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Film School

393 episodes - English - Latest episode: 28 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratings

A filmmaker and a writer tackle the AFI's Top 100 Films and beyond to educate themselves about movies and storytelling. Welcome to Film School!

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Episodes

If You Could Travel Anywhere (Cutting Room Floor #195)

February 29, 2024 11:00 - 39 minutes - 23 MB

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would top your list? Money is no object, neither is time. Dream as big as you want. Also, Josh recommends Deep Space Nine on Pluto TV and Paramount+, and Ira recommends both versions of Suspiria; the new film is on Prime, and the original is on Tubi.

The 39 Steps (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #18)

February 26, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 63 MB

Beautiful, mysterious woman pursued by gunmen. Sounds like a spy story... Widely considered to be the first modern spy movie ever made, Hitchcock is leaning into his strengths yet again (huzzah!): murder, conspiracy, and a man on the run. This time, its Robert Donat who's world is turned upside down in a single night when a mysterious woman asks for his help, and then ends up killed in his apartment. Can he clear his name before the police lock him up? Perhaps. But first, he has to figure ...

What is a Framing Device? (Cutting Room Floor #194)

February 22, 2024 20:00 - 43 minutes - 30.4 MB

Framing devices can be a powerful storytelling tool...but what ARE they? What is an "epistolary," or a "flashback" or an "unreliable narrator"? And whyyyy would we use them? What effect can they have on a story? We talk about it! Also, Josh recommends the animated series Justice League which is currently on Netflix and Max, and Ira recommends Andor, which is currently on Disney+.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #17)

February 19, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

Goodbye for the last time. What could be more touching than that? Peter Lorre. That's the first thing to know about this movie: Peter. Lorre. Hitch teams up with his first truly enduring star, someone we still know to this day, and they're off on an adventure of spies, murders, conspiracies, and kidnappings. Off the heels of what even he calls his lowest point career-wise and artistically, Alfred scores a massive hit, a film frequently referred to as his 'breakthrough.' So...does Hitch FIN...

How Personal Should Your Story Be? (Cutting Room Floor #193)

February 15, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 39.6 MB

We all know the power of a personal story when we encounter one. Nothing cuts like the truth. But, turning that lens to our own work...just how personal should our own work be? Is it possible to be too personal? Sure seems like it is. By the same token, it seems even easier to not be nearly personal enough, which leaves our audience cold and confused. So, how to we navigate getting personal with our work? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Rifftrax on PlutoTV, and Ira recommends Babylon 5 a...

Waltzes From Vienna (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #16)

February 12, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MB

And now the polka, you worms. Hitchcock makes a musical! ...kinda. It's an operetta, which were very much in fashion at the time; a little music, a little dancing, and a love story at the center. This one centers around a highly-fictionalized version of how "The Blue Danube" was written in 19th-century Vienna. So, can Hitchcock do song and dance? We watch and find out!

What Makes A Great Hero? (Cutting Room Floor #192)

February 08, 2024 11:00 - 50 minutes - 35.2 MB

Who are the heroes that got under your skin, that live with you well past watching or reading the story, the heroes that changed you? Why? Why did they stick with you? And in thinking about/asking those questions, how can we apply the answers to our own storytelling? This week, we dive in on how to create a great protagonist. Also, Josh recommends WWE Wrestling on Peacock, and Ira recommends Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.

Number Seventeen (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #15)

February 05, 2024 11:00 - 58 minutes - 54.4 MB

Ya don't have to do nothin' in this 'ere house - ya stand still and things happen! Cutting to the chase here: this miiight be Hitchcock's first truly terrible film. It's a bit baffling how clumsy it is given how many films he's made before this, several of them decent, and perhaps one or two of them even good. But this one...it's so convoluted, so full of cliche, non sequitur, reveal, and reverse uno after reverse uno that it ends up completely nonsensical. This week, we dive into Hitchcoc...

What is the Best Time to Create? (Cutting Room Floor #191)

February 01, 2024 11:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

Do you have a time of day (or night) where you find that you're the most creative? What about times that are consistently free? Or have the least number of distractions? Finding a reliable pocket of your day in which you can do your creative work can be a superpower. On this episode, Josh and Ira discuss what's worked and not worked for them. Also, Josh recommends Star Trek: Voyager on PlutoTV, and Ira recommends Buried on Netflix.

Rich and Strange (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #14)

January 29, 2024 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MB

I want some of the good things of life... Hitch definitely tries something a little different with this one: it's a comedy drama this time--not nearly the silly farces he's tried to this point on the comedy side, and certainly nothing as dark as murder on the drama side. It's a rags to riches to rags tale with the beating heart of a love story. So, does it work? Let's watch and find out!

Sympathetic or Unsympathetic Villains? (Cutting Room Floor #190)

January 25, 2024 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MB

There's much ado these days about making your villain's point of view a sympathetic one. After all, everyone is the hero of their own narrative. But...what about all those villains who are just, you know, assh*les? DO you have to make your villain sympathetic??? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Seinfeld on Netflix, and Ira recommends Cheers on PlutoTV.

The Skin Game (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #13)

January 22, 2024 11:00 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MB

What's gentility worth if it can't stand fire? This film is about the revolution in "Industrial Revolution." An old school landowning family finds their idyllic country world being invaded by a young-money industrialist. A feud develops. And grows. And grows until it sucks everyone down into the muck. It's very...high-minded, prestige-type fare for the young Hitch. How does he handle it? We watch and find out!

Hitchcock's Silent Era Takeaways (Cutting Room Floor #189)

January 18, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.8 MB

Not everyone is aware that Hitchcock actually started making movies all the way back in Britain’s 1920s silent era. Now that we’ve watched all of those films (that are available, anyway), we take a look back and think about what we’ve learned. What takeaways can we glean, not just about Hitchcock, but about the film industry in general, and–dare we say–ourselves? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Peaky Blinders on Netflix, and Ira recommends Andor on Disney+. (note: for anyone listening ...

Mary (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #12)

January 15, 2024 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.6 MB

Das ist kein Theaterstück, das ist das Leben. The 1930s were a wild era in film. The industry was exploding; there was a ton of money to be made, especially in foreign markets...if you could figure out a way to get your movie into the local language...like German! Because sound couldn't be added after the fact yet, this meant literally making your movie over again with a different (German) script, different (German) actors, on the same sets. Hence, Mary, the German version of Murder!, a mo...

2024 Resolutions Goals & Intentions (Cutting Room Floor #188)

January 08, 2024 17:41 - 1 hour - 45.9 MB

Happy New Year! Lots of fun stuff to come on the podcast this year, and for Josh and Ira personally. We talk about what the year-to-come has in store. What’s on the horizon for you?

2023 Retrospective Year In Review (Cutting Room Floor #187)

December 28, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 53.8 MB

As we turn the page on 2023, we take a look back on the last FIVE YEARS that we've done this exercise, and we consider how far we've come, and how that affects what we think of this year. It was a banner year in some ways, and a difficult one in others. We discuss what this year means for us, and we invite you to consider how 2023 has been for you. How far have you come? What will you remember 2023 for? What were the highs and lows? We talk about it all. Join us in!

A Muppet Christmas Carol

December 23, 2023 19:52 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MB

God bless us, everyone! Jim Henson's Muppets take on the Dickens classic holiday tale of the humbug-miser who discovers that generosity is not only the way to live Christmas, but to live your entire life. Michael Caine plays Scrooge, Kermie plays Bob Cratchit, and Gonzo is our narrator...shenanigans, hilarity, and life lessons ensue. It was the first muppet movie made without Jim. Is the magic still there? (yes.) We discuss!

White Christmas

December 18, 2023 11:00 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MB

I'm dreaming of a white christmas... Kinda wild we haven't watched this classic yet. Not all old musical, romantic comedies translate to the modern era. So much has changed in how we feel about love, what is good comedy, and the holidays. AND YET...there is something absolutely magical about the way old movies are able to transport us somewhere warm, fuzzy, charming, and irresistable. White Christmas certainly falls into that category. It's a must-watch, and worthy of a place on our TV scr...

You Are You What You Watch (Cutting Room Floor #186)

December 11, 2023 11:00 - 39 minutes - 27.6 MB

Does what you watch, read, or listen to influence what you're creating? YES! So, is that a good thing? A bad thing? Perhaps both? What does that depend on? And how exactly does it influence our work in those ways? If that influence is tehre, SHOULD we be watching, reading, and/or listening to stuff while we're working? We discuss all the above for ourselves. Also, Josh recommends The Rings of Power which is streaming on Amazon Prime, and Ira recommends Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thiev...

Murder! (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #11)

December 04, 2023 11:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MB

Any answer to that, sir John??? See, now this seems like something Hitchcock: a woman is found beside a dead body with the knife that killed them in her hand. But...did she do it? One juror doesn't think so, even after agreeing to convict her. So, he launches his own investigation. Can he discover the truth in time? THIS is the Hitchcock premise we're used to. The question is: does it work? How does young Alfred do with it? We watch to find out!

Lynch vs. Hitchcock: Similarities & Differences (Cutting Room Floor #185)

November 27, 2023 19:59 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MB

Now that we're decently far into our second filmmaker deep dive, let's take a moment to think about what we've seen thus far. What are the differences and similarities between the two of them. Are there any patterns we can see between David Lynch and Alfred Hitchcock? Where to do they align, and where do they depart? And what can we as writers, filmmakers, and film lovers learn or take away from that? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends AEW wrestling which is on TBS/TNT and Pay-Per-View, and...

Juno and the Paycock (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #10)

November 21, 2023 22:02 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MB

It's miraculous. Whenever he senses a job in front of him, his legs begin to fail him. Alfred takes on the beloved (at the time) play about the Irish Civil War and modern times with this one. There's fast talking, heavy drinking, rags and riches, frivolity and tragedy, slaptstick and drama. It's a lot. Is it too much? And just what in the feck are they saying, anyway?

Blackmail (Silent Version) (Cutting Room Floor #184)

November 13, 2023 11:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MB

As soon as we learned there was ANOTHER version of Hitchcock's Blackmail--the silent version, which was actually more popular at the time than the "talkie" version was--we knew we had to set aside the time to watch it. It's not exactly a different movie. Most of the cast is the same. Most of the shots are the same. But it IS different. Substantially so; it's the original way the film was shot, and it's silent. Even though its not its own movie, not really, a deep dive into Hitchcock's filmog...

Blackmail (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #9)

November 06, 2023 11:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MB

Morning, Alice. 'Eard about the murder? The talkies have arrived! Alfred Hitchcock has the distinction of making Britain's very first. So, how does Hitch do with a full-on script, and TALKING actors? The subject certainly seems like Alfred's cup of tea. So...how does it turn out? We watch and find out. A particularly fascinating watch and discussion this week; not to be missed!

Aliens

October 30, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MB

Get away from her you bitch! Cameron drags us back, kicking and screaming, to the world of the Aliens. And yes, this time, there is more than one. There's a whole outpost full of them. But we have marines! Guns! Explosives! We'll be fine...right? It has the reputation of being one of those rare sequels that might actually be better than the original. Does it live up to that? We watch and discuss.

The Ring

October 23, 2023 21:52 - 1 hour - 70.8 MB

Before you die, you see...the ring Spooky season 2023 bringing the noise. US gets hit with its own version of The Ring. So, how similar is it to the Japanese version? What did they change? The movie was a sensation at the time--especially with that four-quadrant-friendly PG-13 rating...so how does it hold up 20 years later? We watch and find out!

Alien

October 17, 2023 02:15 - 1 hour - 61.8 MB

In space, no one can hear you scream. This movie. THIS. MOVIE. It's one of those unicorns--it could have been so bad, so cheesy, so forgettable. And yet, through that incredible collision of luck and execution, we got a masterpiece. HR Giger's creature design is still the scariest monster ever created, almost 50 years later. Dan O'Bannon's script is still so tight, so perfectly constructed, we still make this movie to this day. And Ridley Scott's direction is still flawless. It's STILL ter...

Ringu

October 09, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MB

You will die in one week... The original. This was one of--if not THE--films that kickstarted a renaissance in Japanese (and Korean, and Hong Kong, and more) horror. Old world ghosts and curses meet new world anxieties when our protagonist Reiko finds herself sucked into the mystery of how four teenagers died on the same day. Can she solve it in time to save her own life? And how does this film hold up almost 30 years later, in addition to being remade by Hollywood? We discuss!

Editing, Rewrites, and Killing Your Darlings (Cutting Room Floor #183)

October 05, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

The book is written. The film is shot. Now, it's time to edit, it's time to rewrite, it's time to turn it into the finished product that you send out to your audience. So, how do you do that? And what about that advice we've all heard: "kill your darlings." What does that mean? We tackle the question "what's next?" this week on the Cutting Room Floor. Also, Josh recommends the documentary Dave Not Coming Back which is currently on-demand on Pluto TV, and Ira recommends Band of Brothers whi...

The Manxman (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #8)

October 02, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MB

What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? It's Hitchcock's LAST silent film (at least that was released only as silent). He turns to the sticks. Small fishing town. Love triangle. Secrets and lies. Will it all work out in the end? And how is old Hitch progressing in terms of his abilities as a filmmaker, and as a storyteller. We discuss!

You Finished - Handling What Comes Next (Cutting Room Floor #182)

September 18, 2023 22:35 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

So, you've finished the big project. Whew! What a monster effort that was. Now...what next? How do you handle the inevitable let-down to come? You're exhausted. Zonked. Burned out. Suddenly, the purpose for your days, weeks, or months, has disappeared. What's the best way to navigate the post-finish vacuum? We discuss what's worked and not worked for us. Also, Josh recommends Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which is currently playing re-runs on PlutoTV or on demand on Paramount+, and Ira recom...

Champagne (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #7)

September 15, 2023 00:10 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

I must have come in the wrong door - but it's all the same to me if you can give me a job. Hitch takes a second whack at comedy. This time, a young heiress apparently needs to be taught a lesson in squalor and humility. Is is successful? We watch and talk about it.

Comfort Food (Cutting Room Floor #181)

September 04, 2023 10:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MB

What do you want to eat when you're feeling blue? Or anxious? Or even feeling like you're on top of the world? Our collective relationship with food is complicated, certainly, but sometimes there are foods that put us exactly where we need to be. Josh and Ira discuss what those are for them. Also, Josh recommends Justice League: The Animated Series which is currently on Netflix, and Ira recommends The Banshees of Inisherin which is currently on Max.

Easy Virtue (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #6)

August 31, 2023 02:17 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Shoot! There's nothing left to kill. We're tackling divorce this time on the Hitchcock show. The young director takes on a play by Noel Coward with mixed results. A woman tries to leave her past behind, and we all know how that goes. There's love, secrets and high drama. Even some glimpses of great performances playing real characters. We discuss!

Getting Super Personal (Without Being A D*ck) (Cutting Room Floor #180)

August 21, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MB

How do you write something deeply personal without coming off like an asshole? How do you share your fears, insecurities, anger, and desperation without taking a shit on your life and everyone else in it? It happens a lot. When it's not done well, a personal story can be really self-serving, icky and frustrating to watch/read/listen to/etc. So...how do you avoid that? How do you, instead, make something that feels profound, revealing, and intimate? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends James C...

The Farmer's Wife (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #5)

August 14, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MB

They say that the next best thing to no wife be a good one. Hitchcock the comedian! It's a pastoral romp this time, as the local farmer is in search of a new wife...but when he pops the question, nobody wants to say yes. Meanwhile, his true love might already be under his own roof. It's definitely a different speed from the Hitch we know and love. CAN Alfred do "funny?" We watch and discuss.

Bad Habits And How To Break Them (Cutting Room Floor #179)

August 07, 2023 10:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MB

How do you break a bad habit? When you find yourself in a cycle of repeating behavior that doesn't help you, how do you bust out and turn that around? We discuss what's worked for us.  Also, Josh recommends Terminator 2, and Ira recommends The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+

Downhill (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #4)

July 31, 2023 10:00 - 57 minutes - 53.3 MB

Roddy...can you ever forgive me?  Alfred takes on adapting a play for his fourth film release (fifth if you count the silent film we've since lost to the vagaries of time...but who's counting?). Ivor Norvello plays Roddy, the young man who covers for his friend, and then spends a lifetime paying for it. Sounds like a great premise! Let's see how this one plays out...

How To Do Research (And Love It) (Cutting Room Floor #178)

July 24, 2023 10:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MB

When you don't know enough about a topic, how do you find out more about it? And we mean really dive DEEP into something? What are the tools that you use? How do you organize your questions? And how do you keep it from feeling like  Also, Josh recommends Learn to Swim on Netflix, and Ira recommends Strange New Worlds on Paramount+

The Ring (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #3)

July 17, 2023 10:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

I'm with you...in your corner...  One Round Jack faces off against Australian Heavyweight Champ Bob Corby...for the love of a woman. Alfred Hitchcock's third film--at least in terms of the order they were released to the public--finds its drama in the boxing ring, a place he went to frequently in real life. And clearly, we've been making boxing movies since the beginning of film. So, how does this one stack up?

When Things Go Well...And Poorly (Cutting Room Floor #177)

July 10, 2023 10:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MB

When has something you're working on turned out much better than you expected? The opposite, too: when have things turned out short of your expectations? Why? Is there a common thread in either case? We discuss our own answers to that question this week. Also, Josh recommends Gordon Ramsey's classic Kitchen Nightmares on Hulu, and Ira recommends the Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Casino Royale.

The Lodger: A Story of The London Fog (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #2)

July 03, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MB

The Avenger strikes again! Alfred considers this film to be his TRUE first film. The first film, at least, where he really felt like he got to be himself, stretch his wings, and have an artistic point of view. Unsurprisingly, he's mixing sex and violence, at least in concept. There's a serial killer out there. A mysterious lodger comes to call. Is HE the notorious 'Avenger?' Or . . . is he someone worthy of falling for? We watch and find out!

Pluto TV (Cutting Room Floor #176)

June 26, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MB

Remember going over to Grandpa's house and watching cable television? Pluto TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service from Paramount/Viacom that (in addition to some on-demand stuff as well) streams LIVE 24/7 CHANNELS of all your old favorite shows. There's 24/7 I Love Lucy, Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, Twilight Zone, MST3K, Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show, documentary channels, movies, news, home improvement...it's cable television for the new age. No signup even required. Just dow...

The Pleasure Garden (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #1)

June 19, 2023 19:10 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MB

Meet Patsy Brand... It's Alfred Hitchcock's very first feature! At least that we know of and/or have the ability to watch. We're in the silent era; it's 1926 Britain. A pair of chrous girls at the famous "Pleasure Garden" theatre navigate love, sex, and ghosts--yes, ghosts! There's murder and a plantation thrown in there, too. So...how does Hitch's first effort stack up? CAN we see the master yet? We watch and discuss.

Up Next On Film School: Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive!

June 12, 2023 16:51 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

Is Alfred Hitchcock the best of them all? That's the question that watching the AFI's Top 100 films raised for us as we saw the British director at his peak. We feel like in order to answer that question, we need to go allll the way back to the beginning--his beginning--and watch as many of his films as we can get our hands on. Several of Hitch's films, both feature-length and shorts, have been lost in the past hundred years, so it won't quite be ALL of his work, but we will be watching ev...

David Lynch Deep Dive: A Look Back (Cutting Room Floor #175)

June 05, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MB

A surrealist for the masses. The king of dreams. Sultan of non sequiturs. David Lynch's 10-film career spans 30 years, from Eraserhead in 1977 to Inland Empire in 2007. It also covers a surprising span of genres and styles, glimpses beyond his trademark ethereal and often disturbing style. Now that we've watched all his features, what did we learn? Both about him as an artist, filmmaker and storyteller, AND just about film, story, and artistry in general? We sit down and take a look back on ...

Inland Empire (David Lynch Deep Dive #10)

May 29, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MB

This is the way to the palace... David Lynch makes his last film, at least as of 2023. Who knows, he might return to the silver screen again but FOR NOW...this is it. His finale. It completes an informal trilogy, Lost Highway and Mulholland Dr. being the other two. All three films are based largely in Los Angeles, all three films deal with dreams and nightmares, and all three films deal with an amorphous, hard to see, touch and understand, ever-present darkness. So, how does this one stack...

Can You Outgrow A Project? (Cutting Room Floor #174)

May 22, 2023 10:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MB

Is it possible to start a project and then realize that in the time you've spent working on it that you've grown beyond it? OR...is that thought just another version of 'shiny object syndrome' that's designed to keep you from actually finishing anything? This week, we wrestle with that question. Also, Josh recommends Gordon Ramsey's classic Kitchen Nightmares on Hulu, and Ira recommends Star Trek: Picard Season 3, which is on Paramount+

Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch Deep Dive #9)

May 15, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MB

No hay banda! There is no band... Lynch returns to Los Angeles for his ninth feature film, and he revisits the world of dreams, old Hollywood, murder and love. All very much the themes he was wrestling with in Lost Highway, but is he simply repeating himself, or is he actually stating something more clearly that he's tried to say before? Can David get it right this time and blow our collective minds? We'll see...

The Hardest Criticism to Handle (Cutting Room Floor #173)

May 08, 2023 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MB

What is the hardest feedback to hear? How does it make you feel? Why? And how do you handle it, both at your worst and at your best? Criticism is part of the gig, and it's tough even with it's constructive. Josh and Ira discuss their own painful moments. Hopefully it helps you in your own creative journey. Also, Josh recommends Star Trek: The Next Generation on Paramount+, and Ira recommends a book this week: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.