Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael Tolkin

Joe, Kyle, and Rick review the 2009 musical Nine. Directed by Rob Marshall, written by Michael Tolkin and Anthony Minghella, with music by Andrea Guerra. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, and many more. We ranked 10 of the songs from the soundtrack, as well as picked our favorite lines, characters, performers, and scenes. Enjoy!

Alexis Hejna, Dorian Price and Mark Radulich present their The Offer Miniseries TV Show Review! The Offer is an American biographical drama television miniseries created by Michael Tolkin and developed by Tolkin and Nikki Toscano for Paramount+. The series follows the development and production of Francis Ford Coppola's landmark gangster film The Godfather (1972) for Paramount Pictures. Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Giovanni Ribisi, Colin Hanks, Dan Fogler, Juno Temple, and Burn Gorman all star. It premiered on April 28, 2022, and ran 10 episodes through June 16.The project was announced in September 2020 to air on Paramount+, and for the story to be described from the perspective of producer Albert S. Ruddy. Armie Hammer was cast to play him in December 2020, but dropped out the following month; he was replaced by Miles Teller in May 2021. In April 2021, Dexter Fletcher was hired to direct several episodes. Matthew Goode, Giovanni Ribisi, Colin Hanks, Dan Fogler and Juno Temple joined the production in June, and in July, Burn Gorman joined as Charles Bludhorn. Justin Chambers has a recurring role as Marlon Brando. In October, Eric Balfour, Michael Gandolfini and Zack Schor joined the cast, with Balfour playing production designer Dean Tavoularis.Filming for the series began in July 2021 but was paused on July 29 due to a positive COVID-19 test. On August 23, 2021, it was reported that plans to film at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles between August 25 and 27 were scrapped after learning about a labor dispute there. The miniseries was released on April 28, 2022, with the first three episodes of the ten-episode miniseries available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis on Thursdays.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59

It's a big one this week, joined by our friend Dante (@steelydante), we get into Altman's huge '90s hit THE PLAYER.  We talk Michael Tolkin, the Hollywood machine, Altman's big resurgence, Tim Robbins, boutique water, Pasadena, Vincent D'Onofrio, range rovers, AI, and we share our movie pitches to Griffin Mill.  Join us for another week of Altmania!   https://linktr.ee/altmania

Director Robert Altman and screenwriter Michael Tolkin

In front of an audience at Hollywood's historic Grauman's Chinese Theater, for a panel convened as part of AFI FEST, Scott sits down with A. Scott Berg, Cameron Crowe, Nancy Griffin, Aljean Harmetz, Leonard Maltin, Kim Masters, Dennis McDougal, James Andrew Miller, Eddie Muller, John Pierson, George Stevens Jr., Michael Tolkin, Christine Vachon, Mark A. Vieira and Sam Wasson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

0:00 - Intro & Summary2:00 - Movie Discussion47:19 - Cast & Crew/Awards52:31  - Pop Culture 1:14:46 -  Rankings & Ratings To see a full list of movies we will be watching and shows notes, please follow our website: https://www.1991movierewind.com/Follow us!https://linktr.ee/1991movierewind Theme: "sunrise-cardio," Jeremy Dinegan (via Storyblocks)Don't forget to rate/review/subscribe/tell your friends to listen to us!

Sean talks to Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, What We Do in the Shadows) about The Player. They discuss writer Michael Tolkin's commentary on the entertainment industry and share stories inspired by the film. Every episode is available at Patreon.com/TheFlagrantOnes on The Bundle Tier with selected episode available for free here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I have a pretty busy week lined up so you're getting this new episode early! Returning to the podcast today, we have a fan favorite in the form of Mr. Jordan Harper. One of my dearest friends, this podcast's very first guest, and my Pandemic Movie Club, and Game Night crew buddy, Jordan is the Edgar award-winning author of She Rides Shotgun, Love & Other Wounds, The Last King of California, & Everybody Knows. Additionally, a screenwriter and producer of such shows as The Mentalist, Gotham, and Hightown, Jordan crafted one of the most beautiful pilots for L.A. Confidential, which CBS stupidly did not pick up, but was so acclaimed he screened and did a virtual panel on the show at the ATX TV Festival. A Missouri native - and yes, that will come up in today's conversation - Jordan currently lives in L.A. along with his talented screenwriter girlfriend Megan Mostyn-Brown, and adorable dog Ellroy. When Jordan & I planned this episode, we had no idea that we'd wind up recording on Day 100 of the WGA strike, which also happened to be National Book Lovers Day, or that it'd fall on a day when I could really use the distraction of laughing about movies with a good friend.A very funny, fast-paced, yet intensive blast from the past that celebrates & interrogates our childhood nostalgia, in this 85-minute conversation, we dig through what he's dubbed "a great stack of videos" from 1989. Kicking things off by sharing our thoughts on that bygone video store era (which has been revived in his Eagle Rock neighborhood, thanks to Vidiots), we open with a hilarious foray into two trashtastic films we enjoy throwing on as needed - Road House & Black Rain. Following up our discussion on those with something lighter in the form of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, we conclude the episode with Jordan's thrilling insights into Gleaming the Cube, including a major appreciation of the filmography of actor Max Perlich & the ways in which the brilliant screenwriter Michael Tolkin uses a teen skateboard picture to dig into political issues of the time. Filled with laughter, this one is sure to be a new hit with listeners, & I know it'll brighten your day.Originally Posted on Patreon (8/13/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/87634121 Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive Logo: KateGabrielle.com

Ian welcomes The Blonde in Front herself, Cati Glidewell, for a scary-fun look at one of 2023's best films, Talk to Me!YouTubers/brothers Danny and Michael Philippou make their feature debut with a smart, character-focused horror movie that really threw our hosts for a loop. Centering on a group of Australian teens who discover that the latest viral sensation is actually a gateway to Hell, Talk to Me offers a fresh take on Ouija Board and possession movies that neither host saw coming!In this spoilerific review, Ian and Cati examine how the the Philippous built upon their genre influences instead of merely referencing them; why A24 is the perfect studio for up-and-coming horror filmmakers; and the surprising link between Talk to Me's conception of the afterlife and that of Michael Tolkin's 1991 end-of-days thriller, The Rapture.Also, Ian shares an utterly shocking experience from the Music Box Theatre's preview screening (after which the Philippou's stuck around for a Q&A)!Show LinksWatch the Talk to Me trailer.Follow all of Cati's front-row goings-on!WebsiteTwitter/XInstagram/Facebook/YouTube: theblondeinfrontRadio of HorrorPost Mortem RadioSubscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Dans ce septième épisode nous avons le plaisir de recevoir Bruno Gouery et Vanessa Guide.Un épisode “bon an mal an” plein de bonnes vibes!Bruno et Vanessa nous parlent de leur travail sur le film Zénithal, Comme des Garçons, leurs rôles rêvés, Emily in Paris et The White Lotus, le tout ponctué d'anecdotes entre Jennifer Coolidge et des orteils gelés.Bonne écoute.Où nous retrouver :Retrouvez Bruno, Vanessa et Romain dans le Film Zénithal de Jean-Baptiste Saurel (sortie prévue le 24 juin 2024)pour suivre toutes nos actualités retrouvez nous sur instagram :@romain_francisco_@camillebizien@brunogouery@vanessaguideInfos :Episode enregistré le 11 Avril 2023Merci aux studios de la SACD et Sylvain Teissier pour le mixage.Vous avez aimé ce podcast, pour nous soutenir n'hésitez pas à mettre 5 étoiles sur votre application de podcast préférée et en parler autour de vous.#17H17lepodcastCité dans le podcast :Film “Comme des garçons” réalisée par Julien Hallard.Aurélie Meynard.Pour Bruno l'acteur italien qui joue le rôle du commissaire Montalbano est Luca Zingaretti.Thierry Lhermitte. Jean Chauvelot.Julie Bargeton.Darren Star.Série White Lotus écrite et réalisée par Mike White.Jennifer Coolidge.Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu.Misery réalisé par Rob Reiner.“Les rustres" de Carlo Goldoni avec Michel GalabruPhilippe Caubère.Recommandations :Vanessa :Julie en 12 chapitres” de Joachim Trier“Everything Everywhere All at Once” réalisé par Daniel Scheinert et Daniel Kwan“À plein temps” réalisé par Eric Gravel“Le Sixième enfant” De Léopold LegrandBD “Un monde sans fin” de Christophe Blain et Jean-Marc JancoviciThéâtre “Zypher Z” une création originale du Munstrum ThéâtreLivre Ecoutez nos défaites de Laurent GaudéSérie “L'effondrement” écrite et réalisée par le collectif les Parasites : Guillaume Desjardins, Jérémy Bernard et Bastien Ughetto, sur Canal +Bruno :“Il était une fois en Amérique” de Sergio LeoneSérie s“Succession” de Jesse Armstrong, The offer” de Michael Tolkin et Laurence Bennett Livre “Le maître et Marguerite” de Mikhaïl BoulgakovCamille :BD de Catel et José-Louis Bocquet!L'insta de Sophie AstrabieRomain :Théâtre “Niquer la fatalité” de Estelle MeyerBisousR&C Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

This week Zach and Sloane unwrap 1998's science fiction end-of-the-world disaster film: Deep Impact. The film was released the same summer as Armageddon which seems like bad planning. It was a big summer for disaster and a big summer for jersey cotton sheets. Zach accuses Sloane of loving jersey cotton sheets and she defends her honor by insisting she does not enjoy being shrink wrapped and cocooned by sheets in a bag. Other topics of discussion involve end-of-the-word planning, slow apocalypses, and booger couches. It'll all make sense when you listen to that and more on this week's episode of Mummy Dearest podcast!Support the show

The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features a Cannes Film Festival award winner, Robert Altman's The Player. Directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Michael Tolkin and starring Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Cynthia Stevenson, Fred Ward and Peter Gallagher, The Player won two top awards at Cannes in 1992. The post The Player (1992 Cannes Award Winner) appeared first on Awesome Movie Year.

Chris and Taylor review the biographical drama miniseries "The Offer" created by Michael Tolkin. The show depicts the development and production of Francis Ford Coppola's landmark New York mafia film "The Godfather." The show stars Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Juno Temple, Dan Fogler, Burn Gorman, Colin Hanks and Giovanni Ribisi.

The Player turns 30 later this week and this satire hasn't lost very much of its punch. Hollywood is the land of phony (now more than ever!) and that atmosphere can be poison to artistic integrity, sure, but most other films of this type don't feature a guy getting away with literal murder. Yup, we wondered if Robert Altman's comeback film is even cleverer than it first appears. Could most of or even the entire film just be a sly suggestion that Tim Robbins & his co-stars are not in a real story? Is this movie actually...about them? Maybe Altman and writer Michael Tolkin were being even more meta than it appears. Of course, the tracking shot at the beginning and the dozens of cameos by A-list movie stars are what The Player is most famous for, but the character actors headlining the cast have fun playing the comedy straight. So give us your pitch while we constantly worry about losing our jobs as we hash out The Player in our 440th Ellises' Analysis. And, hey, what will be perfect at that pitch meeting at 9 am? Sparkplug Coffee, of course, and you can get a 20% discount if you write "top100project" into the promo code section. We're also tweetable (@moviefiend51 and @bevellisellis) and you can hear more of Ryan talking on his sports-movie podcast "Scoring At The Movies".

Of all the unmade “Mission: Impossible” movies, few tantalize like the version of “Mission: Impossible 2” helmed by Oliver Stone. It's been a mystery… until now. We go into detail on the script for this film, written by David Marconi with revisions by Michael Tolkin. If you've ever wanted to know what a “M:I” movie with an evil computer looks like, here we go! Welcome to a truly fascinating alternate universe.

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! En un nuevo programa especial exclusivo para fans de habladecine hablamos de El juego de Hollywood, la magnífica película que Robert Altman dirigió en 1992 basada en la obra y guión de Michael Tolkin. Además nos servirá para repasar la carrera de Bruce Willis y hacerle un homenaje por su reciente retirada.Escucha este episodio completo y accede a todo el contenido exclusivo de Habladecine.com. Descubre antes que nadie los nuevos episodios, y participa en la comunidad exclusiva de oyentes en https://go.ivoox.com/sq/421317

So, you sure you want to work in Hollywood? Robert Altman's 1992 film, 'The Player' may change your mind -- or it could inspire you to finally make the jump. Join Travis and Luca as they look back at this scathing indictment of the movie business.Watch 'The Player' here.

We are but two guys so logic demands we must review two movies! We've been saving a couple movies where our bud Bruce plays a very small role and today we talk about both The Player(1993) written by directed by Robert Altman, written by Michael Tolkin, and starring Tim Robbins AND Four Rooms(1995) directed and written by by Allison Anders, Alexandre Roxwell, Robert Rodregiuez and Quentin Tarentino Check us out at: williswaypod.com Josh's Ranking of Bruce Willis Films: https://letterboxd.com/cosmicjosh/list/bruce-willis-ranked/ Kendrick's Ranking of Bruce Willis Films: ttps://letterboxd.com/special_k/list/bruce-willis-ranked/ Email us: williswaypod@gmail.com

We are but two guys so logic demands we must review two movies! We've been saving a couple movies where our bud Bruce plays a very small role and today we talk about both The Player(1993) written by directed by Robert Altman, written by Michael Tolkin, and starring Tim Robbins AND Four Rooms(1995) directed and written by by Allison Anders, Alexandre Roxwell, Robert Rodregiuez and Quentin Tarentino

PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/minddogtvSponsors:https://podmatch.com/signup/minddogtvhttps://mybookie.com Promo Code minddoghttps://record.webpartners.co/_6_DFqqtZcLQWqcfzuvZcQGNd7ZgqdRLk/1https://apply.fundwise.com/minddoghttps://myvitalc.com/minddog. promo code minddogtvhttps://skillbuilder.academy/dashboard?view_sequence=1601856764231x540742189759856640&promoCode=MINDDOG100OFFhttps://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=599839&u=1659788&m=52971&urllink=&afftrack=https://enticeme.com/#minddogBrought too by Wicked Temptations

The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1989 features our future cult classic pick, teen skateboarding drama Gleaming the Cube. Written by Michael Tolkin, directed by Graeme Clifford and starring Christian Slater, Steven Bauer, Min Luong and Richard Herd, Gleaming the Cube was a box-office failure but became an influential piece of skater culture. The post Gleaming The Cube (1989 Future Cult Classic) appeared first on Awesome Movie Year.

Sept 9, 2019: Michael Tolkin is a tech entrepreneur, innovator, former Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City, and the founder of Smart Cities. Listen as Michael and Larry talk about Michael's past run for Mayor, Artificial Intelligence, city-oriented approaches to solving current problems, retail business trends, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sharpe-way/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sharpe-way/support

Moon Unit Zappa interviews Emmy-nominated creators/writers Brett Johnson (Ray Donovan) & Michael Tolkin (The Player) about their Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora.

It’s a disaster this week as the Leslie leads our fearless crew through Deep Impact. This first of two 1998 films about giant space rocks hitting the earth was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin and directed by Mimi Leder. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin joins Anthony to discuss their limited series 'Escape at Dannemora'.

We do a deep-dive into a little-read screenplay for what would have been Oliver Stone's "Mission: Impossible 2." Written by David Marconi with revisions by Michael Tolkin, this would have been a VERY different sequel, with returning characters from the first film and, um, an evil supercomputer as the villain. Plus, we go into what changed once John Woo took over and uncover a lost sequence from David Koepp's 1994 draft of the first movie. It's an awesome excursion into the land of what-if. 

In this episode, the Real Crime Profile Team (Laura Richards, Jim Clemente and Lisa Zambetti) continue their conversation with Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, co-creators and executive producers of the upcoming SHOWTIME series Escape At Dannemora. This episode was done in partnership with and is sponsored by SHOWTIME and the new Limited Event Series Escape At Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano & Bonnie Hunt.Based on bizarre but true events, Escape At Dannemora tells the story of two prisoners who broke out of a maximum-security prison in upstate New York and their twisted relationship with the female prison employee, who aided in their escape.Escape At Dannemora premieres Sunday, November 18 at 10PM ET/PT, only on SHOWTIME.TO TRY A FREE MONTH OF SHOWTIME, GO TO SHOWTIME.COM AND ENTER CODE RCP30. THIS OFFER IS FOR FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS ONLY AND EXPIRES 12/7/18.This Episode is also sponsored by:CUROLOGYGo to Curology.com/REALCRIME to get your first month FREE plus a free gift. Just pay $4.95 for shipping and handling.ZULILYGet 20% off your first order at Zulily.com/REALCRIMEQUIPGo to GETQUIP.com/RealCrime to get your first refill pack for Free.

The RCP Team (Laura Richards, Jim Clemente and Lisa Zambetti) discuss the upcoming SHOWTIME series Escape At Dannemora with show co-creators and executive producers Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin.This episode is sponsored by SHOWTIME and the new Limited Event Series Escape at Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano & Bonnie Hunt.Based on bizarre but true events, Escape At Dannemora tells the story of two prisoners who broke out of a maximum-security prison in upstate New York and their twisted relationship with the female prison employee, who aided in their escape.Escape At Dannemora premieres Sunday, November 18 at 10PM ET/PT, only on SHOWTIME.TO TRY A FREE MONTH OF SHOWTIME, GO TO SHOWTIME.COM AND ENTER CODE RCP30. THIS OFFER IS FOR FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS ONLY AND EXPIRES 12/7/18.

TODAY: Michael Tolkin, American screenwriter, director, and novelist whose career includes self-made adaptations and covers a broad scope of genres. Tolkin's first project was the novel The Player, released in 1988. The story of a Hollywood exec that kills an aspiring screenwriter, it was a success and received a film adaptation in 1992 starring Tim Robbins, which would also write and receive critical acclaim for. The film would be nominated for several Academy Awards and Golden Globes, including a screenwriting nomination for Tolkin. He would go on to write over a dozen more feature films, with his most recent film being the 2009 film adaptation of the stage play Nine, as well as the 2018 Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora. Popcorn Talk Network, the online broadcast network that features movie discussion, news, interviews and commentary proudly presents “The Film Scene w/ Illeana Douglas”, a weekly, freewheeling discussion show where industry veteran Illeana Douglas interviews Hollywood's most important voices in TV and Film, discussing some of Cinema's most important films, scenes, and shots. Produced by Ryan Nilsen and co-hosted by Jeff Graham, this show is essential listening for serious and casual fans of film! Stay Up To Date: http://illeanaspodcast.com/illeana-douglas-episodes/ Listen on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i-blame-dennis-hopper-starring-illeana-douglas/id1169112310?mt=2 Visit our website: https://popcorntalknetwork.com Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Love TV? Check out http://site.afterbuzztv.com Love Books? Check out http://bookcircleonline.com Support our friends at http://blackhollywoodlive.com Shopping on Amazon? Click through our Amazon affiliate program at http://www.amazon.com//ref=as_sl_pd_t...

The North Koreans have tested a weapon called NK3, a weaponized nano-bacterium designed to confuse South Koreans. The test has spread around the world. As a result, the world has lost its memory. 

"Instead of doing heroin, you're doing God." What does it take to get into heaven?  Do you need to go to church every Sunday?  Or do you just need to be a good person?  And what if you're a good person that, according to the rules set forth in the Bible, happens to be a huger sinner?  Are the two mutually exclusive?  Director and screenwriter Michael Tolkin tackles these questions (and much more) in The Rapture (1991), starring Mimi Rogers and David Duchovny. Tolkin's contributions to movies have been scant at best: he previously wrote the screenplay for Gleaming the Cube (1989) and would later director his second and (to date) last film, The New Age (1994).  Ironically, The Rapture remains a steadfastly strong film, although its popularity has dwindled in the 25 years since its release. Have a comment or question for the host?  Email Sean at 1001moviespodcast@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter via @1001MoviesPC, and look for the podcast's Facebook page.  

Mark and Aaron welcome old friend, Doug McCambridge to talk about Robert Altman's “Don't call it a” comeback film. We touch on the opening tracking shot, what Altman is saying about Hollywood, and yes, we even go into the ending — or both of them. On top of that, we give some tidbits on how to be economical with the Barnes & Noble Criterion Sale. About the film: A Hollywood studio executive with a shaky moral compass (Tim Robbins) finds himself caught up in a criminal situation that would be right at home in one of his movie projects, in this biting industry satire from Robert Altman. Mixing elements of film noir with sly insider comedy, The Player, based on a novel by Michael Tolkin, functions as both a nifty stylish murder story and a commentary on its own making, and it is stocked with a heroic supporting cast (Peter Gallagher, Whoopi Goldberg, Greta Scacchi, Dean Stockwell, Fred Ward) and a lineup of star cameos that make for an astonishing Hollywood who's who. This complexly woven grand entertainment (which kicks off with one of American cinema's most audacious and acclaimed opening shots) was the film that marked Altman's triumphant commercial comeback in the early 1990s. Buy The Films On Amazon: Episode Links & Notes Special Guest: Doug McCambridge from Good Times, Great Movies. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter. 0:00 – Intro and Welcome Doug 4:00 – Doug's Announcement 7:30 – Thank Ben Model 9:20 – Criterion Completion 12:35 – Barnes and Noble Sale 22:00 – The Player Plain Case – iTunes Plain Case – Facebook CCU36: Plain Archive Criterion Completion Podcast Blu-Ray.com Barnes & Noble Thread The Blind Podsmen Podcast WrongReel 154: Game of Thrones Season 6 Recap Episode Credits Mark Hurne: Twitter | Letterboxd Aaron West: Twitter | Blog | Letterboxd Criterion Close-Up: Facebook | Twitter | Email Next time on the podcast: A Brighter Summer Day

On this week's show, Laurie and Seth (sans Tom) speak with Michael Tolkin, the novelist and award-winning screenwriter of The Player, about his theory that the character of Tom Sawyer is darker than we remember; film critic and beloved Iowan John Powers joins to discuss the results of this week's Iowa caucuses and whether he feels guilty, as a journalist, for rooting for Trump; and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about Mycroft Holmes, his well-received debut novel about the brother of Sherlock Holmes. Featuring Tom Lutz, Laurie Winer, and Seth Greenland. Produced by Jerry Gorin. The LARB Radio Hour airs Thursdays at 2:30pm on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles.

Cultural historian Leo Braudy joins Laurie Winer and Seth Greenland to discuss ISIS videos and the history of propaganda. Also the trio discuss a recent article, "What's Wrong with Public Intellectuals?" in The Chronicle of Higher Education; Michael Tolkin extols the virtues of his favorite book, The Professor's House by Willa Cather; another tale from the road from Literary Death Match founder Adrian Todd Zuniga.

Screenwriter and novelist Michael Tolkin joins Bret Easton Ellis to discuss pragmatism in screenwriting, The Player, growing up in 1960's Los Angeles and the current state of the filmed drama.

Join us for a terrific reading from one of Los Angeles' premier literary magazines! PEN Center USA and Narrow Books present The Rattling Wall, Issue 4. The reading will begin at 7:30 PM and will feature contributors Ben Loory, Mehnaz Sahibzada, Ben Pack, Brady Hammes, Ron Gutierrez, George Ducker, and Erika Schickel.The Rattling Wall, Issue 4, includes new writing by T. Duncan Anderson Jr., Arielle Bernstein, Laura Bogart, Corey Campbell, George Ducker, Megan Falley, David Francis, Leah Griesmann, Ron Gutierrez, Brady Hammes, Nathalie Handal, Dana Johnson, Joe Kelly, Anne-Marie Kinney, Hunter Liguore, Ben Loory, Ruth Nolan, Ben Pack, Minh Pham, Martin Pousson, Jeremy Radin, James Ragan, Mehnaz Sahibzada, Erika Schickel, Heather Simons, Susan Straight, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Tolkin, Bruce Weigl, and Wendy Xu.Ken Garduno is the featured artist for The Rattling Wall, Issue 4. In 2006, Garduno graduated with honors in illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. After graduating, Ken pursued a career as a freelance illustrator/gallery artist. His work has been shown in galleries internationally, as well as in various publications, album art, and T-shirt designs.Michelle Meyering is the founding editor of The Rattling Wall and Director of Programs and Events at PEN Center USA. Meyering has produced over 200 literary events across Southern California. She currently teaches in the UCLA Extension Writers' Program in Los Angeles.PEN Center USA, a literary nonprofit based in Beverly Hills, has a membership of more than 600 professional writers. PEN Center USA strives to protect the rights of writers around the world, to stimulate interest in the written word, and to foster a vital literary community among the diverse writers living in the western United States. PEN Center USA has a long, successful history of planning literary events in and around Los Angeles; special programming has taken place at The Hammer, The Hotel Café, Largo at the Coronet, The Echo, Actor's Gang, The Pacific Design Center, and The Beverly Hills Hotel.Narrow Books is an independent Los-Angeles-based publisher founded in 2005, publishing both art and literature. In addition to The Rattling Wall, their titles include: Hey Fudge, a giant collection of work by acclaimed artist Travis Millard (aka Fudge); Eat Hell, a book of stories by Los Angeles author Joseph Mattson; the Two Letters anthology collections; and several “unofficial,” and now out-of-print, handmade mini-books and zines.For more information on The Rattling Wall, Issue 4: Reading & Release, please contact Michelle Meyering, Director of Programs and Events at PEN Center USA: michelle@penusa.org.

Bernardo Bertolucci talks to John Wilson about his favourite film, La Dolce Vita. Includes selected clips from the BBC archive: Daniel Day Lewis on playing an Italian director, Fellini defining neorealism in 1957, Anthony Minghella's thoughts on Fellini, Ken Russell's thoughts on Fellini, Michael Tolkin on the relevant subject matter of La Dolce Vita, Bernardo Bertolucci on Last Tango in Paris. Full archive details are available at Front Row's Cultural Exchange website.

By all accounts, the Guild’s inaugural Screenwriters’ Gala held to honor its own was an unbridled success with attendance levels reaching just over 300.Click To PlayWGA, WEST First Annual Screenwriters’ Dinner - May 23, 2007By all accounts, the Guild’s inaugural Screenwriters’ Gala held to honor its own was an unbridled success with attendance levels reaching just over 300. Cocktails, dinner, and more cocktails poured forth from the Beverly Wilshire ballroom in late May, as screenwriters for the first time had an opportunity to meet and greet colleagues, and some distinguished Guild members known only by reputation. If mid-week’s full house, with the changing media platforms and with many turning an eye to upcoming negotiations, was any measure— staying informed and connected seems to be the option of choice for many.The Guild’s Organizing committee spear-headed by the legendary Warren Beatty, was rounded out by Jessica Bendinger (Bring It On), James L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets), Leslie Dixon (Hairspray), Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat), Aline B. McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada), Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give), Alvin Sargent (Spider Man 2), and Robert Towne (Chinatown). WGAW President Patric M. Verrone hosted and noted that while the evening’s intent was indeed to bring together some of the brightest screenwriters around the globe, it was also the Guild’s aim to introduce members to those working behind the scenes whose focus remains helping writers navigate the ever-changing landscape, as well as understanding the big industry picture. Writer John Gatins kicked off the evening with a toast, raising his glass to “All of you who inspire me daily.”On a more serious note, Verrone pointed out that technology is changing the industry at an amazing pace, and though it will always be a collaborative art form, the need to remain “active, engaged, and aware” was pivotal to long-term success. Michael Tolkin addressed the crowd from an institutional as well as familial perspective (scribe’s father is the revered Mel Tolkin) as he illuminated the Guild’s highlights and lowlights that have brought all to present day and what he considers,” Our last best chance to collectively stand for what we are due— specifically with regard to residuals and technology.” In the end, Tolkin summed up what seemed like at least part of the solution by quoting his father: “A show of strength is a good idea.”Screenwriters Ed Solomon and Phil Alden Robinson stood together to underscore the power and importance of the written word, yet reiterated that an organized effort that remained unified with the “courage of our convictions” is the best way to manage the current crossroads facing all artists. A collaborative effort that remained optimistic and utilized the strength of sister unions was also touched upon as the notion of hybrid creation is a hurdle all artists face, and one which will only continue to grow with the digital age.The Guild’s Executive Director David Young closed out the evening as he conveyed the significance of the upcoming negotiations hinged on the simple fact that all involved needed to understand that “writers are an essential cost of doing business.” Whatever the conflicts and evolving gray areas, “If we stand united, stick to our principles, and learn from the past, we will succeed.”

The Return of the Player (Grove) In this conversation, the subject of the immorality of Hollywood gives way to the subject of the immorality of wealth, which in turn, surprisingly, gives way to the question of whether the soul exists. If the soul does not exist, is there any immorality? Do fictional characters have souls? Gradually we uncover the moral equations underlying Tolkin's universe.