Wed, Nov 8, 2017
April talks with the writer and producer of The Big Sick, Emily Gordon. Things get gruesome quickly as the two of them discuss the 2015 horror-western, Bone Tomahawk. April and Emily examine what makes the movie so good; the insane violence, the heartbreaking monologues, the beautiful cinematography. Plus, Emily talks about the making of The Big Sick and how she uses her psychology background in her writing.
Wed, Nov 15, 2017
This week, April sits down with director Karyn Kusama to discuss the Kathryn Bigelow vampire classic, Near Dark. The two marvel at Bigelow's mastery in crafting a vampire western, the amazing performance of Bill Paxton as the villainous Severen, and the elegant cinematography throughout the film. Plus, Karyn talks about her journey as a director from discovering Michelle Rodriguez for Girl Fight, to subverting genre expectations for Jennifer's Body.
Wed, Nov 22, 2017
April sits down with actress, producer, and director Heather Matarazzo. They talk about a movie directed by last week's guest Karyn Kusama, the 2015 film The Invitation. April and Heather discuss the effectiveness of the setting as well as the powerful performance of Tammy Blanchard. Heather also talks about what it's like navigating a corrupt Hollywood system as a woman, having her role recast two weeks before a production, and what interests her about violence committed by women in cinema.
Wed, Nov 29, 2017
April sits down with director Issa Lopez to discuss the influential Guillermo Del Toro film, Pan's Labyrinth. Issa opens up about her lonesome adolescence, the death of her mother, and how these events influenced her work. She tells April about the emotional process of working with children on her most recent film, the fantasy-horror Tigers Are Not Afraid. And she also discusses the culture of witchcraft and magic in Mexico and how that pervades many Mexican artist's work.
Wed, Dec 6, 2017
Things get spooky as April talks to director Anne Hamilton about the 2001 gothic horror film, The Others. They discuss Nicole Kidman's casting in the film, the director Alejandro Amenábar's rejection of Catholicism, and how films like these just don't exist anymore. Plus, Anne discusses what she would have done differently had she directed The Others, and what is was like working on her own gothic film, American Fable.
Wed, Dec 13, 2017
Things get steamy as April talks to actress and director Sophia Takal about the somewhat problematic Brian De Palma erotic thriller, Body Double. The two discuss how the film influenced Sophia's own work and her debut film, Always Shine. Sophia recalls her time as an actress, and the objectification that came with the audition process. They also analyze the violence against women's bodies in the film and the sexuality of Melanie Griffith's character, Holly Body. Despite its issues, April and Sophia also marvel at the craftsmanship of Brian De Palma, and how this film can be used as a template for how not to treat female characters.
Wed, Dec 20, 2017
April talks to Stranger Things and Narcos writer Jessie Nickson-Lopez about the controversial film, Rosemary's Baby. The two dive right into the complicated relationship both of them have with the film, and what makes the movie so effective. Jessie discusses how she is inspired by Roman Polanski's work, while simultaneously hating him as a person. She also shares her writing process and what it's like in the writers room. April and Jessie talk in depth about sexual assault and the sexual crimes that Roman Polanski has committed.
Wed, Dec 27, 2017
April sits down with The Love Witch director, Anna Biller, to discuss the 1952 noir thriller, Sudden Fear. Anna confesses her love for old movies and in particular the work of Joan Crawford. The two of them dissect the masterful screenplay, written by famed female screenwriter, Lenore Coffee. Plus, Anna details what it was like collaborating with Samantha Robinson on The Love Witch. She also breaks down how much time she spent on production design, including spending months making one rug for the film.