Guest Co-Hosts: Rod Lott, Ryan Luis Rodiguez
We dive into Red Lights (2012), a psychological thriller that blends skepticism, belief, and the enigmatic world of psychic phenomena. Written and directed by Rodrigo Cortés (Buried), the film stars Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver as a pair of investigators determined to expose fraudulent psychics. Their sights are set on Simon Silver (Robert De Niro), a legendary blind performer whose mysterious powers defy explanation—or do they?
Co-hosts Rod Lott and Ryan Luis Rodriguez team up to discuss this layered tale of science versus the supernatural, unraveling its twists and themes. Along the way, they explore if this overlooked gem from James Brummel's Patreon request deserves a closer look. Is Red Lights a misunderstood thriller or a missed opportunity?
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Red Lights on Blu-Ray
Listen to Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf
Music:
"Red Light Spells Danger" - Billy Ocean
Watch:
January 22, 2025
January 16, 2025
#RIP David Lynch
Over the years of doing this show, we've lost a lot of people that we've talked to in the past. Though we never had the opportunity to talk with David Lynch, his work is a personal favorite and the subject of many episodes of the show. Since first seeing Eraserhead in high school, Lynch's oeuvre has been the subject of fascination and much discussion on the show. Enjoy our ongoing conversation of some of his work including a discussion on the Wake Up Heavy podcast:
Eraserhead (1977):
Dune (1984) - Commentary Track:
Blue Velvet (1986):
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992):
Lost Highway (1997):
Mulholland Drive (2001):
Fire Walk With Me (Redux) / Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
Lynch/Oz (2022):
Music Mix:
Link:
Buy Dune on Blu-Ray
Watch:
Eraserhead (1977):
Dune (1984) - Commentary Track:
Blue Velvet (1986):
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992):
Lost Highway (1997):
Mulholland Drive (2001):
Fire Walk With Me (Redux) / Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
Lynch/Oz (2022):
Music Mix:
Link:
Buy Dune on Blu-Ray
Watch:
January 15, 2025
Episode 725: All the President's Men (1976)
Guest Co-Hosts: Andras Jones, Robert Bellissimo
Meet the The Projection Booth on the third floor of the parking garage at 3AM to discuss Alan J. Pakula's All the President's Men (1976), a landmark film about the Watergate scandal that brought down a presidency. Y'know, back when crimes have consequences. Co-hosted by Robert Bellissimo and Andras Jones -- who requested the film for Patreon Request Month -- delves into the gripping story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford ) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), as they unravel the conspiracy that reached the highest levels of government.
With a razor-sharp script by William Goldman and Pakula’s masterful direction, the film captures the intensity of investigative journalism and the political paranoia of its time. Join us as we explore the making of this cinematic powerhouse, its relevance today, and the passion behind Redford’s drive to bring this story to the screen.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy All the President's Men by Woodward & Bernstein
Buy All the President's Men by Blu-Ray
Listen to The Untold Story of All the President's Men
Music:
"Impeach the President" - The Honeydrippers
Watch:
Meet the The Projection Booth on the third floor of the parking garage at 3AM to discuss Alan J. Pakula's All the President's Men (1976), a landmark film about the Watergate scandal that brought down a presidency. Y'know, back when crimes have consequences. Co-hosted by Robert Bellissimo and Andras Jones -- who requested the film for Patreon Request Month -- delves into the gripping story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford ) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), as they unravel the conspiracy that reached the highest levels of government.
With a razor-sharp script by William Goldman and Pakula’s masterful direction, the film captures the intensity of investigative journalism and the political paranoia of its time. Join us as we explore the making of this cinematic powerhouse, its relevance today, and the passion behind Redford’s drive to bring this story to the screen.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy All the President's Men by Woodward & Bernstein
Buy All the President's Men by Blu-Ray
Listen to The Untold Story of All the President's Men
Music:
"Impeach the President" - The Honeydrippers
Watch:
January 8, 2025
Episode 724: 24 Hour Party People (2002)
Guest Co-Hosts: Father Malone, Axel Kohagen
We continue another Patreon month with a pick from Andrew Henrickson: 24 Hour Party People (2002). Join Mike White, Father Malone, and Axel Kohagen as they dive into Michael Winterbottom's electric chronicle of the Manchester music scene, told through the eyes of the ever-charismatic Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan). From Factory Records to the legendary Hacienda, the film brims with unforgettable moments and a who's who of '80s post-punk history, including standout performances by Lennie James, Paddy Consadine, and more.
We were supposed to speak with screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce again for the episode but it didn't happen this time.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy 24 Hour Party People on Blu-Ray
Buy 24 Hour Party People by Tony Wilson
Buy Control on Blu-Ray
Music:
"24 Hour Party People" - Happy Mondays
Watch:
We continue another Patreon month with a pick from Andrew Henrickson: 24 Hour Party People (2002). Join Mike White, Father Malone, and Axel Kohagen as they dive into Michael Winterbottom's electric chronicle of the Manchester music scene, told through the eyes of the ever-charismatic Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan). From Factory Records to the legendary Hacienda, the film brims with unforgettable moments and a who's who of '80s post-punk history, including standout performances by Lennie James, Paddy Consadine, and more.
We were supposed to speak with screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce again for the episode but it didn't happen this time.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy 24 Hour Party People on Blu-Ray
Buy 24 Hour Party People by Tony Wilson
Buy Control on Blu-Ray
Music:
"24 Hour Party People" - Happy Mondays
Watch:
January 6, 2025
Special Report: Dread Zeppelin - A Song of Hope (2024)
Special Guests: Sharif Nakhleh, Jason USA
On this special episode, Mike interviews Sharif Nakhleh, director of Dread Zeppelin: A Song of Hope (2024), and Jason USA. This compelling documentary charts the bizarre, brilliant journey of the band Dread Zeppelin, blending reggae, Led Zeppelin covers, and a touch of Elvis for a sound and story like no other. Mike unpacks the film’s creation, its exploration of musical eccentricity, and its celebration of the enduring power of hope and creativity.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Lean more at the Chibson website
Buy Dead Zeppelin music
Music:
"Immigrant Song" - Dread Zeppelin
Watch:
On this special episode, Mike interviews Sharif Nakhleh, director of Dread Zeppelin: A Song of Hope (2024), and Jason USA. This compelling documentary charts the bizarre, brilliant journey of the band Dread Zeppelin, blending reggae, Led Zeppelin covers, and a touch of Elvis for a sound and story like no other. Mike unpacks the film’s creation, its exploration of musical eccentricity, and its celebration of the enduring power of hope and creativity.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Lean more at the Chibson website
Buy Dead Zeppelin music
Music:
"Immigrant Song" - Dread Zeppelin
Watch:
January 1, 2025
Episode 723: Poison (1991)
Guest Co-Hosts: Rahne Alexander, Kyler Fey
Starting 2025 with a bang, we're diving into Todd Haynes's groundbreaking feature film debut, Poison (1991). Co-hosted by the fabulous Rahne Alexander and Kyler Fey himself, this episode unpacks the audacious triptych of tales—Hero, Horror, and Homo—that propelled Haynes to indie cinema stardom. Bold, provocative, and unapologetically queer, Poison challenges conventions and leaves an indelible mark on the New Queer Cinema movement. Join us as we explore the film’s layered narratives, its haunting aesthetics, and its enduring impact.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Poison on Blu-Ray
Music:
"A Little Drop of Poison" - Tom Waits
Watch:
Starting 2025 with a bang, we're diving into Todd Haynes's groundbreaking feature film debut, Poison (1991). Co-hosted by the fabulous Rahne Alexander and Kyler Fey himself, this episode unpacks the audacious triptych of tales—Hero, Horror, and Homo—that propelled Haynes to indie cinema stardom. Bold, provocative, and unapologetically queer, Poison challenges conventions and leaves an indelible mark on the New Queer Cinema movement. Join us as we explore the film’s layered narratives, its haunting aesthetics, and its enduring impact.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Poison on Blu-Ray
Music:
"A Little Drop of Poison" - Tom Waits
Watch:
December 25, 2024
Episode 722: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
Special Guest: Eric Lax
Guest Co-Hosts: Keith Gordon, Andras Jones
Explore the dualities of morality, fate, and human frailty in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Woody Allen's masterful blend of dark comedy and philosophical drama. To close out 2024 and our Patreon-requested series, Mike White welcomes Andras Jones and Keith Gordon for a spirited discussion of this haunting tale. With Martin Landau and Allen himself leading parallel storylines—one of an ophthalmologist spiraling into ethical darkness, the other of a struggling documentarian chasing unrequited love—the film weaves an intricate tapestry of guilt, ambition, and existential reckoning. Along the way, a blind rabbi offers wisdom (and serves as a poignant metaphor) as the characters navigate their moral crossroads.
The episode features an interview with Woody Allen's friend and biographer Eric Lax who describes Allen's process and the evolution of Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Crimes and Misdemeanors on Blu-Ray
Buy Woody Allen: A Biography by Eric Lax
Buy Conversations with Woody Allen: His Films, the Movies, and Moviemaking by Eric Lax
Buy Start to Finish: Woody Allen and the Art of Moviemaking by Eric Lax
Music:
"All I Do Is Dream of You" - Gene Kelly
Watch:
Guest Co-Hosts: Keith Gordon, Andras Jones
Explore the dualities of morality, fate, and human frailty in Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), Woody Allen's masterful blend of dark comedy and philosophical drama. To close out 2024 and our Patreon-requested series, Mike White welcomes Andras Jones and Keith Gordon for a spirited discussion of this haunting tale. With Martin Landau and Allen himself leading parallel storylines—one of an ophthalmologist spiraling into ethical darkness, the other of a struggling documentarian chasing unrequited love—the film weaves an intricate tapestry of guilt, ambition, and existential reckoning. Along the way, a blind rabbi offers wisdom (and serves as a poignant metaphor) as the characters navigate their moral crossroads.
The episode features an interview with Woody Allen's friend and biographer Eric Lax who describes Allen's process and the evolution of Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Listen/Download Now:
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Buy Crimes and Misdemeanors on Blu-Ray
Buy Woody Allen: A Biography by Eric Lax
Buy Conversations with Woody Allen: His Films, the Movies, and Moviemaking by Eric Lax
Buy Start to Finish: Woody Allen and the Art of Moviemaking by Eric Lax
Music:
"All I Do Is Dream of You" - Gene Kelly
Watch:
December 22, 2024
2024 Wrap-Up
It's that time again to look back on the year and celebrate the better parts of 2024. Rather than looking at the most- and least-downloaded episodes, I wanted to share my favorite ones to do. Of course, I love every episode of The Projection Booth that goes out but these were the most fun to discuss and/or research. I hope you have as much fun listening to them:
- Episode 669: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
- Episode 674: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
- Episode 675: Purple Rain (1984)
- Episode 692: The Graduate (1967)
- Episode 686: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
- Episode 703: Naked (1993)
- Episode 691: The Trial (1962)
- Episode 690: Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- Episode 709: Cockfighter (1974)
- Episode 666: The Apple Fell (1948)
- Special Report: 35000 Watts - The Story of College Radio (2024)
- Episode 667: Taxidermia (2006)
- Episode 685: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
- Episode 679: R100 (2013)
- Episode 704: Army of Shadows (1969)
- Episode 682: Shura (1971)
- Episode 710: Malpertuis (1971)
- Episode 715: The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953)
- Episode 702: Radio On (1980)
Links:
Become a supporter of The Projection Booth
Listen to the The Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast
Listen to The Life & Times of Captain Barney Miller podcast
Listen to The Shabby Detective podcast
2024 Music Mix:
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