The Oscar Project Podcast
A discussion of all the films nominated for Oscars, starting in 1929, plus interviews with filmmakers and authors writing about the film industry.
Episodes
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Alibi. I'm joined by Jeff Kramer from the "Death Star Human Resources Department" newsletter and we talk about the innovative uses of the new sound technology to accompany the film images, the portrayal of both the police and gangsters in the film, and some of the interesting camera shots that the film employs to keep up the visual end of the s...
In today's episode, I interview Jake Wachtel, whose film "The Sentry" recently screened at SXSW London, Raindance, and the Palm Springs International ShortFest.
Listen to hear about the idea for the film that came from wanting to get to know one of the anonymous henchmen from an action film like James Bond, the challenges of filming in the former residence of a king, and how visual effects and sound comb...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Letter. I'm joined by Lewis Beer from the "Slow Moving Pictures" newsletter and we talk about the importance of sound right from the beginning of the film, the structural differences between the play and the film versions of the story, and the force that was Jeanne Eagles in this film that was sadly lost not long after its release.
In today's episode, I interview John DiLeo, a film writer whose most recent book Not Even Nominated: 40 Overlooked Costars of Oscar-Winning Performances, was published in 2024.
Listen to hear about the process for picking actors and films for this book, some things the Academy might be able to do to revamp the acting categories at the Oscars, and a movie character dinner party for the ages.
Books mentione...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Coquette. I'm joined by Maria Banson from the "Brunello Bombshell" newsletter and we talk about how the filmmakers used light and darkness to highlight aspects of Norma's personality, a technical snafu that derailed an early showing of the film with sound, and the way the entire film centers around Mary Pickford.
You can watch Coq...
In today's episode, I interview Nina Gantz, whose film "Wander to Wonder" was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Listen to hear about the original even darker version of the story that never made it to the screen, some thoughts about how you can tell stories in animation that you can't tell anywhere else, and how eyelids can become one of the biggest challenges on a f...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Divine Lady. I'm joined by Janelle Miley from the "Right Now, You Like Me" newsletter and we talk about how closely the film aligns with the real life story of Emma Hamilton, some incredible naval battle sequences for the time period, and compare this film to some other Frank Lloyd directed films of the time that we have seen.
You ...
In today's episode, I interview Radha Mehta, who co-directed the short film "Witness" with Saif Jaan. The film tells the story of an Imam of a small town mosque who is faced with choosing between upholding the values of his mosque or protecting the safety and spiritual belonging of a trans man congregant.
Listen to hear about the story's basis in Saif Jaan's real experience, how difficult it wa...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Leatherneck. I'm joined by Gareth Bradwick from the "Popped" newsletter and we talk about the uneasy balance in the film between comedy and drama, how the film effectively uses the framing device of a military trial to tell its story, and how both filmmakers and theaters were dealing with the transition from silent to sound films.
...
In today's episode, I interview Aaron Blaise, director of the animated short film "Snow Bear," a story of a lonely polar bear navigating a rapidly changing Arctic in search of connection.
Listen to hear about how Aaron found his way into animation, what he learned from his many years as an animator at Disney, and the emotional inspiration for the story of this new film.
Books mentioned in this ...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film Weary River. Director Jonathan Hammond returns to the podcast to discuss the film and we talk about possibly the most compassionate prison warden character in film history, a theme song that gets played way too much in one film, and whether or not the film works as a part silent and part talking film.
You can watch Weary River on YouTube or purchase...
In today's episode, I interview Ida Melum and Laura Jayne Tunbridge, the director and writer of the animated short film "Ovary-Acting," a look at the complex decision of whether or not to have children facing many people in the world today.
Listen to hear about the personal inspiration for the story, the importance of finding humor even in the darkest moment in life, and the ambitious musical number that...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1929 film The Broadway Melody. My friend Kevin Pettit from the See You at the Movies newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about whether the film was there just to support the music being played, the degree to which this film is was considered scandalous at the time, and whether or not the film earns the love triangle (quadrangle?) that serves as the cent...
In today's episode, I interview Sarah Goeke and Julia Sears, the writer and director of the web series "Forked," a story of a woman recovering from the purity culture of the Bible Belt through sobriety and dragon fantasy erotica.
Listen to hear about Sarah trusting her director on the shoot for And Through the Portal We Go, keeping the cast of "Forked" very much in the family, and finding humor...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film In Old Arizona. My friend Joanne Thornborough from the POP! Goes My Brain newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about how some traditional western stereotypes are turned on their heads in this film, the ingenious uses of sound in the film at the dawn of the talkie, and yet another love triangle in late 1920s film.
You can watch In Old ...
In today's episode, I interview Jessica J. Rowlands, the director of the short film "Rise," a heartwarming story of resilience and determination set in Zimbabwe. The film will make its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this June.
Listen to hear about the individual who inspired the film, the importance of using local talent both in front of and behind the camera to tell the story, and how the f...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film A Woman of Affairs. My friend Amanda Kusek from the The 90-Minute Movie newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about a complex web of love triangles, the expressive, over-the-top performance of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as Jeffry, and whether or not the source material truly was as scandalous as history has made it out to be.
You can watch...
In today's episode, I interview Madison Hatfield, the director and star of the short film "I Could Dom," a laugh a minute sex comedy about a young woman trying to figure out what exactly she wants in a relationship.
Listen to hear about how the film was a bit of self discovery for Madison when it came to her people-pleasing personality, the importance of getting her male lead just right, and how importan...
Today's episode is my conversation about the 1928 film White Shadows in the South Seas. My friend Matthew Brady from the Warren Peace newsletter joins me to discuss the film and we talk about why this film was almost a shoe in for winning Best Cinematography at the 2nd Academy Awards, how interesting it was to be able to see some aspects of indigenous life on the South Pacific islands of around 100 years ago, and...
In today's episode, I interview Allison Moy Hayhurst and Mike Hayhurst, the producer and director of the film And Through the Portal We Go. The film is a genre-bending time loop story that takes an earnest look at faith, friendship, and the search for belonging.
Listen to hear about the some of the research that was required for the film (and the dubious online searches that entailed), the level of detail required...
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