Filmmaker’s Compass Podcast

On this week's episode, we are going back 50 years. Taking a look at the Science Fiction film Logan's Run (1976). What do we think of the movie through the lens of today? Was a victim of its time? Now that Dustin has seen Super Girl (2026), we discuss the film and why we think it is bombing at the Box Office! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Happy Birthday America! As we prepare for the Fourth of July, we compare two lists of the best fourth of July films - one from Entertainment Weekly and another from the Deseret News—to build our own ultimate Fourth of July playlist. Then we explore 10 filming locations we would have to visit on our Epic JULY 4th Roadtrip! Finally, what 3 films are we locking in a vault for people to watch on the 500th Birthday of the United States? Happy Fourth, send pictures!

Your favorite Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody, are back again, this time in Toy Story 5! What do we think about the movie? Does Toy Story suffer from franchise fatigue like some of the other Toy Story films? Where do we rank this one when we compare it to the rest of the films? Is this the hit that Disney needed to kick off the summer? Have you seen Toy Story 5, and did you like it? Let's discuss!

Spielberg is back, his new movie, Disclosure Day, is in theaters, so of course, we are discussing this one! SPOILERS THROUGHOUT! The movie has mixed reviews, so we try to explain why. How does this compare to other Spielberg movies? What films for other major directors have been major disappointments? Check it out, and make sure you share your thoughts on Disclosure Day with us!

Spoiler Warning! On this episode, we are diving into two of the recent movies at the box office. The recent Masters of the Universe movie, and Obsession. What are our thoughts about both movies, and how will Hollywood change as a result of this May 2026?

Things have been wild in the Box Office this past week - we had to break it down further. The Mandalorian and Grogu in total freefall, and films like Backrooms and Obsession are on fire. Aside from breaking down the box office and the future of Hollywood in further detail, D-Man rewrites The Mandalorian - the way it should have been made, and we discuss our Favorite Clint Eastwood Films.

There is a new Star Wars Movie in the theater, and nothing could make D-Man more excited. But not everyone is happy about this, and we have a few thoughts. What did the guys think of the movie? Is this the Star Wars movie we wanted, or do Star Wars fans deserve something better? Listen, and make sure to share your thoughts.

"I've feel the need, the need for speed!" It's been 40 years since we fell in love with Top Gun. To celebrate, Paramount rereleased Top Gun (1985) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) into theaters, and we cannot be more psyched. After re-watching both awesome movies on the big screen, we cannot be more pumped to discuss. Here we go!

Mortal Kombat 2 just dropped! Was this a "Flawless Victory" for Warner Bros? Or a total "Brutality" for the fandom? FIGHT! Now that D-Man and CP have both seen it, they have to discuss their thought on the film - characters, story, and effects? Was this the type of movie MK fans deserve? Tune in and make sure you share your thoughts regarding the move and Mortal Kombat in general! Thanks for listening!

"My Name is Gladiator!" On this episode of the podcast, we rewatch one of the greatest epics ever made, Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000). This Best Picture Winner was a defining film in the genre and helped reinvent the Historical Epic on the big screen. Looking at it more than 25 years later, what do we think of the movie, of Russel Crowe, and of Epic's in general!

The guys continue with their Marvel Rewatch - watching the Phase 4 films, The Eternals (2021) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). This week, we dissect the highs and lows of the MCU with these two films. Watch along to join the conversation!

Inspired by the Artemis II mission, we are talking space travel! What better way to do that than talking about Ron Howard's Apollo 13 (1995)? What are some of our favorite hard-science science fiction films, and what does D-Man want to do if he goes to space? Thank you, NASA, for inspiring us to believe in the impossible, and thank you, JFK, for challenging us to go to space for the first time!

We finally watched the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie... and we have thoughts. How does this compare to the Super Mario Bros (2023) film? Where does this movie fall short? What did we think about the introduction of Fox McCloud? Finally, we end the episode by listing our favorite Mario games of all time.

Here we go, in preparation for the release of Avengers: Doomsday later this year, we decided to rewatch Phases 4, 5, and 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First up, the movies Black Widow (2021) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021). What do we think about these movies upon rewatching them? How do they hold up? Is Phase 4 off to a good start here? Watch along, and share your thoughts!

On this weeks episode of the podcast, we continue with the rewatch of the MCU (Phase 4). This time we are watching Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Four years later, what works and where did Marvel miss the mark?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze just turned 35, and we both had to celebrate by catching it while it was on the big screen. How does it stack up against the original? Is this the best of the Ninja Turtles films, or have childhood warped our perspective?

We just watched the 98th Academy Awards, and there's a lot to discuss. The big winner was One Battle After Another. Join us as we discuss The Oscars!

As we get ready for the 98th Academy Awards, we discuss the nominees and who Vegas thinks will be the big winners for the night! Make sure to check out the Oscar's on March 15th!

For this week's episode, we watch the documentary " 1982: The Greatest Year in Geek (2022) - and we had plenty of thoughts. Aside from reminiscing about awesome 80's movies released that year, we discuss what ones we need to go back and watch and what ones were out favorite. We also talk about recent Hollywood news, specifically Netflix's decision to no longer pursue the purchase of Warner Bros.

Inspired by the US Women's Hockey Team winning the gold medal at the Olympics, we decided to talk about the movie Miracle (2004) and compare it to the recent Netflix documentary Miracle: The Boys of '80 (2026). What makes this one of the greatest stories in sports? Why, after 45 years, do we still love this so much? Join D-Man and CP as we talk Hockey, the Olympics, and why sports storytelling.

Disney’s New CEO and the AI Controversy No One Can Ignore! This week on the podcast, we break down the leadership shakeup at The Walt Disney Company and what a new CEO could mean for Disney Parks, movies, and the future of storytelling. We also look back at Bob Iger’s second term and ask: Did it actually fix Disney? Plus, we dive into the growing backlash against AI in Hollywood, including the #TheftIsntInnovation movement and the rise of non-AI studios formed to protect human artists. Join the conversation and share your thoughts below.

That's right, reporting to you on all the excitement from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the final one in Park City, Utah. CP describes what the festival was like and some of the films he watched during the festival. Did you make it to Sundance? Are you planning to be at Sundance 2027, the first in the new location at Boulder, CO?

On this episode of the podcast, D-Man and CP discuss big things happening over at Disney. It's time to discuss Avatar 3 (Fire and Ash) - is it as revolutionary and cutting-edge as the first two? Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down from the God-King at Lucasfilm. What does this mean for the future of Star Wars? What do you think? Share your thoughts, and thanks for listening.

Happy 2026! What better way to welcome the New Year than by looking back at all the great movies - and terrible movies we watched last year? What did we love? What did we hate? What surprised us most? What are we most excited about in 2026? Have a listen and let us know what you thought about the 2025 movies, and what you are looking forward to in 2026?

It’s that time of year! Christmas time is here, and we have some fun on the podcast, talking about Christmas movies and reliving some good holiday memories. Thanks for tuning in, and we hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!!

Ho Ho Ho! Almost Christmas time, to celebrate, the guys take a look back on the Holiday classic Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and they discuss if it is better - or worse - than the original.

Lots of things are happening in the world of film! Netflix is buying Warner Bros, what are the implications for film and filmmakers? Disney also announced a partnership with OpenAI. What does this mean for creators? Has Tarantino has thought about Paul Dano? Finally - since it is the Holidays - D-Man provides some Holiday Trivia. Make sure to share your thoughts!

The holiday season has started, and in this episode of the podcast. The guys talk about AI actors starring in movies and the future of Disney now that Bob Iger has announced plans to step down in 2026. The guys discuss their Top 5 "Non-Christmas, Christmas movies". And finally, what are the ultimate gifts to buy the movie lover in your life? Let us know what you think!

Welcome to another holiday episode of FCP! This week we are discussing the 1987 Thanksgiving classic movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles by John Hughes starring Steve Martin and John Candy. We also discuss which characters we would like to have Thanksgiving with and explore the box office for the remainder of the year. We hope you enjoy the podcast, have an incredible holiday, and thanks for listening. Happy Thanksgiving!!

On this week's episode of the podcast, we talk about some major Hollywood news! October 2025 was the worst October at the box office in years... but it doesn't stop there. Warner Bros. is for sale, and we take a look at everyone who is buying. Finally, the stage at the Hollywood Bowl was named after John Williams, so D-man and CP each list the John Williams scores they are most excited to see performed live. Please share your thoughts!

That's Right, we are Going Back...to the past? Back to the Future (1985) celebrates its 40th anniversary, so D-Man and CP had to go see it on the Big Screen! We dive into a conversation about the iconic time travel flick! To help, we invite back Kaitlin Moose as a special guest! Tune in, and be sure to share your thoughts!

Happy Halloween! On this week's episode, we're talking about one of our favorite holidays. What are the Halloween must watch films? What are some of our Halloween memories from the Midwest? We share some Horror movie myths and misconceptions. And we end the episode with a Horror Movie Tournament - we put the Antagonists of our favorite Horror movies in a bracket to determine who would be the final villian standing! Hope you enjoy the show and have a great holiday. Thanks for listening!

It’s podcast time! This week we are diving into Disney’s new blockbuster release Tron: Ares. We explore what worked and what didn’t, how it meshes with the rest of the Tron franchise, and rank out the live action movies. Be sure to continue the conversation and thanks for listening!

On this week's episode, we finally get to discussing Hulu's new series, Alien: Earth. We had been waiting for D-Man to catch up; now that he has finished, we can continue last week's discussion of Alien (1979) by talking about the latest installment of the franchise. Keep the conversation going!

Halloween Season is underway. And D-Man and CP decided to talk about one of their favorite scary movies, Riddley Scott's Alien (1979). The film is a masterclass in science fiction and horror, and the guys discuss why the movie works so well. Thanks for watching!

On this episode of FCP, D-Man and CP explore the future of the theatrical experience. After D-man and friends visited Cosm in Los Angeles to watch The Matrix (1999), he had lots of thoughts. Similarly, his in-laws visited The Sphere in Las Vegas to watch The Wizard of Oz (1939). The guys break down both experiences to predict the future of the movie theater. They also discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's newest film, One Battle After Another (2025)!

In honor of the recent "Batman Day," we decided to take a look back at the Batman movie you may have missed, The Mask of the Phantasm (1993). That's right, the first theatrically released, animated Batman film. We bring on a special guest and Batman expert, Anthony Torres, to dive into this animated classic. Happy Batman Day! Make sure to join the conversation on social media.

This week on the podcast, D-Man and CP discuss the lost Comedy film. Why haven’t we seen many new comedy classics since COVID? Why do comedy sequels usually fall short? We discuss Lethal Weapon, Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix, and list the top comedy sequels we would actually like to see. Be sure to continue the conversations and thanks for listening to the show!

That's right, the original summer blockbuster Jaws has returned to the movie theater's for its 50th Anniversary. Obviously the guys have to talk about it. We welcome a special guest, director and filmmaker Kaitlin Moose to talk all things Jaws. We talk stories behind the film. Watching in remastered for the Anniversary release. The Jaws attraction on the Universal Studio backlot. As well as a visit to the original filming locations in Martha's Vineyard. Hope you enjoy the episode and thanks for listening!

This week, D-Man and CP break down the 2025 Summer box office in detail. They explore all the summer box off surprises from the super hero movie line up of Superman and The Fantastic Four, to the surprise movie hits, some of the big misses, and all the unexpectedness along the way. Be sure to send comments and continue the conversation! Thanks for tuning in :)

On this week's episode of the podcast, we discuss the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie (1990) - the original one - returning to theaters for the film's 35th anniversary. What was it like seeing the original Turtles movie on the big screen? We talk about the upcoming theatrical release of Jaws to celebrate the 50th, and how exciting it is that AMC, and theaters in general, are turning things around. Be sure to continue the conversations and thanks for tuning in!

On this week's episode, we discuss the newest entry in Marvel's Cinematic Universe, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. D-Man and CP give their takes on what worked and what didn’t. They compare this film to previous Fantastic Four films, as well as discuss the overall future of the MCU and DCU.

We return to talk about CP’s experience at Comic-Con 2025 in San Diego. What did he see? What is he looking forward to? What were some of his favorite Cosplays? We break down the new Dino Jurassic World Rebirth (2025). What did we like? What did we hate? What directions do we wish Universal would take the Jurassic Park Franchise? Let us know your thoughts!

We’re back! That's right, after a brief hiatus, D-Man and CP are back to talk about movies! What is the first one - James Gunn's Superman (2025). CP has lots and lots of opinions about this one. What was the good? What was the bad? What was the ugly? And what do the guys think about the future of the DCU moving forward?

In this week's episode, D-man and CP discuss the finale of the MCU. The debate whether Captain America have been the one to make the sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame instead of Iron Man? Are you team Steve? Or Team Tony? Check it out and share your thoughts!

On this episode of the podcast, D-man and CP take a look back at one of the most troublesome parts of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy - the love story between Anakin and Padme. What worked? What didn't work? How could it have been done better? And how does their romance impact the greater Star Wars Universe?

Happy 2025! As we welcome in the New Year, D-man and CP look back at the movies they watched in 2024! What movies were their favorites? What movies were their least favorites? What movies surprised them the most? What do they still need to watch? And what releases are they most looking forward to in the year 2025?

Shorter episode this week but we have fun discussing Red One, the new Superman trailer, and our Christmas Eve movie list. Let us know your thoughts and hope you enjoy the episode. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

This week we get the holiday spirit and discuss Xmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa movies! From our favorites, trivia, overrated/underrated, to why we don’t have as many new classics recently, we have fun exploring the holidays and Xmas movies. Be sure to continue the conversations and enjoy the show!

This week on the podcast we welcome Brian Wallace as a guest host to tell us all about his upcoming TV pilot “World Twistories”! We discuss the concept and origin of the show, unforeseen challenges, hosts, and its current festival run. It’s such an exciting opportunity to discuss a project currently in its development run and Brian provides such fascinating insight and behind the scenes notes. Brian, thanks for much for joining us and we hope everyone enjoys the show!