That's a Wrap! Film, Media and Culture. Academic yet accessible.

Episode #16 In their year-ending episode, Erik, Nick and Chris discuss Paul Schrader’s The Canyons from every possible angle. The film polarized critics yet was appreciated by scholars and cinephiles. In segment 2, the guys discuss their favorite episodes and moments over the maiden year of the podcast. Finally, Erik Marshall, Nicholas Schlegel and Christopher Gullen … Continue reading Episode #16 – The Canyons →

Episode #15 In this special episode, Erik, Nick and Chris have a roundtable with Mike White and Rob St. Mary, hosts of the fantastic The Projection Booth podcast. The guys all discuss the question on whether or not film is still relevant. Over the last decade, technological, social, economic and aesthetic changes have forced filmmakers, studios, … Continue reading Episode #15 – Roundtable Discussion with The Projection Booth →

Episode #14 In Segment One of this epsiode, Erik, Nick and Chris talk about the MPAA ratings system, and specifically the film This Film is Not Yet Rated directed by Kirby Dick. The film (and our discussion) focuses heavily on the rather uneven and mysterious ratings criteria for Hollywood films and the fact that the MPAA … Continue reading Episode #14 – MPAA ratings/This Film is Not Yet Rated and Foreign Films to Watch →

Supplemental Episode Erik and Nick were impressed by Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity.  In fact, they’ve dedicated a supplemental episode between shows 13 and 14 to this box-office monster and critical darling.  In many ways, Gravity presents a possible model or methodology that Hollywood could and should take seriously.  The film’s narrative simplicity – with its focus on … Continue reading Gravity (2013) – A “That’s a Wrap” Special Episode →

Episode #13 Note:  We had severe audio difficulties that were unknown to us until we were in post.  As a result, we have had to makes some edits to the content.  We sincerely apologize for this calamity and are taking measures to ensure that this does not happen again. 2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of … Continue reading Episode #13 – 007 James Bond Special & Skyfall Revisited →

Episode #12 Join us in welcoming Ian Olney, Associate Professor of English at York College, to That’s a Wrap this week to discuss a particular brand of horror that many (even fans of the genre) are unfamiliar with: Euro Horror.  Ian discusses the origins of this movement in Europe, it’s key characteristics, major films and lack … Continue reading Episode #12 – Interview with Ian Olney: Euro Horror Special →

Episode #11 In this episode we talk about the career of Woody Allen, including his new film Blue Jasmine. We each choose a favorite film as well films we think someone new to Woody Allen should watch. After stipulating that Annie Hall is the ideal entry point, we came up with second movies for newbies … Continue reading Episode #11 – Woody Allen/Blue Jasmine →

Episode #10 Our RATINGSPALOOZA podcast drops today with our very special guest, Robert Burgoyne, Chair of the Department of Film Studies at St. Andrews, Scotland. Bob’s work centers on historiography and film, with a special emphasis on American cinema, history and national identity, and the counter narratives of nation that have emerged in many films.  … Continue reading Episode #10 – Special Guest: Robert Burgoyne →

Episode #9 We explore two lengthy topics in our 9th episode of That’s a Wrap!  Principal photography begins with part one of a two-part series on film pedagogy.  Erik, Nick and Chris discuss their various approaches to teaching film in past years, today and well into the future.  They discuss, among other things, the importance … Continue reading Episode #9 – Back To School: Teaching Film & Man of Steel →

Episode #8 Do you recall the days when spectacle-driven “event” cinema was the exception, not the rule?  Mid and low-concept minded films have been an endangered species over the years… This is not to say that we don’t have films to counter this increasingly stupid strategy (Erik and I just went and saw, and podcasted … Continue reading Episode #8 – State of Cinema →