Best Friend and whatever-is-in-your-pantry-chef extraordinaire Marc "The Nucch" Ranucci sits down miles away from me to chat about scary movies. He shows my The Conjuring and tells me that a full world with rules exists inside the Horror movie realm. He teaches me about The Warrens (real people) and Easter Eggs in the movies connecting them. I mostly giggle nervously, knowing I won't sleep for weeks. We laugh, we cry, we troubleshoot zoom.

Then I show him Silence of the Lambs and we invariably talk about Mind Hunter. We both love Serial Killers and I can't believe he's never seen such a classic. I convince him to watch it with depictions of the creepy scenes, and how great Jodie Foster is.

I had a great time and I learned a lot. 

BYE FOREVER.

Best friend and professional college filmmaker Jimmy Flynn "zooms" with me to talk about our favorite movies. He shows me Goodfellas and I keep talking about "The Irishman" despite several warnings. I fall in love with Ray Liotta again (no surprise) and predict horrible things for women. We talk about how great Joe Pesci is as an actor and I can't stop thinking about Home Alone.

Then I show him The Cabin in the Woods. He's pleasantly surprised! We talk a lot about Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins and not enough about the actual main characters. I'm obsessed with this movie and don't get to spoil it nearly enough so please watch it.

I learned a lot and I had a great time.

BYE FOREVER.

Best friend and recurring quarantine-lifer Alex Warheit sits with me in our living room (as we do every day and night) and shows me a delightful gem - Heartbreakers. I desperately wish Gene Hackman finds the love of his life as we discuss the basics of improv (only for a second), the art of coughing and Boy Meets World.

Then I show him He's Just Not That Into You and over and over we are amazed he's never seen it. He's surprised by how deep the movie is for a seemingly shallow rom-com and the start studded cast (we're looking at you, Busy). We laugh, we cry, we talk about Rachel McAdams and I edit it out.

I learned a lot and I had a great time.

BYE FOREVER

Best friend and opera up-and-comer Elizabeth Hayhurst joins me in a tiny room. She shows me Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and I dream of the olden days. I make incredibly far off predictions and never mention (not even once) that I know the full Gettysburg address. 

Then I show her Arrival and RUIN the movie, but not the experience. She makes some valiant guesses after not seeing nearly enough of the movie and, I think we have a good time.

BYE FOREVER.

Best Friend and casual beer drinker Bryan Musil and I sit down to watch two movies in series. First he shows me Paddington 2, a charming movie about a child friendly psychopath and a hunt for gold that ends in a communist moral. Or at least, that's what my dad would say about it. We laugh, we fall in love with a talking bear and we discuss British acting.

Then I show him Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, a fast paced movie about a drunkard who ends up getting lucky. Or at least, that's what my mom would say about it. We discuss piracy and Johnny Depp's rise to fame and which actresses are very different but we mix up all the time. We laugh, we cry, we go to work.

I learned a lot and I had a great time!

Best friend and all around bad ass Tara Erickson joins me in the pod room to discuss cars, love and music. She shows me Gone in 60 Seconds and we talk about our love of cars, Nic Cage, and Bullet Tooth Tony from Snatch. Ford v. Ferrari comes up more than I'd care to admit.

Then I show her A Star is Born and we talk about our love of music and uh, what's that guy's name, oh yeah, Bradley Cooper!!!!!! We both insist on singing into the microphone at different points.

I learned a lot and I had a great time. Bye forever.

Best friend and Trekkie Gil Baron gives me a personal master class in film. He walks me through what it means to be an independent filmmaker with a strong message by showing me Hollywood Shuffle. I keep talking about "Famous People" like they are untouchables and Gil calls me out.

Then I bumble through Rear Window and hope I did the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock proud. Gil pulls from his knowledge of the Simpsons and all the real life crimes he's solved and I laugh and hope I remember everything.

 I had such a wonderful time learning from Gil, and laughing and living and all the rest of the phrase. I learned a lot and I had a great time.

BYE FOREVER

Best friend and cat whisperer Catherine Durickas joins me for a movie day and forces me to watch Demolition Man. I accuse her of not following directions, we talk about airpods and movies with good guys AND bad guys and we laugh a whole bunch. We also cry, but I won't discuss that here.

Then I show her Moonrise Kingdom. She comes out the gate aggressively with "I don't like kids" but I think I talk her into appreciating the idea of the movie by the end. Also, she'd like to be a set designer, if you'll take her. I learned a lot and I had a great time.

BYE FOREVER.

Best friend and workaholic Elyssa Phillips joins me in my scent-sational abode to show me one of her favorites - Auntie Mame. I'd never heard of it, but it didn't stop me from reviewing the movie. We talk about the role of the banker in the adoption process and feminism in the 1920's. It's also fun.

Then I show her Bridesmaids and she knew literally NOTHING - but it didn't stop her from reviewing the movie. We talk about a Christmas Goose and the distance between Milwaukee and Chicago and again, we have a really good time.

I learned a lot and I had a great time.

BYE FOREVER.

Inquiring mind and best friend Jeannie Ceglar joins me for a fun filled afternoon of sci-fi humor. First, she shows me Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. We talk about history's men and laugh and then we talk about pizza delivery and cry.

Then, I show her Spaceballs and quote almost every bit of it. We talk about unappreciated actors and MERCHANDISING! She reveals she knows not a ton about Star Wars and Star Trek and I realize the movie goes largely over her head. We laugh, we cry, we eat fortune cookies.

I learned a lot and I had a great time!

BYE FOREVER!