For film editor Kristi Shimek, assembling a movie is a bit like working with a giant puzzle: you have to place all of the pieces perfectly. Each shot needs to help achieve the goal of the story, all of the sequences must flow seamlessly, and no detail can afford to be overlooked.
Continue reading “‘Invitation to a Murder’ Editor Kristi Shimek on Crafting a Successful Murder Mystery”
They say that shooting a movie means collecting footage, but editing a movie makes it a film. Ok, that’s not an actual quote from anywhere, I just made it up. But doesn’t make it any less true. The editing process is actually where a movie finds itself. And for director Olivia Wilde’s head-trip, Don’t Worry Darling, you need a strong editor to bring to life the nightmarish fever dream poor Florence Pugh must fight through. That’s where Affonso Goncalves comes in!
Continue reading “Editing the Dystopian World of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ with Affonso Goncalves”
Quinn Shephard wrote and directed Not Okay, which is meant to serve as a mix of cautionary tale and social satire. The new dark comedy is now streaming on Hulu.
Continue reading “Writer/Director Quinn Shephard Talks Her New Film, ‘Not Okay’”
Pixar may be known for its originals, but the animation studio has also produced a few sequels and prequels for its unforgettable films. While the Toy Story films may have given us a glimpse at Woody’s history, Lightyear serves as the definitive origins story for the brave space ranger that we all know and love. But rather than follow the character as a toy, the spinoff is presented to us as one of Andy’s favorite Sci-Fi films. As such, director Angus MacLane assembled a group of talented artists to achieve that cinematic look and feel that one gets when watching a Sci-Fi movie like Star Wars and Aliens.
Continue reading “Pixar’s Approach to Making ‘Lightyear’ a Sci-Fi Epic”
In 1995, Disney•Pixar would release the first of four Toy Story films, not to mention countless other shorts and TV specials, making them the premier animation studio. And throughout these films, we’ve seen Woody and Buzz in all sorts of adventures. Though we’ve seen glimpses of “Woody’s Roundup,” the show that inspired the cowboy doll Andy played with, Buzz’s story remained untold. That is until Pixar decided to make Lightyear, an all-new Sci-Fi epic adventure that would be the movie Andy watched in 1995.
Continue reading “Pixar’s NASA Research Trip Helped Influence the Look and Feel of ‘Lightyear’”
Time is a construct of which we are all familiar. It’s the universal truth that there is simply never enough of it. Which makes it the perfect theme for Pixar’s Lightyear. Billed as their first Sci-Fi epic, the Toy Story spinoff is an origins story — and film that Andy watched as a kid — for the title character who accidentally maroon’s his entire crew on an uninhabited planet.
Continue reading “‘Lightyear’ Artisans on Film’s Themes and Achieving the IMAX Experience”
The Adam Project was directed by Shawn Levy. He also serves as one of the film’s producers. The new heartfelt time-traveling adventure is now streaming on Netflix!
Continue reading “Director and Producer Shawn Levy Talks ‘The Adam Project’”
Today, our friends at CAPE have announced they are teaming up with Janet Yang Productions to launch the inaugural Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge.
Continue reading “CAPE’s Short Film Challenge for AAPI Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers”
Created by Jordanian creator Tima Shomali, AlRawabi School for Girls is a devastatingly excellent series on Netflix exploring the dynamics of a Jordanian high school. What causes these girls to escalate their psychological wars on each other? How does this series do at exploring some of the systemic patriarchal problems in Middle Eastern societies? We discuss all of that and why we love this series.
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks 30: ‘AlRawabi School for Girls’ Makes ‘Mean Girls’ Look Like Cotton Candy”
Matt Dillon’s film career has spanned over three decades. The actor has starred in over 50 films such as The Outsiders, Drugstore Cowboy, There’s Something about Mary, Crash, and The House that Jack Built. In 2003, he co-wrote and made his directorial film debut with City of Ghosts. Dillon’s new documentary El Gran Fellove recently had its North American Premiere Screening at the Telluride Film Festival.
Continue reading “NOC Interview: Matt Dillon on His Documentary Film, ‘El Gran Fellove’”
Ferdosa joins us to discuss the Netflix documentary Lift Like a Girl! How well did this documentary do at showcasing the weightlifting journey of Asmaa and her team, and the depiction of everyday Egyptians? What could it have done better? We also discuss the exciting news that Black Palestinian writer and actor Yassir Lester will be the head writer of the upcoming MCU series Armor Wars, and speculate on what that might mean for the MCU’s penchant for military propaganda. Enjoy listening!
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 29: ‘Lift Like a Girl’ and an MCU Assessment”
Palestinian historian and scholar N.A. Mansour joins us to discuss the situation in Palestine, where the situation stands now, how pop culture plays into the dehumanization of Palestinians, and what you can do to help and learn more about Palestinian people and their struggles. We also discuss all of Loki Season 1! What did we like about the series, and what themes resonated with us? Where could it have done better in areas? We also give our recommendations, and much more!
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 28: Palestine in Pop Culture and ‘Loki’”
The last several years have seen numerous fallouts from Hollywood industry titans with regard to representation and the arts. NBC cancelling the 2022 Golden Globes amid the problems the HFPA essentially created for itself is a reminder of the strides still to be had for the industry. Enter Raeshem Nijhon, executive producer and founder at Culture House, a black, brown, and women-owned premium film and TV production company.
Continue reading “Culture House’s Raeshem Nijhon Talks About the Importance of Representation”
This month, we’re reviewing not one, but TWO series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+, and Nasim Pedrad’s Chad on TBS! What did we think of the overall series and finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? How well did it handle the sociopolitical and geopolitical themes it tried to tackle? How did Chad do a good job at presenting a normal Iranian American family, and what did we make of the cringe humor style? We also discuss some VERY exciting castings of MENA actors for the Black Adam film, give our recommendations, and much more!
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 25: The Falcon, The Winter Soldier, and… Chad”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with Screenwriter/Producer/Novelist/Actor, Geoffrey Thorne to discuss his latest comics work on DC Comics’ Green Lantern!
“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape Geoffrey’s sight.
Continue reading “NOC Exclusive Interview: Writer, Geoffrey Thorne on DC Comics’ Green Lantern!”
We’re joined once again by the wonderful Arezou to discuss and review the entirety of Marvel’s WandaVision on Disney+! What did we think the series did well, and what were areas it could have improved upon? How well did it do at exploring themes of love and grief? What do we think it says about the future of the MCU, and the standard it sets for character development and exploration going forward? We answer all that and more in this spoiler-packed installment of The Middle Geeks!
Spoilers for all of WandaVision throughout this episode
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 24: ‘WandaVision’ Review”
Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a Zoom conversation with a great friend & comedian, Glenn Lawrence of Level Up Comedy! Learn what led him to bring the laughs to the people, his love for Filmmaking and Philadelphia and why… he just has to say something!
Continue reading “NOC Exclusive Interview: Comedian, Glenn Lawrence of Level Up Comedy”
We’re back with a LOT to discuss. Joining us is a prolific cosplayer, streamer, and friend, Jasmin! We discuss Jasmin’s cosplaying and how the cosplay community has been doing in quarantine. We also discuss the announcement of a queer Ramadan rom-com coming out next month, highlights of the MCU announcements from last week, and how MENA people are WINNING as directors for Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight, why we’re so excited for these series, and our thoughts on the castings (and on the ones that are controversial), and discuss Netflix’s Mosul as our movie of the month. Enjoy!
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 20: Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and Mosul”
This month we’re joined by filmmaker Shahab Zargari to discuss Netflix’s new supernatural series Paranormal, a supernatural drama set in Egypt, with a story actually told by Egyptians! We’re excited to dive into this overall excellent show. We also interview Shahab on his filmmaking career and what drives his art, discuss the roller coaster of recent Arrowverse news and what it says about DCTV moving forward, and give our recommendations. Also, we have a very special announcement!
Continue reading “The Middle Geeks Episode 19: ‘Paranormal’ Activity in Egypt (on Netflix)”
To countdown to the release of Frozen II, we are providing all of you with an inside look at the making of the movie, as well as interviews with the filmmakers and artists who worked incredibly hard to bring Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and, of course, Olaf to life. Last week we brought you just a sampling of what’s to come with a first look and panel discussion with directors Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck, and producer Peter Del Vecho. This week we’re excited to reveal another new sneak peek at the magic to come!
Continue reading “Breaking the Ice: Evolving the Story of ‘Frozen II’”
A version of this interview originally appeared at Melancholyball.com.
The second season of Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger premiered last week on Freeform; graciously returning for a fresh new interview is filmmaker Jennifer Phang, who directed S2’s premiere episode “Restless Energy.” (My earlier chats with Phang on her work on Cloak & Dagger and The Expanse can be found here and here.) Continue reading “Interview With ‘Cloak & Dagger’ Director Jennifer Phang”
Byron Yee, a first-time filmmaker, grew up in Oklahoma, moved to San Francisco to pursue stand up comedy, and later headed to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Getting tired of waiting for Hollywood to create interesting roles for someone like him, Yee decided to write his own film. His new release, The Aliens, is a film about a UFO believer who must choose between the aliens above he has never seen or the mysterious guide who appears at his campsite week after week.
Continue reading “Interview with Byron Yee, Filmmaker of The Aliens“
