Beyond Bechdel

While we work on season 3, let's look at some things we love, and some that we loathe...

Half-way through the year 2020 and who knows how far into the devilish reign of COVID-19, Contrarah asks if we're getting film fatigue? She and notorious series-hater Nick debate project length, subject and what two decades can do to our perception, and wonder if it's ok to simply enjoy programming, or should we also endure it?  One thing is for certain, even with a mind at work, we haven't c...

Contrarah is joined by Nick again for a new bonus episode on some excellent new films with a common theme. Firstly there's a discussion on enjoying versus enduring a movie, with our take on Joker. Before the main event: looking in depth at two powerful movies directed by directors at the top of their game: * Portrait of a Lady on Fire * Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always Join us to discover why we n...

Movies have long helped us to live out our best and worst fantasies. And what better way to cope with stressful times than by social distancing in the safety of your own home while watching famous, beautiful people do all the hard work.  In this second part of a two-parter, we look at the films that really went viral - and not in a good way... But can films about GERM WARFARE actually help us...

Movies have long helped us to live out our best and worst fantasies. And what better way to cope with stressful times than by social distancing in the safety of your own home while watching famous, beautiful people do all the hard work.  But can film actually help us during the coronavirus pandemic? Listen as Contrarah and Nick break down the (sometimes) invaluable advice found in 15 disaster...

In these strange times we wanted to bring listeners comfort, in the form of coping tips, media recommendations and the sound of three people laughing through the madness. Hope this helps. Jen's brand new web series Phase 2 can be found here: www.youtube.com/channel/UCuS1mtCoDwYXiq2zALzLYqw We're all on twitter if you want to talk: twitter.com/bec_bebop twitter.com/JustJen_02 twitter.com/Beyond_Bec...

2020 - sounds good doesn't it? We predict great things for filmmaking in this new decade! Contrarah asked some previous pod guests what they are most looking forward to.  She and Nick also finish their discussion on the best films of the last ten years.  In a Hole Doll's House Key time codes: 5:01 - Just Jen 27:02 - Audrey Fox   40:31 - Emma Butt   1:02:05 - Becky Matthews &nbs...

The last decade saw some fantastic movies and some big steps forward for women in film, but no one told Nick that, he just loves himself some MAN movies full of MEN. Thank goodness Contrarah weighs in with some big time, money-making, award-winning female films. Contrarah and Nick continue their review of cinema from 2010 to 2019 - this time looking at 2014 to 2017, and they may have finally found...

The last decade saw some fantastic movies and some big steps forward for women in film. Contrarah and Nick review their tastes in cinema from 2010 to 2019 - each with a wildly different focus. Did your movie make the cut?

Computer gaming - it's for boys only, right? Wrong! And yet, history hasn't been kind to the gamer community, especially in terms of gender discrimination. Instead of laying blame, maybe it's time to look at whether the games themselves are contributing towards a culture. Contrarah enlists the help of Dr Esther Wright ( https://twitter.com/EstherWrigh_ ) whose recent PhD delves deep into stereotyp...

What is Cinema? Scorsese thinks he knows, but does he? Nick with his TV industry work knowledge and Contrarah debate this question focussing on art, entertainment with a segue into what exactly is a human being? Plus, do we want our Netflix content even faster? Bonus Drinking Game: Take a sip every time someone says Transformers! Tell us your definition of cinema at: beyondbech@gmail.com or https:...

It's easy to look back at films from 20 years ago and cringe hard, wondering, "what were we thinking?" Yet the 90s brought us so many good things, including a new a golden age for the romantic comedy - a genre sometimes frowned upon today. Writer/director/producer Just Jen thinks we shouldn't dismiss 90s romcoms as featherweight, when the lessons they're bringing are more empowering than at first...

Amber Hunt, Amanda Rossman, Elizabeth Andes. Madeleine Baran, Parker Yesko, Bertha Tardy. Liliana Segura, Jordan Smith, Donna Brown. You might not know their names. All women. All important. Listen to find out why. Bad things happen to women every day, and women are doing invaluable work to make the world a better place. We get to be a part of the process through the power of audio. Contrarah make...

Remember old-school nurses? The white-starched uniform, kind bedside manner and comforting, feminine presence? Cinema remembers. A movie was made that sought to turn that stereotype on its head.  Nurse Ratched is widely known as the most deliciously heinous member of the nursing profession. She's also - according to our guest Audrey Fox - a Trojan Horse, standing out as a powerful women in a...

Getting a film made is a huge undertaking. And the vast majority of films are produced and directed by men. So when we heard that Stefanie Davis had written. directed and produced her own feature, we hunted her down and begged her to share her secrets! Stefanie and Contrarah go into detail about the path to filmmaking, Stefanie's championing of the 'survival job' and how her gender has both nothin...

One of the best modern sci-fi action films in recent years, Edge of Tomorrow purported to be a Tom Cruise vehicle, but really it brought us Emily Blunt kicking all kinds of alien ass!  This is our first 'Trojan Horse' of the season and boy is the Angel of Verdun a goodun! \ Come join Nick and Contrarah as they dissect the action role of a lifetime.  Got a better action hero slipping her...

And we're BACK! Welcome to this 8-part mini-series of Beyond Bechdel, where we delve into cinematic culture from a very particular point of view. Stay with us for interviews, reviews, discussion and a lot of laughter from fantastic people working in the film and TV industry. The title might sound a bit odd but we'll break it down for you in the episodes, you'll have to listen to find out! Please l...

Can you hear us? Our season opener and first 'Specialist Subject' episode is all about sound. ADR and sound production specialist Emma Butt takes us through her career and influences, and gives invaluable advice for anyone who also wants to be a sound specialist. She is funny and self-deprecating. That sounds perfect to us! Find out more about Emma at www.emmabuttsound.com/ and by tweeting @EmmaBu...

Are you a completionist? Find out by listening here. Contrarah and Nick take us through the cinematic steps that brought the world to the brink of obsession Mild spoilers for Avengers: Endgame in the first half of the pod & Major Spoilers from around 0.45m in.

(NEWSFLASH: Boden & Fleck are not married - apologies to them and yay to the concept of platonic opposite sex filmmakers!) Hopefully you'll get that the title of this episode is a joke. BUT it's true that the MCU's masterpiece Captain Marvel means different things to different people.  Join Contrarah and Nick while they try to drill down the plot and try to separate their Skrull from their Kree. ...

The 2019 Academy Awards raise many questions for Contrarah, and she finds three directors who can answer them - with revolutionary films and performances. Many spoilers for Oscar nominated films in this episode. Roma, Roma, Roma!

Merry Christmas to you from Beyond Bechdel. In this last episode of 2018 we give you a CHRISTMAS MOVIE MUSIC QUIZ! Followed by the obligatory discussion of the categorisation of Christmas movies, plus our review of 2018 and our hopes for next year's crop of films. Thank you, as always, for listening. Please rate, subscribe and review and tweet to us @Beyond_Bechdel. Baby, is it cold outside?

Mona Eltahawy said, "What would the world look like if girls were taught they were volcanoes?" Women watching Fatal Attraction could be heard shouting "Kill the Bitch!" as the film concluded. Anger can take many forms, so Contrarah and Becky Matthews explore how this new age of rage is playing out on screen. Speak kindly to Becky @ https://twitter.com/bec_bebop Shout at us @ beyondbech@gmail.com A...

Nick and Contrarah raced back to Beyond Bechdel towers to give their quick verdict on Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald. To listen to the our deep-dive exploration of feminism in the Wizarding World please listen to episode 28. Contrarah's review of Fantastic Beasts 2 for liveforfilm.com can be found here: http://www.liveforfilm.com/2018/11/18/review-fantastic-beasts-2-the-crimes-of-gr...

Yep....you read that title correctly. This episode is all about 'Arry Potter! In the episode Nick and Contrarah ask: - are the women of the wizarding world getting short shrift? - Is JK Rowling caught in a spell cast by the Patriarchy? - What is Nagini's deal? Maledictus or Retcon victim? - can you compare the crimes of Grindelwald to the crimes of Johnny Depp? and much more... Accio listeners! Re...