Open the Podcast Doors, HAL

Eric Nash of Watchmen Minute leads the way as the podcast crew marvels at the deliberately buried monolith. They ponder such questions as: how do Magic 8-balls work? Is Heywood Floyd's hand actually his own? Why is Burnell Tucker wiggling that camera around? And what's behind him, a bigger camera or a moon laser? And Chris finally realizes he's been referring to "Requiem" as "Atmospheres."

All heck breaks loose when the spacesuit guys try to take a simple group photo. Chris and Rudi, along with Eric from Watchmen Minute, say goodbye to Act 2 with a discussion about hubris, photobombing, diamond shape lens flares, and whether the varying phases of Earth are a continuity error or an artistic choice. Plus, we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. 

Act 3 - Jupiter Mission - begins with Andrew Daroski (The Protagonist Podcast, Disney Animation Minute Essentials) joining Chris and Rudi for a long episode about a long spacecraft establishing shot. You'll hear practically everything about the Discovery 1, how Act 3 is like an episode of Black Mirror, Project Orion, and insights regarding left to right movement. Plus, new theme music!

Andrew Darowski (Disney Animation Minute Essentials, The Protagonist Podcast) stays in the guest seat for another exciting romp through the opening minutes of the Jupiter Mission section. Along with Chris and Rudi, they discuss John Stockton's shorts, workout jamz, and Aram Khatchaturian. They arrive at the conclusion that space travel is lonely and kind of sad. Not like podcasting at all!

Andrew Darowski (The Protagonist Podcast, Disney Animation Minute Essentials) shares his thoughts on another minute of Frank Poole's jogging inside the hamster wheel of Discovery 1. Improbably, Chris and Rudi end up talking about Farfisa organs, angular momentum, the centrifuge set, and the lack of artwork inside the ship.

It's supper time on Discovery 1 for Chris & Rudi and their guest, Andrew Darowski (The Protagonist Podcast, Disney Animation Minute Essentials). For appetizers Chris describes what is quietly one of the greatest shots executed in cinema history, while Andrew begins a very deep discussion about HAL, robotics, and who (or what) is really intended to meet the Monolith.

Chris and Rudi get down to the serious business of BBC12 programmes, Sidney Torch, space cutlery, and kids reviewing 2001. 

Gina Pomponio (Big Girls, Paradise Club Vintage) is BACK in the studio to discuss the softball interview on BBC12. Gina relates her history and emotions associated with the film, while Chris and Rudi just yuck it up with the usual Mr Show references and Marc Maron impressions. Plus, Keir Dullea facts! Are there podcasts in hibernation?

Gina Pomponio (Big Girls, Paradise Club Vintage) co-hosts the show until Chris shows up, under considerable duress. Things eventually calm down and they begin to discuss the continuation of the BBC12 interview/exposition segment of the film, including our introduction to the HAL 9000 - the Billy Preston of the XD1 crew. Gina fails her Turing Test.

Chris and Rudi are joined again by Gina Pomponio (Big Girls Music, Paradise Club Vintage), and after 10 minutes of giddy talk about music and movie synchronization experiments they eventually settle in for the rest HAL's interview with the BBC12. Some very important issues for the rest of the podcast start to emerge from this discussion: Does HAL have confidence issues? What really is 100% reliability? Why did HAL bring up that he doesn't lie? Is HAL glitchy, or malicious, or something else? 

Gina Pomponio (Big Girls Music ABQ, Paradise Vintage Club) brings us into Thursday's episode with her plans on doing a Movie by Minute podcast about the 1978 Bee Gees + Frampton flop "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." We then wrap up the final minute of the BBC 12 interview with HAL and Frank and Dave. Rudi explains his thoughts on how Frank and Dave treat HAL differently, while Chris wonders aloud whether their responses to the interview questions got transposed in the script. Also, FORESHADOWING!

Gina Pomponio (Big Girls ABQ, Paradise Vintage Club) closes out the week by joining in a lively discussion about Frank's space age batchelor pad, her workout mix, what the deal is with Frank's parents. Plus, Chris has lots of Gary Lockwood facts.

Chris and Rudi jump right in on analyzing the first minute of Frank's video voicemail with his parents. They discuss the role of astronauts as celebrities, dubious sunglasses, and how Happy Birthday has passed into the public domain, bringing to an end the age of proprietary unlicensed birthday celebration songs.

Chris and Rudi wrap up the awkward birthday message scene and then move on directly to the Frank awkwardly getting his butt kicked in chess by HAL scene. Along the way they explore whether HAL was glitching or sincerely cheating at chess, as well as whether HAL was murderous towards his human crew mates from the beginning.

Chris and Rudi use the momentary break from the relentless pace to digress on issues such as: the specialization of knowledge, space travel hobbies, and the decline in human critical thinking. 

HAL is starting to get a little weird and Chris and Rudi take notice. Rudi zeroes in on HAL's desire to be forgiven for his inquisitiveness, while Chris immediately calls HAL out for lying about Dave's drawing skills. Intrigue!

Chris and Rudi begin a lengthy exploration centering on HAL's motives. Is he just glitchy, or has he been planning his sabotage all along? And might these competing explanations result from Kubrick's and Clarke's differences in telling this story?

John Ingle (Alien Minute, ABCDevo) joins the podcast for a scintillating discussion of HAL's psychology, motivations, and how asymmetry in shot composition may be a clue to HAL's glitchy nature. 

John Ingle (Alien Minute, ABCDevo) returns for what is essentially a continuation of the previous (excellent, IMHO) episode. The trio of Chris, Rudi, and John get into some serious discussion of big issues in 2001, including: scenes that aren't scenes, the human condition, and refuting the idea of Kubrick as nihilist. Plus, we give you the low-down on a great fundraiser by the Hollywood Theater to get their own print of 2001. 

Alien Minute Week continues with the astute Mitch Brian (Jet Pack Pictures) visiting the podcast! We end up talking about practically everything 2001/Kubrick, including: the Mission Control guy, Kubrick's use of circles and wide angle lenses, and the octagonal hallway. And we finally get to see the powder blue spacesuit!

Chris and Rudi follow the Dave Bowman EVA and discuss how the book is different from the movie. Along the way they end up talking about asteroids, menacing pod arms, Frank's carelessness with his helmet, and why it's always important to wear your seat belt. This episode dedicated to Anna, Betty, and Clara. 

It's a holiday miracle potpourri of epic proportions. After discussing the minute at hand (the first minute of Bowman's EVA), Chris and Rudi  open a special gift package sent to the show, as well as reviewing the contributions from several listener's to the Space Station 5 forum (THANK YOU!).

Robert Black (Michael Meyers Minute, Dave Made a Minute) begins a new week on the podcast, sitting in with Chris and Rudi to discuss the action-packed first EVA sequence. They confer about the weird angles of the command deck set, possible lighting mismatches, and where to park your pod when you go shopping.

Robert Black (Michael Meyers Minute, Dave Made A Minute) returns to opine on the non-stop adrenaline rush of Dave Bowman's uneventful EVA to replace the "faulty" AE-35 unit. Chris and Rudi join him for a symposium covering such hot button issues as: Bowman's incompetence at spacewalking, how these zero-g sequences were shot, and the differences here between the book and the movie. Also, if you've got magnetic boots, why not just walk to the antenna array?

Robert Black (Michael Meyers Minute, Dave Made a Minute) returns and immediately schools us all on specific lighting mismatches (seriously, he has very technical notes). Along with Chris and Rudi, they also talk about 2001 cosplay, spacesuit components, and transition lenses. And why isn't Frank standing by in the pod bay?

Chris and Rudi fulfill their contractual obligation to deliver one podcast episode for each minute of the film. In today's episode, they discuss the magnetic sections on the Discovery's hull, the lack of tools required to open important equipment in deep space, jump cuts and Dutch angles. 

Chris and Rudi wrap up the week's excitement by riffing on the final moments of the Dave Bowman EVA and then progressing to the AE-35 diagnosis scene. Along the way they end up talking about computer noises, the Six Million Dollar Man, and the influence 2001 had (potentially) on computer interfaces. Plus, adults review 2001!

Chris and Rudi pick up where they left off, with Dave and Frank trying to figure out what's wrong with the AE-35 unit. They notice how every shot in this interrogation sequence is a close up, and remark on "Cranky Frank's" accusatory side glance and Dave's weird wig. We also get our first presentation of the three competing explanations for HAL's behavior (see the Twitter and FB polls for more details).   

Chris and Rudi join Dave and Frank for a message from Mission Control. We find out that the problem may be a little bigger than just the AE-35 unit, and explore the erroneous imdb profile of "Frank Miller." X-Ray Delta One, over and out.

Chris and Rudi begin to unpack the Discovery 1 crew's reaction to the news from Mission Control. From Dave's role as last child/conflict avoider, to HAL's arrogant dismissiveness, to Frank's skeptical snarkiness. And of course we're all aware of the accomplishments of the 9000 series.

Chris and Rudi ruminate on Dave's smooth transition from humoring HAL to asking Frank to help him with a problem he's having with C pod. They also realize the Discovery 1 is a Panopticon in Space, and delve into the otherwise un-mentioned C-pod/B-pod controversy. 

Chris and Rudi discuss the minute when Dave and Frank get into the pod and take precautions against HAL hearing them. Somehow they end up talking about tattoos, sound design, subwoofers, and ASMR.

Chris and Nial McGowan (Bat Minute) head down to the pod, turn off the transmitters, and talk about this minute where Frank and Dave start a conversation that determines the fate of their voyage. The two discuss topics as diverse as food poisoning, Moore's Law, the Uncanny Valley, and whether 2001 is an American or British film.

Nial McGowan (Bat Minute) joins Chris in C-pod (the C is for Chris) to talk about this minute of 2001, along with A Clockwork Orange, 2010, Irish TV, and the concept of malice.

The plot thickens and then...Intermission. Niall McGowan (Bat Minute) helps Chris bring this week, and this section of the film, to a close with discourses on: David Lynch films, Hardac, and ice cream trucks in January. Plus, we get the story of how Gary Lockwood fixed this part of 2001 (thanks Gary!).

INTERMISSION. Chris and Rudi watched and then discuss 2010 - Peter Hyams' 1984 follow-up to the 20th Century's greatest work of art. After some initial grumblings, Chris reviews the plot and subplots before they begin multiple rounds of the "compliment sandwich" game. Items discussed: Syd Mead's futurism, Konami codes, indoor/outdoor dolphins, Omni magazine, and flirting by proxy syndrome.

For the second installment of the Intermission series, we are thrilled to be joined by Peter Conheim (Negativland, bynwr.com, The Guild Cinema), a film preservationist and an expert on all things A/V. We discuss "the Nolan print" of 2001, film preservation/restoration, and "the loudness war," along with his unusual account of seeing 2001 for the first time. 

The hosts of the Spooky Podcast, Chris Dillon and Shane Witte, join Chris and Rudi for a discussion of the mysterious Toynbee Tiles. "Toynbee Idea, In Kubrick's 2001, Resurrect Dead, On Planet Jupiter." What does this mean? How did these tiles get from Boston to Santiago, Chile? And how does it relate to our beloved 2001: A Space Odyssey? Find out in this extra-special crossover episode!

Tyler Boudreau (The Fantastic Mr. Fox Minute) joins Chris and Rudi as we return from the Intermission and begin the final third of the film. The crew and guest discuss Frank's serious disposition, spacesuits, and when it's right for fathers to talk to their sons about 2001.

Tyler Boudreau (Fantastic Mr Fox Minute) returns to discuss the ill-fated Frank Poole EVA with Chris and Rudi. 

Tyler Boudreau (Fantastic Mr Fox Minute) joins Chris and Rudi to discuss the murder of Frank Poole.

Dave Bowman expresses urgency and frustration, not  unlike some of our podcast guests, including Tyler Boudreau of The Fantastic Mr Fox Minute. 

Tyler Boudreau (The Fantastic Mr Fox Minute) closes out the week with Chris and Rudi, and is inducted into the Full Week Circle of Honor.

Mat Thomas Marchand (studioredband on YouTube) begins his tour of duty on the podcast with Chris and Rudi picking up on the somewhat futile chase of dead Frank Poole. Amid the radar pings and chirps they discuss sound mixing, grim determination, and the 1964 documentary "Universe."

Hop on board the great space coaster with Chris and Rudi for Episode 98! Mat Thomas Marchand (from studioredband on YouTube) track down the floating body of Frank Poole while they discuss Led Zeppelin, Microgramma, Bananagrams, and rotoscoping.

Mat Thomas Marchand (studioRedBand) joins Chris and Rudi for an exciting discussion about wasabi peas and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Tonight, on a very special Open the Podcast Doors, HAL: The part of the guest will be played by Mat Thomas Marchand of StudioRedBand.

It's all "Computer Malfunction" this and "Life Functions Critical" that on today's Open the Podcast Doors. Mat Thomas Marchand of studioRedBand joins Chris and Rudi for a discussion on Terminator, Alien, and A River Runs Through It. 2001: A Space Odyssey is also mentioned.

Jack Stovold (ApeCast, Re-Opening the Wormhole) returns to the podcast. Along with Chris and Rudi, they discuss HAL's hijinks while Dave was off running errands. 

Jack Stovold (ApeCast, Reopening the Wormhole) joins Chris and Rudi to discuss what was obviously THE catchphrase of 1968.

Rudi and Jack (Stovold, of ApeCast) and Me dissect and analyze the minute of 2001 where Dave loses his verbal bout with HAL. 

Jack Stovold (Re-Opening the Wormhole, ApeCast) is back to make fun of Dave trapped outside the XD-1. Chris and Rudi only make things worse.

Jack Stovold (ApeCast, Re-Opening the Wormhole) closes the week by tolerating Chris' whining regarding the physics of the "letting Frank go" scene.

The Cavalcade of Space Station 5 All-Stars Week kicks off with educator and Kubrick scholar Damian Marley. They discuss showing 2001 in the classroom, the imagery of witnessing the universe, and a planned visit to the Kubrick Archives (put in a good word for us!).

Graphic Designer and Thereminist Victoria Lundy (Cuttlefish Arts, Victoria Lundy Music) continues the Cavalcade of Space Station 5 All Stars Week with a lively discussion of typefaces, kerning, blinky lights, and the best "2001 story" moment.

David Johnson (UHF 62nd, Movies I Masticate To) is next on the Space Station 5 Cavalcade of All Stars Week, enlivening your Wednesday with discussion of big screen TVs, fighter jet components, and a list of EVA pod FACTS!

David Forsythe (Rock and Roll High School Minute) continues the Calvacade of All Stars and gets us ready for the big minute ahead with an appreciation of sound design, Dave's facial acting, and a few philosophical tangents along the way.

Music educator and Albuquerque's son James Buxton joins the podcast for one of the most exciting minutes of the film, as Dave indeed uses to emergency airlock to retake the Discovery I. Vaporizing doors, hidden space suits, and the rare cross-dissolve are all discussed. 

Chris and Rudi obsess over the Logic Memory Center information panel. 

Chris and Rudi ponder the design of HAL's very-red Logic Memory Center. 

Chris and Rudi get really deep and talk about death and Skinny Puppy tracks.

Chris and Rudi discuss the death of HAL and the differences between the original screenplay and how the scene plays out in the film.

Chris and Rudi recap the year 1992, the year of HAL's birth. Hey look, another birthday in 2001! HAL begins singing "Daisy."

Gina Pomponio (Paradise Club Vintage, Big Girls music) starts a three peat on this podcast at a very crucial juncture, as HAL finishes singing Daisy and our man Heywood Floyd begins his pre-recorded briefing. Gina presents her research on references to this scene in popular culture, while Chris overwhelms listeners with useless facts about the song "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)."    

Gina Pomponio (Big Girls Music, Paradise Club Vintage) helps Chris and Rudi close out the Jupiter Mission section of the film. See you next Wednesday!

Season 4 starts at the beginning of the end of 2001 - "Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite." In this episode they discuss their vacations, typography, and how they would specialize their craft as amusement park caricature artists.

Chris and Rudi continue the harrowing journey following the monolith into the heart of the Jovian system. Also, they talk about frying pans. Chris insists on summarizing chapters from an out of print book that nobody owns.

There's something seriously wrong with space and Chris and Rudi are going to figure this out. Rudi throws shade at Wile E Coyote and Chris continues to summarize abandoned story ideas from Arthur C Clarke's 2001 rough drafts. 

Alex Robinson (comicbookalex.com) of Star Wars Minute and Godfather Minute drops by to nerd out about a minute of a space movie. And then the conversation turns to Moonlighting, The Black Hole, and the contributions of Colin Cantwell to 2001 and Star Wars.  For those scoring at home, Alex's Jupiter Moon score is: +3.

Star Wars Minute Week continues, and sadly ends, with a return visit from Pete the Retailer (petetheretailer.com)! Pete puts on Pink Floyd's "Echoes" and waxes philosophical about free will, Dave's travel kit, and what the slit scan images would look like unwrapped.  Pete wins the "Moons of Jupiter" game with a +6 score. Brought to you by Spoilers Cafe!

John P Hess of FilmmakerIQ.com stops by to teach Chris and Rudi about the history and process behind the slit-scan photographic technique used during the "Star Gate" sequence in 2001.  Plus - a special announcement regarding Movies by Minutes LIVE in Portland, Oregon! Video regarding slit scan: https://youtu.be/KhRo2WbWnKU    

Chris and Rudi get deep, man, and talk about drugs, the psychedelic experience, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Put on some Allman Brothers and take some Vitamin C complex. Just remember you're a living organism on this planet, and you're very safe.

Visual and sonic composer/performer Mark Mosher (markmoshermusic.com) joins the podcast to discuss the transitional moments in the Star Gate sequence. 

Chris and Rudi put in a valiant effort to talk about this minute of 2001, until Otto from the Simpsons shows up to save the podcast!

It's sammich time on the podcast - Rudi describes his online conversation with Katharina Kubrick and Chris makes his case for the Giant Space Dolphin theory. 

David Forsythe (Rock and Roll High School Minute, Edge of Tomorrow Minute) fills in for Rudi to discuss the transitional minute between Star Gate and planetscapes, including everyone's favorite tetrahedrons!

David Forsythe (Rock and Roll High School Minute and Edge of Tomorrow Minute) brings the noise to the slowest and most disposable part of 2001 (in Chris' opinion). 

David Forsythe (Rock and Roll Highschool Minute, Edge of Tomorrow Minute) indulges Chris in his little exercise of recapping the roads not taken in the final act of 2001. Now this is some good podcasting!

David Forsythe (Rock and Roll High School Minute, Edge of Tomorrow Minute) teaches us all about the history of the Jack Kirby penned (and inked) 2001 comics, from adaptation of the original film to the "Tennis Shoes Series" (I may have heard that wrong). Go to our instagram page and our listener's group (Space Station 5 on FB)to see some examples of what the heck he's talking about!

Paula Benson, founder and creative director of Filmandfurniture.com, joins the podcast as Dave Bowman's pod arrives in the unsettling hotel room at the end of the universe. Chris and Rudi engage Paula in a discussion of all things Kubrick and design, as well as Wes Anderson and that first Asia album cover.

Suzen Tekla Kruglinska (The Shining 2:37 podcast) and Joe Dator (humorist/cartoonist for The New Yorker) visit the podcast to talk about old age makeup, the Museum of the Moving Image, and humorous references to 2001 in pop culture. Additional music by Ben Coleman (https://soundcloud.com/joyrexj9)  

Suzen Tekla Kruglnska (The Shining 2:37) and Joe Dator (cartoonist for The New Yorker) return to the podcast and converse about their podcasts, discos, and realtor-speak.  Additional music by Ben Coleman (Soundcloud.com/JoyRexJ9)  

Suzen Tekla Kruglnska (The Shining 2:37 podcast) and Joe Dator (The New Yorker) settle in for a midweek gabfest with Chris and Rudi covering all Kubrick portrayals, Orson Welles, epic rap battles, and maybe even 2001 A Space Odyssey.  Additional music by Ben Coleman (Soundcloud.com/JoyRexJ9)

Joe Dator (cartoonist/humorist at The New Yorker) and Suzen Tekla Kruglinska (The Shining 2:37 podcast) continue their residency on the show.  Additional music by Ben Coleman (Soundcloud.com/joyrexJ9)    

Suzen Tekla Kruglinska (The Shining 2:37 podcast) and Joe Dator (cartoonist at The New Yorker) complete their tenure at the show while Chris becomes melancholy and Rudi spots something curious about one of the paintings.  Additional music by Ben Coleman (Soundcloud.com/JoyRex9)  

Ben Blohowiak (benblohowiak.com) drops by to delve into the mathematical mysteries of 2001, including the concept of the monolith as a 4-dimensional object! Chris and Rudi struggle to keep up, pondering about what the glass breaking scene might mean. Also, kudos to Keir Dullea!   

Film scholar and Kubrick-ologist Nathan Abrams from Bangor University (Wales) visits the podcast to discuss how Jewish themes and imagery are visible in 2001 as well as in his other films. Rudi and Chris also relive the arrival of the Star Child, of whom Rudi is not a fan.

In this penultimate minute of content from 2001, Fr David Mowry (fatherdavidmowry.com) provides a podcast guest tour-de-force, helping Chris and Rudi make sense of what this film means. There's simply no other way to put it, this episode is DEEP, man.

We have reached the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and none other than Michael Benson, the author of Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C Clarke, and The Making of a Masterpiece visits the podcast to help make sense of it all.  As always, enjoy and thank you for listening.

Friend of the show Slade Alves visits the podcast to discuss the cast and performances of 2001, including the under-billing of Douglas Rain. And speaking of rain, this may be the only Movie by Minute podcast featuring a monsoon as ambience. 

After a brief discussion of the credits covered in the minute, Chris chats with model-maker and illustrator Simon Atkinson (https://www.satkinsoncreativearts.com) and his 2001-related work, along with other highlights from his long career in science fiction production.

"Space madness" finally claims Chris and Rudi as they spend the podcast coming up with wacky nicknames for the remaining credited production crew from the greatest work of art of the 20th century.

Musician and all-around boffin Ari Russo (arirusso.com) helps close out the movie (but not the podcast!) with a discussion of the over-arching themes of the film. He also gets bleeped a couple of times. 

Author/Playwright Paul Sapp joins the podcast to discuss films that influenced, and are influenced by, 2001. Spoiler alerts for nearly all the films covered, especially Ex Machina.

Chris and Rudi make the most awkward movie pitches in Hollywood history with their ideas for the unnecessary remake of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Chris and Rudi answer questions and address concerns from listeners during the penultimate episode of Open the Podcast Doors, HAL.

We mark the end of the minute-by-minute run with a special crossover episode with the Vibrant Visionaries podcast and its host, Heidi Bennett (also of Spinal Tap Minute and Cabin Minute Cast). Chris and Rudi talk lots of process and celebrate reaching the finish line.