Ain't Dey Beauts

This week, we're joined by Andy Germuga of Cannes I Kick It to talk about the great Bob Fosse and his cinematic debut after a lengthy theatrical career, 1969's Sweet Charity. Andy wows us with his musical theatre knowledge as we talk about the original Broadway production, the weird structure of this show, Gwen Verdon, and much more. Plus: our first post-credits scene. Sweet Charity is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray. For Top Five this week, we discuss our Top Five Performances in a Superhero Movie. We have two charities this week. The first is The Actor's Fund, which provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. The other is Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which unites theatre artists and audiences across the country to give back and help those in need. You can catch Cannes I Kick It wherever you find podcasts, and on Twitter @ CannesIKickIt. You can buy the CIKI gang a coffee over at Ko-fi. Keep an ear out for ALL CIKI hosts on the episode soon! Please note that this episode was recorded in late February 2021. Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. Have a Beaut-iful week!

After taking a few months off, Ain't Dey Beauts is back with the longest episode ever. The great Peter Bushman joins me to talk about legendary animator Richard Williams and his debut feature Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure. Over the course of this episode, Peter takes me on an adventure through his insights on Williams' career and unique, trailblazing style, and presents his Grand Raggedy Theory. I'm thrilled to finally release this episode; Peter brought his A-game to this episode, and it's exactly the sort of thing I wanted this show to be when it started. I'm biased, but this is worth the runtime. Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure is not commercially available, but as I reference in the episode, I have cobbled together a Google doc with YouTube links to everything we watched and talked about for this episode, including the best version of Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure you can find anywhere. That Google doc is here. For Top Five this week, Peter brought an amazing prompt: Top Five Movies You Haven't Seen Yet. Our charity this week is UNICEF USA. You can directly support them here. Peter's YouTube channel can be found here, and his incredible Letterboxd (including a moodboard for this show!) is here. Go listen to The Superhuman Samurai Cyber Pod! Please note that this episode was recorded in late February 2021, as were our next two, and then we will gradually begin releasing new episodes, though not on a weekly schedule. Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Kenny Sage to chat about Tony Scott and The Hunger, his debut from 1983. We talk about how The Hunger influenced vampire movies going forward, Scott's commercial career, how to pronounce "Deneuve," and much more. You can rent The Hunger right now at all the usual places. For Top Five this week, Kenny brought Top Five Opening Credit Sequences. Our charities this week: The Alex Cancer Research UK Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Follow Kenny on Twitter and Letterboxd, both @ LikeAWolverine! Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, Kat returns! We recorded a commentary track for Frank Darabont's 1994 debut, The Shawshank Redemption. We talk about Stephen King's Dollar Babies, Tim Robbins thirst, Roger Deakins, recast the movie with Muppets, and much more. You can rent The Shawshank Redemption right now at all the usual places. Watch along with us starting at 31:47! You'll hear Bob Gunton yell "NOW!" For Top Five this week, Kat brought Top Five Quotes from Walk Hard. On this episode, I face my own redemption for covering Clea DuVall's second feature, Happiest Season, on accident. How we do that, exactly, is up to you to find out. For our charity this week, we're highlighting Hackney Foodbank. They provide three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They're part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. And, while the snow in Texas is over, many are still struggling to recover from the damage done. Please donate to a mutual aid fund or food bank in Texas today. Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by KT Jean to chat about Brenda Chapman and her 1998 debut, The Prince of Egypt. We talk a bit about Chapman's co-directors Steve Hickner and Simon Wells, the death of traditional animation at DreamWorks, our secular perspectives on this story's theology, Chapman's career since The Prince of Egypt, and much more. You can rent The Prince of Egypt right now at all the usual places. As we note in the episode, we had originally recorded an episode in full on Alma Ha'rel and Honey Boy. For reasons we go into, we decided not to release that episode, but that episode will be released soon as a shorter, re-edited bonus on Ha'rel's work. For Top Five this week, KT brought Top Five Disney Sidekicks. You can listen to KT's excellent work as co-host on Vaulting the Walt! For our charity this week, KT wanted to plug supporting our local indie cinemas so that we can return to them when it's safe to do so. KT's local is The Loft in Tucson, and mine is The Belcourt in Nashville. Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Jesse Webber, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, to chat about Kelly Reichardt and her 1994 debut, River of Grass. We talk about how it plants the seeds for the rest of her career, the inescapability of Reichardt's landscapes, discuss our mutually minimal connections to Florida, and go off-topic quite a bit.You can stream River of Grass on Kanopy and Prime, and rent it in the usual places.For Top Five this week, Jesse brought Top Five Performances You Have Crushes On.You can catch Cannes I Kick It wherever you find podcasts, and on Twitter @ CannesIKickIt. You can buy the CIKI gang a coffee over at Ko-fi. Keep an ear out for CIKI co-host Andy Germuga on the show soon, and for our big crossover episode dropping in May.If you're catching this the day this show drops, go watch Jesse's improv show later today on Twitch!We have a few charities to promote this week:Beacon House provides children in the Edgewood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC with a safe, nurturing, and life-expanding community in which to increase their academic achievement, discover their talents, and to grow into healthy adults who achieve their greatest potential. You can support them directly here.The American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp, oft discussed on this show, is raising money for their 2021 summer session. By buying this shirt, you're supporting the camp directly.Agape Animal Rescue, located in Tennessee, is dedicated to finding forever families for abandoned and displaced dogs through our signature foster and adoption program while cultivating better communities through dog training, owner education and outreach programs.Check out I Am a Seagull!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Benjamin Cole to talk Hereditary, Ari Aster's 2018 feature debut. We talk about Aster's short films, Satanic Panic, Freud's The Uncanny, and how we find relief after surviving the unimaginable - among other things.Content Warning: this episode was a blast for us to record, but we do speak frankly, comfortably and specifically about immense grief and trauma, both personal and as it relates to Hereditary.Ben was previously attached to talk about another film, The Peanut Butter Falcon. For reasons we go into, we chose not to talk about that, but I do ask Ben to talk a bit about why that was his original choice.For Top Five this week, Ben brought a topic that prompts us to go well over five minutes each: Top Five Bad(?) Films That Bring Us Joy.Keywords makes its return this week, and we add a new segment: the hurried attempt at a plot summary.You can find Ben at The Wildlife Center of Virginia, dedicated teaching the world to care about and to care for wildlife and the environment. Ben particularly enjoys working with raptors.Our charity this week is National Harm Reduction Coalition, which creates spaces for dialogue and action that help heal the harms caused by racialized drug policies. You can support them here.Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee.Next week, we'll be talking about Kelly Reichardt's River of Grass, which is currently available digitally wherever you find movies, and streaming on Kanopy and Amazon Prime.Have a Beaut-iful week!

(Quick announcement: we release on Fridays now! I took a job at the beginning of 2021 that I am very passionate about, and it means I have a bit less time during the day to edit. Having the extra few days is a big help!)Alexi Stewart returns to talk about Little Woods, the feature debut of Nia DaCosta. We talk about how poverty is portrayed onscreen, Jack's love for Lily James, independent filmmakers making the jump to big-budget franchise fare, and we book a future episode on air - among other things.We're changing things up with Top Five! From now on, the guests will bring a prompt entirely unknown to me beforehand. This week, we break down our Top Five Training Montages.You can find Justin under his stage name at Broderick Clavery and on Instagram @ afrodigena. His writing will soon be featured with The Superhuman Collective, and you can hear his podcast Pause N' Play at Soundcloud.We have two highlighted charities this week. The first is the Equal Justice Center, based out of Austin, TX, is a non-profit law firm and employment justice organization which empowers low-income families, workers, and communities to achieve fair treatment in the workplace, in the justice system, and in our shared society - regardless of immigration status. You can directly support them here.Our other charity is the North Dakota WIN (Women In Need) Abortion Access Fund. They provide financial assistance for abortion and related reproductive healthcare services in North Dakota. You can directly support them here.Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee.Next week, we'll be talking about Ari Aster's Hereditary, which is currently available digitally wherever you find movies, and streaming on Kanopy. Also next week: a new segment and the return of Keywords.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week we're joined by Justin Crawford-Clavery to talk about One Night in Miami, the feature debut of Regina King which debuted on Amazon Prime earlier this month. We talk about previous portrayals of Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali, adapting plays for film, how we would change the audition process in America, and the art of taking your time - among other things.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Sidekicks.You can find Justin under his stage name at Broderick Clavery and on Instagram @ afrodigena. His writing will soon be featured with The Superhuman Collective, and you can hear his podcast Pause N' Play at Soundcloud.Our highlighted charity this week is Shirley Raines @ beauty2thestreetz. She provides makeup, showers and essential services for homeless women. You can support her work directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week we're joined by Chris Falcioni to talk about Aardman Animations' Chicken Run, the 2000 feature debut of Peter Lord and Nick Park. We talk about the early days of DreamWorks Animation, the expressiveness of characters in various forms of animation and puppetry, The Mel Gibson Of It All, and the forthcoming Chicken Run 2 - among many, many other things.Heads up that there are some soft audio issues on my end this week!On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Criers.We have two highlighted charities this week!The Cast Member Pantry supports furloughed Disney parks cast members by supplying groceries and essentials. You can support them on Venmo @castmemberpantry, and by using their Amazon wishlist here.Nashville Animal Advocacy is dedicated to promoting animal rights and veganism in Tennessee through education, research, special events, protests and legislation. You can support them directly here.Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee.Call your friends, and have a Beaut-iful week! Justice for Julia Sawalha.

This week we're joined by Emily Heller, Recommendations Editor at Vulture, to talk about Bo Burnham's 2018 debut, Eighth Grade. We talk about tracing his growth as a performer and human from his specials to this film, the ways Anna Meredith's score resemble a John Carpenter film, and being nice to our parents - among other things.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Non-Linear Narratives.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Read Emily's work here and follow her on Twitter @ emilypheller!Our highlighted charity this week is Abortion Access Front, a team of comedians, writers, and producers that uses humor to destigmatize abortion and expose the extremist anti-choice forces working to destroy access to reproductive rights in all 50 states. Support them directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy New Year!

This week we're joined by Kate Eastman to talk about Baz Luhrmann's 1992 debut feature, Strictly Ballroom. We talk about the cutthroat world of ballroom dancing, the incredible Barry Otto, and about how budgetary limitations help our art. We also talk about Christopher Nolan for a bit, and pause momentarily to growl.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Moments That Made Us Cheer Out Loud.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Keep an eye out next year for a mysterious Netflix show that Kate is in that we couldn't talk about!Our highlighted charity this week is The Yellowhammer Fund, who seeks to meet the needs of those living in or traveling to Alabama for reproductive healthcare needs, providing financial and practical support for those who are pregnant and require assistance. You can support them directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

Today we're joined by Emily MacLeod to talk about David Wain's 2001 debut feature, Wet Hot American Summer. We talk about our connection to summer camp, break down the massively influential cast, read the list of rejected titles for the film, and correct some misconceptions about what an "associate professor" is.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Movies Where the Costumes Are Better Than the Movie.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Listen to this movie is gay!We've got two highlighted charities this week:Speak About It uses theater and dialogue to highlight diverse identities and share practical tools for sexual assault prevention. Support Speak About It directly here!Abortion Access Fund works to ensure access to abortion care, and distribute funding for clinic owners, providers, and patients in need. Support Abortion Access Fund directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

Welcome to a Very Special Episode of Ain't Dey Beauts - our first commentary! We're joined by playwright Matt Minnicino to talk about Brian Henson's debut feature, The Muppet Christmas Carol - the first film to be released after Jim Henson's death in 1990. We talk about our deep personal connection to this film, various versions of the Dickens classic, the song that was cut for the theatrical release, dive a bit into Brian Henson's legacy, and tell the story of the day Matt learned the true meaning of Christmas.To watch along with the film - which we recommend - you can sync the podcast up starting at 56:45 (yes, we talk for an entire hour before the film). Note: we are watching the film on Disney+. If you're watching on a home release, we watch the theatrical version in widescreen. We do not stop to watch the cut song, but we think you'll be plenty satisfied with how much love we give it.(Disclaimer: for some reason, I refer to 1993 as the year this film came out, but it was 1992. Whoops. Also, there's some brief echoing, which you can pretend are just our ghosts.)On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Christmas Movies.You can read Matt's plays on the wonderful New Play Exchange (a resource we both love), and follow along with what he's up to over at his website.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.We've got two highlighted charities this week!National Black Food and Justice Alliance (NBFJA) organizes for black food and land by increasing the visibility of visionary Black leadership, advancing Black people’s struggle for just and sustainable communities, and building power in our food systems and land stewardship. You can support NBFJA directly here!Poverty and the Arts (POVA) is a Nashville-based social enterprise nonprofit dedicated to providing people impacted by homelessness with access to creative resources and an artistic platform to enhance their quality of life. You can support POVA directly here and by buying artwork from POVA artists here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week, and Happy Holidays!

This week, we're joined by Cullen Atchley, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, to discuss Sopranos creator David Chase and his only film, 2012's Not Fade Away, an autobiographical meditation on rock music. We talk about why talking about this movie intimidated us, tried to sum up what made James Gandolfini so special, and have more laughs and adventures than anybody - among other things.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Opening Scenes.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. Enjoying the show? Buy Jack a coffee. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.You can hear the excellent podcast that Cullen co-hosts, Cannes I Kick It?, wherever you find podcasts, and on Twitter @ CannesIKickIt. Keep an ear out for the remaining two CIKI hosts on Beauts in 2021!Our highlighted charity this week is SkatePal, a non-profit organisation supporting communities throughout Palestine, promoting the social, health and wellbeing benefits of skateboarding to enhance the lives of local youth. Support SkatePal here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

Welcome to our first bonus episode! On certain Fridays, we'll do any number of episode variations: new releases (as this week's was intended!), commentaries, crossovers, solo episodes - Fridays are days to experiment!All that said, this week's film is not a debut, and you can hear how that happened and why we decided to forge ahead on this episode.This week, we're joined by Ezra Tozian and Dany Shemaiah to discuss actress Clea DuVall and her second film, Happiest Season, which debuted on Hulu last week. We talk about queer representation in culture, toxic family dynamics, costume design, and how tall Mackenzie Davis is - among other things.On Top Five this week, we break down our Top Five Movies We Never Want to See Again.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.You can catch Ezra in a virtual production of Lauren Gunderson's Ada and the Machine at Silver Spring Stage starting in January! And catch Dany in various audio dramas over at The Whisperforge!We've got two highlighted charities this week:HIPS, based in Washington, DC, advances the health, rights, and dignity of people and communities impacted by sex work and drug use by providing non-judgmental harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement led by those with lived experience. You can support HIPS directly here!Los Angeles Community Fridges is a network of decentralized, independent refrigerators and pantries that provide food and vital supplies to our communities through mutual aid. LA Community Fridges has no plans to accept monetary donations; go here to find out how to donate food to a fridge!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us. Follow me over at Letterboxd to see what I'm watching for the show.Have a Beaut-iful week!

Lynn Shelton 1965-2020This week, we're joined by Lee Havlicek to discuss the late Lynn Shelton and her 2006 debut feature, We Go Way Back. We talk about mumblecore, giving ourselves permission to be passionate, Hedda Gabler, and Marc Maron thirst - among other things. We also take the time to pay tribute to Shelton's amazing career and influence.On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of Katie Logan - our Top Five Dance Scenes.In the show, we mention an interview Lee did with Lynn Shelton a few years ago - you can read that here. You can also watch this beautiful tribute to her by her friends and collaborators, which occurred shortly after her death.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Our highlighted charity this week is The People's Kitchen, a food security and employment survival project in collaboration with the restaurant South Philly Barbacoa. The Project initiates base building, political education, and organizing strategies in Philadelphia to connect people, through the synergy of food, worker, and cultural platforms, into a movement that grows relationships, stimulates community dialogue, and builds political power, all while serving up 200 free, chef-cooked meals per day. You can directly support The People's Kitchen here!We'd also like to take a second to talk about how you can support the Georgia Senate runoff elections:Write Voter Registration Letters for Georgia Runoff - https://votefwd.org/instructionsPhone Bank for Georgia Runoff (also includes donate link for the workers behind the scenes) - https://togetherfor2020.org/calendar/phone-bank-for-georgia-runoff-race-for-u-s-senate/2020-12-06/Donate to Reverend Warnock and Ossoff's Campaigns - https://warnockforgeorgia.com/ & https://electjon.com/Donate to Fair Fight - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/fair-fight-1Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

Things to know upfront:1) CW: This week, there is a brief but frank conversation about an onscreen sexual assault in the movie.2) We always spoil the movie, but this week, we REALLY spoil the movie.This week, we're joined by Katie Logan to discuss Drew Goddard's 2012 debut feature, The Cabin in the Woods. We talk about expectations, formula, character archetypes, Kevin, despair, and the ways we're responsible for people we'll never meet - among other things.On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of Kat - our Top Five Cabins in the Woods. And make sure to stay tuned after the show for Keywords!Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Our highlighted charity this week is Studio Two Three, a grassroots community art organization located in Richmond, VA. Studio Two Three is a print shop, studio space, darkroom, educational facility, store and more - as well as a mobile print and photo making studio in a retrofitted ice cream truck. You can directly support Studio Two Three here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Kat to discuss Jane Campion and her inaugural feature from 1989, Sweetie. We talk about our mutual admiration for her masterpiece Holy Smoke!, good and bad accent work, the sourpuss co-screenwriter of Sweetie, and which directorial debut might be the longest - among other things.On Top Five this week, we discuss - courtesy of PJ Desutter - our Top Five Favorite Scores From Bad Kids' Movies. And make sure to stay tuned after the show for Keywords!Also this week, we introduce a new recurring segment, Kat at Bat, where Kat - the UK's newest baseball fan - talks about what she likes about America's pastime, and what she'd change.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Our highlighted charity this week is Gendered Intelligence, is a trans-led charity working across the UK to increase the quality of trans people’s life experiences, especially those of young trans people. You can directly support Gendered Intelligence here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Haley's friend!) for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by PJ Desutter to discuss Kevin Smith, who made waves with his 1994 independent Sundance hit Clerks, and built a career on cusses and collaboration. We talk about what sort of opportunities are afforded to new filmmakers, the existential horror of the pre-Sundance cut of Clerks, and how Kevin Smith has evolved and stayed the same - among other things.We're also introducing two new segments this week. The first, a pre-discussion icebreaker, is Top Five, in which the previous guest submits a Top Five topic that neither I, nor my guest, have seen before. We have five minutes to make our lists, and five minutes each to share. Thanks to Haley Oldham for this week's prompt: Top Five Teen Movies.Our other new segment, Keywords, replaces our cold read previews of next week's Beaut. At the episode's end, you'll hear a curated and randomized list of IMDb plot keywords for next week's film. Enjoy!Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Check out PJ's filmmaking work on his YouTube page, and listen to Grandma Stuff!Our highlighted charity this week is The Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR). GLAHR educates, organizes and trains the Latino community in Georgia to defend and promote their civil and human rights. You can support GLAHR directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Haley's friend!) for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

Before the rest of this week's show notes - this is your reminder to VOTE today if you have not!This week, we're joined by Haley Oldham to discuss Elaine May, whose 1971 black romcom A New Leaf kicked off a career fraught with notorious financial failure, studio interference, and brilliance. We talk about Walter Matthau's cheeks, why Elaine May wrote men better than anybody, imagine a new life for Ishtar, and take a hard left down Tangent Drive to talk about a bizarre film for which we both hold a great deal of affection - among other things.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkradb. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way. Follow Haley on Twitter @_haleyjayne!Our highlighted charity this week is The Okra Project, an American grassroots mutual aid collective that provides support to Black trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people. Support The Okra Project today!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Haley's friend!) for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by Emilo Diaz, co-host of Cannes I Kick It, to discuss the late Satoshi Kon, whose 1997 anime Perfect Blue is - as we call it in the episode - the best movie ever made about the Internet. We talk about how anime is the peak of filmmaking, Stanley Tucci's Lovely Bones mustache, flip phones, Kon's unmade robot road trip film, and how long it took Emilio to finish Lost - among other things.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkread3. We're also on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.Follow Emilio on Twitter @imlaughalone and on Letterboxd @ ilaughalone. You can hear the excellent podcast that Emilio co-hosts, Cannes I Kick It?, wherever you find podcasts, and on Twitter @ CannesIKickIt. Plus, keep an ear out - you might hear Emilio's co-hosts on Beauts in the near future!We have two highlighted charities this week! First is the National Bail Fund Network - you can donate to them through ActBlue. The other is Resonate, a streaming music service cooperative owned by the people that use it – musicians, indie labels, fans, and developers. They're re-thinking the way we stream music, and you can donate to them here.Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a Beaut-iful week!

This week, we're joined by John Barnes to discuss the late Stuart Gordon, whose 1985 horror comedy Re-Animator has become a beloved staple of the genre. We talk about Gordon's early career as a theatre artist, what makes a good Lovecraft adaptation, how one movie poster can supply all the character development you need, and the puppet film Jack hates the most - among other things. Plus, our guest shares a personal story, and the Beauts Corrections Department makes its debut.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod, and check out what Jack is watching on Letterboxd @ jkread3. We're now on iTunes, and ratings and reviews are always appreciated - and, of course, subscriptions on whatever platforms you use go a long way.You can also find John on Letterboxd @ badpun, and hear his band CDR on Bandcamp (that's John in the header photo!)Our highlighted charity this week is Casa Ruby, based in Washington, DC. Casa Ruby's vision is to create a world where transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming people pursue their dreams and achieve success in their lives without fear of discrimination, harassment, or violence due to their sexual orientation and or gender identity/gender expression. You can support Casa Ruby directly here!Thanks as always to Ross Kroeber for the show name, Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the show art, and to Podbean for hosting us.Have a beautiful week!

This week, we're joined by Alexi Stewart to discuss Elizabeth Banks, who made her debut with Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to the surprise hit a cappella comedy. We talk about Elizabeth Banks' unique presence as an actor, the worst ways to flirt with Anna Kendrick, hanging dong, cilantro, Anna Camp Camp, and vomit angels - among other things.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod and on Letterboxd. Follow Alexi on Twitter @astrolexi and slide into those DMs if you're interested in hiring her to edit your resume, cover letter, personal statement, novel - anything.Our highlighted charity this week is One Bread Foundation. Everything the One Bread Foundation does is focused on one goal: the sustained well-being of children, especially the most vulnerable. 100% of the funds they raise online through participation in various affiliate programs get donated to rehabilitate teens and children rescued from sex trafficking. Support One Bread Foundation today!

Welcome to Ain't Dey Beauts! Every week, Jack Read and his guests discuss a different filmmaker and their first feature — how it was made, how it fits into their life and career up to this point, and how it stands on its own.On our debut, we're joined by Simon Kiser to discuss Jennifer Kent and her 2014 horror beaut, The Babadook. We talk about child actors, dirt, Wallace Shawn, taking care of monsters, and getting murdered by Rebecca Ferguson - among other things.Follow the show on Twitter @beautspod and on Letterboxd. Follow Simon on Twitter @SimonKiser and slide into those DMs if you're interested in hiring him to run your RPG campaign. You can also visit him at Hex & Co. in New York, a cafe offering hundreds of board and card games, coffee, draft beer, breakfast and light eats. Hex & Co. are following tight safety procedures during COVID-19!Our highlighted charity this week is The Okra Project, an American grassroots mutual aid collective that provides support to Black trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming people. Support The Okra Project today! 

The first thing you create is always an event. You're finding your voice and putting yourself and everything you care about on display. This is a podcast about that leap of faith. Every week, Jack Read and his guests discuss a different filmmaker and their first feature — how it was made, how it fits into their life and career up to this point, and how it stands on its own. This is Ain't Dey Beauts.New episodes every Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter @beautspod and on Letterboxd @AintDeyBeauts.