Today we’re back in the studio with a classic Ray and Jordan episode. We read pages 21-22 and discuss unforgivable protagonists, lead characters who defy traditional story conventions, as well as the laws of man and the almighty. They function as a sort of off-ramp for audiences, which isn’t often what you want from a main character. What makes them so unforgivable and why can’t they just save the cat? The answers may surprise you!

Coens covered: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs/Near Algodones (shorts), The Ladykillers, Intolerable Cruelty, Inside Llewyn Davis

Plus: Matewan

In today’s episode, recorded live at Dunkunsthalle in a roundtable study group format, we discuss teamwork in the Coens’ films. Sequences where three or more characters form a coalition and try to accomplish something together. 

Coens covered: Hail, Caesar!; O Brother Where Art Thou; Inside Llewyn Davis; True Grit; The Big Lebowski

Thank you to Austin Purnell for co-hosting, JT Anderson for photography, and all of our guests for their participation and insights: Eva, Jon, Briana, Cole, David, Eric, Moses, JT, Anonymous

Special Thanks: Rachel Rossin, Briana Griffin, Sam Geller, Jeff Delauter, Ben Hosley

In this live episode we bring you the Q&A from our screening of Ben Brewer’s astonishing short film A Folded Ocean at Dunkunsthalle.

If you’d like to watch A Folded Ocean online it is streaming for one week on the Dunkunsthalle site!

Stream A Folded Ocean now through 5/16!

Special Thanks

Rachel Rossin, Jeff Delauter, Sam Geller, Ben Hosley

Today’s episode is mega! We’re joined by amazing filmmaker and VFX artist Ben Brewer. We read pages 17-18 and break down sequences in the Coens’ films that feature eye-popping—and potentially budget-breaking—special effects. We analyze what makes an effects shot “work”, and the crucial story context that that entails. We also dive into Ben’s mind-blowing short film A FOLDED OCEAN and hear about his work on The Daniels’ chart-topping and Oscar-winning EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE which took the world by storm in 2022.

Coens covered: The Hudsucker Proxy, O Brother Where Art Thou, A Serious Man, Hail Caesar

LIVE EVENT THIS THURSDAY!!! If you want to see A FOLDED OCEAN for yourself, please join us at Dunkunsthalle on Thursday May 4th at 730pm. Discussion and Q+A with Ben to follow. You don’t wanna miss this.

Dunkunsthalle
64 Fulton St
New York, NY
10038

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For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me

Today we're so excited to be joined by our dear friend, composer and musician, Dan Romer. We read pages 15-16 and discuss Dan's unique, POV-driven approach to composing scores for films and TV shows. Then we freefall through this week's prism: it's all about moments in Coens films when the tone shifts radically. Along the way we read from Carter Burwell's notes on how the films and their scores came together.

Coens covered: Fargo, The Man Who Wasn't There, Intolerable Cruelty, The Big Lebowski

For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me

On this episode we’re joined by one of our favorite filmmakers, Emily Kai Bock. We read pages 13-14 and analyze five action sequences that careen between do-or-die realism and out-and-out phantasmagoria.

Coens covered: No Country for Old Men, True Grit, Raising Arizona, The Ladykillers, A Serious Man

For more of Emily’s work visit emilykaibock.com.

Afterlife music video.

A Funeral for Lightning short film.

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All things TTWS at tothewhitesea.me

In this bonus live episode we bring you the Q&A from Xander Robin - Mutations in Nature: Hidden Florida Movies, an evening of short films, sizzle reels, and discussion at Dunkunsthalle.

Watch Lance Lizardi on Vimeo.

Watch Are We Not Cats on Tubi.

Event Producer + Audio Engineer: Sam Geller

Special Thanks

Rachel Rossin, Jeff Delauter, Danny Garfield, Ben Hosley

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We’re thrilled to bring you today’s episode and today’s guest, filmmaker Xander Robin. We read pages 11-12 and stare into the unknown through a fractured prism of glints, glimpses and glimmers.

Please join us at Dunkunsthalle for Xander Robin - Mutations in Nature: Hidden Florida Movies. It’s going to be amazing; don’t miss it!

Coens covered: Lebowski, No Country, A Serious Man, Llewyn Davis

Plus: Are We Not Cats, Deliverance, Chillin' Island, Rear Window, The Vanishing, Memoria

Like the show? Buy some merch! tothewhitesea.me

In our first bonus episode we bring you the Q&A from our live screening of Z Behl's film Geppetto 2.0 at Dunkunsthalle. Featuring writer/director Z Behl and producer Julia Simpson.

Watch Geppetto 2.0 at the following link: https://vimeo.com/432671444

Event Producer + Audio Engineer: Sam Geller

Special Thanks

Rachel Rossin, Joey Frank, Jeff Delauter, Ben Hosley

Today we welcome our first ever guest to the TTWS study group, artist and filmmaker Z Behl. We read pages 9-10, and then take a deep dive into this week’s theme—Help Me—scenes where Coens characters ask for help. Do they get it? You’ll have to listen and find out.

We have another live event coming up we’re super excited about. Next week filmmaker Xander Robin will be our guest on the show, and on Thursday April 13 at 730pm he'll be screening some never-before-seen short films at Dunkunsthalle at 64 Fulton St. in Manhattan. Come through, see the films, and join the Q+A :)