Back by Popular Demand with Dennis Camlek
From movie theatre usher to accomplished executive, Dennis Camlek channeled his childhood passion for movies into a career in entertainment marketing. Each episode finds Dennis joined by industry thought leaders and content creators to discuss their own passions and achievements, while also addressing topical issues shaping today’s media landscape. Who knew mopping movie theatre floors would lead to this? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
June 20, 2025 • 104 mins
Fifty years ago producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown handed the directing reins of a best-selling novel to a young, upcoming filmmaker named Steven Spielberg. Moviegoers, the motion picture industry, and the country at large had no idea what was in store. An unprecedented release - and a critical and commercial triumph - “Jaws” has endured for decades and will forever remain part of the cultural conversation. Jim Camlek and his...
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May 23, 2025 • 108 mins
Several weeks into production of "Back to the Future," screenwriter Bob Gale and director Robert Zemeckis had a huge problem: Eric Stoltz was not giving them the performance their Spielberg backed film desperately needed. Enter budding star Michael J. Fox, the actor they wanted from the beginning. Literally working around the clock, Fox spent his days portraying television's Alex P. Keaton and his nights as time traveling teen Mart...
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May 17, 2025 • 95 mins
A love letter bidding farewell to the 'Golden Age of Cinema,' Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" revisits a world you fully want to live in. A magnificent recreation - and readjustment - of how things both were and should have been. One could even argue that this fascinating intersection of movie history and human history should have been the last film of Tarantino's outstanding career. Ruth Metzger joins Dennis ...
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April 27, 2025 • 80 mins
A richly deserved Pulitzer cemented the legacy of David Mamet's 1983 play "Glengarry Glen Ross," but that legacy evolved during the opening minutes of James Foley's 1992 film adaptation. Alec Baldwin's memorable monologue (a scene Mamet wrote specifically for the screenplay) coupled with a murderers' row of actors, catapulted the film into a highly quoted cult classic. Media veteran Jason Wagenheim joins Dennis to discuss what it t...
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April 7, 2025 • 97 mins
In 1984 a trusted production executive desperately tried to convince Clint Eastwood to pass on “The Cut-Whore Killing,” stressing that the screenplay was not worth his time. Eastwood placed it in a drawer, but not because of the material; only during the latter phase of his career did he feel he could earn the right to properly deconstruct the western genre. Released in 1992, “Unforgiven” would go on to win Oscars for Best Picture,...
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March 16, 2025 • 91 mins
The legend of Bill Murray is real. He doesn't do contracts. If you want to work with him, you leave a message on his 1-800 number and hope he calls you back. Writer and director Sofia Coppola had no idea if he would arrive on set of "Lost in Translation." Lucky for them, he did; they were both nominated for Oscars, and her script won. Writer, film lover and media executive Laura Lubrano joins Dennis to discuss why this story of lon...
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December 26, 2024 • 86 mins
It's hard to fathom that studio execs were initially reluctant to cast Eddie Murphy in 1983's "Trading Places." It only became the fourth highest grossing film of the year and catapulted the actor to massive global stardom (and a lucrative five picture deal at Paramount). The movie also reignited Dan Aykroyd's career and opened many new doors for Jamie Lee Curtis. Channeling his inner Winthorpe, Rob Bohn returns to the pod and join...
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November 24, 2024 • 92 mins
Filmmaker John Hughes was a master of the human condition, his characters always felt rich in authenticity. After a string of acclaimed teen films, he set his sights on adults in 1987's "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," a heartfelt road comedy about the horrors of holiday travel. Steve Cozzolino returns to the show and joins Dennis to savor the comic flavors of this Thanksgiving feast. Remember, when you're telling your little st...
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October 31, 2024 • 94 mins
“Saturday Night Live” made Chevy Chase a star and after one season he left the show to chase fame and fortune on the big screen. After a string of hits and misses, it would take him nearly a decade to find the role he was born to play - Irwin M. Fletcher, investigative journalist in the 1985 comedy “Fletch.” Laced with razor sharp wit and breezy, deadpan charm, the film harnessed Chase’s superb improv skills and delivered the most ...
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September 26, 2024 • 91 mins
Few filmmakers left a greater mark in the 1980’s than the late John Hughes. A student of character, dialogue and the human condition, the prolific writer and director had a keen ability to understand the teenage point of view. He was one of us; and those talents were on full display in 1985’s “The Breakfast Club," widely considered his career defining work. Jason Wagenheim returns to the pod and joins Dennis to celebrate this iconi...
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August 31, 2024 • 88 mins
A young, upstart FBI agent infiltrates a tight-knit group of surfers who rob banks so they can afford a nomadic lifestyle of spiritual enlightenment. This is the actual plot of acclaimed filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow’s 1991 action thriller, “Point Break.” Is it ludicrous? Yes. Is it absurd? Certainly. However, this muscular entertainment became a highly quotable cult classic and the reasons are justifiable. Jason Zollan returns - with ...
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August 1, 2024 • 102 mins
Fans were disappointed when they learned the film adaptation of the 1995 bestselling novel High Fidelity was being moved from London to Chicago. Author Nick Hornby felt it was a ridiculous thing to have any objection to…that the nationality of record store owner Rob Gordon really had no bearing on anything. He was right. John Cusack and his fellow screenwriters knew exactly what they were doing, because we all have friends l...
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July 25, 2024 • 93 mins
The Best Bond. A topic that’s been fiercely debated for generations…and all it took was an efficient, black and white cold open to confidently announce to the world that Daniel Craig had something to say about it. In “Casino Royale,” a new James Bond had arrived: a brooding, flawed 007, a man wounded by life, yet still believed in the cause. Jim Camlek returns to the show to revisit this spectacular achievement that rebooted - and ...
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June 29, 2024 • 92 mins
When Martin Scorsese first read the 1985 nonfiction book Wiseguy, he immediately called author Nicholas Pileggi and told him “I’ve been waiting for this book my entire life.” To which Pileggi replied, “I’ve been waiting for this phone call my entire life.” And that is how 1990’s “GoodFellas” came to be. Scorsese instantly knew how to make the film - 'to begin the story like a gunshot and have it get faster from there.' Ruth ...
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May 22, 2024 • 96 mins
John Milius' "Red Dawn" was released in 1984 against the backdrop of the Cold War, when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were at an all-time high. A premise only Hollywood could love: World War III is waged on U.S. soil and a group of high schoolers decide to take up arms against their aggressors. Hell yes! Rob Bohn joins Dennis for his second tour of duty to celebrate this action classic, the first PG-13 fil...
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April 25, 2024 • 91 mins
As a suffering, lifelong Cleveland fan, filmmaker David S. Ward figured the only way the Indians would ever win the World Series is if he wrote a movie allowing them to do so. And it would need to be a comedy, of course, because “nobody would believe it as a drama.” Ward’s dream came to fruition with 1989’s “Major League,” the film that players will tell you is their favorite baseball movie hands down. With a touch of Crisco and a ...
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March 15, 2024 • 88 mins
When Richard Donner’s “Lethal Weapon 2” was released in 1989 it not only conquered the box office, it quickly and assuredly climbed the ranks of movie sequels which surpassed their predecessors…a rare feat. This rousing entertainment wears its heart on its sleeve. Laced with wit and spectacular action, the film is widely considered the best of the franchise. Author and media executive, Andrew Fryer, joins Dennis to discuss how the ...
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February 22, 2024 • 87 mins
It’s hard to imagine a film as treasured as 1996’s “Swingers” actually failing at the box office. But it happened. Only a shrewd marketing push by Buena Vista Home Video gave the movie a second life, and in short order it became a highly-quotable cult classic. It also catapulted the careers of Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn and director Doug Liman. Ad tech executive Jason Zollan, the guy behind the guy behind the guy, joins Dennis to di...
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February 1, 2024 • 92 mins
Media heavyweight and first time guest Jason Wagenheim didn’t bat an eye when asked which movie he wanted to discuss: Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” What can we say, Wagenheim doesn't screw around. Featuring three interlocking stories about thugs, palookas and divine intervention, this landmark achievement from 1994 hijacked the social conversation, resuscitated John Travolta’s career and instantly changed the course of indepe...
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December 22, 2023 • 91 mins
Jean Shepherd's razor sharp wit and keen eye for period detail provide the perfect holiday cheer in 1983's "A Christmas Story." Scot Safon and Jim Camlek return to the show and join Dennis to discuss why this heralded gem became one of the most treasured holiday films on record. It's a major award! (Dedicated to the loving memory of Barbara Camlek).
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