The Extras

Send us Fan Mail Cinematographer Tom Sigel joins the podcast to talk about filming the 1995 cult classic THE USUAL SUSPECTS.  Tom takes us back through his first meetings with director Bryan Singer and their collaboration on the filming style.  We also discuss the locations in San Pedro on the ship and at the old Harold Examiner Building for the interrogation scenes.  Tom talks about his collabora...

Send us Fan Mail Classic horror expert Tom Weaver joins the podcast for a fun-filled look at some of his favorite Universal Classic Monster films.  Rather than detailing all four of the new to 4K films in the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Volume 2 release, Tom picks a favorite scene from each movie and a “why’d they do that” moment.  We start with 1931’s classic “The Mummy” starring...

Send us Fan Mail Internationally acclaimed James Bond expert and author Steven Jay Rubin joins the podcast to celebrate the 60th anniversary of “Dr. No” and the James Bond film franchise. We start with a discussion of his newly updated “The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia,” the ultimate resource for Bond fans and collectors.  Then we discuss the early development of the first Bond film before gettin...

Send us Fan Mail Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein is joined by horror expert and filmmaker Constantine Nasr to discuss the October 2022 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive.  We kick off the discussion with a revisit of the 1957 Hammer Horror classic  THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN" starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and directed by Terence Fisher.  Constantine Nasr reviews the e...

Send us Fan Mail Screenwriter Tim Sheridan talks about breaking into writing for animation and the path that led him to working on "Batman: The Long Halloween."  This seminal work from writer Jeph Loeb and legendary artist Tim Sale has impacted filmmakers from Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" trilogy to the recent Matt Reeves "The Batman."  Tim Sheridan give...

Send us Fan Mail LUCIFER showrunners Joe Henderson and Ildy Modrovich take a fun-filled look back at the TV series to commemorate the release of the sixth and final season on DVD and Blu-ray.   We discuss the move from Vancouver, Canada to LA between seasons 2 & 3 and the impact on the cast and crew.  And we review the extras we worked on together, including the hilarious gag reel and the feat...

Send us Fan Mail Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein takes us through the September 2022 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive.  We kick off the discussion with the release of two TV series on Blu-ray.  First is the popular comedy “Young Sheldon” season 5,  which includes a 100th episode retrospective featurette titled, "Time Flies When You're Having Fun: Young Sheldon at 100.&qu...

Send us Fan Mail Film historian Gary Gerani joins the podcast to discuss his documentary extra “Romantic Mysticism” on composer Billy Goldenberg.  We discuss Billy’s early career working with Steven Spielberg on the pilot for NIGHT GALLERY (Spielberg's professional directorial debut) as well as the TV movie "Duel."  Gary provided the audio commentary on the pilot for the Kino Lorber...

Send us Fan Mail Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits joins the podcast to take a deep dive into the current state of physical media, the 4K explosion, and what the future might hold.  We also discuss home entertainment trends, common consumer complaints, and how streaming is impacting the release schedules.  And Bill details the recent and future "Star Trek" motion picture 4K releases and we d...

Send us Fan Mail George Feltenstein of the Warner Archive answers fan questions in this special mailbag episode.  George addresses the questions surrounding the August release schedule, answers questions about upcoming animation and Golden Harvest releases, box sets, pre-code Hollywood titles, and many more. Otaku Media produces podcasts, behind-the-scenes extras, and media that connect creatives...

Send us Fan Mail Bob Furmanek and Jack Theakston of the 3-D Film Archive join the podcast to discuss their work on preserving classic 3D films.  In addition, we review their current 2D release of Abbott and Costello's first color film, the 1952 classic "Jack and the Beanstalk."  They review their 2 years of painstaking work on the restoration of this Cinecolor classic to create a ve...

Send us Fan Mail Max Fleischer was a pioneer in early animation and yet many of his cartoons are in desperate need of restoration.  Joining the podcast to talk about their restoration efforts in partnership with the Max Fleischer estate and Paramount pictures are Mauricio Alvarado of Rockin Pins, restorer Brandon Adams, and author and Max Fleischer expert Ray Pointer. Along the way, we discuss the...

Send us Fan Mail Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein takes us through the July 2022 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive.  We kick  off the discussion with the release of “Adventures of Don Juan” (1948) starring Errol Flynn and Viveca Lindfors, and directed by Vincent Sherman.   Beautifully restored in Technicolor, this film is another in the long line of swashbuckler roles for Flynn, tho...

Send us Fan Mail Writer/producer and television historian Herbie J Pilato joins the podcast to discuss his love of classic TV and his extras on the new Blu-ray release of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES. Pilato’s extensive list of critically-acclaimed, media tie-in books includes THE BIONIC BOOK, MARY: THE MARY TYLER MOORE STORY, TWITCH UPON A STAR: THE BEWITCHED LIFE AND CAREER OF...

Send us Fan Mail Judy Garland fans and experts George Feltenstein from Warner Bros and author John Fricke join the podcast for a celebration of Judy's centennial. Together they share insights from their careers writing books, producing documentaries, and releasing Judy's films on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K.  And then we dive into a discussion of "The Wizard of Oz" and...

Send us Fan Mail Warner Bros George Feltenstein brings a special guest to discuss the June 2022 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive.  John Fricke is the foremost authority on Judy Garland and he brings his insights and stories into a lively, fun-filled discussion of these three black and white Judy Garland films available now for the first time on Blu-ray.  First up is the glamourous 1941 mus...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Lucas, award-winning author, novelist, film critic, and frequent contributor to home entertainment extras, joins the podcast to discuss his work on the Kino Lorber 4K releases of the "Man With No Name" Trilogy, "Touch of Evil," and "Silence of the Lambs."   We also discuss his screenplay and novelization of "The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes.&qu...

Send us Fan Mail Archivist James Mockoski and editor Robert Shafer of American Zoetrope join the podcast to talk about the restoration of “The Godfather” trilogy for the 50th Anniversary 4K release.  We discuss the importance of the 2007 restoration led by Robert Harris as the starting point for this latest restoration.  And they provide insights into the working relationship with Paramount Studio...

Send us Fan Mail Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein takes us through the Spring 2022 releases from the Warner Archive.  We kick  off the discussion with the March Blu-ray release of “Captains of the Clouds” (1941) starring James Cagney, Brenda Marshall, Dennis Morgan, and directed by Michael Curtiz.   Beautifully restored in Technicolor, this film has never looked so good. Next George detail...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast is one of a series looking back at some highlights from the 2021 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive. Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein takes us through the September 2021 Blu-ray releases of four films and one TV series, providing information on the preservation and restoration of the films and insights into the storylines and production.  The current TV...

Send us Fan Mail Scott McGee,   senior director of Original Productions at Turner Classic Movies, joins the podcast to discuss his new book "Danger on the Silver Screen: 50 Films Celebrating Cinema's Greatest Stunts."  We start with the earliest stunts of silent film stars Douglas Fairbanks, Tom Mix, Yakima Canutt, and Buster Keaton before highlighting the chariot race in "Ben...

Send us Fan Mail Alan K. Rode, author of “Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film,” joins the podcast to discuss the re-opening of film festivals after several years of closures due to the pandemic.  We start with a discussion of his work with the Film Noir Foundation and the Noir City Hollywood festival taking place April 15-17, 2022 at the Hollywood Legion Theatre.  Alan previews each of the eight films...

Send us Fan Mail Dave Strohmaier, Director of Film Restorations for Cinerama,  and his collaborator Tom March provide a detailed background on the epic restoration of the 1962 Cinerama classic.  And the Warner Archives’ George Feltenstein details the history behind the release and the two-disk special edition blu-ray filled with extras. We start with a review of how Dave’s interest in restoring th...

Send us Fan Mail Emmy nominated documentary producer, author, and speaker Steven C. Smith joins the podcast to discuss his book MUSIC BY MAX STEINER: THE EPIC LIFE OF HOLLYWOOD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL COMPOSER. During his illustrious career, composer Max Steiner scored over 300 films and was nominated for 24 Academy Awards.  We explore Steiner’s career highlights starting with the groundbreaking King K...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast is one of a series looking back at some highlights from the 2021 Blu-ray releases from the Warner Archive. Warner Bros executive George Feltenstein takes us through the August 2021 Blu-ray releases of three films, providing information on the preservation and restoration of the films and insights into the storylines and production.  First is the 1986 whacky comedy, &q...