Episodes

  • Does Nolan's Dedication to Practical Filmmaking Hurt or Help Oppenheimer?
    Mar 24 2026

    For our penultimate Best Cinematography/Picture month, we're talking about Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer from 2023.

    To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pages

    If you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865

    If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119

    Intro - 0:00
    Part 1: Pre-production - 01:36
    Part 2: Production - 19:23
    Part 3: Editing - 28:06
    Part 4: Studio Notes - 51:09
    Part 5: Dénouement - 01:02:03
    Part 6: Trailer - 01:10:56

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Leonardo DiCaprio's First Best Picture Experience is 29 Years Old
    Mar 17 2026

    The morning after Leo's third Best Picture win, we're revisiting the first. Enjoy the episode, near, far, wherever you are!

    To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pages

    If you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865

    If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119

    Intro - 0:00

    Part 1: Pre-production - 05:29

    Part 2: Production - 14:54

    Part 3: Editing - 24:11

    Part 4: Studio Notes - 37:02

    Part 5: Dénouement - 51:11

    Part 6: Trailer - 01:03:15

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • We Watched All of the 2026 Best Picture Nominees and Rank Them!
    Mar 15 2026

    On this episode, we have Mike's friend Kim on to talk about the nominees.

    To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pages

    If you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865

    If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119

    Intro - 0:00
    F1: The Movie - 07:56
    Bugonia - 13:35
    Train Dreams - 20:06
    The Secret Agent - 27:42
    Sentimental Value - 34:26
    Frankenstein - 43:00
    Hamnet - 48:18
    Marty Supreme - 53:30
    One Battle After Another - 01:07:00
    Sinners - 01:21:01

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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • Does Lawrence of Arabia have the Best Cinematography Ever?
    Mar 10 2026

    We're talking about scale and depth of field, and the 1962 classic, Lawrence of Arabia.To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pagesIf you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119Intro - 0:00 Part 1: Pre-production - 01:42Part 2: Production - 24:10Part 3: Editing - 33:15Part 4: Studio Notes - 46:52Part 5: Dénouement - 01:03:17Part 6: Trailer - 01:11:17

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • The Last Emperor Uses Color and Space to Trap and Liberate
    Mar 3 2026

    We talk about the 1987 Best Picture and Best Cinematography winner, The Last Emperor to kick off our cinematography Oscars month.To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pagesIf you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119Intro - 0:00 Part 1: Pre-production - 04:48Part 2: Production - 27:08Part 3: Editing - 37:48Part 4: Studio Notes - 55:36Part 5: Dénouement - 01:23:25Part 6: Trailer - 01:34:32

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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • American Fiction's Real Story is in the Subplots
    Feb 24 2026

    We wrap up Black History Month with American Fiction.

    To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pages

    If you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865

    If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119

    Intro - 0:00

    Part 1: Pre-production - 01:11

    Part 2: Production - 07:51

    Part 3: Editing - 29:25

    Part 4: Studio Notes - 45:49

    Part 5: Dénouement - 50:23

    Part 6: Trailer - 01:00:42

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Sorry to Bother You is Surrealist and Absurdist Satire
    Feb 17 2026

    Boot's Riley's feature directorial debut is something that you must watch to understand. If you haven't seen this movie yet, don't watch this episode.To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pagesIf you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119Intro - 0:00 Part 1: Pre-production - 02:15Part 2: Production - 16:11Part 3: Editing - 32:35Part 4: Studio Notes - 46:42Part 5: Dénouement - 58:32Part 6: Trailer - 01:08:11

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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Is Malcolm X a Career High for Spike Lee and Denzel Washington?
    Feb 10 2026

    This week we're talking about Malcolm X, both the movie and the man.

    To get the first 50 pages of The Dinner Party (Mike's novel) go to: https://mailchi.mp/55d095a24c58/first-fifty-pages

    If you want to get the episodes a couple of days early, check out the 2026 collection where we'll post them as soon as we're done editing: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1894865

    If you want to read the script for Mike's short film, Two Blue Lines: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1961119

    Intro - 0:00

    Part 1: Pre-production - 01:10

    Part 2: Production - 15:11

    Part 3: Editing - 31:37

    Part 4: Studio Notes - 49:01

    Part 5: Dénouement - 01:01:50

    Part 6: Trailer - 01:12:22

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    1 hr and 14 mins