Supporting Characters

Bill speaks with Black On Black Cinema host and TNP Studios founder Jay Jacksonrao. In addition to talking about the origins of his Nerdpocalypse and Black On Black Cinema shows, they discuss blockbuster spectacle cinema and the post-9/11 appeal of superhero movies, Baltimore film culture, FRUITVALE STATION and how the economy can inform the kinds of stories told in black films.

Visit the official site for Black On Black Cinema: http://www.blackonblackcinema.com/

Visit the official site for The Nerdpocalypse. http://www.thenerdpocalypse.com/

Read Craig D. Lindsey's interview with the hosts of Black On Black Cinema for RogerEbert.com: http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/driven-to-discussion-an-interview-with-the-hosts-of-the-black-on-black-cinema-podcast

Bill speaks with Director's Club host and Now Playing Network founder Jim Laczkowski. In addition to talking about podcasts, both his own and those of others, they discuss his early years directing short comedies to make his classmates laugh, his long history with WGN Radio film critic Nick Digilio, EVIL DEAD 2, near-death experiences, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, bandwagon mentality, the Chicago film critic community, drive-in theatres, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, experiences touring as a solo musician, critic screenings and the enduring scent of Roger Ebert's sandwich.

Hear Jim on the Director's Club podcast: http://www.directorsclubpodcast.com/

Hear Jim on the V&V podcast: https://www.voicesvisions.net/episodes/

Hear Jim guest on other podcasts: https://www.voicesvisions.net/archives/

Explore the other shows on the network Jim created: http://www.nowplayingnetwork.net/

Hear Jim's music: https://soundcloud.com/nowplayingjim http://anniversaryparty.bandcamp.com

Read/follow Jim on Letterboxd: http://letterboxd.com/nowplayingjim

Read Jim's writing on V&V: https://www.voicesvisions.net/thoughts/

Follow Jim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowplayingjim

Bill speaks with Exhumed Films co-founder and Diabolik DVD co-owner Joseph A. Gervasi about how the DIY ethos of hardcore punk informed his endeavors in film culture. They discuss the origins of his various projects, from early ventures like The Cabbage Collective and Bizarre Videos to later efforts like The Valerie Project and the ongoing Loud! Fast! Philly! series. Other topics addressed include Phil Hardy's Overlook Film Encyclopedia, entitled genre film collectors, CAFÉ FLESH, the subtle homage to Joseph's father on the Criterion Collection edition of VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS, and how declining nude modeling opportunities can negatively impact the distribution of one's fanzine. Visit the official site for Exhumed Films: http://www.exhumedfilms.com/ Visit the official site for Diabolik DVD: http://www.diabolikdvd.com/ Visit the official site for Loud! Fast! Philly! http://loudfastphilly.com/ Read Joseph's 2012 interview with recent Supporting Characters guest Kier-La Janisse: http://cinedelphia.com/sinedelphia-2012-joseph-a-gervasi-interviews-kier-la-janisse/ See a documentary on Exhumed Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zss-LNOqKdU See a trailer for the LOUD! FAST! PHILLY! Cinedelphia Film Festival event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7IgadhwD0w See/hear the music of The Valerie Project featured on television's 'So You Think You Can Dance': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poY1yvVf5xY

Bill speaks to writer/film programmer Kier-La Janisse about her many contributions to film culture, from her Cannibal Culture fanzine and Cinemuerte film festival to co-founding venues like the Blue Sunshine Psychotronic Film Centre, schools like The Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies and her small-press publishing company with fellow writer Paul Corupe, Spectacular Optical Publications. We talk about the origins of her books A VIOLENT PROFESSIONAL - THE FILMS OF LUCIANO ROSSI and the acclaimed HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN, and her experiences in documentary film, whether as a co-producer, an interviewee or as the subject. Other topics covered include movie parties, bootleg collecting, the peculiar boasts of Rico Boido, programming for the Alamo Drafthouse, objectifying Richard Stanley (and subsequently apologizing for it), "elevated horror", the Bloodshots 48-hour horror movie challenge, the economic realities of a life in film culture and details about some of her upcoming projects. It's likely the only time you'll hear the names Manny Farber, Jorg Buttgereit AND David Cassidy mentioned within the same conversation. LINKS Buy the Kier-La Janisse books House Of Psychotic Women and A Violent Professional: http://www.amazon.com/Kier-La-Janisse/e/B00J9CLXY2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Visit the official site for Spectacular Optical: http://www.spectacularoptical.ca/ Watch Bloody Breasts Presents: Women In Horror Panel, where Kier-La Janisse joins Jovanka Vuckovic (THE CAPTURED BIRD, former editor-in-chief of Rue Morgue magazine), Izabel Grondin (FANTASME), and Elza Kephart (GRAVEYARD ALIVE: A ZOMBIE NURSE IN LOVE) and Maude Michaud (HOLLYWOOD SKIN). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrzvglwMiDY Buy CELLULOID HORROR, the documentary about Kier-La Janisse's Cinemuerte Film Festival: http://breedproductions.com/celluloid-horror-dvd-now-available/ Read Kier-La Janisse's SHINDIG article about the career of cult film actress Joy Bang: http://www.spectacularoptical.ca/2016/01/the-big-bang-the-too-short-career-of-actress-joy-bang/ See a slideshow of various Toronto Film Cult Film Locations taken by Kier-La Janisse and Bill Ackerman: http://www.spectacularoptical.ca/2014/07/canuxploitation-toronto-film-location-tour-slideshow/ Visit the official site for the Monsterthon Film Festival: http://www.monsterfest.com.au/ Visit the official site of The Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies: http://www.miskatonicinstitute.com/ Hear Kier-La Janisse on The Projection Booth discussing THE HAUNTING OF JULIA (aka FULL CIRCLE): http://projection-booth.blogspot.com/2012/09/episode-81-haunting-of-julia.html Order the FAB Press re-issue of Satanic Panic: https://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Panic-Pop-Cultural-Paranoia-1980s/dp/1903254868/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466709545&sr=1-1&keywords=satanic+panic+pop-cultural+paranoia+in+the+1980s Buy the first Spectacular Optical book Kid Power! http://www.spectacularoptical.ca/store/product/spectacular-optical-book-one-kid-power/ Read Samm Deighan's 2012 interview with Kier-La Janisse: Satanic Pandemonium: House of Psychotic Women: Interview with Kier-La Janisse

Bill speaks to writer/podcaster Mike White about his various projects and pursuits in the world of film culture, from WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLING? and Super Happy Fun to Cashiers du Cinemart and The Projection Booth. They also discuss film festivals, bootleg culture of the early 2000s, adult films, Bruce Campbell, underappreciated filmmakers, Mike's documentary appearances, unhelpful publicists, Greydon Clark, film theory, pranking the IMDB and much more. See the official site for The Projection Booth podcast: The Projection Booth Podcast Read Mike White's blog: ImpossibleFunky Productions See the official site for Cashiers du Cinemart: Cashiers du Cinemart - Home Page Watch Mike White's short film comparing Ringo Lam's CITY ON FIRE and Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLING? Who Do You Think You're Fooling? Official page of filmmaker Matthew Silver: http://www.maninwhitedress.com/ Official page of filmmaker Cory McAbee: Cory McAbee

Bill talks to documentary filmmaker Daniel Griffith of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures. Griffith explains how his independently-made documentary on film producer K. Gordon Murray opened the door to an ongoing career producing DVD/Blu-Ray supplements (for companies like Synapse Films, VCI Entertainment and Shout Factory) and documentary features on subjects like John Carpenter's DARK STAR, Florida filmmaker William Grefe, Charles Band's Empire International Pictures, and teenagers making Super 8 genre movies in the 1970s.

See Daniel Griffith's official website: http://www.ballyhoomotionpictures.com/

Bill talks to film programmer and PhilaMOCA curator Eric Bresler. They have a conversation about his wide variety of projects, including his Video Pirates found-footage comedy shorts, the documentary OTAKU UNITE!, the Cinedelphia Film Festival and his work at PhilaMOCA. Other topics discussed include Philadelphia film culture and exhibition, tape trading, Eric's admiration for the band Sparks, TLA Video, Pia Zadora, Eraserhood Forever (including this year's headliner), visits from both South Philly gangsters and David Lynch to PhilaMOCA, Brian Schmidt's THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE OF JOJO (AND HIS ANNOYING LITTLE SISTER), and the especially shady casting process for an independent film. See Eric Bresler's Video Pirates short film, HORRORS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTPjCrF9Vjw See the Eric Bresler-directed video for Psychic Teens' "Everything" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00e8xuOqt4I See ERASERHEAD's The Lady In The Radiator perform "In Heaven" at PhilaMOCA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xLCbZZ_iO0 Buy Eric Bresler's Video Pirates Philadelphia DVD: http://www.diabolikdvd.com/category/Cult-Favorites/Video-Pirates-Philadelphia-(Cinedelphia)-DVD-(NTSC-All-Region).html Buy Eric Bresler's documentary OTAKU UNITE! http://www.amazon.com/Otaku-Unite-Steven-R-Bennett/dp/B000DZ7XXE/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1463490292&sr=1-1&keywords=otaku+unite Visit Eric Brelser's webite: http://ericbresler.com/

Bill welcomes author J.A. Kerswell onto the show. Kerswell's love for slasher movies inspired him to create the first website devoted to them (Hysteria Lives!), write a book (Teenage Wasteland, aka The Slasher Movie Book), co-host a podcast (The Hysteria Continues), and appear on the bonus features of numerous DVD/Blu-Ray releases for labels like Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow Films and 88 Films. In addition to discussing these endeavors in detail, other topics include growing up in the era of Video Nasties, arthouse/horror hybrids, responding to criticisms, nostalgia among horror fans, and how to prevent one's passion projects from devolving into drudgery. Read J.A. Kerswell's reviews: http://www.hysteria-lives.co.uk/ Buy J.A. Kerswell's book: http://www.amazon.com/Slasher-Movie-Book-J-Kerswell/dp/1556520107 Hear J.A. Kerswell's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hysteria-continues/id418884138?mt=2

Bill speaks to writer/film programmer Travis Crawford about his writing career, underground genre film and music publications, glossier magazines like Fangoria and Film Comment, books like 1001 Films To See Before You Die, and websites like The Calvert Journal. They also discuss Crawford’s popular Danger After Dark festival series, his work with Artsploitation Films, Danny Peary’s Cult Movies, Dario Argento, the depressing state of foreign film distribution, his ill-advised visit to Philadelphia’s Mütter Museum with an iconic horror film director, and more. See Travis Crawford discuss Danger After Dark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64vufXeX5ug Read Travis Crawford on Yury Bykov's THE FOOL:https://www.fandor.com/keyframe/release-me-the-fool Travis Crawford's interviews with Dario Argento, Lars Von Trier and William Friedkin http://filmmakermagazine.com/archives/issues/spring2008/mothertears.php#.VxOE9SMrJPM https://www.fandor.com/keyframe/william-friedkin http://www.moviemaker.com/archives/moviemaking/directing/articles-directing/the-natural-lars-von-trier-on-dogville-2928/ Buy Artsploitation DVDs here:http://www.artsploitationfilms.com/films/