Hosts Paco Romane and George Chen are joined by Alamo Drafthouse LA programmer Bret Berg to discuss The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988, Penelope Spheres), SNL, Los Angeles, and other sidetracks. As a programmer for Alamo Drafthouse’s upcoming Los Angeles location, Bret produces and hosts Alamo’s preliminary pop-up screenings in town. As well, through his service to the American Genre Film Archive (Alamo’s non-profit sister organization), Bret works with indie theaters across the country to introduce new audiences to genre film classics.A lifelong Angeleno, Bret is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s film production program, was previously the Programming Director for Cinefamily, and held a decade-long weekly DJ post at L.A. public radio station KXLU 88.9fm.

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is a documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene from 1986 to 1988. It is the second film of a trilogy by Spheeris depicting life in Los Angeles at various points in time. The first film, The Decline of Western Civilization, dealt with the punk rock scene during 1979–1980. The third film, The Decline of Western Civilization III, chronicles the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers in the late 1990s.

The film features concert footage and interviews of legendary heavy metal and hard rock bands and artists such as Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Megadeth, Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne and W.A.S.P.

 Bret on weird Canadian films (including Rubber Gun) on Rupert Pupkin Speaks.