The Reel Woman

In this episode author, Jessica Raney and I discuss the quality and long-lasting influence of two classics of the Universal horror series. We look at 1933’s The Invisible Man and 1941’s The Wolf Man. Pick up the Halloween issue of Stitched magazine to read Jessica Raney’s article and short story.

A conversation with writer and photographer Mark Vieira about Hollywood’s Pre-Code era films of 1930-1934. Why did the era begin? and what brought it to such an abrupt end? We look at some of the stars of the period such as Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, and Mae West. As well as some of the movies that defined the period, including but not limited to, The Divorcee, Red-Headed Woman, She Done Him Wrong, and Baby Face. Click on the title Forbidden Hollywood: The Pre-Code Years 1930-1934 to purchase on Amazon or visit his website: markavieira.com

A discussion with Dr. Christopher Ames, the president of Russell Sage College, about his book “Movies About The Movies: Hollywood Reflected”. We focus on two movies from his book - Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels (1942), and Gene Kelly, and Stanley Donen’s Singin’ In The Rain (1952). We also look at two movies not in his book - Michel Hazanavicius’ black and white, mostly silent Best Picture winner The Artist (2011), and the Coen Bros.’ Hail, Caesar! (2016). What do these movies say about Hollywood? What do these movies say about America? And why are movies about Hollywood and the moviemaking process so popular?

Intimacy coordinator Ann James joins me to discuss the burgeoning field of intimacy coordination. What is it? What’s the history? The training, and what she’s doing to diversify the field. Her podcast is:Intimacy Choreography in ConversationFind Ann on IG: @intimacycoordinatorsofcolor

Michael Niederman and Daniel McCoy, the hosts of Whiskey Flicks Live, join me to talk about three cult films that have a basis in Greek Mythology. Films discussed are The Warriors (1979), Xanadu (1980), and Clash of the Titans (1981). We get into the hair, the outfits, and the music. We try to figure out what subway The Warriors use to get back to Coney Island and of course the magic and charm of Gene Kelly. Follow my guests on IG @whisky-flicks-live and join their FB group Whisky Flicks Live!

My guest for this episode is author Jessica Raney. We enter the world of serial killers this week as we discuss the book and film adaptation of both The Collector and Silence of the Lambs. Jessica’s latest release, Rack and Ruin is the final book in her Appalachian-Supernatural-Noir series. Her other works include a zombie Apocalypse adventure, These Violent Delights, and two collections of short stories, Oddballs and Dreadful Pennies. She has also co-written a collection of short, dark fiction, Tales from the Den: Volume I.  Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click titles to purchase on Amazon.

Author John Oller and I discuss the life and career of screen legend Jean Arthur. We look at her work with directors Frank Capra, Howard Hawks, and George Stevens.

From 1970 to 1972, Anne Perryman, my mother, traveled through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. She was a freelance journalist and she joins me this episode to discuss the 1984 film The Killing Fields - a film about real-life journalists and photographers (some of whom she knew) in Cambodia from 1973 to 1979. Anne shares stories and a unique insight into the film.

Former high-school film teacher (and my cousin) Nate Duell and I discuss the 1937 Fritz Lang film You Only Live Once starring Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sydney. We explore its place in film history as an influential forerunner to the Film Noir genre and style. S2|Ep. 9: Fritz Lang, Henry Fonda and the Seeds of Film Noir The Reel Woman Download

After a longer than expected hiatus, The Reel Woman is back with the always lovely Dr. Victoria Amador. Victoria has returned to talk about the biography she has written about the great Classic Hollywood actress Dame Olivia de Havilland. Click the title to purchase Victoria’s book Olivia de Haviland: Lady Triumphant from Amazon. S2|Ep. 8: Olivia De Havilland: Lady Triumphant The Reel Woman Download

In this episode, I talk with Casey Herd, former principal dancer, of the Dutch National Ballet. Casey is currently working on a YouTube docuseries called Ballet Rising. With the series, Casey and his crew are focusing on the stories of people around the world who, through their love for classical ballet, are redefining and elevating ballet to a more inclusive and global art form.

Filmmaker Tinisha Brugnone talks about how a spontaneous tour of Idlewild, Michigan, not only led to her documentary film With Love From Idlewild but to the creation of the Idlewild International Film Festival.

In this episode, I talk with avant-garde performance artist Satori Circus about his career, his longevity and about Being Satori Circus a documentary about him that is currently in production. we touch on his influences and where he’d like Satori to go next.

Rick Minnich and Matt Sweetwood discuss their current film The Strait Guys a documentary about a project to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait that would connect Russia and the United States. We also discuss some of their past films such as Forgetting Father and Beerland.

Haleem “Stringz” Rasul is a dancer, a choreographer, and director of the 2014 documentary Jitterbugs: Pioneers of Jit about the uniquely Detroit dance style of Jit. We discuss how Haleem was introduced to dance, and to Jit and how he became the self-appointed ambassador of the Detroit dance style.

Jason Zumwalt, a screenwriter in both the comedy and horror genres, joins me to discuss the connection between horror and comedy. Many films are discussed but the focus is on Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) and Cabin in the Woods (2012).

Vintage clothing store owner and aficionado, Ramona Dandridge and I discuss her a few of her favorite high fashion and vintage clothing moments in cinema history and how they’ve lasted to be relevant in 2019. movies discussed are: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mahogany and Harlem Nights.

In this episode I speak with documentary filmmaker James Spooner on his groundbreaking film afro-punk (2003). We cover his experience in the punk scene, the genesis of the movie, the production, reception and the movement it has spawned.

Former high school film teacher Nate Duell and I discuss the films of Billy Wilder and Ernst Lubitsch.

How did it come to pass that in 1990 one of the biggest feminist films of the year was directed by a man and one of the most masculine films of the year was directed by a woman?

Much has been both said and written about the time that F. Scott Fitzgerald spent working in Hollywood. And much of it has been negative. English professor and F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar Tom Cerasulo has a different opinion. The author of Authors Out Here: Fitzgerald, West, Parker and Schulberg in Hollywood Cerasulo and I discuss the possibility that Fitzgerald’s experience in Hollywood was not only not negative but was very positive and fruitful.

While Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was knocking on doors in the 13th district of Detroit during her congressional campaign, Michael Moore was working on his next film - Fahrenheit 11/9. He wanted her to be a part of his movie so he joined her for an afternoon of door knocking in Detroit. Recorded in January of 2019, Congresswoman Tlaib and I discuss that afternoon with Michael, their friendship, her contribution to his movie and her plans to take a group of Washington insiders to Palestine.

In this episode I speak with former elementary school film teacher Steven LaVigne about his favorite musicals to both screen and teach. Many musicals are mentioned but our focus is on three classic Hollywood musicals - The Wizard of Oz (1939), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and Gigi (1958).

Run Lola Run (1998) is an independent German film from the late 1990s which features an almost entirely techno soundtrack. Cornelius Harris, the current label manager for and former musical member of the iconic Detroit techno group Underground Resistance joins me to discuss the film, its soundtrack and the musical bond between Berlin and Detroit.

Rap, hip-hop and graffiti grew up tied together on the streets of New York and legendary, New York DJ Rob Swift was there to witness it. In this episode we discuss the iconic hip-hop movie Wild Style (1983) which Swift says captures a very specific moment in the early history of rap and hip-hop.

Jerry Carlson was my first film professor at the City College of New York. A mentor and friend he is an encyclopedia of film knowledge. I was thrilled to finally have him on the show to discuss one of my favorite genres - Film Noir. Our discussion covers not just the classic film noir movies but the history of Film Noir as a genre and a technique.

Duane Ferguson and I talk about the most influential and impactful movies and directors of our childhood. From Steven Spielberg to Jim Henson to Spike Lee. Focus is on movies of the 1970s and 1980s but we also move into the present to discuss what we find most relevant today.

Dr. Victoria Amador is a British and American Gothic film and literature scholar, who has published numerous articles on the gothic in film and literature. She is the author of The Gothic Portal: An Online Resource for Academics and Aficionados of Gothic Cultural Productions From 1976-2008. In this episode we discuss the character of the female vampire in cinema. our focus is on four female-centric vampire films. Dracula's Daughter, Vampire Lovers, Only Lovers Left Alive, and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

This is the first episode of The Reel Woman, a podcast focused on all things cinematic: past, present and future.