The Projection Booth

Noirvember 2022 continues with a look at Ivan Passer’s Cutter’s Way. Originally released as Cutter and Bone, the film is an adaptation of Newton Thornburg’s 1976 book and stars John Heard as Cutter and Jeff Bridges as Bone. They’re a pair of troubled souls who engage themselves in a mystery that may or may not be real. Mike Watt and Maitland McDonagh join Mike to discuss this fascinating neo-noir....

Czechtember 2022 continues with a look at Ivan Passer’s Intimate Lighting (1965). The first feature film from director Ivan Passer, it’s the story of Peter, a cello player, who -- along with his girlfriend, Stepa, returns home to his village to stay with his friend Bambas and his family. Spencer Parsons and Matthew Asprey Gear join Mike to discuss this landmark of the Czech New Wave. Become a supp...

Noirvember 2022 continues with a look at David Robert Mitchell’s Under the Silver Lake. Released in 2018, the film stars Andrew Garfield as Sam, a slacker who’s about to be kicked out of his apartment and loses his car. He becomes entranced by a neighbor at his apartment complex who disappears, setting Sam on a path filled with dog killers, pop music, and secret codes. Jedidiah Ayres and Tim Luz j...

We conclude Czechtember 2022 with the 1965 film from Jiri Weiss, 90 Degrees in the Shade. The film was a Czech and British co-production meaning that there is both Czech and English version of the film. It’s the story of Alena, a woman who has been involved with a married man who is also her boss. Always a bad mistake, Alena. And one that will lead to a lot of intrigue when Rudolph Hrusinky as Mr....

Eighteen years in the making, Patrick Read Johnson's 5-25-77 is a partially autobiographical film about a young man (John Francis Daley) in the Midwest who sees an early screening of Star Wars and how it changes his life. Mike talks to Johnson about the journey of the film along with the story behind the end theme to Spaced Invaders. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/pod...

We kickoff Noirvember 2022 with something a little different; an erotic thriller from 1989. Directed by Meiert Avis, co-written by Tommy Lee Wallace, shot by Paul Miller, and produced by Donald P. Borchers, the film stars Drew Barrymore as Joleen Cox who, along with her father Charley (Matt Frewer) are stranded in a little trailer park in Nevada on their way back to California. She’s on the edge o...

On this special episode Mike talks with producer / writer / director Christin Baker about her career including her streaming platform, Tello Films, and her most recent films including Christmas at the Ranch, Merry & Gay, and the Scare B&B series. Merry & Gay will premiere on Baker's latest venture, DivaBoxOffice.tv, in December 2022. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/pod...

We continue #Noirvember 2022 with a look at Edmund Goulding’s Nightmare Alley. Released in 1947 the film stars Tyrone Power as Stanton Carlisle, a smooth operator at the carnival. He works his way through a trio of women and a string of jobs always looking for that next big score but always haunted by the howl of the geek. Samm Deighan and Andrew Nette join Mike to discuss the original and 2021 Gu...

On this special episode, Mike talks with a trio of authors about Sean Connery's first outing as James Bond, the 1962 feature Dr. No. AJ Black, author of The Cinematic Connery: The Films of Sir Sean Connery James Chapman, author of Dr. No: The First James Bond Film Steve Rubin, author of The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-proje...

We conclude #Shocktober 2022 with a look at Tony Scott’s The Hunger. Based on the book by Whitley Strieber, the film stars Catherine Deneuve as Miriam, a being that’s lived thousands of years. When we meet her, her companion John (David Bowie) has been with her for a few hundred years and suddenly starts to age. There’s maybe one person in the world that might be able to help. Dr. Sarah Roberts (S...

Shocktober 2022 continues with a look at Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In. Based on the book and adapted by John Ajvide Lindqvist, it’s the story of Oskar, a young boy who’s being picked on at school. When a vampire, Eli, and her helper move into the apartment next door, things change for young Oskar. Kyler Fey and Chris Bricklemyer join Mike to discuss this unusual vampire film as well as i...

We’re continuing Shocktober 2022 with an episode on George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Released in 1978, the film is a stalwart of the zombie film pantheon. Ostensibly picking up after the events of Night of the Living Dead, the film stars Gaylen Ross as Francine, one of a handful of people trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. She and the others find refuge in a mall where they rebuild a facsim...

We are kicking off Shocktober 2022 with a look at Cindy Sherman’s Office Killer. Released in 1997 the film stars Carol Kane as Dorine Douglas, a mousy proofreader at a magazine that’s downsizing. After accidentally electrocuting the office lech, Dorine begins recreating her office life at home with her overbearing mother. Dahlia Schweitzer and Chris Stachiw join Mike to discuss the film while scre...

On this special episode, Mike talks with the directors of two horror-related documentaries: Kyra Elise Gardner of Living with Chucky (2022) and Daphné Baiwir of King on Screen (2022). 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 

We kick off Czechtember 2022 with a look at Vojtech Jansy’s The Cassandra Cat. Also known as “When the Cat Comes,” the film is a fairy tale about a little city which lives under the protective eye of Oliva (Jan Bierch). When he was young he almost ran away with the circus which featured an unusual act of a cat which could show people their true colors… literally. Spencer Parsons and Chris Stachiw...

Maitland McDonagh and Philip Marinello join Mike to discuss the 1979 film from John Huston, Wise Blood. Based on the book by Flahnery O’Connor, the film stars Brad Dourif as Hazel Motes, a veteran who goes to the big city and decides to become a street preacher and he’s not out to make a quick buck though everyone else around him does. Interviews on this episode include Prof. Jean W. Cash (author...

Chris Bricklemyer (Outside the Cinema) and Ryan Luis Rodriguez (The Coolness Chronicles) join Mike to discuss the 1985 film from Martha Coolidge, Real Genius. Written by Pat Proft and Neal Israel, the film stars Gabe Jarret as Mitch Taylor, a 15 year old who is recruited into a top engineering college by Professor Jerry Hathaway (William Atherton). Hathaway has been secretly contracted by the US m...

Professor Kendall R. Phillips discusses his work, focusing on his latest book, Kolchak: The Night Stalker from Wayne State University's TV Milestones series. The book discusses the origins and impact of the short-lived TV series and its landmark TV movies. Get your copy today at https://amzn.to/3cToURw Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth--55132...

We’re looking at Liliana Cavani's The Night Porter (1974). Set in 1957 Vienna, Max Aldorfer (Dirk Bogard) is the titular night porter. When a conductor and his wife, Lucia (Charlotte Rampling) check in to Max's motel, he is thrown into a tizzy. He’s been living a quiet life and trying to stay under the radar as he’s a war criminal who has just been confronted with one of his victims... who was als...

Released in 1970, Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist is set primarily in 1938 Europe. We follow the life of Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintingnant), the titular conformist, a man who tries desperately to fit in and follow the party line. Samm Deighan and Dahlia Schweitzer join Mike to discuss this gorgeous, unsettling film. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/...

On this special episode we’re looking at the 1974 film from Sal Watts, Solomon King. The film tells the tale of the titular Solomon King who is portrayed by writer and co-director Watts himself. He’s a former CIA operator who becomes embroiled in international intrigue involving the Middle East. He’s trying to protect the Princess Oneewa (Claudia Russo) from her cousin, Hassan (Richard Scarso), wh...

Released in 1976, Leon Capetanos wrote and Charles Bail directed The Gumball Rally which stars Michael Sarrazin as Michael Bannon, a corporate exec who gets his kicks from an all out coast to coast race where he’s partnered with his buddy, Professor Sam Graves (Nicholas Pryor) and really is racing against his rival Smitty (Tim McIntire) and his ringer Franco (Raul Julia). Chris Stachiw and Father...

Mike spoke with cameraman/cinematographer Mario Panagiotopoulos about his career including his Emmy-nominated and Emmy-winning work on RuPaul's Drag Race. Hear Mike geek out about the behind-the-scenes of one of his favorite shows. 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.pa...

To commemorate 25 years since its 1997 release New York's Japan Society screened Hayao Miyazaki’s mystical epic Princess Mononoke on July 22, 2022. Mike spoke with IndieWire's David Ehrlich about the seminal anime 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/pr...

Mike talks with actor Eric Edwards (AKA Robert Everett) about his life and career. He discusses his work with Gerard Damiano, Radley Metzger, the Amero Brothers and more as well as his own work as a writer/director. 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/projec...