Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film

Matt & Mike discuss first person story elements that place the audience into the mindscape of either a protagonist or a group of characters within a narrative. Topics include the following: Indications of a standard first person narrative structure include use of narration and/or point of view shots. However, in many instances, a third person limited perspective that shows only the environment...

Matt & Mike explore sources of inspiration for films, as well as the various narrative structures through which those storylines are conveyed. Even though plot details may differ between narratives, universal themes are often explored through storylines that long predate the existence of film. Additionally, other sources of inspiration can influence various aspects of a film, including its vis...

In this episode, Matt & Mike revisit filmmaking elements addressed in prior episodes of the film school to discuss the following: Techniques used when filming the performance of actors. Editing techniques for dialogue scenes. Establishing character through action. How dialogue styles and rhythms either elevate or ground the execution of a film. Primary takeaways are as follows: Distance, frami...

Matt & Mike return to discuss the elements that "set the stage" for performance, which make up the Mise-en-Scene of the film. Aspects which comprise Mise-en-Scene include the following: 1) Locations - whether it be a soundstage or a natural location. 2) Costumes - past, present, or future all require authenticity. 3) Props - what are the props that either make the film feel lived in or define...

Hosts Matt & Mike continue their journey through the process of filmmaking from a psychological perspective, along with special guest, Nick, a podcaster in his own right, who happens to also be Mike's nephew. The reason for Nick's inclusion in this particular episode is his musical background as an experienced drummer, as well as his knowledge of film and film scores. The first portion of the...

Hosts Matt & Mike continue their journey through the process of filmmaking through a psychological perspective. This episode delves into the art of editing, including discussion of the various types of montage, parallel editing, surrealism and the psychological impact of extended continuous shots. Examples illustrating each aspect of editing include discussion of landmark montage set pieces fr...

Delves into the art of cinematography, including such topics as the elegance of slow-motion, use of natural light, impact of color versus black & white, and role of framing and different aspect ratios. The conversation covers the evolution of film formats, strategies for utilizing point of view shots, lens choice and lighting, and the contribution of Steadicam on tracking shots. Takeaways Cine...

Matt and Mike complete discussion of their 30 Film Favorites. The final lists are as follows: Matt's 30 Favorites: 2001: A Space Odyssey Alien Apocalypse Now Blade Runner Chinatown The Dark Knight The Empire Strikes Back The French Connection The Godfather Goodfellas Goldfinger Heat Inception Jaws King Kong (1933) L.A. Confidential Lawrence of Arabia LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring The Nightmare...

Matt & Mike resume their discussion of their favorite films, this time focusing on stories touching upon the criminal underworld or the world of intrigue. The list of films this time out is as follows: Chinatown LA Confidential The French Connection Die Hard Goldfinger Marathon Man Heat Manhunter Goodfellas Scarface Road to Perdition The Shawshank Redemption Requiem for a Dream SPOILER ALERT:...

For their second episode, Matt & Mike continue with their filmic "Rorschach Test" in describing the films that have meaning to them and the personal reasons why. Once they reach the end of this short series of episodes, the hope is that the audience will understand the psychological prism through which Mike & Matt view movies as they break down the elements of individual films in future ep...

In this first episode, Matt & Mike provide their bios to familiarize the listening audience with their backgrounds in order to convey the perspective through which they analyze films. They also begin the process of listing their top 30 favorite films, to share why those films are important to them, and reveal why listeners should follow along as Matt & Mike explore the psychological elemen...