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Supporting Characters

Host Bill Ackerman talks to writers, bloggers, podcasters, fanzine publishers, programmers, preservationists and more about their creative endeavors and today’s film culture.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 18, 2017
Bill speaks to The Rialto Report’s Ashley West. West explains how his ongoing documentary project detailing the birth of the adult film industry in New York put him on the path to recording audio commentaries with figures like Radley Metzger, consulting on the HBO series THE DEUCE and co-founding The Rialto Report, a collection of podcasts, articles and photographs chronicling the history of the golden age of adult film. Other topics covered include: fanzines, the field recordings of Alan Lomax, the adult film work of Wes Craven, BOOGIE NIGHTS, the Golden Age Appreciation Fund, Video Nasties, Jamie Gillis, BARBARA BROADCAST and how an eBay bidding war can lead you to a PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO moment.
 
(Pretty much all NSFW) Links:
 
Visit The Rialto Report:
http://www.therialtoreport.com/
 
Learn about the annual Golden Age Appreciation Fund:
http://tgaafund.blogspot.com/
 
Read Ashley West (writing as Benson Hurst) and Mark Kernes of AVN on the life and career of actor Jamie Gillis:
https://distribpixblog.com/2010/02/25/the-life-of-jamie-gillis/
 
Hear the Rialto Report podcast: ‘More, More, More’: The Search for Andrea True, and the Creation of a Disco Sensation
http://www.therialtoreport.com/2017/05/21/more-more-more/
 
Hear the Rialto Report podcast: ‘Deep Sleep’ (1972): Deep, Deep Trouble
http://www.therialtoreport.com/2015/07/25/deep-sleep/
 
See C.J. Laing in BARBARA BROADCAST, featuring audio commentary by Ashley West and Radley Metzger:
http://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/barbara-broadcast-radley-metzger-blu-ray-dvd-all-region/
 
See locations from Russ Meyer’s FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! as they appear today:
http://www.therialtoreport.com/2017/11/19/faster-pussycat-kill-kill/
Dec 12, 2017
Bill talks to author and film critic Molly Haskell about some of the many contributions she’s made to film culture, from writing film criticism for publications like The Village Voice and Vogue to developing books like her landmark FROM REVERENCE TO RAPE: THE TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THE MOVIES and the recent STEVEN SPIELBERG: A LIFE IN FILMS. Other topics covered include: Feminism, Andrew Sarris, Leo McCarey, DIABOLIQUE, the Sarasota French Film Festival, Twitter, Pauline Kael, women’s films of the 1970s, film theory, Agnes Varda, the origins of the National Society Of Film Critics and New York film culture in the 1960s.
 
Visit Molly Haskell’s official site:
 
Hear a podcast containing the 2008 talk given by Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris at the Museum Of The Moving Image:
 
Read the joint review Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris wrote for Robert Altman’s NASHVILLE:
https://www.villagevoice.com/2006/11/21/a-critics-duet-on-nashville/
 
Hear Molly Haskell on the Film Comment Podcast:
 
Read Molly Haskell at Film Comment:
https://www.filmcomment.com/author/molly-haskell/
 
Read Molly Haskell’s essay on CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA for the Criterion Collection:
https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4120-iclouds-of-sils-maria
Nov 27, 2017
Bill talks to film journalist, special effects supervisor, podcaster and award-winning home video supplements producer Heather Buckley. They discuss her path from writing for Dread Central to co-producing the forthcoming feature film THE RANGER. Other topics include: J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum’s book MIDNIGHT MOVIES, punk rock, Martin Scorsese, applying a DIY ethic to working in corporate advertising, social media, the abuse of power in film culture, UNFORGIVEN, Michael Felsher and how hanging a poster of a character from Clive Barker’s NIGHTBREED can inadvertently result in one’s own exorcism.
 

Read about Heather Buckley’s film and supplementary feature credits on her Internet Movie Database page:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6286333/
 
Read Heather Buckley in Fangoria:
 
 
Read Heather Buckley in Dread Central, Vulture and Chemistry World:
https://muckrack.com/heather-buckley/articles
 
Listen to the Mass Hypnosis podcast:
http://masshypnosisnow.com/
 
 
Watch Heather Buckley’s interview with Tobe Hooper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6DYEhl5Wy8&t=85s
 
Listen to Heather Buckley discuss LEATHERFACE: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III on Scream Addicts:
http://www.screamaddicts.com/leatherface-tcm-iii-with-film-journalistproducer-heather-buckley/
 
Follow Heather Buckley on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/_heatherbuckley
Nov 13, 2017
Bill talks to author and film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum about some of his many endeavors in film culture, including books like MOVING PLACES and MOVIE WARS, his tenure as principal film reviewer at the Chicago Reader, and his involvement in multiple Orson Welles-related projects, ranging from THIS IS ORSON WELLES to THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND. Other topics include: Critical interactivity, identity politics in film criticism, André Téchiné, film culture in New York and Paris in the late '60s, confusing Art with Class, audio commentaries, TWIN PEAKS, hate mail, film festivals and how plagiarism can be a positive thing if your ideas are important.
 
 
Visit Jonathan Rosenbaum’s official website:
 
 
Jonathan Rosenbaum on THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT and GERTRUD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lfa-Xr9zI
 
Jonathan Rosenbaum on SATANTANGO
 
Jonathan Rosenbaum’s 1000 Essential Films:
 
Aug 14, 2017
Bill talks to writer, editor and podcaster Kat Ellinger about the various film culture projects she’s been involved in, from creating her first blog to co-hosting the Daughters Of Darkness podcast and serving as the Editor-In-Chief at Diabolique Magazine. Other topics covered include accents, Video Nasties, sexism in film culture, Heather Drain, Parental Advisory stickers, the importance of editors, audio commentaries, New Age travellers, the Japan Cuts film festival, Kat’s forthcoming book on Harry Kümel’s DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, work/life balance and the proper use of newspapers to ward of vampires.

 
Read Kat Ellinger at Diabolique Magazine:
https://diaboliquemagazine.com/author/kellinger/
 
Listen to the Daughters Of Darkness Podcast:
 
 
Read Kat Ellinger and Lee Gambin’s site This Film Is Better Than You…Deal With It:
https://thisfilmisbetterthanyou.wordpress.com/
 
See Kat Ellinger in the 1993 BBC documentary – Heart Of The Matter – Roaming Free:
 
Read Kat Ellinger at Senses Of Cinema:
http://sensesofcinema.com/author/kat-ellinger/
Jul 30, 2017
Bill talks to writer and film historian Tim Lucas about some of his many contributions to film culture, from early mimeographed fanzines and articles like “The Shape Of Rage” and "The Butchering of Dario Argento" to award-winning efforts like Video Watchdog magazine and the book MARIO BAVA: ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. Other topics covered include David Cronenberg and the filming of VIDEODROME, audio commentaries, Kim Newman, George A. Romero, Craig Ledbetter, Quentin Tarantino, penning profane subtitles for RABID DOGS, The Jefferson Airplane, Video WatchBlog, the “post-horror” label and how reviewing Ken Russell’s THE DEVILS for your high school newspaper doesn’t seem so strange when you’re a teenager.
 
Read Video WatchBlog here:
http://videowatchdog.blogspot.com/

Visit the official Video Watchdog site:
http://www.videowatchdog.com/home/home.html

Hear Tim Lucas on Nashycast:
http://naschycast.blogspot.com/2016/06/

Hear Tim Lucas discuss Mario Bava on Movie Geeks United:
MGU: The Films of Mario Bava
Jul 10, 2017
Bill speaks with Joseph A. Ziemba, creator of the website Bleeding Skull, director of genre programming and promotions at Alamo Drafthouse, and a lead archivist for American Genre Film Archive (AGFA). They discuss the origins of his various projects, as well as formative cinematic experiences, the aesthetic of BOARDINGHOUSE, work/life balance, the evolution of AGFA, and why preserving films like BAT PUSSY won’t necessarily get you disinvited from future family get-togethers these days.
 
Visit the site Bleeding Skull:
 
Visit the official site for American Genre Film Archive:
 
Visit the official site for Bleeding Skull Video:
 
Catch a Terror Tuesday screening at Alamo Drafthouse in Austin:
 
Hear Joseph A. Ziemba’s band Taken By Savages:
https://takenbysavages.bandcamp.com/
 
Watch The 40oz Dreamz Halloween Special:
Jun 26, 2017
Bill speaks with film critic Abbey Bender. They discuss her experiences in film culture, from childhood repertory screenings to writing for publications like Film Comment, The Village Voice, Playboy and Rolling Stone. Other topics include: “women’s interest” writing assignments, fashion as it relates both to Rainer Werner Fassbinder and "The Brady Bunch”, New York film culture, politics and contrarian auteur favorites on Twitter, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS and forging short-lived friendships in order to have someone to see Jean-Luc Godard movies with.
Links: 

Visit Abbey Bender's official site:
https://abbeybender.wordpress.com/
 
Read Abbey Bender on Jayne Mansfield in THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT
http://lwlies.com/articles/jayne-mansfield-performance-in-the-girl-cant-help-it/
 
 
Read Abbey Bender's "Costume Party" series for Brooklyn:
http://www.bkmag.com/tag/costume-party/

Hear Abbey Bender discuss fashion in film on the Smug Film Podcast:
http://smugfilm.com/ep21/
Jun 11, 2017
 
Bill speaks with author and film historian Lee Gambin. They talk about his wide array of artistic pursuits, from directing confrontational stage plays and selling fanzines for beer money to writing for Fangoria and lecturing at film festivals and universities. Topics include: FROGS, the origins of Lee’s various books (including the new NOPE, NOTHING WRONG HERE: THE MAKING OF CUJO), tailoring one’s writing style for specific publishers, Melbourne film culture, and how researching movies like THE PACK can improve your relationship with your own dog.
 
Buy WE CAN BE WHO WE ARE and preorder NOPE, NOTHING WRONG HERE: THE MAKING OF CUJO:
http://www.bearmanormedia.com/index.php?route=common/home

Visit the official site for the Cinemaniacs Film Collective:
http://www.cinemaniacs.net/
May 22, 2017
Bill speaks with writer and film programmer Ashley Clark about his pursuits, from his early blog Permanent Plastic Helmet and programming screenings at the movie theatre where he worked to writing for publications like The Guardian, Sight & Sound, Reverse Shot and Vice and programming for the BFI and MOMA. Other topics covered include: THE HATEFUL EIGHT, Wendell B. Harris Jr.’s CHAMELEON STREET and the emotional side of curation, his book “Facing Blackness – Media and Minstrelsy in Spike Lee’s BAMBOOZLED”, TAXI DRIVER, the importance of editors, organizing the Black Star series at London's BFI Southbank, Ed Guerrero’s Framing Blackness, and having a smaller trailer than Billy Zane as a child actor.
 
Visit Ashley Clark’s official site:
 
Read Wendell B. Harris’ essay “Who Killed CHAMELEON STREET?”
 
Buy Ashley Clark’s book “Facing Blackness – Media and Minstrelsy in Spike Lee’s BAMBOOZLED”:
 
Buy the BFI DVD/Blu-Ray TWO FILMS BY LINO BROCKA, featuring liner notes by Cathy Landicho Clark.
 
Buy Ed Guerrero’s book Framing Blackness: The African American Image in Film
 
Watch Ashley Clark discuss BAMBOOZLED with Spike Lee:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jxa83KgAy4&t=9s
 
Hear Ashley Clark on The Film Comment podcast:
https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/film-comment-podcast-identity/
May 8, 2017
Bill speaks with Elric Kane about the wide variety of film culture projects he’s been involved in, from hosting podcasts like Killer POV, Shock Waves and Pure Cinema, to directing films, producing and hosting interview shows like This Week In Horror and Inside Horror, teaching film, working at Facets, launching an entrepreneurial venture with Jump Cut Café, and much more. Other topics covered include New Zealand film culture, female horror film directors, Monte Hellman, the Hollywood Underground Film Festival, POSSESSION and having tuna fish sandwiches with the director of CHRISTMAS EVIL.
 
Hear Shock Waves:
 
Hear Killer POV:
 
Hear Pure Cinema Podcast:
 
Hear Elric Kane discuss SUSPIRIA on Scream Addicts:
http://www.screamaddicts.com/suspiria-with-shock-waves-elric-kane/
 
Hear Elric Kane on The Projection Booth
 
Buy Monte Hellman’s IGUANA, which includes a bonus feature with Elric Kane in conversation with Hellman:
 
Watch Inside Horror with guest Joe Dante:
Apr 24, 2017
 
Bill speaks with Barry Solan about both his years running repertory movie houses like The State Theatre and experiences as owner of the Video Americain video store chain. They also discuss midnight movie culture of the early 1980s, discovering rare movies on Youtube, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, bootlegs, how Video Americain came to be featured in John Waters’ SERIAL MOM, the appeal of video stores, and Barry’s assorted tangles with anti-pornography crusaders, film company theatre checkers, Led Zeppelin-loving bathroom vandals, HBO executives, angry filmmakers and protesters threatening to burn down his theatre for showing Jean-Luc Godard’s HAIL MARY.
 
Apr 10, 2017
Bill speaks with writer/podcaster Amanda Reyes about her many experiences that shape her work, from discovering Scandinavian films on Bravo as a teenager to the professional satisfactions of becoming as an archivist.  They discuss the origins of her many film cultural endeavors, including the Made For TV Mayhem blog and its companion podcast, as well as the new book Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999. Other topics include frustrating screenwriting experiences, BAD RONALD, Kindertrauma, Wes Craven, nostalgia, female-driven horror movies, The Strange And Deadly Show, and a surprise revelation about being quoted on the back cover of a DVD.
 
 
Read Made For TV Mayhem:
 
Hear the Made For TV Mayhem Podcast:
Made for TV Mayhem Podcast
 
Hear Amanda Reyes on The Kolchak Tapes:
The Kolchak Tapes
 
Buy the special hardback edition of ARE YOU ALONE IN THE HOUSE? from Headspress: 
 
Or buy the softcover edition from Amazon:
 
Read the Birth. Movies. Death review of the Monster Fest ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE? Book launch event.

Learn about Amanda Reyes' upcoming London appearance at The Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies:
Tele-terrors: The Real and Imagined Horrors Inside the Made for Television Movie : The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies
Mar 27, 2017
Bill speaks with film blogger and podcaster Brian Saur about the origins of his many endeavors, from his long-running Rupert Pupkin Speaks site to the recent Pure Cinema and Just The Discs podcasts. Other topics discussed include Saur’s in-progress documentary on author Danny Peary, the influence of social media on initial viewing experiences, the merits of film lists and the circumstances that can lead a person to record podcasts from within a car alongside their dog.
 
Read Rupert Pupkin Speaks:
 
Hear Pure Cinema Podcast:
 
Hear Just The Discs:
 
Hear The Gentlemen’s Guide To Midnite Cinema Interview with Danny Peary:
http://ggtmc.libsyn.com/bonus-35-interview-with-danny-peary
 
Hear the Off The Shelf Podcast:
http://criterioncast.com/category/podcast/off-the-shelf

Watch clips from Brian Saur's upcoming documentary on Danny Peary:
Danny Peary Documentary
 
See Brian Saur in the documentary The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Invaders-Search-Lost-Time/dp/B00C8PK4ZG/ref=sr_1_5?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1490474833&sr=1-5    
Mar 13, 2017
Bill speaks with film critic Nick Pinkerton about his experiences and practices as a writer, from his initial reviews for Reverse Shot to becoming a regular contributor at publications like The Village Voice, Sight & Sound, Artforum and Film Comment. Other topics discussed include the late Kim’s Video chain, the importance of great editors, moderating Q&As, New York City film culture, criticism in the age of social media, work/life balance and the professional hazards that can come from having the wrong attitude about frozen yogurt.
 
Read Nick Pinkerton’s film criticism:
 
 
Hear Nick Pinkerton on the Film Comment Podcast:
 
Read Nick Pinkerton's essay for the Criterion Collection on ANATOMY OF A MURDER: Anatomy of a Murder: Atomization of a Murder
 
Buy Severin Films' special edition Blu-Ray of THE KILLING OF AMERICA, which includes the supplementary feature "Mondo Mania", Nick Pinkerton's examination of Italian shockumentary films.
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