Screenshot

By BBC Radio 4

What's Screenshot about?

Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode guide us through the expanding universe of the moving image revealing fascinating links and hidden gems from cinema and TV to streaming and beyond.

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Screenshot episodes:

04.27.2024
Fashion
Mark Kermode and Ellen E Jones examine the rich history of style and the moving image, from Pret A Porter to The Devil Wears Prada. Ellen talks to fashion historian and curator Amber Butchart about the close relationship between...
04.20.2024
Pumping Iron: Gyms and Bodybuilding
As rising British director Rose Glass (St Maud) brings us Love Lies Bleeding - a film about female bodybuilders - Mark Kermode and Ellen E Jones examine the precedents, including the action stars of the 80s like Schwarzenegger who broke...
04.12.2024
Interlopers
Andrew Scott is the latest in a long line of actors to play Thomas Ripley - the seductive, sociopathic conman created by American crime writer Patricia Highsmith, and immortalised in films from Plein Soleil to The Talented Mr Ripley. ...
04.05.2024
Censorship
As the British Board of Film Classification publishes its new guidelines, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode delve into the long, chequered history of film censorship and classification in the UK. Mark speaks to BBFC President (and original Strictly Come...
02.02.2024
Divorce
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode look at divorce in film and TV, from His Girl Friday to The Split. Ellen looks at comedic takes on divorce, first discussing marriage, divorce and remarriage in the 1930s screwball comedy genre with...
01.26.2024
Dreams
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode take a deep dive into the cinematic subconscious to explore dreams in film and television. Mark talks to Sandra Hebron, psychotherapist and head of screen arts at the National Film and Television School,...
01.19.2024
British Dystopias
Forty years on from 1984 and the release of the John Hurt-starring big screen adaptation of George Orwell’s novel, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore dystopian visions from British film and TV. Mark speaks to film critic Kim...
01.12.2024
American Elections
In the year of a Presidential election, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode investigate the murky world of American Elections on screen. Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 Presidential election, inspired many film lovers to reconnect with two films -...
01.05.2024
Booze and sobriety
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore depictions of alcohol in film and television over the years, from the hilarity of Dudley Moore in Arthur, to the tragedy of Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. Mark is joined by Little...
12.29.2023
Stop-Motion Animation
As Bristol claymation legends Aardman's new film hits screens, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode look at the enduring appeal of the most painstaking and time-consuming art form conceivable - stop motion animation. Ellen talks to director Guillermo del...
12.20.2023
Double Acts
At this festive time of year it’s hard to escape those classic double acts and their equally classic Christmas specials, think Morecambe & Wise, the Two Ronnies, French & Saunders. In this episode, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore...
12.15.2023
Terence Davies
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode celebrate the life and career of the much-loved Liverpudlian screenwriter and director Terence Davies, who died earlier in 2023 at the age of 77. From an astonishing trilogy of early short films, to his...
10.06.2023
50 Years of Don't Look Now
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode don their red raincoats to celebrate the 50th anniversary of haunting British thriller Don't Look Now. Originally released in 1973, Don't Look Now is a spine-tingling psychodrama in which Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie...
09.29.2023
Stunts
To celebrate 50 years of the Bruce Lee classic, Enter the Dragon, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode look at the unsung heroes of cinema, stunt artists. Mark talks to stunt choreographer on the Oscar winning film Everything Everywhere All...
09.22.2023
Cats v Dogs
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode look to the silver screen to finally answer a big question. Cats or dogs - which are best? In the cat camp, Ellen enlists the help of film critic and author of the...
09.15.2023
Video games on screen
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode delve into the relationship between gaming and the movies, with help from a crack squad of video game experts. Mark is joined by pop culture critic Kayleigh Donaldson, who helps guide him through the...
09.08.2023
Lovers on the run
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode hit the road to explore the lovers on the run genre, and celebrate 50 years of Terrence Malick's film debut, Badlands. Since the film’s arrival in 1973, this dreamy and twisted fairy...
09.01.2023
Offices on screen
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode take a look at offices and office politics on screen. Mark is joined by director Terry Gilliam who, back in 1985, created one of the most influential and iconic depictions of an on-screen...
08.31.2023
Introducing the Whodunnits collection
Cases to baffle and intrigue. What to expect from BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra’s treasure trove of murder mysteries. Available only on BBC Sounds.
08.25.2023
Brits Abroad
Ellen and Mark explore Brits abroad in the movies, taking a look at everything from 1972's Carry on Abroad to 2023's Cannes prize-winner How To Have Sex. Mark talks to Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema at De Montfort University,...
08.18.2023
Latitude Festival 2023
Latitude Festival boasts the biggest comedy lineup in the UK, so Ellen and Mark take a visit to discuss the best and worst of stand-up comedy on screen. Ellen and Mark and joined by three of the UK's biggest and...
08.11.2023
The Jukebox Soundtrack
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode celebrate the power of pop music on screen, 50 years on from the release of George Lucas' American Graffiti, with its hits-packed soundtrack. First opening on 11 August 1973, coming of age classic American...
06.02.2023
Barbie on screen
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode devote the final episode of the current series of Screenshot to the world’s most famous doll, ahead of the release of director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. Ellen is joined by critic Christina Newland for...
05.26.2023
Sports movies and TV
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore sport on screen, from Field of Dreams to Ted Lasso. Ellen looks at the life lessons to be gleaned from baseball movies such as Field of Dreams, The Natural and A League of...
05.19.2023
Rep Cinema and the legacy of the Scala
With its outrageous audience, pioneering programme, all night film marathons and a particularly vicious house cat, The Scala cinema in London’s King’s Cross blazed a flamboyant trail across the repertory cinema scene of the 70s, 80s and 90s. As...
05.12.2023
Girls coming of age on film
As Judy Blume’s classic YA novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is adapted for the big screen, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how a recent wave of coming of age films have looked at the subject...
05.05.2023
Home Movies
In May 1983, Sony released the first camcorder for domestic consumers, the Betamovie. This milestone in amateur filmmaking, 40 years on, prompts Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode to explore how home movies are depicted and used in feature film....
04.28.2023
Strikes, Camera, Action!
Ahead of International Workers' Day, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how the struggle for workers' rights and other movements for change have been depicted on screen. Ellen speaks to artist Jeremy Deller, who in 2001 restaged and filmed...
04.21.2023
Restaurants
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode discuss how restaurants are portrayed throughout cinema and the small screen, from Big Night to Ratatouille. Mark is joined by film and TV journalist Roxana Hadadi to discuss an overview of the best depictions...
04.14.2023
Jeanne Dielman and the art of slow cinema
Mark Kermode and Ellen E Jones take the scenic route through slow cinema - a genre of film that might challenge your attention span, but is almost guaranteed to change the way you watch. There is one particular film...
04.07.2023
The Long Good Friday
The Long Good Friday elevated the British gangster film to a level not seen for a decade since Get Carter, and sees London gangster Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins) and his girlfriend Victoria (Helen Mirren) embroiled in a scheme to redevelop...
02.03.2023
The Art of the Trailer
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore the dark arts of the film trailer, 110 years on from the first ever trailer, for Broadway musical The Pleasure Seekers. Ellen talks to writer and trailer aficionado Matt Schimkowitz about the...
01.27.2023
Fat is a filmmaker issue
Brendan Fraser has been garnering standing ovations and awards nominations for his moving performance as a reclusive, morbidly obese teacher in Darren Aronofsky’s film The Whale. His physical transformation into the 600lb Charlie, who is fighting for his life and...
01.20.2023
Hollywood's pre-code Babylon
As director Damien Chazelle's sprawling period epic Babylon hits UK cinemas, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode travel back to the Wild West of Hollywood's early years. Mark tries to sort fact from fiction with author Shawn Levy and critic...
01.13.2023
Genius on screen
As new film Tar hits UK cinemas, starring Cate Blanchett as a brilliant, highly-celebrated and highly-problematic conductor, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how genius is portrayed on-screen - and celebrated off-screen. Mark speaks to director Nick Moran...
01.06.2023
Folk Horror
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore folk horror on screen. The genre is commonly associated with British film from the 70s, but Ellen and Mark investigate how it resonates across the globe and its resurgence over the last decade....
12.30.2022
Rashomon
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore the legacy of Rashomon, directed by Japanese cinematic master Akira Kurosawa. Mark examines Kurosawa's enduring screen legacy and why he is one of the most influential directors in film history. He talks...
12.23.2022
Christmas TV traditions
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore how a couple of Christmas TV traditions have developed over the years - the made-for-TV Christmas romcom and the festive ghost story. Inspired by The Hallmark Channel's first ever gay Christmas film, Ellen...
12.16.2022
Whodunnit?
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode investigate whodunnits and murder mysteries on screen, ahead of the streaming release of new Knives Out mystery Glass Onion. Mark talks to Glass Onion director Rian Johnson about why whodunnits are so enduring, who...
12.09.2022
25 Years of Titanic
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode revisit Titanic in its 25th anniversary year, looking at James Cameron's epic blockbuster as both a disaster film and a story of immigration. Ellen explores the forgotten tales of immigration onboard the Titanic, talking...
09.30.2022
Method Acting
From the melodramatic gestures of silent movies to the immersive, intricate performances made possible by 21st century technology, acting styles have gone in and out of fashion. But no acting technique is more mythologised or misunderstood than The Method. Mark...
09.23.2022
Indian Blockbusters
Inspired by the record-breaking success of huge action epic RRR, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore the global popularity of contemporary Indian cinema, with the help of some of its key players. Ellen takes a closer look at...
09.16.2022
Housewives on Screen
Ellen and Mark take a turn into the exclusive gated community of housewives in cinema and television, ahead of the release of new film Don't Worry Darling. Ellen investigates why we're so drawn to housewives on screen, from original...
09.09.2022
Marilyn Monroe
Ellen and Mark examine the legacy of the quintessential blonde bombshell ahead of the release of Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde. Mark speaks to Blonde’s director Andrew Dominik and US pop culture critic Angelica Jade Bastien about the very different personal...
09.02.2022
Film4
Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode celebrate 40 years of Film4 with a quartet of famous film-makers who have been part of its rich history and legacy. Founded in 1982, Film4 soon became an iconic and vital voice in British...
08.26.2022
Werner Herzog at 80
To mark the 80th birthday of one of cinema’s most enigmatic and polarising characters, Mark Kermode and Ellen E Jones explore the work, myth and legacy of Werner Herzog. An encounter with Herzog is always compelling, and sometimes risky. When...
08.19.2022
Hay Festival 2022
From the Old Testament to Captain Underpants, via Jane Austen and pulp fiction, the relationship between the page and the screen is unbreakable. But the journey from book to screenplay can be a long and winding road that is sometimes...
08.12.2022
Watergate on Screen
Fifty years ago a break-in at the Watergate complex in Washington DC caused a cover-up that ultimately cost Richard Nixon the presidency. From the moment the hearings into the scandal were televised, there has been a massive audience for all...
08.05.2022
The Harder They Come at 50
Ahead of Jamaican Independence Day, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode immerse themselves in one of the island’s greatest exports, The Harder They Come, marking the film’s 50th anniversary. The Harder They Come was a sensation, but it took a...
05.27.2022
Elvis
Ellen and Mark discuss the enduring screen presence of Elvis Presley, from Love Me Tender to Wild at Heart. One of the most hotly anticipated films this summer is Elvis - director Baz Luhrmann’s biopic chronicling the singer’s career...

What's Screenshot about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Screenshot episodes:

Fashion

Pumping Iron: Gyms and Bodybuilding

Interlopers

Censorship

Divorce

Dreams

British Dystopias

American Elections

Booze and sobriety

Stop-Motion Animation

Double Acts

Terence Davies

50 Years of Don't Look Now

Stunts

Cats v Dogs

Video games on screen

Lovers on the run

Offices on screen

Introducing the Whodunnits collection

Brits Abroad

Latitude Festival 2023

The Jukebox Soundtrack

Barbie on screen

Sports movies and TV

Rep Cinema and the legacy of the Scala

Girls coming of age on film

Home Movies

Strikes, Camera, Action!

Restaurants

Jeanne Dielman and the art of slow cinema

The Long Good Friday

The Art of the Trailer

Fat is a filmmaker issue

Hollywood's pre-code Babylon

Genius on screen

Folk Horror

Rashomon

Christmas TV traditions

Whodunnit?

25 Years of Titanic

Method Acting

Indian Blockbusters

Housewives on Screen

Marilyn Monroe

Film4

Werner Herzog at 80

Hay Festival 2022

Watergate on Screen

The Harder They Come at 50

Elvis