Supporting Characters

Bill Ackerman talks to writers, bloggers, podcasters, publishers, programmers & more about creative endeavors & film culture.

James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 59: Andrew J. Rausch

Bill speaks to novelist, screenwriter and film historian Andrew J. Rausch about his various endeavors, from early experiences in journalism, hip-hop and microbudget horror movies to a writing career that has yielded over 40 books to date. Topics include Quentin Tarantino and MY BEST FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY, Rod Lurie, interview techniques, Jack Hill, identifying homophobic aspects in the work of Edward D. Wood Jr., freestyling with The Roots, writing crime fiction and the challenges of adapting CARNIVAL OF SOULS into a novel.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 58: Mink Stole

Bill speaks actress and singer Mink Stole about her life and career. Topics include the rehearsal process on John Waters movies, Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable show, taking friends from The Cockettes to see PINK FLAMINGOS (and their reactions), her “Think Mink” advice column, LOST HIGHWAY, Peaches Christ, learning new skills in public, Prescott Townsend, Peggy Gravel’s opening rant in DESPERATE LIVING, the pleasures of voting in person, THE BROWNIE STORY, Dreamland fashions and what color shoes she wore the day after Labor Day.


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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 57: Gary Tooze

Bill speaks to Gary Tooze about his home video review site, DVDBeaver, now in its 18th year. They discuss his experiences with film, from encountering Charlie Chaplin on television and renting 35mm Basil Rathbone movies with his father to creating the Listserv discussion group that evolved into his website. Topics discussed include audio commentaries, the 4K UHD format, David Cronenberg, nostalgia, Jonathan Rosenbaum, content warnings, Jesús Franco, Tim Lucas, contemporary pop culture in James Bond movies, online negativity, DETOUR and the pleasures of simple storytelling.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 56: Jonathan Hertzberg

Bill talks to Kino Lorber’s Director of Repertory Sales and Acquisitions, Jonathan Hertzberg, about his many film cultural endeavors, from creating the Obscure One Sheet Blog and programming for the Chicago International Film Festival to developing his DIRTY OLD NEW YORK video essays and launching the new Fun City Editions home video label. Topics include THE WANDERERS, virtual cinemas, Michael Ferrari, Montclair in the 90s, THE SWIMMER, Milestone Films, the Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee and how discovering Danny Peary’s CULT MOVIES books during adolescence can both expand one’s taste and lead to a bad back.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 55: Abraham Castillo Flores

Bill speaks to lecturer, editor and film programmer Abraham Castillo Flores about his path in film, from directing short films and cutting promos for the Independent Film Channel to programming for Mexico’s Mórbido Film Fest and hosting The Morbido Crypt's Guide to Mexican Fantasy and Horror Cinema events. Topics include: Luz María Rojas, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Luchador films, Liliana V. Blum, the documentaries of Paulina del Paso, contextualizing extreme films at festivals, Lucio A. Rojas’ TRAUMA, the programming work of Evrim Ersoy and Nicole McControversy, employing terror to promote safe sex, Lex Ortega, DIAMOND FLASH, the magic of editing and sharing a quiet smoke with David Lynch.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 54: Nellie Killian

Bill speaks to film programmer Nellie Killian about her pursuits in film, from attending Orson Welles and Fritz Lang retrospectives as a child to co-founding the Migrating Forms Film Festival and teaching film courses at the Pratt Institute. They discuss her career in programming, from her work with venues like Brooklyn Academy Of Music to such recent efforts as the acclaimed TELL ME: WOMEN FILMMAKERS, WOMEN’S STORIES, now streaming on The Criterion Channel. Topics include: The Cinema Worker Solidarity Fund, experimental films, the New York Underground Film Festival, producing live subtitles for 35mm Andrzej Zulawski movie screenings, virtual cinema rentals, the publicity work of Michael Lieberman and Ryan Werner, the impact of COVID-19 on New York film culture and moderating Q&As while injured.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 53: Ashlee Blackwell

Bill speaks to writer, producer/screenwriter and professor Ashlee Blackwell about her various endeavors, from organizing events like Philly Loves Women In Horror and developing the Graveyard Shift Sisters website to teaching film at St. Joseph’s University and co-writing, co-producing and appearing in the documentary HORROR NOIRE: A HISTORY OF BLACK HORROR. Topics include: James Bond III, the value in narrowing one’s focus, R. Shanea Williams, THE EXORCIST, Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, unwinding to stand-up comedy and having one’s feminist sensibilities awakened by A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 52: E. Purchell

Bill speaks to film historian, preservationist and filmmaker E. Purchell about their various endeavors, from programming and creating pre-screening short films for the Florida Avalon microcinema to the development of ASK ANY BUDDY, their Artforum 'Best of 2018' Instagram feed and acclaimed collage film companion. Topics include: Gregg Araki, Man Parrish, the Don’t Look In The Closet podcast, the film programming of Jazmyne Moreno, Everything Is Terrible!, Dark Entries Records, Instagram and Vimeo restrictions, Tom DeSimone and the contradictory qualities of adult films.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 51: Emma Westwood

Bill speaks to author, broadcaster and film historian Emma Westwood about her many creative endeavors, from co-founding film societies and writing freelance criticism to hosting Triple R’s Plato’s Cave and developing her recent monograph on David Cronenberg’s THE FLY. Topics include: Fatal Visions, Lee Gambin, the differing approaches of American and Australian film schools in the early 1990s, ALIEN, John Frankenheimer, Bert Deling's DALMAS, writing about standup comedy, HOUSEBOAT HORROR, the research process for audio commentary tracks, Raymond Stross, why children relate to monsters and why “write what you know” is bad advice.

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James Laczkowski James Laczkowski

Episode 50: Josh Olson

Bill speaks to writer/director, Trailers From Hell guru and podcaster Josh Olson about his many endeavors, from writing screenplays like the Oscar-nominated A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and the audio drama BRONZEVILLE to co-hosting shows like The Movies That Made Me and The West Wing Thing. Topics include: Harlan Ellison, Werner Herzog and the German New Wave, NIGHT WATCH, Randy Frakes, landing professional opportunities through mistaken identity, MAD Magazine, Anthony Bourdain, screening UNFORGIVEN for David Cronenberg, The Cinefamily and whether or not people still approach him to read their scripts.

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