Sonic Cinema Podcast

For this year's wrap-up episode of my coverage of the 2025 Renegade Film Festival, I'm taking a slightly different approach. You can read my thoughts at Sonic Cinema and In Their Own League about what I took away from the festival this year. both in terms of perspective of the time it took place, and the films I loved from it; this episode is about giving the filmmakers their voice to discuss their work, what inspired it, and how it fits into the current moment in our country. My guests include filmmakers Erin Day, Kelly Lou Dennis and Nonie Shiverick. I hope you enjoy!

*This episode does involve spoilers to some of the movies, but I don't think your appreciation of the films would diminish hearing them.

It's that time again. Amanda Spears returns to discuss the Oscars and help predict the winners. I also share my 10 Best list for 2024. I hope you enjoy!

The American experiment with Democracy is in a perilous place with the re-election of Donald Trump. Art, and cinema, is inherently political by virtue of the time it was made, as well as the time in which we watch it. In the first episode of what will be a miniseries for the Sonic Cinema Podcast, we begin looking at the ways in which films have portrayed fascism and authoritarianism over the years. Joining me for this first episode is Jason from Binge Movies, and we take a deep dive into America, as well as three films that look at people standing up to authoritarianism- Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," Roberto Rossellini's "Rome, Open City" and Herbert Ross's "Footloose." I hope you enjoy!

To kick of 2025 for the Sonic Cinema Podcast, we first return to 1999, and one of the most enjoyable movie surprises from that year. It's time to discuss "Galaxy Quest," and joining me is Robert Yaniz Jr. of Crooked Table podcasts and Back to Bluey to talk about why this comedy continues to endure after 25 years. I hope you enjoy!

We wrap up the Sonic Cinema Podcast for 2024 with an episode that I've had on the brain for a couple of years. The topic is Christmas movies, and the mainline between the two is director Bob Clark, who in 1974 directed the slasher classic, "Black Christmas", and a decade later, directed the beloved "A Christmas Story". My guest is once again Phil Fasso, and we had an enjoyable discussion on these movies. I hope you enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Hello readers and listeners! We're wrapping up 2024 with a handful of "Class of 1999" discussions, and this is one I'm delighted to share with you. The film is John Lasseter's "Toy Story 2", and joining me is returning guest Darin Lundberg of NostalgiaCast. This was such a wonderful dialogue and experience.

Hello readers and listeners! It's time, once again, to dive back into the movie year of 1999, and the film in question is from a venerable franchise, but a film that doesn't necessarily hit all the right notes that franchise desires. The film in Michael Apted's "The World is Not Enough", and joining me is returning guest Kevin Thomas. Our discussions comes to some unusual conclusions. I hope you enjoy!

As we wrap up the horror month this year, Phil Fasso and I dig back into three absolute classics that turned 50 this year. The subject is horror of 1974, and the films are Brian De Palma's "Phantom of the Paradise", Larry Cohen's "It's Alive" before concluding with Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". I hope you enjoy!

The track at the end of this episode is "Symphonic Guitar Dread" by Brian Skutle

It’s October, and that means a double dose of Phil Fasso this year. In our first discussion, Phil and I review Gary Dauberman’s recently-released ”Salem’s Lot”. We discuss the previous adaptations of Stephen King’s novel, why a feature film may not be the best format for this story, and what engaged us in this film. I hope you enjoy!

The track at the end of this episode is "Fear: The Giving and Receiving of..." by Brian Skutle

This is an episode I've been looking forward to for a while. After a long hiatus, I welcome back to the podcast my friend- and original Yahoo With a Microphone commentator- Ronnie Haynes. While the primary cinematic discussion centers of Kevin Smith's "Clerks" films, we also discuss our friendship and cosplaying Jay and Silent Bob, as well. I hope you enjoy!