The Projection Booth

Samm Deighan and Spencer Parsons join Mike to look at the 1976 Hungarian film from Zoltan Fabri, The Fifth Seal. Set in WWII, the film is a deceptively simple story of five men who meet and drink in an urban watering hole. One of them proposes a bit of a thought experiment which colors the world of his companions and eventually manifests in real life thanks to the fascists, the Arrow Cross Party,...

Agatha Luz and Andrew Nette join Mike on a special episode to discuss Michael Schultz's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), a story of the dangers of fame set to the music of the music of The Beatles. The film stars the Brothers Gibb and Peter Frampton as innocents from Heartland, USA who get wooed by record producer B.D. (Donald Pleasence) and set against villains Mean Mr. Mustard and t...

Mike talked with Robert Richardson (ASC) about his career including his work with Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese and Ben Affleck. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

Jessica Shires joins Mike White and Heather Drain to discuss her Patreon request: Jess Franco’s 1973 film A Virgin Among the Living Dead. It’s the story of Christina ("Christina von Blanc"), a young woman who is summoned to her family’s mansion after the suicide of her father. There we meet her odd family. The film plays out somewhere between a dream and a nightmare following its own pace and logi...

Jedidiah Ayres and Andrew Nette join Mike to look at Jeremy Kagan 's The Big Fix. Released in 1978, the film stars Richard Dreyfuss as Moses Wine, a radical in the '60s who’s now a down-on-his-luck detective who gets put on a case that takes him back to his old stomping grounds. Author of the Moses Wine books (and so much more), Roger L. Simon joins us to discuss writing the film while Kagan talks...

Jedidiah Ayres and John Walker join Mike to look at Michael Mann's moody supernatural film The Keep. Released in 1983, the film is a real who’s who of actors including Jürgen Prochnow as a German captain, Gabriel Byrne as a Nazi SS Major, Ian McKellan as a disabled scholar, and Scott Glenn as an ancient being on the side of light. All of them eventually make their way to the titular Keep deep in t...

Mike talks with special effects coordinator Brandon K. McLaughlin about his career from being on set on The Rocketeer to his work on There Will Be Blood to his latest work on Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/p...

On this episode Emily Intravia and Chris Cummins join Mike to discuss the 2001 film from writer / directors Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan, Josie & The Pussycats. It’s the story of the Pussycats -- Josie, Valerie, and Melody -- a rockin’ girl group from Riverdale, and how they become entangled in a dastardly plot cooked up by the record industry to exploit teens for their limited but plentifu...

Mike talks with writer/director L.E. Staiman and writer Cheston Mizel about their pandemic comedy Love Virtually. It's a story about how the world, and relationships, were falling apart. The film is now available via your favorite digital rental/purchase platforms. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The...

Philip Marinello and Spencer Parsons join Mike to look at Sam Fuller’s 1964 film The Naked Kiss. The film stars Constance Towers as Kelly, a call girl who turns over a new leaf by becoming the best darned nurse a small town hospital that specializes in the care of special needs kids has ever seen. She’s torn between two men, the sheriff who thinks she’s trash and needs to be run out of town to a n...

Mike speaks with author Steve Matteo about his latest book, Act Naturally: The Beatles On Film, which examines the handful of films starring the fab four along with what shaped them. Buy the book at https://amzn.to/3SaylOE Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com...

Rob St. Mary joins Mike to look at the 1992 Belgian film Man Bites Dog. Directed by Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel, and Benoît Poelvoorde, the film is a mockumentary about a serial killer, Ben, played by co-director Benoit, who’s being followed around by a camera crew who capture some of his more outrageous adventures but also his thoughts about life, beer, and more. Become a supporter of this podcast...

Friend of the show AJ Black returns to talk with Mike about his latest book, Lost Federations: The Unofficial Unmade History of Star Trek. Tony goes deep into Trek lore to look at unmade projects, alternate histories, and forgotten stories. Order your copy today at https://amzn.to/3QuKsVA Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . B...

Ian Brownell and Tim Luz join Mike to kick off spooktacular coverage with Erie C. Kenton’s 1932 adaptation of H.G. Wells’s 1896 book, The Island of Doctor Moreau. Here it’s called Island of Lost Souls and stars Charles Laughton as Moreau, a mad scientist who works to bend the will of nature to suit his needs. He works to create a race of human/animal hybrids on his mysterious island which is distu...

Mike talks with filmmaker Steven Summers about his ambitious five-part docu-series, War Movie: The American Battle in Cinema (2023). It's a fascinating look at how the presentation of war in American movies has changed over the first century of film. Find out more at http://www.cantileverfilms.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/s...

A request from Patreon donor Vaughn Collmyer, we're discussing Robert Downey’s 1970 film Pound, an ensemble piece wherein a group of 18 actors play different breeds of dog... and one lonely, lost penguin… all awaiting their fate in a dog pound. Spencer Parsons, Rob St. Mary, and Mike discuss Downey's film as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s documentary Sr. about his relationship with his father and his...

On this special Czechtember episode we’re looking at Oldrich Lipsky’s 1981 film The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians. Based on the novel by Jules Verne from 1892, the film tells the story of Count Teleke of Toloko (Michal Docolomanský), a blowhard opera singer who, along with his manservant, stop by the village of where he learns about the nearby Devil’s Castle which is said to be haunted. Jon...

Mike talks with director Brett Smith about his feature film debut, Freedom's Path (2022). The film tells the tale of an AWOL Union Soldier who meets a man running part of the Underground Railroad. The film is now available to stream. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www....

Kyler Fey joins Mike to answer most listener questions... other than those submitted by Dallas Norvell who send along his own audio file. Learn why 2024 has been such a bizarre year at The Projection Booth podcast! Thanks again to everyone who sent in their questions and comments. And if you figure out the little pizza remark, please let me know! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spr...

Mike talks with film critic Matt Singer about his latest book, Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever, which tracks the origins and evolution of the landmark film criticism show. Get your copy at https://amzn.to/49hjPuG Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at...

We continue our Czechtember month of murder and mayhem with Oldrich Lipsky's 1971 film Four Murders are Enough, Darling. The film stars Oldrich’s brother, Lubomir, as George Camel, a teacher who is mistaken for a murderer by two rival gangs who are fighting for a million dollar check. The movie is the second filmed adaptation of the book by Ninad Brixy, Entry Forbidden to the Dead . Cerise Howard...

Ethan Minsker joins Mike to discuss his latest film, Scooter LaForge: A Life of Art (2023). The film's subject, Scooter LaForge, talks about his experience of having himself and his art in the documentary. The film has its premiere at DocNYC. Find out more at the festival's website . Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become...

Mike talks with Steven Pierce, the co-writer/director of Herd (2023). He's joined by actors Dana Snyder and Corbin Bernsen to discuss the making of this contemporary zombie film. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth 

Author Laurence Leamer discusses his latest book, Hitchcock's Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession. Perfect for the holidays, pick up a copy at your local bookstore or https://amzn.to/3FnsYEa Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--5513239/support . Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www...

We continue our Czechtember coverage with Ester Krumbachová’s sole credited role as director, Killing Mr. Devil AKA Murder of Mr. Devil AKA Vrazda ing. Certa. Released in 1970, the film stars Jirina Bohdalová as a woman who is plagued by the self-centered Dr. Bohous Devil (Vladimír Mensík). He’s an apparent bachelor who wants nothing more than to eat her out of house and home in a series of vignet...