A Take on the Academy

In this blazing episode of A Take on the Academy, Matt Sprosty and MC sit down with Academy Award and Emmy winner Jayson Duminego — the mind behind Action Factory and a driving force in modern stunt innovation. From his groundbreaking fire gel technology, which has changed the way film sets handle full-scale burns, to his lifelong journey in the stunt world, Jayson opens up about the artistry, science, and danger behind the action.

We talk about how Action Factory came to be, the years of testing and teamwork that led to his Scientific and Technical Achievement Award from the Academy, and what it means to be recognized by both Hollywood and his peers. Along the way, Jayson shares stories about the evolution of safety in stunts, his Emmy win, and what drives him to keep pushing boundaries in one of the most high-risk, high-reward jobs in the industry.

Whether you’re a film buff, a stunt enthusiast, or just curious about what goes into setting someone safely on fire for the camera — this is one you won’t want to miss.

Plus, be sure to check out Jayson’s full interview on Second Chance Cinema for his incredible life story, his time with Mr. T, and more behind-the-scenes tales from the stunt world.

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In this episode of A Take on the Academy, we dive into one of the most unforgettable Oscar races of all time: 2008’s Best Supporting Actor. Did the Academy make the right call in giving Heath Ledger the award for his chilling, iconic performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight—or should Robert Downey Jr.’s fearless turn in Tropic Thunder have taken home the gold? We revisit both performances, the cultural context, and what this race says about comedy vs. drama at the Oscars.

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Host Matthew Sprosty kicks off Quickie History — bite-sized dives into the wild beginnings of film — with a story that has it all: money, science, photography, and a galloping horse. In 1872, California tycoon Leland Stanford made a bet: Does a horse ever lift all four hooves off the ground while running? To prove it, he hired eccentric photographer Eadweard Muybridge, whose groundbreaking experiment didn’t just settle the wager — it created the very first “motion picture.”

Along the way, we’ll talk about the tricks of the human mind (persistence of vision), how a horse’s sprint gave birth to cinema, and how “moving pictures” became simply “movies.”

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Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept the 2004 Academy Awards, tying the record with 11 wins—including Best Picture. But two decades later, does it deserve the crown?

Matt, Kyle, and Andy break down why ROTK dominated, what the Academy was really voting for, and which 2003 films may have been more deserving. Expect spirited debate, sharp arguments, and a little irreverence as we reimagine what Best Picture could have looked like.

Follow the conversation beyond the pod:

Get ready for another year of bold debates, deep dives, and unfiltered conversations about the Academy Awards. This season, host Matthew Sprosty takes you beyond the red carpet — from rewriting Oscar history to exploring overlooked performances, hidden Hollywood stories, and the changing face of cinema. Whether you’re a die-hard Oscars fan or love great movie talk, A Take on the Academy is ready to challenge what you think you know about film’s biggest night.

True cinephiles don't just watch movies, they analyze and question them. So, why would movies biggest awards night get a pass? 

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Spro and Lee plan their perfect Oscar show, and Lee takes his final bow. 

The finale of "Lee Benches Gump": A three-part series where Spro & Lee go back thirty years to relitigate the merit of Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis, and Tom Hanks.  In this episode, the Best Picture Oscar of 1995 is on the block. Kyle Bruehl from "I Know Movies and You Don't" guests.

The Streep Effect rolls on.  In this episode, Claire from Why the Flick? joins Spro and Lee to discuss something about some bridges, a rural county in Iowa, and a love that could not be.  

Part II of "Lee Benches Gump": A three-part series where Spro & Lee go back thirty years to relitigate the merit of Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis, and Tom Hanks.  In this episode, Laurence joins the conversation about director Robert Zemeckis and his ill-gotten Oscar of 1995. 

Spro's quest to eradicate "greatness" from Lee's filmic vocab comes to crisis when he demands a second vote for Best Director of 2007, the only year an Academy Award ever went home in the hands of the gre- ahem... the legendary American director Martin Scorsese.  Andy B from the Chonky Boys guest hosts.