The Cinematic Schematic is back to our normally scheduled programming with a review of “the first film in the trilogy that will conclude the Fast and Furious Saga.” That’s right ladies and gentlemen, today we are taking on F9: The Fast Saga. Like all great heists, reviewing something of this scale requires a crew. After years of off-mic movie conversations, all roads have been leading to a review of a proper Fast and Furious movie with award-winning filmmaker, Laron Chapman, first time guest from KJYO-FM, Jason Black, and returning guest Brock Lay who Tokyo drifts right back to the show after his recent debut in our review of Mortal Kombat. Twenty years after the release of The Fast and the Furious, the ninth entry continues to take the saga to even more outrageous heights. When the characters aren’t Spider-man thwipping their cars from cliff to cliff or catching their fallen squad mates on the hoods of their vehicles, they are usually acting out the most expensive soap opera ever made. After all of these years, how could there possibly be any fuel left in the tank, especially without the star power of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham? It turns […]

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It’s the final day of deadCenter 2021 and we couldn’t close out the festival without a talk about a film in one of our favorite genres, sci-fi. Longtime listeners know that we are fans of larger-than-life ideas with a personal perspective, and few films playing at this year’s festival encompassed those words more than Between Waves, a sharp science fiction film with an emotional story at its core. The film touches on a number of topics including mental health, alternate dimensions, and grief. To learn more about what inspired the film’s ambitious, personal, and character-driven premise, we’re joined by Between Waves director, co-writer and co-producer, Virginia Abramovich. Listen to today’s conversation and check out Between Waves at the deadCenter virtual cinema before the festival concludes tonight. Special Guest Virginia Abramovich, Between Waves writer/director/producer The official deadCenter 2021 synopsis describes Between Waves as: After his disappearance, Jamie pursues her missing lover through parallel dimensions until she collides with a shattering revelation. This is a cerebral, fast-paced science fiction story, with romantic longing at its core. A visually beautiful film wrapped in shades of blue with highlights of sea green. Follow The Cinematic Schematic Podcast Hear all of this and more of our past […]

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As the deadCenter 2021 Film Festival begins to wind down, we’re highlighting some of our favorite gems from this year’s schedule. Among the huge array of short films playing is a documentary titled “Sardis,” a story preserving a forgotten piece of Oklahoma history. If you’re from Oklahoma and have never heard of the town of Sardis, you’re not alone. Similar to the Tulsa Race Massacre(until recently), the tragic story is rarely discussed in state history classes. To learn more about what inspired the short film and why it’s an essential piece of Oklahoma history, we spoke with the short film’s writer/director, Colleen Thurston. Tune in to today’s conversation and check out “Sardis” at the deadCenter virtual cinema before the festival concludes tomorrow evening. More information about Thurston’s upcoming “Drowned Land” can be found at redfordcenter.org. Special Guest Colleen Thurston, writer/director of “Sardis” The official deadCenter 2021 synopsis describes “Sardis” as: Deep in the Choctaw Nation, a picturesque lake hosts an unusual sight: an island populated by rows of headstones. This cemetery floating in a man-made lake is the last relic of what was the town of Sardis, Oklahoma. Follow The Cinematic Schematic Podcast Hear all of this and more of our past […]

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The deadCenter Film Festival is hosted here in the heart of Oklahoma, but thanks to last year’s virtual cinema that was launched as part of the festival’s COVID-19-minded approach, the scope of the audience expanded far beyond just the sooner state.  Last year, more than 40,000 people attended deadCenter Film Festival virtually, with audiences watching from 42 states and 24 countries. One pair of attendees in 2020 were the hosts of The Furloughed Film Talks, a Dallas-based podcast dedicated to the latest movie news and reviews along with weekly special guests to discuss and debate the present and future of the film industry. In today’s deadCenter 2021 Film Festival conversation we’ll be joined by the Kelly brothers to discuss their deadCenter 2021 experience including their favorite films, most memorable experiences, and what they hope to see more of from the festival in the future. Special Guests Alex and Ryan Kelly, hosts of the Furloughed Film Talks podcast Follow The Cinematic Schematic Podcast Hear all of this and more of our past and future episodes by subscribing to The Cinematic Schematic on your preferred podcast app and leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts! Like The Cinematropolis on Facebook Follow The Cinematropolis on Twitter and Instagram @thecinematrop

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Between out-of-state projects like the Killers of the Flower Moon, Minari, Reagan, Reservation Dogs, and Stillwater, and homegrown projects like Mickey Reece’s Agnes and Kyle Kauwika Harris’s Out of Exile, Oklahoma seems to be in the middle of a boom in film and TV productions. Thanks to increasing tax incentives, new talent development programs from the Oklahoma Film and TV Academy, larger sound stages from Green Pastures Studio and Prarie Surf Media, and top-notch emerging talent, both behind and in front of the camera, Oklahoma continues to carve out its place as one of the top states in the country for making film and television. Earlier this year, MovieMaker Magazine named both Oklahoma City and Tulsa among its Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2021. In today’s exclusive deadCenter 2021 keynote conversation, we’re joined by an incredible panel of leaders working in the Oklahoma film and television industry including the Oklahoma Film+Music Office’s Tava Sofsky, Green Pastures Studio’s Melodie Garneau, and Oklahoma filmmaker, Cassie Gann, to talk with us about what’s driving the exciting momentum in increased film and TV productions in our state.  Don’t miss this deadCenter 2021 keynote conversation to hear unique insights into […]

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The deadCenter 2021 film festival has always had a knack for finding the most memorable and emotionally satisfying documentaries of each year. In 2021, the festival played the heartwarming We Are Thousand, a story about amateur musicians gathering together in an Italian village to pay tribute to the Foo Fighters, and also Questlove’s upcoming documentary, Summer of Soul, which immortalizes 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, among many others. Today’s featured documentary is no exception because, in virtual space, nobody can hear you laugh. Today’s exclusive deadCenter 2021 Film Festival Conversation conversation dives into one of the festival’s most exciting documentaries for any self-respecting cinephile, Alien on Stage. I’m joined by the storytellers who followed the amateur production of Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien, Danielle Kummer, and Lucy Harvey, to learn more about what inspired the troupe to adapt the classic sci-fi horror for the stage. The film is playing as part of the deadCenter 2021 virtual film festival until Sunday, June 20th at 11:45 PM CST. More information about Alien on Stage can be found on the website, alienonstagedoc.com. Special Guests Danielle Kummer, director/editor of Alien on Stage Follow Danielle on Twitter @daniellekummer Lucy Harvey, director/producer of Alien on Stage The official […]

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The deadCenter Film Festival is a place for all types of stories including the short stories found in music videos. One of the festival’s most notable short films playing at this year’s festival in the SHORTS: OKIE 1 block is the music video, “Jabee: Hope.” Last year, Oklahoma City hip hop artist Jabee released his new album, “This World Is So Fragile And Cruel I’m Glad I Got You.” When considering how to best adapt the music for a video, he pitched the song “Hope” to his collaborator and award-winning casting director, Chris Freihofer, who created a treatment before stepping into the role of director for the music video. Jabee and Freihofer partnered with Windswept Media and WeerNProduction to shoot the video, and by September of 2020, had completed the project. In today’s exclusive deadCenter 2021 conversation on The Cinematic Schematic, I talk with Jabee and Freihofer about the autobiographical story behind the music and how Freihofer highlighted OKC’s unique setting to match Jabee’s vision. You can catch the video playing at Rodeo Cinema today or in deadCenter’s Virtual Cinema until the festival’s conclusion on Sunday, June 20th at 11:45 PM CST. Special Guests Jabee Musical artist, Emmy Award winner, […]

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Guests: Ben Tefera, writer/director of Feel So Good Slyrex, co-producer, co-editor, sound designer and composer of Feel So Good Ben Stillwell White, co-producer, cinematographer, and co-editor of Feel So Good Grayson Dunn, star of Feel So Good deadCenter has long been a platform for homegrown Oklahoma films from storytellers who are dedicated to a high concept with a compelling vision. In this year’s festival, few filmmakers carry this auteur’s spirit more than Bad Faith, the collective of artists including Ben Tefera, Slyrex, Ben Stillwell White, Grayson Dunn, who are behind one of this year’s most noteworthy Oklahoma narrative features, Feel So Good. In today’s exclusive deadCenter 2021 Film Festival conversation, I speak with the members of Bad Faith about what inspired the film’s unique premise. Feel So Good is holding its world premiere tonight as part of deadCenter at the Oklahoma Museum of Art at 8 PM CST. It will also be available as part of the deadCenter 2021 virtual film festival starting on Saturday, June 12th at 3 PM CST.  According to the deadCenter 2021 schedule, Feel So Good is described as: A desperate hypnotist uses a young woman to unknowingly perform crimes, leaving her with strained relationships and […]

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Today kicks off the beginning of the 2021 deadCenter Film Festival week for filmgoers around the state of Oklahoma. To give listeners and pass holders a tease of what they can expect, The Cinematic Schematic is joined by the deadCenter film festival director of operations, Miranda Patton, and deadCenter features programmer, Kevin Ely, to help you make your plans ahead of the Thursday, June 10th opening night. How will the virtual festival work? What about the in-person events or special outdoor screenings? What are the most essential short film blocks to check out? In today’s 2021 deadCenter sneak peek, you’ll get all of the tips and information you need to start building out your schedule ahead of the festival’s June 10th opening night film, How It Ends, playing at The Winchester Drive-in at 7 PM CST. We’ll also talk about other of the must-see films of this year’s festival including Alien on Stage and Agnes, before closing out our exclusive conversation with Patton and Ely with a few insider tips and tricks to consider once you’ve purchased your pass or ticket. Passes and individual tickets are on sale now! Special Guests Miranda Patton deadCenter director of operations+festival Kevin Ely deadCenter […]

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Our exclusive coverage of the deadCenter 2021 film festival continues on The Cinematic Schematic with an interview featuring the president and CEO of the Inasmuch Foundation and producer of “A Long Road to Liberty,” Bob Ross, and the short film’s writer/director, Bryan Beasley. In this deadCenter 2021 Film Festival podcast conversation, Ross and Beasley join the show to discuss the story behind the making of “A Long Road to Liberty” and why this retrospective of Oklahoma’s African American history is more essential today than it has even been.  The short film will become available through deadCenter’s virtual film festival to Oklahoma pass holders only on Monday, June 14th until the festival’s conclusion. deadCenter 2021 film festival passes are on sale now! Special Guests Bob Ross, president and CEO of the Inasmuch Foundation Producer of “A Long Road to Liberty“ Follow Bob’s work at the Inasmuch Foundation at inasmuchfoundation.org Bryan Beasley, film director Writer/Director of “A Long Road to Liberty“ Follow Bryan at BryanBeasley.com The official deadCenter 2021 synopsis reads: “A Long Road To Liberty” is a retrospective history of the African American experience in the state of Oklahoma. Referencing such touchstones as; The 1st Kansas at the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs, Black Wall […]

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