The Broken Projector Movie Podcast

Clark Gregg recently wrote, directed and starred in an indie called Trust Me, and instead of asking one question about it before moving on to nine questions about Marvel movies, we took the opportunity to dig deep into what's clearly a very personal work. In the movie he plays a former child actor turned child actor agent (have fun, Psych majors) who discovers an amazingly gifted young actress who might join a major franchise and bring him the success he's always dreamed of. Spoiler alert: Loki never shows up. Plus, Geoff and I answer your screenwriting questions and then discuss some bizarre real-life things that would make amazing movies. Follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

What if you could go back in time and set your favorite shark-jumping movie franchise back on the right course? Which would you choose? How would you do it? Would it require Hugh Jackman getting naked and standing in front of a window? We tackle all of these questions on this week's show as we try to right some cinematic wrongs, review X-Men: Days of Future Past in depth and dissect a famous scene from Back to the Future to figure out why it works so damned well. You might feel a pinch. Follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

In our shortest episode of the year, I take a minute to dissect the way gigantic things are being portrayed on screen and to consider how Godzilla is like the most recent doomsday climate change report. Plus, Jack interviews the legendary Bill Paxton who plays a pitching coach in Million Dollar Arm. They get philosophical about acting just above a whisper and going calmly over the top. Fortunately, the lurking Predator decides not to attack them in the process.

As it turns out, it's completely possible to spend the warmest months without seeing a single superhero or explosion, and on this week's show, Geoff and I proclaim our excitement for the indie/non-blockbuster pics that might provide greatness this season. We'll also talk about our all-time favorite screenplays to read. 

More genres, more stories, more women. This week we welcome on Screen Rant's Ben Kendrick for an omnibus discussion of the amazing, as-yet-unrealized potential for superhero movies. At what point will audiences get bored with the same rehashed stories? At what point will one superhero movie lose big to another superhero movie in a crowded summer? At what point will studios develop the guts to take real risks?

Through music and misery, we ask the big questions this week. Specifically, Neil Miller and Geoff get philosophical over High Fidelity and debate whether we're truly defined by what we like (as opposed to what we're like) when it comes to relationships. Plus, Geoff describes a few ways to get into the TV show-writing business (and a few ways not to). And on our main stage, the stellar Stephen Frears joins us to talk about Philomena and capriciousness, and to offer perhaps the single most important piece of filmmaking advice the show has ever heard. You should follow Neil (@rejects), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

What happens after The Red Wedding? With Game of Thrones back for its fourth season on Sunday, we're delivering a singularly-dedicated episode where A Cast of Kings co-host Joanna Robinson and Broken Projector fan favorite Neil Miller join us for a spoiler-less look at what lies ahead (besides Winter). Neil has already seen the first three episodes and reviewed the spirit of the season, and we're up on all the books, so we follow up the safe portion with a segment focused on spoilers that might shock and amaze virgin viewers. Something for everyone! Except people who've never seen the show or read the books. Sorry about that. You should follow Joanna (@jowrotethis), Neil (@rejects), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

This week on the show we tackle some cinematic paranormal problems with Mystic Party! hosts Brea Grant and Zane Grant. The ultimate lesson is to stay away from everything because it’s all haunted and trying to kill you. Plus, Geoff will answer your screenwriting questions about contests and short film writing, we’ll chat about whether or not we actually want any new Indiana Jones movies, and we’ll turn to your responses to follow up on last week’s discussion of truth in biographical films. You should follow Brea (@breagrant), Zane (@zanegrant), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

Ah, the elusive allure of sequels. What makes you want to revisit a movie universe? What has you leaping to your feet during the credits hoping that the gang will get back together for a second outing? What makes you forcefully cringe when news of a number two breaks? This week on the show, Geoff and I attempt to answer that question while offering a few movies that have the potential for incredible sequels. Like The Incredibles sequel. Plus, we’ll look to a mysterious story about a potentially fake Twitter feed to examine how much truth we demand in our emotional response, and we’ll dissect movies with outdated teach (28.8 kbps modem!) while puzzling over films that wouldn’t even be possible today because of powerful tech advancements. Somehow along the way, Moore’s Law meets Rule 34. You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. Please review us on iTunes

Fresh off his Oscar win on Sunday, Gravity visual effects supervisor Tim Webber joins us to talk about his work with Alfonso Cuaron and explain how we can build our own CGI babies at home. Plus, we discuss how soon is too soon when it comes to real-life tragedy adaptations, and Josh Spiegel from Mousterpiece Cinema helps us debate the state of children's movies (while envisioning a high octane version of Winnie The Pooh). You should follow Josh (@mousterpiece), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

Remembering Harold Ramis, we take some time this week to recognize his legacy of sophisticated humor and geek prowess. Plus, we'll chat with House of Cards' Rachel Brosnahan and indie writer/director Ari Aster about their new short film Basically, and then Brian Salisbury and C. Robert Cargill join us to cheerlead for underappreciated genre movies and announce an exciting, fattening new podcasting venture. You should follow Brian (@briguysalisbury), Cargill (@massawyrm), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

Studios should learn a powerful lesson from the one-two punch of The LEGO Movie and RoboCop. Specifically, that they're getting in the way of their own success. How do you make a hit? By making a great movie. How do you make a great movie? Hire great filmmakers and then empower them to create. Unfortunately, there are some huge roadblocks on the path toward that Utopia. We'll discuss them while envisioning a bright new future. Plus, FSR Associate Editor Kate Erbland joins us for an Interrogation Reviewification of the aforementioned cyborg policeman movie, and we'll all offer some 80s movies we'd love/hate to see remade. You should follow Kate (@katerbland), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

It's only natural that we discuss Philip Seymour Hoffman and the powerful work he left behind this week. We'll also take the opportunity to think on other outstanding acting talents that we can be thankful for and celebrate some of our favorite Hoffman roles. Plus, FILM CRITIC HULK joins us to debate our movie fan baggage about remakes on the precipice of a new RoboCop and Film.com's Will Goss drops by to play a thrilling round of Infinity Questions. You should follow FILM CRIT HULK (@FILMCRITHULK), Will (@williambgoss), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

Some people have a routine of eating two eggs for breakfast, reading the news and brushing their teeth before heading to work; Meryl Streep has a routine of getting Oscar nominations. She's earned her 18th with August: Osage County, and to celebrate her cultural dominance we'll speak with Karina Longworth, author of "Meryl Streep: Anatomy of an Actor" about Streep's rich career arc. Plus, Geoff will answer three of your screenwriting questions, we'll finally reveal who won the Prestige-Off and Rob Hunter will give us the movies from Sundance to keep on our radar. You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

The dream is to get famous on YouTube and translate that success into a feature film career, but so far the only group to truly do that is Radio Silence. The filmmakers behind the found footage uterine horror Devil's Due made a name for themselves on the site where a bajillion hours of video is uploaded every second, and now they're staking that reputation on the big screen. We'll talk to them about that jump and what goes into making a baby. Plus, Geoff and I attempt to sell each other on two debatable ideas: the rising power of fan clubs to demand content from creators and the need for aspiring screenwriters to avoid reading scripts-in-progress. You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

The visuals of 12 Years a Slave are stunning, often unflinching, and this week we've invited cinematographer (and frequent Steve McQueen collaborator) Sean Bobbitt to explain how he made millions uncomfortable with his imagery.  Plus, Geoff and I talk about The Wolf of Wall Street's capability to turn good people into quaalude-hungry maniacs and answer a hypothetical question about saving only one 2014 movie from destruction (by quaalude-hungry maniacs).  You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

Everyone is making lists this time of year (including us), but talking about the movies of 2013 has gotten a little old, so we decided to turn to old movies in order to feel new again. Old being relative. With the fog of hype and immediacy washed away, Joanna Robinson from Pajiba and FSR's own Landon Palmer join Geoff and me to discuss our favorites of 2003 and discover some connections to the trends that would dominate a decade later. You should follow Joanna (@quityourjrob), Landon (@landonspeak), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

Paul Walker's performance in Hours is a different animal. In the film, he stars as a man who loses his wife during childbirth and must watch over his ailing newborn in a hospital evacuated by the threat of Hurricane Katrina. It's high concept with a big beating heart, and we'll speak with writer/director Eric Heisserer about the challenges of crafting it, and the contextual shift left by Walker's tragic death. Plus, Eric Vespe (aka Quint) from Aint It Cool News will try to convince Geoff to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug regardless of how the dragon's name is pronounced, and we've got a fundamental screenwriting question on tap for both Geoff and Heisserer. It's our penultimate show, so we're swinging for the fences. You should follow Eric Vespe (@ericvespe), Eric Heisserer (@HIGHzurrer), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a r

The master of blending comedy, drama and real people, we can think of no one we'd rather spend an awkward holiday dinner with than John Hughes. So this week on the show we'll heap praise on the filmmaker who delivered our teenage years and families back to us on the screen. To help us out, "You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried" author Susannah Gora joins us to share some fantastic insights into Hughesian magic. We'll also explore why there are so few Thanksgiving movies (you still have leftovers, right?) and rattle off a list of them (which will naturally lead us right back to John Hughes). You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.

This week on the show we're talking with Dear Mr. Watterson director Joel Allen Schroeder about the universal love for Calvin and Hobbes as well as the long, strange trip the Kickstarted movie took to find theaters. Plus, Vanity Fair's Katey Rich and I debate whether The Hunger Games should be criticized for being a rip-0ff of Battle Royale and Geoff waxes philosophical (and structural) about the right way to approach foreign remakes. You should follow Katey Rich (@kateyrich), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis. And, as always, if you like the show (or hate it with seething fervor), please help us out with a review.