Monolith is a single location, one actor film that nails it pretty much across the board. We thoroughly enjoyed this movie and there is nothing but excellent lessons throughout. A high-concept film, we have dubbed it a horror-thriller, Monolith is one of the most engaging single-person movies we have come across. A unique concept, fantastic technical prowess, and an amazing actor all converge to create a film that made us feel we were with her rather than watching her. It had a larger budget than most Indie films, but the lessons apply to any budget level.

Monolith can be found in IFC.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:36:00 — 87.9MB)

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Sometimes there are movies that bomb out from the start, but miraculously find a fanbase years later.  Troll 2 is one such film. A bad movie by all accounts, this poorly written, poorly acted, lifelessly directed debacle is hard to watch. Yet, over the years it has found cult classic status, with regular group showings and gatherings. We put off covering Troll 2 for a very long time because we knew just what we were going to have to endure. This is not an easy watch the first time around, and the second or more times are just grueling. We do have some positive lessons buried in this film. Strap in for the ride on this one.

Troll 2 can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:57 — 104.3MB)

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Pontypool is another sleeper.  When Jim saw it back in 2008 he wasn’t sure what to make of it.  After watching it a few more times he decided he liked it.  A lot.  Pontypool is a magnificent example of budget-conscious planning.  We talk about the use of just one location, inside, coupled with a great script, makes you feel you are in the middle of the apocalypse without even looking out of a window.  Great cast, and a fantastic concept of how a zombie virus could spread makes this a winner at all levels.  Nothing to pick at here, it’s a great ride and great technical film.

Pontypool can be found on IFC. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:40:04 — 91.6MB)

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Stitches is an Irish horror film production, with a fair amount of comedy strewn in. It has been on our list a long time, and we thoroughly enjoyed the rewatch. The story is simple, Stitches the clown gets killed at a kids party, and sometime later rises from the dead to finish the job. With a decent budget the technical aspects like sound, lighting, coloring, and everything else are great. The practical effects lean towards the comedy, but there is no shortage of blood. Stitches is another film with top examples of what to strive for when making a film.  We loved talking about this film, and will undoubtedly watch it again in the future.

Stitches can be found on Tubi. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:29:11 — 81.6MB)

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Digging for Fire was something of a sleeper for us. We explain what that means in the episode. What we can say is that this is a solid movie. There are a number of lessons in this one, all good. Except for the trailer. Very misleading, and coupled with the very brief logline it may turn people away. Which is a shame because if you skip past this film  you’re missing out on some very good entertainment. There is a lot to enjoy and learn from in this movie. 

Digging for Fire can be found on FilmRise.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:52:20 — 102.8MB)

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As we end this year, we pay tribute to Oscar Micheaux, an amazing black film producer/director/writer and independent studio owner. Starting in silent films, and going to ‘talkies’ when they arrived on the scene, Oscar Micheaux challenged racism, classism, stereotypes, and other social injustices long before current writers and directors. His movies and message were direct, and called out the poor behavior on everyone’s part with simple, clean stories. A number of his films are lost to time, so far, but those that have survived are works of art that every social-message artist should needs to see.  Jim and Dani cover Oscar’s life and his works. Also discussed is the bravery and conviction Oscar Micheaux had to stay true to himself and his message in the early to mid 1900s.

Places to learn more about Oscar Micheaux and see his films:

Filmography 

https://archive.org/details/oscar-micheaux-filmography/6+The+Exile+(1931)+First+Black+Feature+Talkie.mp4

Committee

https://www.micheaux.org/oscar-micheaux

Reference

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Micheaux

https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/oscar-micheaux

https://daily.jstor.org/how-oscar-micheaux-challenged-the-racism-of-early-hollywood/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:10 — 103.6MB)

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The kudos for Hereditary were many, but we had trouble figuring out where they came from.  We were very excited to watch Hereditary but once again that excitement was left unfulfilled. With stars like Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne, and a very high budget as an indie film, this should have been a home run. Instead it serves to show that even with millions in budget and A-list talent to bolster an indie project, the writing is where it begins and ends.  In this case, it did not really begin, it just ended. This episode Dani goes solo as Jim lost his voice a few weeks ago and still does not have it back. Dive in and listen to lessons on lost opportunities, such as set coloring, color grading, and original works.

Hereditary is for rent on several platforms.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:35 — 51.8MB)

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Back in August of 2021 we have the pleasure of having David Howard Thornton, also known as Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise, join us for a good long conversation. David is such a wonderfully nice and amazing person we were thrilled to get to spend time with him. With the fame of Terrifier 3, we wanted to bring this way-back-when interview to share with everyone who may have missed it. We talk Art the Clown, horror, panhandlers, lockdown, and more. Dive in and enjoy what we think was a fantastic conversation with a fantastic actor.

Terrifier and Terrifier 2  can be found on multiple services.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:11:35 — 120.5MB)

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Buddymoon proves to be one of the best buddy films put to screen. We were thoroughly entertained as jilted at the alter David is guided on a heart-healing honeymoon by his best friend Flula. This film has plenty to offer in both lessons and aspirations. Excellent cinematography, sound, direction, pacing, and performances. After a few let-downs, Buddymoon was a welcome and fun ride. We have a lot of good to say in this episode.

Buddymoon can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:44:48 — 96.0MB)

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The trailer for Broadcast Signal Intrusion had us hooked. However, the film as a whole failed to deliver. The movie serves as a reminder that the foundations of storytelling are more important than the idea for a film. Broadcast Signal Intrusion is a convoluted, slow-moving, and at times annoying slog through a concept based on an actual event that took place in the late 80’s. There were some good points on the technical side, as well as some aspects that came across as lazy.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:50 — 81.3MB)

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Hypochondriac was a mixed bag, mostly in favor of the good. This dive into the nightmare that those with mental illness deal with in trying to get recognized and treated does an excellent job in hitting at the societal stigmas and judgements that keep sufferers from revealing their troubles. We go long in talking about the importance of bringing the struggles of mental illness higher into the consciousness of everyone.  This episode had some sound issues due to an electrical issue that was not discovered until editing. Not the best sounding episode, but still an important one.

Hypochondriac can be found on Tubi.

National Institute of Mental Health Resources

Emergency – dial 911

Suicidal, emotional distress – call or text 988

Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:25 — 100.2MB)

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Birdemic:  Shock and Terror is supposed to be a message of environmentalism, but like the shock and terror in the title it misses out on all three.  James Nguyen lost his message in an almost violently slow film that tests the limits of boredom.  While there are kudos for making the film he wanted, the only lessons here are what not to do.  More importantly, we stick hard on the tenet of knowing the structure of a story, particularly the importance of having a plot.

Birdemic:  Shock and Terror can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:21 — 72.7MB)

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We dive into the David Ryan Keith film I Am Rage.  David’s first action-horror delivers as we follow Erin, a woman with a terrible past, as she gets caught up in a centuries’ old family business that is definitely hazardous to her health.  I Am Rage is a departure from David’s previous films, i.e Redwood Massacre, Attack of the Herbals, Ghosts of Darkness, and for a first run it is brilliant.  We talk cinematography, writing, action, direction, pacing and more.

I Am Rage can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:45 — 78.5MB)

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We are back!  And we are diving into Love Song of William H Shaw.  The third film in the FrenZee series, following Finding FrenZee and Revenge of Zoe, we rejoin our favorite characters John, Pete, and Billy.  This time around John and Pete are at odds, and Billy Shaw needs to figure out how to mend the rift.  Pure Indie film is what you will find here.  We have a lot of good things to say, and important lessons for creatives of all levels.  Jump in for this fairly spoiler-free coverage.

Love Song for William H Shaw is not yet in distribution.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:35:11 — 87.1MB)

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We do love a thriller, but it has to thrill. Unfortunately The Invitation does not provide any thrills. Good direction by Karyn Kusama, good cinematography, decent performances, but things fall apart with the writing. We do pick out some good lessons from this one, but once again one of those lessons is a Do Not Do. Poor writing had the film basically figured out in the first ten minutes. Also, suspension of disbelief is stretched to the limit. You can see that money was well spent on the technical aspects.

The Invitation can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:37:17 — 89.1MB)

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Someone reached out, and we watched their film. The Rogue Barrens is a no-budget, short feature that delivers. Exemplifying everything about Indie film – economy of locations, making the best of available equipment, simple story, and a low-overhead of effects. One big boost is a professionally scored soundtrack. These young filmmakers are the primary reason we started this podcast, which is to inspire newcomers, beginners, and everyone else. It’s fitting that their film should inspire others in their creative endeavor. A joy to watch, we have a lot of fun talking about this one.

The Rogue Barrens can be found on YouTube.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:40:22 — 91.9MB)

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Sometimes a movie hits some deep personal beats. The film Evergreen does just that, and a lot more. This excellent indie film has some rock-solid lessons on direction, writing, pacing, and more. Fantastic performances and clear, crisp storytelling brings you in to the very personal journey of a young woman’s learning experience about life and family. A must watch for technical lessons as well as solid entertainment.

Evergreen can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:57 — 109.8MB)

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We swing into Almost Adults, a great film about best friends evolving into being full-on grown-ups. There is a lot of great stuff here, thematically and technically. Performances are wonderful and the movie is well written. It brings you in for the ride with familiarity and perhaps nostalgia. An out of the park hit, it’s something everyone should watch not just for the technical lessons but also for a solid theme.

Almost Adults can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:16 — 90.9MB)

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We give tribute to the great Danny Trejo, an actor that we simply adore and who deserves a tribute for more reasons than just being in movies. We have friend Miles Trout from the Discdump Podcast joining us to pay homage to a man who is not only a spectacular example of taking control of the second act of your life, but also just a damn good guy. His movies are fantastic, making him an Indie and B movie megastar. Join us as we talk about Trejo’s films, life, and just have fun.

Miles’ Links:

Discdump Podcast
‎Disc Dump Podcast on Apple Podcasts

High on Horror
‎High on Horror on Apple Podcasts

Toast of the Realms
Toast of the Realms Podcast – Home | Facebook

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:29:47 — 82.2MB)

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Deciding it was time for a horror film, we jumped in to Doctor Carver. Disappointment comes in all forms, and this film managed to pretty much deliver on all of them. We knew what we were getting into, as director Louisa Warren brought us Leprechaun Games which was just terrible. Filled with inconsistent editing, mind-numbing repetition of the moral message in the plot, lazy effects, and a ham, the lessons here are what not to do when making a film. Lots of those lessons within.

Doctor Carver can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:36:55 — 88.7MB)

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This week we dive into Blush. There are some differing opinions on the film’s theme, but the long and short of it is that this is unfortunately an ambitious effort that did not cross the finish line. Lessons gleaned from this movie are more what not to do than what to do. The most important lesson is no movie should have more than half a dozen storylines in it. Great actors with an unfortunate script and buck wild editing.

Blush can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:12 — 109.1MB)

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Not only is The Party’s Just Beginning, written and directed by Karen Gillan, is a must see on all levels. The main character copes with the suicide of her best friend, and never before has the reality and raw truth of such situations been put to screen. Masterfully written and directed, with top-level performances all throughout, this movie has not just lessons for filmmakers but also for human beings in general. We get into a raw conversation about the film’s topic, and hopefully when you watch this movie you will have many conversations about it with those close to you. We have included some Suicide Help Lines below. If you need them, please use them. If you know, or think you know someone in need, direct them to one of these numbers.

The Party’s Just Beginning can be found on Tubi.

Suicide Help Lines (Globally)

U.S. 1-800-273-8255 (or 988 as of July ’22)
Australia 13 11 14 or 1300 22 4636
Canada 1-833-456-4566
Ireland 116 123
New Zealand 09 5222 999 if you live within Auckland or 0800 543 354 for those outside of Auckland
Norway 116 123
Romania 0800 801 200
South Africa 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393
United Kingdom 0800 689 5652 or 0300 1020 505 or 116 123

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:36 — 91.2MB)

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We dive into Sensitivity Training, a light-hearted comedy that has some serious lessons in writing, directing, acting, overall production value. A callous woman is forced into sensitivity training sessions in order to keep her job. While some of the pitfalls are obvious, as with any similar comedy piece, the story behind her and her training coach makes for some brilliant after-film discussion.

Sensitivity Training can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54:09 — 104.5MB)

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This week it’s another film that launched some great conversation. Runoff takes us deep into the quandary of the American farmer. Female lead Joanne Kelly runs us through some very tough moral dilemmas facing the truth of what our farmers are facing. Director and writer Kimberly Levin gives us another fantastic stew of lessons on storytelling, cinematography, and direction. This is a ‘story that needs to be told’ type of movie.

Runoff can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:11 — 109.1MB)

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Take This Waltz is a fantastic character-driven film. Directed and written by Sarah Polley and starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Sarah Silverman, Luke Kirby. It provoked some really terrific conversation between us, which is a really good thing. The reveal of each character’s story was artfully done. There are a lot of great lessons in this movie for everyone, from behind the scenes to being in front of the camera. It’s funny, thought-provoking, and one of the top films we’ve seen. Sarah Polley presents women in a fashion that is true, honest, and enjoyable to witness. Also, check below to help out our friends we mentioned at the end of the episode. Let’s do some good for some folks who need some good. *Kenny decided to forego assistance and get himself back on track with just hard work. Much respect for that.

Take This Waltz can be found on Tube.

Miles Links
https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-the-family-of-keith-hanford

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:22 — 115.7MB)

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For the third time friend Hilton Ariel Ruiz is on the show. We talk about the ramping up of production for Zombie With A Shotgun 2. We chat about indie filmmaking post-COVID, how it has affected all levels from actors to writers to directors. Every level of production has been touched. Hilton is a busy man who won’t let anything slow him down. We talk about keeping up your drive, how we miss movies from the “old days,” and share a bond over Frankenhooker. A lot of things in here to gain inspiration on your journey, as well as just a fun chat with a fantastic man. Be sure to check out Klans Rules, 6-6-66, and his documentaries.

Check out these links for Hilton’s work and for how you can help with Zombie With A Shotgun 2:

Hiton’s YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFnR6p42WPYs6yCFDumYs_A

Zombie With A Shotgun YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUP41TWN_ClxGBsHqOR1Xw

Hilton’s Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/HiltonArielRuiz

Zombie With A Shotgun 2 Indiegogo
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/zombie-with-a-shotgun-part-2#/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:50:18 — 101.0MB)

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A long-time favorite of Jim’s, Frankenhooker is the Citizen Kane of the Tromaverse. Straight from 1990 this comedy, billed as a horror comedy, exemplifies everything that the 80’s stood for in b-movies. Hardly a horror, Frankenhooker brings two unusual takes on main characters. One monologues more than 80% of the way through, and the female lead is absent for about the same period. Intentional or not, the movie brings an interesting slant towards female leads. There’s a reason it’s a cult classic loved by so many. A lot of fun lessons inside.

Frankenhooker can be found on Shudder.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:35 — 107.7MB)

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This episode is the first time we’ve had to bail on a film. Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn’t Die unfortunately crossed our tolerance line and we had to stop about thirty minutes in. We discuss that at length in this episode as well as why we’re sticking to our guns about violence towards women in film. We’re not saying the movie is terrible, and some people may not have the same line we have drawn, so it could be a good watch if that’s the case. But, we do have our line and we will not surrender our standards no matter how much we want to like a film or boost a filmmaker. We do cover the first 30 minutes, then we talk at length about better options, better messages, and overall better filmmaking.

Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn’t Die can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22:26 — 75.5MB)

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We talk with the wonderful Jennifer Hill, who played the mythical Beowulf in the great indie movie Bae Wolf. An excellent conversation about trials and rewards of acting. Jennifer gives some point-blank examples of how even dreams and passions need to take a backseat to life, but you can always pick it back up. Join us for this great conversation with a very grounded and passionate actor.

Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:10 — 113.7MB)

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It’s the second half of our talk with the cast and crew of Bae Wolf. Amazing talents of David Axe, Stephan Jensen, Brendan Thompson, Morgan Shaley Renew, and Cleve Langdale. Part two of a two-parter, this bit covers some of the woes of indie filmmaking. Actors having to drop out, last-minute replacements, location headaches, but most importantly professionalism and the art of getting it all done. Have a seat and give a listen to these amazing talents.

Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:44:11 — 95.4MB)

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We talk with the cast and crew of Bae Wolf. Amazing talents of David Axe, Stephan Jensen, Brendan Thompson, Morgan Shaley Renew, and Cleve Langdale. Part one of a two-parter, this bit covers some of the woes of indie filmmaking. Actors having to drop out, last-minute replacements, location headaches, but most importantly professionalism and the art of getting it all done. Have a seat and give a listen to these amazing talents.

Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:26 — 81.0MB)

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We dive into Bae Wolf. Sent to us as a screener, this tongue-in-cheek take on the classic Beowulf tale is fun from start to finish. David Axe artfully introduces Beowulf as a female character in a way that makes sense, and isn’t reaching for a gimmick. Great production lessons across the board, and you just cannot walk away from this film without thinking about Imps. You’ll see. Listen and watch the movie for lessons on making a film that is fun to watch and will make you laugh.

Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:25:46 — 78.5MB)

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Coyote Lake is no fun-in-the-sun film. This thought-provoking, unique thriller by Sara Seligman stirs up some deep thoughts. The lessons are bountiful. Technically beautiful, well written, and fantastically performed it is a feast for the eyes. Like any really good film it sparks thoughts and conversation at the end. We thought this was going to be a decent film, but it turned out to be a fantastic film.

Coyote Lake can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54:19 — 104.7MB)

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In Zero Charisma we have some great lessons, if not a couple of them being cautionary. A power-hungry, immature Game Master loses a longtime player and reluctantly brings on a new player. This player doesn’t understand how the GM likes to play, and starts to pull the rest of the players away from the GM’s carefully crafted – and controlled – world.

Zero Charisma can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:05 — 105.4MB)

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We dissect a deep, majestically artistic and emotional film, I’m Not Here. Starring JK Simmons, and directed by Michelle Schumacher, this is a blazing fire of lessons for everyone. We consider this to be JK Simmon’s best performance ever. If you ever wondered how to convey emotion and story without a single line of dialogue for a character, this is a must see. Beautiful, thought provoking, simply amazing. Michelle Schumacher created something that is just simply astounding. We have a lot to talk about on this one.

I’m Not Here can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:29 — 100.2MB)

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After sitting on the list for a while we finally break into Psycho Goreman. This film is full of lessons, not the least of which is if you are going to have fun with your story, go all in. The Ultimate Evil of the Universe is comically under foot of a small girl who controls him with a magic gem. A masterpiece of humor and gore, Psycho Goreman delivers on many fronts. This is the second film we’ve covered by Steven Kostanski, the first being Manborg, of which we had some split opinions.

Psycho Goreman can be found on Shudder.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:58 — 104.3MB)

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We end the year by focusing on a woman who we embarrassingly never heard of; Alice Guy-Blaché. This woman was the first female filmmaker. The first filmmaker to create narrative stories, not just stock footage. She was a pioneer. She was inventive. She is the mother of filmmaking as we know it. And, with all of that and so much more, she was deliberately written out of history. Please join us and close out 2021 learning about this celestial light of filmmaking, and being all the better for learning her name.

You can find some of Alice’s films on YouTube.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:31:51 — 84.1MB)

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It’s that time of year for a Santa slasher! Dive into the holiday with us as we dissect Slay Belles. This Santa slasher doubles as a bonus Krampus film as well. A fun gore-ride into Christmas we talk about the top-notch practical effects, Barry Bostwick as Santa, economy of backstory, and why movies like this are just so much fun.

Slay Belles can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:16 — 107.4MB)

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For the third time we have David Ryan Keith on the show, this time joined by the fantastic actor Paul Flannery, who played Johnathan Blazer in Ghosts of Darkness. We talk about the making of Ghosts of Darkness, Johnathan Blazer, and the upcoming sequel to this wonderful film. Join in for behind the scenes chat, some fanboying of David’s talent, and learn more about Paul, who is a wonderfully fun and talented actor.

Ghosts of Darkness, as well as David’s other films Redwood Massacre, Redwood Massacre: Annihilation, and Attack of the Herbals can be found on YouTube on the Clear Focus Movies channel!

https://www.youtube.com/c/Clearfocus-productionsCoUk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:18:50 — 127.1MB)

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From David Ryan Keith we have another excellent movie. Ghosts of Darkness is a wonderful horror movie that calls back to the classic horror films. A solid plot, character development without hours of exposition, and terrific actors Paul Flannery and Michael Koltes, makes for a fun and worthwhile horror film. A lot of great lessons in here. Once again David Ryan Keith brings his talent for framing, pacing, and just pure technical bliss to a ghost story horror movie that beats pretty much everything out there.

Ghosts of Darkness can be found on YouTube on the Clear Focus Movies channel!

https://www.youtube.com/c/Clearfocus-productionsCoUk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:37 — 90.3MB)

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From the early 80s we have a South African indie-comedy, The Gods Must Be Crazy. It’s a complete nonsense, buffoonery level fun film that takes a clean, simple approach to humor. We talk about this highs of the movie and the lows of the production, and spend a good amount of time talking about comedy. What happened to clean, funny films? The Gods Must Be Crazy is funny without puerile or vulgar humor, and relies heavily on physical comedy and quick, snappy dialogue. Treat yourself to a silly movie with this film and soak in the simple lessons it has.

The Gods Must Be Crazy cannot be found on streaming as far as we can tell. Try to find it on DVD, you won’t be sorry.

QuadCon vendor links:

CJ Standal
cjstandalproductions.com

Big Hair Illustrations
Instagram: @bighairillustrations

Deep Well Studios
vidarandhans.wordpress.com

WindArrow 3D
Etsy.com/shop/WindArrow3d

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:38 — 107.7MB)

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The Vicious Kind is another movie where the story is not quite up-front on its intent or purpose. We surmise some theories, but ultimately it will be up to the viewer to decide. With a great cast and top-notch production, we flow through some confusing moments, confusing dialogue, and murky purpose. We talk about lessons having to do with the failings of male-written scripts depicting women, wasting enormous talent, and some talk about the unsettling male perspective when it comes to intimacy and the motivation of women.

The Vicious Kind can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:48 — 111.5MB)

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An adaptation of the William S. Burroughs book, David Cronenberg brings us a muddled, uninviting film with Naked Lunch. Names like Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm, Julian Sands, Roy Scheider, and others, are lost in the mundane, shock-topic nonsense of this movie. We talk about the importance of engaging the audience, and giving them world-building that makes the story have some sense to it. Jim has seen it multiple times since 1991 and has struggled to determine if he likes it or not. Dani needed only one viewing to make her call. Limited distribution and the history of Burroughs’ novel have elevated this to become a cult classic. However, it is not a classic in our cult.

Naked Lunch can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:45:21 — 96.5MB)

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We really wish we could tell you what Astro Loco is about. We do tell you what happens in the movie, but the point of it eludes us. It took some time for us to figure out if we liked this or not, if it was good or not, and we come to a conclusion in the episode. Technical aspects were great, and performances were just fine also. The primary lesson here is what can happen if you don’t have a clear A-line story for your plot. A lot of things happen, but they are disjointed and do not meet in the middle, end, or anywhere. It was fun, if not confusing.

Astro Loco can be found on Amazon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:06 — 93.5MB)

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A nuclear war, a fleet of DeLoreans, and Billy Zane. Unfortunately these excellent features do not help mend the fractured plot and storytelling of Blue World Order. Certainly an ambitious film, and technically sound, it suffers from too many story points. We talk about lessons in focused storytelling and pacing. For an action/adventure film it is pretty laid back, to the point that when something does happen it doesn’t pump the adrenaline. It instead pumps the brakes. Not what you want for an action film. Lessons on costuming and effects as well within. Blue World Order did well on both fronts.

Blue World Order can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:25 — 90.1MB)

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It’s a bushwhacking ride this week as we dive into Hunt for the Wilderpeople. This Taika Waititi film is not just a magnificent family watch, it’s a delightful treat of excellent direction, performances, and technical skill. In front of and behind the camera there are lessons everywhere. The comedic timing of Julian Dennison and Sam Neill is brilliant and sharp. Julian Dennison was great in Deadpool 2, but here he is the main focus and has nothing but screen time and it is terrific. For new directors, the thread of Taika Waititi’s style is easy to spot in here, especially if you’ve watched The Mandalorian.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:33:48 — 85.9MB)

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Paul Giamatti. What else needs to be said? We plunge into Cold Souls, the 2009 film from Sophie Barthes where Mr. Giamatti plays a fictionalized version of himself. Stressing over his role in a Broadway play, Paul decides to have his soul put in storage so he can remove the burden of his anxiety. Sounds a bit off, but it is brilliant. Giamatti is fantastic, as always. We talk about the comedy that turns to some through-provoking drama at the end. A fantastic work by all involved with amazing lessons on, well, everything.

Cold Souls can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:21:53 — 75.0MB)

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Hearkening from the early 90s, Arcade gives us the very worst of genre exploitation. More frustrating than frightening, Arcade takes us into a possessed virtual reality game that feeds off of the souls of young players. Another crystal clear example of Jim’s mantra; Know what you are writing about, or don’t write it at all. The technical references are laughable. One of the only saving graces is that a very young, baby-like Seth Green is in it. There is so much wrong with this movie there is not enough time in the day to cover all of it.

Arcade can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:34:08 — 86.2MB)

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A sci-fi horror thriller, The Mind’s Eye is a solid work on all levels. We dive into this salute to the old 80’s film Scanners set in the 90s and follow Zack and Rachael make their way through twisted experiments, an over the top villain, and a bevy of psychokinetic battles that do not disappoint. We talk about the importance of allocating your budget, getting actors involved in their parts rather than just playing one, top-notch effects, and why a cheesy villain is almost always the right move.

The Mind’s Eye can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:40:52 — 92.4MB)

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