camerawork and cinematography; story; And other such stuff and things and stuff. “The church says the earth is flat; but I...
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Ep 55:“Hereditary” from 2018-10-16T07:00:17
We settle into the 2018 horror “Hereditary” and discuss: story, themes, and symbolism; acting, making the scene more than about words on the page; And other such stuff and things and...
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Ep 54:“Hidden Figures” from 2018-10-03T20:22:25
We explore the 2017 Best Picture nominee “Hidden Figures” and discuss: Why Hidden Figures is not a good movie; Wes rants about the problem with big budget black films; And other such...
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Ep 53:“Spotlight” from 2018-09-25T07:00:06
We investigate the 2015 Best Picture movie “Spotlight” and discuss: cinematography; composing a frame with a purpose; journalism stories; and much more! “For what shall it profit a m...
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Ep 52:“It Follows” from 2018-09-18T07:00:56
We walk through the horror movie “It Follows” and discuss: cinematography; creating tension through the choice of lens; the horror rules and symbolism of “It Follows”; and much more!...
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Ep 51:“Catch Me If You Can” from 2018-09-11T07:00:56
We sprint through Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” and discuss: cinematography; movie tricks; story techniques; and much more! “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the...
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Ep 50:“Vanilla Sky”(7 Minute Pestle) from 2018-09-04T17:03:49
We take 7 minutes to dive into Cameron Crowe’s “Vanilla Sky” and discuss: SFX Makeup; importance of nudity; cinematography; and much more! “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile b...
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Ep 49:“Mission: Impossible–Fallout” from 2018-08-16T00:43:23
We dissect Tom Cruise’s new action movie “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and discuss: Acting; opening; writing; and much more! “Women are more sympathetic creatures in je...
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EP 48:“Gladiator” from 2018-08-06T22:38:44
We visit Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning picture “Gladiator” and discuss: cinematography; telling a story through wardrobe; VFX; and much more! “The best revenge is to be unlike h...
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Ep 47:“Almost Famous” from 2018-08-01T14:59:47
We rock out with Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” and discuss: cinematography; editing & story techniques; themes and symbolism; and much more! “There are two basic motivati...
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Ep 46:"The Departed" from 2018-07-18T19:08:58
We sneak a look at Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and discuss: 180º rule; themes; the importance of theme; and much more! “Justice is incidental to law and order.” – J....
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Ep 45:"Deadpool 2" from 2018-06-12T19:43:37
We take a look at Ryan Reynolds in “Deadpool 2” and discuss: cinematography; satire and sincerity; writing; and much more! “I was given such a great gift. It’s a miracle that n...
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Ep 44: HBO's"The Sunset Limited" from 2018-06-05T07:00:06
We gaze into Samuel L. Jackson & Tommy Lee Jones’s HBO movie “The Sunset Limited” and discuss: cinematography, shooting in a small room; acting; writing; and today we are a...
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Ep 43:"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" from 2018-05-29T07:00:05
We find ET in Steven Spielberg’s Sci-Fi classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and discuss: Spielberg’s cinematography; storytelling devices; aliens; and much more! “The ...
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Ep 42:"Contact" from 2018-05-17T00:46:14
We search for extraterrestrials in 1997’s Robert Zemeckis Sci-Fi classic “Contact” and discuss: the themes of “Contact”; visually reinforcing the themes; cinematogr...
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Ep 41:“The Avengers: Infinity War” from 2018-05-08T23:10:17
We dissect Marvel’s “The Avengers: Infinity War” and discuss: Great villains, and the unexpected antagonist; VFX; Writing for an ensemble; and much more! “The atom bomb was no ...
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Ep 40:"The Big Sick" from 2018-05-02T23:30:33
We analyze the romantic comedy “The Big Sick” and discuss: themes of “The Big Sick”; storytelling with wardrobe; establishing tension; and much more! “There are two...
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Ep 39:“Se7en” from 2018-04-24T15:56:19
We dive into David Fincher’s 1995 masterpiece “Seven” and discuss: character arcs; cinematography & camerawork, including one simple but brilliant foreshadowing technique; ...
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Ep 38:"A Quiet Place" from 2018-04-18T00:37:42
We dive into John Krasinki’s 2018 horror film “A Quiet Place” and discuss: the metaphor of “A Quiet Place; the opening scene; sound; acting; and much more! “‘...
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Ep 37:"Alien"(1979, Ridley Scott) from 2018-04-03T22:03
We dive into Ridley Scott’s sci-fi/horror classic “Alien” and discuss: the symbolism in “Alien”; cinematography, and editing; design; and much more! “‘A...
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Ep 36:“Attack the Block” from 2018-03-28T19:17:41
We dive into Joe Cornish’s sci-fi/horror “Attack the Block” and discuss: the beasts of Attack the Block; theme & symbolism; horror gimmicks; John Boyega; and much more! ...
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Ep 35:“Moana” from 2018-03-20T17:23:51
We dive into Disney’s “Moana” and discuss: musical efficiency in storytelling; lessons of Moana; Heihei as a sidekick; what filmmakers can learn from cartoons; and much more! &...
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Ep 34:“Dumb and Dumber” from 2018-03-13T07:00:37
In this episode we drop into the Jim Carrey comedy classic “Dumb and Dumber” and discuss: the cinematography of comedies; why this movie works; Wes goes on a rant; and much more! ...
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Ep 33: Marvel's"Black Panther" from 2018-02-27T20:51:33
In this episode we break down Marvel’s “Black Panther” and discuss: symbolism of “Black Panther”; Ryan Coogler; camera settings (aperture/f-stop/iris, frame rate, s...
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Ep 32:“Call Me By Your Name” from 2018-02-13T07:00:49
In this episode we dive into the indie drama “Call Me By Your Name” and discuss: the camerawork of “Call Me By Your Name”; audio; the story; and much more! “Concent...
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Ep 31:“Fight Club” from 2018-02-08T05:48:06
In this episode we take a look at David Fincher’s cult classic “Fight Club” and discuss: the title sequence of “Fight Club”; lighting in the bar scene; the transiti...
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Ep 30:“Mudbound” from 2018-01-30T07:00:59
In this episode we discuss: intersectionality; lighting and camerawork; we interview Carl Effenson, one of the producers of “Mudbound”; and much more! “Human progress is neithe...
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Ep 29:“Never Let Me Go” from 2018-01-25T00:26:35
In this episode we discuss: Lighting and camerawork; framing & compositions; film stocks; and much more! “The aim is to postpone frailty, postpone degenerative disease, debilitation an...
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Ep 28:“The Room” from 2018-01-02T07:00:34
In this episode: Wes gets drunk and ruins The Pestle; we discuss the failures of The Room, The Disaster Artist; and much more! “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someon...
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Ep 27:“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” from 2017-12-26T07:00:19
In this episode we discuss: the theme of The Last Jedi; a little visual analysis; we have an interview with Dr. Steven Vance, a planetary chemist and astrobiologist with JPL NASA to discuss spac...
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Ep 26:“Looper” from 2017-12-21T01:47:58
In this episode we discuss: the time travel of Rian Johnson’s “Looper”; editing; theme; the future; and much more! “If the Universe came to an end every time there was some un...
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Ep 25:“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” from 2017-12-11T07:00:39
In this episode we tackle JJ Abrams’ Star Wars The Force Awakens and discuss: Deus Ex Machina storytelling; camerawork & visual analysis; Kylo Ren, JJ Abrams; and much more! Visual An...
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Ep 24:“Chef” from 2017-12-05T07:00:12
In this episode we discuss: the camerawork and visual technique of Jon Favreau’s Chef; Chef as a metaphor; we interview chef Aaron; and much more! Visual Analysis (camerawork) Chef is l...
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Ep 23:“Garden State” from 2017-11-28T07:00:20
In this episode we tackle Zach Braff’s indie hit “Garden State” and discuss: the camerawork and editing; visual gags; when performances make the film; the impact this film had ...
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Ep 22:“Ex Machina” from 2017-11-21T07:00:20
In this episode we discuss Alex Garland’s directorial debut “Ex Machina”: Artificial Intelligence with special guest Byron Reese, host of Gigaom’s Voices in AI podcast; c...
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Ep 21:“The Hateful Eight” from 2017-11-14T07:00:49
In this episode we take on Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and discuss: the camerawork and technique of shooting in one room; we weigh in with a special guest about Tar...
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Ep 20:“Spider-Man: Homecoming” from 2017-11-08T02:19:16
In this episode we discuss Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and discuss: Good villains; Epic failures as a story device; origin stories; and much more! Notes & References:...
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Ep 19:"Stranger Things"Season 1&2 from 2017-10-31T08:00:19
In this episode we discuss Netflix’s “Stranger Things”: the title sequence of Stranger Things; the composition & camerawork; pacing, themes, differences between seasons 1 &...
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Ep 18:"Scott Pilgrim vs the World" from 2017-10-24T07:00:47
In this episode we have special guest Joe Howes with us to discuss: the lighting of Edgar Wright’s “Scott Pilgrim vs the World”; transitions; sound design; and much more. “I th...
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Ep 17:“La La Land” from 2017-10-17T07:00:41
In this episode we discuss: the symbolism of La La Land; Technicolor; the 180º rule; music and Hollywood; being an artist, and pursuing your dreams; and much more. “The way I look at a musical, ...
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Ep 16:“V for Vendetta” from 2017-10-10T23:13:06
In this episode we discuss: The Overture of 1812; James McTeigue & The Wachowskis; Hugo Weaving & Natalie Portman’s amazing performances; the meaning of V for Vendetta, terrorism, ...
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Ep 15: Stephen King’s“It” from 2017-10-03T07:00:22
In this episode we discuss: the theme of Stephen King’s “It”; camerawork and editing techniques; horror dramas; child actors; and much more. “Even bad guys (most of them, anywa...
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Ep 14:“Baby Driver” from 2017-09-26T07:00:05
In this episode we check out Edgar Wright’s “Baby Driver” and discuss: Edgar Wright’s style; foreshadowing; editing on set; the opening scene and the title sequence; and ...
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Ep 13:“Sunshine” from 2017-09-20T07:00:02
In this episode we discuss Danny Boyle’s scifi film “Sunshine” and discuss: the colors of Sunshine; Danny Boyle’s style vs David Fincher; the film’s theme; foreshad...
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Ep 12:"The Big Lebowski"with guest Scott Graham from 2017-09-05T07:00:44
In this episode the Coen Brothers cult classic hit “The Big Lebowski” and discuss: the Coen Brothers; the human comedy of The Big Lebowski; Philip Seymour Hoffman; the real antagonis...
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Ep 11:“Rogue One” from 2017-08-29T17:55:37
In this episode we check out Gareth Edwards’ “Rogue One” and discuss: the cinematography of Rogue One; FX & set design; war; and much more. Wes’s additional thought: ...
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Ep 10:“The Social Network” from 2017-08-22T07:00:15
In this episode we take a look at David Fincher’s “The Social Network” and discuss: the audio & music of The Social Network; Aaron Sorkins tropes; David Fincher’s cin...
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Ep 9:“The Dark Tower” from 2017-08-15T07:00:15
In this episode we check out Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” and discuss: adapting Stephen King novels. The differences between The Gunslinger book and The Dark Tower movie. Mo...
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Ep 8:“Clue”–with special guest Joe Parsons from 2017-08-01T07:00:13
In this episode we look at the comedy classic “Clue” and discuss: turning a board game into a comedy Making exposition fun Camera work that plays into comedy The nature of com...
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Ep 7:“Dunkirk” from 2017-07-25T07:00:57
In this episode we dive into Christopher Nolan’s WWII film “Dunkirk” and discuss: the artwork of Dunkirk; the true enemy; the nature of tension, and the ways it shows up; Nolan...
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Ep 6:"Transformers The Last Knight" from 2017-07-18T07:00:54
We take a look at Michael Bay’s latest robot movie “Transformers: The Last Knight” and discuss: The Extremes of Transformers Acting (in a bad movie) FX Respecting the audience ...
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Ep 5:“Whiplash” from 2017-07-11T07:00:07
In this episode the indie thriller “Whiplash” and discuss: Music & Jazz, tension & resolution; The colors of Whiplash; We debate the merits of Fletcher’s teaching techn...
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Ep 4:"Guardians of the Galaxy 2" from 2017-07-04T07:00:07
In this episode we check out James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and discuss: Incongruity; The importance of a title sequence; Comparing intro & title sequences f...
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Ep 3:"Warrior"- Immersion techniques from 2017-06-27T07:00:07
In this episode we check out the MMA film “Warrior” and look at: the variety of ways Warrior immerses us into its world, using audio, lighting, and more. Camerawork, angles, and how ...
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Ep 2:"Interstellar"- What does it mean? from 2017-06-20T07:00:15
In this episode we look at Christopher Nolan’s scifi epic “Interstellar”: Wes babbles about 70mm film, and briefly touches on film vs digital Space and the science of Interstel...
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Ep 1:"Wonder Woman"- A man washes up on the women-only Alamo Drafthouse island. from 2017-06-13T07:00:48
In this episode: Todd wanders into the Alamo Drafthouse’s women-only screening of Wonder Woman Wes’ most embarrassing memory The VFX of Wonder Woman Feminism in Wonder Woman (Accordi...
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