Artists Love Twin Peaks, Season 3. Join Josef and me for an insightful conversation on the art of filmmaking—from the resourceful grit of Detour (1945) to the visionary storytelling of David Lynch. We explore DIY filmmaking, hidden story layers, symbolism, and how making films from the heart can turn resource limitations into courage. Perfect for indie filmmakers, Lynch fans, and story junkies alike. Josef is a story-lover in the classic mold and a creator of film, poetry, fiction, sound design, painting, songwriting, etc. This was a true pleasure:
0:20 Customized DIY filmmaking
2:26 What goes into a film scene? (obvious and otherwise)
6:32 "Detour" (Ulmer, 1945) and resourcefulness in filmmaking
8:36 Money helps!
11:09 The challenges of resource limitations (time, people, money)
16:00 Filmmaking and the actor's POV
18:28 Inner-eye importance
21:46 Linear vs nonlinear storytelling
24:20 Lynchian storytelling: linear with purposeful abstractions
26:36 Using signs & symbols when emotional honesty is unavailable
28:00 Too many easy reference points nowadays? (Rhythm vs. algorithm)
31:08 Coming up with one's own answers vs. leaning on outside sources
36:25 Current projects (writing, songwriting, filmmaking)
41:14 What can we learn from Diamond David Lee Roth?
44:52 When others see themes in our work
47:20 Top 5 filmmakers (and thoughts on post-Lynch Peaks)
50:30 The power of Lynch's singular vision (even amongst the all-time greats)
54:20 Who's more important: the Writer or the Director?
59:52 Animating the skeleton: micro-decisions of directing a film
1:01:44 Story-writing exercises & tips
1:06:57 Classic films, "The Apartment" (Wilder, 1960), & Turner Classic Movies
1:10:22 Creating original sound design
1:11:30 Parting words for people considering filmmaking
Enjoy more from Josef here: "Twin Peaks: It's Fictional & Personal" https://tiny.cc/ALTPjosef1
Contact Anthony: tpgrammar@gmail.com
Check out Cafe Unconscious on YouTube, Spotify, etc
#filmmaking #TCM #davidlynch #markfrost #twinpeaks #DLR
Please check out my new Twin Peaks podcast, Cafe Unconscious (and also keep an eye out for more Artists Love Twin Peaks). Excerpt description: “Join us for a brief exploration of the trip ‘home’ in Twin Peaks: The Return Part 18. Themes include Cooper’s motivation to get Laura to the Palmer house, the validity of Carrie Page’s existence, the legitimacy of Odessa versus a dream-state, the journey of the persona and ego into states of self and how the haunting scream of Carrie Page acts as a happy ending.”
Podcast description: Hosted by Anthony and Tommy, Café Unconscious is a "Twin Peaks theory" podcast focusing on connecting media influence, psychology, and symbolism into true understandings of the narrative. Can a Twin Peaks “theory of everything” open up NEW mysteries in Twin Peaks rather than closing down old ones? Yes indeed.
Want more of this conversation? 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTonM5icrqY
An audio-only version of this podcast is available here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cafe-unconscious-a-deep-dive-into-twin-peaks/id1819256483
I hope you all have a great day.
Some lovely excerpts from the tail end of the large group discussion “What happened in Room 315" -- the original discussion here: https://youtu.be/jxoy9Ea77qo?si=vLbUY3__QiN83BHp What a pleasure.
Seven Twin Peaks join in to discuss symbols, gadgets, and personal artifacts from the show. What are some of your own favorites? Deep thanks to Colin James, Steven Miller, Heather & Tommy Jones, Josh Minton, Joel Bocko, and Alison Ivy. Connect with: Colin (Creamed Corn and the Universe): https://linktr.ee/creamedcornandtheuniverse Steven (TwinPeaksBlog): https://twinpeaksblog.com/ Heather & Tommy (Dreamer's Diary): https://youtube.com/@DreamersDiaryPodcast Josh: (Twin Peaks School): https://substack.com/@jbminton Joel (Journey through Twin Peaks): https://twitter.com/LostInTheMovies Alison: https://instagram.com/agent.ivy See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81ZGITi-fmg
Digging into Season 2’s epic opening scene with a fun & insightful group of fans. Thank you to Andrew Cook, Tommy Jones, Joel Bocko, Alison Ivy, Patrick Mahan, John Bernardy, and Brian Liddicoat. Highlights include:
0:42 - The owls are not what they seem?
5:42 - Joel enters the room
10:24 - Inter-dimensional beings in Twin Peaks
19:32 - Pop culture references in this scene (note: I forgot that L/F did not title the episode)
22:54 - Are the events in this scene real? (and Alison’s arrival)
30:51 - Any connections to FWWM?
32:46 - Has Cooper gone somewhere without moving? (and Patrick’s arrival)
39:03 - Why are the Waiter and Giant so chill?
43:30 - Cooper’s spiritual development
47:23 - Interesting items in this scene
52:11 - Waiter and Giant: one and the same? (John arrives)
58:10 - Does Cooper like TV?
1:02:40 - Is the Waiter like a Leland?
1:04:45 - “We want to help you.” Who’s we?
1:08:42 - Cooper’s character development
1:14:36 - Frostian appreciations
1:19:23 - Key functions of this scene (including pacing & repetition)
1:28:50 - Is Twin Peaks for (cool) nerds?
132:10:10 - Cooper and the Waiter
1:37:08 - Podcast preview: Dreamer’s Diary
1:44:41 - Parting thoughts from Alison, Patrick, and Andrew
1:48:49 - Storytelling and Jung (and the arrival of Brian)
1:52:18 - Updates and praise: Blue Rose Task Force Podcast
1:55:40 - Señor Droolcup is a Twin Peaks fan (It’s good for the soul) - what a treat meeting Brian face-to-face
2:21:42 - Parting thoughts from Brian, Tommy, John, and Anthony
Thank you to Josef Polydoros for creating the introduction and encouraging the pursuit of this discussion.
Connect with:
- Andrew  / https://x.com/MasterMastermnd
- Tommy  / https://youtube.com/@dreamersdiarypodcast
- Joel / https://x.com/lostinthemovies
- Alison / https://instagram.com/ agent.ivy
- Patrick / https://x.com/patreeeek
- John / https://instagram.com/bluerosetaskforce
- Brian / https://x.com/senordroolcup
- Anthony / https://x.com/tpgrammar
A quick catch-up with Tommy Jones (Dreamer's Diary Podcast) to discuss, among other things, Mike/Gerard, the subject of his new video: "Who is Mike? A 'Twin Peaks Mystery' Mystery" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2HQJalYBzM Subscribe early to Dreamer's Diary Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/ @DreamersDiaryPodcast
Discussing Mulholland Drive with John Thorne, author of the bestselling new book, “Devious Dreams: Reimagining David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive” (get it here: http://tiny.cc/0mtkzz) Highlights include: 0:43 - Multiple meanings within the book’s title & cover 6:23 - Is John’s book a key or guide? 8:20 - Interlude one: a live reading 10:40 - Aspects of solitary book-writing; meditative discovery process; forensic analysis 12:54 - The elderly couple & the importance of sound 19:01 - Getting the film’s history right 25:28 - Devious Dreams: backstory & main sections (history, analysis, interviews) 30:46 - Interlude 2: dream booster 33:21 - John’s unique knowledge of the film’s history 42:30 - A film with many characters but few autonomous beings 49:20 - Appreciating (unlocking?) David Lynch’s storytelling breakthroughs 59:41 - The mysterious sequence of phone calls in MD 1:02:22 - Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks venn diagram 1:11:11 - Watching the film in 2001: a paradigm-shifting experience 1:14:27 - The function of torch singers in MD and beyond 1:20:25 - Deciphering the 10 clues to “unlocking” Mulholland Drive 1:24:31 - Blue box, blue key 1:31:10 - When scholarly writing is readable, enjoyable, and lasting 1:35:26 - Devious Dreams: goals and early feedback 1:38:35 - John Thorne, guest teacher 1:58:40 - What is geocaching? 2:04:34 - Missing pieces (plug: “The Art of Editing” with John Thorne) 2:10:03 - Writing in Snoqualmie Theme song: “Neighborhood Shadows” by Josef Polydoros For more: https://twitter.com/thornewip | https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BBBB5VPH The "Artists Love Twin Peaks" video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcwY0BwwNWIYhtoxZ6VksJHwF2tuEfyd- #MulhollandDrive #DavidLynch #TwinPeaks
Yes, I do recommend the book. These excerpts are from a recent chat with Tamler Sommers and John Thorne that I also highly recommend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gBboz52kIs John's new Mulholland Drive book can be ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997108150 Also cool: Tamler's Mulholland Drive episode: https://verybadwizards.fireside.fm/121 #MullhollandDrive #DavidLynch
Tommy Jones returns to present some very interesting ideas -- along with an update on his and his wife's forthcoming podcast. Highlights include: 0:49 - "10" as Frost and Lynch's circular number of completion 10:04 - Individuation and Cooper as archetype not dreamer 22:20 - Carrie Page's central role in the narrative ~ Tommy and I last chatted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKBA1oUU7z0 ~ Contact Tommy here: https://www.fiverr.com/damooch916
Initially posted Mar 9, 2023 on YouTube under the title "Work, Play, and Creativity (with Scott Ryan)"
Description: Scott Ryan (BlueRoseMag.com) wrote his first book at 8 years old and has been creating ever since. A cultivator of ideas - his own and the writers’ he publishes - Scott is rarely without a project, a deadline, or a laugh. I had a great time chatting with Scott about family, work, creativity, and his latest book, "Lost Highway: Fist of Love."
Initially posted in late 2022 I think under the title "Seeing a dream through to the end"
Initially posted Oct 25, 2022 on YouTube under the title "A Call for Help: John Thorne on the art of analysis"
Description: John Thorne answers the call and helpfully shares how he approaches challenging texts. We discuss John’s newest book (http://tiny.cc/d270vz), a 300+ page interpretive review of “Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017), and even non-viewers of Twin Peaks will find value in John’s mindset and approach to analysis. It was a true pleasure talking with one of my favorite writers!
Initially posted Mar 14, 2022 on YouTube under the title "Passion, Craft, and the Pleasures of Doing Your Own Thing"
Description: A chat with artist Jeremiah Beaver (Take the Ring) about his craft. If you like Twin Peaks, you've likely admired his video essays and wondered how certain elements or ideas were accomplished. Jeremiah's an interesting guy, and this peek behind the curtain will likely inspire and motivate you to keep (or start) doing your own thing!
WATCH "Talk About Judy • Dreamers • Twin Peaks: The Return Theory" here: http://tiny.cc/4f8puz
Featuring John Thorne and Tamler Sommers. These guys are solid gold: synergistic in agreement and disagreement. After answering some excellent questions about his own "Ominous Whoosh" theories, John adds to Tamler's hypothesis in-progress. This was a thrilling discussion for me! Highlights (and don't miss the book preview at the end) include: 1:29 - Books that’d be cool to write 7:36 - The reality of Las Vegas in Twin Peaks: The Return 9:44 - The reality of Dougie (pre- and post-Cooper) 14:20 - Twin Peaks as a mediated narrative (Cooper’s “dream”?) 18:33 - So what IS happening in Vegas? (and how) 24:50 - Psychology and POV (in Twin Peaks and Mulholland Dr.) 30:22 - Dream theories, when yes when no? 42:12 - What does 'dream logic' mean? 43:20 - The beauty of the "Laura is the one" phrase 49:44 - Cosmic chess match or personal story (it's a Frost-Lynch production!) 56:29 - Dale Cooper: crosser of thresholds 1:01:40 - David Lynch's clues for unlocking Mulholland Drive 1:07:31 - Previewing John's *new book on Mulholland Drive* 1:21:05 - Appreciating good feedback & conversation For more: https://twitter.com/tamler | https://www.tamlersommers.com https://twitter.com/thornewip | https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BBBB5VPH The "Artists Love Twin Peaks" podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aa3aHgtjDQZ1197N07N9y #TwinPeaks #MulhollandDrive #LauraPalmer #DavidLynch #MarkFrost
I'm still thinking about Tamler's ideas and questions! Tamler Sommers is an author/philosopher ("Why Honor Matters"), a podcaster ("Very Bad Wizards"), and best of all a Twin Peaks dad. Please enjoy: 1:01 - A decade-plus of podcasting 4:10 - Tamler's deep dives into Lynch's works 7:49 - Some current thoughts on The Return and "The One" 11:08 - Appreciating the r/FindLaura venture 14:57 - Sharing (and obsessing about) Twin Peaks with loved ones 20:06 - Nadine's journey and endpoint 27:12 - Who killed Laura Palmer? (mysteries, endings, & optimisms) 47:22 - Season 3 is great -- and a magical collaboration 52:19 - Was "Alice Tremond" a last-minute invention? If so, WOW 58:56 - Reality vs projections of reality (key Lynchian theme) 1:03:16 - Interpretation & puzzlement: Philosophy, David Lynch, & Plato 1:16:05 - Skepticism & intuition (friends or foes?) 1:24:18 - 'Continental philosophy' might be closest to Lynchian 1:27:04 - The playwriting to philosophy to "public intellectual" path 1:36:15 - The concept of Honor 1:46:57 - Spending time with this fictional show 1:54:34 - Appreciating the Diane podcast 1:59:12 - Some Dougie questions for John T 2:09:52 - Even more potential roles for Cooper 2:13:26 - Twin Peaks speed round 2:15:52 - Some recommendations Connections & References: https://twitter.com/tamler | https://www.tamlersommers.com/ https://twitter.com/verybadwizards | https://verybadwizards.com/episode/episode-121-the-beauty-of-illusion-david-lynchs-mulholland-drive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVK2ZiuISU - Why Honor Matters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti3iWJluM5g - CPF https://www.reddit.com/r/FindLaura/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obS0JpjFbRs - Ominous Whoosh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3HwagpDezM - Laura's Ghost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvgZuIlUjjQ - Lynch & Tarkovsky https://twitter.com/DianePodcast 25YL: https://25yearslatersite.com/category/twin-peaks/ The "Artists Love Twin Peaks" podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aa3aHgtjDQZ1197N07N9y Tamler, thanks again!
Twin Peaks inspires the creativity in each of us, and for many, the desire to create becomes a need. Here, Tommy Jones and I explore the joys and risks of entering the podcast and video-essay landscape, including the huge endeavors such projects can be.
Join me in wishing him and his wife the best wherever the winds may blow.
Josef is a filmmaker, a musician, and (like Hanuman, baby!) a good friend. This conversation was a great pleasure and a refreshing reminder that our public thoughts are also personal. Enjoy~ and have a great day.
0:00 - Eine Nacht in Kino
0:30 - How real is Freddie?
5:47 - Defeating Bob
8:03 - Thin (and bloodless) places
12:52 - TP-adjacent texts
15:32 - Spotlight: Barry Gifford
18:29 - Cooper and “the sounds”
27:50 - Bergman & the Red Room
33:58 - How religious is this show?
36:15 - Digital friends & sharing ideas publicly
40:00 - Some favorite Lynch stuff
42:00 - Who is the “We”?
43:58 - The ending of Twin Peaks
46:28 - Ideas that have stuck
51:33 - Planning & planting
53:02 - Chet’s presence
54:12 - “June Five”
56:26 - The Philadelphia office
56:58 - Merry Christmas, Leni!