In this episode, Michael Schulman , author of "Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears'' sits down with host Tara Jabbari for a conversation about notable Oscars moments and their larger significance. Michael shares how voting works for the Academy Awards, and the two discuss how the famous ceremony is a lens into how Hollywood thinks. You’ll hear more about some notable chapters from the book (like when Gregory Peck was the President of the Academy, or when H...
Mar 31, 2024•31 min•Ep. 69
In this episode - our first with a video companion - join all three of our hosts on a journey through the dynamic world of American reality TV. We explore its origins, cultural impact, and evolving genres. From the groundbreaking series "The Real World'' to the global phenomenon of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," we unpack how these shows reflect and shape our society. Listen in as we share personal anecdotes and discuss how reality TV has become a platform for import...
Mar 17, 2024•39 min•Ep. 68
People with disabilities have been historically underrepresented in the entertainment industry. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with U.K.- based actress, writer, and disability advocate, Melissa Johns . Johns explains how she landed the role as the brainy Miss Scott in the British detective series, Grantchester, where her disability (born without her right forearm and hand) is a non-factor, who she called first when she landed a role on the iconic soap, Coronation Street, and how her f...
Mar 10, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 29
You’ve only got one chance to get it right when the broadcast is live. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with Remote Operations Manager, Pam Chvotkin all about the fast-paced and intense world of live event coverage. Pam has years of broadcast production experience ranging from professional sports, to concerts, competitions, awards shows, and more. In the conversation, Pam shares her knowledge about the often chaotic but rewarding lifestyle that keeps one adaptable and ready for anything...
Mar 03, 2024•41 min•Season 4Ep. 28
Thumbs up, thumbs down? Five stars (or are four stars the highest number?)! In this episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with film critics to discuss how viewing films has changed over the last few years. When is it worth going to the movie theater? Where should we look to know what’s worth seeing? What’s the difference between Rotten Tomatoes versus Meta Critic? They dive into these topics as well as what goes into being a film critic. Our guests are: Ann Hornaday , who has been film critic at The...
Feb 25, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 27
Making a career pivot after 15 years in one job takes guts and some financial planning. Then add to the mix several disabilities and it sounds impossible. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to filmmaker, advocate, and podcaster, Ariel Baska . Ariel shares how she made the leap to a new film career in a niche genre: Queer Horror, and founded the Access:Horror film festival. Ariel explains why inclusion in front of and behind the camera helps everyone on set, not just those with disabilitie...
Feb 18, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 26
In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with the creative team behind the hit indie TV show, ‘Sexpectations.’ Writer Jenna St. John and Director Kevin Good shed light on how they took the series from story concept through production, post-production, and eventually out to audiences on major streaming platforms. They talk about their multi-year journey including self-funding, casting, the show’s message, technical aspects of using CGI, and more. ‘Sexpectations’ centers on an aspiring romance no...
Feb 11, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 25
Abby Greensfelder has an instinct for developing not only iconic cable shows such as, “Say Yes to the Dress,” but also documentaries featuring icons Megan Rapinoe and Alicia Keys. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with the indie filmmaker and native Washingtonian, ahead of the World Premiere of UNCHARTED at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. The doc, from her company, Everywoman Studios, is a behind-the-scenes look at Keys’ songwriting camp that hopes to create a pipeline of women songwr...
Feb 04, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 24
Originally released Oct 1, 2023 The choice of who is cast in a role can make or break a performance. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with casting director Anne Chapman all about the art and business of casting a project. Anne draws on her decades of professional experience casting projects of all sizes and styles as they discuss the methods and evolution of the process, the importance of chemistry, the difficulties of casting historical figures, advice for those interested in the caree...
Jan 28, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 23
Originally released on Oct. 8, 2023 What is the difference between a cinematographer, camera operator, and director of photography? Has there been more gender diversity behind the scenes? What is the difference between filming on digital versus film? These questions and more are covered in this episode as host Tara Jabbari speaks with the award-winning South African cinematographer and camera operator, Pascale Neuschafer. To learn about Pascale’s work, visit: https://www.instagram.com/pascaleneu...
Jan 21, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 22
Originally released Nov. 12, 2023 Screen-based media by its very nature, relies on visuals. And as stories unfold on set, the art department is key in not only building those sets, but making them look the part for the world being created. In this episode, host Candice Bloch sits down with Betsy Zuck, an experienced Production Designer, Set Decorator, Lead Person, Set Decorator, fabricator, and beyond. They discuss not only those roles and what they mean, but Betsy draws on her experiences worki...
Jan 14, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Originally released on Sept. 14, 2023 Love the movie? Read the book before it’s banned! In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Kristen Lopez, author of "But Have You Read the Book? 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films” in association with Turner Classic Movies. Kristen knows her topic as creator of the Ticklish Business podcast and a film editor with entertainment daily, TheWrap. Film buffs will get the behind-the-scenes story of how THE THIN MAN, DUNE, and PASSING went...
Jan 07, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 20
Originally released May 14, 2023 In this episode, host Tara Jabbari sits down with actor Shimmy Isaacs on location in Cape Town, South Africa to talk about her Netflix hit crime thriller, Unseen . They discuss the show, Shimmy's acting journey in drama and comedy, her writing process, her time in the USA, and how the arts is a universal language. You can follow Shimmy for the latest on her work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shimmyisaacs/ or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shimmyis...
Dec 31, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 19
Originally released on Dec. 18, 2022. Season two wraps up with this Holiday Special , where all three hosts – Candice Bloch, Sandra Abrams, and Tara Jabbari – discuss the mega genre of Christmas and holiday movies. The trio share fun facts, their personal opinions, and go over the results of Media & Monuments’ own holiday survey, which centered on movies related to “the most wonderful time of the year.” Here are a few highlights from the survey to get you into the holiday mood: Love Actually...
Dec 24, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Making a career pivot after 15 years in one job takes guts and some financial planning. Then add to the mix several disabilities and it sounds impossible. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams talks to filmmaker, advocate, and podcaster, Ariel Baska . Ariel shares how she made the leap to a new film career in a niche genre: Queer Horror, and founded the Access:Horror film festival. Ariel explains why inclusion in front of and behind the camera helps everyone on set, not just those with disabilitie...
Dec 17, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Host Tara Jabbari sits down with influencer Nikole Eva, aka Evasive on YouTube, for this episode. After studying film, gaining experience as an editor, and working towards being a comedy writer, Eva started her YouTube channel to get her name out there… and it has been working! Tara and Eva talk about the start of her YouTube channel, how to make money through the videos, copyright issues, the importance of engaging with comments to build your audience, and much more! Evasive YouTube channel: ht...
Dec 10, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 16
In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with the creative team behind the hit indie TV show, ‘Sexpectations.’ Writer Jenna St. John and Director Kevin Good shed light on how they took the series from story concept through production, post-production, and eventually out to audiences on major streaming platforms. They talk about their multi-year journey including self-funding, casting, the show’s message, technical aspects of using CGI, and more. ‘Sexpectations’ centers on an aspiring romance no...
Dec 03, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Call Me Dancer is a multiple award winning feature documentary that follows Manish Chauhan , a charismatic street dancer from Mumbai, who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer despite his parents misgivings. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with the filmmakers behind this inspiring film: director and producer Leslie Shampaine , co-director Pip Gilmour , and editor Jennifer Beman . They share their journey of how they made the project that took them from India, to the UK, NY, and Israel, an...
Nov 26, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Horror invades holiday in a genre mashup comedy! This episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with director Tyler MacIntyre about his new horror-comedy, It’s a Wonderful Knife. Described as “It’s a Wonderful Life by way of Scream,” they discuss how story elements of the classic holiday film were infused into this killer thriller. Starring Jane Widdop, Jess McLeod, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle, William B. Davis, and Justin Long, It’s a Wonderful Knife opened in theaters on November 10th, 2023. It wi...
Nov 19, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Screen-based media by its very nature, relies on visuals. And as stories unfold on set, the art department is key in not only building those sets, but making them look the part for the world being created. In this episode, host Candice Bloch sits down with Betsy Zuck , an experienced Production Designer, Set Decorator, Lead Person, Set Decorator, fabricator, and beyond. They discuss not only those roles and what they mean, but Betsy draws on her experiences working on crews of all types and size...
Nov 12, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 12
People with disabilities have been historically underrepresented in the entertainment industry. In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with U.K.- based actress, writer, and disability advocate, Melissa Johns . Johns explains how she landed the role as the brainy Miss Scott in the British detective series, Grantchester , where her disability (born without her right forearm and hand) is a non-factor, who she called first when she landed a role on the iconic soap, Coronation Street , and how her...
Nov 05, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 11
When it comes to creating a story, where that story is told is very important. In this episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with Kelly Stuart , a location manager for projects such as the award-winning film, Everything Everywhere All at Once , and television shows like True Blood, The Catch, and American Auto. In their conversation, Kelly talks about what her job entails, what she looks for in a location, how involved she is with other departments like safety and art, and what a person needs to be ...
Oct 29, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 10
You’ve only got one chance to get it right when the broadcast is live. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with Remote Operations Manager, Pam Chvotkin all about the fast-paced and intense world of live event coverage. Pam has years of broadcast production experience ranging from professional sports, to concerts, competitions, awards shows, and more. In the conversation, Pam shares her knowledge about the often chaotic but rewarding lifestyle that keeps one adaptable and ready for anything...
Oct 22, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 9
It's time for our season four special! All three hosts - Candice, Tara, and Sandra - come together in this episode to chat about fall television. You’ll hear some background on fall “sweeps,” the origin of the term, and some information on how they impact advertising rates. The hosts also share their thoughts about some of the 2023 fall lineup for both broadcast and streaming, taking into account how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have changed the landscape this year. What has been paused or...
Oct 15, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 8
What is the difference between a cinematographer, camera operator, and director of photography? Has there been more gender diversity behind the scenes? What is the difference between filming on digital versus film? These questions and more are covered in this episode as host Tara Jabbari speaks with the award-winning South African cinematographer and camera operator, Pascale Neuschafer . To learn about Pascale’s work, visit: https://www.instagram.com/pascaleneuschafer/ https://quickbrownfox.co.z...
Oct 08, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 7
The choice of who is cast in a role can make or break a performance. In this episode, host Candice Bloch talks with casting director Anne Chapman all about the art and business of casting a project. Anne draws on her decades of professional experience casting projects of all sizes and styles as they discuss the methods and evolution of the process, the importance of chemistry, the difficulties of casting historical figures, advice for those interested in the career, and more. To learn more about...
Oct 01, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with two online travel personalities, Gabby Marcellus of Remote Ear and Ashley McDonough from Melanin on the Map . They share their personal journeys, tips on how to make it as a travel influencer, and the importance of creating relatable, engaging content. You’ll learn about the bond between social media influencers and their audience, practical safety advice in the digital world, and much more! Learn more about Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_...
Sep 24, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Love the movie? Read the book before it’s banned! In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Kristen Lopez , author of "But Have You Read the Book? 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films ” in association with Turner Classic Movies. Kristen knows her topic as creator of the Ticklish Business podcast and a film editor with entertainment daily, TheWrap. Film buffs will get the behind-the-scenes story of how THE THIN MAN, DUNE, and PASSING went from book to an adaptive screenplay...
Sep 17, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This episode, host Tara Jabbari speaks with content creator and coach, Chimdi Ihezie . She shares tips that she uses to get her videos seen, how she deals with negative comments, how you can show your authenticity online - and why it matters to be authentic, plus much more! Chimdi’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTC1vsvogotg9sn2j8s0aZQ Chimdi’s Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachingbychimdi/ Her Voice Notes From Your Friend Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/sh...
Sep 10, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The ongoing strikes have rocked the media community throughout the summer of 2023. Host Candice Bloch had a discussion on August 18th with three Mid-Atlantic SAG-AFTRA members and strike captains - Towanda Underdue , Gabriel Kornbluh , and Keith Flippen (bios below) - to learn more about their experiences being on strike. They discuss the current SAG-AFTRA strike which began on July 14, 2023, its impact and importance, as well as the value of solidarity with other unions. For more information ab...
Sep 03, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 2
