INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE with Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge

By GREG LAEMMLE and RAPHAEL SBARGETV & Film Film Interviews

INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE with Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge episodes

February 11 The Extraordinary Life of the Man Behind Mars and Jupiter Missions: STARMAN
There are documentaries about history, and then there are documentaries about the people who were quietly in the room when history happened.
STARMAN, the new film from Academy Award–nominated director Robert Stone, belongs firmly in the latter category. It chronicles the life of Gentry Lee—NASA scientist, mission architect, science communicator, and one of those rare figures whose career seems to map directly onto the modern Space Age.
If the Space Age began in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik, then Gentry Lee—born in 1942—has lived his entire adult life shaped by humanity’s reach beyond Earth. More than a witness to that history, Lee has been in the room for many of its defining moments.
As a senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lee served as Director of Science Analysis and Mission Planning for the Viking mission to Mars and the Galileo probe to Jupiter, missions that transformed our understanding of the solar system. Alongside this work, he collaborated with Carl Sagan on PBS’s landmark series COSMOS, narrated Discovery Channel’s ARE WE ALONE?, and co-authored four novels with legendary science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.
A Zelig-like figure at the crossroads of interplanetary science and science fiction, Gentry Lee has been everywhere—and worked with everyone—who helped define how we imagine space.
Now the subject of STARMAN, Lee guides us through a lifetime of curiosity, wonder, and exploration. The film is both entertaining and illuminating—and our conversation with him reflects that same spirit.
Our conversation with Gentry Lee, subject of STARMAN, on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now.
@laemmle @OfficialRaphaelSbarge @ObscuredReleasing #StarmanMovie
STARMAN documentary, Starman film, Gentry Lee, Gentry Lee NASA, Robert Stone documentary, Robert Stone director, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL NASA, space exploration documentary, Viking mission to Mars, Galileo probe to Jupiter, Carl Sagan, COSMOS PBS, Arthur C. Clarke, science and imagination, space age documentary, interplanetary exploration, Are We Alone documentary, Inside the Arthouse, documentary film podcast
#STARMAN #GentryLee #RobertStone #NASADocumentary #SpaceExploration #JetPropulsionLaboratory #CarlSagan #ArthurCClarke #DocumentaryFilm #InsideTheArthouse #SpaceAge #AreWeAlone #ArthouseCinema #filmpodcast

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1 hr 15 min
February 04 When Love Doesn’t Disappear, But Quietly Changes Shape: Director Hlynur Pálmason
When Love Doesn’t Disappear, But Quietly Changes Shape — with director Hlynur Pálmason
Like Ingmar Bergman pivoting from the existential weight of The Seventh Seal to the gentler, more reflective tone of Wild Strawberries, Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason follows his critically acclaimed 2023 film Godland with THE LOVE THAT REMAINS—a work that feels light and airy even as it engages with emotionally serious terrain.
THE LOVE THAT REMAINS centers on Anna and Maggi, parents of three children, as they navigate an amicable separation and divorce. Anna is an artist grappling with stalled momentum, while Maggi works aboard a commercial fishing boat, keenly aware that long stretches at sea place strain on family life. Their unhappiness is unmistakable, yet Pálmason resists easy explanations. Instead, he presents a couple bound by mutual respect and lingering affection—offering a quietly radical counterpoint to traditional divorce dramas.
Beyond its intimate emotional focus, the film is also a vivid portrait of the Icelandic landscape. The countryside becomes both setting and emotional texture—beautiful, austere, and deeply expressive—mirroring the film’s tonal restraint and quiet power.
Defying easy categorization, THE LOVE THAT REMAINS is a film about love after rupture, about separation without cruelty, and about the endurance of emotional connection. We hope our conversation with Hlynur Pálmason inspires you to seek out the film when it opens at your local arthouse cinema.
To learn more about THE LOVE THAT REMAINS, watch INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now.
@laemmle @OfficialRaphaelSbarge @janusfilmsnyc @InsidetheArthouse
#TheLoveThatRemains #HlynurPalmason #IcelandicCinema #ArthouseFilm #IndependentFilm #EuropeanCinema #SlowCinema #AuteurCinema #FilmInterview
The Love That Remains, Hlynur Pálmason, Hlynur Palmason interview, Icelandic cinema, Icelandic film, arthouse film, independent cinema, European cinema, Scandinavian film, slow cinema, divorce drama, family drama, relationship drama, Godland, Bergman influence, auteur filmmaking, film director interview, Inside the Arthouse
Inside The Arthouse is a filmed podcast and video interview series exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. Hosted by Greg Laemmle and Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, the series features in-depth conversations with visionary directors, writers, producers, and documentary filmmakers shaping contemporary cinema.
Episodes and clips cover the full filmmaking process, from writing, directing, and editing to distribution, festival strategy, and film sales. With behind-the-scenes insights, filmmaker interviews, and critical analysis of new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films, Inside The Arthouse is essential viewing for cinephiles, film students, and industry professionals.
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview #FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution #LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge #NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking
Watch full episodes and subscribe for more interviews with the leading voices of independent and arthouse cinema.

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36 min
January 28 How Director Jan-Ole Gerster Crafted the Slow-Burn Mystery ISLANDS
In this episode, director Jan-Ole Gerster discusses his new film ISLANDS, Berlin Film Festival premieres, and the creative process behind crafting a slow-burn indie mystery
It’s only January, but if ISLANDS is any indication of what lies ahead, 2026 is already shaping up to be a remarkable year for cinema.
Written and directed by Jan-Ole Gerster, ISLANDS is a sun-drenched, slow-burn mystery inspired by a character Gerster encountered while vacationing on the island of Fuerteventura. The film carries the seductive pull of a Raymond Chandler or Patricia Highsmith novel, but just when noir convention suggests the story will zig, Gerster confidently lets it zag.
At the center of the film’s quiet tension is Sam Riley—unforgettable as Ian Curtis in Control—joined by Stacy Martin and Jack Farthing as a troubled married couple whose arrival sets the narrative in motion. Since premiering at the Berlin Film Festival, ISLANDS has drawn strong critical acclaim, with Variety naming Gerster one of its 10 Directors to Watch for 2026.
In this episode of Inside the Arthouse, we sit down with Jan-Ole Gerster to discuss the making of ISLANDS, the film’s inspirations, and the creative choices behind its simmering atmosphere. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, tone, and the pleasures of letting a film unfold on its own terms.
Inside the Arthouse — starting now.
@laemmle @OfficialRaphaelSbarge @janolegerster #JanOleGerster
@samrileymusic #SamRiley @stacymartin #StacyMartin @jackfarthing
#JackFarthing@greenwichent #GreenwichEntertainment #ISLANDSfilm#ISLANDSmovie
Inside The Arthouse is a filmed podcast and video interview series exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. Hosted by Greg Laemmle and Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, the series features in-depth conversations with visionary directors, writers, producers, and documentary filmmakers shaping contemporary cinema.
Episodes and clips cover the full filmmaking process, from writing, directing, and editing to distribution, festival strategy, and film sales. With behind-the-scenes insights, filmmaker interviews, and critical analysis of new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films, Inside The Arthouse is essential viewing for cinephiles, film students, and industry professionals.
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking
Watch full episodes and subscribe for more interviews with the leading voices of independent and arthouse cinema.

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55 min
January 23 Sundance Week: Gary Rubin Exposes the Sundance Film Festival Reality
The Sundance Film Festival is back—and with it, the headlines about splashy acquisitions and record-setting deals. But beyond the price tags and bidding wars, a much bigger story is unfolding. How do these deals actually get made? And what happens to the vast majority of films that don’t get picked up?
In this episode of ARTHOUSE, we go beyond the headlines to explore the real journey of an independent film—from production to distribution—with industry veteran Gary Rubin.
During the indie boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, Rubin was acquiring films at Artisan Entertainment, including his involvement in the landmark release of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. He later founded First Independent Pictures, distributing films like BIG FAN and HOLY ROLLERS.
Today, Rubin works on multiple fronts: helping producers position their films for sale as a sales agent, and—when buyers don’t bite—guiding filmmakers through the realities of self-distribution as a marketing consultant.
Making a film is hard. Getting it seen can be even harder.
Whether you’re a filmmaker navigating the marketplace or a passionate fan of independent cinema, this “inside baseball” conversation pulls back the curtain on how films find their audience—or don’t.
This is INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE with Gary Rubin... Starting now.
@laemmle #sundance #sundance2026 @OfficialRaphaelSbarge #arthouse
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking Film Preservation
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm

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1 hr
January 21 Steve Buscemi on Sundance & Redefining Independent Film: Q&A
As the Sundance Film Festival approaches its final year in Park City, we take a moment to reflect on the artists who didn’t simply pass through Sundance—but helped define it, shaping an entire era of American independent cinema in the process.
Among those enduring icons is Steve Buscemi.
Buscemi’s breakthrough came with Bill Sherwood’s Parting Glances, which premiered at Sundance in 1986. The film became a key work of the emerging New Queer Cinema movement and marked one of the earliest moments when Sundance revealed itself as a true launchpad for bold, deeply personal storytelling.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Buscemi emerged as one of the most singular and recognizable faces of independent film, collaborating with filmmakers who would go on to redefine the medium—including Joel and Ethan Coen, Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Abel Ferrara, and Tom DiCillo.
His unforgettable performance in Alexander Rockwell’s In the Soup earned the film the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1992, cementing Buscemi’s place at the center of the ’90s indie film explosion.
More recently, Buscemi was honored by IndieCollect as part of RescueFest 2025, recognizing his lasting impact on independent cinema and his role in preserving film history.
For the occasion, IndieCollect founder Sandra Schulberg invited Greg to moderate a conversation with Steve, co-hosted by Michelle Satter, founder and longtime director of the Sundance Institute Labs.
We’re proud to bring that conversation to you now. This is Steve Buscemi in conversation—on Inside the Arthouse... starting now.
@laemmle @indiecollect #stevebuscemi @sundanceorg #Sundance
IndieCollect, RescueFest, RescueFest2025, FilmPreservation, IndieFilmHistory
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking Film Preservation
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm

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59 min
January 14 A PRIVATE LIFE — Rebecca Zlotowski on Jodie Foster & Where Mystery, Romance & Dark Comedy Collide
A Private Life with Public Consequences:
Rebecca Zlotowski has been on our radar since Other People’s Children hit the U.S. in 2023, so we were more than ready for her next move: A PRIVATE LIFE (Vie Privée)—a sleek, sharp French-language genre cocktail that’s equal parts mystery, romance, and darkly playful comedy. Jodie Foster plays Lilian Steiner, a tightly wound Paris psychiatrist whose perfectly curated life starts to fray after a patient dies under unsettling circumstances. What follows is classic Zlotowski: stylish, intelligent, emotionally alive—and way more moving than you expect a “noir-ish” whodunit to be. Foster gives one of her most nuanced performances in years, performed almost entirely in French, and the film pairs her with César-winner Daniel Auteuil for one of the most irresistible actor-director matchups of the moment.
This week on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, Zlotowski talks about the enduring power of movies: how filmmaking lets us step into alternate realities, why that hits audiences so hard, and the “cinema secrets” hiding in plain sight. We also get into her craft choices on A PRIVATE LIFE—tone, rhythm, performance, and what French filmmaking traditions she’s playing with (and pushing against).
@laemmle @officialRaphaelSbarge @sonyclassics
#InsideTheArthouse #APrivateLife #ViePrivee #RebeccaZlotowski #JodieFoster #DanielAuteuil #FrenchCinema #ArthouseCinema #Cinephile #FilmPodcast #VideoPodcast #DirectorInterview #BehindTheScenes #Filmmaking #Directing #Screenwriting #Editing #Cinematography #ModernNoir #FilmNoir #MysteryThriller #PsychologicalThriller #CharacterStudy #ParisCinema #FestivalFilm #WorldCinema #WomenInFilm #AuteurCinema #MovieTalk #filmlovers
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking

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51 min
January 08 HOMEBOUND (Oscar Shortlisted) | Neeraj Ghaywan on a Best International Feature Contender
HOMEBOUND (Oscar Shortlisted) | A Passport to Contemporary India — Neeraj Ghaywan Interview.
We love foreign films at INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE. When they work, they’re more than entertainment—they’re a passport.
In this episode, we sit down with Neeraj Ghaywan to discuss his Oscar-shortlisted drama HOMEBOUND, a powerful portrait of contemporary India.
That’s exactly what happens in director Neeraj Ghaywan’s powerful new drama HOMEBOUND—an Oscar-shortlisted film set in contemporary India that follows two lifelong friends trying to build a future against overwhelming odds. One is Muslim, the other Dalit, and their bond is tested by caste prejudice, religious discrimination, and the brutal realities of social class.
Inspired in part by a New York Times report from 2020, HOMEBOUND doesn’t soften what it shows us. It confronts the everyday humiliations that shape opportunity—and in a devastating final act, captures the life-shattering consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown, especially for migrant workers, who were among the hardest hit by the pandemic’s economic and social fallout.
Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, HOMEBOUND has emerged as a standout in the Best International Feature Oscar race, and it should not be counted out.
Neeraj Ghaywan was in Los Angeles for screenings, and Greg jumped at the chance to sit down with him in person at the Royal Theatre for a one-on-one conversation. We invite you to listen in.
Listen now to our conversation with director Neeraj Ghaywan — on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE.
@Laemmle @officialRaphaelSbarge @homeboundthefilm @dharmamovies @netflix @neeraj.ghaywan @ishaankhatter @vishaljethwa06@janhvikapoor
#Homebound #dharmamovies #Homebound #NeerajGhaywan #OscarShortlisted #BestInternationalFeature #IndianCinema #InternationalCinema #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #FilmmakerInterview #InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #CinemaCulture
HOMEBOUND film, Neeraj Ghaywan interview, Oscar shortlisted film, Best International Feature Oscar race, Indian cinema, contemporary India film, caste discrimination, Dalit representation, Muslim Dalit friendship, migrant workers India, COVID lockdown India, Martin Scorsese executive producer, international cinema, arthouse film, independent film, filmmaker interview podcast, INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking

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1 hr 8 min
January 06 Jim Jarmusch on Making FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER (Venice Golden Lion)
Jim Jarmusch on Making FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER (Venice Golden Lion)
In this episode of INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, we sit down with one of the defining voices of American independent cinema: Jim Jarmusch. Since his 1984 breakthrough Stranger Than Paradise, Jarmusch has carved out a singular path—quietly rebellious, fiercely auteur-driven, and unmistakably his own.
His latest film, FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER—winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival—marks a return to one of his most iconic storytelling forms: a set of separate yet interconnected stories, each with its own tone, rhythm, and emotional temperature. The signature deadpan humor is here, but so is something deeper—an unexpected tenderness that builds toward a quietly devastating final movement.
We talk with Jarmusch about why he was drawn back to this triptych structure, how he approaches rhythm and restraint, and how small details accumulate into meaning. We also discuss working with an extraordinary ensemble cast—Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Charlotte Rampling, Mayim Bialik, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat—and what it takes to make films that resist the pull of franchising, speed, and spectacle.
If you’re interested in the craft of filmmaking, the future of independent cinema, or the enduring power of auteur storytelling, this conversation is for you.
Join us for our conversation with Jim Jarmusch—starting now on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE.
Jim Jarmusch interview, Father Mother Sister Brother, Venice Golden Lion winner, Venice Film Festival, MUBI film, Tom Waits Jim Jarmusch, Adam Driver Jim Jarmusch, Cate Blanchett Jim Jarmusch, Vicky Krieps, Charlotte Rampling, independent cinema, arthouse film, filmmaker interview, INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE
@laemmle @OfficialRaphaelSbarge @mubi @kate_blanchetteofficial @missmayim @indyamoore @lukasabbat @cate_blanchettofficial #arthousecinema #JimJarmusch #FatherMotherSisterBrother #MUBI #InsideTheArthouse #IndependentCinema #ArthouseCinema #FilmInterview #filmmakerinterview
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Greg Laemmle & Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking

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46 min
December 23, 2025 THE PLAGUE (2025) Is Brutal for a Reason | Charlie Pollinger Interview (Cannes Breakout)
THE PLAGUE (2025) | Charlie Polinger on Childhood, Cruelty, and a Cannes Breakout
When a film earns a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, there’s often a quiet suspicion that it’s a critic’s darling—admired more than embraced. But Charlie Polinger’s debut feature THE PLAGUE is something rarer: a film that marries the visceral pull of a taut thriller with the intelligence and moral urgency of serious arthouse cinema.
In this episode of INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, we sit down with writer-director Charlie Polinger to discuss a film that has quickly become one of the most talked-about releases of 2025. Drawing from memories of his own pre-adolescence, Pollinger crafts a story that feels deeply personal while speaking uncomfortably—and urgently—to the present moment. THE PLAGUE explores how casual cruelty, once confined to private spaces, has become increasingly normalized and even rewarded in public life.
The film premiered at Cannes, where it reportedly received an 11-minute standing ovation—an extraordinary response for a first feature led by a cast of unknown child actors. That reception wasn’t just about novelty. It was recognition of a filmmaker with a confident voice and a film that understands how to unsettle, provoke, and implicate its audience without sacrificing narrative momentum.
THE PLAGUE is tense, unsettling, and deeply felt—a debut that suggests Pollinger is not only a director to watch, but one already operating with uncommon clarity and purpose.
🎙️ To learn more about one of The most striking films of the year, join us for our conversation with Charlie Pollinger—on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now.
@laemmle @officialRaphaelSbarge @CPolinger @IFCFilmsUnlimited IFCFilmsOfficial
#InsideTheArthouse #FilmPodcast #ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #IndieFilm#FilmmakerInterview #FilmDiscussion #FilmAnalysis #MovieReview#FilmIndustry #FilmBusiness #FilmDistribution#LaemmleTheatres #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge#NewFilmReleases #arthousefilm
Video podcast exploring independent film, arthouse cinema, and the film industry. In-depth filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and film analysis covering new releases, repertory cinema, and classic films. Hosted by Raphael Sbarge in partnership with Laemmle Theatres, Inside the Arthouse focuses on film distribution, the movie business, and the creative process behind independent filmmaking

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57 min
December 19, 2025 The Fight to Own Warner Brothers
The Fight to Own Warner Bros. | Hollywood Consolidation, Streaming Wars & the Future of Cinema
In this episode of INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, we step outside our usual filmmaker deep dives to examine a seismic moment in Hollywood—one that could reshape the film industry from top to bottom.
Warner Bros., one of the oldest and most influential studios in cinema history, is officially up for sale. After weighing multiple offers, the company initially moved toward a deal with Netflix, a move that would fold more than a century of studio legacy into one of the world’s most powerful streaming platforms. But the story didn’t end there. Within days, Paramount, backed by tech titan Larry Ellison, launched a surprise counteroffer—turning the situation into a full-scale bidding war.
None of these deals are finalized, and each faces significant regulatory hurdles. Still, the fact that Warner Bros. is even on the table speaks volumes about where the media landscape is headed. While arthouse cinema occupies a smaller corner of that ecosystem, the ripple effects of consolidation will shape what films get made, how they’re distributed, and whether audiences get to experience them on the big screen at all.
To unpack what’s at stake, we’re joined by two experts: Ross Melnick, professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara and a leading voice on the history of exhibition, and Chris Yogerst, author of The Warner Brothers, one of the definitive histories of the studio now at the center of this fight.
This conversation was recorded on December 10. Given how quickly events are moving, some details may shift—but our goal is to provide the context and historical insight needed to understand the forces at play and the possible futures ahead.
So let’s get into it: how consolidation shapes the movies you love, the theaters that show them, and the cultural imagination they help build.
That conversation on INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE, starting now.
👉 Watch our full filmmaker conversations on the main INSIDE THE ARTHOUSE channel:
youtube.com/@InsidetheArthouse
@laemmle @OfficialRaphaelSbarge @cyogerst UC Santa Barbara Film & Media Studies and Carsey-Wolf Center
#WarnerBros #WarnerBrothers #HollywoodBusiness #MediaConsolidation #StudioSystem #EntertainmentIndustry #StreamingWars #FilmDistribution #TheatricalExhibition #FilmIndustry #MergersAndAcquisitions #Antitrust #mediaregulation
#ArthouseCinema #IndependentFilm #CinemaCulture #MovieTheaters #FilmHistory #Cinephile #FilmPodcast #insidethearthouse
Warner Bros sale, Warner Brothers sale, Hollywood consolidation, studio acquisition, media mergers and acquisitions, streaming wars, Netflix studio deal, Paramount counteroffer, Larry Ellison media, antitrust and media regulation, film distribution economics, theatrical exhibition, future of movie theaters, legacy studios vs tech companies, Warner Bros history, studio system, film industry analysis, entertainment industry trends, Inside the Arthouse podcast
#arthouse #arthouseFilm @laemmle #BehindTheScenes #FilmDiscussion #MovieReview #NewReleases #NewFilmReleases #FilmLovers #Cinema #MoviePodcast #GregLaemmle #RaphaelSbarge #LaemmleTheatres #FilmDistribution #MovieIndustry #FilmBusiness Video Podcast Independent Film / Indie Film Arthouse Film / Arthouse Movie Film Lovers / Cinema New Movie Releases / New Film Releases Repertory Cinema / Classic Films / Classic Movies Filmmaker Interviews / Filmmakers (Directors, Writers, Producers) Film Distributors / Film Distribution Movie Industry / Film Business / Movie Business Behind-the-Scenes Insights Film Discussion / Movie Reviews / Film Analysis Greg Laemmle / Raphael Sbarge Laemmle Theatres

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1 hr 4 min