Mike spoke with director Stefon Bristol about his new film, Breathe (2024), in which the earth is bereft of breathable air. They also discussed his earlier work, See You Yesterday. Breathe opens on April 26, 2024. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy), Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast), and Mike White (The Projection Booth) host this monthly podcast. Join us on an exciting journey through the illustrious career of this comedy icon as we explore his groundbreaking roles, behind-the-scenes stories, and timeless contributions to the world of entertainment. Each episode of the Chasing Chevy Chase podcast brings you expert analysis, and nostalgic reflections on Chevy Chase's most iconic characters in classic films...

We conclude a month of discussing Japanese films with a look at Toshio Matsumoto’s 1971 film Demons aka Shura.  The story of the film is part of the fabric of the larger 47 Ronin narrative and is the story of a ronin who is cheated by a geisha and how he carves a bloody path for revenge. Emily Intravia and Samm Deighan join Mike to discuss this breathtaking, disturbing film. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike spoke with author Jared Stearns about his biography of entertainer Marilyn Chambers. The book, Pure: The Sexual Revolutions of Marilyn Chambers, is now available: https://amzn.to/3xFovvQ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

On this special crossover episode with The Kulturecast, Chris Stachiw, Father Malone, and Mike White look at the new film from Alex Garland, Civil War.  The film stars Kristen Dunst as Lee, a war photographer, who travels with her print journalist friend, Joel (Wagner Moura).  After a suicide bombing in New York CIty, the two decide to go to Washington DC where they hope to get an interview with the president (Nick Offerman), one of many cast members from Garland’s Devs to show up, including...

We continue our discussion of Japanese films this month by returning to the world of Yoshishige Yoshida and his 1970 film Heroic Purgatory. It's the story of Nakano (Mariko Okada). She returns home with a lost teenager, Ayu (Kazumi Tsutsui). Meanwhile, a man posing as her dad tries to get her back, causing Nanako's husband, Shoda (Naizo Kamoda) to recall his youth as a revolutionary. Like his previous film, Eros plus Massacre, Heroic Purgatory moves with its own logic moving back and forth in...

We continue Japanese month with a request from listener Vaughn Kuhlemeier, Millennium Actress (2001).  Directed by Satoshi Kon, the film  tells the story of Chiyoki Fujiwara, an actress who met a fugitive when she was a young lady who spent the rest of her life looking for him.  She’s approached by a filmmaker and his cameraman to celebrate the studio she helped make famous.  As they learn about her life they enter into her memories and films -- as does the audience.  We move seamlessly...

Actor/Director Stephen Moyer speaks to Mike about his second feature film, A Bit of Light, which stars Anna Paquin and Ray Winstone. Moyer graciously discusses his career from his early days in chorus to his favorite roles on stage and on screen. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike spoke with cinematographer Laura Hudock about the 2024 documentary Girls State. The film follows 500 adolescent girls who come together to organize a faux-Supreme Court where they debate the most contentious issues facing today. Find out more about Laura at her website: https://www.laurahudock.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

On this special episode, Mike talks with Ashley Sabin and David Redmon about their 2023 documentary, Kim's Video. It's a brief looks at the video store named for Youngman Kim and a longer look at the journey the videos took after Kim's closed down. Thanks to Kim's Video for stocking Who Do You Think You're Fooling and You're Still Not Fooling Anybody as well as for buying tons of bootlegs from SuperHappyFun.com. Though, no thanks for selling me out to Matthew Barney's lawyers... Become a...

We are kicking off a month dedicated to Japanese Film with a look at Hitoshi Matsumoto’s 2013 film R100.  It’s the story of a man who makes a contract with an organization called Bondage.  For a year they’ll surprise him with appearances from a variety of dominatrices who will attack and humiliate him at random.  When they begin to show up where he works and lives he tries to cancel the contract but finds this impossible.  This was a suggestion from Jim Vendiola who joins Mike along with...

Joseph Maddrey and Jonathan Penner join Mike to look at Philippe Mora's unusual and challenging 1989 film Communion. Written by Whitley Strieber and adapted from his own book... and his own life... the film stars Christopher Walken as Strieber, a writer who experiences an alien abduction. Director Phillipe Mora and writer Whitley Strieber discuss the making of the film and its effect on their careers. Become a supporter of this podcast:...

Animator Bill Plympton discusses his early days of the Spike & Mike's Animation Festival and Liquid Television to his first feature film, The Tune (1992). He also discusses how technology has changed his process as well as his latest project, Slide. Find out more at https://www.plymptoons.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Skizz Cyzyk and Maurice Bursztynski join Mike White to discuss Michael Millards 2024 documentary, 35000 Watts: The Story of College Radio, a look at the history and impact of college radio, most notably in the 1990s and the advent of "alternative radio". The two former (and one present) DJs discuss the documentary as well as their time on the air. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Rahne Alexander and Dahlia Schweitzer join Mike to discuss Rachel Talalay's 1995 comic book adaptation, Tank Girl. The film stars Lori Petty as the titular heroine who takes on Water & Power in a post-Apocalyptic wasteland populated by scavengers, oppressed citizens, and mutant kangaroo men. The trio discuss the film's mysterious R-rating, the path to the silver screen, and more. Director Talalay dishes about the behind-the-scenes turmoil she and the film endured. Become a supporter...

Frequent Projection Booth co-host Peter Flynn is back to talk about his latest documentary, Film Is Dead! Long Live Film! It's a loving look at film collectors and preservationists and a terrific companion to his earlier film, The Dying of the Light (2015). Find out more at https://coldeyefilms.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Mike spoke with Nicholas Wright about his co-directing and co-writing feature film debut, French Girl (2024) which stars Zach Braff as a teacher who wants a romantic weekend away with his girlfriend (Charlotte Aubin) where he can pop the question. What he gets is a trip to her home city of Montreal where she's trying out for a position as an executive chef. The other complication is that her new boss would be an old flame (Vanessa Hudgens). French Girl opens in theaters March 15, 2024 and...

Ian Cooper and Rebecca McCallum join Mike to discuss one of Alfred Hitchcock’s later works and his final British film, Frenzy (1972). The film stars Jon Finch as Richard Blaney and Barry Foster as Robert Rusk. They’re a couple of blokes in a Swinging London that is plagued by a murderer of women, the Necktie Murderer. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

On this special Projection Booth / Kulturecast cross-over, Mike talks with Chris Stachiw about Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two (2024) in which we re-join the continuing struggles of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) on the desert planet Arrakis (also known as "Dune") as well as a handful of new characters: Princess Irulan, the Emperor of the Known Universe, and Feyd-Rautha. Author Max Evry discusses his 2023 book A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune. An Oral History the definitive...

Mike talks with Edo Choi (Associate Curator of Film & First Look Senior Programmer) and Sonia Shechet Epstein (Curator of Science and Technology & First Look Exhibitions and Film Programmer) of the Museum of the Moving Image about the 2024 First Look film festival. For the official First Look 2024 website visit: https://movingimage.org/series/firstlook2024/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Samm Deighan and Bill Ackerman join Mike to discuss 1984's box office smash Purple Rain which launched Prince's movie career and made him a household name. The film stars Prince as "The Kid", a musician from Minneapolis who struggles to find his place in the music scene while battling personal demons. Our episode features an interview with Alan Light, author of Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain. Become a supporter of this podcast:...

On this special episode of The Projection Booth we’re looking at John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy. It’s the story of Joe Buck (Jon Voight), a hick from Texas who goes to the big city to become a hustler. Instead, he’s hustled by everyone he meets including Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman). The two form an unlikely friendship as they try to survive in New York. Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) and Jon Towlson (author of the Queer Cinema Classics book on Midnight Cowboy) join Mike to discuss the...

On this special episode, Mike talks with Mark Mori (Bettie Page Reveals All) about his latest project, The Baristas Vs. The Billionaire, which tells the story of the unionization of Starbucks. They also discuss Mark's first feature documentary, Building Bombs (1989), and his upcoming The Lost Print. Back The Baristas Vs. The Billionaire on Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262713467/the-baristas-vs-the-billionaire?ref=thanks-tweet Become a supporter of this podcast:...

We’re wrapping up Western Month with a look at William Wellman’s The Ox-Bow Incident. Released in 1943 the film is based on the 1940 novel from Walter Van Tilberg Clark and stars Henry Fonda and Henry Morgan as Gil and Art, two cowboys who ride into the town of Bridger’s Wells where a messenger brings news of the senseless murder of a local rancher Larry Kincaid and the rustling of his cattle. Angela Mac and Ian Brownell join Mike to discuss this harrowing tale of vigilante justice while...

Western Month continues with a look at Nicholas Ray’s Johnny Guitar. Released in 1954 the film stars Sterling Hayden as the titular Mr. Guitar. However, he’s outshone in the film by Joan Crawford as Vienna and Mercedes McCambridge as Emma, two women with a history. Andras Jones and David Kittredge join Mike to discuss this unusual Western. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.