Category: Podcast

PTS Presents WHEN PODCASTS COLLIDE with NEVER HEARD OF IT PODCASTERS

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

WHEN PODCASTS COLLIDE

NEVER HEARD OF ITNick and Frank were extremely lucky to be joined by Craig Moorhead (editor of Damian Lahey’s The Heroes of Arvine Place) and writer Shawn Harwell (Red Oaks, The Campaign, East Bound and Down), the co-hosts of the excellent podcast Never Heard Of It (www.neverheardpodcast.com), to discuss the weird, wild, and totally transgressive 2015 indie black comedy Buzzard, as well as a few other surprises. This is a film that can be rented through the disc-at-home service via Netflix and found on various streaming platforms like Amazon and YouTube and is well worth seeking out, as it combines black comedy, social critique, and unexpected graphic violence to create something tragically original. And if you’re a fan of the obscure movie, be sure and check out Craig and Shawn’s site, as Never Heard Of It routinely shines a spotlight on forgotten cinematic gems that deserve more recognition. We hope you enjoy this extremely entertaining discussion about Buzzard and movies in general!

PTS Presents CINEMATOGRAPHER’S CORNER with LAWRENCE SHER

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

SHER POWERCAST

unnamed (1)Podcasting Them Softly is thrilled to present our latest addition to Cinematographer’s Corner — a chat with veteran director of photography Lawrence Sher! Lawrence is one of the premiere shooters of studio comedies, having collaborated with director Todd Phillips on The Hangover trilogy, the edgy road-trip comedy Due Date, and this summer’s awesome looking political action comedy War Dogs, which stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. Other cinematography credits include Dan in Real Life, I Love You, Man, The Dictator, Paul, indie favorite Kissing Jessica Stein, and Garden State and Wish I Was Here for filmmaker Zach Braff. And later this year in November, he’ll be making his directorial debut with the all-star comedy Bastards, which features Owen Wilson, JK Simmons, Glenn Close, Katie Aselton, Ving Rhames, Bill Irwin, Harry Shearer, and Ed Helms. Lawrence‘s work behind the camera is always stylish and smart, with a frequent use of the 2.35:1 aspect ratio in a genre that typically favors the more standard and less dynamic 1.85:1, while consistently demonstrating a fundamental understanding of how to properly maximize comedy in every shot while still paying attention to bold visual texture. This is an extremely fun discussion, and we hope you enjoy!

PTS Presents Editor’s Suite with DAVID KITTREDGE

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

Kittredge POWERCAST

unnamedPodcasting Them Softly is extremely excited to present a discussion with special guest David Kittredge, the editor of 54: The Director’s Cut, which can be streamed via Amazon and iTunes and is now available to own on Blu-ray. Back in 1997, Mark Christopher’s disco club odyssey was released in theaters in a compromised state, featuring edits and reshoots not ever planned by the filmmakers, and which changed the general shape and scope of the picture. Now, nearly 20 years later, the creative team was able to go back to the original footage which test screening audiences balked at, and have reformed the movie as the ultimate director’s cut. There are so few films that experience a life like this one, as it’s a movie that got hit hard by critics and ignored by theatrical audiences at the time of its release. But because of our constantly shifting social attitudes and the advent of the DVD cult classic, it’s now time for this vibrant, sexy, and totally entertaining film to see the light of day as fully intended. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and creative director of LA-based Triple Fire Productions, David is also the writer/director of film festival favorite Pornography: A Thriller, and has worked on various short films in multiple capacities. We also riff for a bit on one of our mutually favorite filmmakers, the late, great Tony Scott, which is always an exciting way to spend an evening. We hope you enjoy this fascinating, truly inside-Hollywood discussion about a film that deserves to find a new following!

PTS Presents WRITER’S WORKSHOP with NATHAN ZELLNER

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

ZELLNER POWERCAST.jpg

ZellnerPodcasting Them Softly is excited to present a chat with the multitalented filmmaker and actor Nathan Zellner. Nathan co-wrote and produced the film Kumiko The Treasure Hunter with his brother, David, who handled the direction, which was one of our favorite films from 2015. It’s truly the sort of under the radar gem that Podcasting Them Softly was founded upon, and it confidently announced to the both of us a very distinct cinematic voice. Nathan has done TV work, a plethora of short films, a variety of features, and has preformed numerous times in front of the camera as well as taking on occasional cinematography and editing duties, with excursions into directing and visual effects. The quirky short Sasquatch Birth Journal #2 is a hysterical piece of surrealism that everyone should check out, you can view it at YouTube, and he made a hilarious supporting turn in the quirky comedy Goliath, which was written and directed by his brother, and happens to contain one of the best performances by a cat ever committed to film. We hope you enjoy this exciting conversation with one of the more unique cinematic voices we’ve heard from yet!

PTS Presents Artisan Workbench with RYAN WARREN SMITH

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

RWS POWERCAST

unnamedPodcasting Them Softly is extremely excited to present our latest Artisan’s Workbench chat with special guest Ryan Warren Smith, who served as production designer on this spring’s indie sensation Green Room! Our love for Green Room is seemingly endless, so it was a special honor to speak with the guy responsible for making that film look and feel so scuzzy and nasty! Some of Ryan‘s other fantastic credits as production designer include the brilliant and heartfelt indie Wendy and Lucy with Michelle Williams, The Motel Life from the Polsky brothers, and the Sundance film For Ellen, wich was directed by So Yong Kim, and stars Paul Dano. Ryan got his start in the industry as an on-set dresser on films like Sean Penn’s Into the Wild, which we’re both massive admirers of, Gus Van Sant’s Restless, the intense drama The Burning Plain, and he served as property master on the phenomenal if underseen western Meek’s Cutoff. We also get a chance to hear about his upcoming projects which sound very exciting. We hope you enjoy this terrific conversation!

PTS PRESENTS CINEMATOGRAPHER’S CORNER with TRENT OPALOCH Vol 1

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

OPALOCH POWERCAST

 

OpalochPodcasting Them Softly is extremely excited to present a chat with the incredible cinematographer Trent Opaloch. Trent is one of the hottest, most in demand shooters currently working in Hollywood, having shot District 9, Elysium, and the absurdly underrated Chappie for director Neill Blomkamp, while also becoming a member of the Marvel cinematic universe, having lensed both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and this weekend’s Captain America: Civil War. The future looks to hold even more superhero action, as he’ll be reteaming with the Russo brothers for both chapters of The Avengers: Infinity Wars. He’s also a veteran of the commercial world, having collaborated with such directors as Jake Scott, Todd Field, Phil Joanou, and Frederik Bond on a variety of worldwide advertisements. He’s clearly got a very exciting future ahead, and we’re beyond thrilled to have him as a guest – we hope you enjoy this exciting discussion!

Episode 28: Michael Mann’s THIEF with Special Guest FRANCINE SANDERS

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

FRANCINE POWERCAST

We covered Michael Mann’s 1981 neo noir Chicago crime film, THIEF, that starred James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Dennis Farina, and Willie Nelson.  We’re joined with Frank’s former film professor, Francine Sanders, who teaches classes at Columbia College of Chicago.  Frank took her Studies of the Films of the 1970’s.  Francine teaches film courses at Oakton Community College’s Emeritus Program, and has served on the faculty of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy and Roosevelt University.  Not only is she a published and awarded writer, but she worked for the Chicago Police Department for eight and half years as a civilian investigator for the Office of Professional Standards and helped uncover police torture and corruption under Chicago Police Department’s former Cmdr. Jon Burge.  Francine is a key component for Frank’s love of film, and there wouldn’t be a Podcasting Them Softy (at least from Frank’s end) without her!

EPISODE 27 THE WORKS OF TONY SCOTT AND QUENTIN TARANTINO with SPECIAL GUEST SHELBY SIM

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Podcast, Santa Barbara International Film Festival

SHELBY POWERCAST

We were honored to be joined by Shelby Sim who is the Executive Director of Visit Santa Ynez Valley, and who sponsored the press/filmmaker lounge where Frank hung out when he was at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.   The three of us riff on films that were filmed in the Valley, including Quentin Tarantino’s DEATH PROOF.  From there, we bounce all over Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott’s filmography.  Visit www.visitsyv.com and contact Shelby if you’re interested on going on an amazing vacation!

PTS Presents Cinematographer’s Corner with SEAN PORTER

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

porter powercast

 

sean_porterPodcasting Them Softly is thrilled to present a chat with cinematographer Sean Porter, who recently shot the film KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER, and who has the highly anticipated thriller GREEN ROOM set for release later this year from A24. He’s also finished a pair of very intriguing projects with THE TRUST, which stars Nicolas Cage, Jerry Lewis and Elijah Wood, and 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, from director Mike Mills, and starring Elle Fanning, Alia Shawkat, Greta Gerwig, and Annette Benning. Sean got his start working on a variety of shorts, features, and documentaries, and has roots firmly planted in indie film community, and you can just tell from observing his work that he’s a talent to seriously look out for in the near future. His work on KUMIKO was beyond striking, announching an exciting and dynamic new visual eye to emerge on the cinematic scene, and it’s a film that we here at PTS are massive fans of and hope everyone will get a chance to check out. We hope you enjoy this most excellent discussion!

PTS Presents Director’s Chair with RENNY HARLIN

by Frank Mengarelli, posted in Film Review, Podcast

RENNY HARLIN POWERCAST

RH Official PhotoPodcasting Them Softly is overwhelmingly excited to present a chat with veteran action director Renny Harlin, a man who needs very little introduction! Die Hard 2. Cliffhanger. The Long Kiss Goodnight. The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. Deep Blue Sea. Cutthroat Island. Exorcist: The Beginning. And so many others. His latest action extravaganza, Skiptrace, stars Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville, and is set to explode into cinemas this summer. Listen as Nick and Frank try and contain their excitement, and Renny dishes on his incredible career and his newest cinematic offering — we hope you enjoy!