Raising Cinephiles

Summary

Jennifer Warren, a former actress turned director, shares her journey in the film industry and the challenges she faced as a working parent. She discusses her early movie memories, growing up in a family of actors, and the influence of her famous Yiddish actor uncle. Jennifer also talks about her transition from acting to directing and the importance of having a support system while balancing work and family life. She emphas...

SummaryLaura Morton, the co-director, producer, writer, and creator of the documentary 'Anxious Nation,' discusses her journey in making the film and her love for cinema. She shares her first movie memory of watching 'Fiddler on the Roof' and how it sparked her passion for going to the movies. Laura and host Jessica Kantor discuss the emotional impact of films and how they provide an escape and a safe space to feel different emotio...

Summary

In this episode, host Jessica Kantor interviews Lucy Lawless about her career in acting and her directorial debut. They discuss Lawless' first movie memory, her love for horror films, and her journey in the entertainment industry. Lawless shares her experiences as an actress and the inspiration she finds in other actors and films. She also talks about her desire to entertain and create a somatic experience for the audience a...

Summary

Alex Lebovici shares his first movie memory and discusses his love for cinema. He talks about going to the theater with his parents and how they would watch movies at home almost every night. Alex also talks about his experience with different movie theater formats, such as drive-ins and 4D theaters. He discusses how his taste in movies evolved over time and how he started choosing his own movies as a teenager. He shares how...

In this episode, Jessica Kantor talks through highlights of the previous 48 Raising Cinephiles Interviews. She discusses how movies can create conversation starters and shared memories between parents and children. She also explores the topic of when to show kids certain films and the impact of cinema on a child's perspective. Additionally, she highlights the spark of curiosity that movies can ignite in children and how cinema can ...

In this episode, Stephen Moyer, an actor, director, and producer, shares his early movie memories and influences. As a child, he recalls attending Saturday morning pictures and being captivated by Laurel, Hardy, and The Lone Ranger. Stephen also discusses the sentimental value of his childhood toys and the importance of preserving memories. He then delves into his journey into filmmaking, from discovering his passion for acting to ...

In this episode, Jessica Kantor interviews Christina Ybarra, the Director of education and Public Engagement at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. They discuss their first movie memories and their movie experiences growing up. They also explore the challenges and strategies of getting younger generations to sit through longer films and engage with cinema. Christina shares insights from her work with the museum's teen council an...

In this episode, actress and producer Shanti Lowry discusses her passion for cinema and the impact of movies on her life. She shares her first movie memory and its profound effect on her. Shanti also talks about her moviegoing experiences with her family and the conversations that followed. She reflects on the role of movies in shaping her desire to become an actor and the importance of representation on screen. Finally, she discus...

In a new regular monthly episode format, What We're Watching, Jessica Kantor and Lily Vonnegut discuss the movies they are watching with their children of varying ages (2, 8, and 10) and how their children are reacting. They also share what they are watching and what's inspiring them. 

Lily's Picks for Wyatt (10) and Jack (8):

• Father of the Bride: Both boys loved it, especially Martin Short's character.
• Parent Trap: A fav...

In this episode of the Raising Cinephiles podcast, Jessica Kantor interviews the Nelms Brothers, Esham, and Ian, who are independent film directors. They discuss their first movie memories, growing up watching movies, discovering their different tastes in films, and their inspiration to make movies. They also talk about their preparation process and collaboration as co-directors. The conversation covers topics such as the power of ...

In this episode, Roma Roth, a writer, showrunner, and entrepreneur in the film industry, shares her first movie memories and how they influenced her love for cinema. She discusses her transition from anthropology to the film industry and why she chose romance as her genre of choice. Roma also talks about balancing motherhood and her career and how she introduces her children to cinema. She shares her role models and inspirations in...

Dr. Yalda Uhls joins host Jessica Kantor and discusses the effect of storytelling on our kids. They discuss how media shapes children's worldview and how it's not how much a child watches but what they are watching that truly matters. 

Yalda T. Uhls, a former senior exec at MGM and Sony, left the movie world to study child development, earning a Ph.D. in Psychology at UCLA. Uhls recently founded The Center for Scholars & Storyteller...

Erik Davis joins Jessica Kantor on Raising Cinephiles. They discuss film discovery, how that's evolved for today's audience, and the first movies his kids fell in love with!

Erik Davis is a proven leader and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the digital media space; Erik is a deeply dedicated, passionate, and motivated collaborator who has worked on hundreds of theatrical and home entertainment titles and helped...

Barnaby Clay joins host Jessica Kantor this week on Raising Cinephiles. Barnaby shares his introduction to horror films and how that's shaped his filmmaking. Barnaby discusses his new film, The Seeding, and how a TV show from his early childhood unconsciously inspired ideas in the film. The Seeding will be in select theaters and on digital January 26th. And finally, they discuss the challenge of introducing our children to cinema w...

Producer Monica Levinson joins Jessica Kantor on Raising Cinephiles. We discuss the grit and tenacity it takes to work in the industry, seeing her Jewish culture in movies and how that shaped her taste, and how she shares her world with her nieces and nephews.  

Monica Levinson is a prolific film and television producer with an expansive career of diverse projects. Working alongside top innovators in entertainment, she is frequently...

To kick off 2024, Oscar-nominated producer Axel Kuschevatzky joins host Jessica  Kantor on Raising Cinephiles. We discuss his unconventional career path, his sharing his passion for cinema with his family, and the state of international film finance! 

Axel Kuschevatzky is a veteran movie producer with more than 80 feature credits. His film Argentina, 1985, was nominated for an Oscar in 2023 in the best foreign film category. 

In Nov...

Vanessa Simmons joins host Jessica Kantor this week on Raising Cinephiles. They discuss how the film Clueless inspired Vanessa's pursuit of fashion and how her artistry as an actress continues to evolve as we embark on our fourth decade. Vanessa also discussed her online community, U4IA (Euphoria), and how important it is to create a foundation of healthy beauty and wellness as an example for our children. 

Vanessa Simmons is a mode...

Neil Turitz joins host Jessica Kantor this week on Raising Cinphiles. Neil is an extra special guest for Jessica since they partnered together on a newsletter called Film News Briefs, which had a profound impact on both of their careers. 

Neil Turitz is a journalist, essayist, author, and filmmaker who has worked in and written about Hollywood for more than 25 years, though he has never lived there. These days, he splits his time be...

Simon Cellan Jones joins host Jessica Kantor on Raising Cinephiles. They discuss how his own family life inspired his new film, The Family Plan, which is streaming on Apple TV+ starting December 15, 2023. Simon also discusses his love of genre-bending stories that stem from growing up loving the film Bugsy Malone. 

From directing BAFTA-winning programs in the UK to working in the U.S. with big names like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, ...