It's after Labor Day, so you know what that means? Time for me to recount my annual trip to Dragon*Con, the genre convention that takes place in Atlanta. Because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, things were a bit different, but I loved the weekend down there all the same. I hope you enjoy!

I wouldn't say that I love David Fincher as a filmmaker, but the films of his I love, I really love. Of those films, few have my affection more than his 1997 thriller, "The Game". This is one of those movies I've wanted to discuss for a while- and I missed it for its 25th anniversary- but with Fincher having a new film coming out later this year, the time seemed right to finally talk about this film. (It also provides a good complimentary episode to my Frankenheimer episode earlier in the month.) Joining me to discuss the film is Carlo from The Movie Loot podcast, which will have its own Fincher discussion soon. I hope you enjoy!

This is another episode I've been looking forward to for a year or so. John Frankenheimer is one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time, but also someone who doesn't get their due respect. In the 1960s he directed a trilogy of thrillers that delve into the anxieties of a changing political and societal landscape, and in preparing for this episode, they all continue to exert a hold now, and feel very relevant in their own ways. Join myself and actor Timothy J. Cox as we discuss "The Manchurian Candidate", "Seven Days in May" and "Seconds". I hope you enjoy!The closing piece is Brian's End Credits track for the short film, "The Case: Running Deadman."

Last year, it appeared that the greatest film composer of all-time, John Williams, might be retiring after "The Fabelmans" and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny." Now, we are not sure, but it's still a great time to honor the maestro whose music has led so many people to listening to film music. In this episode, I'm joined by Darin Lundberg from NostalgiaCast, Dr. Becky O'Brien, Danielle Solzman from Solzy and the Movies, and Kelly from Big Shiny Robot. I hope you enjoy!The closing piece is "Ahsoka's Theme," composed by Brian Skutle, inspired by the work of John Williams.

**This podcast was recorded during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movies being covered here wouldn't exist.Film preservation is vital to keeping film alive, and right now, we are at a perilous moment for the practice. Today's guest was on in 2022 as he launched a new streaming site for showing classic films as a part of Film Detective; this year, he is still in the film preservation industry, but with a new venture, Film Masters. Joining me once again is Phil Hopkins, and we discuss the challenges of restoring classic B-movies, some of the films that matter to him, and why a resource like "Mystery Science Theater 3000" can aid in passing films down. I hope you enjoy!

After an episode record required being rescheduled, Brian takes time to reflect on the podcast, where it's been, and where it's going, as well as share some meaningful film experiences from the past few years.

This ended up being a much deeper discussion than intended, but it is one worth listening to. Sexploitation cinema can mean selling sex for a number of reasons, and in my talk with Jason from Binge Movies, we run the gamut in terms of three of those reasons. Listen to us discuss the state of film criticism before diving into "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls", "Emmanuelle" and "The Blue Lagoon," and the sometimes-problematic ways they exploit our reasons for wanting sex on screen.

After a brief break, the Sonic Cinema Podcast returns, and with a guest that has been away for far too long. This time, independent filmmaker Chris Esper returns, and the subject is one of the godfathers of the American independent film movement as we know it, John Cassavetes. All of these were blind spots for both of us, as we discuss "Shadows," "Faces," "A Woman Under the Influence," as well as the modern independent filmmaker struggle along the way. I hope you enjoy!

The Atlanta Film Festival for 2023 has come to a close. In this episode, I discuss the experience of the festival, some of my favorite films of the fest, and share my interviews with George R.R. Martin and Vincent D'Onofrio on the red carpet for "Night of the Cooters." I hope you enjoy!

One of my favorite films of the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival was the meditative sci-fi film, "Red Earth". On the night of its premiere, I had the chance to discuss it with director Georg Koszulinski, cinematographer Kate E. Hinshaw and producer Tiffany Albright, and it was great to discuss this complex film with them.