Shows
Watch The Film With Us[SPECIAL] TIFF 2025 (with Amreen)Send us a textLara is joined by special guest Amreen to discuss TIFF 2025. They talk about their different approaches to navigating film festivals and chat about some of the biggest films of the year.Amreen’s Podcast “Influx” https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/influx/id1542461102Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus
2025-10-0231 minWatch The Film With UsBridget | Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants Part 1Send us a textWhat a throwback! Lara and Cheryl both grew up reading “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants”, and it’s still one of Lara’s favourite films. We chat about our experience of the film and start the month by focusing on Bridget, the sporty friend of the group, her romance with Eric and her relationship with her dad.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyrigh...
2025-07-3134 minWatch The Film With UsManipulative Mentors | Training Day Part 4Send us a textWhy are gangster protagonists often so unlikeable? In this episode, we talk about how manipulation and gaslighting is a tactic used amongst gangsters who end up rising the ranks. We also chat about why Lara hasn’t had a great time in the gangster genre.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org...
2025-04-2433 minWatch The Film With UsHostage Movies | Speed Part 1Send us a textWhy are hostage movies fascinating? This month, we’re watching one of Lara’s favourite films, “Speed”. And, interestingly enough, it’s also a movie featuring a hostage situation, where an ensemble cast is trapped on a bus. We chat through what makes this sub genre interesting and bring up some other examples of movies with hostage sequences.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyrig...
2024-09-0534 minWatch The Film With UsFalling For Your Boss | Jane Eyre Part 4Send us a textLara introduces her quest to find more movies where governesses fall for their boss, before we chat about the character of Mr. Rochester and marriage (again) in Jane Eyre. More specifically, we chat about the plot twist in the film and how we feel about the ending of the story.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution...
2023-07-2035 minWatch The Film With UsThe OG teen movie | The Breakfast Club Part 1Send us a textCheryl finally watched The Breakfast Club - so let’s talk about it! We chat about how this film started the teen movie genre and how it introduced the teen movie character tropes, even including a makeover! We also chat about whether it was the OG teen movie for us.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution No...
2023-04-0632 minWatch The Film With Us[SPECIAL] Oscars 2023 (with special guests!)Send us a textBack again by popular demand! Lara and guests Laura and Kyle chat about the 2023 Oscars, including any Academy snubs, their favourite films of the 2022 season and predictions. Listen in on all the hot takes and prediction trends for your Oscars party ballots this year!Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/f...
2023-03-0934 minWatch The Film With Us[SPECIAL] Scream QueensSend us a textTo finish off September, we watched the first couple episodes of Ryan Murphy’s “Scream Queens”. We chat first impressions (for Cheryl) and how it compares to Scream, which partly inspired the series. In the episode, we also chat about whether horror works for tv shows, and whether audiences can or want to remain scared for several weeks of a show’s run.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music Credit: Ultra Li...
2022-09-2931 minWatch The Film With UsDo you like scary movies? | Scream Part 1Send us a textWhat made Scream so successful? This week, we chat about one of the most important horror movies of all time, Scream, one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time. We talk first impressions of the film (by Cheryl) and chat about how it still remains relevant and creepy over 20 years later.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6...
2022-09-0130 minWatch The Film With UsHow realistic does sci-fi need to be? | Interstellar Part 3Send us a textEven though the film felt slightly fantastical, Lara explains that a lot of Interstellar is based on real science. We chat about whether realism is important for the sci-fi genre, and space movies in particular. This conversation leads to a chat about other genres, like true crime, and the importance of having the right balance of realism and entertainment.References:Den of Geek “Interstellar: Kip Thorne and Jonathan Nolan Talk Science Behind the Movie”: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/interstellar-kip-thorne-and-jonathan-nolan-talk-science-behind-the-movie/
2022-04-2133 minWatch The Film With UsRanking Christopher Nolan Films | Interstellar Part 1Send us a textSo… Cheryl finally watched Interstellar! What did she think about the movie, and how does it compare with what she thinks about other Christopher Nolan movies? In this episode, we talk about our impressions of Interstellar and our views on Christopher Nolan and his work. Tune in to hear how we rank Nolan films and how it compares with the aggregate critics score on Rotten Tomatoes!Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our Yo...
2022-04-0733 minWatch The Film With Us[SPECIAL] Oscars 2022 (with guests Kyle and Laura)Send us a textLara and guests Kyle and Laura chat about the changes of this year’s Oscars ceremony and what they thought of the 2021 film season, including any Academy snubs, their favourite films of the year and predictions. Listen in on all the hot takes and prediction trends for your Oscars party ballots this year!Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6...
2022-03-2432 minWatch The Film With UsRed Pill vs Blue Pill | The Matrix Part 3Send us a textAre we living in the matrix? Would we take the red pill or the blue pill? Welcome to our most philosophical episode yet! In this episode, we venture into topics like free will and determinism, and the various outrageous fan theories that aim to prove how we might be living in a simulation. We also dive into the meaning behind the red pill and blue pill question, and how our answers might not reflect our actual behaviours. Instead, we theorise about how a purple pill should exist for those who aren’t yet re...
2022-01-2033 minWatch The Film With UsThe chosen one trope | The Matrix Part 2Send us a textHas the chosen one trope become outdated? In this episode, we talk about the chosen one narrative and how it often works within sci-fi and fantasy stories. We also discuss whether modern day audiences connect with the role of the “prophecy” in these types of narratives. Our conversation also turns to why we need a chosen one to come save us in the first place; why is the world always ending in the stories we consume?Reference:Tor.com “The Flawed Fantasy of the Ch...
2022-01-1332 minWatch The Film With UsSaving humanity, an intro to sci-fi | The Matrix Part 1Send us a textNew year, new genre - welcome to the next few months of sci-fi movies! (Surprise, Lara somehow convinced Cheryl to watch more space movies this year.) In this episode, we chat about the genre in general and the characteristics of a sci-fi movie. We start this season off with “The Matrix” - just in time for the release of “The Matrix Resurrections” that just came out in December 2021.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our...
2022-01-0631 minWatch The Film With UsOur 2021 Favourites | End of Year SpecialSend us a textIn this episode, we look back on the year and talk about our favourite films of 2021. We also chat about the films we’re looking forward to in 2022. Listen in on our conversation to see if there is any crossover!Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumzrq8qNBYZuF_1QTheme Music Credit: Ultra Li...
2021-12-3033 minWatch The Film With UsThe Great Halloween vs Christmas Movie Debate (w/ Heather Faye from WNWY) | Nightmare Before Christmas Part 4Send us a textWe are joined by Heather from “Watching Netflix Without You” to settle the great debate: is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or Christmas movie? In this episode, we talk about the specific elements that make the film a Halloween or Christmas movie. We also end the episode by giving the film two ratings (a Halloween and Christmas film rating) as the final verdict on what kind of film it is. We also participated in Heather’s 12 Days of Pre-Christmas, where we watched Netflix’s “A Castle For Christmas”. Check out Hea...
2021-12-2333 minWatch The Film With UsHoliday Movies | Nightmare Before Christmas Part 3Send us a textWhat are holiday movies? And, why do they exist? In this episode, we chat about movies based around specific holidays and why so many big movies are released during the December holiday season. We also chat about how holidays can also be created from cult followings (ex. October 3rd and Mean Girls), and how movies bring people together to form genuine, collective memories.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for...
2021-12-1632 minWatch The Film With UsThe age spectrum in animated films | Nightmare Before Christmas Part 2Send us a textIs Nightmare Before Christmas a movie for kids or adults? How can you tell when an animated movie is aimed at adults or made for kids? In this episode, we talk about how animated films are often perceived to be “for the kids”, but there are so many animated films out there (i.e. stop-motion, Miyazaki-type films) that are targeted to an older audience. We also chat about how live-action films are considered the “default film” and anything else is considered different and only for niche audiences.References:
2021-12-0932 minWatch The Film With UsAnimation Through the Ages | Nightmare Before Christmas Part 1Send us a textWelcome to Halloween Town! In this episode, we talk about the animation style of Nightmare Before Christmas and why stop-motion works so well for the film. We also talk about how stop-motion compares with other animation styles (like the classic Disney 2D-drawn vs 3D Pixar-style). Lastly, we chat about how technology has allowed animators to push the boundaries of realism in animated films, but also how realism could potentially veer into uncanny valley territory.References:The Take “Why Nightmare Before Christmas is a Th...
2021-12-0233 minWatch The Film With UsWho will be the next 007? | No Time to Die Part 4Send us a textNow that the Daniel Craig era of James Bond has come to an end - and there is literally no way he’s coming back… who will be the next 007? What are the people saying? In this episode, we chat through some fan input on who the next 007 will be. We also talk about the core criteria of choosing the next 007 and the challenges that may impact the decision. Lastly, we chat about the next stages of producing the next 007 film - what comes first: the script or casting of 007?
2021-11-2531 minWatch The Film With UsEvolution of the 007 franchise | No Time to Die Part 3Send us a textHow has the 007 franchise developed over time? And, how will the latest filmmaking decisions in No Time To Die influence the future of the franchise? In this episode, we chat about the international reach of spy movies and whether spies exist. We also continue to compare action franchises (Mission Impossible, Bourne, and Fast & Furious) and talk about the audiences that they cater to. Lastly, we talk about how the latest stylistic (almost auteur) filmmaking and development of the Bond character may influence the creative production of the next 007 films.
2021-11-1832 minWatch The Film With Us007, the advertising machine | No Time to Die Part 2Send us a textHow many products can you spot during a bond movie? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about how the 007 franchise is an advertising machine and the types of products, places and people it helps to promote. We also chat about how the cross-promotion affects the post production and financing of the Bond franchise.007 Product Placement Drinking GameEvery product spotted (1 sip of your drink)Aston Martin (waterfall for 5 seconds)Close up view of Sony / Nokia phone (waterfall for the duration of the phone’s screen time)...
2021-11-1131 minWatch The Film With UsJames Bond, the “classy” action hero | No Time to Die Part 1Send us a textWhat makes James Bond “James Bond”? And, how does he differ from other action protagonists? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about the developments of the Bond character over time. We also chat about the impact of Daniel Craig’s Bond on the franchise and how it reflects what we, as the audience, want from the 007 films.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.yo...
2021-11-0433 minWatch The Film With UsBONUS | 2021 Fall Films Lineup + Festival DebriefSend us a textFall is usually the season of big movie releases - and 2021 is no different! Both Cheryl and Lara had a chance to watch some of the biggest films this year at TIFF and the London Film Festival - before the films were even released. Listen in on our conversation about The French Dispatch, Spencer, Last Night in Soho and more!Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and...
2021-10-2919 minWatch The Film With UsSPECIAL | Comic Book Culture (with Niels Haraldsted)Send us a textTo wrap up the superhero genre, we chat about the source material for the genre itself: comic books! Of course, both Cheryl and Lara are not avid comic book fans, but have no fear - we brought on friend and special guest Niels Haraldsted to talk about comic book culture, including the format of comic books and the community that surrounds this medium. We also chat about how comics often translate into movies and why the films often don’t deliver the rich worlds and stories in the original comics....
2021-10-2830 minWatch The Film With UsBONUS | DuneSend us a textDune is (finally) released today in Canada and the UK! We both had the chance to watch Dune early at TIFF and the BFI. To celebrate release day, we recorded a bonus episode about whether Dune met our expectations, how it works as an adaptation, what we thought about the score and more!References: IndieWire “Hans Zimmer Says He’s Driving ‘Dune’ Team Crazy with So Many Score Ideas and Experiments”: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/hans-zimmer-driving-dune-team-crazy-score-ideas-1234569246/Let us know...
2021-10-2219 minWatch The Film With UsCreepy Kids in Horror Movies + Suspending Disbelief | Unbreakable Part 4Send us a textIn our last episode of Unbreakable, we start with a quick chat about creepy kids and realistic portrayals of children in film. The conversation leads us to chat about suspending disbelief in films and how authentic characters allow audiences to believe in what’s going on even when the plot is not realistic at all. We then wrap up the episode with our final thoughts and rating of Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan.References: Screenrant “Why Kids Are The Focus Of So Many Horror Movies & TV Shows...
2021-10-2132 minWatch The Film With UsThe Best Plot Twists of All Time | Unbreakable Part 3Send us a textWhat are our favourite plot twists? This episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about the plot twist in Unbreakable and whether we thought it was successful. We also chat about which genre usually has plot twists and when they are most often done well. Lastly, we talk about how plot twists are impacted from audiences’ initial expectations of the film and why that matters in the film experience.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out ou...
2021-10-1432 minWatch The Film With UsFilmmakers with Cult Followings | Unbreakable Part 2Send us a textM. Night Shyamalan’s success from The Sixth Sense has since helped him gain a cult following - but has that loyal audience stuck around? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about other directors with cult followings, such as Wes Anderson, Stanley Kubrick and Christopher Nolan. We chat about how cult followings start, how they grow in size and what causes cult followings to dramatically diminish in size.References: How I Built This: Logic & Chris Zarou: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/701212707/logic-logic-chris-zarou?t=1631462360318
2021-10-0733 minWatch The Film With UsM. Night Shyamalan | Unbreakable Part 1Send us a textAfter watching Marvel and DC movies, we watch an alternative take on the superhero genre: M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable”. We start the month by chatting about M. Night Shyamalan and how we think his brilliant movie concepts never seem to deliver a fully satisfying ending. The episode ends with a short discussion about delivering satisfying movie endings, especially for the sci-fi/thriller/action genre.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channe...
2021-10-0132 minWatch The Film With UsDC vs Marvel | The Dark Knight Part 4Send us a textHow do DC movies compare with Marvel movies? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara start by chatting about Nolan’s interpretation of the superhero genre and the dark colour palette. We then move onto talking about how the DC movies differ drastically in style and quality due to its licensing to various studios. Meanwhile, Marvel’s top down, in-house production creates a much more cohesive franchise. Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTu...
2021-09-2333 minWatch The Film With UsDoes Batman Actually Help Gotham? | The Dark Knight Part 3Send us a textDoes Batman’s role in society actually help rid Gotham’s streets of evil? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about the role of superheroes in society and whether they may actually be causing more problems than solving them. We chat about how crime is deeply rooted in socio-economic issues found in society and why Batman’s short-sightedness makes him a deeply flawed character.References:Tor.com “The Hero Gotham Deserves: Is Batman Good for Gotham City?| by Shoshana Kessock: https://www.tor.com/2012/07/25/the-hero...
2021-09-1631 minWatch The Film With UsWhy so serious? | The Dark Knight Part 2Send us a textWhat makes Joker an iconic villain and why is he such a credible villain? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about the Joker in The Dark Knight, what makes him so scary and what we think his goals and motivations are in the film. Since we also watched Cruella, we return to our chat about villain origin stories, why some villain origin stories work and why others fail.References:The Take “Superhero Movie Tropes, Explained”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bVe8...
2021-09-0931 minWatch The Film With UsThe Masculinity of the Superhero Genre | The Dark Knight Part 1Send us a textWhat are the main types of superheroes? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about how the typical story arcs of the superhero genre satisfies its core audience. Despite the stories becoming more diverse, we talk about how the films still seem to be most successful for a male audience. We end the conversation about the importance of inclusive communities to widen the reach of the superhero genre.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs...
2021-09-0232 minWatch The Film With UsWhat Makes a Film Villain Great? | Black Panther Part 4Send us a textWhy was Killmonger a great villain? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about the relationship between superheroes and their villain counterparts, and how Killmonger differs from other Marvel villains. We also chat through the main difference between villains and “super-villains” - more specifically, what makes super-villains stand out amongst all the evil characters in the superhero genre.References:vlogbrothers “Are We the Baddies?? A Quick Look at a Discourse”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YYLMrZ3y_oFrom T...
2021-08-2631 minWatch The Film With UsDiversity in the Superhero Genre | Black Panther Part 3Send us a textWhen Black Panther was first released in theatres, critics and audiences applauded it for being a big step forward in diversity in the superhero genre. How has the superhero genre evolved since then? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about how the media shapes our conversations about diversity in the superhero genre. We also chat about why diversifying film criticism is important and what we, as audiences, can do to hear different opinions about film.References:Khadija Mbowe “Color-blind vs. Identity-conscious casting an...
2021-08-1933 minWatch The Film With UsTechnology in Superhero Movies | Black Panther Part 2Send us a textIn this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about how advanced or futuristic technology is a prominent theme in the superhero genre. Even the superheroes who have supernatural powers (i.e. Spiderman) rely on technology (their suits) to assist in their performance. We also chat about how technology is often depicted as larger than life and why romanticising technology might be problematic when audiences do not engage with the material critically.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs
2021-08-1231 minWatch The Film With UsThe Business of Marvel Movies | Black Panther Part 1Send us a textWelcome to Marvel Month! This month, we deep dive into Black Panther and all things Marvel. To start, we chat about our feelings towards Marvel movies and how these films both support and limit the growth of the film industry. We then talk about Marvel in society and its potentially important role in shaping mindsets and providing alternative narratives.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes...
2021-08-0531 minWatch The Film With UsWhy are there so many dog movies? | Cruella Part 4Send us a textWhy do we enjoy watching movies about animals? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about the prevalence of animal movies, and specifically dog movies. We talk about our fascination with animals because of how similar yet different they are to us humans. This fascination has led to an emergence in animal documentaries and fictional stories that prescribe human-like thoughts and emotions to animals.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel...
2021-07-2930 minWatch The Film With UsCostume Design & Character Identity | Cruella Part 3Send us a textThe fabulous costumes in Cruella inspire us to talk about our favourite costumes in movies and how fashion in film influences culture and everyday wear. We also chat about how costumes further flesh out a character’s identity and the collaborative nature of costume design with hair and makeup. Lastly, we chat about why costume design is an important part of animated films and how Disney princess dresses give children around the world a chance to be a princess.References:Jackie Wyers Yo...
2021-07-2231 minWatch The Film With UsIs 'Evil' Real? | Cruella Part 2Send us a textAs a follow up to our last episode on villains, we’re chatting about the popularity of the true crime genre and the surrounding fascination with psychopaths. We also chat about the culture surrounding true crime and the downsides of true crime as entertainment. Our conversation also includes evil in fiction vs nonfiction and whether pure evil truly exists. References:Sarah Hawkinson YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/sarahhawkinsonMental Floss “12 Reasons We Love True Crime, According to the Experts”: https...
2021-07-1532 minWatch The Film With UsWhy Villain Stories are Entertaining | Cruella Part 1Send us a textThis month, Cheryl and Lara are watching “Cruella” and “101 Dalmatians”. To start off, we chat about villain origin stories and the emerging fascination with the bad guys on screen. Our discussion leads us to chatting about our favourite villains and why sometimes the bad guy is the most entertaining character in the film.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O6GFhumz...
2021-07-0831 minWatch The Film With Us[SPECIAL] Inside Scoop on Working at Disney World with a Cast Member!Send us a textThe Disney amusement parks are important marketing and immersive channels to enjoy the world of Disney. This week, we chat with resident Disney expert - and Cast Member! - Celia Bulger about the Disney parks and what it’s like working behind the scenes at Disney World. We talk about the most popular characters and the amount of detail that goes into the Disney parks. Lastly, Celia gives us some hot tips for your next visit to Disney World.Let us know what you think and chat with us...
2021-07-0130 minWatch The Film With UsThe Disney Renaissance “Renaissance” | Frozen Part 4Send us a textThe Disney Renaissance was in the 90’s and now we seem to be firmly into a new generation of Disney princess stories - in fact, some (Cheryl) might even say we’re firmly in the Disney Renaissance “Renaissance”. We start the episode chatting about what makes this era of Disney princess films distinctively different from the original Disney Renaissance. The conversation ends with a chat about what is next for Disney and whether we are nearing the end of the current generation of Disney princesses.Let us know what you...
2021-06-2430 minWatch The Film With UsThe Evolution of the Disney Princess | Frozen Part 3Send us a textWhat does it mean to be a Disney princess? How have Disney princesses evolved over time? This episode, we chat about the qualities of a Disney princess and how we perceive the princess stereotype in society. We explore how the evolution of the Disney princess stereotype relates to our understanding of feminism and femininity.Reference:The Take, “The Disney Princess Trope, Explained” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoTKv9WjzHY&ab_channel=TheTakeLet us know what you thin...
2021-06-1730 minWatch The Film With UsThe Modern Happily Ever After | Frozen Part 2Send us a textWhat is “true love” in the fairy tale genre? In this episode, we chat about the ending of Frozen and how Frozen both acknowledges and disrupts our understanding of “true love”. We also chat about how this new understanding of “true love” has been applied across other genres and how that alters the modern day “happily ever after”.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com...
2021-06-1030 minWatch The Film With UsThe Fairy Tale Trope | Frozen Part 1Send us a textWhat is Disney without fairy tales? This month, we’re chatting about all things Frozen and what better way to start than with a discussion about fairy tales. From Prince Charming to Good vs. Evil, listen in on our conversation about the components of the fairy tale trope. We also chat about fairy tale origins and how they compare with Disney original stories (such as Moanna or Brave). What other fairy tale is Disney going to adapt next? Is Rumpelstiltskin going to be a thing?Let us know wh...
2021-06-0330 minWatch The Film With UsEndings as Beginnings | Soul Part 4Send us a textWhat was the meaning behind “Soul”? In this discussion, we chat about how Soul provides a different perspective on The American Dream and the poetic themes of rebirth in the film. We also talk about the primary difference in messaging between Pixar and Disney films, and what we thought about the ending of Soul.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsCheck out our YouTube channel for extended conversations and outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1O...
2021-05-2730 minWatch The Film With UsDiversity On-Screen and Behind the Scenes in Animation | Soul Part 3Send us a textAfter watching Soul, Cheryl and Lara dig into the behind the scenes and making of the movie, where we learned about Disney’s Cultural Trust. In this episode, we chat about diverse perspectives in animated films, representation behind the scenes and potentially why diversity is often overlooked in the animation genre. References:The Present (Short Film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_nJJHaNmnY&ab_channel=MAGNETFILMIt’s Nice That: “Why is there a lack of women in animation, and what ca...
2021-05-2031 minWatch The Film With UsHow Digitisation Has Changed the Film Industry | Soul Part 2Send us a textA conversation about special features in Disney+ leads Cheryl and Lara to talk about the latest changes in film distribution. We also chat about how film marketing has shifted from marketing specific to individual films to advertisements about a catalogue of films for Disney+ or Netflix. Our conversation ends with how “Soul” was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the film industry can continue to be highly collaborative while working from home.Reference:Polandbananas20: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVGr8TtyDML8PZZ5wawbXuw...
2021-05-1331 minWatch The Film With UsAre Pixar films for adults? | Soul Part 1Send us a textWhat do you expect from a Pixar film? How does ‘Soul’ match or differ from our expectations? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about our initial thoughts on the 2020 Pixar film, “Soul”. We talk about how Pixar storytelling compares with Disney storytelling and how they may be targeting different audience groups. Lastly, we chat about our experience watching “Soul” on Disney Plus and how it adds or subtracts from the film experience.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUs
2021-05-0630 minWatch The Film With UsYo ho, a pirate’s life for us! | Pirates of the Caribbean Part 4Send us a textDid you know that Pirates of the Caribbean was inspired by an amusement park ride? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about the development of Pirates and how the success of the franchise has influenced the ride that it originated from. We also chat about other films with interesting origins and how inspiration can truly come from all places, including the fans themselves.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WTF_WithUsTheme Music...
2021-04-2930 minWatch The Film With UsBONUS | 2021 Oscars + Predictions (with Laura Schlee)Send us a textThe most important night in cinema is coming up this week! What did we think of the 2020 movie season and the Oscar nominations list? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara are joined by friend Laura, our resident Oscars expert. This year, she successfully found and watched all of the nominated movies. Listen in on our thoughts about what films we are rooting for and which ones we think will win in a quickfire lightning round at the end of the episode!Let us know what you think and...
2021-04-2323 minWatch The Film With UsBending the Adventure Genre | Pirates of the Caribbean Part 3Send us a textWhy is Pirates of the Caribbean so fun? How does Pirates play with the adventure genre? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about how genre bending made Pirates of the Caribbean so enjoyable. We then chat about how genre bending creates interesting stories and bring up some of our favourite genre bending films. Much like the music industry, genre bending broadens the reach of the film to audiences who may not have chosen to watch the film if it only stayed in one genre.Let us know...
2021-04-2231 minWatch The Film With UsHow Hans Zimmer Disrupted Film Scoring | Pirates of the Caribbean Part 2Send us a textCheryl and Lara find out that Hans Zimmer did not in fact score Pirates of the Caribbean, which leads to a conversation about film scores. In this episode, we chat about what film music is and how it has changed in the past few decades. We also talk about how Hans Zimmer’s primary method of film scoring (mixing and layering with electronic instrumental libraries rather than writing sheet music) may have influenced the incorporation of non-instrumental sounds, like in the recent Tenet soundtrack and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' work in contemporary fi...
2021-04-1530 minWatch The Film With UsWhy is the rum always gone? | Pirates of the Caribbean Part 1Send us a textWelcome to Pirates of the Caribbean - one of the most enjoyable Disney franchises! Yet, Pirates isn’t often the series that comes to mind when we think of Disney. In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about all things franchises, when they often fail and what can help them succeed. We also chat about how our expectations change with every installment, and how those expectations affect our perceived quality of the films.Let us know what you think and chat with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WT...
2021-04-0833 minWatch The Film With UsShrekisode | ShrekSend us a textAs a bit of a detour, Cheryl and Lara chat about Shrek, which (we know) is not Disney, but (rumour has it) is very intertwined with Disney because of the drama that happened behind the scenes. This episode is all about how Shrek compares with Disney and how it pokes fun at the fairytale trope and its competitor. We also chat about how the competition between Disney and Dreamworks shaped each other and developed the animated film genre to how it is today.Let us know what you...
2021-04-0130 minWatch The Film With UsDisney Original Songs | The Lion King Part 4Send us a textWhat did we think of the music in The Lion King remake? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about music in Disney films. From how the music compares to the original film to what we thought about the new original songs (including one from Beyonce!), we discuss our feelings about the new soundtrack and how successful it was compared to other Disney remakes. We also chat about Beyonce’s overall involvement in the movie and how her involvement might have impacted the film.Let us know what yo...
2021-03-2532 minWatch The Film With UsCGI or CG-why? | The Lion King Part 3Send us a text...or otherwise titled “did we need a new Lion King?” After watching the 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King, Cheryl and Lara delve into their thoughts on the new Disney remakes. We chat about whether the remake was successful from both a storytelling and business perspective. And, more importantly, whether the CGI Lion King was doomed from the start. We end our conversation with our thoughts on remakes in general and how remakes can be done successfully through remixing genres and perspectives.Let us know what you think and...
2021-03-1830 minWatch The Film With UsLife Lessons with Disney | The Lion King Part 2Send us a textWhat are themes that often occur in Disney animated films and why are they suitable for families? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about what we noticed watching The Lion King as an adult compared with what we noticed when we were a kid. This conversation leads us to a chat about how Disney teaches kids life lessons in an entertaining yet educational format. And, how Disney songs further distribute those life lessons beyond just the film.Let us know what you think and chat with us...
2021-03-1131 minWatch The Film With UsAnimated Musicals | The Lion King Part 1Send us a textWelcome to The Lion King! We’re so excited to watch this Disney classic - in fact, it was one of the first films we wanted to watch since starting the podcast. In this episode, we are wrapping up our discussion within the musical genre with an animated musical! Is there such a thing as “suspending too much disbelief” in animated musicals? We also chat about what the animated genre would look like with Disney and their animated musicals. And finally, listen in on our final thoughts on the musical genre and what our bi...
2021-03-0432 minWatch The Film With UsA Taylor Swift Musical?! | The Sound of Music Part 4Send us a textWhat are some musicals that don’t exist but totally could? In this week’s episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about why their parents introduced them to The Sound of Music. Their conversation leads them to a discussion about how music in musicals affects our enjoyment of a musical, leading them to chat about artists, like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, with discographies that could be developed into new musicals. Lastly, we chat about the limits of the format and the degree of complexity that could exist in a musical.
2021-02-2530 minWatch The Film With UsFilms that Survive Generations | The Sound of Music Part 3Send us a textWhat are movies that your parents watched as a kid that they watched with you when you were younger? And, what are movies that we’ll pass down to the next generation of kids? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara chat about the old musicals that they haven’t heard of and marvel at how The Sound of Music has lasted through two generations. We also chat about the transatlantic accent and why some may like it (Cheryl) and why others might not (Lara).Let us know what you...
2021-02-1833 minWatch The Film With UsWatching old films in the present day | The Sound of Music Part 2Send us a textThe Sound of Music is the oldest film that Cheryl and Lara have watched thus far on #WTFWithUS, but how do we feel about watching old films? What is our experience with older movies? We also talk about the perception of early cinema across the different generations. Listen in on our conversation about the oldest films we've seen, why we watched them and how we felt about them. And most importantly, what do you think? Do you think the current generation of kids prefer the old Disney animated films (Team Lara) or the n...
2021-02-1132 minWatch The Film With UsRewatching films from childhood | The Sound of Music Part 1Send us a text“Do” a deer a female deer… that’s right folks, we’re watching The Sound of Music! It’s been well over a decade since Cheryl and Lara have watched the film - how does watching The Sound of Music as a kid compare to watching it as an adult? What are things we noticed this time around that we hadn’t as children? Our discussion also leads us to reminisce about childhood films we’ve rewatched as grown ups and how accurate or inaccurate our memory of these films may be.Le...
2021-02-0431 minWatch The Film With UsThe Bollywood Genre | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Part 4Send us a textIn this final episode of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Cheryl and Lara talk about the ending of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and how it was satisfyingly unexpected. This discussion leads us into a conversation about the Bollywood genre: whether Bollywood films follow a specific formula and if there are specific characteristics found across all films in the genre. We chat about whether Bollywood films might fall into the slice of life genre, but also what we both consider 'slice of life' or 'cinéma vérité' to be.Let...
2021-01-2830 minWatch The Film With UsStereotypes in Film & Society | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Part 3Send us a textDoes Bollywood really represent the reality of India? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara talk about how film influences society and why that matters. Film can introduce us to different perspectives and cultures, but it can also perpetuate existing stereotypes. Is that a good or bad thing? Lastly, we also chat about the double meaning of YOLO: make the most out of life and do really dangerous activities, or be careful with what you do because this is your one life?References:DW “Does Bollywood reflect In...
2021-01-2133 minWatch The Film With UsThe Foreign Language Film as a Genre | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Part 2Send us a textWhy do we classify non-English language films as their own genre? What are the pitfalls of discussing foreign language films in one category? In this episode, Cheryl and Lara continue watching Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and chat about the competitive landscape of non-English language films. More specifically, we talk about how filmmakers within this category face challenges getting their films in front of viewers, film festival programmers and awards voters. References:Deadline “The 2021 Movie Awards Season Outlook: Weird-Case Scenarios Will Sweep All Categories” https://deadline.com/2020/12/oscar...
2021-01-1431 minWatch The Film With UsYOLO! | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Part 1Send us a textWe’re starting 2021 with a non-English language film: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, a Bollywood film, which translates to YOLO! The film is about a bachelor party set in Spain, where the three main characters (Kabir, Arjun and Imran) engage in thrill-seeking adventures. This week, we talk about our experience with the Bollywood genre and our first impressions of the film. We also chat about new year's resolutions and what kinds of thrill-seeking adventures we would choose if we had a similar Bachelorette party.References:The Financial Diet “7 Insane Life & Mone...
2021-01-0733 minWatch The Film With UsOur 2020 Favourites & Looking Ahead to 2021Send us a textHappy New Year! What films made it to our top 5 list this year? And, what are some films that Cheryl and Lara are looking forward to in 2021? Countdown to 2021 with us and get to know more about the kinds of films we like. Tell us what films you liked in 2020 and what you’re looking forward to in 2021 on Twitter @WTF_withus - we would love to hear from you!Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. htt...
2020-12-3129 minWatch The Film With UsA Very GLEEful Episode | Glee Season 2 Christmas EpisodeSend us a textAfter watching High School Musical, we were inspired to watch some Glee to continue the teen musical theme. It was also perfect timing to watch one of the Glee Christmas specials. After all, the Glee Christmas songs are some of the most enjoyable renditions of festive classics - and some of the most popular Glee cover! We also talk about how Glee may or may not have stood the test of time (hint: it hasn’t) and why it hasn’t held up as well as High School Musical or other musically-oriented films. Happ...
2020-12-2431 minWatch The Film With UsTeen Musicals | High School Musical Part 4Send us a textHave you ever thought about why SO many movies take place in high school, despite high school being such a small amount of a person’s lifespan? And how, somehow, all the characters’ problems seem to get resolved by the time they graduate? In this episode we dive into teen movies and why we find coming-of-age films so satisfying. We also talk about some films that are set in high school but are darker than fun, comedic films like HSM or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.Refe...
2020-12-1735 minWatch The Film With UsIs High School Musical a Cult Classic? | High School Musical Part 3Send us a textFew Disney Channel original films have gained the same amount of status and fan following as High School Musical had. So why is it that HSM did so much better than the other Disney originals? At this point, almost fifteen years after it came out, can High School Musical be considered a classic or cult classic? This week, Cheryl and Lara talk about HSM’s current stature and how it developed its cult following.References:Top 15 Disney Channel Original Movies from the early 2000sht...
2020-12-1030 minWatch The Film With UsPop Culture Relevance of High School Musical | High School Musical Part 2Send us a textIf you were a tween in 2006 and you hadn’t seen High School Musical, you weren’t considered cool. And now, flash forward to 2020, High School Musical continues to be remixed into contemporary pop culture. In this week’s episode, we discuss the popularity of HSM and its (surprising) lasting relevance. We also chat about how nostalgia plays a part in our current perception of HSM. Plus, we read the funniest comments from HSM videos on YouTube (have you seen the memes from ‘Bet On It’?! Iconic.)References:Disne...
2020-12-0332 minWatch The Film With UsThe Start of Something New?! | High School Musical Part 1Send us a textWhat musical is the polar opposite of Sweeney Todd? If you guess the original HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, you are correct - what a perfect follow-up to the horror musical. In this episode, we discuss whether it’s ‘cool’ to do music in high school or if what is considered cool has changed, and if HSM paved the way for the boon of the movie musical (including shows like Glee). But most importantly, would Zac Efron still be hot if he wasn’t a celebrity? Tune in to hear our thoughts.Movie Credit...
2020-11-2633 minWatch The Film With UsSondheim vs Andrew Lloyd Webber | Sweeney Todd Part 5Send us a textWhat are Cheryl and Lara’s favourite musicals? Cheryl’s answer leads us to the inevitable discussion about Sondheim vs Andrew Lloyd Webber - very fitting for this episode as we watch the final bit of Sweeney Todd. Which musical composer do we prefer, and why? Listen in on our conversation and find out more about our musical tastes!Reference:Corridor Crew “VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 2” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4nGxX2mHOs&ab_channel=CorridorCrewMovie Cr...
2020-11-1932 minWatch The Film With UsWhat is “horror music” | Sweeney Todd Part 4Send us a textWhy are most horror musicals comedic? And what is 'scary' music and why is it such an important element in scary movies? Spooky season extends into November in this episode, where Cheryl and Lara continue watching Sweeney Todd while chatting about music in horror movies. We note the importance of music in horror films and how music can subvert what is familiar to us and make it unfamiliar.Reference:BBC “What makes a great horror movie soundtrack?” https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20161031-wha...
2020-11-1233 minWatch The Film With UsRooting for the Bad Guy | Sweeney Todd Part 3Send us a textWhat does it mean to root for the bad guy in a film? How do stories with bad guy protagonists usually end? Cheryl and Lara talk about how we feel about rooting for the bad guy and how the audience might still root for Sweeney Todd despite his terrible actions. Join us as we continue with Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd, where we chat about storytelling from the bad guy’s perspective.Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by S...
2020-11-0531 minWatch The Film With UsTim Burton | Sweeney Todd Part 2Send us a textSpooky season is the perfect time to watch a Tim Burton film! And of course, we couldn’t resist spending one episode chatting about his unique style. How did his background in animation influence his later work? How could one describe his films? ALSO: is pumpkin pie actually a pie? In this special Halloween-themed episode, listen in on Cheryl and Lara’s chat about Tim Burton, while they continue with the second part of Sweeney Todd. Reference:Sideways “Why the Music in Les Misérab...
2020-10-2931 minWatch The Film With UsUnexpected Musicals | Sweeney Todd Part 1Send us a textWhat do we picture when we think of the musical genre? Probably not demon barbers who murder people! For spooky season, Cheryl and Lara have hopped into Tim Burton’s dark and gloomy Sweeney Todd. We chat about how Sweeney Todd is completely different to what we expect when we think of musicals, and why it still satisfies audience expectations. Side note, do you think that Sweeney Todd would ever join a glee club? Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ult...
2020-10-2230 minWatch The Film With UsBreaking the Romcom Formula | La La Land Part 5Send us a textWhat makes La La Land such a successful romcom? How does Damien Chazelle break the romcom formula and still meet and fulfil our romcom desires? Lara and Cheryl chat about the film’s double ending and why we think it helps to both satisfy our expectations and create more meaning within the film. Stick around until the end of the episode to find out which film we will be watching next! Hint: it’s SPOOKY season!Reference material:Vulture article on the ending: http...
2020-10-1534 minWatch The Film With UsSelling Out | La La Land Part 4Send us a textWhy did Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) 'sell out' in La La Land and why is selling out a bad thing? In this episode, we talk about how artists may sell out not because of the money, but also because the chance to perform might be more important to them than not performing at all. We also discuss how the main characters' passion for their respective crafts got in the way of their relationship. Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: U...
2020-10-0833 minWatch The Film With UsOur Obsession with Hollywood | La La Land Part 3Send us a textWhy are there so many movies and TV shows about Hollywood and the concept of celebrity? What are the ways that filmmakers explore the positive and negative sides of the industry? This week, we’re talking about the film industry’s obsession with Hollywood (i.e... themselves), and we chat through why the artist’s struggle is such an appealing topic for both filmmakers to explore and for viewers to watch. Reference material:La La Land: Using Color | VIDEO ESSAY https://youtu.be/NPAf3a0XYNk
2020-10-0130 minWatch The Film With UsHiring Actors Who Don’t Sing in Musicals | La La Land Part 2Send us a textWhy do movie musicals hire actors who aren’t singers or dancers to perform in the film? How did Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling fare in “La La Land”? This week, we talk about actors brought on for their star power rather than their singing ability; people who act but have another person sing for them (i.e. Zac Efron in the first High School Musical) and movies we’ve found successful despite starring unknown actors.Reference material:La La Land: Using Color | VIDEO ESSAY https://youtu.be...
2020-09-2432 minWatch The Film With UsWhat is the ‘Musical’ genre? | La La Land Part 1Send us a textWhat is the musical genre? Is this a genre in and of itself, or do musicals fall into other genres as well? Join us as we begin watching & discussing the super enjoyable La La Land, where we try our very best not to sing along and talk about why it took so long for Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) to meet in the first part of the film.Reference material:‘‘La La Land’ seriously misunderstands music. So why are its songs pretty great?’ by Mikael W...
2020-09-1734 minWatch The Film With UsCritics’ View of Romcoms | When Harry Met Sally Part 4Send us a textWhy do critics love to hate on the romcom? Why aren’t “popular” films taken seriously by critics? In this episode, we talk about the reception of the romcom genre and why we think it’s important for writers and critics to take the genre and its audiences more seriously. We also announce the theme for our next season, and how it relates to When Harry Met Sally and the films we’ve watched in the romcom genre.Reference material:Hollywood Reporter: Why Nora Ephro...
2020-09-1030 minWatch The Film With UsBONUS | So we watched Tenet…Send us a textWhat did we think of Christopher Nolan’s new film “TENET”? How does it differ from his other films? And what is it like returning to the theatre after a six-month hiatus? We discuss what makes Nolan's films more successful than other modern action blockbusters, and the importance of smart, complex action movies in 2020's film landscape. Some spoilers in this episode (starting at approx. 6:50).Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpe...
2020-09-0821 minWatch The Film With UsCan Romcoms be Timeless? | When Harry Met Sally Part 3Send us a textHow are the most recent romcoms different from When Harry Met Sally? Why do most genres have remakes, except for the romcom genre? In this episode, we chat through some of our own hypotheses about why most romcom storylines aren’t timeless, and how, against all odds, some romcoms disrupt the genre and become classics. Reference material:The Guardian: Love is (still) in the air: how the romcom came back from the deadhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/08/love-is-still-in-the-air-why-the-romcom-has-come-back-from-the-deadMovie Credit: All...
2020-09-0332 minWatch The Film With UsNora Ephron | When Harry Met Sally Part 2Send us a text“I’ll have what she’s having!” What makes people want to have what Nora Ephron’s having? In this episode, we talk about the Queen of romantic comedy herself, Nora Ephron, and how she shaped the romcom genre, as well as how her work endures. While watching the second part of “When Harry Met Sally”, we discuss her background and writing style, and how her journalism background influenced her screenwriting career. We also chat about why Lara (and maybe you, the listener) prefers “You’ve Got Mail” over “When Harry Met Sally”.Referenc...
2020-08-2733 minWatch The Film With UsCreation Of The Romcom As We Know It | When Harry Met Sally Part 1Send us a textLet’s turn back time and talk about the evolution of the romcom and what they looked like throughout history - from Shakespeare all the way up to the late 70’s. We also talk about how the passage of time is used to reflect realistic character growth in When Harry Met Sally, and how time is an important element in the film. Join us as we witness what happens when Harry meets Sally (haha I couldn’t resist!) in the first part of what we consider the OG modern romcom. By the way, do you...
2020-08-2030 minWatch The Film With UsUnrequited Love | The Half of It Part 4Send us a textIs there anything more quintessentially ‘romantic comedy’ than unrequited love? Join us as we watch the last part of The Half of It - did we get our classic romcom happily ever after? In this episode, we talk about how the trailer formed our expectations of this film and whether the ending met those expectations. We also reveal what film we’re going to watch next - so definitely listen until the very end!TIFF The Half of It Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO_kntgvb30
2020-08-1331 minWatch The Film With UsAster, the Mythical Cool Girl | The Half of It Part 3Send us a textWhat is a ‘cool girl’ character and what kind of movies do we see her in? In this episode, we talk about how Aster fits into this trope and why writers should stop writing their female characters this way. We chat about whose perspective we are seeing Aster through, and why that might make Aster both different and similar to other cool girls. Lastly, we answer why we think that the cool girl trope is problematic and how it influences real life experiences.Media mentioned:The Cool...
2020-08-0634 minWatch The Film With UsEllie, the Side-Character-Turned-Protagonist | The Half of It Part 2Send us a textIs The Half of It a romcom? What is the difference between a teen movie and a romcom? Is Ellie the protagonist actually a side character in her own movie? We discuss the cinematic choices director Alice Wu makes in framing Ellie, and if the witty banter - typically used to deepen the romantic interest - affects our expectations of who the main couple actually is. Plus, the use of religion and how it helps tell the story. Join us as we continue watching how Ellie helps Paul get his dream girl in...
2020-07-3034 minWatch The Film With UsQueering the Romcom | The Half of It Part 1Send us a textWhat different choices do writers and producers make when creating the modern day romcom? What diverse voices are we hearing from in The Half of It? How has The Half of It (in this part so far) followed (or not followed) the typical romcom formula from the early 2000s and 2010s? This week, we meet Ellie, Aster and Paul in Netflix’s The Half of It by Alice Wu, and explore her modern take on the teen romcom.Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.
2020-07-2331 minWatch The Film With UsSophie’s Choice: Victor vs Charlie | Letters to Juliet Part 4Send us a textWho does Sophie end up with, and are there any last minute obstacles that get in the way? Why do people still watch romcoms if they are not surprised by what happens in the film? What does the romcom formula promise us that other film genres don’t provide? Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus
2020-07-1632 minWatch The Film With UsCharlie and Sophie Sitting in a Tree | Letters to Juliet Part 3Send us a textIn romcoms (with straight couples), does the guy fall for the girl first? Why do romcom trailers reveal everything that is going to happen? What makes us still want to watch the film after seeing the whole story in the trailer? Why can we never remember the characters’ names? And more importantly, will Claire succeed in her search for Lorenzo as we near the end of the film? Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) cop...
2020-07-0939 minWatch The Film With UsAnd we’re off to Italy! | Letters to Juliet Part 1Send us a textWhat is the romcom formula? And what do we expect to happen when we watch romcoms? In this episode, we talk about the romcom formula, trailer music, Amanda Seyfried’s hair and more, while joining Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) on her pre-wedding trip to Verona, Italy in Letters to Juliet.**Excuse the beeping in the background, it's only on this episode!**Trailer Music Mentioned:Audiomachine channel: https://www.youtube.com/audiomachine/featured“Avatar” Movie Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ziBFh3V1aM...
2020-06-3032 minWatch The Film With UsCharlie the Grumpy Grandson | Letters to Juliet Part 2Send us a textIs the romcom genre complete without some character development? Do romcoms have to have a happily ever after to fit into the genre? This week, we meet Charlie (Christopher Egan), who may or may not be Sophie’s romantic interest in the film. We also meet Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), Charlie’s grandmother, who has come back to Italy to find a former love interest.Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Cr...
2020-06-3034 minWatch The Film With UsIntroductions and TrailerJoin us as we watch the trailer for Letters to Juliet to show you a little bit of what the podcast is all about!Movie Credit: All movie content belongs to the filmmaker, producers and creatives.Theme Music Credit: Ultra Lights by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2020 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/61225 Ft: Javolenus
2020-06-3005 min