Illiterate

From horror films in the 1930’s, World War 2 propaganda, Batman in Outer Space, and beyond - what’s happened to make this iconic mythological character? And who’s to blame for how we perceive him on film? Take a deep dive with us into the origins of the Dark Knight. Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram, @illiteratepod Some Extras: trailer, Batman and Bill documentary (2017) full film, The Bat Whispers (1930) trailer, The Dark Knight Returns (animated, 2012/13) Other episodes mentioned include…Justice League, Joker, Stan Lee, Watchmen, Watchmen (HBO), James Bond (part 1), Ghostbusters, My Hero Academia

Now that they hype has settled: where did Squid Game really originate from? What made it the biggest show on Netflix, and what influence did it have in the real world? Come learn the fascinating, lesser-known cultural layers to the hit show. Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Squid Game (2021) https://bit.ly/illsquid1 trailer, Silenced (2011) https://bit.ly/illsquid6 article, interview with prod designer Chae Kyoung-sun https://bit.ly/illsquid2 article, debt crisis in S Korea https://bit.ly/illsquid3 article, interview with director Hwang Dong-hyuk https://bit.ly/illsquid4 article, the Korean concept of “han” https://bit.ly/illsquid5

In the words of DJ Khaled…another one. But do you honestly know what the first one’s about? Was any of this actually based on truth? And then how did this series start the current reboot craze? Come listen and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm1 poster, Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm2 Evan’s review of the original 1974 film https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm8 article, 1972 Andes plane crash survivor story https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm9 song, Dead Skunk (1972) https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm3 article, mafia influence on distribution https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm4 interview article, director Tobe Hooper https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm5 interview, 2003 remake director Marcus Nispel https://bit.ly/illiteratetcm6 interv

What was the truth behind the late 1990’s scandal? What’s the history of celebrity sex tapes? And can they make this show without Pamela Anderson’s approval? Let’s dive in and learn! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Pam & Tommy (2022) https://bit.ly/pam-tommy1 article, the original Rolling Stone story (2014) https://bit.ly/pam-tommy2 article, Pamela’s response to the show https://bit.ly/pam-tommy3 article, celebrity sex tapes https://nyti.ms/3GY7jki documentary, This is Paris (2020) https://bit.ly/pam-tommy4 article, the “right to be forgotten” https://bit.ly/pam-tommy5

Like a twisty true love story, we dive into the ups and downs of the history of romantic comedies. Is it gone for good? Was it ever? What’s next for the genre? Listen and learn along with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: (We named a ton of films to check out - here they are!) trailer, Marry Me (2022) https://bit.ly/illromcom1 trailer, Some Like It Hot (1959) https://bit.ly/illromcom2 film, Sherlock, Jr (1924) https://bit.ly/illromcom3 film, Girl Shy (1924) https://bit.ly/illromcom4 film, It Happened One Night (1934) https://bit.ly/illromcom5 trailer, A Woman Under the Influence (1974) https://bit.ly/illromcom6 trailer, Blue Collar (1978) https://bit.ly/illromcom7 film, Bringing Up Baby (1938) https://bit.ly/illromcom8 trailer, Miss Congeniality (2000) https://bit.ly/illromcom9 trailer, What’s Up,

Two big releases this week, all about megachurches and televangelism. Didn’t this fizzle out in the 80’s? The answers to the origins of this media go back to the 1920’s, and has actually just kept growing. Come learn with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, The Righteous Gemstones https://bit.ly/gemstones1 trailer, The Eyes of Tammy Faye https://bit.ly/gemstones2 book, PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire https://amzn.to/3ulmwcn book, Sister Aimee: The Life of Aimee Semple McPherson https://amzn.to/3gisZwJ article, statistics on megachurches https://econ.st/3gpgDCZ interview, Danny McBride https://bit.ly/gemstones3 video, animated backstory on Danny McBride https://bit.ly/gemstones4

Guillermo del Toro’s latest film has nothing to do with monsters, but everything to do with regular ‘ol humans. How did he get into this noir carnival story, based on a book from the 1940’s? And what did the original author (of the book’s) life and work have to say about searching for answers? Come down this twisty, shadowy trail and learn with us! Evan and Taylor’s projects: go watch Evan’s film work https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell sign up for Taylor’s weekly newsletter http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Nightmare Alley (2021) https://bit.ly/nightalley1 article, on author William Lindsay Gresham https://bit.ly/nightalley2 article, origin of the term “geek” https://bit.ly/nightalley3 article, history of noir fiction https://bit.ly/nightalley4 article, on the death of William Lindsay Gresham https://bit.ly/nightalley5 full film, original Nightmare Alley (1947) https://bit.ly/nightalley6 trailer, Shadowlands (CS Lewis film)

It’s been a decade, and here’s another sequel-reboot-remake-hybrid film. What makes Scream different? Where did the original slasher come from, even before filmmaking existed? And what do artists have to say with the genre? Come learn with us! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Scream (2022) https://bit.ly/screamfilm2 trailer, Scream (1996) https://bit.ly/screamfilm1 article, Grand Guignol theatre and original “slasher” plays https://bit.ly/screamfilm3 article, how Psycho changed slasher films https://bit.ly/screamfilm5 trailer, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare https://bit.ly/screamfilm6 article, list of real-life associated “Scream killings” https://bit.ly/screamfilm4

The biggest first night of any show on HBO Max…was based on an Israeli miniseries? How did that come to be, and what changed? And is all the controversy on the nudity, sex, violence and drugs truly original, or something we’ve seen before? Let’s find out! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Euphoria Season 2 (2022) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow4 trailer, original Israeli series (2012) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow1 video, Sam Levinson talking about his life at the premiere https://bit.ly/euphoriashow6 trailer, Kids (1995) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow10 study, the show 13 Reasons Why and youth suicide https://bit.ly/euphoriashow9 study, reduction in teen drug use (2018) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow7 article, Euphoria and teen sex and drug use stats https://bit.ly/euphoriashow8 interview, Ron Leshem (original creator) https://bit.ly/euphoriashow2 interview, Sam Levinson https://bit.ly/euphoriashow3 interview, Hunter Schafer https://bit.ly/euphoriashow5

It’s the third most-watched film on Netflix…and half of everybody hates/loves it. What is a “satire”? Is this doing it right? We’re going back to ancient Greece, the 1960’s, an Animal Farm and a Lottery, all to figure this week’s episode out. Come learn! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Don’t Look Up (2021) https://bit.ly/dontlook1 pew research, climate change attitudes https://pewrsr.ch/3F5OXNe article, NASA DART asteriod redirect mission https://go.nasa.gov/3HHhf2k interview, Adam McKay https://bit.ly/dontlook2 comparison, Dr. Strangelove and the film https://bit.ly/dontlook3 letter, TS Eliot to George Orwell https://bit.ly/dontlook4 interview, Astronomer Amy Mainzer https://bit.ly/dontlook5 article, types of satire https://bit.ly/dontlook6 article, Aristophanes the Father of Comedy https://bit.ly/dontlook7

Evan and Taylor replay the top moments from the year, and their picks for the must-listen episodes! If the show has helped, educated, or inspired you this year, we’d love for you to share an episode with a friend. It’s the reason we come back every week, and would mean so much to us. Thanks for learning along with us in 2021. Extras: find a list of all the episodes (with links!) http://podcastgod.net/illiterate go watch Evan’s short film “Luna Fish”, password given at (00:50) in the episode https://vimeo.com/653796501 subscribe to Taylor’s weekly newsletter, “Things” http://newsletter.podcastgod.net Our Key Episodes: My Hero Academia go listen here James Bond (part 2) go listen here Contact: Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod

What are the hidden influences behind the trilogy? Why is there a new film now, after all these years? And what exactly are the Wachowskis up to? Come learn something new! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, The Matrix: Resurrections (2021) https://bit.ly/matrix41 article, on the Wachowskis (written 2012) https://bit.ly/thematrix42 interview, the Wachowskis (2013) https://bit.ly/thematrix43 video, the Matrix and a transgender perspective https://bit.ly/matrix48 video, Ghost in the Shell opening sequence (1995) https://bit.ly/thematrix44 video, showing the book “Simulacra and Simulation in the Matrix (1999) https://bit.ly/thematrix45 interview, Lana Wachowski on The Matrix 4 https://bit.ly/thematrix46 article, The Matrix and the start of superhero films https://bit.ly/thematrix47 book, The Art of the Matrix (2000) https://amzn.to/3eiCSt7 films, 10 disc DVD Matrix set with commentary https://amzn.to/3pjqm30

So many innovations for the medium of television, and yet - a difficult marriage at the center. Why did everyone love Lucy? Was it in spite of (or because of) the scandals that dominated her and Desi’s lives? Come learn the important reasons behind the success of America’s most groundbreaking show. Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Being the Ricardos (2021) https://bit.ly/beingricardos1 article, history of Lucille Ball and Communism https://bit.ly/beingricardos2 video, the pregnancy announcement episode https://bit.ly/beingricardos3 article, on Desilu Studios https://bit.ly/beingricardos4

A revisionist western from an award winning writer/director, after a decade away. So where did this adaptation come from? Who is the author Thomas Savage, and what from his life made its way into the story? Listen and learn! The Power of The Dog is on Netflix, written and directed by Jane Campion. Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, The Power of the Dog https://bit.ly/powerofdog1 article, on cinematographer Ari Wegner https://bit.ly/powerofdog2 article, life of Thomas Savage (U of Montana) https://bit.ly/powerofdog3 article, life of Thomas Savage (Montana Magazine 2008) https://bit.ly/powerofdog4 video interview, Jane Campion https://bit.ly/powerofdog5 video interview, J. Campion, B. Cumberbatch, K. Dunst, K. Smit-McPhee, A. Wegner https://bit.ly/powerofdog6

An epic 8 hour journey into the creation of an album. And yet - where has this footage been all these years? How did Peter Jackson become the one to make it? Wait - wasn’t this already made into a film before? Come learn the answers to the process behind the documentary, and the process behind the Beatles. Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Get Back (2021) https://bit.ly/bgetback1 article, creation of Get Back (Vanity Fair) https://bit.ly/bgetback9 trailer, They Shall Not Grow Old (WW1 documentary) https://bit.ly/bgetback3 Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (Michael Lindsay-Hogg doc) https://bit.ly/bgetback6 video, Hey Jude promo film https://bit.ly/bgetback7 song, Paul McCartney & 1982’s “Here Today” on John Lennon https://bit.ly/bgetback8 app (Spleeter) for audio editing, isolating sounds https://bit.ly/bgetback4 video, Things We Said Today podcast interview with PJ (isolating the instruments demo starts at 01:21:30) (isolating private conversation demo

A beloved, merchandise-laden property, with very few movies to its name - why is that? What took so long? And why is Dan Aykroyd’s family so into ghosts? Come learn the twisty-turvy spooky history of the Ghostbusters franchise. Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Ghostbusters: Afterlife https://bit.ly/gbuster1 book, Peter Aykroyd’s “A History of Ghosts” https://bit.ly/gbuster4 ILLITERATE episode, The Conjuring https://bit.ly/gbuster5 trailer, Abbot and Costello’s Hold That Ghost (1941) https://bit.ly/gbuster6 pilot, 1970’s The Ghost Busters original live action show https://bit.ly/gbuster11 song, Huey Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug”, similar to theme song https://bit.ly/gbuster2 pilot episode, “The Real Ghostbusters” https://bit.ly/gbuster9 video, Filmation’s “Ghostbusters” cartoon intro https://bit.ly/gbuster7 article, why the Ghostbusters video game is the third film https://bit.ly/gbuster10 article, the history of Ghostbusters production https://bit.ly/gbuster

We know the massive lovable pooch, but why did he become such a staple of children’s literature? Who is responsible, and is there any psychology or science to his appeal? Come learn about Scholastic Book Fairs, Clifford, and more! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: photo, the original Clifford artwork https://bit.ly/cliffordoriginal trailer, Clifford (2021) https://bit.ly/illclifford1 article, history of Scholastic https://bit.ly/illclifford2 article, history of Clifford books https://bit.ly/illclifford3 illiterate episode, on Dr. Seuss http://podcastgod.net/illiterate-episodes/drseuss article, science of Clifford’s appeal https://bit.ly/illclifford5 article, CGI puppeteers interview https://bit.ly/illclifford6 video, tik tok “clifford horror puppet” https://bit.ly/illclifford7 video, baby’s color vision development https://bit.ly/illclifford4

The story of a man, almost forgotten, after changing the way we see cats. Who was he, why did he disappear, and what can he tell us about artists and their process? Louis Wain is on Prime Video, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy. Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) https://bit.ly/louiswain1 rare footage, Louis Wain (1921) https://bit.ly/louiswain2 artwork for sale, Louis Wain https://bit.ly/louiswain3 antiques roadshow, Louis Wain early sketches https://bit.ly/louiswain4 pottery, Louis Wain cat vases https://bit.ly/louiswain5 article, Toxoplasma gondii parasite https://bit.ly/louiswain6 article, history of cats https://bit.ly/louiswain7 article, biography of Louis Wain https://bit.ly/louiswain8 film, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me (2014) https://bit.ly/louiswain9

This hit Netflix series only gets bigger, but was it actually a Netflix show? How does the author’s books affect the story? And why do people let a killer kill…for love? Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, You season 3 (2021) https://bit.ly/younetflix1 article, showrunner Sera Gamble https://bit.ly/younetflix2 article, actor Penn Badgley https://bit.ly/younetflix3 interview, author Caroline Kepnes https://bit.ly/younetflix4 interview, author Caroline Kepnes (2018) https://bit.ly/younetflix5 roundtable conversation, Caroline, Sera, and Penn https://bit.ly/younetflix6 video, Evan’s film with Dylan Arnold https://linktr.ee/evanscottrussell

AT LAST, the truly epic tale is getting a film…series? What’s the big deal about the sweeping story? Why couldn’t it be adapted well? And how did it change filmmaking without even getting a proper chance on screen? Let’s learn! Contact: Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod Extras: trailer, Dune (2021) https://bit.ly/illdune1 video, analysis of Frank Herbert’s writing style https://bit.ly/illdune4 interview transcript, Frank Herbert (1969) https://bit.ly/illdune7 interview transcript, Frank Herbert (1977) https://bit.ly/illdune8 article, the usage of the word “jihad” in Dune https://bit.ly/illdune6 trailer, documentary on Jodorowsky’s Dune (2014) https://bit.ly/illdune5 trailer, Dune (1984) https://bit.ly/illdune2 trailer, Dune miniseries (2000) https://bit.ly/illdune3