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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We deep-dive into The Tall Guy. This wonderful film with Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson is a riotous ride out of the ‘80s into a new era. A UK movie filmed during the actor’s strike in the US, this film celebrates the silliness of 80’s romance comedy films – before the dreaded word RomCom came out – brilliantly, and heralds in a new era that would lead to Love Actually, Notting Hill, and more. Another festival of lessons on a simple, fun story, but more importantly it has classic examples of how to bring background characters to life, even if only with a single line.

The Tall Guy is hard to find. It is not offered on any streaming/digital service that we can find. Physical DVDs have only been round on Ebay for extraordinarily high prices.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14:12 — 67.9MB)

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This one comes from Dani’s vault. We cut deep into Repo: The Genetic Opera. This rock-opera has it all. Gore, out of this world performances, dark and twisted civilization, and so much more. We have seen this many, many times (Dani far more than Jim), and it just gets better every time. We talk about the mastery involved in this film, the killer songs, music, singing, performances, and just how hard a rock-opera is to make. We also discuss why this should be a much, much bigger cult classic.

Repo: The Genetic Opera can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:49:14 — 100.0MB)

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For our 100th episode we bring in our daughter Lily and we all talk about films that moved us and shaped us through our lives. We celebrate this milestone by talking about the films that got us to where we are, why they are important, and share thoughts. We also have some surprise guests sounding off on movies that inspired, moved, or motivated them. This was a fantastically fun episode to record. We hope you listen and remember your own films of inspiration, either creatively or in your personal life.

So many movies, so little time.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:23:28 — 131.4MB)

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Another long-time in the vault choice, we dive into John Carpenter’s Dark Star. This 1974 gem is another favorite that has so many wonderful stories to it. Pre-Star Wars sci-fi cinema, Dark Star gives us an ultra-low budget effects bonanza with comedy and psychedelic musings. One of the great lessons learned from this film is that the most mundane of projects can lead to powerful, cinema-changing works down the road. Also discussed is how the movie you start can become something entirely different at the end.

Dark Star can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:37:07 — 88.9MB)

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Another first for the show. We dive into a subtitled movie, R100, and we are not sorry for it. We watched this movie for pure entertainment, and decided we absolutely needed to do this for the show. A Japanese movie that got little to no love in theaters, R100 brings us into the world of a man who seeks pleasure with a Dominatrix club. That sentence doesn’t do this movie justice. It is fun, wild, and mind-blowing at the end, and full of fantastic lessons.

R100 can be found on Tubi and Hulu.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:26 — 107.5MB)

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We have David Howard Thornton on the show! You know him as Art the Clown from Terrifier, and the Joker on Nightwing. Unlike either of those characters, David is a splendidly wonderful man who is an absolute delight to speak with. Please join us as we talk about his career, life in New York City, a little bit about the upcoming Terrifier 2, and a political segway. You can’t help but smile when talking to David. Come dive in!

Check out David’s work:FaceBook: David Howard ThorntonInstagram: @davidhowardthorntonCameo: @davidhthornton

Terrifier can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:11:27 — 120.4MB)

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This is a first for the show. We found This World Won’t Break and thought its story of artistic struggle would reach all creatives. We could not finish this movie. We made it thirty minutes in and had to call it quits. This episode deals with Slow Burn movies and we talk about some that either started with a slow burn or held the slow burn pace all of the way through, and why those worked. We are not saying this movie is bad, it just did not present anything interesting enough to keep sitting through a 150 minute show. Important lessons and examples on how to grab the audience with big or little pieces of interest, which this movie did not do.

This World Won’t Break can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:56:24 — 106.6MB)

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We dive into The Station Agent. This 2003 piece of brilliance stars Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, and is directed by Tom McCarthy. McCarthy’s first foray into directing shows the born talent of this filmmaker. A human story about three very different people going through some rough moments in life who come together, fall apart, and come together again. One of our all-time favorites, this film has powerful lessons in writing, dialogue, humanizing characters, direction, acting, and so much more. Underrated and virtually unknown, The Station Agent is a fine craft masterpiece of filmmaking.

The Station Agent can be found in iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:41 — 99.5MB)

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David Hyde Pierce gives us a dinner party like no other. This movie, with a brilliantly misleading trailer, gives surprises, humor, and a lot of WTF moments. Dive into this weird as hell dinner party with us as we talk about masterful editing, subtle comedic performances, and how fun this flick is. There are a lot of hat-tips to older films. This is a film you will want to watch twice just to be sure you caught everything. David Hyde Pierce’s physical comedy moves this over the edge.

The Perfect Host can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:56:28 — 106.6MB)

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Who doesn’t love crazy clowns that kill? Terrifier gives us the return of Art the Clown, a silent but thoroughly enjoyable psychopath. Terrifier breaks conventions with some surprising moves, all of which elevate this film into the upper hierarchy of horror. Only in an Indie film will you find such bold moves to balk at standard horror beats. Super simple story pillars set the scene for a massive rebuilding of conventional foundations for horror stories. This movie is as fun as it is brutally gory. Lessons and entertainment for all.

Terrifier can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:21 — 103.8MB)

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After a lot of packing and unpacking, Kyle Hester returns to the show to talk about his projects, pandemic, state of indie film, and future YouTube projects. Listen and catch up on the status of Preacher 6, Zombie with a Shotgun 2, and future plans for The Coop. We are very lucky to know so many positive, energetic people in indie film and Kyle is no exception. If you are in indie film, this is a must listen.

Check Kyles links on link treelinktr.ee/KyleHesterwww.preachersix.com

See Kyle in:The Book of DanielThe ChairZombie with a ShotgunAndersonville

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:36:09 — 88.0MB)

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Released in 2016, 2018 in the US, this UK version of The Lighthouse is spectacularly subtle and soul-wrenching. Sticking to old-school storytelling, combined with brilliant acting, direction, and technical precision, we are thrust into the hellish 1801 storm that spawned this tale. The performances are fantastic, made razor-sharp by the clever pacing of the story. This film is a splendid example of using the tried and true aspects of filmmaking and story crafting to produce an engaging and subversive story.

The Lighthouse can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54:30 — 104.8MB)

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We talk once again with Hilton Ariel Ruiz. Creator of Zombie with a Shotgun, Klanz Rules, director of several excellent documentaries, this man is an unbridled force in indie film. We talk about how this past year has affected him, his Patreon page to get the sequel to Zombie with a Shotgun into production, and nerd out over cameras and, yes folks, Frankenhooker. That’s a real movie people, trust us. Very inspirational talk with a very inspirational man. Check the links below to see Hilton’s work and support his Patreon!

Hilton’s YouTube

Hilton’s Patreon Page

Hilton’s linktree

Zombie with a Shotgun can be found on TubiKlanz Rules can be found on Tubi6/6/66 web series can be found on Amazon Video

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:39 — 99.5MB)

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Returning to the show are Pete Marcy, Joe Marcy, Chris Marcy, and Adam Anderson of Failureboys Productions. We talk about the re-release of Firefly and some excellent behind the scenes stories. Talented filmmakers and just great guys in general, we have a lot of fun talking filmmaking, festivals, and more. Come listen to these wonderful guests get gritty on how indie film can be taxing on the spirit.

Catch Firefly and Attack of the Tattie Bogle on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:17 — 109.2MB)

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We dive into the UK film Eat Locals. Jam packed with big names, this vampire horror/comedy delivers on a great many levels. We had a lot of fun watching it the first time, and just as much fun watching it for the episode. A fairly low budget is maximized with a large single location, vampire effects that are done when needed and not overplayed, and a take on vampires that is fresh but familiar. We talk about the benefits of having a group of actors who have a long history of working together, and a brilliant first-time out for Jason Flemyng.

Eat Locals can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:47:18 — 98.2MB)

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It’s a new release of an older film. Firefly hails from 2005, from our friends at Failureboys Productions. This version has been remastered in 5.1 surround, and it’s fantastic. This is a solid wrap-around plot that comes together magnificently towards the end. There are a lot of layers here, and a lot of character building. When it was over we both felt good for having watched it. Pete Marcy shows that early on he had a solid style and grasp on storytelling. Direction in this movie is just one great aspect. A micro-budget that sails with the big boys, Firefly proves you don’t need money to make good film.

Firefly can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:58:47 — 108.7MB)

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It’s been a long time on the list, but we finally get to The Toxic Avenger. A foundation cult-classic with a loyal following, this movie birthed the Tromaverse. A solid B-movie, there are great lessons on simplified story, creating a unique hook, and some examples of what was acceptable in film 30 years ago that would not work well today. With differing opinions on its merits, we have a great conversation with some interesting tangents.

The Toxic Avenger can be found on YouTube.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:49 — 111.5MB)

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It’s another random find in the sea of films, but a well-liked find. It’s Absentia, a film written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who you may know as the director of Doctor Sleep. There are a lot of great things in here we talk about. A straight-up horror, it is a little before its time. We have loudly exclaimed our disdain for jump-scare reliant films, but this 2011 movie takes jump-scares in a different direction. There are some story issues, which we cover, but overall this is a great set of lessons and an excellent watch.

Absentia can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:58 — 116.2MB)

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Another long-time on the list favorite, Rubber proves that the most ridiculous, obscure hook can work and work well. Years ago we thought this would be a laughable junk film for bad-movie-night, but we were wrong. This movie is fun, beautifully shot, excellent practical effects, and a masterclass of lessons for everyone. We have a lot of fun talking about this film and its lessons. It’s a killer tire, people. Listen to this episode. Watch this movie. Now.

Rubber can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:31 — 103.9MB)

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We have for the first time a script doctor on the show. Terry McFadden is a long-working script doctor who has worked as a script analyst for production companies and studios since 1998. A genuinely wonderful man, Terry talks about the important aspects of scripts for features and television, what he looks for, and has some great advice on where stories commonly fall short in script form. We loved listening to him and look forward to a future chat. This is a must for all writers. Terry’s links are below, be sure to check them all out. Dive in writers!

www.storybuilderswrite.comhttps://twitter.com/Storybuilderzhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/storybuilders/http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsM/mcfadden-terry.phphttps://www.facebook.com/storybuilderswrite/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1079896/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:34 — 115.9MB)

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A Norwegian film that has long been on our list, Trollhunter is a great movie with surprising special effects. The recent release of the English dubbed version made it possible to watch and review for the show. Troll lore is taken to a new height, and the lessons of simple story mixed with little-used folklore make for some great lessons. We even get into some local folklore, though it’s not about trolls.

Trollhunter English dubbed version can be found on Tubi. The original Trollhunter can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:07:58 — 117.2MB)

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How can you pass up something called Bunnyman Grindhouse Edition? We couldn’t. A re-release of Bunnyman, this indie horror has had a Grindhouse treatment. The original Bunnyman looked to be a fun ride, but the re-edit of it to make this version transitioned from fun to perplexing, then to distracting. The core story is still a fun backwoods killer romp, and there are some lessons we each point out. Not the least of which is if you have characters in a terrible situation, have them actually do something rather than sit in a car for hours doing nothing.

Bunnyman Grindhouse Edition can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54:06 — 104.5MB)

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Folks! This is a wonderful, jam-packed episode. We have Eric Schumacher, Nathan Campbell, Bradford Trojan, Marty Ketola, Clif Campbell, and Geoff Notkin, all from Revenge of Zoe! This was such an amazing talk, with some truly wonderful and fantastic people. We laugh, we cry, we pray for Nathan as his connection warbles. Join us for this odyssey into creative brilliance, nerd-dom, and some solid lessons for creatives. Also make sure you check the links below to see what these giants of indie film are doing!

Revenge of Zoe can be found on Tubi.

Links to the gods:

Eric SchumacherSeelie Studios: www.seeliestudios.comIMDB: http://www.imdb.me/ericschumacherFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eric-Schumacher-54210757834/Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricSchumacherLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eschumacherfilm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schumacher.eric/

Clif CampbellPondo Enterprises Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pondoenterprises/IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2529057/

Nathan CampbellIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3979297/

Marty KetolaIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2527757/Pondo Enterprises Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pondoenterprises/

Bradford TrojanIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2617031/

Geoffrey NotkinDesert Owl Productions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesertOwlFilm/Meteorite Men: http://meteoritemen.comGeoff’s website: http://www.notkin.net

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:25:07 — 132.9MB)

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Revenge of Zoe is a micro-budget film from 2018 that is a must see. A self-proclaimed “Nerd Comedy” that pays tribute to the 80s nerd films, this movie takes us on a fun ride through the lives of two comic store owners, an alcohol and drug addled writer, and imaginary or hallucinatory friends as they navigate the ominous task of writing a sequel to a successful comic adaptation. This movie proves you don’t need big budgets to make a fun, relatable film. Great performances, not the last of which is from our good friend of the show, Eric Schumacher. It’s one of those movies that gets us into some tangental conversations, all attributed to the context of this fun film.

Revenge of Zoe can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:09 — 111.8MB)

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With Dani not fully recovered, Jim speaks with director/producer Michael Matteo Rossi, who’s film Chase we covered last week. Jim and Michael talk about the movie, the pandemic, the importance of using social media a platform for encouragement, and so much more. Listen to this fantastic talk with a truly wonderful man, and be sure to check the links below.

Links to Michael’s presence and films:

facebook.com/michaelmatteorossi

instagram.com/michaelmatteorossi

twitter.com/michaelmatteoro

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2751807/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:08 — 73.4MB)

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Chase was brought to our attention by its director, Michael Matteo Rossi. We’re glad for it. Starring Damien Puckler, yes indeed, we follow a hit man who is torn between two lives. A low-budget indie film, Chase brings some excellent emotional struggle as well as great overall lessons on filmmaking. Rossi shot this in just 18 days, commendable if not amazing.

Chase can be found on Amazon Video.

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

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Our daughter Lily sits in for Dani, who is out sick, to talk about Space Captain: Captain of Space. This sci-fi comedy is a wonderful salute to the throwback serials of the 1930’s, like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. It doesn’t stop there, the connections and spoofs span decades of sci-fi schlock movies as well. Starting out as a multi-media play, and later turned into a feature, this movie is fun for everyone. Solid performances, loads of puns and one-liners, it excels in lessons of making the most of a micro-budget. Scenery, costumes, effects, they are all wonderful. This was a delightful watch with fun lessons.

Space Captain: Captain of Space can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:31:29 — 83.8MB)

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One of Jim’s all-time favorites, Lost in Translation. Filmmaker Sophia Coppola blows the lid off of traditional filmmaking with this brilliant movie. Beautifully shot and paced this movie brings attention to lessons of tone, characters, and the art of drawing in the audience to share in the emotional state of the story, and the power and art of editing. Another must see film that is coming up on 20 years old.

Lost in Translation can be found on Amazon Video and iTunes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:30 — 99.3MB)

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We all know it, and we finally made it down the list to Chopping Mall. This standard 80’s horror film has some mixed lessons, to-do’s and not-to-do’s. We have rampant Casio music, character naming issues, but it’s all forgiven for exploding heads and some wicked remote control robots that just tear it up. Also, this is one of the finest accidental documentaries on mall life in the 80’s. Yeah, that’s right.

Chopping Mall can be found on Amazon Video.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:48:33 — 99.4MB)

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This movie is ridiculous in a fantastic way. Zombeavers gives us an old-fashioned animals gone wild situation mixed with our favorite genre; Zombies. There is no mistaking that this is a campy film, riddled with bad puns, obnoxious characters, stuffed beaver zombies, and it does it all gloriously. Another technically sound film, Zombeavers brings it and delivers with fun. Excellent lessons on effects budget placement, and leaning in to the goofiness of the story for maximum results and enjoyment.

Zombeavers can be found on Hulu.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:52:55 — 103.4MB)

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Another Cult Classic, the 1978 Piranha. It can be fun under the right circumstances, but the lessons from this film are based on its failure to follow them. Characters need to be interesting. The A, B, C stories need to line up. Dialogue has to serve a purpose, even on a rudimentary level. Piranha has none of this, so you can see firsthand what a movie that lacks all of the basics looks like. Still, it’s a good background film or a time burner. Surprising, with names like Joe Dante and Roger Corman, not everything can be a winner.

Piranha can be found on Tubi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:47:48 — 98.7MB)

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Another random find, and a fun/funny one at that. Save Yourselves is a great indie film that places a ‘modern’ couple, who spend their time buried in their phones and laptops, in an end-of-world scenario. An indictment of modern social media lifestyle and screen dependency, this humorous survival against aliens story has the most fantastic lessons of character development we have seen in some time.

Save Yourselves can be found on Hulu.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:41:29 — 92.9MB)

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We talk with Alisdair Cook, who wrote the book that one of the main characters from Redwood Massacre: Annihilation wrote. Sounds strange, but it’s wonderful. This is a fantastic example of taking something from a film and giving it its own life. We talk about writing the book and some juicy bits of upcoming projects in the Redwood Massacre universe.

Alisdair’s book, Redwood Massacre: The Untold Story, can be found on Amazon. And while you’re at it, check our episodes on Redwood Massacre, Redwood Massacre: Annihilation, our interviews with David Ryan Keith, Liam Matheson, and watch/buy these damn good films.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:48 — 112.4MB)

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