Film School
409 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsA 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
Commanding Intelligence (Cutting Room Floor #203)
April 25, 2024 10:00 - 51 minutes - 36 MBCan you fall in love, deeply in love love, with somebody you know isn't as smart as you are? We're not talking about pets, or kids, inanimate objects, or even sexual attraction. We're talking about grown-up, head over heels, enduring, inspiring LOVE. Can you? Interesting, huh? You can't, can you? Stories are the same way. All the best stories open our minds, expand our worlds, and command our intelligence. So...how do you do that? Also, Josh again recommends South Park currently available ...
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #26)
April 22, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBIf you had it all to do over again, would you have married me? Hitch takes on married life in its screwball form! These comedies were very popular at the time (see: Grant and Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby), so it's not surprising that our British Director, fresh in Hollywood, would take on such a project. Given his hit and (mostly) miss track record with comedy, how does this effort shake out? We dive in and discuss!
The Wrong Direction (Cutting Room Floor #202)
April 18, 2024 10:00 - 40 minutes - 28.4 MBHow do you know when you've gone in the wrong direction? What are the signs? And when you realize that you have, what do you do? Josh and Ira share their own personal insights on this question, covering the spectrum of a chronic over-planner to leaping-before-looking impulsiveness. Also, Josh recommends South Park currently available on Prime, and Ira recommends Constellation on Apple TV+.
Foreign Correspondent (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #25)
April 15, 2024 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBThere's a crime hatching on that bedeviled continent... World War II is in full swing when this movie releases. Or, at least it is in Europe. London is being bombed, and Hitchcock can't help but feel, well, helpless. And guilty for not being there. This film, more than any he's made to this point, truly reflects the time in which it was made: an American reporter is sent overseas to report on the brewing political situation and becomes embroiled in an assassination plot. We discuss!
The Elements of a Great Film (Cutting Room Floor #201)
April 11, 2024 10:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBWhat makes a good movie? What are the things that stand out? We all have our own personal versions of the answer to this question. Josh and Ira each answer for themselves without getting into the weeds as much as possible. Also, Josh recommends Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix, and Ira recommends Tarkovsky's Stalker on Max.
Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #24)
April 08, 2024 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBDo you think the dead come back and watch the living? Mr. Hitchcock is in Hollywood! Alfred makes his first film in the States, and holy crap does he have some fun with his budget. Everything tinsel town had to offer in 1940 is on display: star power, massive sets, camera tricks, sweeping score, and even FIRE. It's a moody, gothic horror story to boot. Does it all come together? We discuss!
Hitchcock's British Period Takeaways (Cutting Room Floor #200)
April 04, 2024 10:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBHitchcock is moving to Hollywood! As the master of suspense makes his way west, we're taking a pause here to look back on his period in Britain. 13 years. 24 films (one of which has been lost since). An era that saw him struggle to fit in, thrive as technology developed and ambition increased, and eventually find his "thing." What are the ups and downs? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Jungle on Prime, and Ira recommends Touching The Void on Pluto TV.
Jamaica Inn (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #23)
April 01, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBCHAAADWIIIICK??!! Hitch teams up with dynamo actor Charles Laughton for a tale of piracy, lies, and corruption. The stage actor is riveting, even if the film has its flaws, and apparently he and Alfred had a hard time working together. There's a lot to like with Jamaica Inn! More than we expected. And certainly lots to criticize. We discuss it all.
White Lies (Cutting Room Floor #199)
March 28, 2024 10:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBA small lie. A sentence I didn't actually write, or a shot I didn't really shoot that I pass off as my own. Or I didn't actually do something the way I said I did. How big of a deal are these kinds of lies or omissions? Do they really matter? How truthful do we need to be with those who consume our work? Where is the line? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Slings & Arrows, and Ira recommends The Boys on Prime.
The Lady Vanishes (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #22)
March 25, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBNuns don't wear high heels... A woman has disappeared into thin air, on a train no less. But when Iris Henderson reports it, nobody believes her. In fact, nobody on the train even knows who she's talking about. So, what gives? Is Iris crazy? Or is everyone else? This dilemma caps off a pretty solid run of Hitchcock's later British period that's seen him lock into his lane: suspense. So...how successful is this one? Can he keep us on the edge of our seat? We watch and find out!
Good vs. Great (Cutting Room Floor #198)
March 21, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBWhat's the difference between good...and great? Think about how each of those words makes you feel. The contrast is pretty dramatic, isn't it? Like, MILES different, not inches. So, if the difference between good and great is massive, how do we make the leap between the two? Is it possible? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Oppenheimer, currently in theaters, and Ira recommends True Detective: Night Country on HBO and Max.
Young and Innocent (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #21)
March 18, 2024 10:00 - 56 minutes - 52 MBOh Robert, if only things would turn out all right... A woman's body washes ashore. A young man is seen fleeing from the sight of it. But...did he do it? That's the question the local constable's daughter must answer, even as she finds herself falling for him. Sounds like vintage, bang-on Hitchcock doesn't it??? So, how effective is this one? How much has Hitch developed his skills? We watch and discuss!
You Need A Shock-Proof Sh*t Detector (Cutting Room Floor #197)
March 14, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBErnest Hemingway famously once said: "The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof, shit detector." We all must be able to distinguish between good storytelling and bad storytelling. So...how strong is yours? (hint: it's probably super strong) And once you've got one that's working, how do you actually USE it to make your work better and not just send you running for the hills? We talk about it. Also, Josh recommends Love On The Spectrum on Netflix, and Ira recommend...
Sabotage (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #20)
March 11, 2024 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBWhat goes on after hours in that cinema of yours...? Alfred takes on Joseph Conrad's popular novel The Secret Agent, about a man who's tasked with planting a bomb in London to create fear and terror. In this adaptation, he owns a movie theater, a detective from Scotland Yard is onto him and falling for his wife, and the motivations behind the conspiracy are nebulous. So, does it work? Do Hitch's tweaks build the drama to a fever pitch, or do they fall flat? We watch and discuss!
How To Create Great Side Characters (Cutting Room Floor #196)
March 07, 2024 11:00 - 44 minutes - 25.6 MBFrodo had Sam. Luke had Artoo. Harry had Ron and Hermione. Side characters are just as important to a well-told story as the main characters are. So, how do you make a great one? And what's the trap, sometimes, of a side character who's more interesting, more active than even your hero? We discuss! Also, Josh recommends Love On The Spectrum on Netflix, and Ira recommends The Last Repair Shop on Disney+
Secret Agent (Alfred Hitchcock Deep Dive #19)
March 04, 2024 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBGeneral Pompellio Montezuma De La Vilia De Conde De La Rue! Peter Lorre is back, this time as a sidekick assassin who goes by the name "The Hairless Mexican," and "The General," of which he is neither. Hitch has been on a roll with his newfound focus on suspenseful fare. How does this one stack up against the previous two breakthroughs? We watch and discuss!
If You Could Travel Anywhere (Cutting Room Floor #195)
February 29, 2024 11:00 - 39 minutes - 23 MBIf 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 MBBeautiful, 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 MBFraming 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 MBGoodbye 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 MBWe 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 MBAnd 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 MBWho 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 MBYa 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 MBDo 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 MBI 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 MBThere'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 MBWhat'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 MBNot 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 MBDas 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 MBHappy 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 MBAs 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 MBGod 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 MBI'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 MBDoes 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 MBAny 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 MBNow 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 MBIt'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 MBAs 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 MBMorning, 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 MBGet 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 MBBefore 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 MBIn 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 MBYou 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 MBThe 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 MBWhat 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 MBSo, 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 MBI 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 MBWhat 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 MBShoot! 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!