Plus, Tom talks about his experience with “Zombieland: Double Tap”, “The Lighthouse” and “JoJo Rabbit” and whether or not satire and Nazis can really mix.

In part 2, Tom sits down with the minds behind Virgin Blacktop, Signal to Noise, Some of Her Parts and Once Upon a River.

Like the show? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In part 1 of our coverage, Tom sits down with the folks behind Camp Wedding, Old Hearts Cafe and Veiled Tractate for in depth conversations on their films, filmmaking and more.

Nando Herrera from Comfort Station and Paul Freitag-Fey of Daily Grindhouse join in to talk about the upcoming Halloween-themed series starting Wednesday as part of Comfort Film. The series will showcase some of the strangest selections from the American Genre Film Archive all for your viewing pleasure.

Jake S. Weisman from 6740Micro, a new space in Rogers Park, brings the perspective of a new player on the scene and the trials and tribulations of running a for-profit micro-cinema.

Like the show? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

First, filmmaker Molly Hewitt talks about their inventive and wholly original feature film, Holy Trinity, which follows a dominatrix who is able to commune with the dead. Hewitt’s vision makes it to the big screen here in Chicago on Friday, September 27th.

But if that’s not enough, Chris Larkin of Metal Movie Nights brings you one of John Carpenter’s wildest works on celluloid, In the Mouth of Madness. The trio talk about the legacy of Carpenter’s 1994 masterpiece and beg the question: how metal is this movie?

Filmscape Chicago takes place on September 7th and 8th at Cinespace Studios. For more information, visit filmscapechicago.com.

Now that Tom and Conor have had time to process their individual viewings of Quentin Tarantino’s 9th picture, the pair convene to share their thoughts on “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”.

Like the show? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tom and Conor welcome filmmakers Kelechi Aguwncha and Julius Jefferson to talk about their new webseries Hoops. The three episode series collects unique shorts from 17 up and coming filmmakers that tell stories set in single locations, like a basketball courts, shorelines and more.

The pair discuss the origins of Hoops, the process of gathering the artists involved and the various films and directors that inspire them.

See the first episode of Hoops on Thursday, August 21st at the Logan Theatre (2646 N Milwaukee Ave) at 7 p.m.

Like the show? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tom chats with the co-founders of “Destroy Your Art”, a one of a kind event where five up and coming filmmakers are invited to create an original, one of a kind film that will only be shown once before being utterly destroyed, never to be seen again. They discuss the creative thrust behind the event and why “Destroy Your Art” is creating an inclusive space for artists to push the limits of their work.

The third installment of Destroy Your Art will take place at  Inside Town (1954 S Troy St.) on August 10, 2019 at 7PM.

For tickets and more information, visit destroyyourart.com

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In this mockumentary, we follow the many characters searching for the mythical “Hidden Man”, a cryptid in the same vein as Bigfoot or the Mothman. Zach and Anthony talk about the largely improvised film and the desire to make a myth that will both baffle and amuse their audience.

You can learn more about “He Who Lives in Hidden Lakes” and support the film at Indiegogo.

The film follows a young domestic worker from the Philippines as she begins a new job as a caretake of a paralyzed man in Hong Kong. As they overcome cultural barriers, the pair learn to accept one another and recognize each other’s hopes and dreams. “Still Human” explores themes of human dignity and our search for connection as well as the cultural and social landscape that migrant workers must traverse in Hong Kong.

Together, they discuss the writing process behind the film, the ideas and themes presented and the spectacular jazz score also composed by John Sutton.

“I Miss Jamie When She’s Gone” is a millennial, coming of age story that centers around two sisters returning to the suburbs of Chicago ten months after their father’s sudden death. Upon arrival, they discover that their mother’s hoarding has reached a concerning level, and the sisters begin the emotional task of cleaning out the home. The disrepair of their childhood residence is a metaphor for their mother’s deteriorating mental state, but the sisters embark on a cathartic weekend of dusting off wounds and reconciliation.

Tom and Ashley discuss her entry point into the world of cinema, building the characters through improvisation and how her own suburban upbringing influenced the film’s view of its characters.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Weinstein and leading actors Kimberly Vaughn and Tyler Pistorius discuss the making of the film, their backgrounds in filmmaking and acting and their own inspirations and aspirations for “A Missed Connection”.

Plus, they all discuss the problem of fandom in the Star Wars community as Star Wars Celebration generates hype for another addition to the franchise.

The 22nd annual European Union Film Festival is underway at the Gene Siskel Film Center and director of programming Barbara Scharres joins Tom by phone to talk about this year’s fest. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org

Writer/director Nick Alonzo also returns to the show with cinematographer Greg Garibay to dive into their new feature, “Decaf Don”. They discuss the process of bringing the film together, its political undertones and the trials and tribulations of working within a micro-budget.

Plus, Nick and Greg “get reel” on Steven Soderbergh’s new Netflix feature and the future of iPhone cinematography.

Watch the trailer for “Decaf Don”: https://bit.ly/2HuFS6o

Nat Alder and Connor Wiles return to the show to talk all things New Trash, including some very fresh videos and what’s next for Chicago’s premier music video crew.

They also get into the changing landscape of media following Steven Spielberg’s comments on award eligibility for Netflix films and how streaming services introduce us to a whole new world of cinema.

Tom is joined by Bing Liu, Academy Award nominated director of Minding the Gap, a stellar documentary that traces the lives of three young men (including Liu himself) growing up in Rockford, IL. As they deal with the difficulties of becoming adults, they must also contend with histories of abuse both in others and within themselves.

Liu talks about putting together the years worth of footage, stepping in front of the camera and how Minding the Gap examines the lives of young men.

Plus, Conor and Tom weigh in on the Academy’s reversed decision to pass out Oscars during commercials, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series and, of course, more news on Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.

Like the show? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Tom and Conor sit down with Alexandra Halkin, founding director of the Americas Media Initiative, to talk about the Cuban Visions screening series.

Presented in conjunction with Full Spectrum Features and the Athenaeum Theatre, Cuban Visions presents a variety of films from a diverse set of filmmakers that display the world of contemporary Cuba. Each screening follows a theme that explores a topic such as LGBTQ rights or economics and presents viewers with the uniquely Cuban perspective on that topic.

Alexandra discusses Cuba’s rich film history and culture as well as what film fans and casual viewers alike can learn from these expertly curated films.

For more information and a list of screening dates, head over to Full Spectrum Features’ website.

Tom sits down with Matt Cipolla of Filmmonthly, Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com and Robert Daniels of 812 Film Reviews to talk about which films impressed them and which ones fell (very) flat on screen.

Tom and Conor sit down with Colleen Griffen, producer of the new film An Acceptable Loss starring Tika Sumpter and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film centers around Libby (Sumpter) as she struggles to come to terms with her past as a national security advisor to the ruthless politician Rachel (Curtis).

Together they discuss the origins of the project, Griffen’s experience working with husband/director Joe Chapelle and the importance of racial and gender diversity in casting.

Plus, Tom and Conor gush about the casting of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation and look at previous attempts at bringing the sci-fi epic to the screen.

It’s that time of year again: the Oscar race is in full swing and Tom and Conor are ready for the biggest award show in Hollywood.

As ever, the nominations are riddled with controversy and who better than NIU professor Joseph Flynn help to us make sense of it all.

Together, they discuss the Best Picture noms, the prominence of black cinema in this year’s race and why “Roma” is a turning point for Netflix’s original programming.

The film centers around Bayou Straits, an embarrassingly narcissistic director, and the disruption he causes on set.

Tom and Conor also get a sneak peek at Kyle Leland’s upcoming project with writer/director/actor Abby Pierce, short film Eat Your Heart Out. Finally, they ask what working in Chicago means to one another and compare and contrast the film scenes found in Chicago, NY and LA.

Watch Kyle and Hannah’s award-winning short here.

Amy  Guth (the Executive Director of the Midwest Film Festival) joins to educate us about the Best of the Midwest Awards. The event will be held at the Promontory on Thursday, January 17th – you can purchase tickets here.

Next, Tom and Conor take a look at 5 under-seen films of 2018 that deserve your attention for their unflinching approaches to confronting evil.

Finally, the boys share their film resolutions for 2019 and consider how they can best support and engage with the art form they both love so much.

Plus, the board of review convenes to look at the best (and worst) films of November, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Widows, Boy Erased and The House That Jack Built.

They look at the case of J.K Rowling and the Fantastic Beasts franchise as well as Disney’s latest remakes of “renaissance era” classics Aladdin and The Lion King.

They discuss the story of the film’s completion and a little bit of the history behind it, including its haphazard shooting and the legal battle over Welles’ footage following his death in 1985. They also look at Netflix’s involvement with the project and what it means for future films looking to be completed or see wide release.

But, in the end, it comes down to the content of the film and the questions it poses about the nature of film, its changing attitude in the 1970s and, ultimately, the death of an auteur.

Later; Michael Heidemann of the Sound Sessions podcast and the Patti Vasquez Show with Andrea Darlas joins to discuss film soundtracks, including Thom Yorke’s Suspiria score. Together, they take a look at the various roles music played in October’s cinematic releases and share some of their favorite experiences with movie soundtracks.

Sinema Obscura debuts on CAN TV on November 5th (check your local listings)

You can read more of Matt Cipolla’s thoughts on film by following him on Twitter @CipollaMatt.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Split into three vignettes, the film depicts three different relationships in their beginning, middle and end. Each pairing is unique, relatable, and portrayed with an effortless nuance by the cast and director.

Writer/director Michael Glover Smith and actors Rashaad Hall, Nina Ganet and Clare Cooney delve into each vignette and the film as a whole, exploring the nature of their characters, the meanings of their scenes and the emotional journey they all undertook for the film.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Kyle shares insight into the production and distribution processes for the film, his background in the independent film scene, and touches on the communal spirit that makes Rogers Park such a natural place to film.

Rogers Park can be found on iTunes, VUDU, and Amazon Prime

We learn about Sanghoon’s background as a filmmaker and what led him to the craft starting with his time in South Korea, discuss Eve Rydberg and Brennan Stacker’s experiences throughout the film, and dig into the ever-versatile duties of a film producer with James Choi.

Combining magical realism, buddy comedy and romantic drama, Banana Season follows the budding friendship between two people struggling for success – Sun, a cage fighter who hasn’t won in years, and Peter, a little person who wants to fly. The film is beautifully shot, deftly acted, fun, funny, heartbreaking, and truly one of the most diverse films we’ve had the pleasure of watching.

Banana Season premieres at the Gene Siskel Film Center on October 5th and October 7th.

The film tells the story of legendary Blackhawk and hockey hall of famer Pierre Pilote, who happens to be Karson’s grandfather. Karson talks about capturing his grandfather’s legacy in the documentary, the process of making the film itself and why Pierre Pilote is truly the heart of the Blackhawks.

“Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story” will be available on YouTube and Vimeo this October.

Based on the novel of the same name, the film follows two Jesuit priests in the Philippines tracking down a serial killer who is targeting young boys. Martin discusses adapting the story for the big screen and the influence of other serial killer movies such as “Seven”, as well as his own experience growing up in Manila in the 80s and 90s and the cultural exchange of American and Filipino Cinema.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Later, we interview returning guests director David A. Holcombe, producer Spence Warren, and screenwriter Adia Ivey about Soft Cage Film’s upcoming project Blacksite: The Musical!

It’s a rollicking musical about police brutality in which a community finds empowerment despite the continuing human rights crisis in their neighborhood. Based on the true story brought to light by the Guardian in 2015, we dig into how the idea for this project surfaced, what each of their experiences were while crafting the film, and the role art plays in both speaking truth to power and empowering the tyrannized.

You can support this amazing project via the indiegogo link below.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/blacksite-the-musical#/

Later, they celebrate the Academy’s decision to remove the ‘Most Popular Film’ category from next year’s Academy Awards and conjure some ideas for other, similarly wrong-headed Oscar categories.

Finally, the boys dig into the Predator cinematic universe beginning with a discussion of upcoming film The Predator’s decision to employ an actor who is also a registered sex offender. They also consider what makes the original Predator such a special film, as well as address where the later films went right (and wrong).

The Asian Pop-Up Cinema returns to Chicago for its 7th season this September with some of the best and brightest films from the Asian continent. Bringing together a variety of voices and nationalities under one roof, the Asian Pop-Up Cinema presents a unique opportunity for cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike to experience fresh perspectives through the cinematic medium.

Founder and artistic director Sophia Wong Boccio sits down to talk about the origins of the pop-up and her pan-Asian organization, Sophia’s Choice, as well as the exciting films coming to the festival and her mission to connect people of different backgrounds through a mutual appreciation of film.

Plus, Filmmonthly critic Matt Cipolla returns for the August edition of the No Coast Board of Review where they look at films like Blackkklansman, The Meg, Christopher Robin and Crazy Rich Asians.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

“Housesitters” is an irreverent horror/comedy that puts female friendship as the focus of its plot. As two stoner buddies get contracted to take care of a seemingly normal residence, things start to get weird after their companions start getting picked off one by one. Coffman talks about the long process of making his first feature and the various obstacles in indie filmmaking.

Coffman also discusses “The Unrepentant Cinephile”, a collection of his reviews of hundreds of cult, exploitation and horror films that is a must have for any fan of b-movies.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

No Coast learns how New Trash formed, how a filmmaking duo operates in a big city, about their experience making a video for Def Jam Recordings, the underseen potential of the music video format, and what you can accomplish with $200.

Later, the boys invite New Trash to Get Reel on YouTube video essays, Terry Gilliam, James Gunn, and more.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In the new segment Get Reel, Tom, Conor and Jess dig into some movies they have to get real about, like “Sorry to Bother You”, “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and “Blood Simple”.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

Together, Tom and Matt unpack the profession of film criticism to discover why we need people to write about film and the effect of modern platforms such as Twitter, Rotten Tomatoes and more.

They also discuss Matt’s time at the Cannes Film Festival through the 3 Days in Cannes program and get some of his picks for the best and worst films of the year (so far).

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

After a long hiatus while searching for a home studio, Tom Hush and Conor Cornelius are back to talk all things film.

This week, competition with MoviePass heats up following the announcement of the AMC Stubs A-List service which gives subscribers three movies a week (including premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema) for $19.99 a month. Is the service worth the sticker price? Or will MoviePass reign supreme? Tom and Conor compare the two services.

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant was denied entry to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences despite winning an Oscar for Best Short Film. What led to his exclusion, and is he getting a fair deal?

Tom and Conor also talk about the future of the Star Wars franchise following the disappointing performance of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. Does the franchise need to be saved from itself, or its fans?

Tom and Conor also recap their time at the Chicago Critics Film Festival with some of their favorite screenings and stories, including a surprise run-in with director Marc Turtletaub.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

He looks at opening night selection Fast Color, directed by Julia Hart and starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and the 25th Anniversary screening of Jurassic Park on 35mm film.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

Together they discuss the nature of modern criticism, how we can become more active readers of criticism and why Chicago has such a rich history of great critics. Plus they take a look at some of the highlights of the upcoming festival which runs May 4th to May 10th at the legendary Music Box Theatre.

Want to be there for opening night? Just send an email to criticfest@gmail.com and the first 50 listeners who respond will win a free ticket to opening night of the festival!

Follow Erik on Twitter and catch him on the Nick Digilio Show on WGN Radio.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

First, writer/director Nick Alonzo returns to talk about his new feature, “The Art of Sitting Quietly and Doing Nothing”. The film follows a man in solitude as he tries to piece himself back together following the end of his last relationship, often to darkly comic results.

Dustin Puehler of Ready Freddy Films follows with a discussion of his new, mind-bending horror film, “In A Moment”. In the tradition of his previous work, Puehler’s take on the genre bucks convention in the pursuit of something terrifying, hilarious, and altogether original.

Finally, the enigmatic Dough Smeehr shares his new book and impending documentary “The Astronaut Diet” and teaches Tom and Conor how to transcend their pathetic physical existence.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on iTunes and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

Klinger gives insight into the production of the film, including his decision to shoot on 3 different types of film, as well as the experience of working with Yelchin, writing troubled protagonists, and the sometimes difficult process of getting your film on Netflix.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

They talk about Eliaz’s beginnings in film, how he approaches comedy from different angles in his work and even his time at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Listen to the full podcast:

Follow Eliaz on Twitter and YouTube.

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

First, he talks about BBF-A-Palooza, a full night of comedy, drinks and even a live episode of No Coast Cinema. For all the details, check out their event here.

Luke also gives a sneak preview of Bad Movie Brunch, a new podcast joining the No Coast family.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

Written and directed by Emily Esperanza and produced by Eve Rydberg, Make Out Party is a no-budget, high-style comedy of errors that follows three vibrant characters though a day of misadventure as they set out to attend hostess Mary Woah’s Make Out Party.

Emily and Eve discuss the inspiration and production of Make Out Party, including how they managed to create a vibrant, colorful world for their diverse cast of characters to inhabit.

Listen to the full podcast:

Want to attend the world premiere of Make Out Party on March 30th and 31st? Get your tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/make-out-party-world-premiere-party-tickets-42959975443

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Members Layne Marie Williams, Nandi Mudiwa and Steph MacDonald discuss the story and mission of the company and talk about the massive importance of representation and intersectionality in the cinematic arts. They also share their thoughts on the business side of independent filmmaking, including how to connect with an audience, fundraising and the growing use of event planning and management as part of the exhibition process.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Together, they discuss Mickey’s journey from trouble-making hockey player to dedicated thespian and the nuts and bolts on the profession of acting both on the stage and on-camera.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

His latest film, “Mercury In Retrograde”, tells the story of three Chicago couples in different stages of their relationships that head out to the Michigan woods for a weekend getaway. During the trip, the couples begin to examine their respective relationships and reveal parts of their personalities they’ve kept secret from one another.

Smith talks about the production of the film, including his experience as the film’s writer, director and producer. He also discusses his time away from filmmaking and his adjustment to the digital era.

“Mercury In Retrograde” will have a limited engagement at the Gene Siskel Film Center starting February 16th. You can find tickets and more information here.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Now in its 28th year, Onion City showcases some of the greatest talent in experimental filmmaking from both established artists to up and comers on the experimental scene.

Emily dives into the multifaceted world of experimental filmmaking, including how to begin your journey into appreciating the art form and her own beginnings as a connoisseur of experimental cinema. She also talks about the art of curation and the difficult task of bring together wildly disparate ideas into curatorial harmony.

The Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival runs March 8th-11th.

Listen to the full podcast:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Gordon is the creator of the fantastic webcomic Multiplex and has adapted the strip into an animated short and webseries. He talks with Tom and Conor about the struggles of adapting the comic into a new medium, the experience of revisiting the Multiplex universe and how moving to Chicago helped him make his passion for animation and illustration a career.

Listen to the full podcast:

Check out the trailer for the short below and rent or buy the short at www.multiplex10.com.

[vimeo 240832196 w=640 h=345]

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

They make their picks for who will win the biggest categories and also institute their 1st annual No Coast Oscar Bet.

Listen to the full podcast below:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Full Spectrum Features is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to increasing diversity in the media arts by producing, exhibiting, and supporting the work of women, LGBTQ, and minority filmmakers.

Together,  they discuss Eugene’s past, present and future as a filmmaker and producer, as well as his disillusionment with the film industry and foray into graduate study of philosophy. They also talk about how Full Spectrum is challenging the way films are presented with experiences such as carnivals and even a full on wrestling match.

Listen to the full podcast below:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Mike shares brief backgrounds on “Wild Beasts”, “The Astrologer” and “Alley Cat Rock: Sex Hunter” and talks about the overarching influence of B-movies and exploitation cinema.  They also discuss the concept of the “secret handshake movie” and share their favorite midnight movies to watch with friends

Listen to the full podcast below:

Like the show? Subscribe to No Coast Cinema on Apple Podcasts and follow us on  Facebook and Twitter

Start making your 2018 watchlist with No Coast Cinema!

John Davies also returns to preview the next edition of Sinema Obscura on December 20th at Logan Bar.

First, Dustin talks about his new film “The Year 4,000”, a darkly satirical take on the stereotypical sitcom family as the proverbial patriarch suffers a head injury and spirals through alternate dimensions.

Next, David reveals some details about the final entry in the Anthropology Anthology, “Mandala”. The film follows a janitor as he holds together cosmic order behind the scenes of everyday life.

Spence talks about joining Soft Cage Films as a board member and explains why he believes so much in the mission of Soft Cage and its future in the Chicago film community.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

They dig in to some of the problems of the film, but also the larger conversation surrounding film criticism. Is Justice League really that bad? Do polarizing opinions bring critics more attention? Are sites like Rotten Tomatoes making nuanced opinions more rare?

Plus, Tom and Conor discuss some of the movies they watched this week, including Atonement, Vertigo, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Lady Bird.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

Raul Benitez of Comfort Film and Mike Vanderbilt of Daily Grindhouse stop by to update us on the Cinepocalypse Film Festival at the Music Box. They share their thoughts on the films they’ve seen and their most anticipated films coming up at the festival.

Watch “The Street Wizard’s Apprentice” below!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJBa2pshPeE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=900&h=507]

They preview the upcoming Cinepocalypse film festival at the Music Box Theatre with the festival’s artistic director, Josh Goldbloom, and also discuss the popularity and deeply committed community behind horror cinema.

They also take a whack at the new thriller “The Snowman” and the 10-15% of the missing script.

Finally they cap it off with an update on their 31 Days of Horror Challenge.

This scene comes from No Coast Cinema Episode 18 with Raul Benitez and Nando Espinosa. In this clip, Raul talks about going to Austin, Texas for Fantastic Fest, a film festival run by Tim League and Alamo Drafthouse. This year’s Fantastic Fest followed the serious allegations of sexual misconduct by Alamo Drafthouse employee Devin Faraci and  Ain’t It Cool News founder Harry Knowles, both major players in the Austin film community.

Raul describes the attitude and reactions of the festival’s attendees as well as his own feelings on the topic.

They discuss the history of their venue, Comfort Station, as well as how they curate the experience of Comfort Film and their inclusion on Newcity Magazine’s “Film 50”, a list of the most influential people in Chicago film.

Tom and Conor also breakdown the sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and discuss the abuse of power in the film industry.

They close with a discussion of Blade Runner 2049 and the box office and weigh in on how much review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes can really influence a film’s performance.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

Another week, another edition of No Coast Cinema!

This time, Tom and Conor sit down with screenwriter Marissa Lessman and producer Luke Taylor to talk about their work on the upcoming film, “Phil”. The film looks at what happens to the memories of our exes after a breakup, specifically the “steamier” aspects of a relationship. Lessman and Taylor go into the production stage of filmmaking as well as the struggle of getting an idea from page to screen.

Tom and Conor also discuss the ongoing controversy in the Austin, TX film community involving longtime critics Harry Knowles of Ain’t It Cool News and Devin Faraci of Birth.Movies.Death. When will the “boys club” of cinema finally come to an end? Can film be a safe place for everyone?

Plus, Tom and Conor share their list of horror flicks to watch in October.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

Tom and Conor also discuss a recent article in Newsweek that criticizes streaming services for their lack of “classic” films (1:07:56) and take a look at the biggest stories in film.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

Tom and Conor also pay tribute to one of the most recognizable and uniquely talented character actors of all time, Harry Dean Stanton. They talk about their favorite Stanton roles as well as the importance of character actors in Hollywood.

Finally, Conor walks us through his most anticipated and most dreaded films of the Fall season.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook and Twitter

They welcome writers Joe Randazzo and Sean Steffen to the program to talk about their fantastically funny yet horrifyingly accurate short, “The Perfect Candidate”, and how they more or less predicted the Trump presidency 4 years early.

They also discuss their influences and the beautifully immortal nature of film and filmmaking.

They also discuss the problem of age in Hollywood and how some producers still discriminate against actors simply because of when they were born.

Finally, No Coast welcomes WGN Radio host Amy Guth to the program to dig into the recent controversial comments made by legendary director James Cameron about the film “Wonder Woman” and the letter penned by the ex-wife of geek icon Joss Whedon that revealed why the director might not be the progressive person he claims to be.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

Director David Holcombe of Soft Cage also returns to the show to talk about cinema of resistance, including The Battle of Algiers, Rome Open City and Do The Right Thing. Tom, Conor and David comment on the powerful nature of movies depicting the fight against oppression and how they can influence the real world.

Tom and Conor also talk about The Walking Dead’s profit sharing controversy, the business behind MoviePass and the potential end of the deal between Disney and Netflix.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

There are plenty of movies out there with massive cult followings: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Big Lebowski and Donnie Darko are some of the most beloved out there among hundreds of others. But what makes a film a “cult” film? Can you make a cult film intentionally? What is the quintessential cult film? The No Coast crew seeks the answers.

As ever, Tom and Conor also take a look at the biggest stories in the industry, including the controversy surrounding “Dunkirk” and its failure to depict the contributions of Indian soldiers.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

On this episode, Tom and Conor are joined by No Coast’s resident horror expert, writer and director Nate Waters. Together they look back on the legendary career of George A. Romero, the godfather of the zombie genre.

The No Coast gang discuss Romero’s classic zombie flicks as well as some of his lesser known but equally fantastic films.

Plus, they do a recap of some of their favorite films of 2017 so far and share some of the biggest stories in film.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

EhrynSka and Shea Hardacre both star in Chicago-centric web series, Collective Failures, which spotlights the “underground” (air-quotes required) DIY music collective scene. Ehryn talks about deciding to write the show, guided by a Second City class… and follow through  on directing, producing and acting in it. Shea chimes in to talk more about the scene, the music and his involvement with the shows.

Then, the gang all shares  their favorite movie soundtracks and discuss why music is so important in setting the tone for films.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook. This week’s music by Seasonal Men’s Wear.

Tom chats with author and former Chicago Tribune arts writer Mark Caro about his excellent screening series “Is It Still Funny?” at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre where Mark puts supposedly timeless comedy to the test and then leads a post-screening discussion to answer the question, “Is It Still Funny?”.

Plus, Tom and Lise discuss two big casting controversies in Hollywood and try to put together their ultimate “Stream Team” of streaming services to get the best movies and T.V. shows on demand.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

Julian talks about the history and qualities of the 70mm film format and gives a sneak preview of the Music Box’s upcoming fest which runs June 30th to July 15th. Get your tickets here.

Plus, Jake Weisman of Capra Movie House returns to “Enter The Cage” and talk about the 20th anniversary of “Con Air” and its legacy in the action film canon.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

Afternoon Snatch is an unapologetically queer web comedy about heartbreak and the importance of community. Following Annie (Ruby Western), the humor editor at a local feminist magazine, Afternoon Snatch navigates one awkward situation after another while highlighting the importance of identity, friendship and love.

Ruby and Kayla discuss the origins of the series, including the very real life situation that inspired it and the importance of creating art that speaks and celebrates the queer community.

Plus, the very first edition of “Missing Reels” and Tom and Conor comment on Sony Pictures recent idea to sell “clean” versions of films.

Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

Soft Cage Films is a non-profit film production company that is dedicated to engaging the public through the production and promotion of socially relevant films that use experimental techniques to challenge traditional notions of society and to explore psychological truths. Director David Holcombe and cinematographer Adam Blaszkiewicz talk about the formation of Soft Cage, their collaborative creative energy and how their films capture the character and spirit of Chicago.

Filmmaker Nick Alonzo discusses his own film, “S***cago”, and how it functions as a darkly comedic diary of life in Chicago. He also chats about his upcoming double feature screening with Soft Cage and the similar themes and attitudes between their films.

Plus, the gang pitches their favorite films of the 21st century (so far) and Tom and Conor look at the problem of cinematic universes in blockbuster films.

This week, hosts Tom Hush and Conor Cornelius welcome writer/director Matt Storc to the show to talk about his new feature film, “Take Back the Knife”.

The film centers around a group of three “final girls” who have escaped psychos, murderers and radioactive lake zombies and are looking for a relaxing camping getaway. However, these girls are far from safe when a new terror stalks them deep in the woods and they must flip the script on horror movie victimhood.

Storc talks about the long production process, the creative influences that permeate the film’s style and his efforts to create distinct female characters that subvert cliche.

The gang also takes a look at the “Alien” franchise in a new segment called “Series Business” and Tom and Conor discuss the controversy surrounding Alamo Drafthouse’s all-women Wonder Woman screenings.

Like the show? Follow No Coast Cinema on Facebook.

Sinema Obscura is a lot of things: a film club, a screening series and an excuse to watch movies. For John, it’s an opportunity to bring together up and coming filmmaking talent and foster a rich creative community. Tom, Conor talk with John about his cinematic influences, the creation of Sinema Obscura and why he believes Chicago is the place to find the next generation of cinematic talent.

Plus, how the Writer’s Guild of America avoided a strike, Jordan Peele’s first-look deal with Universal Pictures and a look back on the incredible career of the late Jonathan Demme.

This week Tom and Conor sit down with Nate Waters and K.R. Brooks of Into The Void Films. Both veterans of filmmaking, Nate and K.R. talk about their experiences working on sets, the formation of Into The Void Films and their mutual love of horror films.

Plus, they look at the reasons behind the financial failure “Ghost In The Shell”, the updated Academy rules for Animated Features and discuss the recent renaissance of the horror genre.

Every episode hosts Tom Hush and Conor Cornelius focus on the writers, directors, producers and promoters that make up Chicago’s unique film community along with cinema news and much more.

This episode, Tom and Conor chat with writer/director Jake Weisman of Capra Movie House. Weisman discusses his upbringing in Vermont, his film heroes and influences, his experience interning in L.A. and his film “Scrapers”.