In today's episode, I interview director Nick Russell and writer Nick Musgrove, about their short film "Favourites,"  about parents who are forced to make an impossible choice. The film has been showing at festivals including Australia's Flickerfest and the San Diego International Film Festival and will be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June.Listen to hear Nick and Nick discuss his how they developed the story for the film together, their incredible crew that they worked with, and one of the craziest dinner parties ever put together on The Oscar Project Podcast.Books recommended in this episode include:Against All Odds by Craig Challen and Richard HarrisAny Ordinary Day: Blindsides, Resilience and What Happens After the Worst Day of Your Life by Leigh SalesFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Favourites” directed by Nick RussellSophie's Choice directed by Alan J. PakulaMr. Black (TV Series)Wake in Fright directed by Ted KotcheffThe Grand Budapest Hotel directed by Wes AndersonSideways directed by Alexander PayneLord of the Rings: The Two Towers directed by Peter JacksonShaun of the Dead directed by Edgar WrightThe Prestige directed by Christopher NolanFight Club directed by David FincherThe Sixth Sense directed by M. Night ShyamalanEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind directed by Michel GondryEat Pray Love directed by Ryan MurphyNo Country for Old Men directed by The Coen BrothersBridesmaids directed by Paul FeigJurassic Park directed by Steven SpielbergAladdin directed by Ron Clements and John MuskerStar Wars directed by George LucasLord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring directed by Peter JacksonDune directed by Denis VilleneuveBlades of Glory directed by Josh Gordon and Will SpeckThirteen Lives directed by Ron HowardThe Rescue directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai VasarhelyiFollow the film and Nick Russell on Instagram @favouritesfilm and @nickrussdog and follow Nick Musgrove on Twitter @Nickmusgrove

In today's interview, I speak with Andrew Stanley Kiste, a campus life director and life long lover of all things Disney. He has written articles and books including Walt Disney and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, and three volumes of A Historical Tour of Walt Disney World. He joins me today to talk about his new book, The Early Life of Walt Disney. Listen to hear how Walt Disney's father Elias impacted how Walt became the man we know, where Walt learned his storytelling and artistic abilities, and some of the early animated creations before Walt's famous mouse Mickey. Books mentioned in this episode include: The Early Life of Walt Disney by Andrew Stanley KisteThe Story of Walt Disney by Diane Disney MillerWalt Disney: an American Original by Bob ThomasBuilding a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire by Bob ThomasWalt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal GablerWalt Disney's Missouri: The Roots of a Creative Genius by Brian Burnes, Dan Viets, and Robert W. ButleWalt in Wonderland The Silent Films of Walt Disney by Russell Merritt and J. B. KaufmanOswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons by David A. BossertDisney War by James B. StewartThe Disney Revolt: The Great Labor War of Animation's Golden Age by Jake S. FriedmanThe Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History by Nathalia HoltHow Walt Disney Changed Animation Forever by Andrew Stanley Kiste (forthcoming in 2025)Films mentioned in this episode include:Cinderella directed by Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, and Clyde GeronimiSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs directed by David HandAlice in Wonderland directed by Ben Sharpsteen, Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske"Der Fuehrer's Face" directed by Jack Kinney"The Thrifty Pig" directed by Ford Beebe"Alice's Wonderland" directed by Walt DisneyOswald the Lucky Rabbit filmsSaving Mr. Banks directed by John Lee HancockNapoleon Dynamite directed by Jared HessForrest Gump directed by Robert ZemeckisToy Story directed by John LasseterFollow Andrew on Facebook (@Andrew Kiste-Author) and check out his website and Amazon Author Page for links to all of his books. Check out his articles in Walt Disney World Magazine.

In today's episode, I am joined by Kyle, the winner of the 2024 Oscar prediction contest on The Oscar Project. We talk about a little of everything including what we liked from the 96th Academy Awards, other movies from 2023 we enjoyed, and things we're looking forward to in 2024. Books mentioned in this episode include:Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel WilkersonElvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll by Priscilla Beaulieu PresleyRobot Dreams by Sara VaronKillers of the Flower Moon by David GrannAmerican Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. SherwinErasure by Percival EverettTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinThe Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy TooleFear and Trembling by Søren KierkegaardNovelist as a Vocation by Haruki MurakamiWhat I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki MurakamiThe Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick RubinThe list of films we mentioned is too long to include in the show notes, but check out the full Letterboxd list for this episode. A few films mentioned in this episode include:Oppenheimer directed by Christopher NolanPoor Things directed by Yorgos LanthimosThe Creator directed by Gareth EdwardsGodzilla Minus One directed by Takashi YamazakiThe Zone of Interest directed by Jonathan GlazerThe Killer directed by David FincherThe Boy of the Heron directed by Hayao MiyazakiSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. ThompsonMaestro directed by Bradley CooperKillers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav ChernovThe Holdovers directed by Alexander Payne"The Last Repair Shop" directed by Ben Proudfoot and Kris BowersMay December directed by Todd HaynesHow to Blow Up a Pipeline directed by Daniel GoldhaberGodland directed by Hlynur PálmasonAnatomy of a Fall directed by Justine TrietSociety of the Snow directed by J. A. BayonaAsteroid City directed by Wes Anderson"The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" directed by Wes AndersonOrigin directed by Ava DuVernayThe Iron Claw directed by Sean DurkinCheck out Kyle on the Picture Box Cinema Hour Podcast with Gavin.

Today I am discussing the 1928 film Sadie Thompson. The film tells the story of Sadie Thompson, a woman of questionable moral character, and Mr. Davidson, the devout missionary who makes it his mission to reform her while they are both forced to stay on a remote Pacific island. Listen now to hear about the troubles the film faced in being made, how Swanson's performance can be related to her later work in Sunset Boulevard, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.Resources:Read the short storyRead the playWatch the film

In today's interview, I speak with Lisa Stein Haven, a Professor of English at Ohio University and expert in all things Charlie Chaplin. She has written extensively on the actor and director and hosted the first international Charlie Chaplin conference ever held on American soil in 2010, the 100th anniversary of Charlie's first trip to America. In addition to several works on Charlie Chaplin, she has published books about hi brother Syd Chaplin and Max Linder. She joins the show to talk about her latest book, The Early Years of Charlie Chaplin: Final Shorts and First Features. Listen to hear how Chaplin dealt with the media when he was making movies, what type of person Chaplin truly was, and why Chaplin has been such an inspiration to actors over the last century. Books mentioned in this episode include:The Early Years of Charlie Chaplin: Final Shorts and First Features by Lisa Stein HavenMy Autobiography by Charlie ChaplinChaplin: His Life and Art by David RobinsonTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeePlague of Doves by Louise ErdrichIn Cold Blood by Truman CapoteForthcoming book about Buster Keaton by Lisa Stein HavenForthcoming book about Monty Banks by Lisa Stein HavenFilms mentioned in this episode include:The Gold Rush directed by Charlie ChaplinCity Lights directed by Charlie ChaplinThe Great Dictator directed by Charlie ChaplinSunrise directed by Andrew BairdThe Manchurian Candidate directed by John FrankenheimerEd Wood directed by Tim BurtonRaiders of the Lost Ark directed by Steven SpielbergNorth by Northwest directed by Alfred HitchcockMonty Banks KickstarterFollow Lisa on Instagram (@lisasteinhaven) and check out her Amazon Author Page for links to all of her books.

As I announced in my spring preview episode earlier this week, today I am discussing the 1928 film The Crowd. The film focuses on the story of John and Mary Sims as they build a family together and face life's challenges in early 1900s New York City. Listen now to hear about the creative people behind the film, and as always, my own thoughts about the film.

On today's episode, I give a quick preview of some of the things I'm working on for the podcast in the coming weeks a months. Be sure to subscribe to the show in your podcast player and follow The Oscar Project for all the updates.Facebook-facebook.com/TheOscarProjectInstagram-@the_oscar_projectX (Twitter)-@jytrebergSubstack-theoscarproject.substack.comI'm appearing on the next episode of The Playlist Project podcast with my friend Stacy. Check out her podcast all about the music people love at the link above.

With the 96th Academy Awards in the book, I am joined today by Luis Mendez to discuss all the happenings at the Oscars on Sunday night.Check out Luis at The Mendez Report and follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Threads, and Letterboxd.

It's time for me to break down who I think will win at the Oscars this weekend. In this episode I go over all 23 categories, letting you know who I think will win the Oscar and who I think should win. They don't always match, so listen in to win your Oscar prediction pool!

In today's episode, I interview Vincent René-lortie, the director of "Invincible",  an ode to the memory of Marc-Antoine Bernier and the tale of a young man yearning for his freedom. The film is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy® Awards after winning Best Live Action Short Film at Chicago Children’s Film Festival in 2022 and Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma in 2023 .Listen to hear Vincent discuss his personal connection to the story, how he got to work with some tremendous young actors and how he has dealt with being an Oscar nominee.Books recommended by Vincent include:Les villes de papier by Dominique FortierFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Invincible” directed by Vincent René-lortiePast Lives directed by Celine SongAnatomy of a Fall directed by Justine TrietIncendies directed by Denis VillenueveCrazy directed by Jean Marc ValléeLost in Translation directed by Sophia CoppollaAmelie directed by Jean-Pierre JeunetHarry PotterFollow Vincent on Instagram @vincentrenelortie and the film Invincble @invincibleshortfilm

In today's episode, I interview Nazrin Choudhury, the director of "Red, White and Blue",  the story of a single mother in Arkansas who must cross state lines in search of an abortion. After winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Live Action Short at the Edmonton International Film Festival, the film is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy® Awards.Listen to hear Nazrin discuss how she decided to make this impactful film, what she was able to bring from working in television to making a short film, and her experience of being announced as an Oscar nominee.Books recommended by Nazrin include:The Godfather Notebook by Francis Ford CoppolaThe Return of Faraz Ali by Aamina AhmadFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Red, White and Blue” directed by Nazrin ChoudhuryPunch Drunk Love directed by Paul Thomas AndersonUncut Gems directed by Josh and Benny SafdieThe Truman Show directed by Peter WeirWar Horse directed by Steven SpielbergFear the Walking DeadThe Godfather directed by Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather Part II directed by Francis Ford CoppolaInfernal Affairs directed by Andrew Lau and Alan MakInfernal Affairs Part 2 directed by  Andrew Lau and Alan MakThe Departed directed by Martin ScorseseIncendies directed by Denis VilleneuveSunset Boulevard directed by Billy WilderBarbie directed by Greta GerwigFollow Nazrin on Instagram @nazrin.choudhury and the film Red, White and Blue @redwhiteandbluefilm

In today's interview, I speak with Ryan Britt, a fiction and non-fiction author who has written for Inverse, Esquire, The New York Times, and StarTrek.com, among others. His first two books were Luke Skywalker Can’t Read and Other Geeky Truths and PHASERS ON STUN! How the Making and Remaking of Star Trek Changed the World. He joins me to talk about his latest book, The Spice Must Flow: The Story of Dune, from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies.Listen to hear how Dune might have been different if it was published today, the genesis of Dune in the coastal seagrass of Oregon, and how the various film versions of Dune have had success or failure. Books mentioned in this episode include:Dune by Frank HerbertNew World Or No World by Frank HerbertA Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune. An Oral History. by Max EvryDreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert by Brian HerbertFuture Noir: The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M. SammonThe Three-Body Problem Series by Cixin LiuThe Winner by Teddy WayneThe Great Man Theory by Teddy Wayne Double or Nothing by Kim Sherwood A Spy Like Me by Kim Sherwood Films mentioned in this episode include:Star Wars directed by George LucasAlien directed by Ridley ScottBlade Runner directed by Ridley ScottDune directed by David LynchDune directed by Denis VilleneuveGuardians of the Galaxy directed by James GunnBlack MirrorFoundationFor All MankindBlade Runner 2049 directed by Denis VilleneuveDune: Part 2 directed by Denis VilleneuveThe Life Aquatic directed by Wes AndersonAdaptation directed by Spike JonzeStar Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn directed by Nicholas MeyerJames BondStar Trek First Contact directed by Jonathan FrakesFollow Ryan on Twitter (@RyancBritt) or Instagram (@ryan.britt) and check him out at the Tucson Book Festival on March 9th.

In this week's episode, I interview Misan Harriman, the director of "The After", a powerful and affecting story that follows a man who has to reconnect with himself and society after witnessing a devastating random attack. After its world premier at the Oscar®-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival, where it won Best Live Action Short, this incredibly thought-provoking short film is officially nominated for the 96th Academy Awards and Misan is kind enough to join me today and talk about the film. Listen to hear Misan discuss his inspiration for the film, what he experienced being a first time filmmaker, and how he felt at being nominated for an Oscar.Films mentioned in this episode include:“The After” directed by Misan HarrimanThe Book of Clarence directed by Jeymes SamuelTimbuktu directed by Abderrahmane SissakoBarry Lyndon directed by Stanley KubrickCinema Paradiso directed by Giuseppe TornatoreBoyz in the Hood directed by John SingletonScarface directed by Brian Di PalmaFollow Misan on Instagram @misanharriman

In this week's episode, I interview Jean Chapiro, recipient of the Bronze Medal in the Documentary category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. She was recognized for her film "Till We Find Them" which looks at the families of missing persons in Mexico as they look for their loved ones.Listen to hear Jean discuss what drew her to documentary film, the dangers of documenting the missing persons crisis in Mexico, and what her favorite documentary film is. Books mentioned in this episode include:Poeta Chileno by Alejandro ZambraFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Till We Find Them” directed by Jean ChapiroPan's Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del ToroE.T. The Extraterrestrial directed by Steven SpielbergEdward Scissorhands directed  by Tim BurtonThe Act of Killing directed by Joshua OppenheimerFour Daughters directed by Kaouther Ben HaniaDick Johnson is Dead directed by Kirsten JohnsonHarry PotterBeetlejuice directed by Tim BurtonGame of ThronesFollow Jean on Instagram @jean.chap

As we near the end of January, I'm looking back at 2023. I interviewed 10 amazing authors about their books and spoke with six filmmakers as well. There was so much new content on The Oscar Project Podcast, it was hard to pick the best bits, but here are some of my favorite parts of the interviews from 2023.Be sure to pick up the books from all these guests and support their work.Black Rodeo: A History of the African American Western by Mia MaskThe Movie Lover’s Guide to London by Charlotte Booth and Brian BillingtonLost in Translation (BFI Film Classics) by Suzanne FerrissBut Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films by Kristen LopezClint Eastwood: The Iconic Filmmaker and his Work by Ian NathanDavid Lynch: A Retrospective by Ian NathanLugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren ShadmiHorror Unmasked: The History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope by Brad WeismannSay Hello to My Little Friend: A Century of Scarface by Nat SegaloffCinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies by Andrew DeGraffThe Needle and the Lens: Pop Goes to the Movies from Rock 'n' Roll to Synthwave by Nate PatrinAnd of course, check out the work of my filmmaker intervieweesBoom (follow boom_shortfilm on Instagram)Wings of Dust (follow Giorgio Ghiotto and Wings of Dust on Instagram)Revisited (follow Iain Forbes on Instagram)

The nominees for the 96th Academy Awards were announced early this morning. The nominees come from 53 films across 23 categories and cover all sorts of films from dramas to comedies, blockbusters to indie darlings. There will be plenty more to come from The Oscar Project in the next month and a half, but for today, let’s just get straight to the nominees!

In today's interview, I speak with Katie Gee Salisbury, a writer and photographer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. She also writes the newsletter Half-Caste Woman. She has spoken about her work at the Museum of Chinese in America, Barnard College, New York University, and gave a TED Talk entitled “As American as Chop Suey.” She joins me today to talk about her first book, Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong. Listen to hear how Anna May Wong reinvented herself and took control of her career when Hollywood wouldn't cast her in leading roles and how she changed her approach to portraying Asian characters after visiting China. Books mentioned in this episode include:Ghosts Of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad by Gordon H. ChangRiver of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West by Rebecca SolnitSwanson on Swanson by Gloria SwansonAnna May Wong: From Laundryman’s Daughter to Hollywood Legend by Russell Gao HodgesAnna May Wong: Performing the Modern by Shirley J. LimLulu in Hollywood by Louise BrooksHow the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint SmithSame Bed Different Dreams by Ed ParkFilms mentioned in this episode include:The Good Earth directed by Sidney FranklinKing of Chinatown directed by Nick GrindeCrazy Rich Asians directed by Jon M. ChuThe Empire Strikes Back directed by Irvin KershnerSwingers directed by Doug LimanVertigo directed by Alfred HitchcockRaiders of the Lost Ark directed by Steven SpielbergThe Little Mermaid directed by John Musker and Ron Clements

Happy New Year! It's my first interview author of 2024, and today I speak with Saul Austerlitz, a freelance writer whose work has been published in the New York Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone. He is an adjunct professor of writing and comedy history at New York University, and the author of Generation Friends, Just a Shot Away, Sitcom, Another Fine Mess, and Money for Nothing. He joins me today to talk about his new book, Kind of a Big Deal: How Anchorman Stayed Classy and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of the Twenty-First Century. Listen to hear the how Adam McKay and Will Farrell created some of the most memorable scenes in the film, how the film uses the character of Veronica to comment on the male dominated newsroom culture, and why the early 2000s spawned so many great comedy films. Follow Saul's Substack called Hope in the Dark. Books mentioned in this episode include:Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever by Nick de SemlyenFreaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea GlassmanThe Deluge by Stephen MarkleyThe Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBrideFilms mentioned in this episode include:Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy directed by Adam McKayMonty Python directed by Terry Jones & Terry GilliamDon't Look Up directed by Adam McKayAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues directed by Adam McKayWake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie directed by Adam McKayThe 40-Year-Old Virgin directed by Judd ApatowSuperbad directed by Greg MottolaMarvel Cinematic UniverseStar Wars FranchiseBridesmaids directed by Paul FeigBottoms directed by Emma SeligmanBarbie directed by Greta GerwigCity Lights directed by Charlie ChaplinThe Shop Around the Corner directed by Ernst LubitschWes Anderson Netflix shortsRushmore directed by Wes AndersonTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby directed by Adam McKay

In my third and final part of the Thanksgiving special, I interview four of the five creators of the animated short film "Boom," which won the Gold Medal in animation at the 2023 Student Academy Awards.Listen to hear the team discuss the process for developing the story, what they enjoyed about visiting Los Angeles, and some of the movies that have inspired them.Follow them on Instagram:Boom Short Film – @boom_shortfilmGabriel Augerai – @gabima_ruRomain Augier – @romainaugierrCharles Di Cicco – @karlbad_artLaurie Pereira – @laurie.pikaminYannick Jacquin – @yayajcqnBooks mentioned in this episode include:Works of Fyodor DostoevskyWorks of Marcel ProustRobinson Crusoe by Daniel DefoeLe Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) by StendhalIm Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on the Western Front) by Erich Maria RemarqueFilms mentioned in this episode include:“Boom” directed by Gabriel Augerai, Romain Augier, Laurie Pereira de Figueiredo, Charles Di Cicco, and Yannick JacquinTreasure Planet directed by John Musker, Ron ClementsPirates of the Caribbean directed by Gore VerbinskiPaprika directed by Satoshi KonChungking Express directed by Wong Kar-waiIron Man directed by Jon FavreauForrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis

In the my second of the three part Thanksgiving special, I interview Iain Forbes, recent recipient of the Silver Medal in the Narrative category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards. He was recognized for his film "Revisited" which explores how a family reacts when the father they thought was dead for 20 years suddenly returns to their home.Listen to hear Iain discuss the inspiration for the film, how he went about casting this film and one of the most interesting dinner parties we've come up with on the podcast. Books mentioned in this episode include:A Time to Every Purpose Under Heaven by Karl Ove Knausgård Films mentioned in this episode include:“Revisited” directed by Iain ForbesThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring directed by Peter JacksonIt’s a Wonderful Life directed by Frank CapraThe Matrix directed by The WachowskisHarry Potter series