In this personal episode of the Required Watching podcast, I'm exploring what happens when Black cinema crosses borders. As a Black American living in the UK, I didn't grow up with these stories. I came to them later, and that distance changed how I heard them.

This isn't about explaining Black Britain. It's about the profound shift that happens when you stop expecting art to sound like home.

CHAPTERS (The Four Acts):

Act I: Arrival

Act II: Contrast, Not Comparison

Act III: What Shifted in Me

Act IV: Why This Matters for Filmmakers

ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:

What is it like watching Black British film as a Black American?

Analysis of Steve McQueen's Small Axe.

What are the differences between UK and US Black cinema?

How does national identity shape filmmaking?

What can filmmakers learn from different cultural styles?

To see the formal analysis that inspired this reflection, watch our video "The Grammar of Black British Cinema"

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

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This is a deep dive into the mechanics of how history is written, how "canons" are formed, and what we lose when we erase the origin stories of pioneering artists.

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

- The Question: Why Don't We Learn This in School?

- What is "The Canon" and Who Decides?

- The Four Filters: Archives, Academia, Criticism, and Commerce

- The Cost of Erasure: What We Lose

- What Early Black Cinema Teaches Us Today

ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Why isn't early Black film history taught in film schools?

How does a film become a classic?

What is the film canon and who creates it?

Why are so many early Black films lost?

What can modern filmmakers learn from Oscar Micheaux?

To understand the history we're discussing, watch our video on the pioneers of Black cinema

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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In this episode of Required Watching, Tray Epps explores the theme of emotional fluency through cooking in cinema. He discusses three films—'Eat Drink Man Woman', 'Pieces of April', and 'The Farewell'—highlighting how food serves as a medium for expressing complex emotions and familial connections. The conversation delves into how these films illustrate the power of meals in conveying love, grief, and intimacy without the need for words, emphasizing the significance of rituals and the kitchen as a stage for emotional expression.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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In this episode of Required Watching, host Tray Epps delves into the emotional depths of family dramas through the lens of three films: 'Kapoor and Sons', 'Painted Skin', and 'The Jacksons'. He discusses how personal stories can resonate universally by focusing on specific emotions and experiences. Epps emphasizes the importance of authenticity in storytelling, the power of silence, and the legacy of trauma that shapes family dynamics. The conversation highlights that the core of compelling narratives lies in the emotional truths they convey, regardless of cultural context.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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You have a great idea for a movie. You have a compelling character, a killer ending, maybe even a few memorable scenes. But how do you get from a jumble of brilliant ideas to a rock-solid, 110-page script with a beginning, a middle, and an end that all connect? You don't just start writing. You build it, one scene at a time.

In this episode of the RW Toolkit, we're getting analog. We're breaking down one of the most powerful, flexible, and time-tested outlining tools used by professional writers: the Scene Card Method. Using simple, cheap index cards, you can build, rearrange, and stress-test your story's architecture before you ever write a single line of dialogue. It’s the secret weapon used by everyone from Aaron Sorkin to the writers at Pixar.

We'll walk you through the entire process, from creating your first card to laying out your entire film on your floor or wall. This is a practical, step-by-step guide to making your story's structure tangible, manageable, and powerful.

Resources Mentioned:

• Our "Canon" video essay on the perfect structure of Chinatown
• 3x5 Index Cards (any brand will do)
• Book: Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder (a beat sheet that works well with this method)
• A great corkboard for your wall

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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▶️ Letterboxd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Required Watching podcast, host Tray Epps discusses the challenges of screenwriting, particularly the fear of the blank page. He presents three practical methods to overcome this fear: the high concept approach, character-driven storytelling, and the final image technique. Each method offers a unique way to spark creativity and develop compelling narratives. Epps emphasizes the importance of understanding character desires and the emotional core of a story, ultimately guiding writers to find their unique voice and direction in filmmaking.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this comprehensive review of the year in film, Tray Epps explores the trends, triumphs, and disappointments of 2025. He presents a definitive list of the top 10 films that are expected to resonate for years to come, while also addressing notable disappointments in filmmaking. The conversation emphasizes the importance of storytelling, the emotional depth of cinema, and the evolving landscape of the film industry.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of East of Everywhere, Tray Epps explores the concept of filial piety in traditional East Asian society, contrasting it with Western individualism. The discussion delves into the philosophy of Confucianism, the importance of family harmony, and the evolving nature of filial duties in modern times. Tray reflects on the cultural tensions between personal freedom and familial obligations, inviting listeners to share their own experiences.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

▶️ Website

▶️ Twitter/X

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▶️ Letterboxd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Required Watching, I dive into the fascinating role of food in cinema, focusing on films like 'How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies' and 'Chef.'

I explore how food serves as a metaphor for emotions, relationships, and character development, highlighting its universal appeal and emotional depth. Join me as I examine scenes where food acts as a stand-in for unspoken words, showcasing its power in storytelling.

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

▶️ Website

▶️ Twitter/X

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▶️ Letterboxd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Tray Epps discusses the film 'American Fiction,' a satirical exploration of race, identity, and the media's portrayal of Black narratives. He highlights the film's critique of the publishing industry's obsession with stereotypical stories and the pressures faced by Black creatives. Epps shares personal reflections on authenticity in storytelling and the complexities of representation in film, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to American Fiction

02:39 Satire and Stereotypes in Black Narratives

05:00 Personal Reflections on Authenticity and Experience

07:52 The Impact of Representation in Film

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

▶️ Subscribe for new video essays every week: 

▶️ Website

▶️ Twitter/X

▶️ Instagram

▶️ Letterboxd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.