Switchblade Sisters

It's a Feeling Seen feed drop! One of Maximum Fun's newest shows is one that Switchblade Sisters fans oughta know.In this episode, host Jordan Crucchiola (a former Switchblade Sisters guest) talks with Bridget Everett, a comedian, singer, and the star of her own new HBO series, Somebody Somewhere. Her journey to the semi-autobiographical series had lots of twists and turns along the way.Bridget shares how she sees herself in the title character of 1993's Rudy -- from being underestimated to being cheered on by heroes when she needed it most. BRIDGET! BRIDGET! BRIDGET!***Subscribe to Feeling Seen!Follow Feeling Seen on Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookWith Jordan Crucchiola and Bridget Everett

Well, we did it. It’s the final episode of Switchblade Sisters. Instead of doing a traditional show, April invited Katie Walsh, Drea Clark, and producer Casey O’Brien to discuss the making of Switchblade Sisters. We listen to messages from listeners and past guests and share our stories from the history of the podcast. We laugh, we cry, and Drea says “connective thread” at least 300 times. Thank you to everyone who listened and supported us. We will miss you. The episodes will stay up forever. So if you ever need any filmmaking advice, or maybe some assurance to follow your dreams, the show will always be there.Keep up with April Wolfe on her Twitter. And give Drea Clark and Katie Walsh a follow, too.

This week we are joined by the wonderful Jo Firestone. She’s a comedian, whose writing can be seen on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. You can see her in front of the camera as Sarah Connor, the doomsday prepping band teacher on Joe Pera Talks with You. Or you can hear her on Maximum Fun’s own Dr. Gameshow. But on this episode, she is here to talk about the magnificent Mars Attacks! She and April discuss the important things, like Lisa Marie’s “Sexy Alien” character, and how Jo used to want to work at Hooters. Plus, Jo talks about how a lack of funds on a project can foster a more creative environment. And, she explains the strange experience of running into The Backstreet Boys while they were dressed as chickens on The Tonight Show.You can watch Rate The Cookie on Adult Swim now.Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Mars Attacks! – move it!With April Wolfe and Jo Firestone.

This week we are joined by the wonderful writer, director, producer, and actor Gillian Wallace Horvat. She sits down with host Katie Walsh to discuss Gus Van Sant’s classic, To Die For. Rarely has a movie chosen by a guest better fit with their own work than with this film and Gillian’s latest, I Blame Society. Gillian begins the discussion by drawing parallels between the two movies, both about psychotic women who do not let anyone get in the way of their desires. Gillian elaborates on how gatekeepers and the invisible barriers to the film industry inspired her film. She also talks about her friendship with To Die For screenwriter Buck Henry and how they became lunch buddies. And lastly, Gillian reveals a conspiracy theory about To Die For that involves witchcraft.You can see I Blame Society on VOD February 12thPlease call in to leave your message for the finale episode: 818-962-0286Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen To Die For – move it!With Katie Walsh and Gillian Wallace Horvat.

This episode begins with a very important announcement from our host April Wolfe about the future of Switchblade Sisters. But as far as guests go, this week we are joined by the phenomenal writer and director Nora Unkel. Her latest feature, A Nightmare Wakes, explores the personal turmoil of writer Mary Shelley. This is so appropriate because the movie she chose to discuss this week is James Whale’s classic, Bride of Frankenstein. Nora begins the conversation by elaborating on how Whale’s movie directly inspired her latest film. She also talks about having to ignore what is currently popular in modern cinema in order to pursue the projects she’s most excited about. And lastly, she and April dissect the gay undertones of the film, from director James Whale’s influence to the “archetypical Queen” Dr. Pretorius.You can see A Nightmare Wakes on Shudder.Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Bride of Frankenstein – it’s fun!With April Wolfe and Nora Unkel.

We are joined this week by the lovely Mary Holland. She is an actor and writer, who can most recently be seen in Happiest Season, a film that she co-wrote with director Clea DuVall. Mary’s on the show to talk about a movie that is nothing like Happiest Season at all, and that would be David Fincher’s mystery-thriller, The Game. Mary is an admitted fan of “games and escape rooms,” so it makes sense she gravitates towards this film. She and April go in-depth on the writing of Mary’s latest feature. She talks about how the script naturally changes when the film is cast, and how Mary Steenburgen breathed a different life into her role than was originally written. Mary also talks about her acting craft, the difficulty of shooting movies out of order, and the exhausting process of shooting “table scenes.” And lastly, she discusses the emotional “revelation scene” in Happiest Season, and how Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, and everyone involved had to really gear themselves up for shooting it.You can see Happiest Season on Hulu now.Please check out storyblocks.com/SWITCHBLADEAlso, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen The Game – it’s fun!With April Wolfe and Mary Holland.

This week we are joined by the amazing author and producer Mallory O’Meara. Some may know her as one of the hosts of the Maximum Fun podcast Reading Glasses. But she is here today to talk about 2020’s sea shanty bonanza, Blow the Man Down. She and April get into the nitty-gritty of the creative process and discuss why some projects take longer to correctly finish. Mallory also talks about what brought her to writing her book The Lady from the Black Lagoon about Milicent Patrick, “the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood’s classic movie monsters.” Mallory also hammers home that women are not just joining the cultural conversation after #MeToo, but have always been there, contributing to history.Listen to Reading Glasses and check out Mallory’s book The Lady from the Black LagoonPlease check out storyblocks.com/SWITCHBLADEAlso, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Blow the Man Down – it’s great!With April Wolfe and Mallory O’Meara.

We are joined by the multi-hyphenate, uber-talented writer, actor, director, producer Sujata Day. You may know her best from her role as Sarah on Insecure. But she also recently wrote, directed, and starred in her debut feature Definition Please, about a former spelling bee champion who must reconcile with her family and her past. She joins Katie Walsh to discuss Brian De Palma’s severely underrated Sisters. Katie and Sujata gush over the “bonkers” quality of the film. But Sujata goes further and points to De Palma’s use of split-screens and imaginative filmmaking techniques that directly inspired her work. Sujata also discusses scrappy filmmaking (she shot her film in two weeks), utilizing Indian music, and having complete creative control over low-budget projects.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Sisters – it’s great!With Katie Walsh and Sujata Day.

This week we are joined by the incredibly talented director Natasha Kermani to talk about Kathryn Bigelow’s undersung classic, Strange Days. Katie Walsh takes over hosting duties to speak to Natasha about the disturbing prescience of this film and Bigelow’s oeuvre in general. They also chat about Natasha’s latest film, the Brea Grant penned slasher satire, Lucky. Natasha discusses creating a “Final Woman,” as opposed to the typical “Final Girl.” She elaborates on working with action and fight choreography and how she always tries to ground it in service of the story. Natasha also elaborates on the creation of the killer’s mask in Lucky, and how she wanted it to look subtle as if there were no mask at all.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Strange Days – it’s great…but hard to track down.With Katie Walsh and Natasha Kermani.

This week we are joined by a very special guest; writer, producer, and educator Tananarive Due. For those who don’t know, Tananarive recently produced the groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. She’s also an award-winning author of several books. And she teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. This week she joins April to discuss Jordan Peele’s Us. Tananarive begins the discussion by revealing her connections to Peele, which includes several interviews with the filmmaker and writing the introduction on the Black Horror aesthetic for the annotated screenplay of Get Out. As the discussion continues, she and April thoughtfully dissect several aspects of the film. Tananarive compares her isolation of being a Black woman in a white environment to Jordan Peele’s isolation that inspired both Get Out and Us. She also examines the personalities of predators, and how they are so similar to us. And she talks about the political statement made when a director casts a dark-skinned Black woman in the leading role of a Hollywood film.You can watch Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror streaming now.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Us – c’mon, you gotta.With April Wolfe and Tananarive Due.

Writer and director Tara Miele joins host Katie Walsh this week to discuss 1990’s massive hit, Ghost. Tara explains the connection between this film and her latest movie, Wander Darkly, and how both explore the space between life and death. She goes on to tell the story about the horrific car accident she and her husband were in that inspired her movie. Tara talks about the casting of Diego Luna and how she was influenced by his reaction to the Mexico City earthquake. She also elaborates on the importance of casting people of color in lead roles. And, at the end of the interview, Katie, Tara, and possibly the listener, gain an appreciation for the earnestness of Ghost and films of its ilk.You can watch Wander Darkly on VOD now.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Ghost – c’mon, you gotta.With Katie Walsh and Tara Miele.

Katie Walsh returns to take over hosting duties this week, and she is joined by the truly talented filmmaker, Channing Godfrey Peoples. The movie that Channing has chosen to discuss is Pedro Almodóvar’s classic, Volver. Channing elaborates on the relationship between Almodóvar’s film and her latest, Miss Juneteenth. She explains how both movies are about the struggles of women and the work that women do in order to survive. Channing also chats about the writing of her film, how it was written in a Texan dialect, and how there are specific differences between the way people talk in Fort Worth and Houston. And lastly, Channing covers the importance of naming her film Miss Juneteenth.You can watch Miss Juneteenth on VOD now.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Volver – c’mon, you gotta.With Katie Walsh and Channing Godfrey Peoples.

This week’s episode is truly one of our most powerful…and, of course, the film being discussed is Jackass: The Movie. April is joined by cinematographer and director Kirsten Johnson, recording from her closet in New York City. Kirsten has so many poignant and beautiful observations about pain, the body, life, and death. And she somehow connects it all back to Jackass and her latest film Dick Johnson Is Dead. In her latest film, Kirsten explores mortality and the impending death of her ailing father by staging him in a series of comical fake death scenes. Throughout the course of the episode, discussing this film allows April to open up about the recent passing of her own grandfather who raised her. This episode is funny, touching, heartening, life-affirming, and incredibly gripping. Share it with a loved one.You can watch Dick Johnson Is Dead on Netflix now.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen Jackass: The Movie – c’mon, you gotta.With April Wolfe and Kirsten Johnson.Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off

This week we are joined by the phenomenal writer and director Zeina Durra. She’s on the program to discuss Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger. Zeina elaborates on how this film influenced her latest movie Luxor. She goes on to discuss the production of her most recent movie, shooting in Egypt, and how cigarette breaks almost sabotaged her production schedule. Zeina also chats about her research in making the film, interviewing nurses on the Jordanian/ Syrian border and hearing the horrific, literal “Sophie’s Choice” situations that women face in the region. Lastly, she talks about showing The Passenger to her children and how Disney has destroyed their movie palettes.Luxor is available on Digital and On Demand December 4th.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinIf you haven’t seen The Passenger – you should!With April Wolfe and Zeina Durra.Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

This week we are joined by the celebrated writer and director Alice Winocour. She calls in from Paris to talk about David Cronenberg’s A History of Violence. Alice and April dissect the film and admire Cronenberg’s craft of layering intricate depth on top of a simple story idea. Alice points out the “69-ing” sex scene in particular and explains how it inspires her to create images that she has never seen before. She also discusses how being a mother influenced her latest space drama, Proxima. And lastly, Alice talks about working with Eva Green, and how Eva claims to be from another planet.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Proxima on VOD now.If you haven’t seen A History of Violence – you should!With April Wolfe and Alice Winocour.Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

This week we are joined by the fabulous actor Celeste O’Connor to dissect Boots Riley’s new classic, Sorry to Bother You. Celeste and April discuss the risks that Tessa Thompson took by doing this particular movie, and how Celeste felt they were taking a similar risk in accepting the role of Nyla in Freaky. Celeste also covers larger topics like expanding beyond stereotypical Black representation in film, and how they are so tired of being offered “slave roles.” Celeste elaborates on this point and has a lot to say about telling stories about Black people that don’t just cover their own personal trauma. Plus, Celeste talks about their time making Freaky, hitting (and hurting) another actor in the head with a prop frying pan, and the joy of working with Vince Vaughn.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Freaky in select theaters now.If you haven’t seen Sorry to Bother You – you should!With April Wolfe and Celeste O’Connor.Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

We have the wonderful filmmaker Terrie Samundra on the show this week. She’s the co-writer and director of Netflix’s new horror Kaali Khuhi. And she’s here to discuss and analyze 2016’s zombie classic, Train to Busan. She and April gush about all the things they love about this movie, down to the fascinating zombie choreography. They then move on to discuss Terrie’s career and the expectations that go along with being an Indian filmmaker. Terrie talks about how she is so tired of the fact that every movie shot in India uses an orange and yellow filter. Plus, Terrie also reveals that in Los Angeles everyone assumes she’s going to make movies about identity and the immigrant experience, which is why she finds genre filmmaking so freeing.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Kaali Khuhi on Netflix now.If you haven’t seen Train to Busan – it’s good!With April Wolfe and Terrie Samundra.Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

It’s the perfect week to call upon the collected power of a coven. This is why we are delighted to have as a guest, the director of The Craft: Legacy, Zoe Lister-Jones. She’s on the show to talk about a new classic, Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook. Zoe discusses making her first “genre” film and grounding the film in emotional truth. She even reveals that she drew inspiration for the script from being raised by her single mother and having to interact with the men that her mother brought home. Zoe also talks about her terror of “Men’s Rights Activists” and how that influenced The Craft: Legacy. She elaborates on how her experience as an actor has helped her directing career and admits that, as an actor, we “can be difficult.” Plus, Zoe hammers home the importance of earning the trust of every person working on set or else, as she states, “you’re fucked.”Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch The Craft: Legacy on VOD now.If you haven’t seen The Babadook – c’mon!With April Wolfe and Zoe Lister-Jones.

We are joined by a truly thoughtful and talented writer, Olivia Dufault. You may know her work from writing on the shows Legion and Preacher. But she also has a new movie out called The True Adventures of Wolfboy, about a young “Wolfboy” who is on the lam in search of his estranged mother. Olivia is on the show this week to talk about a similarly fantastical film, The City of Lost Children. She and April dive deep into the human elements of the movie, as well as the freedom that comes with working in genre cinema. Olivia also talks about the relationship between writing the script and actually realizing the crazy things the writer wrote. And she reveals the importance of strange-looking actors and reclaiming the word “freak.”Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch The True Adventures of Wolfboy on VOD now.If you haven’t seen The City of Lost Children – it’s wonderful!With Olivia Dufault and Olivia Dufault.

This week we have an emerging artist who has created a truly unique and original debut film. We have writer, director, and actor Grace Glowicki, whose debut feature Tito can now be seen on Amazon Prime. She’s calling into the show from Canada to discuss John Carpenter’s The Fog. Grace and April dissect the creativity and ingenuity that went into the creation of Carpenter’s film. And Grace relays the struggles that she had with Tito. Grace reveals that the movie was really shaped in post and that the original monsters were removed from the film entirely. She goes on to discuss other innovative solutions that occurred on set, like making a barf machine out of a beer bong. And she also speaks to fighting the urge to be a “total dictator” when it comes to creative control, and how it’s best to only be “partially a dictator.”Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Tito on Amazon Prime now.If you haven’t seen The Fog – it’s fun!With April Wolfe and Grace Glowicki.

This week we are joined by the prolific, multiple Obie Award-winning actor, Elizabeth Marvel. She’s on the show to discuss 2017’s cuckoo zombie/murderer/demon-possession film, The Wailing. Elizabeth initially talks about how this film inspired her latest role as a demon on Hulu’s Marvel show Helstrom. But she also goes on to elaborate on the details of her creative process. She discusses how she approaches acting as a “visual medium,” which is why she always speaks to the DP on set. She also talks about loving to shoot on location because she “wants chaos.” Elizabeth did so much research on The Wailing and she is such a wealth of information on the craft of acting. She has a phenomenal story about working in a cramped townhouse with Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler in The Meyerowitz Stories. And she reveals that the Coen Brothers called people she knew before working with her to make sure she wasn’t an asshole.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Helstrom on Hulu starting October 16.If you haven’t seen The Wailing yet – you simply must!With April Wolfe and Elizabeth Marvel.

This week we are joined by the incredibly talented writer Mary Laws. You may know Mary from writing the screenplay for Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon or from her work on the show Succession. But most recently Mary has created and executive produced the new Hulu anthology series Monsterland. In this episode, Mary joins guest host Katie Walsh to discuss Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. She and Katie do not stray away from the controversy surrounding Polanski, and both of them try to tackle and reconcile with the fact that they both find this movie hugely inspirational. Mary reveals how this very film motivated her to move away from the normal three-act structure. She also elaborates on why she loves working in the horror genre and how it allows for more creative freedom. Plus, Mary also covers her stint as a writer on HBO’s Succession and the differences between writing for theater and film.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Monsterland on Hulu now.If you haven’t seen Repulsion yet – it’s very good.And if you want to listen to our Rosemary’s Baby episode, click HERE.With Katie Walsh and Mary Laws.

It is the return of one of our all-time favorite guests; writer, actor, director, and ‘Reading Glasses’ host, Brea Grant. She’s on the show this week to talk about 2002’s May, a movie described by April Wolfe as a spiritual prequel to Brea’s latest film, 12 Hour Shift. Brea discusses expediting the exposition in her film, Lucky, and how she pitched it by describing one specific scene; a wife wakes up to find a murderer in her house. She wakes her husband who says, “Of course he’s here, that’s the man that tries to kill us everyday.”May and 12 Hour Shift also happen to share the same lead actress, Angela Bettis. Brea describes what a dream she was to work with, and how she even helped the crew wrap the set on the final night of shooting. Brea talks about the expressiveness of the human face, and how one DP on the set of Heroes showed her how much her face takes up the screen, changing her acting forever. And lastly, Brea describes how David Arquette brought a donkey to set to raise spirits, and it did just that!Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch 12 Hour Shift on October 2nd.If you haven’t seen May yet – it’s great!With April Wolfe and Brea Grant.

This week’s episode is a real treat because we get to talk to the wonderful and exuberant Rachel True. She has chosen a movie that really blew our hair back; Sally Potter’s fantastical romance, Orlando. Rachel begins the episode by detailing her journey to see this movie in the early ’90s by taking a bus across Los Angeles. Rachel goes on to elaborate on the difficulty of being a black female actor and the limited roles she gets offered. She also talks about how she was often forced to utilize a “hood” accent when auditioning, and how that may have lost her a part in Clueless. And lastly, Rachel opens up about her experience working on The Craft, and why she fights to get the same respect as the other members of the cast.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can purchase Rachel’s True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook and Deck right HERE.If you haven’t seen Orlando yet – it’s great!With April Wolfe and Rachel True.

This week we are joined by the wonderful director, Rachel Lee Goldenberg, to discuss the “perfect film,” Thelma & Louise. Her movie choice is actually a direct inspiration for her latest movie, HBO Max’s Unpregnant. That film stars Haley Lu Richardson as a teenage girl who needs to get across state lines to get an abortion, and the only person she can turn to for help is her weird ex-best friend. In this episode, Rachel elaborates on the joy of working with Haley Lu, and how she would sometimes get so deep into character that she would get lost. Rachel explains her storyboarding process by quoting the great Werner Herzog: “Storyboards are for cowards.” Plus, Rachel describes her time making films for the Roger Corman-Esque studio ‘The Asylum,’ and how it honed her ability to come up with big ideas on a small budget.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Unpregnant on HBO Max now.If you haven’t seen Thelma & Louise yet – it’s great!With April Wolfe and Rachel Lee Goldenberg.

We are joined by a truly magnetic and unique voice in filmmaking, director/writer/actor Isabel Sandoval. She calls in from New York to discuss the film noir classic, Double Indemnity. Isabel has so much to cover on the craft of filmmaking. She discusses the power of the human face as a tool for storytelling, and why it so often leaves dialogue superfluous. She and April dissect Isabel’s latest film, Lingua Franca, and why all of her film’s center around women. Isabel also reveals her feelings on the current state of Filipino cinema, and why she wants to stay away from her films being labeled “poverty porn.” And lastly, Isabel shares her ultimate goal for her career; for her films to be considered their own film genre.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Lingua Franca on Netflix now.If you haven’t seen Double Indemnity yet – it’s great!With April Wolfe and Isabel Sandoval.

We are joined by the wonderful director Emily Hagins (Coin Heist, Scare Package) to discuss the classic Robert Rodriguez film, The Faculty. Emily reveals that this particular film was a huge inspiration for her as it was shot in her hometown of Austin, Texas. She talks about the similarities between writing comedy and horror and how the two genres mix well together. And she and April discuss the way writing dialogue for teenage characters has changed in recent years.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Coin Heist on Netflix now.If you haven’t seen The Faculty yet, it’s great!With April Wolfe and Emily Hagins.

Calling in from a hotel in Greece, we have the phenomenally talented actor and director Romola Garai on the show this week. She’s chosen to discuss Ali Abbasi’s 2018 troll romance, Border. Romola opens up about the creative process and how every actor is striving to be truly seen by a director. She chats about the difficulty she had finding the perfect house for her new film Amulet, and how she wishes she’d started looking for it the moment she began writing the script. She and April also talk at length about the unusual, yet beautiful, sex scene between the trolls in Border, and how it could have been silly in another director’s hands.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Amulet on VOD now.If you haven’t seen Border, you simply must.With April Wolfe and Romola Garai.

We have two wonderful guests today, both from HBO’s excellent show, Room 104 – executive producer & director Sydney Fleischmann, and executive producer, writer, director, & president of Duplass Brothers Productions, Mel Eslyn. They join April to discuss Tim Burton’s, Beetlejuice. Both Mel and Sydney chat about writing dark material and keeping it rooted in character. They discuss the creative fulfillment that comes with being a producer. Plus, they also chat about their show, Room 104, and how it has allowed them to exercise their personal creative fantasies.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch Room 104 on HBO.If you haven’t seen Beetlejuice, then you are an odd person.With April Wolfe, Mel Eslyn, and Sydney Fleischmann

We have the wonderful actor Sheila Vand on the program today to talk about Andrzej Żuławski’s 1981 bizarro nightmare, Possession. Sheila and April really dig into the process of acting, being in touch with your emotions, and infusing your performance with real-life experiences. Sheila also talks about improvising a key moment in A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. And she elaborates on the necessity for directors to have an open line of communication with their actors. This is such a funny, heartfelt, and fascinating interview with a truly talented artist.Please join us for a live watch along of The Apple on Saturday, July 25th at 2:00 pm PT. You can find all the info right here.Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch The Rental on VOD on July 24th.If you haven’t seen Possession, you simply must!With April Wolfe and Sheila Vand

We recorded this episode back in February and have been anxiously waiting to release it since. On this week’s episode, we had the good fortune to talk with one of the greatest directors of the 21st century, Kelly Reichardt. She is on to discuss the obscure 1967 French film, Pillaged. She also discusses her newest film, First Cow. Kelly takes April through the adaptation process and explains how she made First Cow a unique story from the novel. She also chats about making westerns and utilizing the tropes of the genre. Kelly is a true master of cinema, but she’s also genuinely hilarious. This is one of our most entertaining episodes and one you should not miss.Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/joinYou can watch First Cow on VOD now.If you haven’t seen Pillaged, you can watch this crappy version on YouTube.With April Wolfe and Kelly Reichardt

We have another amazing Australian director calling in this week. Natalie Erika James is on the program to talk about Park Chan-wook’s vampire classic, Thirst. She also discusses her newest film, the Sundance hit, Relic. Natalie reveals that after production wrapped, she was surprised to learn from her actors that she was a demanding director when it came to performances. She talks about how she created the sensation of being trapped in her film Relic. And she elaborates on the importance of realistic reactions in horror films.You can watch Relic on VOD on July 3rd.If you haven’t seen Thirst…get on it!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Lee Kyoung-mi’s The Truth BeneathWith April Wolfe and Natalie Erika James

We have another fantastic director calling in, all the way from Australia. This week we’ve got Babyteeth director Shannon Murphy on to discuss Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers. Shannon talks about the use of music in Korine’s film and how she used music when directing Killing Eve. She discusses motivating her actors to take interesting risks in their performances. She also chats about casting Ben Mendelsohn against type. And she reveals how she obsessively stalked a band until they gave her the rights to their song.You can watch Babyteeth on VOD June 19th.If you haven’t seen Spring Breakers…check it out!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really HereWith April Wolfe and Shannon Murphy

A tender, hilarious, thoughtful, and illuminating conversation with transgender actress Zoey Luna. She’s on the show to talk about Kristen Stewart’s recent nautical sci-fi film, Underwater. Zoey compares her own struggles in dealing with her mother, her abuser, and having to suppress her emotions to move forward, with the struggle of Kristen Stewart’s character in the film. Zoey also discusses how she made herself cry on the set of the upcoming The Craft remake (it was by watching a scene from The Fox and the Hound). And she reveals why she doesn’t like other people doing her hair. Zoey is a star. You will know that as soon as you hear her. Also, she says she’s a star in the episode.You can watch Pose now to catch some of Zoey’s work.If you haven’t seen Underwater…it’s really good!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Claire Denis’ High LifeWith April Wolfe and Zoey Luna

A fun and adventurous episode with the delightful writer and actor Hannah Bos. She’s on the show to discuss the pivotal 1980’s comedy, Adventures in Babysitting. Hannah and April both declare their love for Elisabeth Shue while dissecting the outdated humor of the film. Hannah also talks about her new movie Driveways, co-written with Paul Thureen. She elaborates on the process of getting the film made, working with director Andrew Ahn, and the generosity of the late great Brian Dennehy.You can watch Driveways on VOD now.If you haven’t seen Adventures in Babysitting…it’s great!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Debra Granik’s Winter’s BoneWith April Wolfe and Hannah Bos

This is truly a momentous occasion. This episode marks the return of the inimitable Issa López. This time she’s on the show to talk about Ridley Scott’s classic, Blade Runner. Issa has so many fantastic anecdotes from her many years of working in Mexico’s film industry. She talks about the nightmare of someone else directing her own script. She reveals how she was fired from writing a screenplay for a movie she was directing. And she talks about collaborating with her old pal Guillermo del Toro. One of our favorite guests of all time, and she does not disappoint.You can watch Tigers Are Not Afraid on Shudder now.If you haven’t seen Blade Runner…it’s great!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange DaysWith April Wolfe and Issa López

A very fun and fantastic episode with the actor, writer, and director Kestrin Pantera (Mother’s Little Helpers, Let’s Ruin It with Babies). She’s on the program to discuss 1999’s classic Galaxy Quest. Kestrin elaborates on her deep love for Star Trek, and even throws in a “mind meld” reference. She talks about her process of writing for specific actors. And she also reveals her method for gaining actors’ trust on set and allowing them to work freely.You can watch Mother’s Little Helpers on VOD now.If you haven’t seen Galaxy Quest…it’s great!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Mimi Leder’s Deep ImpactWith April Wolfe and Kestrin Pantera

A fascinating episode with Crystal Moselle, the director of one of the most interesting documentaries of the last decade, The Wolfpack. She’s on to discuss a film that has very little in common with her own work, at least stylistically, but one that she loves nonetheless; Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast. She starts the conversation off by revealing that the protagonist of the film, the sunbaked retired gangster Gal, is her dream man. Crystal also talks about how she learned to trust her instincts after randomly approaching the subjects of The Wolfpack, the Angulo Brothers, on the streets of New York. She opens up about tackling every new creative challenge that comes her way. And lastly, Crystal discusses her newest project, HBO’s ‘Betty’ about a crew of skateboard girls in New York.You can watch Betty on HBO now.If you haven’t seen Sexy Beast…oooooh man it’s good!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Point BreakWith April Wolfe and Crystal Moselle

A truly monumental episode. The Essie Davis calls in all the way from Tasmania. You know her from The Babadook, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and her latest The True History of the Kelly Gang. She is a treasure, and she’s on the show today to discuss the 1988 creep fest, The Vanishing. Essie divulges her innermost beliefs on the craft of acting and being able to know the thoughts of a character. She reveals that while working on The True History of the Kelly Gang, she and her co-stars were directed to form a punk band and actually play a show (the band’s name is Fleshlight, if you were wondering). But she also talks about the importance of studying and learning how to be a better actor. This is such a phenomenal and enlightening episode.You can watch The True History of the Kelly Gang on VOD or if you live in LA you can catch it at the Mission Tiki Drive-In.If you haven’t seen The Vanishing…it’s spooky!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Bette Gordon’s VarietyWith April Wolfe and Essie Davis

What’s not to love about this episode?! We have the majestic writer, actor, and comedian Mitra Jouhari on to discuss the luminescent classic Earth Girls Are Easy. Mitra chats about her deep love for movies that “don’t take themselves seriously as films.” She discusses working on her new show Three Busy Debras and explains why Sandy Honig’s character has a sister who is over 40 years older than her. Mitra also elaborates on the necessity for surreal and cuckoo comedy to be grounded in an emotional truth. And, of course, she discusses the “Touchdown Jesus” of Ohio getting hit by lightning.You can watch Three Busy Debras on Adult Swim nowIf you haven’t seen Earth Girls Are Easy…truly, what is wrong with you?AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Susan Seidelman’s Making Mr. RightWith April Wolfe and Mitra Jouhari

Just because we’re doing remote recordings doesn’t mean we’re not going to give you one of our best episodes. We’re joined by writer, actor, and producer Felicia Day. She’s here to discuss the classic horror/ comedy Gremlins. Felicia reveals the secret to being true to herself when creating projects. She discusses how her classic film literacy has influenced her career. And she talks about the creation of her newest film Pooka Lives! Make sure to listen to this episode to hear Felicia’s great story about how she nailed her monologue as a horse grooming psychic in a Hallmark movie.You can watch Pooka Lives! on Hulu nowIf you haven’t seen Gremlins…truly, what is wrong with you?AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Jackie Kong’s Blood DinerWith April Wolfe and Felicia Day

Our first remote recording, and it’s a spectacular one. We’re joined by director Tayarisha Poe to discuss Rian Johnson’s Brick. Tayarisha takes April step by step through the process of getting her first feature film financed and produced, Selah And The Spades. She discusses going through the Sundance Labs and taking joy from her mentors ripping her project apart. She also talks about creating a unique world in her own film, with its own original language and look, on the smallest possible budget.You can watch Selah And The Spades on Amazon Prime on April 17thIf you haven’t seen Brick…it’s good!AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Coralie Fargeat’s RevengeWith April Wolfe and Tayarisha Poe

This week we’ve been graced by a legend. An actor who can be seen in such films as Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Near Dark, and Titanic – the one and only Jenette Goldstein. She’s on the show to talk about Panos Cosmatos’ heavy metal, psycho-horror, Mandy. Jenette speaks about her career as a character actor and working with James Cameron. She also discusses digging deep for emotional scenes and reveals the secret to crying on camera.If you haven’t seen Mandy…buckle up.And if you’re interested in Jenette Bras, head on over to jenettebras.com.If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchbladeWith April Wolfe and Jenette Goldstein.

We are joined this week by the director of the 2018 horror, The Ranger, Jenn Wexler. You may remember previous guest Heather Buckley, who was a producer on the film, discussing Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Well, Jenn has chosen an equally challenging film, Abel Ferrara’s Ms .45. She and April discuss what it means to portray sexual violence on the screen, and the effect it has on the viewer. They also chat about making low budget indie films and the importance of creating your own film community.You can watch The Ranger on Shudder now.And if you haven’t seen Ms .45…it’s fantastic.If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchbladeWith April Wolfe and Jenn Wexler.

This could be described as a “best buds” episode because our host and guests go way back! Katie Walsh returns to the hosting chair to speak with her old pals, Danielle Krudy and Bridget Savage Cole, who just happen to be the directors of the new Amazon film, Blow the Man Down. They are on the program this week to talk about the folk-horror classic, 1973’s The Wicker Man. Both Krudy and Savage Cole have a cinematography background, and they discuss how having technical expertise can be both a blessing and a curse on set. They go in depth on creating the unique setting of the old fishing town in their film. And they proclaim the joy of working with the one-and-only Margo Martindale. If you’re starting to get those “social isolation blues,” this episode is so much fun that it can help clear that all up.You can watch Blow the Man Down on Amazon Prime on March 20th!And if you haven’t seen The Wicker Man…get to it, man!If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchbladeWith Katie Walsh, Danielle Krudy, and Bridget Savage Cole.

We are joined today by the exceptionally talented writer, producer, and co-creator of the new Netflix show I Am Not Okay with This, Christy Hall. She is here to talk about the beautifully weird Ron Howard/ George Lucas fantasy epic, Willow. This episode’s conversation is particularly illuminating and helpful as Christy gets into the nitty-gritty of being a writer. She elaborates on her initial struggle, and inevitable embrace, of using outlines when crafting a script. She also discusses the need to hone your craft and put in the work in order to get to the desired place in your career. Young writers, this is the podcast episode for you!You can watch I Am Not Okay with This right this very minute on Netflix!And if you haven’t seen Willow…it’s good!If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchbladeWith April Wolfe and Christy Hall.

We have an exceptionally packed show with two separate guests! First up, we’ve got the electrifying director of Blumhouse’s Into the Dark: Culture Shock, Gigi Saul Guerrero. She’s on to talk about the terrifying 2016 film, Don’t Breathe. She and April chat about motivating actors with intensity and trickery. Gigi also talks about communicating with the entire crew so no one gets impatient. After Gigi we have a quick conversation with the artistic director of Indie Memphis Film Festival, Miriam Bale. She and April discuss diversity at film festivals, capturing the spirit of Memphis, and, of course, ghosts. This is an episode not to be missed!You can watch Into the Dark: Culture Shock right this very minute on Hulu!And if you haven’t seen Don’t Breathe…it’s freaky!If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchbladeWith April Wolfe, Gigi Saul Guerrero, and Miriam Bale.

Today we are so lucky to have the amazingly talented showrunner for the Facebook Watch show Sacred Lies, Raelle Tucker. Raelle is also a playwright and has written for such TV shows as Supernatural, Jessica Jones, and True Blood. The movie she has chosen to discuss today is Kill Bill (both 1 and 2). Raelle and April have a long conversation about loving this film (and other films of its ilk) despite the problematic elements that went on behind the scenes. Raelle also talks about working with the wonderful Juliette Lewis. And she details how she gets her projects off the ground.You can watch Sacred Lies right this very minute!And if you haven’t seen Kill Bill…what are you doing?With April Wolfe and Raelle Tucker.

Today we have the multi-talented Jenna Kanell (Terrifier) on the program. She’s a writer, director, actor, and stunt performer. And she’s on the show today to talk about 2014’s It Follows. Jenna discusses the infusion of social commentary into the horror genre. She talks about the difficulty and isolation that can go along with the acting process. And she elaborates on performing her own stunts and how that can help her feel more “in her own body” for a role. If you haven’t seen It Follows…you should! It’s good! With April Wolfe and Jenna Kanell.

We have the magnificent director Maggie Levin (Blumhouse’s Into the Dark: My Valentine, Miss 2059) on the show to discuss Joel Schumacher’s vampire-classic, The Lost Boys. Maggie and April chat about making genre films on a shoestring budget. Maggie takes us through the laborious and often entertaining process of the “name clearance phase” of filmmaking. And she emphasizes the necessity of talented actors to make a quality film. You can watch Into the Dark: My Valentine on Hulu now. And if you haven’t seen The Lost Boys…get to it! With April Wolfe and Maggie Levin.