The Broken Projector Movie Podcast
A movie podcast that isn't boring.

We'll be speaking with a co-lead for one of the semi-finalist teams, Tim Wen, whose short film Unexpected Arrival earned one of the top spots and a chance to compete for the grand prize. He'll talk about the challenge of making something quick without a budget and how to aim the camera in a way that hides your flaws.

Plus, while Geoff is sleeping off an egg nog bender, I'll offer three ingredients for a successful boxing movie and challenge you to correct me without your fists.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode81.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 8:13am EDT

We'll be speaking with one of the semi-finalist teams, Ian Wagner and Michael Burke, whose short film Simple Math earned them one of the top spots and a chance to compete for the grand prize. They'll talk about the challenge of coordinating a cocktail party film shoot with less than a day's notice and explain how they both ended up in the pool.

Plus, Geoff and I open up the viewer listener mailbag to cover questions about Canadian movie favorites, the current state of thoughtful film journalism (the Star Wars 7 characters have names, people!), and other subjects of engrossing interest.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode80.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 8:46am EDT

Luckily, we'll be speaking with one of the semi-finalists, Alvaro Ron, whose short film To Kill or Not to Kill earned him one of the top spots and a chance to compete for the grand prize. He'll share his experience as a filmmaker, the challenges of the competition, and how he overcame those obstacles.

Plus, Geoff and I will offer up four directors, four screenwriters and four actors who broke through this year, delivering the kinds of movies and performances that get us excited about the future.

As a bonus, William Fichtner drops by to add a gorgeous dose of zen to the show.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode79.mp3
Category:Actor Interviews -- posted at: 5:38am EDT

Our hero wakes up, yawns and stretches. It's a typical day, and that's a really boring introduction. Imagine it with an explosion instead. Thanks.

This week on Reddit, a user asked for some dead giveaways that a screenplay was written by an amateur, and the hivemind (probably made up of angry script readers and finicky producers) didn't fail. One such reader and producer offered a laundry list of bad habits, and we've invited him on for an open discussion about cringe-worthy mistakes that any aspiring writer can make (and avoid).

Grab a pencil, realize you're on a computer, and then take notes with that.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode78.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 9:03am EDT

This week the world lost a peerless filmmaker (and EGOT winner) who delivered a hot tub full of fantastic films. Mike Nichols put Dustin Hoffman in a compromising position, tortured Meryl Streep and found a grounding commonality even with his most extraordinary characters. We'll celebrate his work with Professor John Whitehead, author of "Mike Nichols and the Cinema of Transformation," and try to recapture what made his stories so moving.

Plus, Geoff answers your screenwriting questions about third person expository openings (so to speak), the new trend in query letters and whether you should get a script consultant.

Double plus, we'll chat briefly about Bill Cosby and the question of enjoying good art from bad people.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode77.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 9:06am EDT

Is Fight Club satire? That's the question we'll attempt to settle this week with a knock down, drag out debate where two men enter the ring, and two men also exit the ring safely. Fortunately, we've got special guest moderator Eric D. Snider to keep us honest, and since he takes bribes, I've got this one sewn up.

Plus, we'll discuss whether data can help make you a better screenwriter, and The Bitter Script Reader drops by to discuss his new book, "Michael F-ing Bay: The Unheralded Genius in Michael Bay's Films," where he argues that the much maligned director's movies are more than meets the eye.

You should follow Eric (@ericdsnider), The Bitter Script Reader (@bittrscrptreadr), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode76.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 6:33am EDT

Zero more days 'til Halloween, my friends. That means we'll all soon be dressing up in pop culturally aware costumes, eating candy we're supposed to be giving to children and gorging ourselves on fright night features.

To mark the occasion, special guest host Eric D. Snider submits himself to a fiendish quiz about horror movies and Psychorama after we share your responses to last week's question.

Plus, we have a candid conversation with R-rated producer Adi Shankar who continues playing by his own rules with the release of a twisted, Saturday Morning Cartoon From Hell take on Judge Dredd.

You should follow Eric (@ericdsnider), Adi Shankar (@adishankarbrand), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode75.mp3
Category:Filmmaker Interviews -- posted at: 8:19am EDT

It's been a hell of a week, so it would be great to talk about films that make us happy. Unfortunately, that's not the show we prepped.

Instead, we've got a dissection of characters who are pushed to the breaking point inspired by Miles Teller destroying himself to become the next Buddy Rich in Whiplash. Who knew jazz drumming was so brutal? We'll discuss people incrementally becoming disillusioned, forget to talk about Oldboy and then connect Falling Down to Gamer Gate in one seamless move.

Plus, a 10th anniversary appreciation of what Saw did right as a low budget horror movie made in an astonishingly short amount of time (18 days).

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode74.mp3
Category:Movie Reviews -- posted at: 8:48am EDT

If you're waiting for a call to explain your existence, this week's show might be it. We'll talk with Terry Gilliam about religious themes in his movies, ask him to psychoanalyze Don Quixote and then find out what he'd do if he ran a billion-dollar movie studio.

Plus, Geoff and I offer the lessons we've learned going into the final week of the Six Week Spec Challenge and offer/dissect some creepy/funny two-sentence stories.

As a bonus, we'll present our favorite three two-sentence stories from the ones you sent in.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode73.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 5:34am EDT

We'll speak with short filmmaker Josh Soskin about the benefits and challenges of going the festival route, and the best way to take the next step after completing a film.

Plus, we'll have an Interrogation Reviewification of Gone Girl, and we'll cover our favorites from Fantastic Fest.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode72.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 8:33am EDT

In response to A.O. Scott's gorgeously organized, well thought out treatise on how maturity is and is not displayed in TV and film, we'd like to offer a free-wheeling conversation filled with half-formed ideas. How are we displaying adulthood in our art, and is it an accurate reflection of our lives and escapist desires?

We'll also check in Kate Erbland to hear about the best movies of TIFF that you'll be able to see soon, and Jack Giroux interviews Jeremy Renner about his new biopic of Iran-Contra whistleblower Gary Webb, Kill the Messenger.

You should follow Kate (@katerbland), Jack (@jackgi), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode71.mp3
Category:Actor Interviews -- posted at: 8:52am EDT

There's only one, iron-clad, sure-fire, can't-miss, hyphen-toting method to finishing a screenplay in only six weeks. Fortunately, we know the secret and are willing to share it with you (for less than $600). The trick is, in order for it to work, you have to follow the 1,008-step process exactly or it doesn't work. If you think you're up for the challenge, listen to the episode. We'll also need all of your credit card information, your blood type and what you'd do for a Klondike Bar.

Beyond sharing the trick to writing a script in a month and a half, we'll answer a few screenwriting questions about the nature of negotiating a script fee and laugh about the supposed ban on jokes that Warners has set up for its superhero movies.

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode70.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 6:37am EDT

We wanted to discuss magic, laughter and the difficult stuff that lies in between this week because Robin Williams was so much more than a comedian. One of the very best, to be sure, but he was like a Guinness World Record holder who somehow found time for a dozen other hobbies. Which he then mastered.

So what was supposed to be a normal-length segment ballooned into a winding conversation about  a tireless artist's power to find a human connection in everything he did. We talk funny stuff, dark stuff, and Geoff explains how Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire made him understand his own dad.

Plus, we speak with To Be Takei director Jennifer M. Kroot about chronicling Sulu in his natural habitat (and a little on how to hide in plain sight with a massive camera on your shoulder).

You should follow the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode69.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 5:48pm EDT

Who have you randomly bought pizza for this week? Today on the show, we'll speak with comedian and TV writer Ricky Smith about his Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere movement, his documentary Follow Me and his Twitter-based rise into the entertainment world.

Plus, Geoff will answer screenwriting questions about the phantom of writer's block and montages.

More importantly, we want to invite you to check out Geoff's Six Week Spec Writing project where 10 aspiring writers will be chosen to produce a spec script in a month and a half while chronicling their trials and tribulations. At the end of the road, they'll have free hosting at The Black List and four professional script readers providing feedback on their screenplay.

You should follow Ricky (@rickonia), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode68.mp3
Category:Television -- posted at: 7:31am EDT

In what universe could Minnie Mouse fight crime with The Hulk? In our own. This week on the show, Geoff and I will toss around a few ideas for movie universes to collide -- legally based on which global conglomerate owns which intellectual properties. Get ready to see Donald, Darkwing and Howard the Duck team up for an adventure with a terrible title.

Plus, since we're retuning from break, we wanted to talk about the phenomenon of and meaning behind adding "The Return of" to your hero's sequelized journey. What kinds of movies boldly ask us to return and why?

Double plus, we'll speak with Landon Palmer about The Blair Witch Project and how we've been judging it unfairly all these years.

You should follow Landon (@landonspeak), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode67.mp3
Category:Movies -- posted at: 7:49am EDT

Let's say you desperately want to make a feature film, but you don't have any money to do it. Can you scrape together a few thousand? Good, because writer/director Joshua Caldwell and producer Travis Oberlander join us this week to explain how they made Layover for only $6,000.

Beyond making a movie for a few months' rent, Geoff and I will answer your screenwriting questions and continue our star-spangled conversation from last week by exploring the concepts of Freedom and Revolution as they apply (for better and worse) to filmmaking.

You should follow Caldwell (@joshua_caldwell), Travis Oberlander (@tobewan), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode66.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 7:30am EDT

For our extra special Independence Day Eagle-Blasted, Star-Spangled, Overly-Adjectived Extravaganza, Geoff and I ponder the very nature of the United States of America. We try to hone in on its complexities and paradoxes by contemplating what movies best capture Columbia's essence. In other words, the most American movies ever made. Is there a particular genre that echoes its spirit? Is it more about pure patriotism or can the story display our darker side? Where does the heart of American cinema lie?

Listen and contemplate while you grill meat stuffed into another meat, or as you slide down the tarp you poured dish soap onto.

Plus, to celebrate our victory over the British, we invite the absolutely delightful Maisie Williams onto the show to discuss her new movie Heatstroke, explain why she's not Justin Bieber and share her love for Twitter.

You should follow Williams (@maisie_williams), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode65.mp3
Category:Actor Interviews -- posted at: 7:07pm EDT

In less than 300 days, writer/producer/director Brian Koppelman has delivered 300 screenwriting lessons, 6 seconds at a time. That's a half hour of Vines that act as miniature cattle prods for anyone looking to have the creative section of their brain lit up.

To celebrate the achievement, Brian joins me to explain what a beloved cookie has to do with the writing process, to describe the methods he uses to get unstuck, and to challenge a conventional way of thinking about "breaking into the business."

You should follow Brian (@briankoppelman), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode64.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 6:55am EDT

This week on the show, 13 Sins director Daniel Stamm explains why the title I chose for this article is a bad one, discusses The Hero's Journey as addiction and describes how he's using his knowledge of movie marketing (and misleading trailers) to subvert the system. They should really let German directors make more rom-coms.

Plus, Geoff and I will break down movie scenes that make us break down in order to figure out how they make us cry. Fair warning: the first ten minutes of Up will be discussed. Come prepared.

You should follow Daniel Stamm (@stammdaniel), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

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Direct download: brokenprojector-episode63.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 8:04am EDT

Cadillac and the Producers Guild of America recently launched Make Your Mark, a short film competition that challenges producers to create compelling content with limited resources. Contestants will make a short film over a single weekend in late June, and the 30-second Cadillac spot featuring the grand prize winner’s film will air during the 2015 Academy Awards.

As such we'll be speaking with last year's winner Jason Shulz, who offers his experience and some helpful lessons for those filmmakers who want to hoist the trophy for themselves this year.

Plus, in a segment that tears up apart, Geoff and I will chat about the pure, accidental brilliance of The Room and what it's like to watch an unintentionally terrible movie while sitting next to its director.

Last, but definitely not least, we'll talk to Enlisted creator Kevin Biegel about why he's fighting so hard to promote a show that's already been cancelled. He'll also offer some keen advice about breaking into TV writing that you won't want to miss.

You should follow Kevin Biegel (@kbiegel), the show (@brokenprojector), Geoff (@drgmlatulippe) and Scott (@scottmbeggs) on Twitter for more on a daily basis.

Please review us on iTunes

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode62.mp3
Category:Director Interviews -- posted at: 8:48am EDT