Shows
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #06 with Blake HowardSupport the show•••Shout-out to some of my lovely & amazing patrons: Rupa dasGupta, John Penola, Jane Penola, and Joseph Penola. ⚫ Get early access, extended episodes, and the Patreon-exclusive companion podcast "Ellipsis" only at Patreon.com/jimpenola ⚫ Follow us on Twitter: @AnInvitation and Instagram: @Invitation2Invitation ⚫ Email us: Invitation2Invitation@gmail.com•••2025-07-291h 22
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #05 with Jon GabrusLanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece.Episode #05 welcomes the illustrious, the insightful—the hilarious!—Jon Gabrus. Gabrus is a comedian, an actor, and an extremely prolific creator known for his podcasts High & Mighty and Action Boyz. His comedy/travel show with Adam Pally, 101 Places To Party Before You Die is currently stre...2025-07-151h 19
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #04 with Philip GawthorneLanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece.Episode #04 features dear friend and returning favorite, Philip Gawthorne—co-host/creator of Die Hard on a Blank—the podcast that examines the influence of DIE HARD (1988) on action cinema one action film at a time, in chronological order. Phil is also a playwright and screenwriter with...2025-06-2438 min
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #03 with Cows in the Field (Justin & Laura Khoo)Lanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece.Episode #03 features guests Justin & Laura Khoo, co-hosts of Cows in the Field: a podcast about philosophical themes in popular films. Justin is professor of philosophy at MIT and Laura is an art historian turned fundraiser and teacher.The Khoos' life experience as educators...2025-06-031h 21
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #02 with Eye of the Duck (Dom Nero & Adam Volerich)Lanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece. Episode #02 features guests Dom Nero & Adam Volerich, co-hosts of Eye of the Duck. Eye of the Duck is a podcast about movies and the scenes that make them special—what David Lynch calls 'eye of the duck' scenes (a.k.a. the scenes that define the...2025-05-201h 20
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #01 with Scout TafoyaLanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Through a hybrid of personal essay and long form interview, host/creator Jim Penola weaves a narrative conversation around the persistent merits and prescient lessons of Kusama's cult masterpiece. Episode #01 features author, critic, filmmaker, and video essayist Scout Tafoya of RogerEbert.com–a brilliant mind who sheds considerable light on Kusama's cinematic verve, aesthetic fluency, and most critical influences. Via a conversation that explores the dark humor, radical vulnerability, and deep catharsis of K...2025-05-061h 09
An Invitation ProductionsLanterns #01 with Scout TafoyaLanterns is a miniseries celebrating 10 years of Karyn Kusama's THE INVITATION (2015) with some of the brightest lights in contemporary film criticism and podcasting. Episode #01 features author, critic, filmmaker, and video essayist Scout Tafoya of RogerEbert.com–a brilliant mind who sheds considerable light on Kusama's cinematic verve, aesthetic fluency, and post-Kathryn Bigelow approaches to storytelling. Via a conversation that explores the dark humor, radical vulnerability, and deep catharsis of Kusama's film, Tafoya and host Jim Penola argue in favor of the ongoing merits that THE INVITATION still offers a decade later. *L...2025-04-081h 09
An Invitation ProductionsA.I.P. Tapes #005: The Best Film of 2024A.I.P. Tapes invites new release recommendations and concise film analysis into your feed.Today, you're invited to watch GOOD ONE (2024) — the feature film directorial debut of India Donaldson. A deeply understated yet highly authentic portrait of the ways maturity is both earned and inflicted upon us. RSVP now.Written, produced, and hosted by Jim Penola.Original music by John Penola.Support the show•••Shout-out to some of my lovely & amazing patrons: Rupa dasGupta, John Penola, Jane Penola, and Joseph Penola. ⚫ Get early access, extended episodes, and the Patreon...2025-03-2603 min
An Invitation ProductionsThematic Content #04: AGAINST ALL ODDS with Philip Gawthorne and Michael IQ JonesThematic Content is an audio essay series about the themes that define film history—across eras, genres, and filmmakers—even mediums.Episode #04 sees the return of screenwriter, playwright, and podcaster Philip Gawthorne (Die Hard on a Blank) who brings yet another Jeff Bridges vehicle to the table: the Taylor Hackford directed neo-noir AGAINST ALL ODDS (1984). A remake of classic noir OUT OF THE PAST (1947), ODDS follows disgraced football player Terry Brogan (Bridges) who is tasked with returning a beautiful and affluent heiress (Rachel Ward) to her parents. Once found, the two fall in love and things get comp...2025-02-0543 min
An Invitation ProductionsA.I.P. Tapes #004: Top Five Horror Films of 2024A.I.P. Tapes invites new release recommendations and concise film analysis into your feed.Today, you're invited to watch host Jim Penola's Top Five Horror Films of 2024.RSVP now.Written, produced, and hosted by Jim Penola.Original music by John Penola.An Invitation Productions is now on TikTok!Support the show•••Shout-out to some of my lovely & amazing patrons: Rupa dasGupta, John Penola, Jane Penola, and Joseph Penola. ⚫ Get early access, extended episodes, and the Patreon-exclusive companion podcast "Ellipsis" only at Patreon.com/jimpenola ⚫ Follow us on Twit...2024-12-0402 min
An Invitation ProductionsA.I.P. Tapes #003: WOMAN OF THE HOURA.I.P. Tapes invites new release recommendations and concise film analysis into your feed.Today, you're invited to watch WOMAN OF THE HOUR (2024) — the feature film directorial debut of Anna Kendrick. The based-on-a-true-story thriller is effective, affecting, and at its best when conveying how seemingly “benign” men winge (Pete Holmes), flatter (Tony Hale), and venerate (Daniel Zovatto) as a way to manipulate women. Ultimately, WOMAN OF THE HOUR is a rich text that is expressed with equally impressive craft. Hopefully Kendrick's time as a filmmaker well exceeds a mere 60 minutes.RSVP now.2024-11-1204 min
An Invitation ProductionsA.I.P. Tapes #002: THE SHADOW STRAYSA.I.P. Tapes invites new release recommendations and concise film analysis into your feed.Today, you're invited to watch THE SHADOW STRAYS (2024) — the latest blood-spattered-action-symphony from writer/director Timo Tjahjanto, now streaming on Netflix. THE SHADOW STRAYS, through its many ecstatic set pieces, provokes not-insignificant questions of mortality (not to mention the reason we even welcome the action genre into our viewing diet). Tjahjanto himself even endorsed host Jim Penola's take over on Twitter/X. RSVP now.Written, produced, and hosted by Jim Penola.Original music by John Penola.An...2024-11-0504 min
An Invitation ProductionsA.I.P. Tapes #001: SMILE 2A.I.P. Tapes invites new release recommendations and concise film analysis into your feed.Today, you're invited to watch SMILE 2 – the glossy, inventive sequel to 2022's biggest Horror movie. Though the film doesn't fully explore its new setting, writer/director Parker Finn still manages to inject his sharp direction with noteworthy symbols and imagery.RSVP now.Written, produced, and hosted by Jim Penola.Original music by John Penola.An Invitation Productions is now on TikTok!Support the show•••Shout-out to some of my lovely & amazing patrons...2024-10-1503 min
An Invitation ProductionsThematic Content #03: BIG BLACK DELTA x TENET with Jonathan BatesThematic Content is a series about the themes that define film history—across eras, genres, and filmmakers—even mediums.Episode #03 takes an unexpected (but welcome) detour towards the world of contemporary electronic music with special guest Big Black Delta, a.k.a. Jonathan Bates, the prolific recording artist with credits on BILL AND TED FACE THE MUSIC, THE SINNER, HALT & CATCH FIRE, and more. During the episode, host Jim Penola not only guides listeners through Big Black Delta’s unmistakable sound and history, but spotlights Bates commitment to sheer sonic emotion. What’s revealed is a fascina...2024-08-2535 min
An Invitation ProductionsThematic Content #02: 8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE with Philip GawthorneThematic Content is a series about the themes that define film history—across eras, genres, and filmmakers—even mediums.Episode #02 continues this inaugural season's exploration of a "Los Angeles Horror of Manners" with a vivid look at polarizing 80s neo-noir, 8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE, starring Jeff Bridges and Andy Garcia. Arguing in favor of the film’s many virtues, along with host Jim Penola, is esteemed guest, Philip Gawthorne – a prolific screenwriter (Underwater, Modern Life Is Rubbish), podcaster (Die Hard on a Blank), and all-around cinephile. Throughout the episode, Jim and Phil investigate the film's portrayal...2024-07-1948 min
An Invitation ProductionsThematic Content #01: BLADE RUNNER with Dom NeroThematic Content is a series about the themes that define film history—across eras, genres, and filmmakers—even mediums. This inaugural episode takes a look at Ridley Scott's 1982 film, BLADE RUNNER, and features special guest Dom Nero—a writer, a video editor, and the co-host of the excellent film podcast Eye of the Duck. Throughout their discussion, Dom and host Jim Penola examine the colossal influence of BLADE RUNNER through the unique lens of dystopian etiquette, pervasive noir trappings, near-future fascism, and the horrors of (in)humanity that these conditions create. *Thematic Content is wri...2024-06-2123 min