Shows
The Oscar Project Podcast3.106-2025 Podcast Year in ReviewSend us a textIt's time for my 2025 podcast year in review where discuss some of the popular episodes from this year. Take a listen to hear clips from my Oscar nominated movie discussions with Beth Lisogorsky, Kevin Pettit, Maria Banson, Jeff Kramer, Enrico Banson, and Amanda Kusek. You'll also hear parts of my interviews with Jonathan Hammond, Madison Hatfield, Aaron Blaise, Tatiana McCabe, Xindi Zhang, Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, and recent Osar winners Victoria Warmerdam and Trent. You can listen to all the full episodes by going back in this podcast feed and find many more...
2025-12-3016 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.103-Filmmaker Interview with Giovanna FerrariSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Giovanna Ferrari, director of the animated short film "Éiru," her directorial debut which is currently on the shortlist for Best Animated Short Film for the 98th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the story that stemmed from Giovanna's own travels around the world, the importance of being willing to see the world through the eyes of people not like ourselves, and whether an entire generation can feel like they lack a voice in the world.Books mentioned in this episode include:
2025-12-2327 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.76-Hallelujah with Jonathan HammondSend us a textToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Hallelujah. I'm joined by Jonathan Hammond, film director who has multiple shorts on the festival circuit this fall. We talk about many of the problems of the film even though it does include an all African American cast, some interesting images of what life was like at the time in the South, whether or not the film qualifies as a "musical" as we would define it today, and what representation looks like in film both in the past and today.You can watch...
2025-09-1956 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.71-Filmmaker Interviews with Lucas Ansel and Zolomon Zelko (Student Academy Awards 2025)Send us a textToday's episode is the first of a series of double episodes you'll be getting throughout the month of September all featuring conversations with 2025 Student Academy Award nominees.My first interview is with 2025 Student Academy Award Winner Lucas Ansel, director of the animated film "The 12 Inch Pianist." We discuss where he found the story the film was based on and some of what went into making the setting seen on screen.Following that I chat with 2025 Student Academy Award finalist Zolomon Zelko, director of the film "PhotoPlay XX." We talk...
2025-09-0239 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.70-The General with Joshua YtrebergSend us a textToday's special episode is a conversation I had with my son Joshua about the 1926 film The General, written by, directed by, and starring Buster Keaton. Joshua recommended this film to me after he saw it in a Film Studies class in school and when I realized I'd never seen the entire thing, we decided to make a podcast episode about it.Take a listen to hear us discuss .You can watch The General on YouTube and a huge thank you to Joshua for helping me edit many podcast episodes o...
2025-08-2922 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.68-2nd Oscars RecapSend us a textToday's episode is my recap of everything from the second Academy Awards back in 1930. I run through all the nominees and winners of every category and give a final ranking of all 19 films I was able to watch from this year of the Oscars. If you missed any of the episodes discussing specific films, you can go back in this feed or just tap on the links below.3.28-The Return of the Oscars and Lost Nominees of 1928-1929 with Lewis Beer3.30-Street Angel & Skyscraper with Beth Lisogorsky3.32-Glorious Betsy with Enrico Banson3.34...
2025-08-2214 min
Six Questions With Matty C#003 Six Questions With Jonathan YtrebergWelcome to the third episode of Six Questions With Matty C, a simple short-form interview show from the fine folks at What Am I Making.Allotting just five minutes of discussion per query, in each episode I’ll use the same half dozen questions about film or music to learn more about how the culture we consume shapes the people that we turn into.This week’s guest is Jonathan Ytreberg of the great Substack,The Oscar Project. During our chat, Jonathan and I talk about the lessons on sacrifice and the loss of innocence foun...
2025-06-1537 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.44-Weary River with Jonathan HammondSend us a textToday's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Weary River. Director Jonathan Hammond returns to the podcast to discuss the film and we talk about possibly the most compassionate prison warden character in film history, a theme song that gets played way too much in one film, and whether or not the film works as a part silent and part talking film. You can watch Weary River on YouTube or purchase a copy for your collection and be sure to follow Jonathan on Instagram @jonohamm and keep an eye out for h...
2025-05-3039 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.41-Filmmaker Interview with Sarah Goeke and Julia SearsSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Sarah Goeke and Julia Sears, the writer and director of the web series "Forked," a story of a woman recovering from the purity culture of the Bible Belt through sobriety and dragon fantasy erotica.Listen to hear about Sarah trusting her director on the shoot for And Through the Portal We Go, keeping the cast of "Forked" very much in the family, and finding humor in some of life's most serious moments.Books mentioned in this episode include:The Lilies by Quinn Diacon-FurtadoThe...
2025-05-2030 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.37-Filmmaker Interview with Madison HatfieldSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Madison Hatfield, the director and star of the short film "I Could Dom," a laugh a minute sex comedy about a young woman trying to figure out what exactly she wants in a relationship.Listen to hear about how the film was a bit of self discovery for Madison when it came to her people-pleasing personality, the importance of getting her male lead just right, and how important it is to help other artists whenever possible as we are all on our own journeys....
2025-05-0630 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.33-Filmmaker Interview with Lauren MelindaSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Lauren Melinda, the director of the short film "Before You." The film tells the story of a young couple dealing with the loss of a pregnancy while simultaneously expressing joy about an upcoming birth.Listen to hear about the film's basis in Lauren's own experience of loss, the importance of looking back on difficult memories while also looking for the positives in life, and how she and her crew went about putting together some incredible practical effects shots in the film.Books mentioned in...
2025-04-2224 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.31-Filmmaker Interview with Emily SheskinSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Emily Sheskin, the director of the short documentary "Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles." The film focuses on the unlikely pairing of Twitch with jigsaw puzzles and premiered at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival last fall.Listen to hear about the incredible community around jigsaw puzzling that continues to grow around the world, the importance of representation in the puzzle world, and how we would all benefit from reinforcing community connections in our lives.Books mentioned in this episode include:Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days...
2025-04-1521 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.26-Filmmaker Interview with Paul KowalskiSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Paul Kowalski, the director of the short film "Sardinia," a dark look at what a world without humor could be like. The film screened at IndieShorts and won the Best Director Grand Prize at Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2024.Listen to hear about the real world inspiration for the film, casting a group of strong actors that could each bring their own interpretation to the characters, and a set of book recommendations that should be required reading for any aspiring filmmaker.Books...
2025-03-2526 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.25-Filmmaker Interview with Jonathan HammondSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Jonathan Hammond, the director of the short film "Fireflies in the Dusk," a clever genre bending comedy that brings the Victorian Age into the present day with hilarious results.Listen to hear about some of the films that inspired Jonathan's concept for the film, how he got his actors to buy into the absurd situations their characters would encounter, and what happens when an actor getting food poisoning in the middle of busy L.A. traffic.Books mentioned in this episode include:The...
2025-03-1820 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.21-97th Academy Awards Preview-Part 5Send us a textToday is the final episode in my preview of the 97th Academy Awards where I will have broken down every category over the course of this week. Today I am joined by Maria Banson from the Brunello Bombshell newsletter to break down all ten films nominated for Best Picture. I've listed the nominees below along with a few other films mentioned throughout the episode.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get all new episodes, and head over to my Substack to submit your guesses for my annual...
2025-02-2846 min
The Oscar Project Podcast3.3 Filmmaker Interview with Hannah Beach, Phoebe Campbell-Harris, and Sophie StaceySend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Hannah Beach, Phoebe Campbell-Harris, and Sophie Stacey, the director, writer, and producer of the short film "A Matter of Minutes," a story of a young woman facing a life threatening situation at a house party.Listen to hear about Phoebe's personal experience that inspired the story, how the film used aspect ratio to drive the story, and a partnership the film has developed with the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.Books mentioned in this episode include:Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall...
2025-01-0823 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.60 2024 Documentaries RecapSend us a textI am joined on the podcast today by fellow Substack author Vicki Lesley where we sit down to discuss 2024 in documentaries. We review the Oscar short lists that were announced earlier this week, and talk about a few of our favorites as well as some of the titles that were missing from these lists.The full list of short listed documentaries is below. Documentary FeatureThe Bibi FilesBlack Box DiariesDahomeyDaughtersEnoFridaHollywoodgateNo Other LandPorcelain WarQueendomThe Remarkable Life of IbelinSoundtrack to a Coup d’EtatSugarcaneUnionWill & HarperDocumentary Sh...
2024-12-2123 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.59 97th Oscar Shortlist ReactionSend us a textIn today's episode, I look over the Oscar shortlists for ten categories that were released by The Academy this morning and provide initial reactions. The categories with announced shortlists are:Documentary FeatureDocumentary Short SubjectInternational FeatureMakeup and HairstylingSoundOriginal ScoreOriginal SongAnimated Short FilmLive Action Short FilmVisual EffectsCheck out the full list of films on my Substack newsletter.Support the show
2024-12-1708 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.58 Filmmaker Interview with Aryasb FeizSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Aryasb Feiz, the director of the short film "Tomorrow," a story of a young boy fighting for survival in the streets of Shiraz in the 1970s. The film is currently qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear a little bit about the meaning behind the title of the film, the ideas behind the development of the characters in the film, and how the team actually used the position of the sun in the film to help progress the story.Books mentioned in...
2024-12-1310 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.57 Filmmaker Interview with Nebojsa SlijepcevicSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Nebojsa Slijepcevic, the director of the short film "The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent," a story of one man who decided to stand up for those being persecuted unfairly. The film is currently qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film and the true story it was based on, the importance of casting the right actors for the central characters, and the challenges of filming in the tight confines of an actual train car.Books mentioned...
2024-12-1019 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.56 Filmmaker Interview with Emiliano Bolado, Isaac Bell, and Madalyn HorcherSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Isaac Bell, Emiliano Bolado, and Madalyn Horcher, three of the creative forces behind the short film "Over the Board," a story of two long lost brothers who connect over a shared interest in chess. Isaac stars with his twin brother Elijah (who sadly was not available to join the conversation) and the film is qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the filmmakers used reflections as well as black and white imagery to show the differences between the two characters, what the film...
2024-12-0650 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.55 Filmmaker Interview with Marco PeregoSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Marco Pergeo, the director of the short film "Dovecote," a intimate look at one woman's preparation to leave prison. Filmed in a working women's prison in Venice and featuring actual inmates, the film stars Zoe Saldaña and is qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how Marco came to make this film with his friend an mentor Alexander Dinelaris, the planning that went into creating a film that looks like it is composed of one continuous shot, and how Marco decided to f...
2024-12-0318 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.54 Filmmaker Interview with Akshit KumarSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Akshit Kumar, the director of the short film "bonVoyage pour monVoyage," an experimental film animating Akshit's travels. The film received the bronze medal in the experimental/alternative category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the some of the Akshit's travels, the process of turning static drawings into animated scenes, and some of Akshit's favorite places to visit around India.Books mentioned in this episode include:Goosebumps by R. L. Stine Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the W...
2024-11-2911 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.53 Jackson Ytreberg Memorial EpisodeSend us a text17 years ago today, my wife Denise and I lost our first son Jackson and it was by far the hardest thing either of us has ever been through. I asked her to come on the podcast with me to tell Jackson's story to the world and help me remember him on this very difficult day.If you have a story related to premature birth or anything similar, please share it with us by leaving a comment on this episode. You can find out more information about Prematurity Awareness Month at marchofdimes...
2024-11-2622 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.52 Author Interview with Neal FischerSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Neal Fischer, author of two new movie trivia books, The Rom-Com Ultimate Movie Trivia Book and the Christmas Movie Ultimate Trivia Book. He also hosts two podcasts, Triviality and Curated by Chance.Listen to hear about what goes into creating trivia questions for books like these, a bit about Neal's experience on the FOX game show The Floor, and one of the best arguments related to Die Hard as a Christmas movie you'll ever hear.Books mentioned in this episode include:The Rom-Com...
2024-11-2216 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.51 Filmmaker Interview with Aaron JohnsonSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Aaron Johnson, the director of the short film "The 17%," a documentary about Colette Divitto, a young woman with Downs Syndrome and her successful cookie business. The film received the silver medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the some of the people that Collete employs in her business, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the visual world of the film.Books mentioned in this...
2024-11-1917 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.50 Filmmaker Interview with Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle BonnardelSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer, and Estelle Bonnardel, the directors of the short film "Au Revoir Mon Monde," an animated film about a man in a fish costume trying to reach the woman he loves before the world ends. The film received the gold medal in the animation category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Florian's own life, some of the films that inspired the world of this film, and some of the biggest challenges of creating the...
2024-11-1535 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.49 Filmmaker Interview with Rishabh Raj JainSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Rishabh Raj Jain, the director of the short film "A Dream Called Kushi (Happiness)," a documentary about a one young woman seeking an opportunity to escape a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh and receive education in the West. The film received the bronze medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the origin of the film in Rishabh's investigative reporting in Myanmar and Bangladesh, how refugees have to adapt their language and lifestyle to try and fit into their host...
2024-11-1227 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.48 Filmmaker Interview with Hannah RafkinSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Hannah Rafkin, the director of the short film "Keeper," a documentary about one man's effort to keep bees in the Bronx while raising his daughters as a single father. The film received the gold medal in the documentary category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how a small 5-minute project blossomed into this film, how Hannah built the trust necessary continue filming when Flynn got sick, and some experiences that didn't manage to make it into the film.Books mentioned in...
2024-11-0820 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.47 Filmmaker Interview with Jens Kevin GeorgSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Jens Kevin Georg, the director of the short film "Crust" which tells the story of a young boy in search of his first scar. The film received the silver medal in the narrative category at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, how he knew he had selected the right actor to play his lead, how he found a roller coaster to fit in his film, and Jens' own first scar.Books mentioned in this episode include:...
2024-11-0519 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.46 Filmmaker Interview with Sarah BlokSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Sarah Blok, the director of the short film "Trouble" which explores the story of a family dealing with changing relationships amid the separation of the two parents. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the involvement of two actors in casting the film, how Sarah's background in playwriting contributed to the development of the characters in the film, and .Books mentioned in this episode include:Life Ceremony: Stories by Sayaka MurataFilms mentioned in this...
2024-11-0119 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.45 Filmmaker Interview with Jamie O’RourkeSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Jamie O’Rourke, the director of the short film "Calf." The film looks at a topic that is extremely relevant to many people around the world today, yet not talked about nearly enough and is it qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film in working on a documentary on abuse, some striking statistics around domestic abuse, and the benefits of being able to shoot almost the entire film on a recently retired farm.Books mentioned in th...
2024-10-2923 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.44 Filmmaker Interview with Kirsten SlemintSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Kirsten Slemint, the director of the short film "Burnt Country" which explores the threat of wildfire in Australia and the indigenous population who works hard to help manage the threat. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the editorial decision to juxtapose fire with water throughout the film, the importance of strategic cultural burns in managing wildfire risk, and how to manage shooting in remote locations as one person wearing all the hats of a complex production....
2024-10-2521 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.43 Filmmaker Interview with Bartłomiej BłaszczyńskiSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Bartłomiej Błaszczyński, the director of the short film "Take Me to Her" which explores the story of a woman who has gone through an incredible loss, and struggles to deal with it. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the genesis of the story of the film, a tragic connection Bartłomiej and I share, and a joke about difficult names to pronounce.Books mentioned in this episode include:Boy's Life by Robert McCa...
2024-10-2220 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.42 2024 Student Academy Award RecapSend us a textIn honor of the Student Academy Awards that took place this past Monday October 14th, I'm providing a quick recap of the winners. You'll also hear a little bit of my interviews from earlier this year with two of the winners and some thoughts on the ceremony experience itself.Check out my previous interviews with Robin Wang and Birdy Wei-Ting Hung while you wait for some new interviews next week and the rest of October as we head into awards season!You can watch the entire ceremony on YouTube...
2024-10-1806 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.41 Filmmaker Interview with Tom PotterSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Tom Potter, the director of the experimental short film "Lullaby for the Lost" which explores the memories of a man who is beginning to forget his mother. The film was a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear some incredible thoughts on dreams and memories, some very manual tactics used to create the images on screen, and the blending of the music and sound of the film to create the soundscape.Books mentioned in this episode include:Sculpting in Time: Tarkovsky...
2024-10-1635 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.40 Filmmaker Interview with Luke MorganSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Luke Morgan, the director of the short film "The Boat." The film is based on a heartbreaking true story of a father who must make a difficult choice when his daughter begins exhibiting troubling medical symptoms and is it qualified for the 97th Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the work that Luke and his brother were doing that led them to the story, why they decided to make a film that highlighted the disease of leprosy, and the realities of quicksand as a danger in...
2024-10-1120 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.39 Filmmaker Interview with Birdy Wei-Ting HungSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Birdy Wei-Ting Hung, the director of the experimental short film "A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers." The film looks at the experience of a young girl in 1980s Taiwan and won a gold award at the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear how the film was inspired by two other films, how important formative film experiences are, and the importance of the sound to create the world of the film.Books mentioned in this episode include:Abject Pleasures in the Cinematic...
2024-10-0822 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.38 Filmmaker Interview with Louisa Connolly-BurnhamSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Louisa Connolly-Burnham the director of the short film "Sister Wives," an exploration of the dynamics between two women in a polygamous relationship as they explore their love for each other.Listen to hear about the real life cult the film is based on, the process of casting a film with the intention of playing one of the main characters, and the how she came across the perfect little log cabin for filming the story.Books mentioned in this episode include:The The Secret...
2024-10-0419 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.37 Filmmaker Interview with Daniel SalasSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Daniel Salas the director of the experimental short film "WIRED," a surreal look at the impact technology can have on a person. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear how the film changed in the editing process, some of the challenges in shooting the film in just three days, and the importance of the sound supporting the visuals of the film.Books mentioned in this episode include:Monsters by Barry Windsor-SmithFilms mentioned in...
2024-10-0120 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.36 Filmmaker Interview with Zac LazarouSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Zac Lazarou the director of the short documentary "The Undertakers," an beautiful look at the underappreciated world of vultures in Africa. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to learn a bit about the important place vultures hold in the ecosystems, the importance of the music in creating the mood of the film, and the goal of the film as it relates to hope versus reality.Books mentioned in this episode include:Underland: A Deep Time Journey...
2024-09-2716 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.35 Filmmaker Interview with Julia Grupińska, Tian Westraad, and Ezequiel GaribaySend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Julia Grupińska, Tian Westraad, and Ezequiel Garibay, three of the five directors of the short film "El Ombligo de la Luna." The short animated film is a heartwarming story of a boy reconnecting with his long lost father and was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how the team found the perfect voice for one of their main characters, the meaning of the title of the film, and what movies the directors all agree on as some of t...
2024-09-2421 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.34 Filmmaker Interview with Luke PurdyeSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Luke Purdye the director of the short documentary "Mail Order Queens," an intimate film about the world of beekeeping. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to get a brief overview of honeybee history, the challenges of working with an animal like the honeybee, and just how many times a director can expect to get stung when making a documentary about bees and beekeeping.Books mentioned in this episode include:As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning...
2024-09-2043 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.33 Author Interview with Craig Singer and Michael BensonSend us a textIn today's interview, I speak with Craig Singer and Michael Benson, authors of the upcoming book Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers Nicholas and Joseph Schenck.Listen to hear about some of the famous Hollywood stars that rubbed elbows with the Schencks, how Nick Schenck preferred running his amusement park over the movies, and how generous Joe Schenck was to those in Hollywood who may have been down and out. Books mentioned in this episode include:Moguls: The Lives and Times of Hollywood Film Pioneers N...
2024-09-1724 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.32 Filmmaker Interview with Loïc Girault and Anna DantonSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Loïc Girault and Anna Danton, two of the creators of the film "Coquille," an animated short that follows an adorable little hermit crab looking for safety on the beach. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how the inspiration for the film in Loïc's childhood, the challenges of creating realistic looking animated sand, and the importance of building relationships no matter what kind of creature we are.Books mentioned in this episode include:...
2024-09-1318 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.31 Filmmaker Interview with Roger TorresSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Roger Torres about his film "Irma," a personal story of family dealing with difficult choices that is based on his own life. The film was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how the intense personal experience that inspired Roger's film, how he used that to explore a unique storytelling angle, and the struggles of casting actors to play your own family members.Books mentioned in this episode include:Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual by Jocko...
2024-09-1023 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.30 Filmmaker Interview with Luke SalewskiSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Luke Salewski about his film "The Lights Above," a genre crossing short film set in Los Angeles in the early day of 1942. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how Luke and his team creatively sourced their period furniture, a last minute casting change, and how they came to find the 1939 Cadillac convertible that is featured in the film.Books mentioned in this episode include:Dracula by Bram StokerDune by Frank HerbertChildren of Dune...
2024-09-0620 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.29 Filmmaker Interview with Tomás OrregoSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Tomás Orrego about his film "Fever," an experimental short film that was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the bold design choices employed in the film, how the film evolved based on budget and time constraints, and how music and sound play a part in the film.Books mentioned in this episode include:Guide by Dennis CooperI Never Liked You by Chester BrownFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Fever” directed by Tomás Orre...
2024-09-0312 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.28 Filmmaker Interview with Robin WangSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Robin Wang about his film "Neither Donkey Nor Horse," a blending of historical fiction with science fiction. The film was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about how the story of Dr. Wu helped Robin become unstuck during Covid lockdown, parallels between 1910 and 2020, and the meaning behind the phrase "neither donkey nor horse."You can check out Robin's film at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend on Saturday August 31st at 9 AM or the St. Louis International Film...
2024-08-3025 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.27 Filmmaker Interview with Lu LuSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Lu Lu about her film "Invocation," a story of dealing with life's changes based on her own personal experiences. The film was selected as a semifinalist for the 2024 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film rooted in her own experience, the importance of the Miao people in Guizhou to the development of the story, and what I think is the most practical dinner party yet recommended on The Oscar Project.Films mentioned in this episode include:“Invocation” directed by L...
2024-08-2718 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.26 Filmmaker Interview with Dur JamjoomSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Dur Jamjoom about her film "Kum-Kum," a story of loss and grief built from her own personal experiences. The film was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival back in June.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, how her grandmother helped influence an important part of the film, and two versions of Tom Hanks coming to dinner.Books recommended in this episode include:Say Nothing by Patrick Radden KeefeOliver Twist by Charles DickensCrying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner...
2024-08-2020 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.25 Filmmaker Interview with Wendi TangSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Wendi Tang about her film "Fishtank," a surreal story about a woman struggling to remain sober, but for some reason she can't stop vomiting goldfish. The film will be showing this August at the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival and the HollyShorts Film Festival.Listen to hear about the inspiration for the film, the importance of close collaboration between practical and visual effects, and a very Marvel dinner party.Books recommended in this episode include:Fleabag: The Scriptures by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
2024-08-0618 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.24 Filmmaker Interview with Rebecca King and Nina YndisSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Rebecca King and actress/producer Nina Yndis about their film "Elsa" about a tense love triangle between a Norwegian civilian woman, her adoring neighbor and a German soldier during World War II. The film will be showing this August at the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival.Listen to hear about where Rebecca and Nina got the inspiration for the story, what challenges they faced making the film, and if they worried about sharing the name of their film with a certain animated character.
2024-08-0229 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.23 HollyShorts 2024 PreviewSend us a textAs I gear up for a series of interviews with filmmakers featured at the 2024 HollyShorts Film Festival, I'm kicking off this coverage by bringing you a few interviews that I did with some of this year's filmmakers that I already spoke with previously on the podcast. If you like these excerpts, check out the full episodes below:Nazrin Choudhury, director of "Red, White and Blue"Courtney Dixon, director of "Depression is a Beast"Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, directors of "Jane Austen's Period Drama"Be sure to check out their work...
2024-07-3012 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.22 Filmmaker Interview with Dana KoopsSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Dana Koops about her upcoming short film “La Bibliothèque” an intimate look at a young woman dealing with grief. The film has its world premiere at ComicCon this July 28th as part of the San Diego International Children's Film Festival.Listen to hear about how Dana's inspiration for the film, how she went about casting someone to play her brother, and a very magical dinner party.Books recommended in this episode include:The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneFil...
2024-07-2320 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.21 Filmmaker Interview with Antonina Kerguelén RománSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Antonina Kerguelén Román about her short film “¡salsa!” a look at the world of music through the experience of someone who cannot hear. The film will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.Listen to hear about how Antonina explored experiencing music as a physical sensation through a character who cannot hear, the decisions that went into the sound design of the film, and her own memories of visiting the coast of Columbia growing up.Books recomme...
2024-06-0429 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.20 Filmmaker Interview with Courtney DixonSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Courtney Dixon about her short documentary "Depression is a Beast," a frank look at how horror films can help people cope with anxiety and depression. The film was inspired by a New York Times article and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.Listen to hear about how Courtney starts exploring her documentary subjects, how actor Jenna Kanell uses her horror roles to help deal with her depression, and how Courtney uses visuals, sound, and animation to tell the...
2024-05-2815 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.19 Filmmaker Interview with Julia Aks and Steve PinderSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview the writer/director pair of Julia Aks and Steve Pinder about their short film "Jane Austen's Period Drama," a hilarious comedy about well, periods, set in England two centuries ago. The film played at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.Listen to hear about how Julia and Steve collaborate on their comedy, some of the challenges they faced making the film, and what we might be able to expect in a...
2024-05-2228 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.18 Filmmaker Interview with Nick Russell and Nick MusgroveSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview director Nick Russell and writer Nick Musgrove, about their short film "Favourites," about parents who are forced to make an impossible choice. The film has been showing at festivals including Australia's Flickerfest and the San Diego International Film Festival and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.Listen to hear Nick and Nick discuss his how they developed the story for the film together, their incredible crew that they worked with, and one of the craziest dinner parties ever put t...
2024-05-1431 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.17 Author Interview with Andrew Stanley KisteSend us a textIn today's interview, I speak with Andrew Stanley Kiste, a campus life director and life long lover of all things Disney. He has written articles and books including Walt Disney and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, and three volumes of A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World. He joins me today to talk about his new book, The Early Life of Walt Disney. Listen to hear how Walt Disney's father Elias impacted how Walt became the man we know, where Walt learned his storytelling and artistic abilities, and some of...
2024-04-1631 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.16 Movie Chat with Kyle, winner of the 2024 Oscars Prediction ContestSend us a textIn today's episode, I am joined by Kyle, the winner of the 2024 Oscar prediction contest on The Oscar Project. We talk about a little of everything including what we liked from the 96th Academy Awards, other movies from 2023 we enjoyed, and things we're looking forward to in 2024. Books mentioned in this episode include:Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel WilkersonElvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll by Priscilla Beaulieu PresleyRobot Dreams by Sara VaronKillers of the F...
2024-04-0433 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.15 Sadie Thompson-When it Rains, it PoursSend us a textToday I am discussing the 1928 film Sadie Thompson. The film tells the story of Sadie Thompson, a woman of questionable moral character, and Mr. Davidson, the devout missionary who makes it his mission to reform her while they are both forced to stay on a remote Pacific island. Listen now to hear about the troubles the film faced in being made, how Swanson's performance can be related to her later work in Sunset Boulevard, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.Resources:Read the short storyRead the playWatch...
2024-03-2914 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.14 Author Interview with Lisa Stein HavenSend us a textIn today's interview, I speak with Lisa Stein Haven, a Professor of English at Ohio University and expert in all things Charlie Chaplin. She has written extensively on the actor and director and hosted the first international Charlie Chaplin conference ever held on American soil in 2010, the 100th anniversary of Charlie's first trip to America. In addition to several works on Charlie Chaplin, she has published books about hi brother Syd Chaplin and Max Linder. She joins the show to talk about her latest book, The Early Years of Charlie Chaplin: Final Shorts...
2024-03-2620 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.13-The Crowd-Love, Happiness, and Family StrugglesSend us a textAs I announced in my spring preview episode earlier this week, today I am discussing the 1928 film The Crowd. The film focuses on the story of John and Mary Sims as they build a family together and face life's challenges in early 1900s New York City. Listen now to hear about the creative people behind the film, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.Support the show
2024-03-2414 minThe Oscar Project Podcast2.12 Spring PreviewSend us a textOn today's episode, I give a quick preview of some of the things I'm working on for the podcast in the coming weeks a months. Be sure to subscribe to the show in your podcast player and follow The Oscar Project for all the updates.Facebook-facebook.com/TheOscarProjectInstagram-@the_oscar_projectX (Twitter)-@jytrebergSubstack-theoscarproject.substack.comI'm appearing on the next episode of The Playlist Project podcast with my friend Stacy. Check out her podcast all about the music people love at the link above.Support the show
2024-03-1903 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.11 96th Academy Awards RecapSend us a textWith the 96th Academy Awards in the book, I am joined today by Luis Mendez to discuss all the happenings at the Oscars on Sunday night.Check out Luis at The Mendez Report and follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Threads, and Letterboxd.Support the show
2024-03-1236 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.10 96th Academy Awards PreviewSend us a textIt's time for me to break down who I think will win at the Oscars this weekend. In this episode I go over all 23 categories, letting you know who I think will win the Oscar and who I think should win. They don't always match, so listen in to win your Oscar prediction pool!Support the show
2024-03-0919 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.9 Filmmaker Interview with Vincent René-lortieSend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Vincent René-lortie, the director of "Invincible", an ode to the memory of Marc-Antoine Bernier and the tale of a young man yearning for his freedom. The film is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy® Awards after winning Best Live Action Short Film at Chicago Children’s Film Festival in 2022 and Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma in 2023 .Listen to hear Vincent discuss his personal connection to the story, how he got to work with some tremendous young actors and how he has dea...
2024-02-2722 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.8 Filmmaker Interview with Nazrin ChoudhurySend us a textIn today's episode, I interview Nazrin Choudhury, the director of "Red, White and Blue", the story of a single mother in Arkansas who must cross state lines in search of an abortion. After winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Live Action Short at the Edmonton International Film Festival, the film is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy® Awards.Listen to hear Nazrin discuss how she decided to make this impactful film, what she was able to bring from working in television to making a short fi...
2024-02-2331 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.7 Author Interview with Ryan BrittSend us a textIn today's interview, I speak with Ryan Britt, a fiction and non-fiction author who has written for Inverse, Esquire, The New York Times, and StarTrek.com, among others. His first two books were Luke Skywalker Can’t Read and Other Geeky Truths and PHASERS ON STUN! How the Making and Remaking of Star Trek Changed the World. He joins me to talk about his latest book, The Spice Must Flow: The Story of Dune, from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies.Listen to hear how Dune might have been different if it...
2024-02-1425 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.6 Filmmaker Interview with Misan HarrimanSend us a textIn this week's episode, I interview Misan Harriman, the director of "The After", a powerful and affecting story that follows a man who has to reconnect with himself and society after witnessing a devastating random attack. After its world premier at the Oscar®-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, where it won Best Live Action Short, this incredibly thought-provoking short film is officially nominated for the 96th Academy Awards and Misan is kind enough to join me today and talk about the film. Listen to hear Misan discuss his inspiration for the film, wh...
2024-02-0918 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.5 Filmmaker Interview with Jean ChapiroSend us a textIn this week's episode, I interview Jean Chapiro, recipient of the Bronze Medal in the Documentary category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. She was recognized for her film "Till We Find Them" which looks at the families of missing persons in Mexico as they look for their loved ones.Listen to hear Jean discuss what drew her to documentary film, the dangers of documenting the missing persons crisis in Mexico, and what her favorite documentary film is. Books mentioned in this episode include:Poeta Chileno by Alejandro Zambra
2024-02-0615 minThe Oscar Project Podcast2.4 2023 Podcast Year in ReviewSend us a textAs we near the end of January, I'm looking back at 2023. I interviewed 10 amazing authors about their books and spoke with six filmmakers as well. There was so much new content on The Oscar Project Podcast, it was hard to pick the best bits, but here are some of my favorite parts of the interviews from 2023.Be sure to pick up the books from all these guests and support their work.Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western by Mia MaskThe Movie Lover’s Guide to London by Ch...
2024-01-3027 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.3 96th Academy Awards NomineesSend us a textThe nominees for the 96th Academy Awards were announced early this morning. The nominees come from 53 films across 23 categories and cover all sorts of films from dramas to comedies, blockbusters to indie darlings. There will be plenty more to come from The Oscar Project in the next month and a half, but for today, let’s just get straight to the nominees!Support the show
2024-01-2310 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.2 Author Interview with Katie Gee SalisburySend us a textIn today's interview, I speak with Katie Gee Salisbury, a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. She also writes the newsletter Half-Caste Woman. She has spoken about her work at the Museum of Chinese in America, Barnard College, New York University, and gave a TED Talk entitled “As American as Chop Suey.” She joins me today to talk about her first book, Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong. Listen...
2024-01-1728 min
The Oscar Project Podcast2.1 Author Interview with Saul AusterlitzSend us a textHappy New Year! It's my first interview author of 2024, and today I speak with Saul Austerlitz, a freelance writer whose work has been published in the New York Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone. He is an adjunct professor of writing and comedy history at New York University, and the author of Generation Friends, Just a Shot Away, Sitcom, Another Fine Mess, and Money for Nothing. He joins me today to talk about his new book, Kind of a Big Deal: How Anchorman Stayed Classy and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of...
2024-01-0326 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.24 Thanksgiving Special Filmmaker Interview with the creators of "Boom"Send us a textIn my third and final part of the Thanksgiving special, I interview four of the five creators of the animated short film "Boom," which won the Gold Medal in animation at the 2023 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear the team discuss the process for developing the story, what they enjoyed about visiting Los Angeles, and some of the movies that have inspired them.Follow them on Instagram:Boom Short Film – @boom_shortfilmGabriel Augerai – @gabima_ruRomain Augier – @romainaugierrCharles Di Cicco – @karlbad_artLaurie Pereira – @laurie.pikaminYannick Jacquin – @yayajcqnBooks mentioned in...
2023-11-2521 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.23 Thanksgiving Special Filmmaker Interview with Iain ForbesSend us a textIn the my second of the three part Thanksgiving special, I interview Iain Forbes, recent recipient of the Silver Medal in the Narrative category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. He was recognized for his film "Revisited" which explores how a family reacts when the father they thought was dead for 20 years suddenly returns to their home.Listen to hear Iain discuss the inspiration for the film, how he went about casting this film and one of the most interesting dinner parties we've come up with on the podcast. Books m...
2023-11-2313 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.22 Thanksgiving Special Filmmaker Interview with Giorgio GhiottoSend us a textIn the first of a three part Thanksgiving special, I interview Giorgio Ghiotto, recent recipient of the Gold Medal in the Documentary category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. He was recognized for his film "Wings of Dust" which shines a spotlight on the activism of Vidal Merma, an independent journalist in Peru.Listen to hear Giorgio discuss the challenges of making a student documentary, why he became interested in documentaries to begin with, and what his favorite documentary film is. Books mentioned in this episode include:Meditations by M...
2023-11-2116 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.21 Author Interview with Nate PatrinSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Nate Patrin, a freelance writer based in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has covered nearly every imaginable genre of music for outlets including Bandcamp, Stereogum, Pitchfork, The Vinyl Factory, and Red Bull Music Academy. His first book Bring That Beat Back: How Sampling Built Hip-Hop was published in 2020, and he joins me today to talk about his new book, The Needle and the Lens: Pop Goes to the Movies from Rock 'n' Roll to Synthwave. Listen to hear the importance of Lynch's first film Eraserhead...
2023-11-0724 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.20 Author Interview with Ian Nathan #2Send us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Ian Nathan for the second time on the podcast He joins me today to talk about his book, David Lynch: A Retrospective. Listen to hear the importance of Lynch's first film Eraserhead to his career, what exactly a Lynchian film is, and why Lynch is a mystery even to himself. Books mentioned in this episode include:"David Lynch Keeps His Head" by David Foster Wallace (appears in A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again)Fassbinder Thousands of Mirrors by Ian Pe...
2023-10-2428 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.19 Author Interview with Andrew DeGraffSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Andrew DeGraff, a freelance illustrator and artist living and working in Maine. He graduated from Pratt Institute’s Communications Design program and returned to teach there from 2009 to 2014. His gallery work has been shown in cities around the world including New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Calgary, Mexico City, and the Philippines. He published his book Plotted: A Literary Atlas in 2015 and he joins me today to talk about his book, Cinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies. Listen to hear what exactly a Cinemap is, how...
2023-10-1019 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.18 Author Interview with Nat SegaloffSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Nat Segaloff is a writer, broadcaster, teacher, film historian, and raconteur with a varied background in motion picture publicity, journalism, producing, and covering up other people's mistakes. Having begun his career during the exciting transition between the old studios and the film generation of the New Hollywood, he provides both perspective and commentary on a wide range of subjects, many of them having to do with movies. He joins me today to talk about his upcoming book, Say Hello to My Little Friend: A Century of...
2023-09-2617 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.17 The Racket: Cops vs. RobbersSend us a textRegular episodes of The Oscar Project are back and this week I'm discussing the 1928 film The Racket. This story is adapted from a play of the same name and was considered one of the most important cop/gangster films of the time when it was released. Listen now to learn about the threats made against the creators and as always, my own thoughts about the film.Look for more episodes every Monday as I finish out the rest of the films nominated for Oscars at the very first Academy Awards.
2023-09-1809 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.16 Author Interview with Brad WeismannSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Brad Weismann, an award-winning writer and journalist who has also worked as a stand-up comic and improv actor. He’s contributed to publications and websites worldwide such as Senses of Cinema, Film International, Backstage, Movie Habit, Colorado Daily and Boulder Magazine. His first book, Lost in the Dark: A World History of Horror Films, was recently published by the University of Mississippi and he contributed to the critical collection 100 Years of Soviet Cinema. He joins me today to talk about his new book, Horror Unmasked: A Hi...
2023-09-1217 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.15 Author Interview with Koren ShadmiSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Koren Shadmi, the author of Bionic, Rise of the Dungeon Master, Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D, and The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television. He joins me today to talk about his graphic novel, Lugosi: The Rise & Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula. Listen to hear about how Lugosi's history as an activist, how Lugosi's career might have been different had he played Frankenstein's monster, and why Dracula is such an enduring story for film adaptation. Books men...
2023-08-2919 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.14 Author Interview with Ian NathanSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Ian Nathan, the author of Stephen King at The Movies, Ridley Scott: A Retrospective and James Cameron: A Retrospective, and biographies of The Coen Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, and Wes Anderson. He is the former editor and executive editor of Empire, the world's biggest movie magazine, and a regular contributor to newspapers, magazines, and TV. He joins me today to talk about his new book coming out September 7th, Clint Eastwood: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work. Listen to hear about how Eastwood fits in t...
2023-08-1530 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.13 Author Interview with Kristen LopezSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Kristen Lopez, the film editor at The Wrap whose articles have appeared at Variety, MTV, TCM, and Roger Ebert. She joins me today to talk about her latest book, But Have You Read the Book?, a look at fantastic books that have been made into films over the last 100 years.Listen to hear about how Kristen went about picking the books to include in this project, where he desire to read the book before seeing the movie came from, and why she feels it's...
2023-08-0118 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.12 Author Interview with Suzanne FerrissSend us a textIn this author interview, I speak with Suzanne Ferriss whose first book about Sofia Coppola The Cinema of Sofia Coppola: Fashion, Culture, Celebrity was published in February 2021 and she edited The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sofia Coppola, which was published in early 2023. She joins me today to talk about her latest book, Lost in Translation from BFI Film Classics about Coppola’s film that celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Listen to hear about Suzanne’s approach to writing about Coppola’s work, the wealth of films she recommends, and thoughts on who mi...
2023-07-1833 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.11 Author Interview with Charlotte Booth & Brian BillingtonSend us a textIn my second author interview, I speak with guests Charlotte Booth and Brian Billington. Charlotte Booth is a professional writer of history books (including The History of the Undead, and How to Survive in Ancient Egypt), and was also an extra in a Bollywood movie. Brian Billington is an IT professional, amateur photographer, and a lover of movies who enjoys working out where those movies were filmed.Over the years they’ve created personal movie location tours including Wells, Turin and London, and decided it was time to share this with ot...
2023-07-0421 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.10 Author Interview with Mia MaskSend us a textIt's a first for The Oscar Project, an interview with an author who writes about movies. Today's guest is Mia Mask, a professor at Vassar College where she teaches African American cinema, Documentary History, and seminars on topics including horror film and auteurs like Spike Lee, Charles Burnett and Ava DuVernay. She also teaches feminist film theory, African national cinemas, and other genre courses. Her commentary can be heard on NPR and her first book Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film was published in 2009. Today she joins me to talk about...
2023-06-2027 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.9 The Patent Leather Kid: A Boxer goes to WarSend us a textMy analysis of the 1927 film The Patent Leather Kid, starring Richard Barthelmess and Molly O’Day.Support the show
2022-10-1017 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.8 Speedy: Try Not to LaughSend us a textMy analysis of the 1927 film Speedy, starring Harold Lloyd.Support the show
2022-01-1422 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.7 A Ship Comes In: An Immigrant StorySend us a textMy analysis of this film is pieced together from various sources. A Ship Comes In tells the story of an immigrant family trying to fit into American society in the run up to WWI.Support the show
2020-04-2012 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.6 The Jazz Singer: The Dawn of the TalkieSend us a textAn in depth look at the first feature length film featuring synchronized speech and sound. It was seen as groundbreaking at the time, has been studied for nearly the last century, and maintains a firm place in film history.Support the show
2020-04-1718 minThe Oscar Project Podcast1.5 2020 Oscar Nominee AnnouncementSend us a textA brief overview of the 53 films nominated for Academy Awards in 2020.Support the show
2020-01-1314 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.4 Chang: A Drama of the WildernessSend us a textOur second deep dive of the season covers discussion about Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness. This psuedo-documentary from 1927 was directed by Meriam C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, who would go on to collaborate on the 1933 film King Kong.A film that was made in the jungles of Siam, Chang shows us the brutal nature of life in the jungle, from leopard and tiger attacks to deadly traps set by the native villagers.Support the show
2020-01-0914 min
The Oscar Project Podcast1.3 The Circus: Chaplin's Sad Take on His Place in CinemaSend us a textIn this first film specific episode, I take a deep dive into the 1928 Charlie Chaplin film The Circus. I begin with a short history of Chaplin's life, move into an overview of the film, with contemporary reviews and critique from the intervening years. I also bring in a special guest on the show today.Thanks for listening and I hope to see you at the movies soon!Support the show
2020-01-0622 minThe Oscar Project Podcast1.2 The Lost Nominees of 1927-1928Send us a textA brief look at the eight films I have been unable to find for this podcast including directors, lead actors, and which award categories each was nominated for. The films included in this episode are: Glorious Betsy, Sorrell and Son, The Devil Dancer, The Dove, The Magic Flame, The Noose, The Private Life of Helen of Troy, and The Way of All Flesh.Support the show
2020-01-0318 minThe Oscar Project Podcast1.1 The First OscarsSend us a textWelcome to the first episode of The Oscar Project Podcast. In this inaugural episode, I cover a brief history of the Academy Awards along with information about the very first Academy Award ceremony. I also provide a complete list of the films that I will be covering in season one of The Oscar Project Podcast.Support the show
2020-01-0111 min