The Projection Booth Podcast

By request from Patreon supporter Peter Rogers, we’re tackling A Man for All Seasons (1966), Fred Zinnemann’s acclaimed adaptation of Robert Bolt’s stage play. Joining Mike are Spencer Parsons and Robert Bellissimo to explore this portrait of Sir Thomas More, played with quiet defiance by Paul Scofield in an Oscar-winning performance. The film follows More’s moral and political stand against King Henry VIII’s divorce and remarriage, a position that would cost him his freedom—and ultimately his life. We unpack the film’s legacy, its courtroom drama structure, and how it reflects shifting power, faith, and integrity duri...

John Cassavetes may be known for his raw, improvisational indie dramas, but with Gloria (1980), he delivered something entirely different—a gritty urban thriller with a heart, starring the incomparable Gena Rowlands who plays the titular Gloria, a tough, no-nonsense woman with mob ties who suddenly finds herself the reluctant guardian of a young boy targeted by gangsters after his family’s brutal murder. Armed with nothing but attitude and a pistol, Gloria hauls the kid through the hostile streets of New York City, dodging bullets, hitmen, and her own complicated past.

Mike is joined by returning guests Judith Mayn...

Mike talks with filmmakers Chris Rosik and Rob Cousineau about their 2025 film So Fades the Light, a quiet, unsettling drama about the long shadows of cult trauma. The story follows Sun (Kiley Lotz), once known as the “God Child” of the Iron and Fire Ministry, a violent extremist group shattered by a police raid. Years later, Sun lives in isolation, traveling the country in her van—until the release of the cult’s leader (D. Duke Solomon) draws her back to the ruins of her former life.

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Author D. Harlan Wilson joins Mike to discuss his latest book, Strangelove Country, a collection of critical fictions examining four of Stanley Kubrick’s most influential science fiction films: Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Blurring the lines between criticism, fiction, and satire, Wilson explores how Kubrick’s work continues to shape cultural narratives about technology, violence, human identity, and control.

The conversation covers Wilson’s experimental approach to writing, the enduring legacy of Kubrick’s cinema, and how speculative fiction and critical theory intersect. Together, they examine how Kubrick’s visions of...

Mike is joined by Robert Bellissimo and Philip Marinello to explore O Pagador de Promessas (1962), the landmark Brazilian drama from director Anselmo Duarte. Also known internationally as The Given Word, the film adapts Dias Gomes’s acclaimed stage play into a sharp critique of institutional power.

The story centers on Zé do Burro, a simple farmer who treks over 20 miles into Salvador while bearing a heavy cross—honoring a vow to Saint Barbara after his donkey, Nicholas, falls ill. What begins as a devout act of gratitude becomes a battleground of bureaucracy, media exploitation, and religious gatekeeping. Winner of th...

Mike ventures deep beneath the surface with director Rob Petit to discuss Underland (2025), a haunting, meditative documentary that charts an extraordinary subterranean journey into the hidden worlds beneath our feet. Narrated by author and co-writer Robert Macfarlane, the film adapts his bestselling book Underland: A Deep Time Journey, bringing to life an awe-inspiring descent into caves, catacombs, glacial crevasses, and underground rivers spanning continents. More than just a travelogue, Underland explores humanity’s relationship with deep time—how we bury our dead, our nuclear waste, and our myths far below the surface.

Mike and Petit explore the technical and...

What happens when a lavish dinner party refuses to end? Mike is joined by filmmaker Miguel Llansó and critic Rob St. Mary to unpack the surreal social satire of Luis Buñuel’s The Exterminating Angel (1962). In this sharp and strange masterwork, a group of upper-crust guests find themselves mysteriously unable to leave a post-opera gathering—days pass, civility erodes, and Buñuel’s absurdist lens skewers class, ritual, and the thin veneer of order.

From sheep in the parlor to the creeping dread of inaction, we discuss the film’s dream logic, religious and political interpretations, and its place i...

Mike chats with co-directors Travis Wood and Alex Mallis about their debut feature The Travel Companion (2025), a painfully funny look at friendship, ambition, and emotional unraveling among aspiring filmmakers. The story centers on Simon (Tristan Turner), a struggling documentarian who clings to the one major perk in his life: the free airline travel he enjoys as the designated companion of his best friend and roommate Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), a flight attendant. When Bruce starts dating the effortlessly cool and talented Beatrice (Naomi Asa), Simon spirals into insecurity and paranoia, terrified of losing his ticket—literally and figuratively.

Premiering at...

We wrap up Maudit May with a look at Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers (1972), a once-lost independent musical that’s recently been restored and released on Blu-ray by the American Genre Film Archive. Directed by Robert J. Kaplan and written by Sandra Scoppettone, the film stars Holly Woodlawn as Eve Harrington, a young woman from Kansas who moves to New York City in search of something more—only to find herself in a strange world of characters who, like her, share names with familiar figures from classic Hollywood.

Joining Mike to explore the film’s unconventional structure, layere...

The day we released The Brave episode, producer Charles Evans Jr. texted me to say that he was sorry he hadn't gotten back to me but wanted to share some memories of making the film. We discussed how the project came to be and his experience making it.

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The Projection Booth continues its spotlight on rare and elusive cinema with The Brave (1997), Johnny Depp’s directorial debut and a film shrouded in mystery since its limited release. Adapted by screenwriter Paul McCudden from a novel by Fletch author Gregory McDonald, The Brave tells the harrowing story of Rafael, a Native American man who agrees to sacrifice himself in a snuff film to provide for his impoverished family.

Joining Mike to dissect this bleak, emotionally charged drama are returning co-hosts Spencer Parsons and Jedidiah Ayres, along with special guest Paul McCudden himself, who discusses the film’s chal...

Mike is joined by podcaster Aaron Peterson (The Hollywood Outsider) and filmmaker Miguel Llansó (Crumbs, Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway, Infinite Summer) for a conversation about Rafael Corkidi’s elusive 1971 or 1972 feature debut Ángeles y querubines (Angels and Cherubs). Once presumed lost, this visually ravishing curio from Mexico’s surrealist wave plunges into Edenic allegory, spiritual symbolism, and vampiric resurrection. 

The trio explores how Corkidi’s background as cinematographer on El Topo and The Holy Mountain shaped his arresting compositions—and why his directorial efforts remain both transfixing and narratively confounding.

From telepathic puppets to...

Mike White is joined by Mike Sullivan and Emily Intravia to take a long-overdue look at Move (1970), the surreal, seldom-seen New York comedy directed by Stuart Rosenberg. Fresh off his success in MASH Elliott Gould stars as Hiram Jaffe, a would-be playwright stuck writing porn and walking dogs while waiting for the movers who never arrive. As his mundane reality refuses to budge, Hiram plunges into a chaotic interior world filled with absurd fantasies, sexual misadventures, and psychological spirals.

Adapted from Joel Lieber’s novel (and screenplay), Move attempts to blend urban anxiety, dream logic, and dark comedy—resu...

Brace yourself for a mind-melting trip into cinematic obscurity as Mike White, Heather Drain, and Ben Buckingham dive headfirst into There Is No 13 (1974), the elusive, long-suppressed anti-war film from director William Sachs. Blending absurdist humor, surreal vignettes, and unflinching commentary on the Vietnam War, the film follows draftee George Thomas through a fractured journey of memory, fantasy, and emotional unraveling.

Almost impossible to find and never properly released in the U.S., There Is No 13 has lived more as rumor than repertory staple, with tales of government pressure and controversy haunting its legacy. First screened at the Berlin...

Mike welcomes director Lexi Alexander to discuss her latest film, Absolute Dominion (2025), a dystopian martial arts thriller set in a world torn apart by religious warfare. They dig into the film’s provocative premise, the challenges of balancing action with social commentary, and the process of staging large-scale fight sequences on screen. Lexi shares insights into the production, working with actors like Désiré Mia and Alex Winter, and her thoughts on the state of modern genre filmmaking.

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Actor James A. Watson Jr. joins Mike White in The Projection Booth for a lively and insightful conversation about his remarkable career. Best known for his work on Quincy, M.E., The Rookies, and Hill Street Blues, Watson reflects on breaking into Hollywood, the challenges he faced as a Black actor, and his early film roles in Halls of Anger and The Organization. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from Airplane II: The Sequel and offers a candid look at working in both television and film across the 1970s to today. 

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The Marvel machine rolls on! Mike welcomes Chris Stachiw and Father Malone back to The Projection Booth to unpack Thunderbolts (2025), Marvel’s latest plunge into the morally murky side of the MCU. With a roster of antiheroes and reformed villains, Thunderbolts flips the superhero script—so does it soar or stumble? The trio dives deep into the film’s character dynamics, chaotic action, and franchise fatigue, pulling no punches as they debate whether Marvel’s gamble pays off.

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Mike welcomes film writer Mike Sullivan and critic/podcaster Amy Nicholson (Unspooled) to dig into So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Tommy Schlamme’s cult romantic comedy where Mike Myers plays it (mostly) straight — no prosthetics, no outlandish characters, just a jittery San Francisco beat poet navigating his fear of commitment. That is, until his charming new love, played by Nancy Travis, starts to look suspiciously like a black widow killer. Expect plenty of riffs on the film’s quirky mix of romance, murder mystery, and Myers’s rare leading-man turn — plus some love for its killer soundtrack and sharply oddball 90...

Director Rachel Feldman joins Mike to discuss her powerful new film Lilly (2025), a long-overdue portrait of activist Lilly Ledbetter. They explore the real-life struggles that inspired the story, the battle to bring Lilly’s fight for equal pay to the big screen, and the challenges of crafting a deeply personal historical drama in today’s Hollywood landscape. Feldman shares behind-the-scenes insights into the film’s development, the emotional performances at its core, and why Lilly’s story continues to resonate now more than ever.

The film opens in the US on May 9, 2025.

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Prepare for takeoff as Mike White is joined by Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy) and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) for a high-flying deep dive into Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)! Buckle up for a spirited discussion about the often-overlooked follow-up to one of the greatest comedies of all time. Beyond the crew's lively breakdown, the episode features an impressive lineup of interviews with writer/director Ken Finkleman, legendary comedy writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and actors Robert Hays and James A. Watson Jr. Get ready for behind-the-scenes stories, writing room war tales, and reflections on the film's unique legacy — all wh...

TCM’s Alicia Malone returns to The Projection Booth to talk about her latest book, TCM Imports: A Journey Through International Cinema (2025). Mike and Alicia dive into the stories behind how foreign films made their way into American hearts—and living rooms. From groundbreaking works to hidden gems that expanded Hollywood's imagination, they trace the surprising, inspiring, and sometimes frustrating history of international cinema's arrival stateside. Along the way, Alicia shares her personal favorites, her research surprises, and why celebrating these global voices matters now more than ever.

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Tension simmers in La Haine (1995), Matthieu Kassovitz’s electrifying portrait of disenfranchised youth in the Parisian banlieues. Mike is joined by guest co-hosts Lumi Etienne and Judith Mayne for a deep dive into the film’s kinetic black-and-white visuals, pulsing energy, and unflinching look at police violence, social unrest, and alienation.

Over the course of a single 24-hour span, we follow Vinz, Saïd, and Hubert—three friends caught in a spiral of rage, hopelessness, and reaction to systemic oppression.

Special guest Ginette Vincendeau, renowned scholar of French cinema, offers historical and cultural insights into the film’s...

Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom—Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959 Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the grim reality that the fallout is heading their way.

The episode explores the emotional depth and existential dread of both adaptations, from the restrained melancholy of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner to the...

Film historian Samm Deighan and cult cinema expert Andrew Leavold join Mike to shine a light on Jean-Pierre Melville’s Two Men in Manhattan (1959). Often overshadowed by his better-known crime films, this moody noir follows a journalist and a photographer as they comb the streets of New York in search of a missing French diplomat. The trio digs into Melville’s fascination with American style, the film’s ethically murky characters, and how it fits within the director’s larger body of work. They also explore the tension between documentary realism and stylized noir, and why Two Men in Manhattan deserves...

Mike speaks with director Paige Bethmann and editor Stephanie Khoury about their powerful 2025 documentary Remaining Native. Bethmann and Khoury discuss the challenges of telling a deeply personal story within a broader political context, the importance of Indigenous voices in environmental activism, and the responsibility of documentary filmmakers in preserving cultural truth.

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The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem.

Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, the brooding American expat running a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Morocco, where refugees gather in hopes of escaping the tightening grip of the Nazi regime. Things get complicated when Ilsa Lund (In...

Mike talks with director Stefan MacDonald-Labelle about Head Like a Hole (2024), a microbudget psychological horror film about a man hired to monitor a mysterious hole in a basement wall. They discuss the film’s existential themes, low-budget ingenuity, and the challenges of blurring reality and delusion.

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Director Alex Braverman joins Mike to discuss his 2023 documentary Thank You Very Much, a fascinating deep dive into the life and legend of Andy Kaufman. From his genre-defying comedy to his infamous persona-blurring antics, Kaufman remains one of entertainment’s most enigmatic figures. Braverman unpacks the personal connections, archival discoveries, and creative choices that shaped the film—and reveals how this unconventional tribute to an unconventional man came together.

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Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Joshua Bailey about his feature documentary debut, Stolen Kingdom (2025). The film delves into three decades of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, culminating in the heist of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. Bailey's documentary offers an unprecedented look into the park's underground community, featuring firsthand accounts from key figures and exploring the subculture of renegade explorers and collectors.

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Co-hosts Ryan Luis Rodriguez and John Walker join Mike to discuss the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber's blend of comedy and caper, its place in '90s comedy, and its surprising longevity. We discuss how the film launched the Farrelly Brothers into mainstream success and cemented Jim Carrey's status as a box office powerhouse.

Screenwriter Bennett Yellin joins the conversation to talk about the film’s development, working with the Farrellys, and crafting the dynamic between Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne.

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Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Jeremy Workman and artist Michael Townsend about the 2024 documentary Secret Mall Apartment. The film chronicles the audacious endeavor of eight Rhode Island artists who, from 2003 to 2007, covertly built and inhabited a 750-square-foot apartment within the Providence Place Mall. This hidden residence, complete with furnishings and utilities, served as both a living space and a commentary on urban development and gentrification.

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The Projection Booth’s Patreon Picks series charges ahead with Blood and Diamonds (1977), a gritty crime saga from Fernando Di Leo. Claudio Cassinelli stars as Guido Mauri, a man fresh out of prison and ready to settle old scores in a world where loyalty is a fleeting illusion. As Guido cuts a ruthless path through former allies, betrayal and bloodshed go hand in hand.

Host Mike White is joined by crime fiction aficionado Jedidiah Ayres and podcast favorite Ryan Luis Rodriguez to dissect this pulpy revenge tale, discussing Di Leo’s signature style, the film’s place in the Eu...

Passions swirl and reality bends in Love Circle (1969), the intoxicating tale of desire, deception, and dangerous games from writer/director Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. Also known as Metti, Una Sera a Cena (Suppose One Night at Dinner), this stylish drama follows a celebrated writer, Michele (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who concocts intricate fantasies about his wife Nina (Florinda Bolkan) and his best friend Max (Tony Musante). But what if his imaginings aren’t so imaginary?

Mike White, Spencer Parsons, and David A. Heath dissect this sultry, surreal web of passion, joined by Andrei Idu, who requested the film as part of our...

Mike welcomes Eric Hynes and Edo Choi, curators of First Look 2025 at the Museum of the Moving Image, running running March 12-16 in Astoria, New York. Now in its 14th year, the festival remains a vital showcase for bold, boundary-pushing cinema from around the world.

This year’s lineup includes 38 films—20 features and numerous shorts—spanning 21 countries, with three world premieres and 24 U.S. or North American premieres. Each evening culminates in a Showcase Screening at MoMI’s Sumner Redstone Theater. The festival opens with the U.S. premiere of Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse, a contemporary take on the cla...

Mike talks with journalist and author Andrew Buss to discuss his new book, I Am McLovin: How Superbad Became the Biggest Comedy Hit of Its Generation. Released in February 2025, Buss's book offers a comprehensive oral history of the 2007 film Superbad, exploring its creation, cultural impact, and enduring legacy. ​

In their conversation, Mike and Andrew explore the film's production process, its reception upon release, and its lasting influence on the comedy genre. They also discuss the personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories that Buss uncovered during his research, providing listeners with an intimate look at the making of this iconic fi...

Mike kicks off a fresh month of Patreon picks alongside Cullen Gallagher and Rob St. Mary to unpack the satirical brilliance of Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's 1966 gem, Death of a Bureaucrat. When a revered Cuban sculptor invents a revolutionary bust-making machine only to meet his untimely demise at its mechanical hands, bureaucratic absurdity kicks into high gear. Buried proudly with his labor card, the sculptor inadvertently sparks a Kafkaesque quest as his widow and nephew wrestle hilariously with red tape, relentless officials, and ridiculous obstacles—all in pursuit of the one document standing between them and survival. Special thanks to P...

Mike White engages in a conversation with filmmaker Elijah Sullivan about his 2024 documentary, The Hole Story. The film investigates the mysterious appearance of a 60-foot man-made hole on California's Mount Shasta in 2009, which sparked over a decade of speculation and intrigue.

Elijah explores the challenges of documenting such an enigmatic subject, the process of gathering diverse perspectives, and the broader implications of the public's captivation with mysteries. They also discuss Sullivan's approach to storytelling and his experiences filming on location at Mount Shasta. 

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The shield is back in action! Mike is joined by Chris Stachiw of The Kulturecast to take on Captain America: Brave New World (2025), the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Anthony Mackie stepping into the role of Captain America, the film explores Sam Wilson’s challenges as he navigates political intrigue, old enemies, and new threats—including the return of Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, now fully embracing his role as The Leader.

Directed by Julius Onah, this entry also introduces Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and teases the rise of the Serpent Society. But...

Whoopbruary concludes with a look at Theodore Rex (1996), the buddy cop dino flick that had Whoopi Goldberg stars as the cyber-enhanced supercop Katie Coltrane, begrudgingly partnered with the titular Theodore Rex -- an ambitious, wisecracking, impeccably dressed dinosaur with a badge and a dream.

Joining Mike to excavate this fossilized oddity are Brad Jones and Razzie-nominated screenwriter Kevin Lehane, who help unearth the film’s bizarre production history, its straight-to-video fate, and its legacy as one of Hollywood’s strangest contractual obligations. Plus, we hear from the mastermind himself, writer/director Jonathan Betuel, who sheds light on the film...

Whoopbruary keeps the action rolling with Fatal Beauty (1987), a hard-hitting crime thriller starring Whoopi Goldberg as tough-talking detective Rita Rizzoli. Directed by Tom Holland and based on a script by Bill Svanoe, the film follows Rizzoli as she battles to keep a deadly designer drug off the streets. Co-hosts Rob St. Mary and Kevin Lehane join the discussion, and we’ve got exclusive interviews with writer Bill Svanoe and director Tom Holland to break down the film’s mix of action, comedy, and social commentary.

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