One of Us is a Filmmaker - a Nostalgic Movie Podcast

Screenplays are often the unsung heroes of film, acting as a necessary blueprint for the making a movie - so today in our season finale, Orion and Cassiah are diving into the secrets of screenwriting! So if you've ever wondered how writers even start writing a screenplay, or how writers work with a director, or how to build a career in the film industry, then tune in to this informative episode! 

Today, we look back at the original 'Spider-Man' trilogy, starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero, along with Kirsten Dunst as MJ and James Franco as Harry Osborn. Directed by Sam Raimi - famous for horror moves like the 'Evil Dead' - these films established the superhero genre in a new way, setting up what was to come by Marvel shortly after. We look at all three films, exploring why two of them were wildly successful, and the third instalment less so. So tune in, and remember - with great power, comes great responsibility! 

This week's movie throwback explores Emerald Fennell's social-media-storm 'Saltburn' (2023) starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike. Infamous for its creative use of bath water, grave sites and mega hit 'Murder on the Dance Floor', we look at whether the attention-grabbing film had something deeper behind it.  

In today's Great Debate, Orion and Cassiah get into discussing some of their top picks for most surprising performances by actors. Not to be confused with actors' best performances, we delve into the context behind each actor's filmography and past performances, and discuss our curated lists of top 5 performances that really stood out as being surprising or unexpected!

It's 2026! And what better time to look back and review the latest year of films - so tune in now to hear Orion and Cassiah discuss the good, the bad, the favourites, and surprising hits (and flops!) of 2025 cinema.  

This Christmas, One Of Us Is A Filmmaker IS all around - so tune into this week's movie throwback which is all about 'Love Actually' (2003)! We dive into the making of the movie, how the film has shaped pop culture, and how we can now look back at some of the storylines (stalking Keira Knightley?!) with a modern lens. 

In today's Great Debate, Orion and Cassiah look back at movies that were considered a 'miss' - whether that's a box office flop or a critical failure - but we think actually hit. From Spielberg's 'Hook', to Scorsese's  'Hugo', to Kubrick's 'The Shining', to Aardman and Dreamwork's 'Flushed Away', tune in to hear us discuss a whole host of movies! 

Orion and (particularly) Cassiah are really excited for today's 'Look Back at the Classics' episode which focuses on the Pixar landmark franchise 'Toy Story'. We look back at Toy Story 1-3, discussing the creative and production secrets behind such a perfect trilogy. We also discuss the controversial 'Toy Story 4' and how well it fits (or, how well it doesn't fit) into the 'Toy Story' canon. 

Today, Orion and Cassiah discuss the early Emma Stone classic, 'Easy A' (2010). One of Cassiah's nostalgic favourites, 'Easy A' set the standard for teen comedy movies of the era. So tune in to hear us chat all about the film's casting, our favourite moments, and more! 

Orion and Cassiah are BACK, kicking off our 6th season with the great debate. This week, we discuss Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner' and Denis Villeneuve's 'Blade Runner 2049' - two iconic sci-fi movies that stand alone in their own right. But the more important question is: which is better? 

In our fifth season finale special, Orion and Cassiah are thrilled to be chatting to "too cool" Meaghan Martin of 'Camp Rock' fame! Tune in as she tells us the pros and perils of being a child star, the ups and downs of the Disney machine, and much, much more! 

Today, Orion and Cassiah look back at the cult classic television show 'Freaks and Geeks' (1999-2000). Although this beloved series was cancelled after only one series, it launched the careers of some of the actors of our generation: James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and Seth Rogen to name a few. With a creative team behind it including the likes of Paul Feig, Judd Apatow and Mike White, this is one of the most underrated tv series for the history books! 

Today's movie throwback is the iconic 'The Return Of The Pink Panther' (1975) starring the comic genius Peter Sellers, and directed by Blake Edwards. Orion and Cassiah grew up watching this film on repeat, and this beloved crime comedy has become not only one of their comfort movies, but one of their favourite comedy films of all time.  

In today's episode, Orion and Cassiah look back at TWO of the iconic 90s supernatural shows: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Charmed'! We discuss the similarities and differences between the two, and ultimately decide which of "Chuffy" is the better show! 

Today, Orion and Cassiah are looking back at the most iconic Disney Channel Original movies that came out across the 2000s - from 'Cheetah Girls', to 'High School Musical', to 'Camp Rock', and many, many more - tune in now to hear us dive into this great collection of Disney Channel nostalgia! 

Flameo Hotmen! It's another episode of One of Us is a Filmmaker and today Cassiah and Orion discuss one his favourite tv shows - yet most hated movies - Avatar: The Last Airbender (or M. Night Disaster?). Why should you watch this epic masterpiece of television, and why should you avoid the film like the plague? Tune in to find out! 

So no one told you life was gonna be this way? Then you better tune in to our first ever purely dedicated TV episode, where Orion and Cassiah rank the iconic tv sitcom of FRIENDS seasons 1-10 from worst to best! And OH MY GOD, we also chat about some of our all-time favourite episodes, our favourite FRIEND, and favourite guest stars.  *Forgive Cassiah's FRIENDS faux pas during this episode - she meant to say that the Vegas episodes were at the end of season 5 not 6! 

This week, Orion and Cassiah are looking back at the cartoon classic that is 'Scooby Doo'! We talk all about the iconic tv show, the many made-for-tv animated films, as well as the two live-action, cult-following status movies 'Scooby Doo' (2002) and 'Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed' (2004).  

Happy New Year to our listeners! Orion and Cassiah begin this episode reflecting on the films that came out in 2024, including our favourite, our most surprising film (for both good and bad reasons...), and some of the best movie performances of the year. In the second half of the episode, we talk about our movie throwback of the week 'The Simpsons Movie' (2007) - a nostalgic favourite based on the iconic tv series. We chat about Homer, Marge, and the whole gang, so tune in now - d'oh! 

We're BACK with season 5, starting with a very festive episode where we debate some of the best animated Christmas movies of all time. From 'The Snowman' (1982) to 'The Polar Express' (2004) to 'Klaus' (2019), tune in to hear what Orion and Cassiah's top 3 animated films are that get them into the holiday spirit! 

In this very special season 4 finale, Orion and Cassiah chat to the brilliant Nicole Rixon, founder of Bridget Productions. We chat a little bit about Nicole's career, how she founded her own production company, and what inspires her. So tune in as we demystify the role of production companies in filmmaking, and how to break into the industry yourself! 

Today, Orion and Cassiah look back at some classic sci-fi movies of the 2010s - both the hits, and the misses! From Arrival, to Inception, to Ex-Machina, to Passengers, and many many more, tune in to listen to us chat all things science fiction! 

Orion and Cassiah are BACK, talking about the Indian Hindi-language musical / sports epic 'Lagaan' (2001) starring Aamir Khan and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. A hugely nostalgic movie with fantastic music (shout out to the incredible A. R. Rahman!), this veryyyyy long film surpassed all expectations and made us excited about cricket! 

"Good heavens Gromit, another episode already?!" That's right folks, this week Orion and Cassiah are talking about the iconic British duo of Wallace and Gromit, from legendary creator Nick Park and Aardman Studios. We discuss the the ins and outs of each movie, the franchise's film evolution and, finally, rank them from best to worst. Time to pull out some Wensleydale and get cracking!

What do 'The Incredibles', 'Ratatouille' and 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' have in common? Well, they are all helmed by esteemed film director, Brad Bird. In today's episode, Orion and Cassiah take a more focused look at this incredible filmmaker's animation movies, and discuss a little bit about his origin story, how he built his career, and how he ultimately made some of Pixar's most succesful films of all time.

In 2001, Reese Witherspoon portrayed the smart, sweet and pink-loving lawyer Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde' - an iconic, cultural movie of the early 2000s, featuring actors like Jennifer Coolidge, Luke Wilson and Selma Blair. Today, Orion and Cassiah discuss some well-known and less-well-known movie facts (like, we almost didn't have a bend and snap scene?!), their favourite lines and scenes ("what, like it's hard?"), and how well the movie stands up today. 

In this week's episode, Orion and Cassiah debate childhood movies which were both terrifying and traumatising - from 'Jumanji' to 'Labyrinth' to 'Coraline'... In essence, kids movies that really shouldn't have been kids movies! 

"Hey now! Hey now!" Today's episode is what dreams are made of as Orion and Cassiah discuss the OG Disney teen queen Hilary Duff. We talk about her iconic role of Lizzie McGuire, as well as her many other movies in her classic teen era between 2001 and 2004. 

"Aaaaaaaaah! Watch out for that tree!" In today's movie throwback, Orion and Cassiah discuss the 90s live action Disney movie adaptation 'George of the Jungle' (1997) starring Brendan Fraser and Leslie Mann - particularly looking at how it played such a significant part of Cassiah's childhood! 

Following on from our Star Wars part one episode, Orion and Cassiah jump back into debating which of the films from the originals (70s-80s) and prequels (90s-00s) is the best, before answering the all-important question: which was better, the original Star Wars trilogy, or the prequel trilogy? 

Welcome back to season 4 of One Of Us Is A Filmmaker! We are so excited to kick off this season with a great debate all about the iconic space opera that is 'Star Wars' - credit to the exuberant mind of creator, writer and director George Lucas. In this part one of our two-part episode, we begin with a little quiz before we debate the space age question of which is better: the original Star Wars trilogy (70s-80s), or the prequel Star Wars trilogy (90s-00s)? 

Our season 3 finale special is a FIRST for One Of Us Is A Filmmaker, as Orion and Cassiah chat with a very special guest for the first time: film and TV composer, Hollie Buhagiar! We discuss the all important questions as to what makes great sound and music in a movie, including talking about some of the recent BAFTA and Academy Award winning films in Music and Sound Design. So tune in now! 

We were all equally as shook when Mia Thermopolis (aka Anne Hathaway) found out from the (literal) Queen Julie Andrews that she was Princess of Genovia in 2001's 'The Princess Diaries'. Directed by Gary Marshall and based on the book series by Meg Cabot, this week Orion and Cassiah look back at both 'The Princess Diaries' (2001) and 'The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement' (2004). 

This week, Orion and Cassiah discuss a Star Trek satire movie that is not necessarily well known, but is a beloved one - the cult sci-fi comedy 'Galaxy Quest' (1998)! Starring a killer cast such as Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman and Sam Rockwell, this satirical but wholesome movie has landed in the hearts of many a sci-fi fans! So never give up, never surrender, and never miss this hidden gem of a movie (and our chat about it!) 

DreamWorks Animation sometimes seems like the forgotten child after Disney and Pixar. But DreamWorks has created some absolutely BANGING franchises, from Shrek to Kung Fu Panda to Madagascar, and more. So this week, Orion and Cassiah debate which franchise is top dog (well, top Donkey!) in a joint ranking of the worst to the best DreamWorks 3D Animation franchise! 

Today, we look back at one of our classic cinematic childhood heroes - Jackie Chan! While he has an incredible career spanning many decades in both the East and the West, Orion and Cassiah grew up in the late 90s/early 00s era of 'Rush Hour', 'Shanghai Noon', and 'Jackie Chan Adventures!' So in this celebratory episode, expect a breakdown all about the man, the master, the legend, Jackie Chan. 

We're bringing in 2024 with a very special movie throwback, discussing director Rob Reiner's iconic 'The Princess Bride' (1987). We know what you're thinking... That's inconceivable! Well, tune in to hear us discuss our favourite scenes, lines and characters from the beloved film, as well as a little chat reflecting on some of the best cinema, tv and games from 2023. 

The holiday is season is upon us, and instead of discussing the best Christmas movies around, Orion and Cassiah share their top 5 movies to watch at Christmas - even though they're not technically Christmas movies. Get ready for a debate over what qualifies as a suitable film to watch during the festive period, and let us know some of your favourite Christmassy "Non-Christmas" movies too! 

In today's 'look back at the classics' episode, Orion and Cassiah discuss director McG's movie adaptation of a 70s classic TV series, starring Drew Barrymore (also produced by), Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz. We are of course talking about 'Charlie's Angels' (2000) and its sequel 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle' (2003). Get ready as we discuss the intertextual music video madness that is the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ movie franchise!  

"As if!" - the immortal words spoken by the one and only Alicia Silverstone in the classic 90s teen comedy 'Clueless' (1995). Today, Orion and Cassiah discuss the fun, the fashion and the facts behind this cult classic movie - so tune in as we dive into another movie throwback! 

Join us for the start of season 3 as Orion and Cassiah enter the wonderful, wizarding world of Harry Potter! Despite not being "Potterheads", listen as they discuss the eight Harry Potter movies, from 'The Philosopher's Stone' all the way to 'The Deathly Hallows: Part 2'. However, Orion and Cassiah are not only tasked with ranking the movies from worst to best, but they also have to agree on the final order (and as brother and sister, that's not an easy job)! 

In our Season 2 Finale Special, Orion and Cassiah discuss what exactly makes a perfect movie? Throughout our podcast, we've spoken about a LOT of movies - many of which are nostalgic favourites for us, but how do we distinguish between "favourite" and "perfect"? We also throw in some fan suggestions too, telling us not only what makes a perfect movie, but some of their perfect movies as well.

Today, Orion and Cassiah look back at the classic family franchise 'Spy Kids' (2001, 2002, 2003), created, written and directed by indie director Robert Rodriguez. We discuss the parallels between 'Spy Kids' and some of the greatest trilogies of our time, question whether Antonia Banderas should have replaced Gerald Butler in 'The Phantom of the Opera', and debate whether 2001 was truly the best year of cinema? 

Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge - listen to Orion and Cassiah as they run through the five D's of 'Dodgeball' (2004) and chat about this surprise hit comedy of the early noughties starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.  

"What team? One of Us is a Filmmaker. What team?! One of Us is a Filmmaker!" - Orion and Cassiah would love to live in a world as dramatic as 'High School Musical' (2006), but since we can't, we'll settle for having a chat all about the best Movie Musicals! In this week's episode, we chart a course through the history of Movie Musicals, from the Golden Age of musicals such as 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) and 'Singing in the Rain' (1952), to the resurgence in the 70s and 80s with hits like 'Grease' (1978) and 'Annie' (1982), to noughties revivals such as 'Hairspray' (2007) and 'Chicago' (2002). In doing so, Orion and Cassiah have to come to a consensus, and decide on the Top 5 Movie Musicals of all time. 

What about second podcast? As promised, Orion and Cassiah are back to talk about 'The Two Towers' (2002) and 'The Return of the King' (2003), as well as deciding which movie from Peter Jackson's epic 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy is their favourite. So tune into part 2 to hear us chat all things Hobbits, Ents, Orcs and more! 

This weekend, Orion and Cassiah are bringing a surprise DOUBLE EPISODE for you, all about Peter Jackson's iconic 'The Lord Of The Rings!' There was too much to say about this incredible trilogy and part 1 kicks off with some behind-the-scenes filmmaking secrets, before we dive into discussing 'The Fellowship Of The Ring' (2001). We also throw in a (albeit not too difficult) quiz, so let us know what you get on that. We hope you enjoy - it is a gift!  

"HELP IS ON THE WAY DEAR!" - one of the many iconic lines spoken by the comic genius Robin Williams in Chris Columbus' 'Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993). In this week's movie throwback, Orion and Cassiah discuss this classic 90s movie - dropping behind-the-scenes tidbits, sharing their favourite lines and scenes, and remembering the brilliance of the late great Robin Williams. 

In today's episode, Orion and Cassiah chat about the movie adaptations based on books by the iconic children's author Roald Dahl, debating which ones are 'good' and which ones are 'bad'! We're mostly keeping it old school, throwing it back to our nostalgic childhood classics such as 'The Witches' (1990), 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' (1971), and 'James and the Giant Peach' (1996) - but also expect some more recent adaptations such as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (2005) and 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (2009). So give it a listen, and join us in a world of pure imagination! 

Today, Orion and Cassiah look back at the early filmography of Lindsay Lohan - what we would call her LEGENDARY era, which includes hits such as 'The Parent Trap' (1998), 'Freaky Friday' (2003) and 'Mean Girls' (2004). Lindsay Lohan was a staple of so many of our childhoods, so listen to us gush about some of our most nostalgic movies ever - it's so fetch!