Switchblade Sisters

This week we have the amazing writer/director Vicky Jewson (Lady Godiva, Born of War) on the program. Her new film, Close, stars Noomi Rapace as a counter-terrorism expert and bodyguard tasked to protect a wealthy heiress. It's a gritty, intimate action film, and that's why the movie Vicky has chosen to discuss is so apt. This week Vicky will be discussing 2002's, The Bourne Identity. Vicky elaborates on the influence this film had on her, and how the Bourne series has had a huge influence on the current iterations of the Bond movies. Vicky goes in depth on mapping out action sequences and working with stunt coordinators to achieve a spontaneous feel in her film. She also talks about working with Noomi Rapace, and why it was difficult for her to call "cut." Vicky and April also go behind the scenes of The Bourne Identity and outline Doug Liman's career trajectory from indie films to directing an unorthodox blockbuster action film.

You can see Close on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Bourne Identity.

With April Wolfe and Vicky Jewson.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at [email protected].

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky to have on the program this week, cinematographer and director Skye Borgman. Her most recent documentary, Abducted in Plain Sight, follows the story of a young girl in a tight-knit LDS community, who is abducted twice by her neighbor and parent's best friend. It's an intense and serious film, which makes Skye's chosen genre movie all the more interesting. She has decided to discuss 2015's Polish, horror, mermaid musical, The Lure. She and April pinpoint how this film is able to deftly deliver harsh truths about female sexualization within the framework of a mythic fairytale. The two also marvel at the director Agnieszka Smoczynska, and what she was able to do in terms of pushing the limits of the mermaid's fin designs. Skye also touches upon working with the Broberg family on her doc, and how she was able to get them to discuss incredibly difficult subjects like pedophilia and child abuse.

You can see Abducted in Plain Sight on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Lure.

With April Wolfe and Skye Borgman.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at [email protected].

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we slice and dice with writer/director Logan Kibens. She's on the program to discuss Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life. This is one of Logan's favorite films as well, and she explains the philosophical aspects of it that keep her coming back to watch over and over again. She and April point out how this film is a precursor to shows like 'The Good Place.' Logan elaborates on working with actors and getting past the intimidation phase. She discusses convincing people to invest in her first feature, even though she'd never directed one before. Logan also talks about working on that debut feature, Operator, starring Martin Starr and Mae Whitman. Plus, they examine how even though Defending Your Life flopped upon its release, it has endured due to its universal message of living without fear.

You can see Operator on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Defending Your Life.

With April Wolfe and Logan Kibens.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at [email protected].

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got director Jen McGowan (Rust Creek, Kelly & Cal) on the program to discuss Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin. Jen takes April deep into the world of filmmaking as she discusses the concept of "process dictating product." They examine the differences between making films in Europe and the US. They break down the genius of Jonathan Glazer and the exact steps he took to complete this film. Jen explains what it's like pitching as a director for hire. Plus, she and April dissect Scarlett Johansson's risky performance and how she's both sexy and scary at the same time.

You can see Rust Creek in limited theaters and VOD on January 4th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Under the Skin on Netflix.

With April Wolfe and Jen McGowan.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected]

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got writer and director Shaz Bennett on the program to talk about Kathryn Bigelow's classic, Point Break. As Shaz says on the show, this is the movie she most wishes she had directed. She and April also discuss Shaz's newest film, Alaska Is a Drag, which follows an aspiring drag queen turned boxer stuck working at a cannery in Alaska. The two of them dissect the masterful directing of Bigelow during the visceral chase scenes. They look at the unconventional casting of Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. They praise the performance and genius of Lori Petty. And Shaz elaborates on being yourself while directing, and being close to your actors on set. April has a special connection with this film as well, having written a retrospectivefor Rolling Stone last year.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Point Break.

With April Wolfe with Shaz Bennett.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected] Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are so lucky to have on director, actress, and dancer, Delila Vallot. Delila is a prolific worker and has too many credits to list. But some of her films as director include the thriller Tunnel Vision and the documentary Can You Dig This? which won a Jury Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. On this episode she is here to discuss Black Panther. She and April talk about Michael B. Jordan's acting techniques and the effects of going method for a role. They touch upon how director Ryan Coogler was able to take a huge property like Black Panther and still make it personal. And they cover the intentional use of the actor's natural hair in the film and the importance of representing it in media.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Black Panther.

With April Wolfe with Delila Vallot.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected] Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This episode specializes in creepy haunted houses with potentially crazy women living inside them. And who better to have on the show than director and actor, Bridey Elliott. She's on to discuss her new film Clara's Ghost. Her film features Bridey's own mother, Paula Niedert Elliott, playing Clara, an isolated woman who begins seeing a ghost around the house. And appropriately, the film Bridey chose to discuss today is Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis. Davis' character Charlotte also believes she's seeing ghosts in her family's plantation home. These movies work well together thematically as they both touch upon paranoia, disbelief of women, and a real confusion on who is actually going crazy. Bridey talks about making her new film with her entire family, including her mother who had never acted before. She even shares a story about how she was able to shoot a scene with a naked woman walking around her childhood neighborhood. April and she also discuss the history of Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, all the behind the scenes drama, and how this is a feminist film.

Check out Clara's Ghost in theaters and streaming.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

With April Wolfe with Bridey Elliott.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected] Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a truly fascinating conversation on this week's episode with 'Dirty John' showrunner Alexandra Cunningham. Her new show is based upon the wildly popular LA Times true crime podcast of the same name. It deals with deception, seduction, and intrigue. These are all themes found in the film that Alexandra chose to discuss, the 1945 technicolor noir classic Leave Her to Heaven. As 'Dirty John' deals with the mind of a manipulative conman, Alexandra has become somewhat of an expert on the mindset of villains. And she has some enlightening words on Gene Tierney's coldhearted Ellen in Leave Her to Heaven. Alex comes from a playwriting background and explains how she learned to show rather than to tell. April and she dissect the famous drowning scene in the film. And Alex has a fascinating story about working for a suicide hotline, and reveals how sometimes the scariest things happen in the light of day.

Check out Dirty John on Bravo.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Leave Her to Heaven.

With April Wolfe with Alexandra Cunningham.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected] Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A great new episode coming your way with the director of the new road comedy The Long Dumb Road, Hannah Fidell. Her film follows the sheltered Nat (played by Tony Revolori) as he drives cross country to attend art school in Los Angeles. On his way he picks up a hitchhiker (played by Jason Mantzoukas) who shakes up Nat's close minded worldview.

The movie that Hannah has chosen to discuss this week is Michael Haneke's Funny Games. She sort of picks both the American and Austrian version since they are almost perfectly identical films. April calls Hannah's own film The Long Dumb Road a comedic Funny Games, since both deal with an intruder breaking the unwritten rules of politeness and social decency. Hannah and April really dig into the genius of Haneke and his masterful filmmaking. They elaborate on how Funny Gamesis eerily prescient in its prediction of the emergence of "alt-right trolls." April also reveals that this movie was somewhat born out of Haneke's hatred for Natural Born Killers and how this Austrian film was really intended for American audiences.

Check out The Long Dumb Road streaming now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Funny Games, either the Austrian or the American version.

With April Wolfe with Hannah Fidell

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected] Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

In this season of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for our wonderful guest this week. We've got the writer and producer of the new film Cam, Isa Mazzei. We're so excited about having her on the show that we dropped the episode a day early! She's on the program to talk about the much under appreciated Jennifer's Body. Isa is a former camgirl herself and discusses the expertise she brought in creating her film. She also discusses her role on set and how she needed to direct some scenes to maintain the female gaze. She and April also discuss Jennifer's Body and how it subverts the expectations of a teen comedy. They elaborate on the role of director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody and the results of having an all female creative team. This a great episode and one that should be recommended to your in-laws over Thanksgiving dinner.

Check out Cam, now streaming on Netflix.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Jennifer's Body on HBO Go.

With April Wolfe with Isa Mazzei.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at [email protected]

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.