'The Innocents' with 'The Babadook' and 'The Nightingale' Director Jennifer Kent
Release Date: 08/01/2019
‘It Follows’ with Jenna Kanell
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Today we have the multi-talented Jenna Kanell (Terrifier) on the program. She’s a writer, director, actor, and stunt performer. And she’s on the show today to talk about 2014’s It Follows. Jenna discusses the infusion of social commentary into the horror genre. She talks about the difficulty and isolation that can go along with the acting process. And she elaborates on performing her own stunts and how that can help her feel more “in her own body” for a role. If you haven’t seen …you should! It’s good! With and .
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‘The Lost Boys’ with ‘Into the Dark: My Valentine’ Director Maggie Levin
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We have the magnificent director Maggie Levin (Blumhouse’s Into the Dark: My Valentine, Miss 2059) on the show to discuss Joel Schumacher’s vampire-classic, The Lost Boys. Maggie and April chat about making genre films on a shoestring budget. Maggie takes us through the laborious and often entertaining process of the “name clearance phase” of filmmaking. And she emphasizes the necessity of talented actors to make a quality film. You can watch on Hulu now. And if you haven’t seen …get to it! With and .
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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ with ‘Birds of Prey’ Director Cathy Yan
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What a FANTABULOUS episode this is! We have the magnificent Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey, on to talk all about Mad Max: Fury Road. Cathy discusses what it’s like making her own standalone film in a “sequalized environment.” She elaborates on the function of using practical effects and stunts. And she discusses working with Margot Robbie and further developing Harley Quinn’s character. You can watch in theaters on February 7th. And if you haven’t seen …what? With and .
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‘Adaptation’ with ‘Color Out of Space’ Star Madeleine Arthur
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This week we are joined by the wonderful actress Madeleine Arthur (Color Out of Space, Big Eyes, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) to talk about 2002’s Adaptation. Madeleine discusses the craft of self-taping an audition, doing an ADR session, and grounding supernatural dialogue. She also reveals what it was like co-starring with Nicolas Cage. And she even sings the song he made up for the times when he needs to focus on set. You can watch in theaters now. And if you haven’t seen …what are you even doing with your life? With and .
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‘Bunny Lake Is Missing’ with ‘She’s Missing’ Director Alexandra McGuinness
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We are so lucky to be joined by the phenomenal director of the new film She’s Missing, Alexandra McGuinness. She’s on the program to talk about the aptly chosen movie, Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing. Alexandra discusses the significance of making films in foreign places. She elaborates on unintentionally making her work personal. And she chats about her love of collaborating with inexperienced actors – especially child actors who correct Josh Hartnett when he doesn’t remember a line. You can watch on streaming now. And if you haven’t seen …do it...
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‘Addams Family Values’ with Julia Prescott
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This week we have one of our very own Max Fun pals on the program, writer and Round Springfield co-host Julia Prescott! She’s on the show to talk about the delectable Addams Family Values. Julia discusses her love of 90’s comedies and the genius of Joan Cusack. Plus she elaborates on her own writing mindset and the joy of taking silliness very seriously. You can listen to now. And if you haven’t seen …what are you doing?! With and .
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‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ with Writer Megan Amram
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What a great way to start off the New Year. Writer Megan Amram (The Good Place, Parks and Rec) joins April to discuss the monumental classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Megan and April explore the idea of objectifying the human body in an interesting and meaningful way. Plus Megan talks about the moral approach in her scripts for the way character’s make decisions. And it should be noted that this entire interview was conducted with Megan shrouded in her own The Texas Chainsaw Massacre blanket. You can watch NBC’s The Good Place on Thursday nights. And if...
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‘Ladyhawke’ with Janet Varney
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A Maximum Fun crossover extravaganza! ‘The JV Club’ host Janet Varney joins host Katie Walsh to discuss the forgotten 1985 fantasy epic, Ladyhawke. Janet and Katie obsess over the score and insane romanticism of the film. Plus, Janet talks about the use of sincerity in her own work and navigating social media interactions. If you haven’t seen …good luck! With and . You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on or . Or email us at . Produced by and for .
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‘Scream’ with Clarke Wolfe
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Ladies and gentlemen, Katie Walsh is back in the booth. She’s joined by the wonderful writer, actor, and host Clarke Wolfe to talk about Scream. This is a truly in depth analysis of the film by two bonafide “Scream heads.” Plus, Katie and Clarke examine how prescient this film was with its criticism of incels, the feminization of young men, and the prediction of Columbine. Scream has layers! If you haven’t seen …run don’t walk to see it. With and . You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on or . Or email us...
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'Brazil' with 'Watchmen' and 'The OA' Writer Claire Kiechel
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We are so lucky because – A). We have Claire Kiechel, writer for Watchmen and The OA, on the show this week. And B). She’s discussing Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, which is technically a Christmas movie! She and April elaborate on all the things that make this film magical – the production design, the world building, the performances. Plus, we get a peek inside the writer’s room of Watchmen and hear Claire dissect the motivations of characters like Dr. Manhattan and Angela Abar. The entire first season of is available on HBO now. And if you...
info_outlineJennifer Kent is probably best known for directing her 2014 film, The Babadook. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014 to critical and audience acclaim, and has won over 50 international and domestic awards, including the Australian Director's Guild award for Best Director, the Australian Academy Award (AACTA) for Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Film, and the New York Critics Circle Awards for Best First Feature. This year now sees the release of her second feature, The Nightingale, a brutal colonial revenge tale about a woman who loses everything and joins up with an aboriginal tracker to find and inflict punishment on the men who wronged her.
The movie that Jennifer has chosen to discuss is the 1961 classic, The Innocents. Jennifer elaborates on the aspects of the film that she used as direct influence for her own films. She talks about taking the young actor Noah Wiseman to the zoo in order to prepare him for the truly horrifying scenes in The Babadook. Plus, she divulges how the misconceptions about her film The Nightingale have really hurt her personally. She tells a story about how one journalist at the Venice Film festival even called her a "whore" for directing the film. And finally, if you listen all the way through the episode, you get to hear Jennifer's impeccable impression of a Tasamanian devil.
You can see The Nightingale in select theaters now.
And if you haven't seen The Innocents yet, go watch it!
With April Wolfe and Jennifer Kent.
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Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.