Podcast appearances and mentions of william chen

In episode 40, Johnny talks to Cinema In Context co-host William Chen. A science-teacher by day, and a pop culture vigilante by night, William has a deep love for animated films, Lego and a galaxy far, far away. Their chat includes the biggest Star Wars nerd-out on My Movie DNA to date, they discuss Wes Anderson, Brad Bird and Jackie Chan, and they talk about whether Tom Cruise took inspiration from Steve Guttenberg for Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning's centerpiece aerial stunt….This conversation was recorded face to face in late-May of 2025.Thanks to James Van As who wrote and performed the brilliant podcast music (check out James' ⁠⁠Loco Looper⁠⁠ game) and to Willow Van As who designed the amazing artwork and provided general podcast support.You can contact My Movie DNA on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @mymovieDNA or email mymovieDNA@gmail.com.Check out Johnny's new podcast series, ⁠500 Films: A Journey Through Genre Cinema⁠, available wherever you get your podcasts.

The Final Destination saga. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) and the original Final Destination (2000), as well as the sequels in between: Final Destination 2 (2003), Final Destination 3 (2006), The Final Destination (2009) and Final Destination 5 (2011). We begin by discussing the Health and Safety elements of the films, especially the 'Public Service Announcement' lurking under the surface of the majority of the grisly deaths in the series. Jeremy, Sarah, and William each reminisce about their experiences watching the films. We talk about the process that recent series directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein went through to land the job of the latest film. We celebrate our positive reactions to various moments from across the series, especially the fifth film. We honour the work of Tony Todd and the connections to Candyman (1992) in the series. We talk about the nebulous role of Death as a villain and the logic of the premonitions in each film. Jeremy and William talk through their top kills from the series. We discuss Ali Larter's character, Clear Rivers, the genesis of the original film as a television episode, the range of quality in the acting and the development of the audience's expectations over time.

Pamela Anderson starring films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Last Showgirl (2024) and Barb Wire (1996). We begin by discussing Barb Wire and showering it with praise (excuse the pun). We celebrate the 90s-ness of the film. We talk about all the homages and connections we noticed in Barb Wire, including Casablanca (1942), Batman Forever (1995), Alien 3 (1992), Mad Max (1979), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Candyman (1992), Strange Days (1995), and Total Recall (1990). We praise the cast, including Xander Berkeley, Udo Kier and Temuera Morrison. We discuss the production values of Barb Wire, including the visual effects, action, cinematography and other production values. Our conversation explores the criticism of Barb Wire and how the tastes of audiences shifted over the 90s, making connections to Waterworld (1995), Cutthroat Island (1995), Hook (1991) and Charlie's Angels (2000). We move our discussion to The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola. We talk about the strength of the performances from Pamela Anderson, Brenda Song, Dave Bautista, Billie Lourd and Jamie Lee Curtis. We unpack the script, the tone, the direction and the ultimate aim of the film, with differing reactions from Sarah, William and Jeremy.

Artificially Intelligent girlfriends. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Companion (2025) and Her (2013). Both films have director-writers in Drew Hancock and Spike Jonze, respectively. We start by discussing the vision of the future Her presents and how much has come to pass - 'prescient' is the word we all describe the film as. We celebrate a number of elements of Her that we enjoy. The conversation then moves to a discussion of Companion and how we found the film not as complex as Her. We discuss the films in connection to Lost In Translation (2003), Barbarian (2022), Ex Machina (2014), M3GAN (2022), Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), Beau Is Afraid (2023), Heretic (2024), The White Lotus (2021-) and Yellowjackets (2021-). We praise the performances of Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. We end with a discussion about real-world AI today and how the films connect to matters at hand.

This episode features Prof. William Chen from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, speaking with the ISAPP hosts about precision fermentation. In Singapore, enhancing national food security is of interest and one of the technologies used to achieve this is precision fermentation. Prof. Chen describes the differences between traditional fermentation, biomass fermentation, and precision fermentation. In […] The post An overview of precision fermentation, with Prof. William Chen PhD appeared first on International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP).

Week-long liaisons. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss two films about a young sex worker asked to be a date for a week: Anora (2024) and Pretty Woman (1990). We discuss our initial experiences watching the Gary Marshall's Pretty Woman. We praise the film's creation of tropes, archetypes and memorable movie moments. We celebrate the performances, especially Julia Roberts. We talk about the types of romantic comedies like Pretty Woman that made up a lot of our movies back in the 1990s and early 2000s. We shift our discussion to Anora and gush over the quality of the film. We talk about the comedy elements of the film, the improvisation, the production design, makeup, costume design and the prowess of director Sean Baker. We praise the performance of Mikey Madison as Anora and also Yura Borisov as Igor, both up for acting Oscars. We finish our conversation by looking at connections between the two films.

Across Canada, historic Chinatowns are under threat, facing development and gentrification, soaring housing costs, and concerns about public safety. Why do these places matter, and what gets lost if they disappear completely? Today on Now or Never, we're travelling from Vancouver, BC to St. John's, Newfoundland, to meet people who are fighting for the future of their Chinatown.Ify takes a walk through Toronto's Chinatown with Sum Wong, the creative force behind Queens of Dim Sum - Toronto Chinatown's first and only public queer event. He tells us why it was so important to create this space in Chinatown, and how it's opening up new conversations within the city's East Asian community - including ones with his own mom. In Lethbridge, Alberta, Allan Chiem and his kung fu school are the last ones standing in the city's historic Chinatown. How he's breathing new life into the last remaining building, and what he dreams of for the future.Meet Carol Lee, who through sheer force of will is revitalizing Vancouver's struggling Chinatown. She takes us on a tour of the affordable housing complex she spent years trying to get built, and tells us what keeps her going - even when her own father told her she should give up.Francis Tam is on a mission: to find every person of Chinese descent currently living in Newfoundland and Labrador. It's his way of connecting a community that has never had a physical Chinatown to gather in. He takes us along for a ride as he meets up with the oldest Chinese-Canadian person in Newfoundland, 104-year-old Mrs. Kwan Hum.William Chen and his sister Winnie grew up in Edmonton's Chinatown, and have fond memories of a vibrant street culture and around-the-block lineups for dim sum. But ever since the pandemic, the area has struggled, with many long-time businesses shuttering their doors for good. Determined to save the place they call home, William and Winnie are going all in to bring people back, using the one thing they know best...food. 

Three Paddington films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Paddington (2014), Paddington 2 (2017) and Paddington in Peru (2024) and our general reactions to the films, especially those of us who haven't seen a Paddington film before. We talk about the work of writer and director Paul King, including The Mighty Boosh and Wonka (2023), and praise the work of first-time director Dougal Wilson. We discuss the cast and performances in the films, including the work of Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Emily Mortimer, Ben Wishaw, Jessica Hynes, Matt Lucas, Peter Capaldi, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson and Noah Taylor. We praise the films' visuals, especially Paddington's animation. This extends into a discussion of live-action, special effects, visual effects and computer generation. We touch on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), the work of Ray Harryhausen - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and Clash of the Titans (1981), the original Godzilla (1954), King Kong (1933), Jurassic Park (1993), Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Doctor Who (1963-) and The Thing (1982).

The best of the year. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their film and television highlights of the year, including their biggest surprise, biggest disappointment, wildcard, best television and best films of 2024. Here are the films and television shows we discussed: • Biggest surprise of the year: Migration (William); Kneecap (Sarah); Wicked: Part 1 (Jeremy) • Biggest disappointment of the year: Means Girls (Sarah and Jeremy); The Bear, Season 3 (William) • Wildcard: Alien: Romulus (Jeremy); Grand Theft Hamlet (Sarah); Hundreds of Beavers (William) • Best television: Delicious in Dungeon (William); Hacks, Season 3 (Jeremy); Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Sarah) • Runner-ups to the film of the year: The Substance and Civil War (Jeremy); The Wild Robot and Robot Dreams (William); Origin and American Fiction (Sarah) • Best film of the year: Dune: Part Two (Jeremy); Successor | Zhua wa wa (William); All of Us Strangers (Sarah) Additional shout-outs to Gut Instinct, Rebel Ridge, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Inside Out 2.

1970s television films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Saturday Night (2024) and Network (1976), films about television in 1975. We begin by discussing our connection and experience watching the television sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975-present). We discuss the actors' performances in the film, especially in their impersonations of the famous cast members of the original episode: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Andy Kaufman. We shift our conversation to Network and how relevant the film still is today. We also praise the performances in Network, including Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Beatrice Straight and Ned Beatty. We compare the two films, especially the costume and production design of both films being similar while being almost 50 years apart.

Sfruttare il potere della natura per creare soluzioni sostenibili, efficaci, green e circolari, favorendo la protezione dell'ambiente e la transizione ecologica.  Da questi presupposti è partita la ricerca portata avanti da William Chen, direttore del programma di scienza e tecnologia alimentare della Nanyang Technological University di Singapore, che dopo aver inventato nel 2020 una pellicola alimentare biodegradabile realizzata in cellulosa ricavata dagli scarti generati dalle aziende produttrici di prodotti a base di soia, ha recentemente annunciato di aver sviluppato un involucro alimentare rivoluzionario che non solo manterrebbe il cibo fresco, ma combatterebbe anche attivamente i batteri avvisando del deterioramento. 

Mega-city grand vision films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Megalopolis (2024) and Metropolis (1927), films by Francis Ford Coppola and Fritz Lang. We begin by sharing our experiences watching Metropolis, including the first time watching it and our experience watching it more recently. We talk about the music in Metropolis, how it's drawn from music before it and influenced music after the film. We start our conversation about Megalopolis by questioning the film's logic and figuring out what the film is trying to do. We praise and dissect the work of Aubrey Plaza, Talia Shire and Kathryn Hunter, as well as critique the work of the cast as a whole. We consider the film regarding other films and filmmakers' work, trying to figure out what could have made Megalopolis a better film. We discuss the performances from Metropolis, especially the work of Brigitte Helm. We finish by discussing the themes, ideas and politics of Metropolis and whether it is still relevant to us today.

Say their name multiple times. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Candyman (1992) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), as well as Beetlejuice (1988). We start by sharing our experiences and reactions to watching Candyman, including the key imagery and ideas that stand out. We praise the score from Phillip Glass, the writing work of Clive Barker, the direction and vision from Bernard Rose, and the commendable acting work and charisma of Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd. We then discuss Beetlejuice (1988), with Sarah watching it for the first time for this episode, which then moves into our reactions and experiences to watching Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). We talk about the connections between the two films and how we seem to connect films in more surprising ways than we initially realise. We discuss the wider state of "Legacy-quels" and the repeated trope of the grown-up lead as a sad parent. We talk about the urban and suburban exploration in both films and how it mines the fears of modern-day audiences.

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The Alien franchise. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Alien (1979) and Alien: Romulus (2024), as well as Aliens (1986), Alien³ (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). Our conversation dips in and out of all these films, praising and critiquing the work of directors Ridley Scott, Fede Alvarez, James Cameron, David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. We praise the performances of Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Winona Ryder, Michael Fassbender, Cailee Spaeny, David Johnson and Spike Fearn. We consider the human-android-alien-company relationships throughout all the films, with Ripley, Ash, Bishop, Call, David, Walter, Andy and Rook. We celebrate the production design of the original and new film, and how the latest entry into the franchise harks back to its predecessors. We discuss the lore of the Alien franchise, considering the stages of the titular monster through the queen, egg, face-hugger, chest-burster, xenomorph, "The Newborn" alien hybrid, black goo and now cocoon and "The Offspring". We discuss our predictions of where the Alien franchise might go from here.

Looking back at 100 months. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the last 100 months of Cinema in Context. We reminisce on the beginnings of the podcast, referencing the many people who have contributed along the way. We discuss our top films of the 'new' films we've focused on since 2016. The films we discuss include Thor: Ragnarok (2017) from Episode 20, Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) from Episode 29, Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) from Episode 74, The Salesman (2016) from Episode 13, Parasite (2019) from Episode 42, Turning Red (2022) from Episode 73, Upgrade (2018) from Episode 33, Cats (2019) from Episode 48 and 57, Encanto (2021) from Episode 70, A Quiet Place (2018) from Episode 25, A Star is Born (2018) from Episode 31 and Tenet (2020) from Episode 54. We wrap up our discussion by looking back at the discoveries we have made in our back catalogue selections over the past eight years, our favourite pairings for different episodes and reflecting on the overall positiveness of the experience we have making this podcast.

Originally from January 2023, Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the films Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Titanic (1997). This additional content covers three key questions: each person's favourite moment from the films, one thing they would change and a third film they would group with these movies.

George Miller sequels. Special guest Sophie Ricketts joins Jeremy Downing and William Chen to discuss Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) and Babe: Pig in the City (1998). We begin by discussing our reactions to Babe: Pig in the City, by first considering its predecessor Babe (1995) and then reminiscing the circumstances in which we watched its 1998 sequel. We talk about the darkness in Babe: Pig in the City and whether this film is appropriate for children. We then move on to a discussion about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) and immediately discuss it in comparison to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). We finish by discussing why we think Furiosa is bombing at the box office and our final thoughts on Babe 2, with some last-minute comparisons to Poor Things (2023), La cité des enfants perdus | The City of Lost Children (1995) and Batman Returns (1992).

Since 2021, vegetable production in Singapore has hovered below 5 percent of total consumption, while seafood production stood at around 7 to 8 percent. This is some ways off from the nation's ambitious target of growing 30 percent of its food locally by 2030.  The high-tech farming sector, which is crucial to helping achieve this goal, appears to be struggling, having already witnessed many local farms either close up shop or scale down their operations this year. So what is plaguing the industry, and is Singapore's food security at risk? On this episode of Morning Shot, William Chen, Director, NTU Food Science & Technology Programme, Nanyang Technological University & Lee Eng Keat, Senior Adviser, Beanstalk Agtech share their insights.   Presented, Produced & Edited by: Emaad Akhtar Photo credit: Straits TimesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

War-torn "road trips". Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Civil War (2024) and Apocalypse Now (1979). We begin by discussing the different versions of Apocalypse Now and our reaction to the different elements in each film. We shift to talk about Civil War and how the film evokes a visceral response and gets the audience thinking. We talk about the connection to Heart of Darkness, the work of Marlon Brando and the ideas present in Apocalypse Now. We commend the work of Kirsten Dunst and Jessie Plemmons in Civil War and their wider careers. We discuss the music in both films, individually and the similarities between the two. We commend the work of Martin Sheen, Robert DuVall and Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now. We finish with a conversation about the politics of both films, what they are trying to achieve and how it has been received by the public.

Space Opera Sequels. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen begin by discussing our reactions to Dune: Part Two, how it compares our perspectives of Part One and how the films connect to the source text. We talk about our opinions and connections to The Empire Strikes Back (aka Star Wars Episode V), and our experiences watching it growing up. We praise the performances in the films, especially Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill in The Empire Strikes Back, and Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson and Florence Pugh. We discuss the prowess of George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Denis Villeneuve, Hans Zimmer and John Williams.

Sam is joined by William Chen, developer of the Theia mobile healthcare app which brings Covid RAT tests to users who are blind or have low vision, in a way they can access the information and results they need in a way that's safe, private and independent. We'll also hear from Steph from the Comms team to give us the latest news and events happening that Vision Australia is involved with around the country right now and into the month of April. Then finally this week we finish up with a bit of news and information about some upcoming events taking place at the Vision Australia Library as part of the Melbourne Writer's Festival in May.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unpacking the Academy Awards. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the 96th Academy Awards ceremony. We begin by talking about the presentation of the ceremony itself. Our conversation moves to the Best Picture category and we consider Oppenheimer, Zone of Interest, American Fiction and The Holdovers. We discuss the Sound category and the skill of how The Zone of Interest was put together. We move into a conversation about Poor Things, including the performance of Emma Stone, the design elements in the film and the politics of the script. We talk through a range of smaller categories and touch on Maestro, Godzilla Minus One, The Creator, and the performances of Lily Gladstone, Carey Mulligan and Sandra Hüller. We talk about the Screenplay categories, the performances of "I'm Just Ken" and "What Was I Made For", reminisce about previous ceremonies and winners, and finish by discussing the animated and documentary categories.

Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the films they watched over the December-January holiday period. We talk about Bluey (2018-Present), Wonka (2023), Ferrari (2023), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire (2023), The Holdovers (2023), American Fiction (2023), All of Us Strangers (2023) and Poor Things (2023).

Conductor composer biopics. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Maestro (2023) and Amadeus (1984). We begin by discussing the life and work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and its connection to the film. We talk about the film itself and how it tells the story of Mozart, as well as fabricating its own cinematic narrative. We praise Maestro and its feats of cinema, especially the performances of Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper.

The good, the average and the weird. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their film and television highlights of the year, including each of their best film of the year, their biggest surprise, their biggest disappointment, their wildcard film or television season of the year and their best television show of 2023. Here are the films and television shows we discussed: • Films of the year: Anatomy of a Fall (Sarah); Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (William, with runner-ups Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Nimona); Theater Camp (Jeremy, with runner-ups Triangle of Sadness and Barbie) • Biggest surprise of the year: Napoleon (Jeremy, with a special shout-out to Scream VI); Living (Sarah); Once Upon a Studio (Wiliam) • Biggest disappointment of the year: Astroid City (Wiliam, including parts of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar); The Creator (Sarah, with a mention of Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody); Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Jeremy, with shout outs to The Flash and Beau Is Afraid) • Wildcard: Scrapper and River (Sarah, with shout-outs to Triangle of Sadness and How to Have Sex); Chang An | Chang'an san wan li and Moon Man | Du xing yue qiu (William); Mrs. Davis (Jeremy, with shout-outs to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Red, White & Royal Blue) • Best season of television of the year: Jury Duty (Sarah); The Bear, Season 2 (William, with runner-ups Reservation Dogs and Scavengers Reign); Faraway Downs (Jeremy, with shout-outs to reality show Survivor and crime mystery show Poker Face)

Ridley Scott historical epics starring Joaquin Phoenix. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Napoleon (2023) and Gladiator (2000). We begin by discussing Gladiator and our initial and most recent reactions. We talk about the strength of the performances, particularly Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris. We discuss the connections to Game of Thrones and how Ridley Scott established an aesthetic that HBO has been replicating for decades. Our conversation moves to Napoleon and begin by talking about Vanessa Kirby's performance as Josephine. We discuss Ridley Scott's prowess as a filmmaker and how he films scenes with multiple cameras. We talk about the historical accuracy of Napoleon and how much this affects our engagement with the film. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to extended episodes, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Dystopian prejudiced world, where a male protagonist escorts a young woman across war-torn lands. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Creator (2023) and Children of Men (2006). We begin by discussing The Creator and exploring its strengths and faults, especially how great the film looks and how it was achieved with a small budget. We talk at length about the elements of The Creator that left us wanting more. Our conversation then pivots to Children of Men and explores the razor-sharp intention of the film and how it succeeds in what it is trying to achieve. We celebrate multiple moments from the film, especially the cinematography of the film and the impressive long takes. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

In this episode titled "Life of a CFO” we welcome William Chen, CFO of Centroid! Will and Minie Parikh, SVP of Operations at EPMI, a Centroid Company explore the driving forces behind growth in the technology services industry, emphasizing the significance of AI and data in this evolving landscape. William shares valuable advice for CFOs embarking on their Cloud Journey, stressing the importance of measured decision-making and team involvement. The episode also examines the readiness measures for CFOs investing in the cloud, the life post-implementation of Oracle NetSuite ERP, and the significant benefits achieved, including standardized data and enhanced efficiency. Lastly, Will touches upon investment decisions and the value of Finance across each department of an organization. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of finance and technology with an experienced CFO.

Amateur theatre mockumentaries. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Theater Camp (2023) and Waiting for Guffman (1996). We begin by hearing William's fresh take on Waiting For Guffman (we had just watched the film together before our recording). We collectively praise Waiting for Guffman and trace its influence upon comedy for the following 25-plus years. We shift our conversation to Theater Camp and praise its composition, characters and comedy. We consider the connections in our own lives to both films, specifically amateur theatre experiences. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

More Excellence! Today we're revisiting Victor William Chen aka Victor W.C. Victor is a Real Martial Artist, Actor, Writer, Director Fitness Coach, Stunt Performer and so much more. Since the age of 2, Victor has been working hard to become the Martial Artist he is today. Hear Victor talk about his work and the awesome way he teaches his students

Barbie and Oppenheimer. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Barbie (2023) and Oppenheimer (2023). We begin by discussing the Barbenheimer phenomenon and the influences that contributed to making this cinema event happen. We talk about the musical qualities of Barbie, as well as the cinema homages. We move to discuss the representation of politics and characters in Oppenheimer. We critique elements of Barbie, including the ending, the world-building and its intended audience. We discuss the details of Oppenheimer and consider its storytelling position, its technical choices and whether the film lands. We excitedly discuss all the actors in Oppenheimer and then the various Barbie products. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Michael Keaton Batman films. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss The Flash (2023) and Batman Returns (1992). We begin by discussing the Tim Burton films in the late 80s and early 90s, including Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and Ed Wood (1994). We talk about the ideas and influences in Batman Returns, including German Expressionism and the imagery around The Penguin, Catwoman, Max Shreck and Batman in the film. We then move our conversation to The Flash and how its troubled history kept it from being released for a number of years... perhaps too late? We talk about the range of references and performances in the film, including its homage to a number of films that were never made. We discuss the "multiverse" and how The Flash explores familiar territory, as well as other films that take place in their versions of multiple dimension storytelling. We move our conversation to the controversies of Ezra Miller and how such controversies affected the film, both narratively and commercially. We discuss the ethics of recreating actors who have died in films using digital tools. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

In this podcast episode, experts Prof. William Chen, Dr. Roman Tandlich, and Dr. Ashok Swain discussed the challenges of water and food security, exploring the political, technological and educational solutions needed to tackle the problem. Show Highlights [00:33:24] The potential of indigenous knowledge in water management and food production, fostering collaboration between communities and scientists. [00:36:57] Revolutionary water treatment innovations impacting food security and the urgent need for efficient water usage. [00:40:45] Effective solutions to combat water and food scarcity through public education, technology transfer, and collaborative research. [00:48:18] Balancing economic demands with universal access to water, recognizing it as a basic human right. Overall, the experts stressed the need for a comprehensive, collaborative approach to water and food security, involving education, political will, technological developments, and a focus on the importance of water as a basic human right. Connect with our experts on LinkedIn Prof. William Chen Dr. Roman Tandlich Dr. Ashok Swain Mr. Kyle King

Cross-political pop culture thrillers. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Tetris (2023) and Argo (2012). We begin by discussing Tetris: the game, the book and the film. We explore the wider world of video gaming and the development of technology. We shift to Argo and our initial reactions and our rewatching reactions. We discuss the 2013 Academy Award ceremony and Argo winning Best Picture. We talk about other connected texts, like Air (2023), Yellowjackets (2021-), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and Good Will Hunting (1997). If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Super Mario Bros. films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by friend to the podcast Billy Revell-Siō to discuss the recent The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) and the 30-year old Super Mario Bros. (1993). We begin by discussing our bafflement by the 1993 film... what did we watch?! We discuss the mythology of the Mario games and wider Nintendo game lore. We talk about the success of adaptation in both films. We discuss the female characters and writing in both movies. We finish by discussing the music in both films and their place in pop culture. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Triangle named films at sea. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Triangle of Sadness (2022) and Triangle (2009). We begin by discussing Triangle and how the successful the fils works on building the narrative on a small budget. We talk through the time loop logic in Triangle and how the central character is represented throughout. We discuss our reactions to Triangle of Sadness, especially the scatological sequence in the film. We talk about the ethics and experiences of being on a cruise ship. We discuss the various acts and how each contribute to the overall effect of the film. We return to Triangle and discuss the torture of the main character, continue to unpack the time loop and compare to a range of other films. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

Gerard Johnstone horror comedies. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss M3GAN (2023) and Housebound (2014). We begin by discussing the strengths of Housebound, especially how it references to many other horror classics. We talk through the horror tropes throughout the film and how successfully these moments intersect with the character moments. We move the conversation over to M3GAN, starting with key cast connections, discussing Gerard Johnstone's work, and the pros and cons of the script, gore and design of the film. We discuss the use of Auckland, New Zealand as a filming location for M3GAN and the recognisability of the locations in the film. We consider the reality of New Zealand filmmaking, filmmakers and the state of the industry. If you enjoy our podcast then consider joining our Patreon. Listen to an extended version of this episode, access additional minisode content and have an opportunity to join us for one-on-one discussions about your favourite films. You can find us on Patreon at: patreon.com/CinemaInContext

James Cameron two billion dollar epics. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Titanic (1997). We begin by discussing the themes of James Cameron films and how he captures big emotions in his films, and how these intersects with the representation of indigenous peoples. We discuss the performance capture of Avatar 2 and Cameron's focus on the work of the actors. We move to compare Avatar: The Way of Water with Titanic and consider the overarching connecting themes. We praise Titanic and its various story beats, characters, performance and how Cameron walks the line of a romantic period drama and disaster horror film. We explore the special effects and visual effects of Titanic, and marvel at the work from 25 years ago, and weave in considerations of the ground-breaking effect work of Avatar: The Way of Water.

Highs and lows of the year. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss their film and television highlights of 2022, including best film of the year (and runner-ups for best film of the year), biggest surprise of the year, worst film of the year, best time we had at the cinema and the best season of television of the year (and runner-ups for best season of television this year). Here are the films we discussed: • Runner-ups for best film of the year: Athena, Elvis, and Good Luck to you, Leo Grande (Sarah); Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, The Bad Guys, The House, Barbarian, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Turning Red, Top Gun: Maverick, Decision to Leave, and Everything Everywhere All At Once (William); Turning Red, Thirteen Lives, Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, and anticipating Avatar: The Way of Water to be a runner-up or even film of the year (Jeremy). • Best film of the year: Ennio (Sarah); Athena (William); and Everything Everywhere All At Once (Jeremy). • Biggest surprise of the year: Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (William); Ambulance (Sarah); and Top Gun: Maverick (Jeremy). • Worst film of the year: Dog (Jeremy); In Snows in Benidorm (Sarah); and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (William). • Best time at the cinema: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Sarah); RRR (William); and Scream (2022; Jeremy). • Runner-ups for best season of television of the year: The Bear - Season 1, The Rehearsal - Season 1, and Peacemaker - Season 1 (William, shared earlier in the episode when talking about runner-ups to best film); Russian Doll - Season 2, House of Dragon - Season 1, Sex Education - Season 3, The White Lotus - Season 2, and Hacks - Season 2 (Jeremy); and Succession - Season 3 and Better Call Saul - Season 6 (Sarah). • Best season of television of the year: Andor - Season 1 (William); Stranger Things - Season 4 (Jeremy); and Ozark - Season 4 (Sarah).

Detective thrillers from great heights. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Decision to Leave (2022) and Vertigo (1958). We begin by expressing our reactions to Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, with a range of reflections. We discuss the representation of gender and power in the film, while trying figure out what the film is trying to say. We move our conversation to Park Chan-wook's most recent film Decision to Leave, similarly discussing our reactions to the movie. We praise the films visuals and editing, we compare the two films to Film Noir, we discuss the plot details and plot holes of the films, and the performances of the leads.

Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the films they watched while abroad, jet setting around the world. They discuss the following films: Lapsis (2020); Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar (2021); Bridesmaids (2011); Ocean's Eleven (2001); Game Night (2018); The Rehearsal (2022); The Lost City (2022); Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022); the Star Wars saga; Succession (2018-); Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021); and Jaws (1975).

Florence Pugh thrillers. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Don't Worry Darling (2022) and Midsommar (2019). We begin by talking about our experiences and reactions watching Midsommar, both the first time and any subsequent rewatching. We discuss the film in connection to Hereditary (2018), Sing Street (2016) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). We praise the films writing, structure, direction and performances. We pivot to talk about Don't Worry Darling, starting with the fundamental building blocks of what this film is trying to do: the plot, the emotional narrative and the structure. We discuss the film in connection to The Truman Show (1998), The Giver (2014), The Matrix (1999), Mother! (2017), One Cut of the Dead (2017) and Parasite (2019). We discuss the exploration of sex, the range of characters and the logic of character beats.

Jam-packed genre films with Chris Hemsworth. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) and Cabin in the Woods (2011). We begin by sharing our honest reactions to Thor: Love and Thunder, especially how ridiculous film is - comparing to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), Free Guy (2021), Black Panther (2018) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). We praise the performances of Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Chris Hemsworth. We criticise the characters played by Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson, considering their representation in regards to sexism and queer-baiting. We then pivot conversation to talk about Cabin in the Woods, both our first reactions a decade ago and our rewatching reactions. We praise the cast of Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Amy Acker, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson, Kristen Connolly and Fran Kranz. We consider the film in connection to other Joss Whedon work, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Dollhouse (2009-2010), and Much Ado About Nothing (2012). We return back to Thor and consider how the two films successfully achieve their intentions. We compare the films to Get Out (2017), Scream (2022), Batman Returns (1992), Hunt For the Wilderpeople (2016), and Boy (2010).

Baz Luhrmann's oeuvre. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss the most recent Luhrmann film Elvis (2022) and his first film Strictly Ballroom (1992). We begin by discussing Baz's visual style, especially his use of computer generated images. We move into a discussion of Elvis and how successful we each feel the film was. We move into a conversation of Strictly Ballroom, with William watching it for the first time, Sarah for the second time and Jeremy for the... countless next time. We refer to Romeo + Juliet (1996), Moulin Rouge! (2001), Australia (2008), The Great Gatsby (2013) and The Get Down (2016). We also connect Strictly Ballroom to Christopher Guest films, like Waiting For Guffman (1996), and Australian classics Muriel's Wedding (1994), The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). We discuss the nostalgia that both Elvis and Strictly Ballroom evokes. We connect to Sam Neill's concept of the Cinema of the Unease and consider how such a reading of New Zealand film might connect to Australian cinema of the same time. We further connect the film to Cosi (1996), Quills (2000) and Lantana (2001).

Food Security and Instability with Prof. William ChenCrisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast Global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce risk to global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies. This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). What is the role of food security in terms of driving insecurity? In this episode of Crisis, Conflict, and Emergency Management we are discussing food security and the impact of this topic on our communities. We are joined by Prof. William Chen. Professor William Chen received his university education (from BSc to DSc) from Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. He attended the Food System Leadership Institute in the US. Prof. Chen has joined Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) since 2002 and is now the Michael Fam Endowed Chair Professor and Director of Food Science & Technology Programme. He is also Director of Singapore Agrifood Innovation Lab (SAIL@NTU), Co-Director of NTU Future Ready Food Safety Hub (FRESH@NTU), and Director of F&N-NTU Joint Innovation Lab. Prof. Chen's food tech innovations and opinions on food security have been featured in Nature and The World Economic Forum, and extensively covered by local and international media. The ‘Going Green' program by CNN in 2019 described Professor Chen as a Game-Changing Leader in the green revolution of the food system. Professor Chen is an advisor/consultant to government agencies, The World Health Organization, The Asian Development Bank, The Good Food Institute APAC, food industry, and overseas universities on matters related to food technology and food security. Prof. Chen can be reached via such channels: Twitter – https://twitter.com/william30829875 (https://twitter.com/william30829875) LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-chen-98078a7/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-chen-98078a7/) This podcast is brought to you in partnership between Capacity Building International (CBI) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). You can join TIEMS today at www.tiems.info and also sign up for the International Emergency Management newsletter by CBI at www.capacitybuildingint.com. Is there a topic you would like to hear about? Or are you a functional expert and want to be featured on our show? Reach out to us at info at capacitybuildingint.com and let us know!

Food Security and Instability with Prof. William ChenCrisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast Global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce risk to global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies. This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). What is the role of food security in terms of driving insecurity? In this episode of Crisis, Conflict, and Emergency Management we are discussing food security and the impact of this topic on our communities. We are joined by Prof. William Chen. Professor William Chen received his university education (from BSc to DSc) from Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. He attended the Food System Leadership Institute in the US. Prof. Chen has joined Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) since 2002 and is now the Michael Fam Endowed Chair Professor and Director of Food Science & Technology Programme. He is also Director of Singapore Agrifood Innovation Lab (SAIL@NTU), Co-Director of NTU Future Ready Food Safety Hub (FRESH@NTU), and Director of F&N-NTU Joint Innovation Lab. Prof. Chen's food tech innovations and opinions on food security have been featured in Nature and The World Economic Forum, and extensively covered by local and international media. The ‘Going Green' program by CNN in 2019 described Professor Chen as a Game-Changing Leader in the green revolution of the food system. Professor Chen is an advisor/consultant to government agencies, The World Health Organization, The Asian Development Bank, The Good Food Institute APAC, food industry, and overseas universities on matters related to food technology and food security. Prof. Chen can be reached via such channels: Twitter – https://twitter.com/william30829875 (https://twitter.com/william30829875)   LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-chen-98078a7/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-chen-98078a7/) This podcast is brought to you in partnership between Capacity Building International (CBI) and The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS). You can join TIEMS today at www.tiems.info and also sign up for the International Emergency Management newsletter by CBI at www.capacitybuildingint.com. Is there a topic you would like to hear about? Or are you a functional expert and want to be featured on our show? Reach out to us at info at capacitybuildingint.com and let us know!

80s films return! Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Sarah Watt, Jeremy Downing and William Chen discuss Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and TRON: Legacy (2010). We begin by welcoming Sarah back to the podcast, hearing about two films she saw on her travels: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) and The Glance of Music AKA Ennio (2021). We begin our discussion by reflecting on our experience watching TRON: Legacy, especially considering the cinema we saw it in, 3D cinema technology and the original TRON (1982). We discuss the incredible score by Daft Punk, comparing it to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Inside Out (2015) and Blade Runner (1982), and the impressive production design and visual effects in the film. We then move the conversation to our experiences watching Top Gun: Maverick. We discuss the strengths of Top Gun: Maverick, particularly the strength in storytelling, the cast of characters, the emotional core of the film and the average character played by the brilliant Jennifer Connelly. We highlight the charisma of Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Joh Hamm, as well as the careful inclusion of Van Kilmer. We focus on the religious imagery in both films, especially messiah figures. We also talk about the de-ageing in TRON: Legacy and how it holds up to other films with similar effects.

Multiverse motherhood films. Jeremy Downing and William Chen are joined by Billy Revell-Siō to discuss Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). We begin by discussing the horror genre elements of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, particularly harking back to the previous films of Sam Raimi: Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness. We talk about the film in context of other Marvel content, particularly Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Doctor Strange (2016), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), WandaVision (2021), and Captain America: Civil War (2016). We move our discussion to Everything Everywhere All At Once, starting by considering the film alongside Daniels', the directors, previous film: Swiss Army Man (2016). We explore the pertinence of this film, especially in how it speaks to the tensions of today and connected to each hosts' emotions during and after the film. We praise the cast, especially Michelle Yeoh. We talk about the film in connection to Tenet (2020), In the Mood for Love (2001), and Turning Red (2022). The discussion focuses on the gender and queer representation in the film, particularly in relation to parental figures. We return to Doctor Strange 2 and discuss it in comparison to the Spider-Man films, X-Men series, and the range of other properties cameo'd in the film. We discuss the need for a story, connected it to Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and What If...? (2021). We finish with final thoughts and William lists off the various influences he spotted in Everything Everywhere All at Once: The Matrix (1999), Terry Gilliam, Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Michel Gondry, Satoshi Kon, Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

Today on the Ether we have the Terra BUIDLer Hour hosted by Jared TFL with TFL Emi, William Chen, OctalMage.UST, Frankfka, Manuel, OtherMike, and more! Recorded on April 8th 2022. Make sure to check out our sponsors, Orbital Command, Luart, Talis, and Glow Yield! We appreciate their support.