It’s a mailbag episode! That means the star is you! You’re the awkward one! But down worry, Sarah and Bridgett open up about being bullies in school. Yes, they feel terrible about it and it wasn’t cool but in their defense they’re horrible. Then, we go through your emails and bask in your delicious rough stuff like schadenfrude-pigs in your awkwardness mud. Stay tuned until the end of the episode when Bridgett and Sarah have a HUGE announcement! Sarah tries to intro the announcement in a charmin...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Michael has been waiting for this one! He loves Salem’s Lot! Can’t get enough of it! Abe brings him back to Earth by reminding him that this TV movie, the second film/TV adaptation of Stephen King’s career, had a small budget, the director was their second choice, and the production attempted to shoot a TV miniseries and a theatrical version at the same time. So, you know, it already looks good on paper. It’s about vampires taking over a town! Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_C...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Abe is out of control. He must be stopped. He just talked for an hour about how The Mask utilizes a very specific color strategy in its set decoration, props, costumes, and make up. Who is this podcast for? Why would you listen to this podcast? Because you gotta. Features: Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans Check our store to buy Small Beans merch! https:...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Oh my Malkovich! Our resident Charlie Kaufman scholar, Brooks Brown, returns for the first major Kaufman feature release, Malkovich. The trio discusses the writer’s humble beginnings in comedy, his collaboration with Spike Jonze, and ultimately what separates his early scripts from his later scripts and direction. It’s truly a Malkovich you don’t want to miss, Malkovich! Features: Brooks Brown: @quarantine_collective Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com...
Apr 24, 2021•1 hr 8 min
As voted on by our patreon “Show Me” producers, this episode features Maggie and Adam’s picks of their nightmare fuel movie. What does Maggie find terrifying? What would Adam never wish to show his mother? Adam and Maggie talk about their failing brains and arms. If you patronize us, feel free to email us suggestions for episodes at any time at magsandganz@gmail.com. Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Maggie Mae Fish: https://twitter.com/MaggieMaeFish Support Small Beans and access Add...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Adam walks us through the vision of the Hughes Brothers and the techniques deployed so the film’s final twist isn’t doesn’t feel so hard to swallow. It succeeds and fails in different ways, but there’s plenty of craftsmanship in this extremely flawed film. Sometimes it’s about what you don’t see, you see. It’s like jazz. Sweet, sweet Denzel-Washington-clapping-a-bar-full-of-hooligans-with-a-scimitar jazz. Features: Adam Ganser: https://twitter.com/therealganz Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/Ab...
Apr 04, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Here’s the deal. Our very bean Michael Swaim and Gamefully Unemployed’s David Christopher Bell have decided to create a dream team. A supergroup. The Traveling Wilburys of podcasting. The Cream of audio. So get in here and listen to this audio cream! The whole concept at play here is that Michael and Dave realized that every Futurama episode has a corresponding Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. In other words, whether it be basic plot devices or philosophical questions at the heart of the ...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 22 min
Last week on 1upsmanship, Michael got Adam to play Psychonauts, a beloved game from his childhood. This week on Frame Rate, Michael gets to wax poetic about Dark City, the Alex Proyas film that is basically The Matrix and pre-dated the Matrix by about a year. Twitch streamer Alebrelle joins the party and the three investigate the meaning of this mind-bending noir. They also take cheap shots at it because you know, it’s not like it’s The Matrix or anything. Features: Alebrelle: https://twitter.co...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Ah yes, the personification of the Stephen King everyman: Arnold Schwarzenegger. As we’ve learned, King’s protagonists are often nerds, dweebs, heck, even goofballs. So when the producers of the film approached Schwarzenegger with the adaptation of The Running Man, penned by King’s nom de plume, you know King was ecstatic about it. Michael and Abe discuss the outrageous and basic parody that permeates dystopian films as well as fondly remember that time a man named Buzzsaw got chainsawed in the ...
Mar 27, 2021•1 hr 11 min
This episode examines the extremely lean production of It Follows (2014) and how choosing specific directorial tactics can both keep the budget reasonable and make for satisfying artistic choices. Director David Robert Mitchell takes advantage of his lens package, camera support, editorial strategy, and musical arrangements in order to make a consistent vision that speaks to the themes of the film. What results is a gratifying story that feels stylistically and tonally centered. Abe walks us thr...
Mar 21, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Teresa Lee returns to Frame Rate! In this episode, the gang discusses the philosophical and symbolic efforts of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. Why is Jareth doing this? What are the goblins? What does the Bog of Eternal Stench represent? It couldn’t be as simple as buttholes, right? I mean, it really seems like it philosophically represents somebody’s butthole, but we should go deeper. Teresa’s there to take us on the journey of how Labyrinth can still influence and impact adults, as it was her first v...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 12 min
A very special 2-hour episode for our Show Me Patrons! In this one, Maggie talks about building a Catio for her cats and declares war on YouTube commenters of this show. Adam dubs himself America’s Dad and America agrees. Also today, we’re teaching you a game that Adam and his brother created to curb indecision and the rules are as follows: Each player introduces six songs. Each player eliminates (or vetoes) two songs. Each player introduces a new song to be the final entries in the playlist (**...
Mar 14, 2021•2 hr 1 min
Some episodes of Kings of King are very different from our typical approach to unearthing the symbolism and meaning of Stephen King’s adaptations. This is one of those episodes. The movie is Frank Darabont’s The Green Mile (1999). It has a star-studded cast, a competent director, and a critically-acclaimed photographer. Thomas Newman writes another amazing score. Michael hates this movie. Let’s all listen to him rip it a new one. Features: Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Eppers...
Mar 13, 2021•1 hr 16 min
BOLD is a podcast about race and justice in America, and a collaboration between Small Beans and Showing Up For Racial Justice, produced by White People 4 Black Lives. In this episode, co-hosts Dahlia Ferlito and Ivette Alé sit down live with Hamid Khan, an activist, speaker, organizer, and outspoken advocate for maintaining YOUR rights in the face of invasive state surveillance programs.
Mar 08, 2021•52 min
Actor and sketch writer/producer Gretchen Dawson jumps on the mic for this episode! Gretchen tells us tales of her childhood with her accidentally woke bullies and her split lives at home and school. In this episode, we examine how older siblings define what is cool for the younger siblings, like, let’s say marionette puppets. Like the coolest thing in the world are marionette puppets. And now you’re into marionette puppets and doing marionette puppet shows. We’re all fine here. Features: Sarah ...
Mar 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Adam tells us the history and classic use of the Steadicam so we can better understand how Christopher Nolan uses it. Not only is he unique in his deployment of the tool but Nolan’s signature speed and momentum exaggerate both the power and flaws of his films. Not only should you be able to identify his approach to camera movement but you’ll more deeply understand why he makes these choices as a director. Also, our new MC seems to have been killed? I don’t know what’s going on with that whole si...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 36 min
Two of the warmest hosts to bless this podcast network take a moment to reflect on some of their coldest days. Both Michael Swaim and Cristian Ramirez have gone through divorces. Cristian, the more recent single, tells Michael about the hardships and eventual self-betterment involved in his experience. Michael in-kind reflects on his own behavior and past circumstances that made him the man he is today. It’s just two divorced guys, everyone. Features: Cristian Ramirez: https://twitter.com/Fanboy...
Feb 25, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Seanbaby joins the beans to discuss their collective disdain for the recent Wonder Woman movie! They pick apart its many plot holes, discuss the state of the union of DC and Marvel universes, but end up determining maybe they’re not the best people to determine the future of the Wonder Woman franchise. Though, we all agree that we need more and better female superhero movies. And it’s not all hate. Michael cried! Features: Seanbaby: https://twitter.com/Seanbabydotcom Michael Swaim: https://twitt...
Feb 20, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Daniel O’Brien, writer for Last Week Tonight and original gangster, joins Bridgett and Sarah for a candid discussion of how teenagers fall for the allure of playing the role of a protagonist in a tragic romance. Daniel starts with a tale where a teenage crush overheard his undying love via speakerphone and the punishment only endures for the next several years. Don’t worry, Daniel, you all have us fooled, we think you’re a real catch. Maybe leave your love sonnets in the box of notebooks you kee...
Feb 13, 2021•1 hr 1 min
In this musical episode, the hosts each select the album in their lives that changed them. So we have two albums here. The artists are Dashboard Confessional and Bob Dylan. Close your eyes and guess who! Maggie and Adam get pretty in-depth about how music and lyrics can peer into your youthful soul and spit out a new fully-formed human. Witness the sonic metamorphosis. Also, the hosts discuss their lifelong problems with long hair and their recent texts to each other. Adam Ganser: https://twitte...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Abe walks us through the plethora of editorial, post-production, and camera tricks used by Nobuhiko Obayashi, the director of the Japanese horror comedy, House. From cutting out mattes and placing them directly on the frame, to rotoscoping, to practical effects, to editorial pacing, Obayashi is able to command a tone and humor entirely of his own creation. Abe talks about how the film influenced western directors and how technique and style define every filmmakers’ “voice.” Adam surprisingly did...
Feb 07, 2021•1 hr 23 min
The horror! The horror! Stephen King himself helms another cars-gone-mad sci-fi/action/horror narrative and the results are disastrous. The boys discuss the lazy filmmaking, slapped together scene work, inconceivable choices, and inexplicable acting of King’s only attempted feature. Oh, and the cocaine. Out of the white dust settles a picture that might be the worst Stephen King adaptation yet. Strap in and brace yourself for the wild ride that is Maximum Overdrive. Features: Michael Swaim: http...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Tales from the Pit returns with a COVID retrospective. Sitting down with Michael is Twitch Streamer, Creator, and Advocate Alebrelle. The two discuss what it’s been like during quarantine as an autistic and intersectional person. WARNING: there are lengthy discussions and specific examples each give about their depression and suicidal thoughts. Beware, all ye’ who enter here, thar be monsters. Everyone here is doing okay, and we hope you are too. Be well, everyone. Features: Alebrelle: https://w...
Jan 27, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Oh, behave. Sarah has joined the boys to discuss the 1997 Mike Myers film and its cultural impact on the United States, baby. Does it hold up after 24 years? Is it as horny as we all remember? Abe ruins the mood by bringing up the history of satirical espionage films. Features: Sarah Griffith: https://twitter.com/sk_griffith Michael Swaim: https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP Abe Epperson: https://twitter.com/AbeTheMighty Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/Small...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Adam chooses to examine 1998’s Murder of Crows, a forgotten Cuba Gooding Jr. vehicle. In the episode, we examine the work of Rowdy Herrington, also popular for Road House, and his directorial approach to this film. A very important part of directing is presenting a series of shots and performances so that the narrative is clear. “Clarity, then elegance,” as someone once said to me. Either due to an unparalleled series of filmic catastrophes or out of negligence, Mr. Herrington takes what could h...
Jan 23, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Here’s the premise. Maggie chose a movie for Adam and Adam chose a movie for Maggie. The goal was to choose a movie that encapsulates their co-host. Then, the chooser finds out if the other can decipher why they chose that film. For Adam, Maggie chose the 1998 British village film, Waking Ned Devine, about finding out who won a lottery. For Maggie, Adam chose the Kevin Spacey vehicle, The Life of David Gale. These are insane picks so listen and find out why. I don’t know what this show is anymor...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 48 min
Michael, Abe, and the current head of videos at Cracked.com, Jordan Breeding, take a look at 2012’s Seven Psychopaths. They discuss the similarities of Quentin Tarantino’s films and the films of director Martin McDonagh, the joy of writing, and problematic aspects of the movie. It’s like if Tarantino and Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) made a movie. After this episode we’ll probably be cancelled and we talk about that a bit. Features: Jordan Breeding: https://twitter.com/The_J...
Jan 16, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Written and read by Michael Swaim. Score by Davey Francis. Table of Contents: 0:00 - Introduction & Acknowledgements 2:00 - The Show Must Go On... 25:30 - ...And It Goes Like This (A Fable) 1:04:10 - Dear Jane 1:39:30 - Cosmosis 2:05:40 - Cost Of Living 2:50:40 - Serenity Prayer 3:13:40 - Selected Poems
Jan 13, 2021•3 hr 21 min
Yeah! Abe’s gonna talk about lines! Lines of Speed! Strap yourself into a chair and prepare to be lifted into the air at 50 mph! Alright, everyone calm down. It’s not that impressive. It’s just Abe talking about how the affinity of lines and visual motifs in this 90’s blockbuster classic are both thought out and thematically resonate. After which, you will hypothetically know how to frame camera in order to draw the audience’s eye and use camera and/or subject movement to build expectation and s...
Jan 09, 2021•1 hr 6 min
The Rough Stuff gang invites Adam Ganser to share his awkward stories from days past. As a bonus, Adam and Sarah unwittingly foster a therapy session for Bridgett. The gang discusses how effective, or ineffective, rather, the sexual education of their formative years were. In any case, be assured that Sarah’s mother will text her once she listens to this episode. Rough Stuff: https://twitter.com/roughstuffpod Email us your horrible tales: roughstuffpod@gmail.com Support Small Beans and access Ad...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 43 min
