Film School
425 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 25 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
Writing is Rewriting (Cutting Room Floor #067)
August 06, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 21.6 MBWhat exactly do you get out of rewrites? Why do them? The term "rewrite," "edit," or "revision" can come with some negative juju, particularly when we've already spent so much time writing the first draft. You mean...I have to go back and write it AGAIN?! Today, we tackle the gold that can come out of rewrites, how to handle when your story changes--because it will change--and where is the sweet spot between a first draft that works, and a rewrite/edit that takes it the rest of the way home.
The First Draft (Cutting Room Floor #066)
July 30, 2020 10:00 - 51 minutes - 36.1 MBThere is nothing more terrifying than the blank page. We all know this. So…how DO we get past that? How do we get from blank page to finished manuscript? There are many steps in between, and the first step might be the hardest: the first draft. This week, we talk about how to approach the first draft in a way that threads the needle between perfectionism and detachment to get past the blank page, at the very least. Because THEN…it can be fixed, right? Right.
Sellout (Cutting Room Floor #065)
July 23, 2020 10:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBA sellout is a traitor. The lowest of the low. We hate sellouts. ...right? Except, what does 'sellout' really mean? Who's sold out? The Roots? Nicholas Winding Refn? The Black Eyed Peas? Who gets to decide who's sold out? What about the crowd that loves their sellout work. And, if money is the problem...aren't we ALL trying to sell out if we're pursuing being a professional??? We roll up our sleeves this week and tackle the sellout. Yay or nay?
Have We Forgotten How To Make Movies? (Cutting Room Floor #064)
July 16, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MB"They don't make 'em like they used to!" That certainly seems to be a common phrase these days when talking about the film industry. But...is it actually true? ARE movies not as good as they used to be? And if it is true, why is that??? OR...is it us who have changed? Have some viewers lost their ability to love new things? Or, perhaps, is it a combination of the two? We tackle the state of Hollywood this week!
The Most Important Lesson (Cutting Room Floor #063)
July 09, 2020 10:00 - 22 minutes - 15.9 MBWhat is the biggest lesson you can think of that you had to learn, and once you did, had a positive affect on you? Life is replete with lessons if we're paying attention. Ira and Josh share a couple of theirs: sometimes the problem with the writing isn't the writing, and we don't have to suffer in order to be happy. We dig deep!
How to Rewrite (Cutting Room Floor #062)
July 02, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 41.5 MB“Writing is rewriting.” Was it Stephen King who said that? Or maybe Hemmingway? Or, maybe it’s something made up by english and creative writing teachers. But…it’s true. Almost nothing comes out immaculate. Almost everything needs to be polished and shined before it sparkles. So…how do you rewrite? We tackle that question this week!
Where Are You Most-Improved? (Cutting Room Floor #061)
June 25, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 24.3 MBWe spend A LOT of time on this podcast talking about what, where and how we can improve ourselves as artists and people. But, where have we ALREADY improved? Identifying and celebrating breakthroughs must certainly be as important as seeking new ones, yes? This week, Josh and Ira share some things they feel like they've figured out and are doing well.
Do Less More Often (Cutting Room Floor #060)
June 18, 2020 10:00 - 37 minutes - 26.3 MBThis is a tidbit Ira picked up from a business coach by the name of Dallas Travers, and it's all about beating burnout and staying productive long and consistently enough to actually getting those big, scary, impossible-feeling projects done. Do less! Just do it more often. It's certainly easier said than done, but it's a game-changer. Plus, Josh shares his own very important keys to consistent productivity: be a person first, and always check in with the joy/inspiration.
The Beast Called Time (Cutting Room Floor #059)
June 11, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBHow do you handle time? It's always moving forward, whether we're aware of it in the moment or not . . . which is kind of the heart of the discussion this week. How much time do you spend thinking about the past or the future? Such thinking can cut both ways, aiding and hindering. So, how do we find a balance? And how much does the present, this moment, matter?
Plot-Driven vs. Character-Driven (Cutting Room Floor #058)
June 04, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBWhat makes a great story? A great Plot? Or great Characters? The first answer we come to for this question is "both." But, what if we dig deeper than that? HOW do we create a great character? Is it not the events we put them through, and how they react? HOW do we create a great, memorable plot? Is it not the characters that we fall in love with and remember? Just how do these two seemingly poles interact and mesh with each other? And how do they mesh with ourselves, the storytellers? Is the ...
One Project At A Time, Or Several? (Cutting Room Floor #057)
May 28, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MB0
The Power of Starting Small (Cutting Room Floor #056)
May 21, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 28.7 MBStart small. Laughably small. Then build incrementally. So incrementally that you don’t even notice the day-to-day increase. It’s a tried and true formula for success. It shortcuts the mind and the body’s resistance. These are recent practices that Ira has found to be very effective in several areas of his life. But, what else out there works? Josh talks about finding the Joy, another hack for beating resistance. What works for you? How have you started something that really succeeded and ...
Learning to Let Go (Cutting Room Floor #055)
May 14, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.9 MBHang on too tight, and we can squeeze the life out of anything. Project. Relationship. Ourselves. Thus, it behooves us to know when it's time to let something go. But, what exactly does that mean? How do we know when we're holding on too tight or for too long? From learning to say no, to not blaming ourselves for things beyond our control, we dive into the things that keep us up at night or weigh us down when we wake up in the morning.
The Masters Can Be Intimidating (Cutting Room Floor #054)
May 07, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 18 MBBy their very nature, we elevate the Masters above ourselves. It's inspiring to see greatness that exceeds our own. But the other side of that same coin is intimidating, and the lowering of ourselves . . . which can shut us down with despair. That gap can make us freeze rather than move forward. So, how do we deal with that? How do we fend off the feelings of less-than and engage with the inspiration?
How To Stay Sharp (Cutting Room Floor #053)
April 30, 2020 10:00 - 26 minutes - 18.7 MBExperience and success can be a double-edged sword. How often does a writer or filmmaker we know and love that's soooo good at what they do . . . seem like they start to phone it in, or lose their way? How often do we see the same thing in our own work? So, what's the antidote? How do we stay sharp? Both long-term and day to day? We discuss!
A Good Death (Cutting Room Floor #052)
April 23, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 26.9 MBThe death of a character can be one of the most powerful experiences a story has to offer. When done right, it makes us feel and think about real life, and the people we’ve lost, the experiences we share. It helps us feel things that otherwise can often be so hard to feel. So . . . how do we do that right? How DO we tell a good death? What makes the best ones work so well? We dig in.
Abandon Ship: How Do You Know When To Step Away? (Cutting Room Floor #051)
April 16, 2020 10:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBCut it loose! You're wasting your time. The project you're working isn't going anywhere, no matter how hard you try. So just let it go. At least for now. Take a break. But . . . is that just 'object syndrome?' Is this just resistance pushing back super hard because you're close to a breakthrough? If you're a creative, you've likely hit this point before, if not many times. So . . . what is the right thing to do? Is there a wrong thing to do? From two people going through this right now: it's...
What Are Your Quarantine Films? (Cutting Room Floor #050)
April 09, 2020 17:39 - 38 minutes - 27 MBYou're stuck. You can't go anywhere for a while . . . what movies are you taking with you into quarantine or onto that deserted island? What movies do you find yourself turning to pass the time? As we all struggled to cope with the isolation of COVID-19, movies are some of our best friends. We dive in this week on what movies WE'RE watching, and we hope you share with us what YOU'RE watching!
The Best Movies For Quarantine (Cutting Room Floor #050)
April 09, 2020 17:39 - 38 minutes - 27 MBYou're stuck. You can't go anywhere for a while . . . what movies are you taking with you into quarantine or onto that deserted island? What movies do you find yourself turning to pass the time? As we all struggled to cope with the isolation of COVID-19, movies are some of our best friends. We dive in this week on what movies WE'RE watching, and we hope you share with us what YOU'RE watching!
How Do You Want To Be Remembered (Cutting Room Floor #048)
March 26, 2020 10:00 - 20 minutes - 14.6 MBWe’re all gonna kick the bucket some day . . . what do we want to leave behind? What do we want to be our legacy? What we will be known for? Josh and Ira tackle this deep cut today in a very personal episode. How do YOU want to be remembered?
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
March 23, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBTo the fires of Mount Doom! JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s masterwork comes to a spectacular conclusion in the final installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Frodo and Sam must muster the strength to destroy the one ring, and Aragorn must stop running from his destiny to become the King he’s meant to be. Doesn’t get any bigger than this one; it’s the Return of the King this week!
Handling A Crisis (Cutting Room Floor #049)
March 19, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBThe entire world is grappling with the novel corona virus COVID-19 right now; a truly global crisis that none of us have any control over, particularly at the individual level. So . . . when presented with situations like these where major life-shifting events are taking place that we have no power to stop or control . . . how do we handle the stress, fear and anxiety that come along with that? How do we remain productive, or function? Josh and Ira talk about their own personal coping strate...
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
March 16, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBPeter Jackson's epic live-action Lord of the Rings continues in grand fashion. Our heroes have split up and are in danger! Sam and Frodo wrestle with whether or not to trust Gollum and how to get into Mordor; Merry and Pippin escape capture and must convince the Ents to battle Saruman, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli must save Rohan from the Uruk-hai army. Middles are often a slog...but not this one. It's wall to wall action and tension...and it all reaches a climax at the Battle of Helms Dee...
The AFI's Top 100-51: Behind the Numbers (Cutting Room Floor #047)
March 12, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 18.2 MBWe're HALFWAY THROUGH the list!!! Crazy. It's flown by. This week, we do a deep dive into how we've rated the movies on this list thus far: how have the top 50 films fared? How do Josh and Ira differ from each other? What are our biases based on decades of movie-making? And what are the LIST'S biases? It's all a fascinating peak behind this list and our reactions to it thus far. Enjoy!
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (AFI Top 100 Films #50)
March 09, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBOne ring to rule them all! Peter Jackson's epic live-action series based on THE masterwork of fantasy, JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings was ground-breaking. For decades, THE masterwork of fantasy was considered un-filmable; too big, too expensive. Jackson smashed that notion with the first of these three films, and was at the vanguard of a new huge property, high-concept, CGI-driven, blockbuster-or-nothing era in Hollywood. But . . . does it hold up nearly 20 years later? We find out, th...
What is your Deepest Darkest Fear? (Cutting Room Floor #046)
March 05, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThis can be a hard one to dig deep and engage with, but it's a really important question. Fear affects us all, and it affects us the most when we don't even know it's there. It kills creativity, it makes us act irrationally, and it lies by telling us that it's protecting us. So, what are you afraid of? And how does it hold you back? We dig deep this week!
West Side Story (AFI Top 100 Films #51)
March 02, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBWhen you’re a jet, you’re a jet all the way! One of the definitive musicals of the 50s stage takes to the silver screen in the epic-ly scaled and shot masterpiece from Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The dancing is spectacular, and the cinematography is cutting edge, standing up even to this day. The love story is the beating heart…does that stand up as well? We break it down this week! *snap* *snap* *snap* Here are the 6 Core Questions from the story breakdown section: 1. What is the Be...
Entitlement and the Fruits of our Labor (Cutting Room Floor #045)
February 27, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutes - 20.1 MBThe Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Hindu epic, tells us that we are entitled only to our WORK. We are not entitled to the FRUITS of our work. So...what does that mean? And *is* there wisdom in detaching ourselves from expected results? What if we work forever and never see anything come back? What if keeping our eye on the prize ruins the work? What if we get the prize...and it doesn't make us feel what we thought it would? We really get into it this week, wrestling with this ancient edict; easil...
Taxi Driver (AFI Top 100 Films #52)
February 24, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBYou talkin to me? You talking to ME?! Martin Scorcese may have broke through with Mean Streets, but it was this classic DeNiro collab that cemented him as a cinematic force. And the same for DeNiro, who was becoming the biggest star of the silver screen at the time. He's sensational as the unstable Travis Bickle, and Marty shows off all his best tricks: narration, moody lighting and music, and explosive violence. We break it all down, this week!
Boundaries in Writing and Life (Cutting Room Floor #044)
February 20, 2020 11:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBBoundaries; the line between me and them, and I get to draw it wherever I want. But...where do I draw it? Who and what do I need to keep separation from? And how do I keep that separation when the line is inevitably tested or crossed? These are all questions that are crucial to a healthy balance in life and in writing. Boundaries are an indispensable part of creativity, and they take many, many forms. Josh and Ira explore what those are this week! The "Sometimes it just takes awhile to cli...
The Deer Hunter (AFI Top 100 Films #53)
February 17, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBRussian Roulette. Historical inaccuracies aside, it’s director Michael Cimino’s central metaphor for the Vietnam War. It’s also the pillar around which he builds this epic tale of three normal, blue-collar guys from Pittsburg who live for drinking, women, and hunting deer. ‘Nam will change each of them, tragically, forever. Easily one of the most disturbing war films ever made, and certainly the most obsessed with Russian Roulette…how does it hold up?
How To Have A Great Writing Day (Cutting Room Floor #043)
February 13, 2020 11:00 - 37 minutes - 26.3 MBYou’re exhausted, but exhilarated. The words are done, they’re on the page, and they were perfect. Inspired. A breakthrough! We’ve all had that writing day. They’re magic. We’ve also all had the opposite: you’re exhausted, frustrated, nothing good came out, and you’re worrying ‘I’m never going to crack this open.’ So…how do we get more of the great days, and less of the terrible? Josh and Ira talk about what’s working for them!
M*A*S*H (AFI Top 100 Films #54)
February 10, 2020 11:00 - 59 minutes - 55.3 MBDon’t let him kiss you Hawkeye! Robert Altman’s episodic tour through the absurdity of war stars Elliot Gould, Tom Skerritt, and Donald Sutherland as army surgeons who skip seamlessly from elbow-deep blood and guts to chasing tale, antagonizing Nurse Hoolihan, and putting together a football team. Yes. A literal football team. This movie is pretty bonkers…but it’s also a pretty profound commentary on WAR! What is it good for?! (absolutely nothing)
How close do you get to your characters? (Cutting Room Floor #042)
February 06, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 17.4 MBHow close is too close? How far is too far? Just how close / invested / inside our characters should we go when we're writing their story? As with most things, it's all about a balance? Josh and Ira share how they find that balance in their own writing, what has worked for them, and what hasn't.
North By Northwest (AFI Top 100 Films #55)
February 03, 2020 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBCary Grant stars in (one of) his iconic roles as Roger Thornhill, the very normal, very dapper bachelor thrown into a very abnormal, dangerous game of spies and assassins and femme fatales all because of mistaken identity. Hitch and 50s aesthetic were both at the height of their powers, and it was 3 years before Bond. One of the greatest spy films ever made, if not the best. This week on the 'cast!
Movie Theatre Snacks: What's Your Go-To? (Cutting Room Floor #041)
January 30, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBTwizzlers or Red Vines? Reese's Pieces or Milk Duds? Coke or Slushie? Butter on that Popcorn? We all have our favorite movie theater snacks, so what are yours? Josh and Ira shared theirs, plus some of the wonderful memories that talking about all that junk food prompts, days gone by when there was more time to just pop into the movie theater and leave the real world for a while. We get nostalgic and delicious this week on the Cutting Room Floor.
Jaws (AFI Top 100 Films #56)
January 27, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBYou’re gonna need a bigger boat. Jaws: the genesis of the summer blockbuster, and the film that launched Steven Spielberg into the stratosphere. Dude was 26 when he made this move. TWENTY. SIX. And it defined an entire genre of films. We still make Shark Movies to this day. So, let’s go back to the original “don’t go in the water” scary movie. This week on Film School!
What Would You Tell Your 24-year-old Self? (Cutting Room Floor #040)
January 23, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBYou're sitting in front of yourself at 24 years of age. What would you say to them? What have you learned that they haven't? What would you want to tell them that you know they wouldn't understand? Ya boys dive deep this week into life lessons, regrets, and triumphs.
Rocky (AFI Top 100 Films #57)
January 20, 2020 11:00 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBYo, Adrian! Stallone takes the turn that made him a star in one of the most successful examples of the "Performance" Genre in all of history. Rocky is a bum. He roughs people up for the mob. But he has a dream: to earn respect in the boxing ring. In Rocky, he gets his chance, and finds love along the way. Does this movie earn its reputation as one of the best underdog stories ever? Listen and find out what we thought!
The 5 Commandments of Storytelling (Cutting Room Floor #039)
January 16, 2020 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBEvery story that works has 5 fundamental building blocks: Inciting Incident, Progressive Complications, Crisis, Climax, and Resolution. This week, Josh and Ira dive into the definition of each of those terms, and how they apply to the stories we love and create. For more reading on this very topic, straight from the source, check out Shawn Coyne's brilliant work over at storygrid.com
The Gold Rush (AFI Top 100 Films #58)
January 13, 2020 11:00 - 58 minutes - 54.1 MBChaplin makes his second appearance on The List as the hapless Klondike Gold Rush prospector...and he does not disappoint. We weren't too hot on Chaplin's previous film Modern Times. This time around, the gags are fresher, the story is tighter, and the music is absolutely breathtaking. It's epic, funny, poignant, and romantic. Even to this day, some of the visuals Chaplin employs are confounding. How did he do that?!
2020 Resolutions, Goals, and Intentions (Cutting Room Floor #038)
January 09, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 25 MBHappy New Year! So...are you a resolutions kind of person? If not, do you set any kind of intentions or goals around this time of year? And if you are, welcome to the club! Josh and Ira share what they're looking forward to and planning in 2020. We're living in the future!
Nashville (AFI Top 100 Films #59)
January 06, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBWait. Is that Bob Saget? Robert Altman does his thing in what's aimed as an epic, grand portrait/commentary on middle America. It has no less than twenty-four main characters, a run-time of over two and a half hours, and a full HOUR of original country music. With all that's going on, does it all come together in the end. Listen and find out!
Die Hard
December 16, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 79.4 MBYippie-ki-yay motherf—er! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! This holiday season, we’re watching the film that’s become the festive touchstone of this generation, and the one that defined Bruce Willis’ career as an action star. Josh has never seen this one! Boy, is he in for a treat! It’s a showdown at the Nakatomi Tower. And don’t forget to bring your shoes!
2019 Year In Review (Cutting Room Floor #037)
December 12, 2019 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBWe blinked and 2019 is coming to a close. Josh and Ira reflect on a year of movies. For all its flaws, the AFI’s Top 100 list has DELIVERED, and ya boys discuss the highs, the lows, the takeaways, and the laughter. It’s been a transformative experience already. If you haven’t listened to the back-catalogue yet, this is your perfect guide! Also, check out our BONUS extended conversation on our personal reflections on the year over at our Patreon for FREE; anyone can listen. Check it out here.
Duck Soup (AFI Top 100 FIlms #60)
December 09, 2019 11:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBThis means WAR! The Marx brothers dominated the comedy space in the early 30s, and it's easy to see why in what's considered to be their best film. Groucho is a ridiculous dictator with a taste for war, and Chico and Harpo are spies working for the other side...or are they? It's hard to find a sillier comedy...which is all the more rare because it's a SCATHING commentary of a post-Great War world. Just watch "All God's Chillun Got Guns." It's a true classic. Buckle up and enjoy the ride with...
How to Social Media (Cutting Room Floor #036)
December 05, 2019 11:00 - 38 minutes - 27.1 MBHow do you handle your online platform? What social media do you use? And how do you use it? Social media and the internet in general have a massive impact on our daily lives, so these are important questions as a creative person, or just a person full-stop. How do we navigate the benefits of these powerful tools without letting them consume us? We try to answer that question this week. Enjoy!
Sullivan's Travels (AFI's Top 100 Films #61)
December 02, 2019 11:00 - 58 minutes - 54.1 MBThere's a lot to be said for making people laugh! Joel McCrea takes a wacky turn as a famously successful comedy director who wants to suffer so he can make a serious movie. His solution: hit the road and pretend to be poor. Along the way, he falls in love with aspiring actress Veronica Lake. Sounds like a dynamite premise, yes? Let's find out if it delivers. This week on Film School!
Where Do Stories Come From? (Cutting Room Floor #035)
November 28, 2019 11:00 - 21 minutes - 15.4 MBOne the most common questions storytellers get asked is 'where do your ideas come from?' And while that's a deeply personal and probably unanswerable question in any objective or concrete sense...Josh and Ira dive into how and where it happens for them. In the process, they discover it's a question worth asking and answering.
American Graffiti (AFI's Top 100 Films #62)
November 25, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBThe Wolfman is EVERYWHERE. George Lucas makes his first appearance on the list with this 50s nostalgia cruising culture classic, starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, and a soundtrack that doesn't quit. It's a teenage "last night in town" story, but how does it hold up? We watch and debate it this week! Enjoy :)