
Bravo for the B-side Podcast
183 episodes — Page 2 of 4

Doctor Carver – Episode 132
Deciding it was time for a horror film, we jumped in to Doctor Carver. Disappointment comes in all forms, and this film managed to pretty much deliver on all of them. We knew what we were getting into, as director Louisa Warren brought us Leprechaun Games which was just terrible. Filled with inconsistent editing, mind-numbing repetition of the moral message in the plot, lazy effects, and a ham, the lessons here are what not to do when making a film. Lots of those lessons within. Doctor Carver can be found on Tubi.

Blush – Episode 131
This week we dive into Blush. There are some differing opinions on the film’s theme, but the long and short of it is that this is unfortunately an ambitious effort that did not cross the finish line. Lessons gleaned from this movie are more what not to do than what to do. The most important lesson is no movie should have more than half a dozen storylines in it. Great actors with an unfortunate script and buck wild editing. Blush can be found on Tubi.

The Party’s Just Beginning – Episode 130
Not only is The Party’s Just Beginning, written and directed by Karen Gillan, is a must see on all levels. The main character copes with the suicide of her best friend, and never before has the reality and raw truth of such situations been put to screen. Masterfully written and directed, with top-level performances all throughout, this movie has not just lessons for filmmakers but also for human beings in general. We get into a raw conversation about the film’s topic, and hopefully when you watch this movie you will have many conversations about it with those close to you. We have included some Suicide Help Lines below. If you need them, please use them. If you know, or think you know someone in need, direct them to one of these numbers. The Party’s Just Beginning can be found on Tubi. Suicide Help Lines (Globally) U.S. 1-800-273-8255 (or 988 as of July ’22)Australia 13 11 14 or 1300 22 4636Canada 1-833-456-4566Ireland 116 123New Zealand 09 5222 999 if you live within Auckland or 0800 543 354 for those outside of AucklandNorway 116 123Romania 0800 801 200South Africa 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393United Kingdom 0800 689 5652 or 0300 1020 505 or 116 123

Sensitivity Training – Episode 129
We dive into Sensitivity Training, a light-hearted comedy that has some serious lessons in writing, directing, acting, overall production value. A callous woman is forced into sensitivity training sessions in order to keep her job. While some of the pitfalls are obvious, as with any similar comedy piece, the story behind her and her training coach makes for some brilliant after-film discussion. Sensitivity Training can be found on Tubi.

Runoff – Episode 128
This week it’s another film that launched some great conversation. Runoff takes us deep into the quandary of the American farmer. Female lead Joanne Kelly runs us through some very tough moral dilemmas facing the truth of what our farmers are facing. Director and writer Kimberly Levin gives us another fantastic stew of lessons on storytelling, cinematography, and direction. This is a ‘story that needs to be told’ type of movie. Runoff can be found on Tubi.

Take This Waltz – Episode 127
Take This Waltz is a fantastic character-driven film. Directed and written by Sarah Polley and starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogan, Sarah Silverman, Luke Kirby. It provoked some really terrific conversation between us, which is a really good thing. The reveal of each character’s story was artfully done. There are a lot of great lessons in this movie for everyone, from behind the scenes to being in front of the camera. It’s funny, thought-provoking, and one of the top films we’ve seen. Sarah Polley presents women in a fashion that is true, honest, and enjoyable to witness. Also, check below to help out our friends we mentioned at the end of the episode. Let’s do some good for some folks who need some good. *Kenny decided to forego assistance and get himself back on track with just hard work. Much respect for that. Take This Waltz can be found on Tube. Miles Linkshttps://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-the-family-of-keith-hanford

Chat with Hilton Ariel Ruiz – Episode 126
For the third time friend Hilton Ariel Ruiz is on the show. We talk about the ramping up of production for Zombie With A Shotgun 2. We chat about indie filmmaking post-COVID, how it has affected all levels from actors to writers to directors. Every level of production has been touched. Hilton is a busy man who won’t let anything slow him down. We talk about keeping up your drive, how we miss movies from the “old days,” and share a bond over Frankenhooker. A lot of things in here to gain inspiration on your journey, as well as just a fun chat with a fantastic man. Be sure to check out Klans Rules, 6-6-66, and his documentaries. Check out these links for Hilton’s work and for how you can help with Zombie With A Shotgun 2: Hiton’s YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFnR6p42WPYs6yCFDumYs_A Zombie With A Shotgun YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUP41TWN_ClxGBsHqOR1Xw Hilton’s Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/HiltonArielRuiz Zombie With A Shotgun 2 Indiegogohttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/zombie-with-a-shotgun-part-2#/

Frankenhooker – Episode 125
A long-time favorite of Jim’s, Frankenhooker is the Citizen Kane of the Tromaverse. Straight from 1990 this comedy, billed as a horror comedy, exemplifies everything that the 80’s stood for in b-movies. Hardly a horror, Frankenhooker brings two unusual takes on main characters. One monologues more than 80% of the way through, and the female lead is absent for about the same period. Intentional or not, the movie brings an interesting slant towards female leads. There’s a reason it’s a cult classic loved by so many. A lot of fun lessons inside. Frankenhooker can be found on Shudder.

Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn’t Die – Episode 124
This episode is the first time we’ve had to bail on a film. Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn’t Die unfortunately crossed our tolerance line and we had to stop about thirty minutes in. We discuss that at length in this episode as well as why we’re sticking to our guns about violence towards women in film. We’re not saying the movie is terrible, and some people may not have the same line we have drawn, so it could be a good watch if that’s the case. But, we do have our line and we will not surrender our standards no matter how much we want to like a film or boost a filmmaker. We do cover the first 30 minutes, then we talk at length about better options, better messages, and overall better filmmaking. Fountaine and the Vengeful Nun Who Wouldn’t Die can be found on Tubi.

Interview with Jennifer Hill – Episode 123
We talk with the wonderful Jennifer Hill, who played the mythical Beowulf in the great indie movie Bae Wolf. An excellent conversation about trials and rewards of acting. Jennifer gives some point-blank examples of how even dreams and passions need to take a backseat to life, but you can always pick it back up. Join us for this great conversation with a very grounded and passionate actor. Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Interview with David Axe and Cast and Crew of Bae Wolf-Part 2 – Episode 122
It’s the second half of our talk with the cast and crew of Bae Wolf. Amazing talents of David Axe, Stephan Jensen, Brendan Thompson, Morgan Shaley Renew, and Cleve Langdale. Part two of a two-parter, this bit covers some of the woes of indie filmmaking. Actors having to drop out, last-minute replacements, location headaches, but most importantly professionalism and the art of getting it all done. Have a seat and give a listen to these amazing talents. Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Interview with David Axe and Cast-Crew of Bae Wolf Part 1 – Episode 121
We talk with the cast and crew of Bae Wolf. Amazing talents of David Axe, Stephan Jensen, Brendan Thompson, Morgan Shaley Renew, and Cleve Langdale. Part one of a two-parter, this bit covers some of the woes of indie filmmaking. Actors having to drop out, last-minute replacements, location headaches, but most importantly professionalism and the art of getting it all done. Have a seat and give a listen to these amazing talents. Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Bae Wolf – Episode 120
We dive into Bae Wolf. Sent to us as a screener, this tongue-in-cheek take on the classic Beowulf tale is fun from start to finish. David Axe artfully introduces Beowulf as a female character in a way that makes sense, and isn’t reaching for a gimmick. Great production lessons across the board, and you just cannot walk away from this film without thinking about Imps. You’ll see. Listen and watch the movie for lessons on making a film that is fun to watch and will make you laugh. Bae Wolf can be found on Tubi.

Coyote Lake – Episode 119
Coyote Lake is no fun-in-the-sun film. This thought-provoking, unique thriller by Sara Seligman stirs up some deep thoughts. The lessons are bountiful. Technically beautiful, well written, and fantastically performed it is a feast for the eyes. Like any really good film it sparks thoughts and conversation at the end. We thought this was going to be a decent film, but it turned out to be a fantastic film. Coyote Lake can be found on Tubi.

Zero Charisma – Episode 118
In Zero Charisma we have some great lessons, if not a couple of them being cautionary. A power-hungry, immature Game Master loses a longtime player and reluctantly brings on a new player. This player doesn’t understand how the GM likes to play, and starts to pull the rest of the players away from the GM’s carefully crafted – and controlled – world. Zero Charisma can be found on Tubi.

I’m Not Here – Episode 117
We dissect a deep, majestically artistic and emotional film, I’m Not Here. Starring JK Simmons, and directed by Michelle Schumacher, this is a blazing fire of lessons for everyone. We consider this to be JK Simmon’s best performance ever. If you ever wondered how to convey emotion and story without a single line of dialogue for a character, this is a must see. Beautiful, thought provoking, simply amazing. Michelle Schumacher created something that is just simply astounding. We have a lot to talk about on this one. I’m Not Here can be found on Tubi.

Psycho Goreman – Episode 116
After sitting on the list for a while we finally break into Psycho Goreman. This film is full of lessons, not the least of which is if you are going to have fun with your story, go all in. The Ultimate Evil of the Universe is comically under foot of a small girl who controls him with a magic gem. A masterpiece of humor and gore, Psycho Goreman delivers on many fronts. This is the second film we’ve covered by Steven Kostanski, the first being Manborg, of which we had some split opinions. Psycho Goreman can be found on Shudder.

Alice Guy-Blache Retrospective – Episode 115
We end the year by focusing on a woman who we embarrassingly never heard of; Alice Guy-Blaché. This woman was the first female filmmaker. The first filmmaker to create narrative stories, not just stock footage. She was a pioneer. She was inventive. She is the mother of filmmaking as we know it. And, with all of that and so much more, she was deliberately written out of history. Please join us and close out 2021 learning about this celestial light of filmmaking, and being all the better for learning her name. You can find some of Alice’s films on YouTube.

Slay Belles – Episode 114
It’s that time of year for a Santa slasher! Dive into the holiday with us as we dissect Slay Belles. This Santa slasher doubles as a bonus Krampus film as well. A fun gore-ride into Christmas we talk about the top-notch practical effects, Barry Bostwick as Santa, economy of backstory, and why movies like this are just so much fun. Slay Belles can be found on Tubi.

Interview with David Keith and Paul Flannery – Episode 113
For the third time we have David Ryan Keith on the show, this time joined by the fantastic actor Paul Flannery, who played Johnathan Blazer in Ghosts of Darkness. We talk about the making of Ghosts of Darkness, Johnathan Blazer, and the upcoming sequel to this wonderful film. Join in for behind the scenes chat, some fanboying of David’s talent, and learn more about Paul, who is a wonderfully fun and talented actor. Ghosts of Darkness, as well as David’s other films Redwood Massacre, Redwood Massacre: Annihilation, and Attack of the Herbals can be found on YouTube on the Clear Focus Movies channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/Clearfocus-productionsCoUk

Ghosts of Darkness – Episode 112
From David Ryan Keith we have another excellent movie. Ghosts of Darkness is a wonderful horror movie that calls back to the classic horror films. A solid plot, character development without hours of exposition, and terrific actors Paul Flannery and Michael Koltes, makes for a fun and worthwhile horror film. A lot of great lessons in here. Once again David Ryan Keith brings his talent for framing, pacing, and just pure technical bliss to a ghost story horror movie that beats pretty much everything out there. Ghosts of Darkness can be found on YouTube on the Clear Focus Movies channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/Clearfocus-productionsCoUk

The Gods Must Be Crazy – Episode 111
From the early 80s we have a South African indie-comedy, The Gods Must Be Crazy. It’s a complete nonsense, buffoonery level fun film that takes a clean, simple approach to humor. We talk about this highs of the movie and the lows of the production, and spend a good amount of time talking about comedy. What happened to clean, funny films? The Gods Must Be Crazy is funny without puerile or vulgar humor, and relies heavily on physical comedy and quick, snappy dialogue. Treat yourself to a silly movie with this film and soak in the simple lessons it has. The Gods Must Be Crazy cannot be found on streaming as far as we can tell. Try to find it on DVD, you won’t be sorry. QuadCon vendor links: CJ Standalcjstandalproductions.com Big Hair IllustrationsInstagram: @bighairillustrations Deep Well Studiosvidarandhans.wordpress.com WindArrow 3DEtsy.com/shop/WindArrow3d

The Vicious Kind – Episode 110
The Vicious Kind is another movie where the story is not quite up-front on its intent or purpose. We surmise some theories, but ultimately it will be up to the viewer to decide. With a great cast and top-notch production, we flow through some confusing moments, confusing dialogue, and murky purpose. We talk about lessons having to do with the failings of male-written scripts depicting women, wasting enormous talent, and some talk about the unsettling male perspective when it comes to intimacy and the motivation of women. The Vicious Kind can be found on Tubi.

Naked Lunch – Episode 109
An adaptation of the William S. Burroughs book, David Cronenberg brings us a muddled, uninviting film with Naked Lunch. Names like Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm, Julian Sands, Roy Scheider, and others, are lost in the mundane, shock-topic nonsense of this movie. We talk about the importance of engaging the audience, and giving them world-building that makes the story have some sense to it. Jim has seen it multiple times since 1991 and has struggled to determine if he likes it or not. Dani needed only one viewing to make her call. Limited distribution and the history of Burroughs’ novel have elevated this to become a cult classic. However, it is not a classic in our cult. Naked Lunch can be found on Tubi.

Astro Loco – Episode 108
We really wish we could tell you what Astro Loco is about. We do tell you what happens in the movie, but the point of it eludes us. It took some time for us to figure out if we liked this or not, if it was good or not, and we come to a conclusion in the episode. Technical aspects were great, and performances were just fine also. The primary lesson here is what can happen if you don’t have a clear A-line story for your plot. A lot of things happen, but they are disjointed and do not meet in the middle, end, or anywhere. It was fun, if not confusing. Astro Loco can be found on Amazon.

Blue World Order – Episode 107
A nuclear war, a fleet of DeLoreans, and Billy Zane. Unfortunately these excellent features do not help mend the fractured plot and storytelling of Blue World Order. Certainly an ambitious film, and technically sound, it suffers from too many story points. We talk about lessons in focused storytelling and pacing. For an action/adventure film it is pretty laid back, to the point that when something does happen it doesn’t pump the adrenaline. It instead pumps the brakes. Not what you want for an action film. Lessons on costuming and effects as well within. Blue World Order did well on both fronts. Blue World Order can be found on Tubi.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople – Episode 106
It’s a bushwhacking ride this week as we dive into Hunt for the Wilderpeople. This Taika Waititi film is not just a magnificent family watch, it’s a delightful treat of excellent direction, performances, and technical skill. In front of and behind the camera there are lessons everywhere. The comedic timing of Julian Dennison and Sam Neill is brilliant and sharp. Julian Dennison was great in Deadpool 2, but here he is the main focus and has nothing but screen time and it is terrific. For new directors, the thread of Taika Waititi’s style is easy to spot in here, especially if you’ve watched The Mandalorian. Hunt for the Wilderpeople can be found on Tubi.

Cold Souls – Episode 105
Paul Giamatti. What else needs to be said? We plunge into Cold Souls, the 2009 film from Sophie Barthes where Mr. Giamatti plays a fictionalized version of himself. Stressing over his role in a Broadway play, Paul decides to have his soul put in storage so he can remove the burden of his anxiety. Sounds a bit off, but it is brilliant. Giamatti is fantastic, as always. We talk about the comedy that turns to some through-provoking drama at the end. A fantastic work by all involved with amazing lessons on, well, everything. Cold Souls can be found on Tubi.

Arcade – Episode 104
Hearkening from the early 90s, Arcade gives us the very worst of genre exploitation. More frustrating than frightening, Arcade takes us into a possessed virtual reality game that feeds off of the souls of young players. Another crystal clear example of Jim’s mantra; Know what you are writing about, or don’t write it at all. The technical references are laughable. One of the only saving graces is that a very young, baby-like Seth Green is in it. There is so much wrong with this movie there is not enough time in the day to cover all of it. Arcade can be found on Tubi.

The Mind’s Eye – Episode 103
A sci-fi horror thriller, The Mind’s Eye is a solid work on all levels. We dive into this salute to the old 80’s film Scanners set in the 90s and follow Zack and Rachael make their way through twisted experiments, an over the top villain, and a bevy of psychokinetic battles that do not disappoint. We talk about the importance of allocating your budget, getting actors involved in their parts rather than just playing one, top-notch effects, and why a cheesy villain is almost always the right move. The Mind’s Eye can be found on Tubi.

The Tall Guy – Episode 102
We deep-dive into The Tall Guy. This wonderful film with Jeff Goldblum and Emma Thompson is a riotous ride out of the ‘80s into a new era. A UK movie filmed during the actor’s strike in the US, this film celebrates the silliness of 80’s romance comedy films – before the dreaded word RomCom came out – brilliantly, and heralds in a new era that would lead to Love Actually, Notting Hill, and more. Another festival of lessons on a simple, fun story, but more importantly it has classic examples of how to bring background characters to life, even if only with a single line. The Tall Guy is hard to find. It is not offered on any streaming/digital service that we can find. Physical DVDs have only been round on Ebay for extraordinarily high prices.

Repo: The Genetic Opera – Episode 101
This one comes from Dani’s vault. We cut deep into Repo: The Genetic Opera. This rock-opera has it all. Gore, out of this world performances, dark and twisted civilization, and so much more. We have seen this many, many times (Dani far more than Jim), and it just gets better every time. We talk about the mastery involved in this film, the killer songs, music, singing, performances, and just how hard a rock-opera is to make. We also discuss why this should be a much, much bigger cult classic. Repo: The Genetic Opera can be found on Tubi.

Movies That Shaped Or Moved Us – Episode 100
For our 100th episode we bring in our daughter Lily and we all talk about films that moved us and shaped us through our lives. We celebrate this milestone by talking about the films that got us to where we are, why they are important, and share thoughts. We also have some surprise guests sounding off on movies that inspired, moved, or motivated them. This was a fantastically fun episode to record. We hope you listen and remember your own films of inspiration, either creatively or in your personal life. So many movies, so little time.

Dark Star – Episode 099
Another long-time in the vault choice, we dive into John Carpenter’s Dark Star. This 1974 gem is another favorite that has so many wonderful stories to it. Pre-Star Wars sci-fi cinema, Dark Star gives us an ultra-low budget effects bonanza with comedy and psychedelic musings. One of the great lessons learned from this film is that the most mundane of projects can lead to powerful, cinema-changing works down the road. Also discussed is how the movie you start can become something entirely different at the end. Dark Star can be found on Tubi.

R100 – Episode 098
Another first for the show. We dive into a subtitled movie, R100, and we are not sorry for it. We watched this movie for pure entertainment, and decided we absolutely needed to do this for the show. A Japanese movie that got little to no love in theaters, R100 brings us into the world of a man who seeks pleasure with a Dominatrix club. That sentence doesn’t do this movie justice. It is fun, wild, and mind-blowing at the end, and full of fantastic lessons. R100 can be found on Tubi and Hulu.

Interview with David Howard Thornton – Episode 097
We have David Howard Thornton on the show! You know him as Art the Clown from Terrifier, and the Joker on Nightwing. Unlike either of those characters, David is a splendidly wonderful man who is an absolute delight to speak with. Please join us as we talk about his career, life in New York City, a little bit about the upcoming Terrifier 2, and a political segway. You can’t help but smile when talking to David. Come dive in! Check out David’s work:FaceBook: David Howard ThorntonInstagram: @davidhowardthorntonCameo: @davidhthornton Terrifier can be found on Tubi.

This World Won’t Break – Episode 096
This is a first for the show. We found This World Won’t Break and thought its story of artistic struggle would reach all creatives. We could not finish this movie. We made it thirty minutes in and had to call it quits. This episode deals with Slow Burn movies and we talk about some that either started with a slow burn or held the slow burn pace all of the way through, and why those worked. We are not saying this movie is bad, it just did not present anything interesting enough to keep sitting through a 150 minute show. Important lessons and examples on how to grab the audience with big or little pieces of interest, which this movie did not do. This World Won’t Break can be found on Tubi.

The Station Agent – Episode 095
We dive into The Station Agent. This 2003 piece of brilliance stars Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, and is directed by Tom McCarthy. McCarthy’s first foray into directing shows the born talent of this filmmaker. A human story about three very different people going through some rough moments in life who come together, fall apart, and come together again. One of our all-time favorites, this film has powerful lessons in writing, dialogue, humanizing characters, direction, acting, and so much more. Underrated and virtually unknown, The Station Agent is a fine craft masterpiece of filmmaking. The Station Agent can be found in iTunes.

The Perfect Host – Episode 094
David Hyde Pierce gives us a dinner party like no other. This movie, with a brilliantly misleading trailer, gives surprises, humor, and a lot of WTF moments. Dive into this weird as hell dinner party with us as we talk about masterful editing, subtle comedic performances, and how fun this flick is. There are a lot of hat-tips to older films. This is a film you will want to watch twice just to be sure you caught everything. David Hyde Pierce’s physical comedy moves this over the edge. The Perfect Host can be found on Tubi.

Terrifier – Episode 093
Who doesn’t love crazy clowns that kill? Terrifier gives us the return of Art the Clown, a silent but thoroughly enjoyable psychopath. Terrifier breaks conventions with some surprising moves, all of which elevate this film into the upper hierarchy of horror. Only in an Indie film will you find such bold moves to balk at standard horror beats. Super simple story pillars set the scene for a massive rebuilding of conventional foundations for horror stories. This movie is as fun as it is brutally gory. Lessons and entertainment for all. Terrifier can be found on Tubi.

Another Interview with Kyle Hester – Episode 092
After a lot of packing and unpacking, Kyle Hester returns to the show to talk about his projects, pandemic, state of indie film, and future YouTube projects. Listen and catch up on the status of Preacher 6, Zombie with a Shotgun 2, and future plans for The Coop. We are very lucky to know so many positive, energetic people in indie film and Kyle is no exception. If you are in indie film, this is a must listen. Check Kyles links on link treelinktr.ee/KyleHesterwww.preachersix.com See Kyle in:The Book of DanielThe ChairZombie with a ShotgunAndersonville

The Lighthouse (2016) – Episode 091
Released in 2016, 2018 in the US, this UK version of The Lighthouse is spectacularly subtle and soul-wrenching. Sticking to old-school storytelling, combined with brilliant acting, direction, and technical precision, we are thrust into the hellish 1801 storm that spawned this tale. The performances are fantastic, made razor-sharp by the clever pacing of the story. This film is a splendid example of using the tried and true aspects of filmmaking and story crafting to produce an engaging and subversive story. The Lighthouse can be found on Amazon Video.

Another Interview with Hilton Ariel Ruiz – Episode 090
We talk once again with Hilton Ariel Ruiz. Creator of Zombie with a Shotgun, Klanz Rules, director of several excellent documentaries, this man is an unbridled force in indie film. We talk about how this past year has affected him, his Patreon page to get the sequel to Zombie with a Shotgun into production, and nerd out over cameras and, yes folks, Frankenhooker. That’s a real movie people, trust us. Very inspirational talk with a very inspirational man. Check the links below to see Hilton’s work and support his Patreon! Hilton’s YouTube Hilton’s Patreon Page Hilton’s linktree Zombie with a Shotgun can be found on TubiKlanz Rules can be found on Tubi6/6/66 web series can be found on Amazon Video

Another Interview with Failureboys Productions – Episode 089
Returning to the show are Pete Marcy, Joe Marcy, Chris Marcy, and Adam Anderson of Failureboys Productions. We talk about the re-release of Firefly and some excellent behind the scenes stories. Talented filmmakers and just great guys in general, we have a lot of fun talking filmmaking, festivals, and more. Come listen to these wonderful guests get gritty on how indie film can be taxing on the spirit. Catch Firefly and Attack of the Tattie Bogle on Amazon Video.

Eat Locals – Episode 088
We dive into the UK film Eat Locals. Jam packed with big names, this vampire horror/comedy delivers on a great many levels. We had a lot of fun watching it the first time, and just as much fun watching it for the episode. A fairly low budget is maximized with a large single location, vampire effects that are done when needed and not overplayed, and a take on vampires that is fresh but familiar. We talk about the benefits of having a group of actors who have a long history of working together, and a brilliant first-time out for Jason Flemyng. Eat Locals can be found on Amazon Video.

Firefly – Episode 087
It’s a new release of an older film. Firefly hails from 2005, from our friends at Failureboys Productions. This version has been remastered in 5.1 surround, and it’s fantastic. This is a solid wrap-around plot that comes together magnificently towards the end. There are a lot of layers here, and a lot of character building. When it was over we both felt good for having watched it. Pete Marcy shows that early on he had a solid style and grasp on storytelling. Direction in this movie is just one great aspect. A micro-budget that sails with the big boys, Firefly proves you don’t need money to make good film. Firefly can be found on Amazon Video.

The Toxic Avenger – Episode 086
It’s been a long time on the list, but we finally get to The Toxic Avenger. A foundation cult-classic with a loyal following, this movie birthed the Tromaverse. A solid B-movie, there are great lessons on simplified story, creating a unique hook, and some examples of what was acceptable in film 30 years ago that would not work well today. With differing opinions on its merits, we have a great conversation with some interesting tangents. The Toxic Avenger can be found on YouTube.

Absentia – Episode 085
It’s another random find in the sea of films, but a well-liked find. It’s Absentia, a film written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who you may know as the director of Doctor Sleep. There are a lot of great things in here we talk about. A straight-up horror, it is a little before its time. We have loudly exclaimed our disdain for jump-scare reliant films, but this 2011 movie takes jump-scares in a different direction. There are some story issues, which we cover, but overall this is a great set of lessons and an excellent watch. Absentia can be found on Amazon Video.

Rubber – Episode 084
Another long-time on the list favorite, Rubber proves that the most ridiculous, obscure hook can work and work well. Years ago we thought this would be a laughable junk film for bad-movie-night, but we were wrong. This movie is fun, beautifully shot, excellent practical effects, and a masterclass of lessons for everyone. We have a lot of fun talking about this film and its lessons. It’s a killer tire, people. Listen to this episode. Watch this movie. Now. Rubber can be found on Tubi.

Interview with Terry McFadden – Episode 083
We have for the first time a script doctor on the show. Terry McFadden is a long-working script doctor who has worked as a script analyst for production companies and studios since 1998. A genuinely wonderful man, Terry talks about the important aspects of scripts for features and television, what he looks for, and has some great advice on where stories commonly fall short in script form. We loved listening to him and look forward to a future chat. This is a must for all writers. Terry’s links are below, be sure to check them all out. Dive in writers! www.storybuilderswrite.comhttps://twitter.com/Storybuilderzhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/storybuilders/http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsM/mcfadden-terry.phphttps://www.facebook.com/storybuilderswrite/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1079896/