ScreenFish

Set in the near future, Seth A. Smith's chilling sci-fi TIN CAN tells the story of a world torn apart by a global pandemic. In TIN CAN, what began as an attempt to change the world for the better becomes something much more sinister that threatens human existence. In this 1on1, we speak to Smith about how the pandemic has changed his understanding of the film and the challenges of filming in tight spaces.

Written and directed by Krystin Ver Linden, ALICE tells the story of one woman held in captivity who finds strength when she discovers the world outside. In this 1on1, we speak to Ver Linden about the truth behind her (seemingly) wild premise, the challenges of holding eras against one another, and the power of the storyteller.

The Dark Knight has returned… and this time, he’s really dark. Leaning into the shadows and secrets of Gotham City, Matt Reeve’s THE BATMAN is a very different vision of the Caped Crusader that explores his rage-fuelled attempts to bring criminals to justice. This week, Wade Bearden (WadeBearden.com) returns to dig into the darkness of the Batman as we talk about deconstructing our heroes and the line between justice and vengeance.

In THE WOLF AND THE LION, Molly Kunz plays Alma, a woman who adopts two very different pets that shouldn't go together. In this episode, Anders (age 11) speaks to Molly about what it's like working with real lions and wolves and what she wants kids to learn from the movie.

In her latest film, WOMAN IN CAR, Rose weaves a story of secrets and lies in a world of privilege. WOMAN IN CAR follows Anne (Helene Joy), a woman who seems to have it all. However, when her stepson returns home with a new love, Anne’s world is shaken and she develops an unhealthy obsession with the stranger that threatens her world. In this 1on1, we speak to Rose about finding safety in an unsafe world and the importance of Edith Wharton to the film.

Written and directed by Agam Darshi, DONKEYHEAD tells the story of Mona, a failed writer who spends her days caring for her dying Sikh father. When her siblings return home, Mona's home is turned upside down, revealing secrets that have been dormant for years. In this 1on1, we speak to Darshi about coming-of-age stories, the tension between old world and the modern era and living in a culture of shame.

Streaming on Disney+, The Book of Boba Fett tells the epic story of the famed bounty hunter and his exploits after the Battle of Sarlaac's Pit in Return of the Jedi... until it doesn't. Pivoting hard at the halfway point, the series quickly brings in the best characters from The Mandalorian and focuses more on the group than Boba himself. This week, ScreenFish'r Heather Johnson returns to talk about whether or not we needed a redemption story for Boba Fett and the flaws of Jedi choices.

Though it's set over 50 years in the past, there's something eerily current about Kenneth Branagh's Belfast. Exploring the suffering of division and violence through the eyes of a child, Belfast remains absolutely an echo of Ireland in the past yet somehow also manages to feel like it could represent the pain of our present culture. This week, Robert Bellissimo (Robert Bellissimo At The Movies) and Deb Whalen (@WonderWhalen) stop by to discuss Belfast's cry for peace and the power of perspective.

Directed by Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum, DOG tells the story of Briggs (Tatum), an Army Ranger who has recently been discharged due to concussion protocols. Begging his old friend for a chance to get back into rotation, Briggs is given an assignment to prove himself by bringing Lulu, a Belgian Malinois military dog, to her partner’s funeral. However, as the two begin to show their own mental scars, the tensions between them continue to grow as they must learn how to work together to find some hope for their future. In a press conference for the film, Tatum and Carolin discuss what makes dogs such great team members and stepping in to the director's chair to direct... yourself.

Written by Catherine Hernandez, SCARBOROUGH follows the stories of three children whose families are trying to navigate their various life situations in the neighbourhood. Their paths all cross eventually at an after-school literacy programme run by Ms Hina (Aliya Kanani) who finds herself caring about more than the children’s literacy and lends herself as support to their lives. In this 1on1, ScreenFish staffer Seun Olowo-Ake speaks to Hernandez about the challenges of adapting her material, the meaning of 'community' and struggling with vulnerability.