The Projection Booth

Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom—Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959 Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the g...

Film historian Samm Deighan and cult cinema expert Andrew Leavold join Mike to shine a light on Jean-Pierre Melville’s Two Men in Manhattan (1959). Often overshadowed by his better-known crime films, this moody noir follows a journalist and a photographer as they comb the streets of New York in search of a missing French diplomat. The trio digs into Melville’s fascination with American style, the...

Mike speaks with director Paige Bethmann and editor Stephanie Khoury about their powerful 2025 documentary Remaining Native. Bethmann and Khoury discuss the challenges of telling a deeply personal story within a broader political context, the importance of Indigenous voices in environmental activism, and the responsibility of documentary filmmakers in preserving cultural truth. Become a supporter...

The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem. Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Hu...

Mike talks with director Stefan MacDonald-Labelle about Head Like a Hole (2024), a microbudget psychological horror film about a man hired to monitor a mysterious hole in a basement wall. They discuss the film’s existential themes, low-budget ingenuity, and the challenges of blurring reality and delusion. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--55...

Director Alex Braverman joins Mike to discuss his 2023 documentary Thank You Very Much, a fascinating deep dive into the life and legend of Andy Kaufman. From his genre-defying comedy to his infamous persona-blurring antics, Kaufman remains one of entertainment’s most enigmatic figures. Braverman unpacks the personal connections, archival discoveries, and creative choices that shaped the film—and...

Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Joshua Bailey about his feature documentary debut, Stolen Kingdom (2025). The film delves into three decades of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, culminating in the heist of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. Bailey's documentary offers an unprecedented look into the park's underground community, f...

Co-hosts Ryan Luis Rodriguez and John Walker join Mike to discuss the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber's blend of comedy and caper, its place in '90s comedy, and its surprising longevity. We discuss how the film launched the Farrelly Brothers into mainstream success and cemented Jim Carrey's status as a box office powerhouse. Screenwriter Bennett Yellin joins the conversation to talk about the film’s d...

Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Jeremy Workman and artist Michael Townsend about the 2024 documentary Secret Mall Apartment. The film chronicles the audacious endeavor of eight Rhode Island artists who, from 2003 to 2007, covertly built and inhabited a 750-square-foot apartment within the Providence Place Mall. This hidden residence, complete with furnishings and uti...

The Projection Booth’s Patreon Picks series charges ahead with Blood and Diamonds (1977), a gritty crime saga from Fernando Di Leo. Claudio Cassinelli stars as Guido Mauri, a man fresh out of prison and ready to settle old scores in a world where loyalty is a fleeting illusion. As Guido cuts a ruthless path through former allies, betrayal and bloodshed go hand in hand. Host Mike White is joined by...

Passions swirl and reality bends in Love Circle (1969), the intoxicating tale of desire, deception, and dangerous games from writer/director Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. Also known as Metti, Una Sera a Cena (Suppose One Night at Dinner), this stylish drama follows a celebrated writer, Michele (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who concocts intricate fantasies about his wife Nina (Florinda Bolkan) and his best...

Mike welcomes Eric Hynes and Edo Choi, curators of First Look 2025 at the Museum of the Moving Image, running running March 12-16 in Astoria, New York. Now in its 14th year, the festival remains a vital showcase for bold, boundary-pushing cinema from around the world. This year’s lineup includes 38 films—20 features and numerous shorts—spanning 21 countries, with three world premieres and 24 U.S....

Mike talks with journalist and author Andrew Buss to discuss his new book, I Am McLovin: How Superbad Became the Biggest Comedy Hit of Its Generation. Released in February 2025, Buss's book offers a comprehensive oral history of the 2007 film Superbad, exploring its creation, cultural impact, and enduring legacy. ​ In their conversation, Mike and Andrew explore the film's production process, its r...

Mike kicks off a fresh month of Patreon picks alongside Cullen Gallagher and Rob St. Mary to unpack the satirical brilliance of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's 1966 gem, Death of a Bureaucrat. When a revered Cuban sculptor invents a revolutionary bust-making machine only to meet his untimely demise at its mechanical hands, bureaucratic absurdity kicks into high gear. Buried proudly with his labor card, the...

Mike White engages in a conversation with filmmaker Elijah Sullivan about his 2024 documentary, The Hole Story. The film investigates the mysterious appearance of a 60-foot man-made hole on California's Mount Shasta in 2009, which sparked over a decade of speculation and intrigue. Elijah explores the challenges of documenting such an enigmatic subject, the process of gathering diverse perspectives...

The shield is back in action! Mike is joined by Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast to take on Captain America: Brave New World (2025), the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America, the film explores Sam Wilson’s challenges as he navigates political intrigue, old enemies, and new threats—including the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s S...

Whoopbruary concludes with a look at Theodore Rex (1996), the buddy cop dino flick that had Whoopi Goldberg stars as the cyber-enhanced supercop Katie Coltrane, begrudgingly partnered with the titular Theodore Rex -- an ambitious, wisecracking, impeccably dressed dinosaur with a badge and a dream. Joining Mike to excavate this fossilized oddity are Brad Jones and Razzie-nominated screenwriter Kevi...

Whoopbruary keeps the action rolling with Fatal Beauty (1987), a hard-hitting crime thriller starring Whoopi Goldberg as tough-talking detective Rita Rizzoli. Directed by Tom Holland and based on a script by Bill Svanoe, the film follows Rizzoli as she battles to keep a deadly designer drug off the streets. Co-hosts Rob St. Mary and Kevin Lehane join the discussion, and we’ve got exclusive intervi...

Whoopbruary rolls on with Burglar (1987), a comedic crime caper starring Whoopi Goldberg as Bernice Rhodenbarr -- Hugh Wilson’s reimagining of the literary burglar created by Lawrence Block. With Bobcat Goldthwait bringing his signature chaos as her loyal sidekick and G.W. Bailey on her trail, this one’s packed with familiar faces and offbeat energy. Guest co-hosts Kevin Lehane and Cullen Callaghe...

Pirate radio takes center stage as The Projection Booth tunes into 40 Watts from Nowhere (2025), the riveting true story of an underground FM station broadcasting from the shadows of 1990s Los Angeles. Host Mike White sits down with the film’s director, Sue Franklin, to explore the rebellious spirit behind the airwaves, the challenges of bringing this real-life outlaw operation to the screen, and...

Whoopbruary is here! We're dedicating a whole month to the incomparable Whoopi Goldberg, spotlighting a trio of films she made after her powerhouse performance in The Color Purple—plus one extra for good measure. Kicking things off is Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986), the high-energy spy comedy directed by Penny Marshall. Whoopi stars as Terry Doolittle, a quick-witted computer technician who unwittingly...

George A. Romero’s Resident Evil is one of the greatest "what could have been" stories in horror cinema. Filmmaker Brandon Salisbury discusses his documentary, which explores the legendary director’s unmade adaptation of the iconic video game, diving into the history, the scripts, the concept art, and the behind-the-scenes drama that kept Romero’s vision from reaching the screen. Featuring insight...

Buckle up for a journey through the absurd, anarchic, and audacious as The Projection Booth takes on Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend (1967). Hosts Mike White, Rob St. Mary, and Andrei Idu (who requested the episode via Patreon) dive headfirst into Godard's biting critique of consumerism, class, and chaos, dissecting the film's surreal narrative, infamous tracking shots, and unapologetically subversive t...

Mike White is joined by Maurice Bursztynski and Suzen Tekla Kruglinska to explore Hal Ashby's Being There (1979), a satirical masterpiece based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel. This listener request from Patreon supporter Jordan Nash examines the story of Chance, played brilliantly by Peter Sellers, a sheltered, developmentally delayed man who steps out of isolation after his caretaker's death. Wanderin...

Mike welcomes writer/director (and fellow Michigander) Anna Baumgarten for a heartfelt conversation about her award-winning 2021 film Disfluency. This intimate exploration of a young woman's journey to recover from trauma and rediscover her voice captures the raw vulnerability of healing and self-discovery. Anna shares the personal inspirations behind the film, the challenges of portraying mental...