While the name is simple, Thanksgiving is a solid bit of holiday horror. In the pantheon of holiday horror films the turkey eating holiday is the most overlooked. The gore is satisfying and the killings come at a fairly decent rate. The chief downside provides important lessons for writers. The primary is backstory. Often unnecessary for redshirts we get a lot of it being thrust in our faces that wastes time and is frustrating in its poor timing and irrelevant information. Other than a couple of missteps like that it was a fun watch and just as fun to discuss.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:40:45 — 92.2MB)

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Far too long has passed since we’ve talked with Kyle Hester. Join us for a magnificent conversation about the upcoming release of his latest film Preacher 6, his documentaries, the evolution of Indie filmmaking, and more. Kyle talks about the ups and downs of the journey of making Preacher 6, battling the pandemic, and how Just Keep Going is the key phrase we should all practice. We also talk about his wife Tracy’s new book release and Kickstarter for her next novel.  Look below for links to Kyle and Tracy’s sites, socials, and so on. Sit back and listen to one of the most upbeat and genuine people in the business. We loved this conversation, and think you will as well.

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Kyle’s Links

https://bsky.app/profile/kylehester.bsky.social

https://pickrelay.com/t/8gkr-id6r/haunted-lake-lanier

Tracys kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/msdshollywood/magic-spells-delivery-service-book-one-hollywood

13 short Horror Stories for Bedtime.

https://a.co/d/ijcqBy7

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Long on our list, the Asylum version of Sherlock from 2010 was finally pushed to the top. Way back before the podcast started we found this hidden deep down the rabbit hole. Dani loves Sherlock Holmes, and when you pair him with a T-rex, I mean come on. Unfortunately the T-rex went from awesome to burdensome. There are plenty of issues here, but as always meaningful lessons can be found within. We do love Asylum films, as ridiculous as they are, because at the end of it all they are fun to watch. We have said before, having people say your film was fun to watch is the goal.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:46:50 — 97.8MB)

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Another find during bedrest, I. Madman is a late eighties mild horror that fits the period and genre perfectly. A woman finds herself terrorized by a character from a strange book. Sounds pretty simple, and it is. The film overall is a fun watch. Inundated with late eighties filmmaking techniques and a fast-paced storyline, for the most part, there are some good lessons here. The writing could have used a go-over, the editing is not tight, but we do have some good lessons that can elevate your work. Not the least of which is; having a caped villain running through traffic is timeless and magical.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:43 — 99.5MB)

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An excellent surprise, Forgive Us All was a delight to watch and dissect. We have so many good lessons from this film that we go over. Forgive Us All is another take on the zombie genre, one that is near and dear to our hearts. Going more to the route of Infected rather than zombies, this movie tells the story in precise, crisp, efficient writing, of a survivor named Rory who is looking for meaning in her life. Having suffered tragedy on the onset of the apocalypse, she wonders why surviving even matters. There is no fat to trim away from this film. With a brilliant combination of writing, direction, cinematography, and post work, we are given a very intimate feeling ride through tragedy within tragedy, and hope.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:31 — 91.1MB)

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You can only go so long before your curiosity gets the best of you. With no less than three Popeye films that hit in 2025 we had to take a dive. We settled on Popeye’s Revenge based on trailers, of which none were truly gripping. We dive into this dumpster fire attempt to capitalize on the expiration of copyright on old, beloved cartoon characters. We posit the script was done by AI, and the director may as well have been AI too. There are a couple of good lessons here, a couple, but the rest is a sorely disappointing run of missed opportunities, poor writing, nonsensical story, and actors who just did not have a chance to show their chops with this awful material. Spoiler, we watched another Popeye film after this one, Shiver Me Timbers, and it was not any better.

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This week we’ve taken on Wrath of Dracula, starring the fantastic Hannaj Bang-Benz. There was certainly some money behind this independent film, but Wrath of Dracula was lacking on some areas. The actors were great, and there are a lot of fantastic lessons that all Indie filmmakers should tap into. There are, unfortunately, some lessons on what not to do.  Among them – writing pitfalls. If you’re going to have a story about Dracula, you should probably invite him to the story. More on that inside.

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We have discussed documentaries here and there over the years, but we have never done an episode on them. The wait is over. Documentaries are a fantastic way to break into Indie filmmaking. There are some basics in planning a documentary that we discuss, but you are relieved of having to write a feature script, casting actors, and your equipment needs are minimal. Compared to a feature production, a documentary is far less expensive to get your feet wet in the sea of filmmaking. We discuss some documentaries that we have seen recently, and we have seen a lot of them, as examples of what and what not to do when creating your own. The bottom line is follow your passion or interest, share it with everyone.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:22 — 109.3MB)

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It was a cult classic that started in 1987, and in 2024 it was redone by director/writer Ryan Kruger. Street Trash kept a lot of the 80s vibe, music, and practical effects. While the cinematic lessons are all positive, the more important lesson is how to analyze an older film for its ability to be remade in modern times. Not all films or their message will translate to modern sensibilities. Street Trash, however, holds a statement that unfortunately still fits today. Ryan’s take on the older film gives us a fun, gross, splat-filled practical effect bonanza. Before all of that, Jim goes on a pretty heartfelt rant starting with a failed actor and the sad, tragic trajectory of Superman in films.  Because, why not.

Street Trash can be found on Tubi

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For the fourth time in the run of our show, we talk with our friend David Ryan Keith.  Writer/director of Primal Games, I Am Rage, Redwood Massacre, Redwood Massacre 2: Annihilation, Ghosts of Darkness, and Attack of the Herbals, David once again talks candidly with us about his latest film Primal Games, making films, marketing, distribution, all of the fun stuff. A key lesson we discuss is that no matter how much passion and heart you have, at the end of the day this is a business and has to be treated as such. Join us for another delightful conversation with David and enjoy quite a bit of laughter.

Check David’s work at Clear Focus Movies

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The trailer was intriguing, it had all the marks of a true earnest effort film.  However, Flesh missed the mark in nearly every category. Lessons for this film are mostly what not to do.  From writing, directing, lighting, sound, story, plot, character development, you name it, Flesh is absent the very basic tenets of making a feature film. Jim talks about the vast difference between an idea and a story, and how Flesh centered around an idea but never gave us a story.

Flesh can be found on Tubi.

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It has been a while since we’ve covered Lowell Dean’s work, and Die Alone was worth the wait. With a high budget for an Indie film, Die Alone does not waste it anywhere. The story and writing are solid, acting is top notch, and like any good movie we found ourselves talking about it after the credits rolled. It is a very different take on the zombie genre. It has been tricky as of late to make a successful reimagining of a zombie film, bot Lowell nailed it. Like his other films, Die Alone just drips with Lowell’s skill and vision. There are a number of lessons that we cover on this one. It’s a fantastic watch, not just for the lessons but also for taking in an excellent story and brilliant production value.

Die Alone can be found on Tubi.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:45:52 — 96.9MB)

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There was so much anticipation for Graveyard Shark, but instead of delivering the expected fun it ended up being the third film we just could not finish. Maybe this movie will appeal to some. There are still some good lessons to be taken away from this movie, but the bad far outweighs the good. Low-budget Indies are often wrought with limits on sound production, filming, acting, all kinds of things. Those aren’t necessarily bad, but Graveyard Shark looked and felt lazy. The writing was atrocious, directing non-existent, multiple levels of issues with sound, coloring, almost across the board are lessons on not what to do when making a film. The practical suit for Graveyard Shark, however, was baller.

Graveyard Shark can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22:12 — 75.3MB)

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Primal Games was a long journey to get to screen. Written and directed by David Ryan Keith, this film marks his first full action film. We follow Ben and Sarah on their honeymoon camping trip that quickly turns dark. They become prey to a sadistic hunter, and from there it spirals into a wild version of The Most Dangerous Game. A lot of talking points here for lessons, not the least of which is how to keep an action film entertaining without bogging it down with needless plot points and protracted story. Another excellent movie by David and crew, it really shines with fantastic lessons. It’s also just a great watch.

Primal Games can be rented or purchased on various platforms.

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

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Welcome to Willits gives us aliens, meth, fun-seeking youngsters, and Dolph Lundgren. That’s a lot to take in, and going into the movie none of it is terribly clear until it unfolds as you watch. A fairly high-budget indie film, Welcome to Willits gives some good examples on how to have fun with horror. Funny dialogue, unhinged characters, and solid production value provide lessons on where to focus to make an enjoyable film. We don’t know that this will make any Top Of lists but it certainly fun to watch and we tackle a few good lessons.

Welcome to Willits can be found on Tubi.

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

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Watching Come As You Are is a fairly chill, fun road trip film. The trailer for the film did not over-deliver, which is refreshing. The writing is quick, funny, and intimate. On a technical level the film hits the marks straight across the board. The acting is fantastic, with each actor bringing various levels of intensity and humor throughout. One of the standout lessons for screenwriting is the dialogue. It is fast, slowing only to match the moment here and there. Witty and clean, you feel like you’re in the conversation most of the time.

Come As You Are can be found on Tubi. 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:01 — 80.6MB)

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Biosphere, not to be confused with Bio-Dome, kind of took us by surprise. Mostly because we didn’t remember the trailer, so it was like going in blind. That made it all the more fun. With Sterling K Brown and Mark Duplass on screen the entire movie, there is no lack of presence. A post-apocalyptic bit about two men surviving in a small biosphere, Biosphere makes you feel right at home with the characters. The camera work is intimate, the writing is natural, and the plot will fire up thinking processes you would never expect watching a light comedy. While science fiction, this film keeps itself grounded. Many good filmmaking lessons here, as well as a great watch.

Biosphere can be found on IFC.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:23:39 — 76.6MB)

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Without Name takes us into an ancient Irish forest where surveyor Eric finds himself combatting not just his frail home life, an affair, odd locals, a company with ambiguous intentions, but also the ancient spirit of the forest itself. A slow burn psychological horror, Without Name is visually stunning but only middling on the acting. Some great use of camera techniques and sound use are at the front of the lessons to be learned here. With a fairly broad mix of reviews – love it or hate it kind of thing – it is a worthy watch, and you can decide on which side you fall.

Without Name can be found on Tubi.

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STOP! Before you do anything else, watch this movie! Seriously. In this episode we go on about Give Me Liberty as if we were singing a love song. Jim considers this the most beautiful movie he has ever seen. Give Me Liberty is a masterpiece of writing, acting, cinematography, directing, and chaos. There is so much about this film that is inspiring on all of the technical levels it is a must see for any new filmmaker. Watch this movie, then listen as we hit on so many terrific points of excellent filmmaking.

Give Me Liberty can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:50:20 — 101.0MB)

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We could not resist this one. Death Riders was the answer to Jim’s desire to find a true labor and grit Indie film, since it’s been a while. A mid-90s biker culture movie, Death Riders takes us on some kind of journey with the protagonist through the weird web of a biker gang, a lone biker Yoda, and a bunch of random characters. It was a lot of fun to talk about, delivered just what you’d expect from this kind of film. A lot of talk about the basics of filmmaking, such as story, writing, dialogue, direction, sound, you name it really. At the end of the day it’s a movie someone wanted to make, and they did. 

Death Riders can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:44:47 — 95.9MB)

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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