UMassterclass

Today, the UMassterclass team discusses Bi Gan's 2025 film, Resurrection . Resurrection follows the journey of a "deliriant," in a future where humanity has given up dreaming, as he relives one hundred years across multiple dreams, aided by a woman using the lost techniques of cinema. The six segments of the film each corresponds to one of the six senses recognized in Buddhist though...

Today, co-host Conrad Johnson takes us through his thoughts on Sirāt (2025) in his last solo episode of the UMassterclass podcast. Conrad is graduating in a few weeks, and he was very passionate that the listeners of UMassterclass hear about this film; take a listen and enjoy! Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Chloe Mills, Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba Theme by C...

UMass Amherst is hosting the 33rd rendition of the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival this month, and the UMassterclass podcast dove into the inner workings of this year's programming. Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills and Conrad Johnson // Edited by Chloe Mills // Team: Elle Decatur, Joane Nzikoba Interviewees: Barbara Zecchi, Ayanna Dozier, Dex Veitch Theme by Conrad Johnson

It's Oscars day!! Today, the UMassterclass team along with special guest Paola Delmaschio give you their thoughts on some of this year's nominations for Best Picture. Take a listen and enjoy! Segments: Chloe Mills - Sentimental Value Elle Decatur - Hamnet Joanne Nzikoba - One Battle After Another (dictated by Chloe Mills) Paola Delmaschio - Sinners Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited...

Today, UMassterclass is featuring the second episode in a two-part series by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs. In this episode, Bella dives into South Korean history to give historical and cultural context to what informs Lee Chang Dong's choices to do with representation. She talks about women’s place in South Korean society, and historical events contemporary with Lee Chang...

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by Bella Livoti as her final project for Film Auteurs last fall. This first episode of two begins to highlight emotional representation of trauma in film by Lee Chang-dong. Take a listen and enjoy! Hosted/Produced by Conrad Johnson and Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson // Team: Maggie Belanger, Ev Fuss Theme by Conrad Johnson

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by former UMass students, Ceeb Kennedy and Brian Licata! Both students graduated in the spring of 2025, having participated in the Film Studies program. In this episode, Ceeb and Brian take a closer look into the works of Luca Guadagnino, specifically "I Am Love (2009)," "A Bigger Splash (2015)," and "Call Me by Your Name (2017)...

Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by the team's new co-host, Conrad Johnson! This episode looks at interviews with the cast and production team of the Monty Python series, reviewing techniques and unique stylistic choices in order to maintain a certain comedic style while keeping a low budget. Take a listen! Hosted/Produced by Chloe Mills // Edited by Conrad Johnson Theme by Conrad John...

Today, UMassterclass is featuring a special episode with the team's own Gabby Mosher! The Romantic Comedy: a movie that appeals mostly to women. Exploring love and romance by utilizing humor, this genre is often overlooked by the film industry. Gabby talks about this overlooked genre from a feminist perspective, exploring how the romantic comedy can both adhere to gender norms as well as empow...

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MMFF with UMassterclass! In this episode, host Rianna Jakson talks to Co-Director Daniel Pope on the meaning of this year's theme, "Before After" and each transformative film of the program! Listen to Rianna speak with director Ishtar Yasin Gutiérrez ( My Lost Country / Baladi Aldaia , 2022) and award-winning director/cinematographer David Siev (...

Welcome to UMassterclass, the official, award-winning podcast of the Film Studies program at UMass Amherst! Get a taste of what the show is like, meet every member of the team, and learn more about the origins of UMassterclass! Hosted by Rianna Jakson & Kiefer Callewaert | Edited by Ryan Gies | Theme Music by Ryan Gies | Podcast art by Jacky Celestino

In this special episode, host Rianna Jakson discusses Pretty Little Liars (showrunner I. Marlene King) and Deep Red (or, Profondo russo ) (1975, dir. Dario Argento). This episode was produced through Professor Daniel Pope's Film Writing & Criticism Course of Fall 2022. Celebrating International Teach Music Week (March 20-26), listen to Rianna take in-depth look at how the music of the hit...

First special episode of the new year! Today, UMassterclass is featuring an episode by the team’s very own Kaliska Wiley! This special was produced through Professor Daniel Pope’s Film Writing and Criticism course, where students study films from an array of genres, periods in film history, international cinemas, and underrepresented voices. In a podcast workshop, Wiley and her friend, Andrew Bove...

Welcome to season 3! In their special debut extra for Halloween, hosts Rianna Jakson and Kiefer Callewaert examine the inspirations lifted from classical mythology and literature between The Batman (dir. Matt Reeves) and Se7en (David Fincher). What motivates the "day of reckoning" in each story? How is punishment dealt? How does Michael Giacchino draw on a classical prayer to transform and embelli...

In this second part of season 2 episode 3, hosts Jacky Celestino and Emily Ko turn to The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery) to continue their discussion on what it means to truly live, how the film relates to an ever-changing, collective definition of a meaningful life, and more! With special guests Edson Oda and Professor Daniel Pope!  Hosted by Jacky Celestino and Emily Ko | Edited by Emily...

In this first part of season 2 episode 3, hosts Jacky Celestino and Emily Ko talk about Nine Days (dir. Edson Oda) and delve into its existentialist themes like what does it mean to live a meaningful life? They also discuss the film’s cultural relevance to the social movements of today, and more. With special guests Edson Oda and Professor Daniel Pope! Hosted by Jacky Celestino and Emily Ko | Edit...

Happy second week of this year's MMFF! In this podcast extra, host Emily Ko talks to Guest Curator Laura McGough, Assistant Curator Nefeli Forni, and Co-Director Daniel Pope about this year's theme (Indigeneities), the virtual format, and the history and future of the festival!  To participate in the festival, go to: https://blogs.umass.edu/mmff2022/ To watch last week's live Q&A with fil...

In this second part of season 2 episode 2, host Emily Ko talks about Chloé Zhao’s The Rider and Nomadland. She discusses the cowboy identity, feminist filmmaking, nomadic living, and more! With special guests Professor Robin Blaetz and J.D. Swerzenski. Hosted/edited/produced by Emily Ko | Podcast art by Jacky Celestino

In this first part of season 2 episode 2, host Emily Ko talks about Chloé Zhao’s filmmaking journey, as well as her first feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me . She discusses the film’s contemplative portrayal of life on Pine Ridge, the importance of film as a medium, The Eternals , and more! With special guests Professor Robin Blaetz and Christian Buckley.  Hosted/edited/produced by Emi...

In this podcast extra, host Emily Ko interviews Nefeli Forni, coordinator of the 80 Years of Xanadu: Legacies of Citizen Kane conference that is taking place on December 3. Nefeli invites faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students from UMass Amherst and the Five Colleges to submit their academic paper, creative project, or video essay on Citizen Kane . She also talks about coordinating this con...

Last episode of the summer! In this guest episode, host Ben Sepinuck gives an overview of the Best Picture nominees of the 2021 Academy Awards. He talks about films like Judas and the Black Messiah , Minari , Nomadland , and more! This amazing episode also won Best in Competition at the 2020-2021 Michael S. Roif Awards! Please check out: www.explaintheasterisk.org/ Music in Ben's episode: Tumblin...

In this special episode, host Emily Ko talks about The Shape of Water (dir. Guillermo Del Toro). This episode is part of Emily's Made Me Cry podcast where she talks about films that made her and many other people cry. She discusses the 2018 Oscars, how The Shape of Water moves audiences through its filmmaking, and some of the criticism that this film received.  Aisha Harris's article on The S...

In this episode, hosts Jacky Celestino and Emily Ko talk with undergraduate teaching assistants from different film classes. They discuss the TAing experience, the content of the courses, and much more! These interviews were recorded during the Spring 2021 semester. Due to the virtual nature of these interviews, there are some variations in audio quality. Thank you for your patience! Hosted by Jac...

First guest episode ever! Today, UMassterclass is featuring Hannah Chan's episode on Minari (dir. Lee Isaac Chung) and Burning (dir. Lee Chang-Dong) from her podcast, Asian Film Express . She talks about the Golden Globes, Asian representation, Steven Yeun, and more! Stop AAPI Hate: https://stopaapihate.org Anti-Asian Violence Resources: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co Featured episod...

In this first full episode of season 2, hosts Emily Ko and Jacky Celestino discuss One Night in Miami (dir. Regina King) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (dir. George C. Wolfe). Their analysis looks at how the films’ technical elements underscore the confines of racial disparities that the characters face. They compare Sam Cooke and Malcom X’s relationship with that of Ma Rainey and Levee’s to further...