LCJ Q&A Podcast

Miles Joris-Peyrafitte ("As You Are", "Dreamland") is the co-writer and director of the new murder mystery investigation drama "The Good Mother", which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday September 1st. Albany, NY native Joris-Peyrafitte discusses filming the movie in the Capital Region, working with stars Hilary Swank, Jack Reynor and Olivia Cooke, and how Swank found an Albany woman's missing dog.

10 years ago, hand-drawn film Ernest & Celestine, about the unlikely pairing of a bear and a mouse, charmed moviegoers and Academy members. It earned a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination alongside Hayao Miyazaki's final film at the time, The Wind Rises, and CG blockbusters Frozen, The Croods and Despicable Me 2. This Friday September 1st, GKIDS will release a sequel feature in theaters, with the title characters on their biggest and most meaningful journey yet. Here's my conversation with the directors of Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, Jean-Christophe Roger and Julien Chheng.

The Peanuts/Apple relationship continues to flourish. New 40-minute special "Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie" premieres this Friday August 18th on AppleTV+. Executive Producer Craig Schulz (son of "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz) and Director Raymond S. Persi (who also voiced Flash the Sloth in "Zootopia") discuss the impact of Marcie, her new special and the entire "Peanuts" brand.

Josh Greenbaum, who grew-up near me in Saratoga Springs, NY, directs Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx and some real, fun-loving dogs in Universal's new R-rated comedy "Strays", which opens in theaters on August 18th. Greenbaum shares memories of going to the movies in the Capital Region, as well as details on the voice acting, animation, story and casting aspects of the summer's wildest movie.

Anthony Stacchi co-directed Sony Pictures Animation's first feature, 2006's "Open Season". He then co-directed Laika's 2014 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominee "The Boxtrolls". Stacchi's latest animated film is "The Monkey King", debuting August 18th on Netflix. He joins me to talk about this action-packed adventure and his animation heroes.

This interview with actress Annie Murphy was conducted over Zoom on Monday June 26th, 2023 (prior to the SAG-AFTRA Strike) as part of a virtual press junket organized and provided by Freeform. Emmy-winner Annie Murphy ("Schitt's Creek", "Kevin Can F--- Himself") lends her voice to the title character of the new Freeform animated comedy series "Praise Petey". The one-hour series premiere is this Friday July 21st at 10pm. I join this fellow Murphy for a fun chat about "Petey", her voice work in this summer's "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" and more.

N.D. Stevenson's popular graphic novel finally comes to life with the long-awaited animated feature Nimona, about a girl in a futuristic/medieval society who joins forces with a knight to clear his name after he's accused of murder. Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (Spies in Disguise) are excited for audiences to experience this action, humor and emotion packed adventure, which premieres this Friday June 30th on Netflix.

DreamWorks Animation's new family action/adventure comedy Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken opens this Friday June 30th. It's already made a big splash this summer at Annecy and through early preview showings at Regal Cinemas locations nationwide. Oscar nominated director Kirk DeMicco (The Croods) and producer Kelly Cooney Cilella (Trolls World Tour) join me to discuss making studio history with the story of a teen who seeks to finally embrace her whole self.

Raise The Woof! New animated family series Pupstruction premieres Wednesday June 14th at 8am on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+. Creator Travis Braun, Executive Producer Victor Cook and Supervising Director Abigail Nesbitt tell me how they built this show (through story, characters, education and entertainment).

Television duo Nick Stanton and Devin Bunje (writers on Disney live-action series Zeke and Luther) now team-up as creators and executive producers of a new animated comedy for The Mouse House. Hailey’s On It!, starring Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) as the title character, premieres Thursday June 8th at 8pm on Disney Channel and Disney XD. Episodes begin streaming June 9th on Disney+. Stanton and Bunje can’t wait for audiences to embrace Hailey and join her on quite the rollercoaster ride.