Supporting Characters

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 19: Brian Saur

Bill speaks with film blogger and podcaster Brian Saur about the origins of his many endeavors, from his long-running Rupert Pupkin Speaks site to the recent Pure Cinema and Just The Discs podcasts. Other topics discussed include Saur’s in-progress documentary on author Danny Peary, the influence of social media on initial viewing experiences, the merits of film lists and the circumstances that can lead a person to record podcasts from within a car alongside their dog.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 18: Nick Pinkerton

Bill speaks with film critic Nick Pinkerton about his experiences and practices as a writer, from his initial reviews for Reverse Shot to becoming a regular contributor at publications like The Village Voice, Sight & Sound, Artforum and Film Comment. Other topics discussed include the late Kim’s Video chain, the importance of great editors, moderating Q&As, New York City film culture, criticism in the age of social media, work/life balance and the professional hazards that can come from having the wrong attitude about frozen yogurt.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 17: Marc Walkow

Bill speaks with DVD/Blu-Ray producer, writer and film festival programmer Marc Walkow about his many projects and pursuits in the world of film culture, from his early days at TLA Video to programming for the New York Asian Film Festival to his essential role in turning Nobuhiko Obayashi’s HOUSE into a popular cult film. They discuss his extensive history in home video and more!

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 16: Patrick Ripoll

Bill speaks with Tracks Of The Damned podcast host Patrick Ripoll.  In addition to talking about both his current show and his years co-hosting the Director’s Club podcast, they discuss Woody Allen, the C.H.U.D.com forums, standup comedy, the “Loveline” radio call-in program, what makes Letterboxd less evil than other social media sites, Buster Keaton, midnight movies, building cinephile monasteries within oneself, preserving pan and scan VHS transfers for historical purposes, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, video store culture in 2016, Nicolas Winding Refn and the value of studying improv as it pertains both to podcasting and dating.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 15: Violet Lucca

This week Bill speaks with the film critic Violet Lucca, Digital Editor of Film Comment Magazine and host of The Film Comment Podcast, about her experiences in film culture. Some of the topics discussed include: hybrid documentaries, Vine filmmakers, Nate Parker, DCPs and New York repertory cinemas, identity politics in film criticism, Rotten Tomatoes, prestige television, Film Comment’s relationship to The Film Society Of Lincoln Center, torrents and the myth of availability, the difference between Marvel and DC comic book adaptations, David Lynch, Violet’s forays into filmmaking, protests against animal testing and the potential for violence at Yasujiro Ozu screenings.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 14: Danny Peary

Bill speaks with Danny Peary, the author of Cult Movies, Cult Movies 2, Cult Movies 3, Guide For The Film Fanatic, and Cult Movie Stars, among others. They talk about Peary’s long history with movies: childhood viewing that ranged from Abbott & Costello to Ingmar Bergman, discovering Andrew Sarris in high school and spending afternoons at theatres like The Thalia, starting a campus film society while immersed in the student protest culture of the late 1960s, making silent short-subject comedies, his years of freelance writing for underground publications, developing books like Close-Ups and Cult Movies that established his reputation.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 13: Jeremy Richey

Bill speaks with Jeremy Richey, editor and co-creator of the quarterly print journal Art Decades. They talk about the origins of this publication and his litany of film-related blogs, among them Moon In The Gutter, Fascination: The Jean Rollin Experience, Nostalgia Kinky and Harry Moseby Confidential. They also discuss plagiarism, influential books, Jean Rollin, feminism, Tim Lucas, Jeremy’s documentary appearances, Kimberly Kane, discouraging freelance writing experiences and details about his upcoming book focusing on the European film career of Sylvia Kristel.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 12: Jay Jacksonrao

Bill speaks with Black On Black Cinema host and TNP Studios founder Jay Jacksonrao. In addition to talking about the origins of his Nerdpocalypse and Black On Black Cinema shows, they discuss blockbuster spectacle cinema and the post-9/11 appeal of superhero movies, Baltimore film culture, FRUITVALE STATION and how the economy can inform the kinds of stories told in black films.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 11: Jim Laczkowski

Bill speaks with Director’s Club host and Now Playing Network founder Jim Laczkowski. In addition to talking about podcasts, both his own and those of others, they discuss his early years directing short comedies to make his classmates laugh, his long history with WGN Radio film critic Nick Digilio, near-death experiences, PUMP UP THE VOLUME, bandwagon mentality, the Chicago film critic community, drive-in theatres, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, experiences touring as a solo musician, critic screenings and the enduring scent of Roger Ebert’s sandwich.

Read More
James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 10: Joseph A. Gervasi

Bill speaks with Exhumed Films co-founder and Diabolik DVD co-owner Joseph A. Gervasi about how the DIY ethos of hardcore punk informed his endeavors in film culture. They discuss the origins of his various projects, from early ventures like The Cabbage Collective and Bizarre Videos to later efforts like The Valerie Project and the ongoing Loud! Fast! Philly! series. Other topics addressed include Phil Hardy’s Overlook Film Encyclopedia, entitled genre film collectors, CAFÉ FLESH, the subtle homage to Joseph’s father on the Criterion Collection edition of VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS, and how declining nude modeling opportunities can negatively impact the distribution of one's fanzine.

Read More