Happy Noirvember! On the fifty- third episode of ATFT, the Director of Communications for the Film Noir Foundation, Anne Hockens, joins me in analyzing Billy Wilderâs 1944 film noir classic, Double Indemnity! This episode is spoiler- filled.Â
Double Indemnity, according to Anneâs friend and the president of the Film Noir Foundation Eddie Muller, marked the beginning of the film noir movement. The film revolves around Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), an insurance salesman, who one day meets Mrs. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), the wife of a customer, in attempt to renew a policy. Their attraction is clear from the moment they first lay eyes on each other and grows stronger with each meeting. When Phyllis suggests she would like her husband dead, they plan âthe perfect murderâ with the intention of collecting as much money as possible through the "double indemnity" clause in Mr. Dietrichson's insurance policy, unbeknownst to him, but they have to get past Neffâs intuitive and deeply analytical boss Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson) to pull it off. Double Indemnity is regarded by many still to this day as one of, if not the best film, within the noir genre.
The Film Noir Foundationâs 23rd annual Noir City Film Festival will take place in Oakland, California from January 16- 25. Over this week, 24 films will be screened but those titles wonât be announced until the night of Noir Christmas which will take place in Oakland on December 17. Get your Noir Christmas tickets by clicking here! Individual tickets for the Noir City festival go on sale that night but you can get your Noir City pass by going to NoirCity.com. We talk extensively about the Film Noir Foundation towards the end of the episode so be sure to listen to the episode all the way through to learn more about all thatâs going on with the foundation from upcoming Noir City film festivals to their monthly magazine to their biweekly podcast Ask Eddie, with Anne and Eddie Muller, by going to their Facebook page, YouTube channel, and FilmNoirFoundation.org.
In this episode, Anne and I talk about the techniques and noir tropes Double Indemnity introduces to the noir genre and cinema that continue to be utilized today, if Walter and Phyllis really loved each other, and why âtellâ rather than âshowâ works to this filmâs advantage! Since this conversation marked the first time Anne and I have conversed, this episode does contain several tangents on topics such as other noir films, the danger of nitrate prints, and film sites Anne sees on a daily basis living in San Francisco. All this and more on the new episode of All the Film Things!
Interested in listening to more film noir- focused episodes to celebrate Noirvember? Check out:
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Happy Halloween! On the fifty- second episode of All the Film Things, my friend and ATFT regular, movie critic Matthieu CĂŽtĂ© joins me for an analytical discussion about Stanley Kubrickâs 1980 psychological horror classic, The Shining! This episode is spoiler- filled and contains some explicit language.
The Shining, a classic psychological horror film which unnerves you instantly with its eerie score, almost entirely takes place at the Overlook Hotel that lies in isolation atop an Indian burial ground. Jack Torrance, played brilliantly by Jack Nicholson, accepts a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, when the hotel is out of commission, in order to get five months of peace and quiet to help him write his book. He brings along his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd) and, over time, isolation begins to wear on them... especially Jack. Over the course of the film, Jack becomes increasingly mad while Danny's gift of "shining" haunts him of the hotel's evil past, present, and future. While the film is based on Steven Kingâs 1977 book of the same title, King publicly criticized the film on numerous occasions because of the liberties Kubrick took that departed from his original story. King wasnât the only one who disliked the film because, shockingly, The Shining is one of those films, like 12 Angry Men and Fight Club, that wasnât well- received at the time of its release. It wasnât until the film started airing on TV at the end of the 80s that public opinion shifted in favor of Kubrickâs film. Today, 45 years later, The Shining is widely considered one of the greatest horror films ever made and contains one of Jack Nicholsonâs very best performances.
This is Matthieuâs fourth time on the podcast and he has rapidly earned the title of âATFT regularâ! I had been wanting to do an episode on The Shining for over three years now and when I learned it was Matthieuâs favorite film of all time, I knew he was the one to join me in celebrating The Shining for both itâs 45th anniversary and Halloween. While Matthieu is enamored with the horror genre, I very much shy away from it. The Shining is my favorite horror film and one of the only few I can really watch, in the daytime of course. This episode was recorded on October 2, 2025.Â
Matthieu has been steadily interviewing filmmakers and actors through both his personal YouTube channel, @matthieucote2272, and through Horreur QuĂ©bec for a few years now. Most recently, Matthieu was able to check off a bucket list interviewee off his list when he interviewed James Wan. Click to watch that interview here! Also, a few years ago, Matthieu made an analytical video essay analyzing a scene in The Shining titled âThe Shining (And the Path to Redemption)- Scene Breakdownâ which I highly recommend watching for his incredible insight to the character of Jack Torrence and performance by Jack Nicholson. Subscribe to Matthieuâs YouTube channel by clicking here to watch his past interviews, video essays, and more!Â
In this episode, we attempt to understand The Shiningâs biggest mysteries and discuss the most popular theories about the famous ending. Our analytical conversation, though wide- encompassing, is a bit sporadic since there is seemingly infinite points of discussion through every aspect of this film. Itâs overwhelming and we only scratched the surface. In this episode, Matthieu and I share our rocky roads to appreciating this film, Kubrick's clever tricks in deceiving the audience, and how Grady could have possibly opened that storage room door for Jack. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the fifty- first episode of All the Film Things, my friend and ATFT regular, writer/ director Samy El- Kamel is back for an analytical discussion about Darren Aronofskyâs 2000 psychological drama classic, Requiem for a Dream! This episode is spoiler- filled and contains explicit language.
Darren Aronofskyâs sophomore feature, Requiem for a Dream, continues to be talked about today yet itâs a curious case as itâs respected but beloved may not be exactly the perfect word. This film is often regarded as "the best film you'll never rewatch" due to its bleak but impactful ending. Requiem for a Dream follows four people, all connected to Harry Goldfarb (Jared Leto), who are striving to achieve their dreams in the most dangerous, self- destructing ways through their addictions. While Harry's mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn) tries her hardest to lose weight to look her best on television, he along with his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and friend Ty (Marlon Wayans) are addicted to heroin. The three of them hope to turn their ideas of being successful businessmen into a reality but the need for heroin persists. Though widely considered a psychological drama, Aronofsky considers this film an âurban horror filmâ in the sense that the film captures a dream that turns into a nightmare. This film is based on Hubert Selby jr's novel published in 1978 and Aronofsky was happy to involve Selby in the making of this film (he even makes a cameo towards the end!). Even though Requiem for a Dream is still celebrated today, the film only earned one Oscar nomination in the "Best Supporting Actress" category for Ellen Burstyn. Of all the films I have seen, there is nothing quite like Requiem for a Dream from the cinematography to the editing to its lasting impact which has made me eager to devote an episode to the film.
This is Samyâs fourteenth time on the podcast, sustaining his place as the second most frequent guest on the show! I had been wanting to do an episode on Requiem for a Dream for over three years now and it was a hard topic to pitch to others. Those who have yet to see the film were hesitant to watch it while those who have seen the film, did not want to revisit it. Thankfully Samy, although slightly reluctant, was up for the challenge. While it is hard for both of us to say this is one of our favorite films, we have a deep respect for it and would probably regard it as one of the best films weâve ever seen. This episode was recorded on September 18, 2025.Â
Samy recently premiered his latest short film, âAnatomy of a Panic Attackâ at the âTake it or leave itâ short film showcase at MOCA Jacksonville. While the short has not yet been released online, Samy's short film "Waveform" was recently screened at the Jax Fuse Film Festival. Watch short films "Waveform", "Neurafridge", and more of Samy's past work by subscribing to his YouTube channel, Barefoot Python Media, by clicking this link.
In this episode, Samy and I talk about our first experiences watching Requiem for a Dream, each characterâs motivations for taking drugs, and why people should challenge themselves to watch the film at least once. While Samy discusses the impact of Sara Goldfarbâs storyline, I explain why the role of Harry Goldfarb is perfectly aligned with Jared Letoâs trademark character type. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the fiftieth (!!) episode of All the Film Things, my friends, filmmakers Emma Catherine and Franklin Ritch, join me in analyzing MiloĆĄ Formanâs 1975 psychological comedy- drama classic, One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest! This episode is spoiler- filled and contains some explicit language.
One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest follows R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) as he becomes a patient at a mental hospital. He quickly becomes a leader with his rebellious, lively nature that awakens his fellow patients but antagonizes the woman who runs the ward, Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), which creates a power balance slowly shifts in McMurphyâs favor. The film starts as a comedy- drama but elevates in the third act when it becomes a tragedy. One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest has a stellar ensemble cast that includes Danny DeVito, Will Sampson, and Brad Dourif. This film is the second of three films to have won the âBig Fiveâ at the Oscars and has been widely viewed as one of the greatest films ever made for now 50 years. The film is based on Ken Keseyâs 1961 book and, after Kirk Douglas bought the rights soon after the book was published, he wasnât able to get this film made in the 60s, so his son Michael Douglas took over the project and history was made. One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest is one of my very favorite films and Iâm thrilled to have finally had such a stimulating conversation on the film for this podcast.
This is Franklinâs second and Emmaâs first time on the podcast! I interviewed Franklin at the end of last year (check out Episode 34). I became friends with Franklin approaching two years ago and Emma about a year ago at Film Bar but they have been both friends and collaborators for well over a decade. Franklin directed Emma as Cat- woman in his film New Wings: A Batman Fan Film which you should all watch by clicking this link. One Flew Over the Cuckooâs Nest is a longtime favorite of Franklinâs as well while this was Emmaâs first time watching the film. As we discuss throughout the episode, we have all been deeply impacted by many moments in this film. This episode was recorded on August 21, 2025.Â
Emma will be starring in a spooky aerial showcase presented by the Ancient City Aerial Arts called Cirque de Morts on October 3 and 4th in St. Augustine, Florida! Get your tickets now for the 7 pm showings or matinee showing before they sell out by clicking here! As for Franklin, he took the time to shout out the new films made by his friends and co- stars from his film The Artifice Girl, which you should all absolutely watch by either renting it on platforms like Apple and Amazon Prime but it is also streaming free with ads on Tubi. Watch the trailer for David Girard's upcoming short film, "Normal", by clicking here and watch the trailer for "Would You Rather", Tatum Matthews' directorial short film by clicking here! Both shorts are coming soon! You should all also check out Franklinâs YouTube channel, Last Resort Ideas, to watch his past work and fantastic videos by clicking this link.
In this episode, we discuss the big questions surrounding the film including whether or not McMurphy is crazy and if Nurse Ratched has the patientsâ best interest at heart. Emma dives deep into understanding the potential motivations behind Nurse Ratched and also tells a funny story about a bad football game experience in a little tangent. Franklin talks about the incredible differences between the book and the film while also pointing out the corrupt system in place that harms the patients at the ward. Our analytical conversation is wide- encompassing of the film as we also talk about the push and pull Billy faces between the protagonist and antagonist, the famously shocking electroshock therapy scene, and the cathartic ending. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
On the forty- ninth episode of All the Film Things, I had the pleasure of interviewing producer/ director Jonathan Berman!Â
Jonathan Berman is a California- based producer/ director who has been working in the industry for nearly 40 years. Before making his own documentaries often focused on sub- cultures not often highlighted in mainstream media, such as Commune (2005) and The Shvitz (1993), he worked as a producer, co- writer, and assistant sound editor on films and television shows with one of his first jobs being a production assistant on the set of Pee Weeâs Playhouse. My Friend Paul (1999), Jonathanâs sophomore documentary for which he directed, wrote, and produced was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival in 1999. His latest film, Calling All Earthlings (2018), won the Debut Feature Competition Jury Prize at the Illuminate Film Festival in 2018. Aside from his work in film production, he is a professor at Cal State San Marcos School of Arts and has taught courses on subjects like documentary filmmaking, media distribution, and both US and international cinema.
Jonathanâs documentary Commune, which is focused on the commune of Black Bear Ranch in the late 60s through the 70s, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by being screened in its newly restored form across the US. Three more screenings in California have been announced with the next in San Rafael on September 12, another in Los Angeles on September 17, and the last announced screening on September 20 in Ojai, California. More screenings are expected to be announced so follow @CommuneTheMovie on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on the film and its upcoming screenings!
This is Jonathanâs first time on ATFT! I got connected to Jonathan thanks to Kelly Hargraves who presented me this excellent opportunity and then became a big help in setting the interview up. This episode was recorded on August 7, 2025.Â
In this episode, Jonathan talks about his post- production process, specifically when it comes to trimming down hundreds of hours of footage to form a film, as well as his love for old noir and comedy films from the 1930s, and meeting Christopher Nolan. We also compared his film Commune to one of my favorite films: Easy Rider (1969)! All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
On the forty- eighth episode of ATFT, my friends, the team behind the Who Are You? podcast Connor Overbay and Shannon Overbay, join me on the fourth edition of the âfan- favoriteâ ATFT segment, #FilmTwitter Trends! This episode has some explicit language with some sporadic spoilers.Â
Earlier this year, there was this trend going around #FilmTwitter (on the platform now called X) where someone would post âComfort movie marathon, What are you watching?â along with four stills from four films to create your dream comfort film marathon. a decade and list their favorite film each year of that decade. It was challenging for us to narrow down and fill our lists but our picks often stayed within the comedy or rom- com genre. If selecting four films wasnât hard enough, I took the challenge up a notch for Connor and Shannon by making a little game out of this episode.Â
This is the first time both Connor and Shannon have been on ATFT! Shannon and I have been friends for about five years now after meeting in a film class in college. Through her, I met her then- boyfriend, now- husband Connor and we have since gone to lunch, dinner, and podcasting events together. They were guests on an episode of my TV- focused podcast that has never been widely released, The Tube, to talk about my tied- for favorite show of all time: Homeland. As said in the episode, they are more TV aficionados so it took a long time for us to come up with a good ATFT topic for them to come on. I was a guest on their podcast nearly two years ago which remains a true highlight (click here to listen). This episode was recorded on July 24, 2025 .Â
The Who Are You? podcast, co- hosted by Connor and Shannon, celebrated its third anniversary earlier this year and they talk with a versatile group of people in Jacksonville from fellow podcasters, those working in non- profits, small business owners, and more. And when theyâre not interviewing someone, they have enjoyable Sunday hang out episodes that are just the two of them chatting and coming up with funny yet thought- provoking âTop 5â lists and âWould you rather?â questions. You can listen to the Who Are You? Podcast wherever you get your podcasts but hereâs the link to listen on Spotify! The Overbays have officially launched a small business of their own, C2 Promotions, where they create merch for brands of any kind so if you need shirts, notebooks, water bottles, etc for your brand, go to c2-promos.com and follow their Instagram @C2promos!Â
In this episode, Shannon, Connor, and I go through our comfort movie marathon selections and discuss them briefly as well as talking about other related films and actors along the way. Since they are married and have been together for about a decade, I turned this episode into a little game and asked them to list the four films they think the other chose⊠but youâll have to listen to the episode to hear how well they did! Shannonâs list is pure 2000s nostalgia that includes not one but two Drew Barrymore movies. Connor recalled his childhood when choosing his four films beloved by audiences across generations. My list, which was narrowed down from about 30 to only four, includes big stars in beloved, heartwarming films. Some tangents include our celebrity crushes, whether Jack couldâve fit on the piece of the Titanic alongside Rose, and pondering if a hot dog is a sandwich. All this and more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the forty- seventh episode of All the Film Things, I had the pleasure of interviewing educator Art Smith jr.!Â
Art Smith jr. has been working in the industry for over 50 years and has mentored over 400 individuals and counting. He has worked behind the camera in various roles such as a production assistant, project manager, and prop master for well- known feature films such The Way We Were, Good Morning, Vietnam, and The Bucket List and also under the direction of acclaimed filmmakers including Brian de Palma, and Martin Scorsese. Art is a member of several prestigious organizations in the industry including the American Film Institute and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences TV. He is also the owner of the production company No Budget Movie Company and is a producing partner of Code7 Films. Art has worked in several different mediums including film, television, and music videos, one of which, for the song âTalking to the Wallâ, earned him both a Telly Award and Aurora Award in 1999. Just last month, Art was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Orlando International Film Festival. Aside from his work on set, Art is a proud retired veteran who served in the US Army for 30 years.Â
Art has been the Principal Secretary and on the Board of Directors of the Florida chapter of the non- profit organization Women in Film and Television (WIFT) for nearly twenty years and three exciting new programs, the Veterans program, Handicapped program, and Screening program, were recently launched. Go to WomeninFilmFL.org to learn more about the organization as well as grants, programs, and upcoming events. And if youâre not in Florida, go to https://www.wifti.net to find your local WIFT chapter!
This is Artâs first time on ATFT! Iâve known Art for nearly three years now through attending WIFT events. At the first event I met him at, he stayed back for a few hours to chat with students answering their questions. Not long after meeting him, we had a phone call that lasted over three hours. I always look forward to seeing and talking with him at WIFT events because I always learn so much and have greatly benefited from his advice. Last spring, I asked Art if heâd be interested in coming on ATFT and he said yes instantly. Even so, this episode came together quickly but I was thrilled to finally have him on! This episode was originally 2 hours and 22 minutes so I unfortunately had to trim it down. I apologize if the audio quality is not like previous episodes, it was a challenging edit to complete in less than two weeks. This episode was recorded on July 9, 2025.Â
In this episode, Art tells unbelievable star- studded stories from his career, from Sean Connery tracking him down to what happened when Jack Nicholson heard Artâs impression of him to his friendship James Brolin, as well as the incredible opportunities Art gave his TV production students through the years. Art also talks about the business behind filmmaking at length including deals that fell through and guiding young filmmakers to success. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
On the forty- sixth episode of All the Film Things, my friend writer/ director Samy El- Kamel is back for the second edition of our beloved segment, Nolanception, to talk about the scores of Christopher Nolan films. This episode contains explicit language
Nolanception is a segment that allows Samy and I, who are both massive Nolan fans, to dive deep and more niche topics relating to the work of the one and only Sir Christopher Nolan. The first edition of this segment was released last July where we talked about the non- linearity of Nolanâs films. Even though Iâm embarrassingly more giddy when talking about Nolan films, this is my favorite segment and I still regard that first Nolanception episode as my favorite ATFT episode (see Episode 25 to give that one a listen)! This time, we look closely into the scores of Christopher Nolan films by composers from David Juliyan to Hans Zimmer to Ludwig Göransson.
This is Samyâs 12th time on ATFT! He is the second most frequent guest on the show, after Cole Echevarria, and is about as obsessed with Christopher Nolan as I am so I always am very excited to record Nolanception episodes with Samy. Samyâs next short film, inspired partly by Memento, âAnatomy of a Panic Attackâ will be entering the production phase next month! The Indiegogo campaign may still be live by the time this episode is releases so make a donation if you still can by clicking this link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/anatomy-of-a-panic-attack If you're unable to donate, spread the word across social media and check out the teaser trailer for the short on his YouTube channel by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBnIdb92TL8 ! You can also stay updated on Samy and his work by following @barefootpythonmedia and/ or @samy_elkamel24 on Instagram! This episode was recorded on June 26, 2025.Â
In this episode, Samy and I talk about the scores of each Nolan film from Following to Oppenheimer before concluding the episode with our top five Nolan film scores. Samy shares which film he believes is the greatest film score of all time while I compare a few sounds within scores to famous songs, including a Britney Spears song (where my worlds collide). We also debate which track is better, âTimeâ or âNo Time for Cautionâ, wonder about why one track on The Dark Knight Rises album is included, and Hans Zimmer's theme for Heath Ledger's Joker. All this and more on the new episode of ATFT!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
On the forty- fifth episode of All the Film Things, my friend Emmy- award winning photojournalist Cole Echevarria is back for the third âwide- releasedâ edition of our segment, Film Finds!Â
The âFilm Findsâ segment is ATFT in its most casual, spontaneous form as we talk about the films weâve recently watched with nearly nothing prepared. The last time we did a âFilm Findsâ episode was exactly a year ago (give Episode 23 a listen) and the first âwide- releasedâ Film Finds episode was Episode 3 (so check that one too while youâre at it)! Like previous Film Finds episodes, I mostly talked about older films I discovered and Cole, the frequent theater- goer, mostly focuses on newly released films he has seen so far this year.
This is Coleâs record- breaking 19th appearance on ATFT! He is far and away the most frequent guest on the show and has proven to be a fan- favorite. Not only is Cole one of the biggest champions of ATFT, he makes this podcast fun and brings out a less- serious version of myself. He won an Emmy last year for his work on the news package âWaiting for Rebuildâ for First Coast News. As always, we do banter a bit but it is a little more sporadic this time around. This episode was recorded on June 10, 2025.Â
In this episode, Cole and I discuss the films we have recently discovered as well as films weâve recently rewatched. Cole talks about important characters in Wes Anderson films as well as his new film The Phoenician Scheme (2025). This discussion leads us to debate whether or not Wes Anderson is an auteur and then to me once again raving about Pedro AlmodĂłvar who was helmed as cinemaâs âgreatest auteurâ. I talked about my recent viewing of Mr. Klein (1976) which left me rattled as well as recent rewatches of Tokyo Story (1953) and Revolutionary Road (2008). Cole later reveals his surprising new hobby and how that ties into the comfort film he dreams to remake one day. All this and more on the new episode of ATFT!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
On the forty- fourth episode of All the Film Things, I had the pleasure of interviewing award- winning screenwriter/ novelist/ film director Steven Bernstein!Â
Steven Bernstein has been working in the industry for nearly 40 years behind the camera, often as a cinematographer, under the direction of acclaimed filmmakers from Noah Baumbach to Patty Jenkins before directing his own feature films. He earned a Golden Lion at the Cannes Film Festival early in his career for working as a cinematographer on commercials in the UK. Steven has been the director of photography on nearly 50 films, some of which include critically acclaimed films Like Water for Chocolate (1993) and Monster (2003), and beloved comedies such as The Waterboy (1998) and White Chicks (2004). Alongside Emmanual Lubezki, Steven earned the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for his work on the 1993 film Like Water for Chocolate. Stevenâs directorial feature film debut, Decoding Annie Parker (2013), earned him The Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at the 2013 Hamptons International Film Festival and his sophomore directorial feature, Last Call (2017) was hailed as âOscar- worthyâ and earned lead actor Rhys Ifans the Best Actor award at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Steven also co-hosts, alongside Vince Grimes, the terrific and insightful weekly podcast âFilmmaker and Fanâsâ which you should all check out on the same platform you listen to ATFT on but here's the link to listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cepNNzk8evxnNEAPUPXPX?si=33b9632bbe4a49e9
Stevenâs debut novel, a thriller titled GRQ: Get Rich Quick, was published on June 3 and has been continuously earning rave reviews so definitely buy yourself a copy now wherever books are sold, including Barnes & Noble through this link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grq-steven-bernstein/1147259290! This novella, which is set over the course of one day in a seemingly doomed Los Angeles that regularly faces natural disasters, follows Marlon who, unbeknownst to his wife, quickly tries to come up with the money needed to save the house from being repossessed leading him to make a dicey investment in cryptocurrency. GRQ, which is the first of a series in the works, ends with a surprising twist that provokes a lot of questions by considering what is important in life. GRQ: The Movie, which Steven directed based on his book, will be having a worldwide theatrical release later this year so Iâll keep you all updated here on the ATFT Instagram on its release!Â
This is Stevenâs first time on ATFT! We got connected on Instagram over a year ago through the comments under a post he made about the film 20th Century Women! This episode was recorded on May 29, 2025.Â
In this episode, Steven talks about the films and filmmaker who made him fall in love with cinema, the film industry currently being in crises, and the technical, underlying ways to bring out a great performance as both a cinematographer and filmmaker. Steven also discusses the unique, visceral experience of cinema, working closely with Charlize Theron on the film that earned her an Oscar, what he hopes people take away from his films, and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the forty- third episode of ATFT, actress/ producer Michelle Calloway and movie critic Matthieu CÎté join me in celebrating Angelina Jolie for her 50th birthday!
Angelina Jolie is one of the most globally beloved movie stars of our time with people admiring her through her iconic public image evolution from being the âwild childâ to a humanitarian and mother. She hit the ground running in the late 90s by earning three Golden Globes and an Academy Award for her performance as Lisa Rowe in Girl, Interrupted. She established herself as an action star by playing the titular character in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. While many know her from her action films, she quietly has built up a versatile filmography with many of her best films being hidden gems. Her brilliant and emotionally- charged dramatic talents are overshadowed by the celebrity attention she has received and being one of the most beautiful women on the planet. If her success in film isnât enough reason to celebrate her, sheâs a humanitarian who served for ten years as a Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. She has also been an advocate for women as her health- focused op- eds inspired women, leading for the sort- of movement as âThe Angelina Effectâ. She has been an inspiration to me for several years but her global impact has remained strong for over two decades.
This is Michelleâs second time on the podcast while this is Matthieuâs third time! This episode came together rapidly and the version everyone will hear is probably Plan E. Plans were set for months to have on a returning guest to discuss Angelina but she, unfortunately, became a no- show. It would have been easier to have cancelled this episode but I didnât want to because Angelina has had such an impact on me since I was about 18 years old and this was a great opportunity to honor her. I am incredibly grateful to Matthieu and Michelle for saving this episode!
Michelle is planning a second Filmmaker Forum for August this year! The date has yet to be set but the first one, which took place in March, was a major success and incredibly informative so if youâre in the Jacksonville area, stay tuned for more information by following @michellecalloway on Instagram! Also nominate Michelle for the Rising Star Award for the City of Jacksonville Film and Television Office Annual Awards by clicking this link!: https://www.filmjax.com/bizforms/rising-star-nomination-form?fbclid=IwY2xjawKsOhVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6YjRWVE1zdG4xT1l5S3pBAR4h4Kgd7IKZdXI7IHsYGCJC7OBfEKrH32qFvuiXbRWeWsoGLIh532Nnilme3A_aem_u_yaKfTGoCq4ScfjrfDpmA ! Matthieu has several exciting interviews that will soon be available on his YouTube channel including one with the director and star of the new horror film The Ritual. Heâs also working on a passion project, a hockey- focused documentary, which should be out later this year! Subscribe to his YouTube channel by clicking this link!: https://www.youtube.com/@matthieucote2272Â
As I mentioned, this episode came together quickly so itâs definitely an eccentric casual format episode. Angelinaâs films from Hackers to Maria are discussed with only a few omissions, like Beyond Borders. We share our first memories of Angelina and our five favorite Angelina films. For one section of the episode, I talked about three Angelina films I especially wanted to highlight. Matthieu and I discuss his favorite Angelina film, By the Sea, at length while Michelle shares which filmmaker she hopes Angelina will work with someday. All this and more on the new episode of All the Film Things!
Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.
Photo of Angelina used in the cover art was retrieved from Flickr (link to the photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/346665570 and link to the license rules: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ ). The only change made to the image was that it was cropped.Â
On the forty- second episode of All the Film Things, writer/ director Bassel Jadaa and actor Melissa Lindsey join me in analyzing Wim Wendersâs 1987 romantic fantasy classic, Wings of Desire! This episode is spoiler- filled.Â
Wings of Desire is a German art film that follows two angels who have been around since the beginning of time, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) in a, literally, divided Berlin, before the wall came down, as they observe and take note of the thoughts of people, young and old, in the city. One angel in particular, Damiel, confesses his desire to become human as heâs grown tired of merely being an observer of humanity, craving to understand the good, bad, and mundane that comes with the human experience, of which he wholeheartedly celebrates. His desire becomes a reality as his falling in love with a trapeze artist named Marion (Solveig Dommartin) motivates him to âtake the plungeâ. The film also stars Curt Bois and features a special appearance by Peter Falk. Wings of Desire succeeds Wendersâs widely acclaimed film Paris, Texas (1984) and, out of rebellion from calls to make âanother Paris, Texasâ, Wenders made something completely opposite, which ended up, much to his surprise, achieving higher levels of success. Wings of Desire is one of my very favorite films and is truly one of the most beautiful films ever made as it leaves a significant impact on all those who watch it.
This is both Bassel and Melissaâs first times on the podcast! I first met Bassel a few years ago through attending WIFT events before recurrently attending Jax Film Bar, for which he is one of the hosts. In recent months, we befriended Melissa, who has just recently began attending these events as well. Wings of Desire is Basselâs very favorite film while this was Melissaâs first time watching the film. As we discuss in the beginning of the episode, we have all been deeply impacted by it. For the first twenty minutes, Bassel's audio is a tad quiet and staticy but I assure you the rest of the episode, his audio is much better! This episode was recorded on May 1, 2025.Â
Basselâs long- awaited feature film, Dances of the Dead, is expected to premiere this year so I will keep you all updated on its release! Melissa is a talented free- agent actor/ dancer/ singer so if you have a project in the works, definitely reach out to her @evilseamonkey or on Facebook under her name (Melissa Lindsey)!
Like the film Wings of Desire itself, our conversation seamlessly flows from one talking point to another. In this episode, we examine the thoughts of those the angels encounter, discuss the limited power angels have in helping humans, the important yet overlooked character of Homer, and the surprising way in which this film was made. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the forty- first episode of All the Film Things, I talked with the Film Production Coordinator for the City of Jacksonville, director/ editor Adam Madrid!Â
Adam Madrid, who some of us regard as âthe king of Jacksonvilleâ, is an integral figure in Jacksonville who started out working as a freelancer making films, music videos, and even commercials for the Jacksonville Jaguars before becoming the Film Production Coordinator for the City of Jacksonville last year. He has been awarded the Art Innovator Award by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville in 2023 and is amongst this yearâs Leadership Jacksonville class. Alongside his wife Monique, Adam is the City Producer for the 48 hour film project in Jacksonville and the co- founder of the LOL Jacksonville Film Festival. Adam is also the co- founder of the production company Argyle Forest Films and directs, co- produces, and co- edits every versatile film made under the company including âA Novel Ideaâ and âNo Laughing Matterâ, which won the Jacksonville 48 hour film project in 2014 leading the short to be screened at Filmapalooza in Hollywood the next year.
Adamâs directorial feature debut, Let Me Be Corey, is a comedy film thatâs been six years in the making! The film will be out very soon and Iâll keep you all updated on its release on the ATFT Instagram! While youâre waiting for Let Me Be Corey to premiere and later hit streaming, check out some of Adamâs past work on the Argyle Forest Films Youtube channel by clicking this link!: https://www.youtube.com/@ArgyleForestFilmsÂ
This is Adamâs first appearance on ATFT! Adam and I met about a year ago at Jax Film Bar. It was very casual as, if I remember correctly, we were just eating dinner and someone between us had got up so we briefly talked and now, as Iâve gotten to know him a little more, I am seriously in awe of his journey and his passion for Jacksonville. He is the community leader this city needs and his dedication along with his motivated mindset is going to elevate Jacksonville to the film city it is. Every time I have the pleasure of chatting with him I feel inspired and motivated, especially since heâs been a champion of this podcast which I cannot be more grateful for his support. This episode was recorded on April 24, 2025.Â
In this episode, Adam talks about how his motivation and passion for filmmaking got him to where he is today, as a leading figure in the Jacksonville film industry. Filmmakers, specifically those in the 904 area, will especially benefit from Adamâs interview and will be inspired to keep making films and spread the word about the city. Adam also explains the tax incentives for filming in Jacksonville, the current state of the arts in Jacksonville universities, and how heâs spread the word about Jacksonville all around the world. We also discuss beloved comedy actors in stellar dramatic roles, our shared appreciation for Claire Danes, and teasing whatâs to come for the Jacksonvilleâs film scene, and much more! All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the fortieth episode of All the Film Things, I talked with professor/ author James Miller!Â
James Miller is a liberal studies professor at the New School for Social Research in New York City. He wrote music reviews for Rolling Stone in the 70s and spent much of the 80s reviewing books and writing pop music criticism for Newsweek. Among Jimâs many accomplishments, he has been a Guggenheim Fellow and his work continues to be published in magazines, peer- reviewed academic journals, and newspapers. Jim has written several books over the course of his decades- spanning career focused on various subject matters from philosophy (Examined Lives: From Socrates to Nietzsche) to politics (Can Democracy Work? A Short History of a Radical Idea, from Ancient Athens to Our World) to music. His book Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock & Roll won the ASCAP- Deems Taylor Award for the best music book written of 1999.
Jimâs latest book, the first heâs written focused on film, is titled The Passion of Pedro AlmodĂłvar: A Self- Portrait in Seven Films and will be published through Columbia University Press on April 29. Through this book, Jim examines the work, and by extension self, of AlmodĂłvar through his most personal films. This book will be available for purchase wherever books are sold so preorder your copy now on Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.! You'll definitely want to click this link to preorder the book on Barnes & Noble!: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-passion-of-pedro-almodovar-james-miller/1146504374;jsessionid=473B373D1171A12E15F5B951CC989AA7.prodny_store01-atgap07 If youâre in the New York area, Jim will be sitting down with Robert Polito for an hour- long conversation on pub day about his book at the New School at 6 pm. Learn more about this event by clicking this link!: https://event.newschool.edu/booklunchjimmiller
This is Jimâs first appearance on ATFT! I wouldnât have had the opportunity to interview him without two- time ATFT guest, film historian Max Alvarez presenting me with this opportiunity. Iâm very grateful to him and Sarah C. Noell of Columbia University Press for helping bring this interview into fruition. Before reading Jimâs book, I had seen three AlmodĂłvar films and the latter two, Parallel Mothers (2021) and All About My Mother (1999), blew me away. For a few years now, I had been wanting to go through AlmodĂłvar's work but his films are not so easy to come by. Reading Jim's brilliant, analytical book was the perfect opportunity to finally dive in, leaving me completely changed. Why arenât people talking about AlmodĂłvar?! Quentin Tarantino was right when he said AlmodĂłvar is largely underrated in the US. This episode was recorded on April 3, 2025.Â
In this episode, Jim shares incredible stories from his career from gettign a private concert from Paul McCartney to inspiring a Jimi Hendrix song. We talk about some of cinemaâs greatest filmmakers, such as Ingmar Bergman and Alfred Hitchcock, before discussing the work of Pedro AlmodĂłvar for much of the episode. Filmmakers and film aficionados will especially enjoy this episode. Jim also talks about the impact of Michelangelo Antoninoni's Blow-up (1966) , AlmodĂłvar's dynamic with muse PenĂ©lope Cruz, and inspiring Tom Hayden to write his memoir. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
P.S.) If you're listening on Spotify, share your thoughts on Pedro AlmodĂłvar in the comments!
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ATFT is back! On the thirty- ninth episode of All the Film Things, I talked with Black female filmmaker Shanita Brown!Â
Shanita Brown is an award- winning Daytona-based filmmaker who has written and directed nine films so far. She has had quite a journey getting to where she is today. For one thing, she initially pursued a career in law with her passion being to help people. Even though she earned both Bachelorâs and Masters law degrees, Shanitaâs life took a different route, and she found herself helping people through film instead. Before making her own films, Shanita worked in various roles on and off camera for ten years. In 2022, she released her first short film âMine Since Birthâ which had a successful film festival run. Ever since, she has continued to make her own short films, star and/ or work behind the scenes. In March 2023, Shanita was one of eight women honored at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach for their reception centered on "Young Women to Set Your Sight On". She is also the Content Manager for the streaming service Gen X TV and was recently named the manager of the Cinematique theater in Daytona.Â
Shanitaâs latest project is the drama short, âTha Bone Collectaâ. The short, inspired by real life, is focused around a group of close, longtime friends. One friend in the group, Shanitaâs character Laura Queen, learns the secrets of individuals within the group and causes drama by revealing it to other friends, making her âthe bone collectaâ. For this project, Shanita directed, wrote, starred in, and produced the film. While the film stars a great ensemble of women, this is the first time Shanita has starred as the lead in one of her own films! âTha Bone Collectaâ has just begun its film festival run and is expected to release on Gen X TV once the festival run is finished! The film will be having a premiere on Saturday, April 12 at the AMC Altamonte near Orlando, Florida, so if youâre in the area or want to make the trip, go to the premiere! While youâre waiting for âTha Bone Collectaâ to be available on streaming, check out some of Shanitaâs past work on Gen X TV and the Shanita Brown Films Youtube channel by clicking this link!: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC92QB5m4bFUYvj4IEHMuqJw Shanita loves connecting with filmmakers so if you want to work with her, reach out to her on Instagram @ShanitaABrown on Instagram or follow her on Facebook under her name Shanita A. Brown!Â
This is Shanitaâs first appearance on ATFT! We met working together on the set of the short film "Time Will Tell" (alongside past ATFT guests Vesta Millard and Manny Plaza- Fernandez)! From our first conversation, I gained so much from talking with her. Aside from one, admittedly, hilarious prank she pulled on me, she was so kind and I always looked forward to coming to set just to converse with her. We instantly connected and Shanita is without a doubt one of the best people Iâve been fortunate enough to meet on set. I had been wanting to interview her ever since I met her but I waited until the very end of the shoot to ask her which made for a funny moment at dinner after word got out about my podcast. There were a few technical difficulties in regard to the audio so I apologize that it is not the same quality as usual. This episode was recorded on March 20, 2025.Â
In this episode, Shanita shares her journey from initially aspiring to become a lawyer to working in the industry to making her own films. Filmmakers will especially benefit from Shanitaâs stories and mindset navigating the industry. Shanita also talks about her love of Halle Berry, having no fear when it comes to the horror genre, working with Brad Pitt on his new film F1, and her biggest- and perhaps surprising- career goal. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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The Oscars are almost here! On the thirty- seventh episode of ATFT, my friends Emm- winning photojournalist, writer/ director Samy El- Kamel, and director Craig Ienne Pedroza join this yearâs panel to discuss the Oscar nominated films and share our predicted winners! This episode is explicit.
2024 was a mixed year for us⊠Cole and Craig believe 2024 was a great year for cinema while Samy and I donât quite share that opinion. This yearâs awards season has become plagued by various controversies and many believing this is not as competitive as last yearâs Oscar race. For the 2025 Academy Awards, Jacques Audiardâs Emilia PĂ©rez earned the most nominations(13) this year whileboth The Brutalist and Wicked tied for second, earning 10 nominations each.Other films that received many nominations are Conclave, Anora, and The Substance.So many categories are up in the air with no film expected to sweep, leaving audiences torn on who will win. Will it be Sean Baker or Brady Corbet who takes home the Director Oscar? How about who will win Best Actress: Demi Moore, Fernanda Torres or Mikey Madison? These are just two of the widely debated categories. We will soon learn the answer on Sunday, March 2!
This is the first time each of the ATFT regulars are all together for an episode! This is Coleâs eighteenth appearance on ATFT (seventh on this wide release), Samyâs eleventh (fourth on the wide release), and Craigâs sixth appearance (fourth on the wide release). This is the third annual Oscars special! Cole and I recorded the 2022 Oscars special through the Relevnt app, which is currently in the vault. The first wide released Oscars special (give Episode 15 a listen) was last yearâs 2023 Oscars special with Cole, Craig, and past guest Lina Smith. Since the Oscars is the âSuper Bowl for film fansâ, this episode was aimed to be more of a Sports Center- format. This episode was recorded on February 6, 2025.Â
Cole recently won an Emmy for his work with First Coast News on the news package âWaiting for Rebuildâ! Watch the full news package here!: https://youtu.be/Pa1m0qm8h-Q. Samyâs latest short film âWaveformâ will be making the rounds at film festivals soon so stay tuned by following his production company on Instagram and Youtube @barefootpythonmedia! Craig recently directed the short film âFloating Daisiesâ which will also begin its film festival run soon. Stay updated on that project by following @floatingdaisiesfilm on Instagram and Craig on both Instagram and Youtube @iennefilm!
In this episode,Cole, Samy, Craig and I go through each category and discuss our predicted winners. The categories are discussed in the order of which the categories were read at last year's Oscars. There are very few categories we unanimously agree on. Arguments are had, impressions are hilariously done, and the power of friendship lives on. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
ATFT Announcement!: All the Film Things will be back on March 26! Stay updated by following @all.the.film.things on Instagram!Â
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On the thirty- seventh episode of ATFT, I talked with actress/ producer Michelle Calloway! While I wouldn't say this episode is explicit, there is some occasional language.
Michelle Calloway is an artistic filmmaker based in Jacksonville who has been steadily working in the film industry since graduating Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in photography. She initially started working behind the camera in both film and photography but, in recent years as she has made her own films, has stepped in front of the camera. Like Richard Avedon, Michelle's short films explore the inner complexity of the human condition outwardly through visual storytelling. Michelleâs sophomore short titled âBelle Isleâ had a successful, worldwide festival run and earned her the award for âBest Experimental Shortâ at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles. Michelle has also starred in various other shorts such as âThe Weary Time Travelerâ, "The Resident", and âSouthern Glenâ but has recently made her feature film debut in Rachel Suissaâs comedy Greek Mothers Never Die, which is currently in the middle of a film festival run and recently won the "Best Comedy Feature" award at the Central Florida Film Festival. Aside from her work in film, Michelle is signed with two modeling agencies, Posewell Model & Talent Management and The Peak Agency, and has been featured in commercials and advertisements. Michelle has been established as one of Jacksonvilleâs most prominent filmmakers whose success will only continue upwards as her work ethic and genuine, singular artistry will take her far.
Michelleâs latest project is the drama short film, âTallulah Parkâ. Named after a real park in Jacksonville, this poetic short is focused on Michelleâs character Olivia as she struggles to find herself as she is haunted by her past. After a transformative chance encounter, her mindset changes leading her to seek redemption. Like Michelleâs previous shorts, the internal complexity of her character is explored outwardly, but this time through found music and lyrical writing. For this project, Michelle wore three hats as she wrote, starred, and produced this film. âTallulah Parkâ has just begun its film festival run and is expected to have a premiere in Jacksonville at a later date. While youâre waiting for âTallulah Parkâ to be released, go to LulahFilms.com to learn more about Michelleâs production company as well as watch her past work!
This is Michelleâs first appearance on ATFT! We have been connected on Instagram for at least a year now but it wasnât until we recorded this interview that we met in person! Just by following her on Instagram, I knew Michelle was cool and authentic but when I met her in person, I saw how much of a boss she is while remaining incredibly kind. I have the utmost respect for her because of her confident attitude as well as her strong work ethic. I aspire to carry myself in this way as my shy self often hides my specificity and decisiveness. This interview was without a doubt one of the best interviews on ATFT thus far and one I have gained the most from so I am sure all creatives will take away something from listening. This episode was recorded on January 16, 2025.Â
In this episode, Michelle talks about the evolution of her artistry between photography and film through the years. Even though Michelle claims she is not a cinephile, she certainly knows some hidden gems which turns into a game throughout this episode. Michelle also talks about how her initial fear of acting transformed her, working with Brittany Murphy on one of her last films, and how she has turned her creative work into a successful business. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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On the thirty- sixth episode of All the Film Things, I am joined by my friends filmmaker/ Letterboxd Patron member Freddy Burgos and movie critic Matthieu CÎté to talk about cinema etiquette and experiences! This episode is explicit.
As passionate cinephiles, going to the cinema is one of the most cherished experiences. Thereâs nothing like seeing a film the way itâs meant to be seen: on a big screen with surround sound. Various factors like streaming and Covid have caused a decline in the movie theater business which effectively led to a decline in cinema etiquette. Cinema etiquette has become a prominent talking point as of late online. Thereâs been debate surrounding if itâs alright to sing during musicals, if it is acceptable to take photos of the theater screen, and much more⊠which is exactly what we unpack in this episode along with sharing our own cinema experiences.Â
This is both Freddy and Matthieuâs second times on the show! Freddy was a guest on ATFT last year alongside his brother artist Bernardo Goya to talk about Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) while Matthieuâs first appearance was two months ago to discuss Le SamouraĂŻ (1967) to celebrate Noirvember. Both have been looking forward to being back on the show for a little while now and I knew this was a perfect topic for the three of us. Matthieu and I became instant friends since recording our Le SamouraĂŻ episode and ever since, we often chat about film and what films we have seen in theaters. We have similar movie theater pet peeves, especially since we both revel in the experience of going to the cinema alone. Freddy was a perfect guest for this episode because he goes on âcinematic pilgrimagesâ, meaning he will travel far and wide to see a film in the best possible format. I greatly respect his dedication to cinema and in this episode, he talks about a few of his cinematic pilgrimages. Actually, he had just gotten back from traveling to see The Brutalist (2024) a day or two before recording this episode! Iâm very grateful to them both for joining me for this episode. While this episode topic has been in the works for a little while now, the planning of recording it was pretty last minute due to initial plans of recording an analytical episode went awry. This episode was recorded on January 3, 2025.
Freddy is a filmmaker who has been taking a little bit of a break but is already working on his next project! Check out some of his past work by subscribing to his YouTube channel, Fresh Lad Collective, by clicking this link!: https://www.youtube.com/@freshladcollective. Freddy is also a Letterboxd Patron member and regularly shares reviews and comments about the films he watches. Follow him on Letterboxd by clicking https://letterboxd.com/burgitoes/â ! Matthieu has been killing it on YouTube lately. Heâs been interviewing filmmaker after filmmaker whose films are Oscar- eligible this year! In addition to interviews, youâll find excellent analytical film reviews. You definitely want to subscribe to his channel so click here!: https://www.youtube.com/@matthieucote2272Â
As previously mentioned, we unpack certain topics that fall under the cinema etiquette category that are up for debate from snacks to seating to children. Throughout the episode, especially in the beginning, we share our own theater experiences. Freddyâs stories start off very unexpectedly as he shares a story from his childhood, Matthieu recounts his favorite movie theater memory that involve one of his favorite directors, and I fondly remembered the first time I saw a Christopher Nolan film in theaters. Also in this episode, we talk about filmmakers like Nolan who have championed the cinema experience, what theaters can do to improve, and the theater rule that one of us continuously breaks. All this and more on the brand new episode of All the Film Things!
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The first episode of the new year! On the thirty- fifth episode of All the Film Things, I am joined by my friends and ATFT regulars "unofficial co- host"/ Emmy- winning photojournalist Cole Echevarria, writer/ director Samy- El Kamel, and Samy's friend movie lover Adolfo Miranda to talk about 2024 in film! This episode is explicit and a few recent films are spoiled, especially Joker: Folie Ă Deux.
2023 set the bar pretty high in terms of years in film. While I believe 2024 was mostly a lackluster year in cinema, there were undisputed gems beloved by many. Most of us agreed the latter part of the year contained the best new releases compared to the beginning of the year, including films like A Real Pain, Anora, and The Substance.Â
As previously stated, both Cole and Samy are ATFT regulars while this is Adolfoâs first time on the show! More specifically, this episode marks Coleâs 17th time and Samyâs 10th time over the course of 81 ATFT episodes recorded thus far.!Cole, Samy, and I have reflected on past years in film for three years in a row now. Our "2022 in Film" episode is in the vault but check out Samy and I talking about "2023 in film" last year (Episode 11)! I always look forward to this yearly episode since it not only gives me an opportunity to chat with my friends but it is nice to know these episodes will act as a time capsule years from now. With each episode, the banter only gets funnier and funnier, even if it is at my expense. Cole and Samy will hopefully be back on ATFT soon for the upcoming Oscars special!
Last month, Cole won an Emmy for his work with First Coast News on the news package âWaiting for Rebuildâ!! Click the link to watch it!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Pa1m0qm8h-Q Samyâs long- anticipated short film âWaveformâ will be released soon, under his production company Barefoot Python Media, but is expected to hit some film festivals so it may be a while before it is readily accessible online. Check out the teaser trailer for the short on the Barefoot Python Media YouTube channel by clicking this link!: â https://www.youtube.com/@BarefootPythonMediaâ You can also find Samy discussing his updated top ten favorite films of 2024!
Last yearâs â2023 in Filmâ episode was more of a year in review. That was the intention with this episode but unfortunately we ran out of time. This episode is most entirely the four of us sharing our top favorite films of the year. Cole and I each share our top five favorites of the year while both Samy and Adolfo each shared their top ten favorites. Even though we share a few similar favorites, our lists truly vary between each other. Coleâs favorites of the year have changed slightly since last Juneâs âFilm Findsâ episode. Adolfo, an A24 fan, listed several A24 productions in his top ten list and also made a comparison using Conclave that thrilled me. Samy chose his favorite films carefully and, as per usual, articulately describes each of his picks in a way that will entice you to watch them soon after listening to this episode. My list was not as concrete as everyone elseâs but I talked about the return of one of my favorite actresses, Angelina Jolie in Pablo LarraĂnâs Maria, before sharing my favorite film of the year which was such a controversial choice that it launched a long analytical debate. All this and more on the brand new episode of All the Film Things!
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On the thirty- fourth episode of ATFT, I talk with writer/ director/ editor Franklin Ritch!Â
Franklin Ritch, one of Jacksonvilleâs most prominent filmmakers, has worn many hats since he was a child. Once he was gifted a video camera by his grandmother for Christmas, there was no slowing Franklin down. His earliest projects were stop motion shorts, and he continued to make films through middle school and high school. His work only proved more versatile in terms of stories, characters, and genres when making a series of short films, such as "Bedridden" and "New Wings: A Batgirl Fan Film" under his production company Last Resort Ideas. Franklinâs debut feature film, The Artifice Girl, had quite a successful film festival run. Franklin has been named one of the â25 New Faces of Independent Filmâ by Filmmaker Magazine. Franklin is without a doubt on the rise and a filmmaker who Iâm sure youâll be hearing more about in the years to come.Â
Franklinâs latest project is the highly- anticipated sci- fi short film, "Last Weekend". The short is set in the distant future where aliens have taken over Earth while humans live in reservations and follows two aliens who approach humans intending to help⊠but the humans are skeptical. While the plot is mostly under wraps at the moment, the film is largely a commentary on colonialism, specifically the treatment of indigenous communities in America. Franklin directed, wrote, and edited this film. "Last Weekend" reunites the team behind The Artifice Girl, including actors David Girard and Tatum Matthews. If you look closely in the final scene, you may spot past ATFT guest, Bernardo Goya! "Last Weekend "is currently in the midst of a film festival run and is expected to release this Winter! While youâre waiting for "Last Weekend" to be posted on YouTube, check out Franklinâs past work on the Last Resort Ideas Youtube channel by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/c/LastResortIdeasÂ
This is Franklinâs first appearance on ATFT! We were introduced through our mutual friend, Bassel Jadaa, nearly a year ago at joint WIFT x Jacksonville Film Bar event. It was in this first meeting that I asked Franklin to come on the show, for which he was absolutely down for, and over the course of the year Iâve gotten to know him by chatting with him monthly at Film Bar. Heâs one of the people I look forward to chatting with most each month since, aside from being very kind and humble, we both share a strong passion for cinema. Since we mostly talk about cinema rather than our own work, it wasnât until I started preparing for this episode that I realized just how brilliant and rare of a filmmaker Franklin is. The Artifice Girl was without a doubt remarkable, ahead- of- its- time debut feature film, but watching Franklinâs films and videos from high school is what blew me away. There is not one bad film or video posted through the Last Resort Ideas Youtube channel. His early work is incredibly well made in all aspects from writing to acting to special effects, proving how gifted he is as a filmmaker. For this reason, this was one of the most exciting interviews I have ever had the pleasure of conducting. This episode was recorded on December 5, 2024.Â
In this episode, Franklin talks about his connection to film and filmmaking as well as his early work up to his recent projects such as The Artifice Girl. Up and coming filmmakers will greatly benefit from learning about Franklin and his drive to making his cinematic dreams a reality. Franklin also talks about his integral relationship with frequent collaborator Britt McTammany, what he gained as a filmmaker from being on the set of his mentor Mike Flanaganâs new film The Life of Chuck, and why the end of each of his films contain a credit for âMarlon Brandoâs chestâ. All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!
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