The Oscars and Film at New College with Harrison Bender, Tom Ronca, and Suzanne Clayton

Our hosts, Mike Palmer, Megan Cytron, and Grant Balfour are joined by Harrison Bender, Tom Ronca, and Suzanne Clayton in a conversation about movies, the Oscars, and their connections to film at New College of Florida. The group reminisces about their time at New College, sharing stories about the film series, the campus theater (TA), and local movie theaters like the Teatro. Harrison, Tom, and Suzanne recount their involvement with the film series, programming independent and foreign films for the campus community. They discuss the challenges of acquiring films in different eras, from renting 16mm prints to the advent of DVDs. The conversation shifts to this year's Academy Awards, with Suzanne offering her "sleeper pick" for Best Picture and the group analyzing the merits of various nominees like "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie." They debate whether the Oscars are more about recognizing quality films or serving as a trade show for the industry. Tom shares his insider perspective from living in Los Angeles, including the "For Your Consideration" billboards leading up to the ceremony. As the episode wraps up, the guests offer final thoughts, from Suzanne's bold prediction about an "Ancient Aliens" movie winning Best Picture to Tom's most anticipated film of the year, the enigmatic "Hundreds of Beavers." It's a lively, film-focused discussion infused with the unique spirit of New College. Episode Notes: Tom Ronca’s favorite films of 2023 Enzian Theater is an esteemed Orlando-area arthouse cinema, where Matthew Curtis is programming director. Asolo Repertory Theatre is a playhouse in Sarasota that was also, in 1990, the first home of the FSU film school. (It later moved to Tallahassee,where teachers like Victor Nunez taught students like Sam “Iron & Wine” Beam.) Site of the Teatro 50-cent theater, now an Amscot next to McCurdy’s (recently notorious for other New College reasons).  Video Renaissance, closed after 33 years in 2018 Ivan Stang of the Church of the SubGenius is a filmmaker, among other things.  KS State Senator Jeff Pittman was nowhere near the place, your honor.  Cameron Worden’s Digital Devil Saga screened at Rotterdam.  Harmon “Oscar” Nelson, of the non-namesake derriere.  Steve Rosenbluth’s Concept Overdrive has him halfway to an EGOT.  John Waters’s Best Movies of 2023 TRAILERS John Waters’ 1974 film Female Trouble.  George Bernard Shaw’s Oscar-winning Pygmalion (1938) Harvey Korman breaks the fourth wall in Blazing Saddles.  Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1994)  Paul Giamatti in Sideways (2004). .  Craig Brewer’s 2019 blaxploitation biopic Dolemite is My Name.  Juel Taylor’s neo-blaxploitation They Cloned Tyrone.  Wim Wenders’ Anselm should be seen in 3D.  Cytron’s should-have-been pick is Monster by Hirokazu Kore-eda (Note from Megan: watch it spoiler free!) Werner Herzog’s 1970 film Even Dwarfs Started Small haunts the campus.  Ronca’s should-have-been pick is Hundreds of Beavers.  2024 NOMINEE: Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. . 2024 NOMINEE: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie (and Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For?”) 2024 NOMINEE: Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.  2024 NOMINEE: Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers.