FOLLOWING FILMS

 KEVIN SMITH: HIS FILMS AND FANS by David Gati is a photo-filled biography that celebrates the life, films, and fans of the director responsible for such indie cult classics as Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Movie-industry veteran David Gati has compiled and edited a humorous and insightful look at Smith’s nearly 30-year filmmaking journey. Through Smith’s own funny, honest, and uncensored stories—taken from podcasts, Q&As, and documentaries—readers get to know him as a person, the struggles he’s been through, and the people he’s worked with, as well as his process for writing, directing, casting, shooting, editing, and showing his films to the public. The book is arranged chronologically with each chapter exploring how an aspect of Kevin’s life is reflected in one of his 14 films. Not to be overlooked is Smith’s outsized fan base, who relate to the director’s down-to-earth persona and his geeky, sometimes juvenile, often-nostalgic regular-pe...

  Speaking up and communicating your needs is not always easy. My next guest, Renée Marino knows all about navigating the complexities of conversation. She is a former Hollywood and Broadway starlet whose communication skills landed her the female lead, Mary Delgado, in Clint Eastwood’s film, “Jersey Boys.” Today, Marino is a professional communication coach and keynote speaker named by Yahoo Finance as one of the “Top 10 Communication Coaches to Follow in 2021!”  Renée Marino's book "Becoming a Master Communicator”  releases Jan. 2022 and is now available for pre-order by visiting BecomingaMasterCommunicator.com. 

An in-world book from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Wakanda Files—compiled by request of Shuri (Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War) as part of her quest to improve the future for all people—is a collection of papers, articles, blueprints, and notes amassed throughout history by Wakanda’s War Dogs. In a nod to Wakandan technology, the pages of the book have a printed layer of UV ink with content that is visible only under the accompanying Kimoyo bead–shaped UV light. Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Wakanda has been on the forefront of what is technologically possible. Their ability to stay ahead of the rest of the world is second only to their ability to keep themselves hidden. As the architect behind many of Wakanda’s great advancements, Shuri is constantly seeking ways to improve what has come before. To aid in her search, she researches the past for context, reference, and inspiration by compiling The Wakanda Files. Organized into areas of study,...

Written by Daniel H. Wilson, The Andromeda Evolution picks up the story established by Michael Crichton in his beloved novel The Andromeda Strain. Set decades later as a team of scientists continue to watch and wait for the Andromeda Strain to reappear. They embark on a quest to reach the quarantine zone, enter the anomaly, and figure out how to stop the potentially apocalyptic threat before the Andromeda Evolution annihilates all life as we know it. I had the chance to speak with Sherri Crichton about The Andromeda Evolution and continuing her late husbands work. Sherri, thank you for taking time to do this. How are you holding up? Thanks so much for your interest!  We are doing fine and thinking of all the people who have not  been as fortunate.  It’s also been such an inspiring moment for big changes in our world and  society at large. It wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to say “The Andromeda Strain” has become prophetic in  recent months. How...

Are you a fan of FULL METAL JACKET? Do you have an iPad? Are you broke? Well if you happen to sit in middle of that Venn diagram, Mathew Modine has you covered!!! FULL METAL JACKET DIARY (FMJD) has been called an "appumentary" by Entertainment Weekly, “something Stanley Kubrick would be proud of" by Wired Magazine, and named "iPad App of the Week” by Gizmodo. It was selected as one of the "Best Book Apps of 2012" by Kirkus Book Reviews, won the "Best App" award at the 2013 New Media Film Festival, and received the "Best Mobile Media Programming" Award of Merit from The Accolade Competition. "In 1985, Stanley Kubrick encouraged me to take photos and keep a journal while playing the lead role of Pvt. Joker on the set of FULL METAL JACKET. In 2005, I published a limited edition book of my photos and diary. This app is based on that book; enriched and reimagined as an interactive, audiovisual experience. I hope you e...

In what is one of the more unexpected stories of the day it appears the FANTASTIC FEST hit of 2017, ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE , has been adapted to a novel. It's not often we get a horror musical comedy that resonates with audiences and it's even rarer to see a film like this adapted to a book. I'm on board for any chance to spend more time in this delightful world in any form. Check out the press release below. ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE , Orion Pictures’ feature film musical winning over audiences at film festivals worldwide with its humor, horror and musical dance numbers, is heading to select theaters November 30 with a national rollout to follow. Ahead of the film’s theatrical release, Anna and the Apocalypse is set to arrive in bookstores as an all-new horror comedy novel from co-authors Katherine Turner and Barry Waldo. ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE  promises an extended look at Anna and her friends as they navigate the teen angst-filled halls of high school and wa...

Who is Tony Brown? Those outside the record industry might not immediately know the name, but they undoubtedly know his work. As a pianist, he toured with Elvis' TCB band,  Rosanne Cash, The Oakridge Boys, and Emmylou Harris. As a producer, he recorded albums with George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Brooks & Dunn, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill, and Reba McEntire, to name a few. Working as everything from a session musician to the president of MCA Nashville, Tony Brown has been involved in every facet of the recording industry and has left an indelible mark on popular music. ELVIS, STRAIT, TO JESUS , uses photography going back over 70 years and personal insights to gain an intimate look at this iconic artists career. The book is a unique blend of oral and photographic history that could be easily torn through in an hour, but readers should take this one in slowly. While the photography in the book is certainly noteworthy, Brown's insights that ac...

For many, Christmas is an annual celebration of goodwill and joy, but for others, it’s a time to curl up on the couch in the dead of winter for a good old fashioned fright. The festive holiday season has always included a more somber side, and scary tales of child-stealing demons to ghost stories told ‘round the fireplace go back to pre-Christian celebrations. These long-standing traditions have found modern expression in Christmas horror film and television shows, a unique and sometimes controversial subgenre that cheerfully drives a stake of holly through the heart of cherished Christmas customs. Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television, the latest book by Canadian micro-publisher Spectacular Optical, offers a definitive, in-depth exploration of the history of these subversive film and television presentations that allow viewers to engage in different ways with the complicated cultural history of the Christmas season. Yuletide Terror collects over 20 essays an...

Canadian micro-publisher Spectacular Optical is pleased to announce a new book focused on the career of French fantasy and horror filmmaker Jean Rollin, LOST GIRLS: THE PHANTASMAGORICAL CINEMA OF JEAN ROLLIN, penned by all women critics, scholars and film historians. Set to be released in the summer of 2017, this collection of essays covers the wide range of Rollin’s career from 1968’s LE VIOL DU VAMPIRE through his 2010 swansong, LE MASQUE DE LA MÉDUSE, touching upon his horror, fantasy, crime and sex films—including many lesser seen titles. The book closely examines Rollin’s core themes: his focus on overwhelmingly female protagonists, his use of horror genre and exploitation tropes, his reinterpretations of the fairy tale and fantastique, the influence of crime serials, Gothic literature and the occult, as well as much more. LOST GIRLS is the third book in Spectacular Optical’s ongoing series of limited run film and pop culture books, which includes KID POWER! (2014) and SATAN...

This book serves as eye-opener to many people who do not know, and refuses to know the history of politics. The book, Man of the World: The further Endeavors of Bill Clinton says a lot about his desired plans and future upbringing of the economy of the USA also his life right after presidency. It is popular around USA about his stepping down from the power because of uncontrolled controversies. Yet, with Bill Clinton being the President, it can't be denied that he had done more than what the media says, and this book is the legit proof of them all. It is always expected from media to turn stories the way they want and if anyone is hungry for knowledge about what he had really done for this great country, it is far more recommended to get this book, sit with it and absorb every reality-slapping truth. One of Bill Clinton's best move was his devotion to wide assistance of healthcare, maintaining peace and erasing conflicts, and solving unresolved issues within his constituents. ...

Eric Kleefled, Sam Reisman, and the editors of the National Memo write about the horrors of Donald Trump through Pop Culture and characters associated with this entertaining media. In the introduction, Kleefeld first start off with talking about how Donald Trump got his start in his political journey. For instance, Kleefeld says that "Trumpism is a rebellion against social progress, harnessing the resentments of Americans who see the world changing around them and instead wish to go backward." Basically, the authors are trying to say that Trump supporters see things in a backwards light. This is a good point because most Americans, and the world, often wonder how he got where he is in the first place. Trumps candidacy is described as "a horror movie or a very twisted dark comedy." The answer is for the reader to decide. What is this saying about Trump? Then, in Part 1, Kleefeld describes Trump as The Penguin from the classic 1960 Batman TV. This assumption is a...

In this episode, Dave brings back a favorite guest, Michael Denniston from the War Machine vs War Horse podcast, to talk about L.A. Confidential.  Britt is, of course, back for more Fangirl Fixation and tells us how not confusing this movie really is despite other opinions.  Dave discusses the dangers of ambition before bringing in Mike for some excellent discourse on L.A. Confidential. The Value of Aiming High Ambition Gone Awry Career Success Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:03:51 Ambition: 0:17:14 L.A. Confidential with Michael: 0:28:14 Rate and Review on iTunes!

In this episode, Dave takes on the monster task of reviewing Jaws.  Thankfully, he not only has the usual assistance of Britt during Fangirl Fixation.  He is joined later in the episode by Jairo from the  True Bromance Film Podcast !  Discussed during the episode are drinking songs, divorce, giving birth at later ages, the definition of masculinity, among many other topics!  Enjoy! Masculinity and Drinking Games Definition of Masculinity Gender Role Stress Listen! Fangirl Fixation: 0:04:55 Masculinity: 0:21:30 Jaws with Jairo: 0:35:08 Rate and Review on iTunes! Visit our website!

Pop Culture Case Study and Fangirl Fixation officially join Common Room's #PotterWeek!  We wax philosophical about our favorite characters and storylines.  Plus, Britt schools Dave on how these books actually start.  Fun! #PotterPeeps For more info on #Potterweek go to  comrom.co/announcing-potterweek .

I had the honor to interview author Caseen Gaines about his book We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy ! Mr. Gaines talks about some of his interviews and gave us some insights such as more info about what really happened with Eric Stoltz and what he thinks if there will ever be a remake or continuation of the franchise. You can find more information on Mr. Caseen Gaines and his work at his website: caseengaines.com   Here is an Amazon link to his book We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy .

In this episode, Dave discusses the film the listeners chose for him, Girl, Interrupted. He takes a closer look at Borderline Personality Disorder and decides whether or not the film does a quality job of representing this disorder on screen. Britt also makes an appearance to talk about stigma and the effects of pop culture on diagnosis. Listen! Intro: 0:00:00 Fangirl Fixation: 0:05:08 Borderline Personality Disorder:0:22:00 Girl, Interrupted: 0:42:22 Rate and Review on iTunes! Visit our website!