Film And Television (audio)

Moderator Emily Zinn sits down with director/executive producer Brad Silberling for a conversation about Netflix’s new holiday rom-com series, Dash & Lily. Their discussion explores how music, books, and location shooting come together to tell this heartwarming love story. Brad Silbering gives the audience an inside look into the production process and the joy of capturing Christmas in New York before the COVID-19 pandemic. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36757]

In conversation with Jeremy Moore, Professors Myles McNutt and Laurie Ouellette discuss the complicated politics and cultural legacy of the path-breaking CBS reality show, Survivor. Together, McNutt, Ouellette, and Moore explore questions of genre, power, race, and the changing nature of labor and finance in the media industries. Touching as well on issues of fandom and celebrity, this discussion highlights how Survivor continues to shape the codes and conventions of reality TV even today, twenty years on from its iconic debut season. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36771]

Moderator Miguel Penabella joins writer/director/actor/producer/editor of Lingua Franca (2019), Isabel Sandoval, for a conversation focusing on the film’s social and cultural resonances. With patience and nuance, the film addresses questions of immigration and migrant justice, labor, family, and the diverse experiences of trans women of color. Penabella and Sandoval discuss the evolution of the film and its central story, as well as Sandoval’s intimate involvement in all aspects of its production. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36758]

Writer, producer, and director Anna Biller talks about feminism, witches, and creating movies for female viewing pleasure in this Q&A for her 2016 horror film The Love Witch. Biller’s dedication to exploring feminist themes throughout her work lent itself to an insightful discussion the female gaze. Alongside moderator Rachael Ball, Biller invites us to explore the various feminist themes in The Love Witch and gives further insight into how she consciously explores these in her work and personal life. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36602]

Moderator Patrice Petro joins series co-creator Scott Frank in a discussion of Netflix’s series The Queen’s Gambit. Their discussion explores the drama of chess, the process of adapting a complex novel to the screen, and the role of the child prodigy. Frank discusses working with world renowned chess masters in the development of fictional games, and issues involved in production, casting and design for the series. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36683]

Writer/director Jeff Barnaby sat down with discussant Chelsea Vowel and Moderator Tyler Morgenstern to discuss his subversive zombie plague film, Blood Quantum. This discussion explored how the film took the contagion narrative and flipped it on its head. The speakers explored how the film confronts the violent history of Canadian settler-colonialism through its thoughtful use of genre, language, and narrative. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36613]

Moderator Matt Ryan joined screenwriter/co-producer Christina Hodson in a conversation about the chaotic, funny, action-packed movie Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). This discussion explored the transformation of the story from the Birds of Prey comics to the screen, as well as the major themes of emancipation, independence, and finding your own path. Christina Hodson offered an inside look at the narrative, characters, and character relationships within the film. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36614]

Moderator Cheri Steinkellner joined writer/actor George McGrath (Globey/Pterri/Cowntess/Fish) and artist/designer/puppeteer Wayne White (Dirty Dog/Randy/Mr. Kite), as well as writer Bill Steinkellner in a conversation about the iconic Saturday morning television program Pee-wee's Playhouse. This freewheeling discussion explored the radical visual style, origins, and enduring legacy of the franchise that centered around the subversive and bizarre Pee-wee Herman character. The panelists offered an inside look at their involvement with the show and the lasting impacts that their work with Paul Reubens had on their lives and careers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36600]

Professor Maggie Hennefeld talks about the subversive nature of Charlie Chaplin’s famous WWII satire in this Q&A for The Great Dictator. Hennefeld also examines the debate over the effectiveness of its deployment of comedy to critique the cruelty of fascism. Alongside moderator Miguel Penabella, Hennefeld invites us to think about the controversiality of this film for its time and how it compares to our understanding of the film in the present day. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36601]

Moderator Alexandra Noi joins author Paul Gregory and director Marianna Yarovskaya in this Q&A for a discussion about their inspiring collaboration on Women of the Gulag. This book and documentary traverse the stories of the victims and survivors of the Gulag, demonstrating the resilience, suffering, and silencing of the women who lived under Stalins dictatorship. The conversation between Gregory, Yarovskaya, and Noi gives insight to their involvement with the project, the difficulties of telling a true story that is widely unknown, and the ways in which a wide scope of reception heightened awareness for patriarchy, violence, and inequality. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36603]

Writer, director, and musician Boots Riley talks about labor politics, surrealism, and hip-hop music in this Q&A for his 2018 subversive comedy Sorry to Bother You. Boots’ dedication to a lifetime of activism and storytelling lent itself to his insightful commentary about the social relevance and ideological impact of his film. Alongside moderator Miguel Penabella, Boots takes us into his mind and shows us the importance of standing up for yourself and others in the face of adversity. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36548]

Co-directors/producers Jim Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham talk about their award-winning film, Crip Camp, giving insight to the disability revolution in America. This film tells a story of Camp Jened and offers a unique perspective on equality. Lebrecht and Newnham discuss their initial involvement with the project and the way that it has impacted their lives as well as millions of viewers. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36556]

Kyung Hyun Kim, author of Virtual Hallyu: Korean Cinema of the Global Era joins moderator Sowon Park for a discussion of the 2019 subversive film Parasite. Winner of the Best Picture Academy Award in 2020, Parasite offers a raw and emotional look at class disparities in Korea. Kim and Park dissect the film’s themes of poverty, affluence, violence and language. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36555]

Co-directors/producers Sharon Shattuck and Ian Cheney discuss their film Picture a Scientist (2020), which chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Their conversation gives insight to the films portrayal of the brutal harassment, institutional discrimination, and years of subtle slights faced by women in STEM. Shattuck and Cheney also delve into the production behind their documentary, offering viewers an inside look at the process of telling the story of scientific luminaries who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36511]

Jay Roach discusses the challenges in directing the Austin Powers Trilogy. In this video, Jay Roach talks with UCSB Pollock Theater Director, Matt Ryan, how he approached creating Austin Powers with Mike Meyers. With henchmen, fembots, and innuendo to spare, Austin Powers: quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spawning two sequels Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36510]

Director Darya Zhuk discusses making Crystal Swan, which is a vitriolic comedy set in Belarus circa 1996. The film follows a young female DJ who befriends a rural family in a scheme to obtain her U.S. visa so she can move to Chicago and pursue her house-music career. In her debut tragic comedy, director Darya Zhuk reveals a multilayered vision of time and place and paints a bright, kitschy, vibrant backdrop of familial dynamics and cultural traditions. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36302]

The two-part documentary series "And She Could Be Next" (2020) tells the story of a defiant movement of women of color who are transforming politics from the ground up. The series was filmed during 2018 and 2019. It centers on those at the heart of the movement behind the New American Majority. "And She Could Be Next" features an entirely women of color creative team. Director/producers Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia joined moderator Wendy Eley Jackson (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a Zoom discussion. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36237]

Screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick discuss the challenges of writing genre bending screenplay of Zombieland. In this video, Reese and Wernick talk with UCSB Pollock Theater Director Matt Ryan about how they approached balancing the comedy and horror. The screenwriters recounted stories of working with actors Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Bill Murray. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36203]

Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber discuss the challenges of telling the true-life story of the making of one of the worst films ever made, The Room written and directed by the eccentric Tommy Wiseau. In this video, Neustadter and Weber talk with UCSB Pollock Theater Director, Matt Ryan, how they approached balancing the comedic elements of the chaotic production of the movie The Room with telling an emotionally compelling story. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36063]

New film release models, cinemas in a post-COVID world, and opening night vibes at Magic Mike XXL all arise in this conversation about moviegoing during a pandemic between New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis, Art House Convergence managing director Alison Kozberg, and UC-Santa Barbara professor Ross Melnick. In this video, the three reminisce about favorite movie theater memories and find hope in the potential for revitalized public cinema going after the current health crisis. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 36064]