The Skiffy and Fanty Show

Phenomenal costumes, touching stories, and adorable robots, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink bring on the holiday cheer in this special look at David E. Talbert’s Jingle Jangle. They explore the film’s incredible visual design, its approach to story, what makes this such a special movie, Short Circuit, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Jingle Jangle (2020)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

White bread, thick shins, and it’s Myanmar not Constanti-Burma, oh my! Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, and Paul Weimer give our listeners a special present: a totally unexpected Torture Cinema episode on Jiu Jitsu (2020)! Together, they discuss the film’s bonkers plot, it’s characters (or lack thereof), it’s acting, it’s locations, and basically everything else… Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Jiu Jitsu (2020)(IMDb)Our Grades:Shaun (D+)Alex (B)Paul (C-)Average (C-ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Empty promises, Irish Magneto, and Gatling gun horses, oh my! Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, and Paul Weimer turn their eyeballs to superhero films in this trip into the confusingly unimaginative world of Jonah Hex (2010! Together, they discuss the film’s treatment of history, how to properly use a John Malkovich, what Irish Magneto was doing here, Catwoman, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Jonah Hex (2010)(IMDb)Our Grades:Shaun (D-)Alex (F)Paul (F+)Average (F+) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Holes in the wall, grief, and questionable nationalism, oh my! Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer take a nostalgic trip back to the 90s to examine Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black (1997)! Together, they discuss the film’s place in the rhetoric of the 90s, its approach to comedy, its treatment of the issue of immigration and the politics of its time, what went into the Edgar suit, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Men in Black (2020)(IMDb) Capricon 41 Capricon 41 Panel Suggestion Page If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Holes in the wall, grief, and questionable nationalism, oh my! Shaun Duke and Alex Acks are back for another movie discussion. This time, they take a look at Remi Weekes’ 2020 horror film, His House. Together, they discuss the film’s approach to the refugee crisis, what it means for grief and pain to follow you, just what makes some houses so scary, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: His House (2020)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Shanty towns chases, angry girlfriends, and sugar glass, oh my! Shaun Duke and David Annandale are back at it with a new Totally Pretentious show about Jackie Chan’s 1985 stomach buster, Police Story. Together, they discuss their experience with Hong Kong action cinema, Jackie Chan’s influence on kung fu films, where Police Story fits in Chan’s oeuvre, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Police Story (IMDb) Police Story (Wikipedia) Criterion Collection (contains 1 and 2) Hong Kong Action Cinema by Bey Logan (Overlook Press) “Here’s Why Jackie Chan is Really Unpopular in Hong Kong” by Hearther Chen (Vice) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Excessive books, murder shows, and flying beds, oh my! Shaun Duke and Alex Acks search for bit of joy in this media-packed episode of the show! Together, they dig their heels into a discussion of all the things they’ve been enjoying in these pandemic times, a discussion that reaches into the bowels of their souls to examine just what all these shows and books and more have done to keep us from going bananas. If you’re looking for some joy, you don’t want to miss this episode. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Listen to the show. We mention so many things! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Cornspiracies, confused plots, and Nebraska, oh my! Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, and David Annandale regret their life choices in this Halloween Special edition of Torture Cinema on Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (1993). Together, they struggle their way through the film’s meandering and totally confused plot, just what it means to be a teenager in Nebraska, the show’s totally legitimate new sponsors, racist portrayals of indigenous people, corn, corn, corn, and much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (D-) Alex (D-) David (D-) Average (D-) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Deserted islands, shark monsters, and terrible friends, oh my! Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer tag team to discuss the Blumhouse Productions film Sweetheart (dir. J.D. Dillard). Together, they explore the film’s simple premise, Dillard’s approach to cinematography and race, just what it means to be the last girl, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Sweetheart (2019)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Secret societies, challenged legacies, and creepy shadow monsters, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink tackle Arthurian myths and Carolina legacies in this packed interview with Legendborn author Tracy Deonn! Together, they talk about Tracy’s exploration and challenge of U.S. legacies and secret societies, the personal aspects she infused into the book, the power of grief and racism, and even why she loves seaQuest DSV so darn much. And much much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Tracy Deonn’s things: Website Twitter Legendborn (buy it now!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Unsalted saltines, dick gods, and giant squid turtles, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink put on their totally-educated-about-ancient-Greece hats for a kraken good discussion of the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans. They tackle the confusing enigma that is Sam Worthington, what it’s like to play Voldemort twice, the problem with Greek gods, why Medusa’s the most screwed over character ever, and much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Clash of the Titans (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (C-) Jen (D+) Average (D+ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Possessed swords, demonic klans, and mouths all the way down, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink jump through time to talk with P. Djèlí Clark about his latest novella, Ring Shout. Together, they dive into the novel’s treatment of the early 1900s, the meaning of ring shouts, black history, the brilliant characters of Ring Shout, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: P. Djèlí Clark’s things: Website Twitter Ring Shout (buy it now!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Time travel, police brutality, and timey wimey ethics, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink join forces to discuss Stefon Bristol’s teen time travel adventure film, See You Yesterday. Togethery, they consider the timeliness of the film, how Bristol approaches black lives and contemporary politics concerning police brutality, the performances by the film’s young cast, and even the relationship of See You Yesterday to the time travel classic, Back to the Future. Plus much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: See You Yesterday (2019)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Cyberpunk magic, wicked billionaires, and referencing American presidents, oh my! Paul Weimer pulls out his interview pants to talk to Charles Stross about the newest Laundry Files novel, Dead Lies Dreaming. They dig into the long-running Laundry Files series, this new novel’s political intrigue in a world of mansions and curses, and even how Trump fits into the new book. Plus much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Charles Stross’ things: Twitter Website Dead Lies Dreaming (buy it!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Snake friends, naturalistic confusion, and human car fuel, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink take a trip to the past to explore the Peter Fonda apocalyptic slow burner, Idaho Transfer. With a little alcohol in their stomachs, they talk about the film’s odd approach to storytelling, the surprising revelations about the future, just what it means to be a snake in the apocalyptic future, and even why we should be scared of being turned into car fuel. Plus much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Idaho Transfer (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (C) Jen (B+) Average (B-) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Poison sands, narrative maps, and powerful conjure, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink return to their interviewing duties with an incredible discussion with Andrea Hairston, author of Master of Poisons from Tor Books! They discuss the book’s deep roots in African folklore and history, the wondrous influence of music and polyrhythms on the narration, Hairston’s unique take on magic and kingdom politics, pirates, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Andrea Hairston’s things: Website Twitter Master of Poisons (buy it now!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Virtual dreams, virtual nightmares, and goddamn Campbell, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink join forces for a post-convention discussion of CoNZealand. They discuss what worked, what didn’t, their personal experiences of attending the first ever virtual Worldcon, that mess with the goddamn Hugo Awards, what it’s like to lose a Hugo three separate times, and much MUCH more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: CoNZealand CoNZealand Fringe If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Almost immortals, skyscraper tactics, and Charlize Theron, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink are joined by Alasdair Stuart, Marguerite Kenner, and Wendy Browne for a long discussion of the Netflix adaptation if The Old Guard. Together, they discuss the film’s treatment of technical immortality, our fascination with the characters and choreography, and how the film measures up to the comic books. And oh so much more! This one was recorded live at CoNZealand, so expect a less edited form of the show. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: The Old Guard (2020)(IMDb) The Old Guard (Image Comics) Our Guests: Alasdair’s Stuff: Website Twitter Marguerite’s Stuff: Website Twitter Escape Artists (the podfiction utopia) Wendy’s Stuff: Women Write About Comics Twitter If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Razor fins, questionable scientists, and action scuba, oh my! Shaun Duke, Jen Zink, and Alex Acks giggle their way through the Syfy Channel quality shark epic, Ice Sharks. They tackle the bonkers physics of shark fins, the surprising diversity of the cast, what it means to have plot conveniences, and the endless excitement of watching grown humans scuba dive…forever… We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Ice Sharks (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (F) Jen (C-) Alex (D) Average (D-) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Space travel, the power of love, and eccentric alien friends, oh my! In this episode of At the Movies, Shaun Duke and Jen Zink look for hope and positive vibes in Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time. Together, they look at the film’s treatment of the source material, the impact of overly focusing on visual spectacle, all the feelz, and the surprising casting choices that work shockingly well. And, as always, there’s much more. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: A Wrinkle in Time (2018)(IMDb) “Black Girl Magic is Written in the Pages of ‘A Wrinkle of Time’” by S.R. Toliver (HuffPost) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Oranges, wild boys, and douen, oh my! In today’s delightful literary discussion, Shaun Duke and Jen Zink take a look at Tracey Baptiste’s incredible middle grade novel, The Jumbies. Together, they discuss the novel’s treatment of Caribbean folklore, its exploration of family and loss, its treatment of colonization and nature themes, the terrifying-ness of Jumbies, and so much more! Plus, we read some of your reviews of the show! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (Scholastic) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Trek rehashes, Klingons, and shooty spaceships, oh my! It’s another magical day in the Skiffy and Fanty Universe! Today, we share another episode most of you have never heard before because it never released on the main feeds: our discussion of Star Trek Into Darkness! Listen to Shaun Duke, Paul Weimer, and special guest Jay Garmon talk about the film’s approach to Trek-i-ness, its rehashing of familiar plots, the prettiness of spaceships, and what Kirk’s deal is… And much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Star Trek Into Darkness (IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Flying mailmen, questionable kicks, and Cleveland aflame, oh my! Shaun Duke, Jen Zink, and special guest, Tonia Ransom, bring the threat of the Triple Dragon (you heard me) to the 90s fascination with wretched video game adaptations. Together, they explore the film’s treatment of Asian culture, the supremely questionable choreography, the strange world of Double Dragon (the movie), why Cleveland is constantly on fire, and so much more. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Double Dragon (IMDb) Tonia’s Things: Website Nightlight Pod Twitter Our Grades: Shaun (D+) Jen (C-) Tonia (C-) Average (C-ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Concentrated sin, collective intelligences, and space cannibalism, oh my! Jen and Shaun are at it again (again) with another Reading Rangers format. This time, they explore the short story short list for the 2020 Nommo Awards! This one is a meaty podcast, folks. We’ve got a lot of stories to discuss, from tales of artificial intelligence to generation ship cannibalism, beings who consume the evil among us to haunted houses and their haunted tenants, and spiritual messengers and balancing acts to unusual powers and the trauma we hide. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: The Nommo Awards Short Story Short List (2020) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Scavengers, teenagers, and truth-stretching old dudes, oh my! Jen and Shaun are at it again with another Reading Rangers format. This time, they explore The Wild Shore, the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson’s Three Californias trilogy, recently reprinted by Tor. Together, they explore the novel’s themes of teen life, literary history, and the post-apocalypse, the political underpinnings of Robinson’s treatment of post-apocalypse California, the importance of story to survival, and so much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: The Three Californias Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (Tor Reprint) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

#BlackLivesMatter, Black Lives Matter, BLACK LIVES MATTER, oh my! Jen and Shaun return (sorta) to the Reading Rangers format to discuss our latest announcement about the direction of the show for the remainder of 2020 AND to examine Octavia Butler’s “Bloodchild” and Tochi Onyebuchi’s Tor.com essay, “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.” This one is jam packed with content, from our views on what is going on around us to its connections to Onyebuchi’s essay to an in-depth discussion of the themes and social commentary in Butler’s story! You won’t want to miss this one. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: “Blood Child” by Octavia Butler in Bloodchild and Other Stories (Seven Stories Press) “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest” by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tor.com) Black Lives Matter Resources and Info: National Bail Fund Network The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale (Verso Books) — ebook currently free SFWA Statement on Black Lives Matter and Protests “The Pandemic is the Right Time to Defund the Police” by Melissa Gira Grant (The New Republic) Reading Lists and Other Materials to Support: “20 YA Books by Black Authors We’re Excited to Read in the Latter Half of 2020” by Farrah Penn and Ehis Osifo (BuzzFeed) Just Mercy (2019)(IMDb) Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)(Shudder) Emily Hughes’ call for black writers to write for Tor Nightfire Podcasts in Color Podcast Directory “Where is the Diversity in Publishing? The 2019 Diversity Baseline Survey Results” by Lee & Low Books Black Science Fiction Society AfroBizWorld (directory of black-owned businesses) The Mad Mommy’s list of 400+ Black-Owned Etsy Shops “47 black-owned bookstores across the country that you can support” by Seija Rankin (Entertainment Weekly) Vita Ayala’s #BlackoutTuesday thread of books, YouTube channels, Twitch channels, comics, and more by black creators /r/Fantasy Reddit’s 2020 SFF New Releases by Black Authors (by Dianthaa) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Magic metallic fists, human brain power, and flying Turks, oh my! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink tag team on the strangest and most incoherent Torture Cinema film we’ve ever covered: Dünyayi Kurtaran Adam (a.k.a. The Man Who Saved the World or Turkish Star Wars). From the film’s incredibly dense and incoherent plot to its obsession with extra long, kung fu-inspired fights to its blatant theft from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Flash Gordon, and more, Shaun and Jen have their hands full trying to make sense of this monstrosity. You’ll have to listen to find out if they enjoyed it! Also: this episode marks the official return of skits and some of your favorite characters. More to come. We promise! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Turkish Star Wars (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (D-) Jen (F+) Average (F+ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Anniversaries, cringe, and laughs, oh my! Jen and Shaun celebrate the 10th anniversary of this ridiculous podcast by jumping back in time to retread the wonders of our very first episode. Together, they share thoughts on 10 years of podcasting and some of our fans’ favorite episodes, dive into the content from our first episode to see how things have progressed, and offer some grown up opinions about a fan fiction controversy from 2010! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Original Art by Dirk Reul; Adapted by Alt Jade Designs Show Notes: Your Favorite Episodes: Dan Hanson’s (Twitter): Episode 288 on Barbarella for Torture Cinema Episode 294 on Mazes & Monsters for Torture Cinema Episode 19 of Totally Pretentious on Fitzcarraldo Kathryn’s (Twitter): Episode 377 on Dragonheart for Torture Cinema Episode 376 on Willow for Into the Wardrobe Shoot the WISB #59 on Alien: Covenant with David Annandale and Jeannette Ng Alex Acks’s (Twitter): Episode 319 on The Core for Torture Cinema Torture Cinema #93 on Next, live in a hotel room in Dublin! For Torture Cinema Episode 371, the Star Wars Retrospective w/ Michael R. Underwood and Shaun Paul Weimer’s (Twitter) Episode 123 on the Star Wars Holiday Special for Torture Cinema Episode 195 on Sons of Steel for Torture Cinema Episode 153 on Birdemic for Torture Cinema News: The Nebula Award Finalists! Neuromancer Director: Tim Miller! Solitary (TV Show) — the Brazilian version exists! Splice Box Office J.G. Ballard’s High Rise: the book / the movie Asimov’s and Electronic submission! <– it’s all over now! Neil Gaiman and Libraries! The article we couldn’t read. Torture Literature #1: Modelland by Tyra Banks ModelLand Theme Park Discussion: Fan-Fiction and Moral Condundrums (Fanlore) Diana Gabaldon (Fanlore) Plugs: Seis Manos (Jen’s) Roman Colonization Under the Roman Republic by E.T. Salmon (Shaun’s) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Derelict spacecraft, alien goo, and confused science, oh my! Today’s episode is a special one. Most of you have never heard it before because it never appeared on the Skiffy and Fanty feeds! So go back in time with Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer for an early conversation about Prometheus! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Prometheus (IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Evil houses, commercial breaks, and bucking tradition, oh my! Shaun Duke and David Annandale are back at it with a new Totally Pretentious show about Nobuhiko Obayashi’s infamous 1977 horror comedy, House / Hausu. Together, they discuss the film’s road to production, its unique presentation of horror elements, Obayashi’s production relationship with his daughter, and so much more. This film is weird, y’all, but it’s interesting! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: House (IMDb) Criterion Collection (just get it; it has so many great features) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Dragon friends, creeper kings, Dennis Quaid, oh my! Shaun Duke, Paul Weimer, and Alex Acks join forces for another Torture Cinema foray into the obscene. Or is it? Together, they journey into the wild world of Dragonheart, discussing its anachronistic treatment of history, whether its CG holds up, the wonders of its casting choices, some of its creepy sexism, and more! Plus, there are dragons. DRAGONS! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Dragonheart (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (A-) Paul (B+) Alex (A+) Average (A-) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Evil witches, quirky wizards, and Warwick Davis, oh my! Shaun and Jen go back in time for an honest and super nerdy discussion of 1988’s fantasy epic, Willow. Together, they explore the film’s production, it’s positivist approach to little people, the wonders of its world, and its exciting themes and impact. This is one of those truly open and honest conversations, so if you’ve got a lot of feelz, this podcast is for you! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Willow (1988)(IMDb) Little People of America “A Different View of 1988’s Willow” by Laura Cannata If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Viruses, coping mechanisms, and rants, oh my! In today’s off-the-cuff-totally-not-normal episode, Jen and Shaun turn their attention to discussing the things they’re doing to cope with this new pandemic situation we all find ourselves in. Only, that’s not exactly what this episode is about. It’s about coping. It’s about what’s going on right now. And it’s about some very honest feels regarding the nature of U.S. society from beyond the Corrupted Curtain. You might say that making this episode was part of the coping process. So if you’re interested in our rambles about COVID-19, the U.S. response, and even some of our personal coping mechanisms, this is the episode for you! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode!   Show Notes: Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins Recipe SomeGoodNews YouTube Channel If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Giant mechanical spiders, male boob grabbing, and nice trains, oh my! Shaun Duke, Paul Weimer, and Alex Acks join forces for this special Pandemic Edition of Torture Cinema. Together, they tackle the infamous 1990s blunder, Wild Wild West, explore through a drunken stupor the film’s approach to characterization, history, Western tropes, race, gender, and disability. This is a jam-packed show, y’all, because there’s just so much to say about this ridiculous VERY 90s movie. You’re welcome! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Wild Wild West (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (D-) Paul (D-) Alex (D-) Average (D-) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Ubiquitous tentacles, wholesome content, and riding his rainbow in the sky! Shaun Duke and Jen Zink break all the rules we arbitrarily set for Torture Cinema to discuss a film so beautiful and so bonkers bananapants that it might have fixed the 80s all on its own if it had only been popular enough! Together, they dig into the wild world of 1984’s Voyage of the Rock Aliens, from its wild musicality to its send off of 80s culture to its utterly wonky narrative and character decisions. This is one for the ages, folks. And it is pure. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Voyage of the Rock Aliens (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (A+) Jen (A+) Average (A+) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

In today’s episode of Signal Boost, Shaun Duke interviews Libia Brenda about the Mexicanx Initiative and A Larger Reality 2.0, a new hybrid anthology. They discuss the importance of the initiative, the unique hybrid nature of the new anthology, the importance of unconventional forms of narrative, and much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode!   Show Notes: Libia’s Stuff: Libia’s Twitter A Larger Reality 2.0 (Anthology) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Jedi Knights, scary futures, and Wookies, oh my! For this special episode of the show, Shaun is joined by Michael R. Underwood for a retrospective discussion of Star Wars. Together, they look back at the Star Wars / Skywalker saga and other Star Wars property to set the stage for an examination of the journey thus far and the journey yet to come. What will Star Wars look like now that the main saga is over? What concerns do these super dorks have about the future of the franchise? Do the new announcements from Disney fill us with hope, concern, or dread? Shaun and Mike answer these questions and more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Star Wars Stuff: Clone Wars (announcement) Star Wars: Resistance (Disney page) The Mandalorian (IMDb) The Mandalorian Season 2 (announcement) The High Republic (announcement) Cassian Andor (Disney+ series)(announcement) Obi-wan Kenobi (Disney+ series)(announcement) Mike’s Stuff Website Twitter Speculate! Cover reveal for Mike’s new space opera: Annihilation Aria! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

In today’s episode of Signal Boost, Shaun Duke interviews Ariela Housman & Terri Ash of Geek Calligraphy fame. They discuss the wild world of professional calligraphy, what it takes to run a calligraphy business, where their geek passions come from, and so much more. Then Shaun and Jen Zink join forces in a Dublin cafe to talk to Tanya DePass about I Need Diverse Games, gaming culture, the alluring universe of diversity in gaming, and other related topics. Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Geek Calligraphy’s Things: Website Geek Calligraphy’s Twitter Terri Ash’s Twitter Tanya’s Things: I Need Diverse Games Tanya’s Twitter Tanya’s Streams! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Chinese ninjas drug dealers, questionable costumes, and premed / law prostitutes, oh my! Shaun Duke, Jen Zink, and Paul Weimer are back on the Torture Cinema horse with a deliciously stupid Patreon-selected mashup: The VelociPastor. We tackle the film’s questionable production history, its various odd narrative decisions, what it means to film three different countries in the same location, the power of the clawth (heh), and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: The Velocipastor (IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (C+) Jen (D) Paul (C-) Average (C-ish) The Down Under Fan Fund (VOTE FOR SHAUN!) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Heroic stands, robot nannies, and more Yodito, oh my! Jen Zink and Shaun Duke are back for more discussion about The Mandalorian. You can’t blame them, can you? The show is awesome! Together, Shaun and Jen talk about the show’s continued subversion of narrative tropes, the mythology of the Mandalorians, the place of the show in the Star Wars oeuvre, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: S1E1: “Chapter 1“ S1E2: “Chapter 2: The Child“ S1E3: “Chapter 3: The Sin“ S1E4: “Chapter 4: Sanctuary“ S1E5: “Chapter 5: The Gunslinger“ S1E6: “Chapter 6: The Prisoner“ S1E7: “Chapter 7: The Reckoning“ S1E8: “Chapter 8: Redemption“ Additional Reading: “See How Star Wars: The Mandalorian Used Fortnite Engine’s Tech to Film the TV Show” by Eddie Makuch If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

In today’s episode of Signal Boost, Shaun Duke interviews the the wondrous Malka Older about the 1st season of Serial Box’s Orphan Black, co-written with Madeline Ashby, Mishell Baker, Heli Kennedy, E.C. Myers, and Lindsay Smith! They discuss the incredible task of bringing a beloved TV show to the written form, the work it takes to write a serial story with a lot of awesome folks, and much more. Then Paul Weimer talks to the delightful R.J. Barker about The Bone Ships. They discuss Barker’s approach to worldbuilding, the wonderful world of ships, Barker’s naming conventions, history, and so much more! Show Notes: The Orphan Black Crew’s Stuff: Orphan Black Season 1 (Serial Box) Malka Older Website Twitter Madeline Ashby Website Twitter Mishell Baker Website Twitter Heli Kennedy Twitter E.C. Myers Website Twitter Lindsay Smith Website Twitter R.J. Barker’s Stuff! The Bone Ships Website Twitter If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Cute droids, contortionist plots, and the Abrams, oh my! Shaun Duke and Alex Acks don their Rebel uniforms to tackle the conclusion to the Star Wars saga, The Rise of Skywalker. Together, they talk about what the film represents within the trilogy, how Abrams attempted to tie everything together, and where the film goes right and where it goes wrong, and much more. Like traditional style roast Porg, this one is stuffed with content. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

New years, new decades, and new changes, oh my! In our first episode of 2020, Jen and Shaun take a trip in a time machine to discuss some of the things they loved in 2019 and some of the things they’re looking forward to in 2020. From books to movies to awkward social events, there’s a lot to love about 2019 and a lot to expect in 2020. That’s kinda the theme, right? Looking back! Moving forward! Of course, a new decade means new changes to the show. Shaun and Jen take a minute to talk about what you can expect from the show in 2020, why we’re making some changes to things, and what they’re hoping to get out of our 10th year of podcasting. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Shaun’s 2019 Things: Media: Captain Marvel (Disney / Marvel) Literature: The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull (Blackstone Publishing) Random: Attending Worldcon in Dublin with a whole bunch of Skiffy and Fanty peeps and being a Hugo Award finalist for Best Fancast again! (Thank you thank you thank you!!!) Jen’s 2019 Things: Media: The Mandalorian(Disney / Star Wars) Literature: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook) Random: Jen’s job at Book Riot! Y’know. The one where she gets paid. Shaun’s 2020 Things: Media: Bill & Ted Face the Music (Orion Picture) Literature: A Peculiar Peril: The Misadventures of Jonathan Lambshead by Jeff Vandermeer (FSG Books for Young Readers) Random: Shaun is a Down Under Fan Fund candidate and he needs your votes and support! Jen’s 2020 Things: Media: Picard (CBS) Literature: Stormsong by C.L. Polk (Tor.com) Random: Jen bought a new house in a brand new state! If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Sphere” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Exploding gems, racist wrestlers, and orphans, oh my! In this very special (and totally late) holiday edition of Torture Cinema, Shaun, Julia, Alex, and Jen tackle a truly horrifyingly bad Christmas movie, Santa with Muscles. From Hulk Hogan’s questionable acting skills to the nonsensical plot, the odd connections to famous actors and popular TV shows, and the utterly bananapants characters and twists, we certainly had a lot to talk about for this one. So thanks, Patreon supporters. Thanks so much. We hope you enjoy the episode! Overall Grade: F+-ish Show Notes: Santa with Muscles (1996)(IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (F) Julia (D-) Jen (F) Alex (D+) Average (F+-ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Town rivalries, reindeer, and fishy circumstances, oh my! Shaun, Jen, and Becca join forces to discuss Netflix’s animated Santa origin story, Klaus. Together, they contemplate the meaning of tradition in a town wrapped up in rivalries and hate, the significance of the Sami people to the story and our world, the film’s joyous treatment of the Santa story, and much more. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Sweet Westerns, delicious Mando’a, and Yodito, oh my! Screen Scouts takes a departure from our Babylon 5 re-watch for an impromptu discussion about The Mandalorian. Shaun and Jen join forces to talk about how the show approaches Mandalorian culture and diaspora, Favreau’s moderate obsession with Westerns, the politics of Star Wars, Wernor Herzog, and baby Yoda (species whatever). It’s a delicious episode, so get your spoons out and keep those tents closed so the sand doesn’t get in! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: S1E1: “Chapter 1“ S1E2: “Chapter 2: The Child“ S1E3: “Chapter 3: The Sin“ If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Questionable journalists, questionable comedy, and questionable geography, oh my! Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, Jen Zink, and Trish Matson wander into an unsuspecting Eastern European town to discuss the 1985 “comedy,” Transylvania 6-5000. With their magic judge hats on, the crew tackles the film’s approach to comedy, the absurdity of its monster-centric premise, twist endings, hairy dudes, and what it’s like to have Patreon supporters who pick movies like this for us to watch (thanks…)! We hope you enjoy the episode!   Overall Grade: D-ish Show Notes: Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)(IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (D) Alex (D) Jen (D+) Trish (D) Average (D-ish) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Linda Hamilton, Linda Hamilton, and Linda Hamilton, oh my! Alex and Trish join forces to discuss the newest installment in the Terminator franchise, Terminator: Dark Fate. Together, they discuss the return of Linda Hamilton and what it means for the franchise and women, the new terminator model, the timey wimey plot, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)(IMDb) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

This month, Rachel and Daniel talk about the SFiT that came out in September and what they’re reading now. As Daniel points out, several of the short stories they discuss have some kind of fairy-tale element to them, leading the co-hosts to think about the interesting connections between that genre and science fiction. And while September’s short SFiT was dominated by stories from Korea and China, the novels, collections, and anthologies came from Japan, Israel, and Germany. Rachel talks about how Japanese SF media is taking over her house (books, Pokemon cards, manga, etc.), and Daniel shares his love of Francesco Verso’s novel Nexhuman, which Daniel reviewed on his site. Remember: with new stories and books coming to their attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt! Show Notes: SFT in 2019 Out This Month: September Feel free to shoot us an email at skiffyandfanty [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also leave a comment on our website. Our new intro and outro music comes “No Disclaimer” by Jesse Spillane (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.

Creepy cult children, confusingly animated monsters, and Korn, oh my! Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, and David Annandale meet in the corn fields to discuss 1984 adaptation of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn. They discuss the film’s bizarre plot structure, what it’s like to be murdered by creepy cult children, the wonders of corn demons, terrible 80s relationships, and more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Overall Grade: D Show Notes: Children of the Corn (1984)(IMDb) Our Grades: Shaun (D) Alex (D) David (D) What Would Paul Do (D) Average (D) If you have a question you’d like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from “Rock Thing” by Creo (CC BY 4.0), which has been slightly modified to include sound effects and for length purposes.