The new Baz Luhrmann film covers a ton of Elvis ground - why did Baz take on such a daunting subject? How did he get the information to bring a lacking lens to the Elvis story? And who the heck is Colonel Tom Parker? Come listen and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Elvis (2022) video, Austin Butler preproduction...

The only feature film adaptation from the prolific short story author has arrived. How did this movie come to be, and why haven’t we gotten more films based on his work? How does the medium change the material? Let’s learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Spiderhead (2022) short story, Escape from Spiderhead...

What are the origins for the conspiracy and government storylines, and how did the creators of the show pitch the story at the start? Come along and learn the beginnings of the hit show! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Stranger Things (season 4) compilation video, references to 80s movies in Stranger Things trailer, anime...

What are the origins of the mega franchise? How did the book come to be? And did anybody listen to the warnings about messing with the natural order, or will we have wooly mammoths in 5 years?! Come listen and learn! a correction: Pleistocene should be pronounced “PLY-stow-seen”. Apologies to all the ice age aficionados! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out...

A military and cultural touchstone, but how much is based on fact, or brought about by government influence? We go into the real organizations, old films, and scandals to uncover the inner workings of the Top Gun creative process. Come along and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Top Gun: Maverick (2022) video,...

It’s madness! Doctor Strange, Rick and Morty, Spider-man, Everything Everywhere, Chip n’ Dale, Space Jam, and more on the way. Why has the multiverse idea caught on so much recently in media? Where did it start, and how is it a reflection of our current culture? Let’s get into it! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: [email protected], email us @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: article, Hugh...

The start of the 21st century true-crime series extravaganza has an update! Why is this dramatization different, and what’s the reason for adapting a documentary again? And how come only certain court cases can be filmed? Let’s learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram [email protected], email us Extras: trailer, The Staircase (2022) interview, og director Jean-Xavier...

Suit up for an epic tale of the creative process and influences behind one of the biggest entertainment properties. And also - why is a show coming out decades after the hype? Let’s learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Halo The Series (2022) video, Halo test at MacWorld (1999) books, Iain M Banks “Culture” Series books, Larry Niven’s “Ringworld”...

The Offer is out, about the making of the Godfather film. But how did Mario Puzo craft the original story? Was the mob actually involved? And what forgotten book was his true inspiration? Let’s find out! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, The Offer (TV show 2022) book, Mario Puzo’s autobiography (1972) poster art, The Brotherhood (1968) article, Frank...

What is the fascination with Nicholas Cage - is he a genius, or a madman, or just a misunderstood normal guy? Come learn about the creation of a film about him, starring him, as only he could do. Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent video, crazy talk show alter-ego appearance pdf, Blacklist version of screenplay from...

This K-Drama of epic proportions came from an equally monumental book. Where did this eighty-year long story originate, and what’s it have to say about the history of Korea? Let’s learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Pachinko interview, historical consultant on Pachinko video, food in Studio Ghibli films website, Thousand Miles Project article, the food...

The speedy guy goes big at the box office - but how did such a strange creature come to be? What are the ups and downs of his career, and why haven’t we seen a movie until now? Come find out! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 video, Sonic parade balloon crash in 1993 article, original sketch ideas for fast Sega character art book,...

What do you know about Agatha Christie, the best-selling author of the most famous whodunits? What makes them consistently unique and popular, hundreds of years later? And where did she disappear to in the middle of her career? So many questions, and so many answers - let’s get on the case! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, Death on the Nile article, Agatha...

We learned so much in this episode, about signing, the deaf community, how to write and research a story, and the origins of a language. Come along and find out! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, CODA (2021) video, Troy Kotsur’s Oscar acceptance speech trailer, original French film La Famille Belier (2014) article, history of Martha’s Vineyard Sign...

Join us and learn about the history of the Joker, and the real world assassinations and scandals that created the Joker character over the years. Now a major film “Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix. Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: image, the comparison photo between “The Man Who Laughs” and Joker video, the trailer for “Joker” video, Batman vs. Alien vs. Predator book,...

The journey of the Batman film series is as twisted as the Riddler’s schemes. Why are the films continually flipping tone and style? And what are they trying to pull from the source material? Most important - why are the toys nothing like the films? Descend from your gargoyle, and learn along with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: videos, go watch Evan’s film work sign up, Taylor’s weekly newsletter Contact: @illiteratepod, reach out on instagram Extras: trailer, The Batman...

From horror films in the 1930’s, World War 2 propaganda, Batman in Outer Space, and beyond - what’s happened to make this iconic mythological character? And who’s to blame for how we perceive him on film? Take a deep dive with us into the origins of the Dark Knight. Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter https://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram, @illiteratepod Some...

Now that they hype has settled: where did Squid Game really originate from? What made it the biggest show on Netflix, and what influence did it have in the real world? Come learn the fascinating, lesser-known cultural layers to the hit show. Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Squid Game...

In the words of DJ Khaled…another one. But do you honestly know what the first one’s about? Was any of this actually based on truth? And then how did this series start the current reboot craze? Come listen and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Texas Chainsaw Massacre...

What was the truth behind the late 1990’s scandal? What’s the history of celebrity sex tapes? And can they make this show without Pamela Anderson’s approval? Let’s dive in and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Pam & Tommy (2022) https://bit.ly/pam-tommy1 article, the...

Like a twisty true love story, we dive into the ups and downs of the history of romantic comedies. Is it gone for good? Was it ever? What’s next for the genre? Listen and learn along with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: (We named a ton of films to check out - here they are!) trailer, Marry...

Two big releases this week, all about megachurches and televangelism. Didn’t this fizzle out in the 80’s? The answers to the origins of this media go back to the 1920’s, and has actually just kept growing. Come learn with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, The Righteous...

Guillermo del Toro’s latest film has nothing to do with monsters, but everything to do with regular ‘ol humans. How did he get into this noir carnival story, based on a book from the 1940’s? And what did the original author (of the book’s) life and work have to say about searching for answers? Come down this twisty, shadowy trail and learn with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly...

It’s been a decade, and here’s another sequel-reboot-remake-hybrid film. What makes Scream different? Where did the original slasher come from, even before filmmaking existed? And what do artists have to say with the genre? Come learn with us! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Scream (2022) https://bit.ly/screamfilm2 trailer, Scream (1996) https://bit.ly/screamfilm1 article, Grand Guignol theatre and original “slasher”...

The biggest first night of any show on HBO Max…was based on an Israeli miniseries? How did that come to be, and what changed? And is all the controversy on the nudity, sex, violence and drugs truly original, or something we’ve seen before? Let’s find out! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Euphoria Season 2 (2022) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow4 trailer, original Israeli series (2012) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow1 video, Sam Levinson talking about his...