A writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, today's guest Duncan Birmingham was an executive producer and screenwriter for IFC's MARON and also served as a co-executive producer and writer on the Starz series BLUNT TALK as well. Additionally, Duncan's short films have premiered at such festivals as Sundance and AFI, and his screenplay SWINGLES, which was bought by Paramount, was also on The Black List. Recently, his lively, irreverent short-story collection THE CULT IN MY GARAGE was published by Maudlin House in 2021, & last year, he wrapped & released his excellent first feature-length film as a writer-director called WHO INVITED THEM.

Having joined me in 2022 for one of my favorite conversations devoted to director Hal Ashby in the fifth episode of the third season, he's back for the fifth episode of the fourth to discuss writer-director Noah Baumbach's career over the decades & the films KICKING AND SCREAMING, THE SQUID & THE WHALE, GREENBERG, FRANCES HA, & MARRIAGE STORY.

Note: If you hear me blank on things a bit more than usual in this episode, it's because I was battling an unrelenting sinus infection but was determined to power through & have an analytical conversation about outstanding talky indies with Duncan, who was coming off of the tail end of a bad cold himself! 'Tis the season! Nonetheless, it's a very rich discussion for fans of the filmmaker's work wherein we assessed recurring themes, compared the ways in which newer films & characters commented on past ones, & celebrated Baumbach's rich collaborators as well.

Theme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

Logo: KateGabrielle.com

Originally Posted on Patreon (3/16/23) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/80110999