Reel Review

Wind River, written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, is the story of Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner), a wildlife officer who finds the body of an 18-year-old woman on an American Indian reservation in snowy Wyoming. Young FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) arrives to investigate. This Florida native must work with Lambert as a guide, to get to the bottom of why a young woman would run miles, barefoot, in the late night snow. Cory is also haunted by the death of his teen daughter just a few years prior to the opening of the film. He finds that must help Banner confront the violence young women face on the Wyoming reservation.

If you haven't seen the movie, beware, this podcast has spoilers.

Host Jonathan Schwartz is joined by Chris Finley, Aubrey Hicks, and David Washofsky.

Find us on Twitter: @BedrosianCenter, @AubreyHi,  @NDNCinema, @USCSDA ‏ @USCCinema @jonHLYP

For links and more, see the showpage.

This podcast is part of a series on Indigenous films in partnership with the Red Nation Celebration Institute, and the Red Nation Film Festival. It is brought to you by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse. 

Sound supervision by the Brothers Hedden.

For many indigenous people living in the US today, the past had been cut off from them. We Are Birds Director Albert Chacon discovered this history through the tradition of birdsinging – bird songs are the oral tradition of passing down the family’s story through song and dance. The old rituals designed to keep history and spirit of the family and tribe alive.

“Ay, every generation, every man is a part of his past. He cannot escape it, but he may reform the old materials, make something new –“ – Rudolfo Anaya

As Chacon discovered the traditions, he began talking with other birdsingers and discovered others in the same situation. There men and women were also finding out about their history through this tradition and building new ways to (re)create ritual and community meaning. We Are Birds is the result of interviews at powwows and other events on Southern California reservations.

Here is our conversation with Chacon and several birdsingers in this documentary and you can watch the film on Vimeo or visit it’s Facebook page.

Host Jonathan Schwartz is joined by:

Albert Chacon (Writer, Director, Editor)

Derek Duro (Head Birdsinger, Dancer)

Frankie Morreo (Birdsinger, Dancer)

Joanelle Romero (Founder, CEO Red Nation Celebration Inst, Red Nation Film Festival)

Chris Finley (USC Assistant Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity)

This podcast is part of a series on Indigenous films in partnership with the Red Nation Celebration Institute, and the Red Nation Film Festival. It is brought to you by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse.

Sound supervision by the Brothers Hedden.

Find more at www.usc.edu/ppr

The latest remake of A Star is Born is, well … is getting mixed reviews. Some are rapturous (like this, this, or this and especially this) others not so much (for instance: this, this, or this). 

Our panel discuss this latest version in the "there is always a possibility of getting discovered" American myths. This version stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga with Cooper also directing. It is the story of a musician who meets and falls for a young singer. He helps her find fame, as age and addiction send his own career into a downward spiral.

Jonathan Schwartz fills in for host Erroll Southers and is joined by veteran panelists Alex Ago, Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, and Anita Dashiell-Sparks

@BedrosianCenter, @AngeMarieH, @AlessandroAgo

Email: [email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse.

Sound editing by the Brothers Hedden.

We are thrilled to share this conversation about Powwow Highway with you! A. Martinez, Amanda Wyss, Joanelle Romero, from the film join host Jonathan Schwartz and USC Profs Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro and Chris Finley in conversation about the making, legacy, and meaning of this cult classic.

If you haven't seen it, be ware, there are a ton of spoilers.

Powwow Highway is the story of two Native Americans, Philbert and Buddy (A. Martinez) who journey from Montana to Santa Fe to bail Buddy's sister Bonny (Joanelle Romero) out of jail. A classic road movie, Buddy and Philbert travel to Santa Fe by way of South Dakota and a few different Indian reservations as they go. Reaching Santa Fe the men find Bonny, her children, and her close friend Rabbit (Amanda Wyss).

They travel the highways through a seemingly broken American Dream to the possibility of hope through friendship and family.

@BedrosianCenter, @jonHLYP, @AngeMarieH, @_AmandaWyss, @ABoneMartinez, @NDNCinema,  @USCPrice

This podcast is part of a series on Indigenous films in partnership with the Red Nation Celebration Institute, and the Red Nation Film Festival. It is brought to you by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse. 

Sound supervision by the Brothers Hedden.

https://bedrosian.usc.edu/ppr/powwow-highway-cast

Powwow Highway is the story of Philbert and Buddy who journey from Montana to Santa Fe to bail Buddy's sister Bonny out of jail. For many indigenous peoples in the Americas, life can be grim. Much has been taken from them. In Powwow Highway, we begin with a view of the failed American Dram with the Northern Cheyenne tribe of Lame Deer, Montana. Buddy Redbow is a Vietnam veteran and activist looking to subvert a land-grab. His acquaintance and possible friend, Philbert Bono seems simple minded but might just be a spiritual guide to the rageful Buddy. When Bonny is framed and incarcerated in Santa Fe, the two men take Philbert's beat up '64 Buick, his 'war pony,' on a road trip via a Powwow gathering in South Dakota, Buddy's life may just be transformed.

If you haven't seen the movie, be ware, this podcast has spoilers.

Host Jonathan Schwartz is joined by Chris Finley, Aubrey Hicks, and Lisa Schweitzer.  

@BedrosianCenter, @AubreyHi, @drschweitzer, @NDNCinema , @USCPrice , @jonHLYP

This podcast is part of a series on Indigenous films in partnership with the Red Nation Celebration Institute, and the Red Nation Film Festival. It is brought to you by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse. 

Sound supervision by the Brothers Hedden.

https://bedrosian.usc.edu/ppr/powwow-highway

Does the biopic about a 19th century French writer Colette bring her to life?

This episode features a conversation on a film which seems to be of the moment. Gender dynamics, intellectual property, relationships ... history.

Host Jonathan Schwartz is joined by podcast favorites Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, Anita Dashiell-Sparks, and Alex Ago.

Let us know what you think of the film and our conversation at Facebook or Twitter.

@BedrosianCenter, @AubreyHi, @AngeMarieH, @esouthersHVE, @jonHLYP, @USCPrice, @AlessandroAgo

Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley. The film follows a young Cassius (Cash) Green who joins an Oakland telemarketing company, adopting a white accent to thrive, propelling him up the ladder. He is faced with the dilemma of success and the ethics of what he's selling. The ensemble cast, the Oakland setting, the themes explored in this film make this one to talk about! Explore this nuanced film with us!

Featuring host Erroll Southers and guests Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, Aubrey Hicks, and Jonathan Schwartz.

Let us know what you think of the film and our conversation at Facebook or Twitter.

@BedrosianCenter, @AubreyHi, @AngeMarieH, @esouthersHVE 

Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley. The film follows a young Cassius (Cash) Green who joins an Oakland telemarketing company, adopting a white accent to thrive, propelling him up the ladder. He is faced with the dilemma of success and the ethics of what he's selling. The ensemble cast, the Oakland setting, the themes explored in this film make this one to talk about! Explore this nuanced film with us!

Featuring host Erroll Southers and guests Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, Aubrey Hicks, and Jonathan Schwartz.

Let us know what you think of the film and our conversation at Facebook or Twitter.

@BedrosianCenter, @AubreyHi, @AngeMarieH, @esouthersHVE 

Tully is the third collaboration of writer Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman and its the story of motherhood. Charlize Theron plays expectant mother, Marlo. It is the birth of this third child that seems to push Marlo to a breaking point. While she seems to resent the gift of a night nanny from her wealthier brother, her exhaustion (and possibly a run-in with a college roommate) allows her to hire Tully (played by Mackenzie Davis) as a night nanny to help her sleep through the night. What does the film tell us about nostalgia, age, motherhood, parenting, and authenticity? Beware this podcast has spoilers!

Featuring host Erroll Southers and guests Alex Ago, Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, and Lt. Col. Olivia Nelson.

Let us know what you think of the film and our conversation at Facebook or Twitter.

For links and more, visit the showpage.

The film follows a fictional hostage situation in Beirut, Lebanon at the height of the Lebanon Civil War. Our panel discusses the controversies surrounding the film including how Hollywood portrays the Middle East. Is it social commentary, an action thriller, or both? Listen now to find out how our all-star panel felt.

Featuring host Erroll Southers and guests Lt. Col. Olivia Nelson, Jonathan Schwartz, and David Warshofsky.

Let us know what you think of the film and our conversation at Facebook or Twitter.

This podcast is sponsored by Price Video Services and USC Bedrosian Center, and continues ongoing efforts to bring policy and its impact into the public discourse.

Special thanks to Dean Jack Knott, USC Price; Dean David Bridel, USC School of Dramatic Arts; and Dean Elizabeth Daley, USC Cinematic Arts for their support of this interdisciplinary conversation. 

This podcast was produced by Aubrey Hicks and Jonathan Schwartz, recorded and mixed by The Brothers Hedden, Ryan & Corey Hedden.