The Establishing Shot

What were the best movies of 2025? What is the state of the movie industry in 2026? Letterboxd being bid on by Netflix, Sony, and others? We talk about all of this after an extended hiatus. Plus, because our best of 2025 talk is so belated, most of the movies should be available to rent or stream or check out at the library!

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support

Guest Info:
Jean-Pierre Boudreaux
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanpierreboudreaux/ 
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/jpboudreaux/

Inhabit Creative Co.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhabitcreativeco/
Website: https://www.inhabitcreative.com/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of 2025 Movies:
https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/2025-ranked/

What makes a great Christmas movie? This is a question we attempt to tackle this week as we review three Christmas movies elected by a few supporters of the show: The Star (2017), Eloise at Christmastime, and Die Hard. Through a brief review of each of these movies, each bringing their own unique Christmas vibes, we are able to see what really makes a good Christmas movie. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, sit back, and relax as you listen to these Christmasmovie reviews and recommendations. Don’t forget to enjoy some movies with friends and family this holiday season!

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of Christmas Movies: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/christmas-movies-ranked/

In this special review/interview episode, we explore Stationed at Home, a new indie film that explores the connection of the cosmic to the everyday life of people in a forgotten town. Following cab driver Ralph as he awaits the passing of the International Space Station across the sky on a cold Christmas Eve, director Daniel Masciari and crew guide us on a journey through spaces and soul of Binghamton, NY. Daniel joins me after a short review to talk about the process of making the film, the influences and inspirations that brought it about, and the deep themes of place and relationships that are hidden beneath the surface of the story. 

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support

Guest Info:
Daniel Masciari, Director of Stationed at Home
Daniel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielvmasciari/

Stationed at Home
Website (w/ links to buy/rent the film): https://www.stationedathome.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stationedathomefilm/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/StationedAtHome
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stationedathomefeaturefilm
Review on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14284376/
Review on Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stationed_at_home
Review on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/stationed-at-home/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Although his career started with a bang as he basically fathered the modern summer blockbuster with Jaws, it hasn’t been without its ups and downs. One thing that you can never take away from him, however, is both his genius behind the camera and his passion for his projects. In this bittersweet episode, we finish our Spielberg series by taking a look back over his entire career after having visited every single one of his films. I share takeaways, some favorite performances, shots, and moments. And I share my final Spielberg rankings.

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of Spielberg Films: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/elis-ranking-of-steven-spielbergs-directorial/ 

Research Resources:
- Steven Spielberg All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short by Arnaud Devillard, Olivier Bousquet, Nicolas Schaller
- Steven Spielberg: A Life in Films by Molly Haskell
- A Companion to Steven Spielberg by Various Authors, edited by Nigel Morris

The horror genre is a beloved one, and it is teeming with multitudes of subgenres. We explore all of these subgenres in this week’s movie draft. From slashers to paranormal to monster movies and more, the exploration of our fears and anxieties are taken on in these various forms. We draft everything from old classic Universal monster movies to modern horror hits and everything in between. 

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Zachary Lee
Website: https://muckrack.com/zachary-lee-4
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/zacharoni22
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/zacharylee.bsky.social
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/zlee729/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
No Film School’s The Ultimate Guide to Horror Subgenres: https://nofilmschool.com/horror-subgenres

Sometimes a new director comes out firing on all cylinders and puts out a great film with their very first feature film. In this week’s movie draft, we explore some great debut films from directors, everyone from Sydney Lumet, Rob Reiner, and even Sam Raimi may get shoutouts amongst other great directors! The main stipulation: no directors with less than 4 films (at the time of recording). As we look to close out our Spielberg series next week, looking back on his films from Duel to The Fabelmans, I thought this would be a fun movie draft to re-release with its own episode.

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Haydn Fabre
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haydnfabre/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/haydnfabre
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/haydnfabre/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of Top 10 Director First Features: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/top-10-director-first-features/

In Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, we get a wonderful gift toward the end of his career. We get a skeleton key that unlocks the reasons behind so much of what we know and love about Spielberg and his storytelling. This film is the culmination of a career in so many ways for Spielberg, and it is truly a key to seeing so many of his films with an even wider scope. Not only that, but we get all the things we love about a Spielberg movie: great child acting, family drama, action, and just great storytelling. We are blessed to have gotten what is surely his most personal film at this point of his life.

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Jeffrey Overstreet
Website: https://www.jeffreyoverstreet.com/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/overstreet.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/overstreetonline/
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/joverstreet/
Pre-Order his new book Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496948/Lost-and-Found-in-the-Cathedral-of-Cinema 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of Spielberg Films: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/elis-ranking-of-steven-spielbergs-directorial/

Movie Musicals used to be a staple of the movie industry, but despite them being far from driving the industry in modern times, we still have plenty of great ones! In this movie draft, we choose from 21st Century movie musicals, a draft inspired by our discussion of Spielberg’s West Side Story (which is the main honorable mention for this one). We take everything from adaptations of stage musical classics to fully original conceptions to our favorite animated musicals. We even discussed which 21st Century movies that are not musicals would be great if adapted to musical form. This one was super fun and made for a lot of great discussion.

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Jean-Pierre Boudreaux
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanpierreboudreaux/
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/jpboudreaux/

Inhabit Creative Co.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhabitcreativeco/
Website: https://www.inhabitcreative.com/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
Top 10 21st Century Movie Musicals: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/top-10-21st-century-movie-musicals/ 

It was a lifelong dream of Spielberg’s to direct a musical movie, and even more specifically, to adapt West Side Story. The question of whether we needed another adaptation of this beloved stage musical is a legitimate one. But with his mastery of staging, composition, camera movement, and visual storytelling, Spielberg makes the case that not only was a new adaptation ok to do but that it was needed. Enhanced by powerhouse performances & new choreography, this is arguably one of Spielberg’s most visually impressive films and maybe even worthy of consideration amongst the best films of his filmography! 

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Jean-Pierre Boudreaux
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanpierreboudreaux/
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/jpboudreaux/

Inhabit Creative Co.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inhabitcreativeco/
Website: https://www.inhabitcreative.com/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
My Letterboxd Ranking of Spielberg Films: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/elis-ranking-of-steven-spielbergs-directorial/ 

Research Resources:
- Steven Spielberg All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short by Arnaud Devillard, Olivier Bousquet, Nicolas Schaller

Motion Capture technology has been around since the late 90s in feature films, starting with Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Spielberg has had his own run of utilizing MoCap in various capacities with The Adventures of Tintin, The BFG, and Ready Player One. In lieu of that, we took the opportunity to do a movie draft where we drafted our favorite MoCap performances. Spoiler: Andy Serkis was of course taken more than once.

https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Feedback:
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a voicemail from the button on the right side of the screen on our website https://www.establishingshotpod.com/

Support the Show:
Join The Establishing Shot Family for early, ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to our Discord server where we talk movies all the time: https://www.establishingshotpod.com/support/

Guest Info:
Andrew Fossier
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/andrewfossier/ 

Follow Eli and the Show:
Eli on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/theeliprice
Eli on Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice
Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EShotPod
Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@establishingshotpod
Show on Facebook: https://facebook.com/establishingshotpod
Show on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/establishingshot.bsky.social
Show on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@establishingshotpod
Show on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@EstablishingShotPod

Other Links:
Top 10 Motion Capture Performances: https://letterboxd.com/eliprice/list/top-10-motion-capture-performances/