The Projection Booth Podcast

Weirding Way Media
  • 4.6 (591)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY
The Projection Booth Podcast

The Projection Booth has been recognized as a premier film podcast by The Washington Post, The A.V. Club, IndieWire, Entertainment Weekly, and Filmmaker Magazine. With over 700 episodes to date and an ever-growing fan base, The Projection Booth features discussions of films from a wide variety of genres with in-depth critical analysis while regularly attracting special guest talent eager to discuss their past gems. Visit http://www.projectionboothpodcast.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

  1. Episode 739: La Haine (1995)

    3D AGO

    Episode 739: La Haine (1995)

    Tension simmers in La Haine (1995), Matthieu Kassovitz’s electrifying portrait of disenfranchised youth in the Parisian banlieues. Mike is joined by guest co-hosts Lumi Etienne and Judith Mayne for a deep dive into the film’s kinetic black-and-white visuals, pulsing energy, and unflinching look at police violence, social unrest, and alienation. Over the course of a single 24-hour span, we follow Vinz, Saïd, and Hubert—three friends caught in a spiral of rage, hopelessness, and reaction to systemic oppression. Special guest Ginette Vincendeau, renowned scholar of French cinema, offers historical and cultural insights into the film’s legacy, its groundbreaking release in 1995, and why La Haine remains tragically relevant in today’s global conversations about race, inequality, and law enforcement. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    1h 46m
  2. Episode 738: On the Beach (1959)

    APR 16

    Episode 738: On the Beach (1959)

    Co-hosts Maurice Bursztynski and Jonathan Melville join Mike to take on a Patreon request from listener John Atom—Nevil Shute’s On the Beach. They dive into both the 1959 Stanley Kramer film and the 2000 TV mini-series directed by Russell Mulcahy. Set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, the story centers on a U.S. submarine that finds refuge in Melbourne, Australia, where residents face the grim reality that the fallout is heading their way. The episode explores the emotional depth and existential dread of both adaptations, from the restrained melancholy of Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner to the more modern approach with Armand Assante and Rachel Ward. With perspectives shaped by different eras, the hosts unpack how each version captures the quiet devastation of waiting for the end. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    1h 59m
  3. Episode 737: Two Men in Manhattan (1959)

    APR 9

    Episode 737: Two Men in Manhattan (1959)

    Film historian Samm Deighan and cult cinema expert Andrew Leavold join Mike to shine a light on Jean-Pierre Melville’s Two Men in Manhattan (1959). Often overshadowed by his better-known crime films, this moody noir follows a journalist and a photographer as they comb the streets of New York in search of a missing French diplomat. The trio digs into Melville’s fascination with American style, the film’s ethically murky characters, and how it fits within the director’s larger body of work. They also explore the tension between documentary realism and stylized noir, and why Two Men in Manhattan deserves a second look.  Author Ginette Vincendeau (Jean-Pierre Melville: An American in Paris), discusses this unique entry in Melville's filmography.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    1h 19m
  4. Special Report: Remaining Native (2025)

    APR 7 · BONUS

    Special Report: Remaining Native (2025)

    Mike speaks with director Paige Bethmann and editor Stephanie Khoury about their powerful 2025 documentary Remaining Native. Bethmann and Khoury discuss the challenges of telling a deeply personal story within a broader political context, the importance of Indigenous voices in environmental activism, and the responsibility of documentary filmmakers in preserving cultural truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    31 min
  5. Episode 736: Casablanca (1942)

    APR 2

    Episode 736: Casablanca (1942)

    The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem. Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, the brooding American expat running a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Morocco, where refugees gather in hopes of escaping the tightening grip of the Nazi regime. Things get complicated when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) strolls in—out of all the gin joints, etc.--alongside her resistance-leader husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henried). We're thrilled to be joined by two heavy-hitting guests: film historian Noah Isenberg, author of We'll Always Have Casablanca, and biographer Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film which sheds light on the director’s layered legacy. Together, we explore the myth, the making, and the magic of one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    3h 16m
  6. Special Report: Head Like a Hole (2024)

    APR 1 · BONUS

    Special Report: Head Like a Hole (2024)

    Mike talks with director Stefan MacDonald-Labelle about Head Like a Hole (2024), a microbudget psychological horror film about a man hired to monitor a mysterious hole in a basement wall. They discuss the film’s existential themes, low-budget ingenuity, and the challenges of blurring reality and delusion. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    38 min
  7. Special Report: Thank You Very Much (2023)

    MAR 31 · BONUS

    Special Report: Thank You Very Much (2023)

    Director Alex Braverman joins Mike to discuss his 2023 documentary Thank You Very Much, a fascinating deep dive into the life and legend of Andy Kaufman. From his genre-defying comedy to his infamous persona-blurring antics, Kaufman remains one of entertainment’s most enigmatic figures. Braverman unpacks the personal connections, archival discoveries, and creative choices that shaped the film—and reveals how this unconventional tribute to an unconventional man came together. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    27 min
  8. Special Report: Stolen Kingdom (2025)

    MAR 28 · BONUS

    Special Report: Stolen Kingdom (2025)

    Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Joshua Bailey about his feature documentary debut, Stolen Kingdom (2025). The film delves into three decades of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, culminating in the heist of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. Bailey's documentary offers an unprecedented look into the park's underground community, featuring firsthand accounts from key figures and exploring the subculture of renegade explorers and collectors. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

    29 min
See All (1K)

4.6
out of 5
591 Ratings

About

The Projection Booth has been recognized as a premier film podcast by The Washington Post, The A.V. Club, IndieWire, Entertainment Weekly, and Filmmaker Magazine. With over 700 episodes to date and an ever-growing fan base, The Projection Booth features discussions of films from a wide variety of genres with in-depth critical analysis while regularly attracting special guest talent eager to discuss their past gems. Visit http://www.projectionboothpodcast.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.

Information

More From Weirding Way Media

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada