Tag: independent film

Chillpak Hollywood Hour #492

Posted on by PHIL19

The great film theorist André Bazin described the genre of the movie western as “the American film par excellence.” Your friends in podcasting could not agree more! That’s why on this week’s show (their 2nd of 10 “Top Ten” shows commemorating this, the 10th year of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour), Dean and Phil count down their Top Ten All Time Westerns.

What films will make the list? What films won’t? Will Dean have difficulty numbering 10 to 1?

These questions and many more will be answered during the next 75 minutes. Enjoy!

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #490

Posted on by PHIL19

How do your friends in podcasting follow up on one of their best episodes ever? Well, they start by playing a hilarious voicemail message left by listener Jon Lawlor in the wake of the “Harry Potter” discussion he prompted. Then, they celebrate 67 years of broadcasting excellence by Vin Scully. Then, they engage in perhaps the funniest “celebrity death” they’ve ever covered, remembering the “worst boss in the world”. Dean’s latest comedy shows, Phil’s hosting of An LABC Home Companion, and a Cindy Sherman exhibit are all discussed in “Live Events of the Week” as is the pilgrimage Phil made to Walt Disney’s grave to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World. Dean answers a question from a listener like you (yes, YOU) about how to prevent air travel from wrecking you physically. Finally, Dean and Phil compare notes on several films, including one of the most overlooked comedies of the 1930’s, a Japanese horror film from the 1960’s that was the most expensive Japanese film ever made at the time, and a charming independent comedy from Ireland that boasted Gene Wilder’s first lead role in a movie. Enjoy brand new episode 490 of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #489

Posted on by PHIL19

Recorded a few days early, this week’s show truly has something for everyone, and if anyone claims it doesn’t, we hope they feel better soon! True gentleman and outstanding filmmaker Curtis Hanson is remembered in “Celebrity Deaths”. The Emmy Awards, and especially Jimmy Kimmel’s performance hosting them, are discussed. The Colin Kaepernick National Anthem protest saga is re-visited in the wake of more African-American deaths at the hands of police and in the wake of Kaepernick’s Time Magazine cover being released. And this week, the conversation inspired by Kaepernick’s protest goes in many unexpected, inspired and even hilarious directions – from sensitivity training, to Swedish massages, to the lyrics of “America the Beautiful.” That patriotic tune and the national anthem are far from the only songs discussed this week as Dean and Phil get downright musical while following up on Phil’s tirade from last week about “nostalgia” with a “Live Event of the Week” that features musical acts Hall & Oates, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & Orleans Avenue, and the powerful Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. In fact, they even preview the new album from Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam! Then, Dean and Phil comfort each other in the wake of Brad Pitt’s divorce from Angelina Jolie, and they wonder why the hell anyone cares about it in the first place … Finally, “What We’re Reading” becomes the “Explanation of the Week” as Phil goes all “patronus charm” on an email from a listener like you (yes, YOU) criticizing his critique of the first two “Harry Potter” movies. EXPELLIARUMS! All in all in, it may be one of the best installments of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour ever and after almost ten years, how many podcasts could claim that? Your friends in podcasting, STILL changing the way people listen to the internet …

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #486

Posted on by PHIL19

Halloween is only eight weeks away, so your friends in podcasting thought it was the perfect time to reveal their Top Ten All-Time Horror Films! Such classics as the 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, its 1978 remake, John Carpenter’s The Thing, The Devil’s Backbone from director Guillermo Del Toro, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and Cabin in the Woods all get discussed as “honorable mentions”. What films actually made Dean and Phil’s respective lists? Listen to find out! And keep those Netflix queues handy!

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #476

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Most of Monday’s show is a conversation that took place a couple weeks back between your friends in podcasting and special guest Dave Pickering. And since that time, Dean and Phil have been dying to share it with you … Dave Pickering is a “storyteller” in so many ways. Based in the UK, he hosts and produces Getting Better Acquainted, Stand Up Tragedy and much, much more. He has a new show debuting this fall that sounds fascinating. Just interviewing him would make for a great show, but he actually starts out by turning the tables on Dean and Phil and interviewing THEM for the first half hour! What transpires is surprising, thoughtful and maybe even inspiring. All in all, it’s an hour unlike any other, which is to say, it’s what you loyal listeners have come to expect from YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #470

Posted on by PHIL19

Many years ago, your friends in podcasting had a very unique Summer Movie Preview episode that proved extremely popular. They’ve always thought of doing another, but for whatever reason, schedules never allowed. Finally, 7 years later, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness have done their prep work and are ready to deliver. After all, what is more “summer” in the movie biz than a long-anticipated sequel?! Perhaps, a sequel no one asked for …

Oh, well … On this week’s show, Dean and Phil preview all the hopeful blockbusters as well as several of the smaller comedies, documentaries and independent films hoping to make their mark at the box office as “counter-programming”. They do this by analyzing these movies’ trailers. Is the trailer good or bad? What can be gleaned about whether the film is good or bad? Do they think the film itself is like or unlike the one being advertised? The services AND disservices done to the audience by the way these films are marketed and advertised gets fully discussed. Film distribution nitty gritty, summer movie previews and much hilarity on this week’s brand new episode of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #454

Posted on by PHIL19

As you know, each year, your friends in podcasting celebrate what they think were the best films of the previous year. Well, this year, Dean Haglund and Phil Leirness welcome special guest, film critic and Los Angeles Film Critics Association member Luke Y. Thompson to help them as they discuss the best films AND the worst films of 2015! 

Best and worst in one show?! 

Why, that sounds like two shows! And it almost is. At almost 1 hour and 50 minutes, this is our longest show ever (if you don’t count the 28 hour live “podcastathon” Dean and Phil did to ring in the end of the Mayan Calendar). So, get those Netflix queues handy, power up with the caffeinated beverage of your choice and let’s begin

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #446

Posted on by PHIL19

Dean Haglund shares news of his weekly pay-per-laughs improv show where he performs an episode of “The X-Files” live on-stage in Sydney. Phil Leirness reports on his visit to the restored, remodeled and re-opened Los Angeles landmark Clifton’s Cafeteria. Phil then gets on a soapbox about the true purpose of Thanksgiving and the true meaning of gratitude. A legend of Japanese cinema is remembered. A classic of sci-fi cinema is celebrated … And then, your friends in podcasting rush headlong into “the season of self-congratulation”, a time when award-hopeful movies are released en masse and award nominations and film critic top ten lists are announced almost daily. This week, award hopefuls like “Bridge of Spies”, “The Danish Girl” and “The Big Short” and box office blockbusters like “Spectre” are discussed and the Spirit Award nominations (for the best in independent film) are analyzed.

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #421

Posted on by PHIL19

Dean Haglund is down under, enjoying his new home in Sydney, Australia. And if this show is to be believed, Phil Leirness is on his way to visit Dean via “swim” (is that a new mobile app?). So, talented, funny, and razor sharp ladies Karen Forman and Lily Holleman step in to help your friends in podcasting change the way they “change the way you listen to the internet”!

There is the familiar – Live Events of the Week, movie reviews, the Bechdel test, appeals for racial and age diversity in mainstream media, and an appeal for more opportunity for women both in front of and behind the camera. Bottom line: “Shame on you, Hollywood!”

Karen and Lily also celebrate the Tony Awards, Lifetime Movies, and “Game of Thrones”.

All in all, it’s an “outward display of inner self-love” and it just might save Christmas!

One day late, but well worth the wait.

Am I right, ladies?

 

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Chillpak Hollywood Hour #415

Posted on by PHIL19

We’re only two episodes away from the end of year 8 and only five episodes away from Dean Haglund’s move to Australia, yet your friends in podcasting have more to discuss than ever before! From a full report on the preview screening of their new dark comedy, to the latest news regarding Sci-Fest, from the latest rumblings about the return of The X-Files to Phil’s heartfelt thank you and farewell to a film critic who played a major role in his development as an artist, this week’s installment is quite personal to Dean and Phil.

There is a ton of talk about current television (like Mad Men, Daredevil, and the countdown to David Letterman’s final show) and future television (an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. spin-off, the Twin Peaks reboot, and perhaps the most exciting new show to be announced in AGES!). There is also much attention paid to forthcoming movies, including ill-advised remakes and reboots, and maybe a film or two worthy of optimism!

Dean and Phil follow up on their (enormously popular) discussion of female-driven films (episode #413), with a discussion of two emerging female musical artists. All that, plus the latest dirt Phil has learned about Scientology AND not one, not two, not three, but FOUR emails from listeners like you! Want to learn about IMDb? Want to learn about Dean and Phil’s favorite cookies? Then, stop reading and start enjoying this thrilling installment of YOUR Chillpak Hollywood Hour!

 

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