Trade Movies #034 - $POSITIONS (2025) and La Strada (1954) with director Brandon Daley

Trade Movies #034 - $POSITIONS (2025) and La Strada (1954) with director Brandon Daley

GO SEE $POSITIONS, SERIOUSLY! Feel free to listen to the pod first, it's spoiler-free, but please go see this movie. It's really great, and Brandon is super exciting new talent. Longtime Trade Movies heads will know that I am constantly wishing we had people doing more varieties of movies, and the concoction Brandon made here with a mix of Safdie brothers and 90s comedy and all kinds of older stuff...I love it. So we made sure he didn't get Boots Rileyed and watched Fellini's La Strada, which is like a grandfather/mother movie to his. RENT/BUY: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0GXZ8524R/ [https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0GXZ8524R/] https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/-Positions/4951750 [https://athome.fandango.com/content/browse/details/-Positions/4951750] https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/positions/umc.cmc.3yhlyu51vf1jdcrgoe87goidz [https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/positions/umc.cmc.3yhlyu51vf1jdcrgoe87goidz] And follow Brandon + the movie: https://linktr.ee/positions.movie [https://linktr.ee/positions.movie] https://www.instagram.com/positions.movie/ [https://www.instagram.com/positions.movie/] https://www.instagram.com/coolbrandond/ [https://www.instagram.com/coolbrandond/] TOPICS Positions, independent film, cinema influences, non-actors, authentic casting, TikTok cinema, filmmaking, crypto, gambling, Midwest culture filmmaking, cinema, independent film, movie analysis, cinematic influences, character development, genre blending, film history, movie recommendations Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Positions and Brandon Daly 00:06:33 Cinematic Influences and Inspirations 00:12:37 Visual Storytelling and Cinematic Techniques 00:15:34 Character Development and Empathy in Storytelling 00:24:01 The Challenge of Authentic Casting 00:27:18 Authenticity in Storytelling and Character Development 00:31:04 The Role of Non-Actors in Film 00:36:27 Exploring Disability Representation in Film 00:45:43 Personal Reflections on Gambling and Crypto 00:50:40 Dopamine Dependency and Finding Joy 00:51:20 Cinema Preferences and the Impact of Short-Form Content 00:56:24 Analyzing Skibbity Toilet and Its Cultural Impact 00:59:28 Reflections on Classic Cinema and Personal Growth 01:04:06 Navigating Dark Themes in Film 01:06:18 The Role of Disability in Character Portrayal 01:14:01 Influences and Inspirations in Modern Filmmaking 01:18:00 The Emotional Impact of Character Arcs 01:21:20 Exploring Themes of Guilt and Redemption 01:26:20 Cinematic References and Influences 01:31:11 The Complexity of Character Relationships 01:36:50 Recommendations and Personal Favorites 01:38:50 Exploring Independent Film and Unique Cinematic Styles 01:43:36 Cinematic Influences: Bollywood and Beyond 01:47:49 David Lynch: The Master of Surreal Cinema 01:50:04 The Artistic Vision of Takeshi Kitano 01:52:02 Recommendations and Influences in Modern Cinema

Trade Movies #033 - A Knight's Tale (2001) and The Devil's Bride (1974) with Megan McKelli

ISEKAI MADNESS with MEGAN MCKELLI, actress/content creator/cosplayer/online person extraordinaire. This was a super fun one. I've been meaning to watch A Knight's Tale again since I was a kid, and it gave me a chance to make a truly insane pick in The Devil's Bride, which is absolutely worth watching but is also insane and Eastern European in a way that few things really are. What a great find by my pals over at Deaf Crocodile! Megan has been having some issues with her socials, but you can FOR SURE follow her here, and should: https://www.instagram.com/meganmckelli/ And also both here: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganmckelli/ https://www.tiktok.com/@meganmckelliadventures Topics gaming, anime, isekai, TikTok storytelling, media literacy, acting, community, digital content, TikTok, storytelling medieval stories, film analysis, cultural representation, wrestling, A Knight's Tale, The Devil's Bride, Chaucer, Eastern European cinema, rock operas, historical fantasy Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format 00:01:18 Meet Megan 00:02:32 The Hades and Persephone Myth 00:05:02 Understanding Isekai: A Dive into Anime 00:08:55 The Evolution of Anime and Storytelling 00:11:41 Exploring TTRPGs and Character Creation 00:16:13 The Challenges of Acting and Representation 00:19:21 Creative Outlets and Audience Engagement 00:22:14 Cultural Disconnection in Fantasy Narratives 00:23:57 The Impact of Budget on Storytelling 00:29:34 Exploring The Devil's Bride 00:34:53 Comparing Medieval Storytelling in Film 00:42:24 The Role of Music in Character Development 00:47:36 GURDVANUS 00:49:48 Character Arcs and Vulnerability 00:51:19 The Role of Music in Film 00:55:09 Class Consciousness and Representation 00:58:55 The Robin Hood Allegory 01:02:35 The Complexity of Relationships 01:07:39 Final Thoughts on A Knight's Tale 01:15:27 Introduction to TikTok Content Creation 01:16:02 Overcoming the Fear of Posting 01:18:04 The Joys of Anonymity on Social Media 01:19:59 Viral Moments and Community Engagement 01:25:04 Navigating Comments and Audience Interaction 01:29:55 The Unique Nature of TikTok Storytelling 01:34:51 Comparing Content Styles: Fiction vs. Analysis 01:39:53 The Future of Collaborative Storytelling 01:45:53 The World of Kayfabe 01:47:30 Iconic Wrestling Stories 01:47:30 Andy Kaufman and Wrestling's Influence 01:50:39 Wrestling as Theater 01:51:18 A Knight's Tale: Parallels in Performance 01:54:03 Character Development in Film

Trade Movies BONUS #7 - Interview with author Jared Sullivan about the Kingston Coal Ash Spill

a DREAM. Thank you so much to Jared for appearing on the podcast to discuss his book. I CANNOT recommend it enough, even if you just like a legal thriller, he's such a great writer, but this is genuinely one of the most important and underknown stories of the 21st century...because coal ash is everywhere. Also, we loosely discuss A Civil Action (1998), by Steven Zaillian. Go buy Jared's book, "Valley So Low: One Lawyer’s Fight For Justice In The Wake Of America’s Great Coal Catastrophe" and follow him at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690554/valley-so-low-by-jared-sullivan/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690554/valley-so-low-by-jared-sullivan/] https://www.jr-sullivan.com/ [https://www.jr-sullivan.com/] https://www.instagram.com/jared_sullivxn/ [https://www.instagram.com/jared_sullivxn/] I will also include the disclaimer here: "This is a true story. All the people and events described in the pages that follow are real. Most of the material comes from court documents; from records I obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests; or from interviews I conducted with sources over a period of five years. (Some of these sources requested anonymity.) All quoted dialogue in the deposition, hearing, or trial scenes comes from official court transcripts or from audio recordings of the proceedings. Quoted dialogue in other scenes was, in most cases, recalled to me by primary sources, and I reproduced it word for word. Jacobs Engineering and TVA dispute much of my reporting.” Further information can be found in the Notes section of Jared’s book recounting the response from Jacobs and TVA. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to the Kingston Coal Ash Disaster 00:04:13 The Impact of the Kingston Disaster on Workers 00:06:47 The Legal Battle for Justice 00:09:50 The Role of TVA and Government Accountability 00:12:44 Personal Stories of the Affected Workers 00:15:48 Environmental and Health Implications 00:18:39 The Racial Disparities in Environmental Justice 00:21:48 Comparisons to Other Environmental Disasters 00:24:28 The Need for Legislative Action 00:27:26 Concluding Thoughts on Accountability and Justice 00:37:12 Nuclear Sites and Depleted Uranium in Tennessee 00:39:28 The Dark History of Irwin, Tennessee 00:41:51 Environmental Issues and Community Activism 00:43:51 The Role of TVA and Political Accountability 00:46:04 Corporate Responsibility and Legal Challenges 00:54:38 The Impact of Environmental Disasters on Communities

Trade Movies #032 - Pandora's Box (1929), Something Wild (1986), and Star 80 (1983) with Isabel

SPECIAL TRI-EPISODE WHATTTTT???? Yes, so, Isabel is a fantastically knowledgeable Louise Brooks gal, so I wanted to have her on to discuss Pandora's Box and Louise Brooks in general. And I picked Something Wild to go along with it, since I knew one of the characters was big into Brooks, too. BUT THEN I watched Star 80 by Bob Fosse by happenstance around the time of the ep, and Isabel was nice enough to make this the first ever TRIPLE THREAT ep. And it's so good imo! I love doing the pod so much, but this was a particularly great episode to discuss what the H is wrong with men and the obsession with men towards certain women and the desire for seeing women's storytelling. Isabel can be found: https://www.instagram.com/angryweirdthing/ [https://www.instagram.com/angryweirdthing/] https://www.tiktok.com/@angryweirdthingg [https://www.tiktok.com/@angryweirdthingg] She's great! Topics Louise Brooks, Louise Brooks biography, Louise Brooks movies, film history, male gaze, exploitation, obsession, societal critique, Hollywood, women in film classic cinema, women in film, manic pixie dream girl, achievement culture, Hollywood history, Louise Brooks, Dorothy Stratton, Marilyn Monroe, gender roles, film analysis film history, women in cinema, Louise Brooks, Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Stratton, representation, ethics, Hollywood, celebrity culture Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Louise Brooks and Film Selection 00:05:54 The Reception of Pandora's Box 00:14:18 Voyeurism in Film and Its Impact 00:21:08 The Consequences of Objectification 00:22:52 The Consequences of Relationships for Women and Men 00:23:50 Exploring the Manic Pixie Dream Girl Trope 00:25:24 Cinematic Representations of Women in Film 00:27:20 Dehumanization and Violence Against Women 00:30:01 The Complexity of Female Characters 00:32:34 Agency and Control in Relationships 00:34:41 The Manic Pixie Dream Girl: A Double-Edged Sword 00:37:34 The Evolution of Female Characters in Cinema 00:43:39 The Impact of Male Perspectives on Female Representation 00:50:28 The Complexity of Divorce in Film and Society 00:52:32 Exploring Female Agency in Classic Cinema 00:54:43 The Impact of Personal Struggles on Artistic Legacy 00:57:07 Navigating Fame and Personal Identity 00:59:03 The Dichotomy of Female Representation in Film 01:02:04 The Consequences of Sexual Liberation 01:04:59 The Role of Men in Women's Lives and Careers 01:07:56 Agency and Control in Relationships 01:11:03 The Objectification of Women in Media 01:14:00 The Legacy of Louise Brooks and Female Empowerment 01:16:51 The Complexity of Representation in Film 01:19:43 Exploring the Dark Side of Hollywood 01:22:43 The Evolution of Acting Styles 01:25:31 The Role of Directors in Shaping Performances 01:28:22 Reflections on Modern Filmmaking Practices 01:31:17 The Life of Louise Brooks 01:34:12 The Impact of Film on Identity 01:37:12 Agency and Rebellion in Historical Context 01:40:27 Exploring Obsession and Masculinity 01:43:15 The Complexity of Human Nature 01:46:17 Reflections on Personal Choices and Regrets 01:51:21 The Nature of Obsession and Control 01:54:53 Desires and Aspirations of Women 01:57:58 The Dilemma of Relationships 02:01:35 The Complexity of Female Characters 02:05:56 The Impact of Achievement Culture 02:10:12 The Consequences of Freedom and Control 02:13:38 The Tragic Lives of Iconic Women 02:22:14 Exploring Obsession in Film 02:25:07 The Perspective of Women in Cinema 02:28:16 The Role of Female Directors 02:31:13 Cultural Commentary on Women in Film 02:34:12 The Legacy of Iconic Actresses 02:37:17 Critique of Violence in Film 02:40:14 The Complexity of Female Characters 02:43:15 Recommendations and Reflections

Trade Movies BONUS #6 - MuseumCast with Scott Winterrowd at the Sid Richardson Museum in Fort Worth

we're trying something NEW HERE, folks! I flapped my wings and flew out to Fort Worth, Texas to visit Scott Winterrowd at the Sid Richardson Museum in Fort Worth, Texas to do a MUSEUMCAST. I don't know what actually to call it, but think of it as a tour of some really cool stuff through a very cool museum with stuff set to it. Kind of a slidecast, to borrow a Well There's Your Problem term. The reason for it was the incredibly cool exhibit "The Cinematic West: The Art That Made the Movies". I hope you enjoy, and PLEASE AND DEFINITELY go visit them: https://sidrichardsonmuseum.org/ [https://sidrichardsonmuseum.org/] Many thanks to Kyla Briggs for shooting the interview! Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:35 A Misdeal by Frederic Remington 00:07:18 A Taint on the Wind by Frederic Remington 00:10:08 Man's Weapons Are Useless When Nature Goes Armed by C.M. Russell 00:15:37 Among the Led Horses by Frederic Remington 00:23:03 Rounded-Up by Frederic Remington 00:27:15 Jumping on to a Horse by Frederic Remington 00:30:28 In the Wake of the Buffalo Runners by C.M. Russell 00:33:34 Will Rogers and Fairbanks as D'Artagnan by C.M. Russell 00:38:08 Movie Night at Taos Theater by Oscar Berninghaus 00:43:16 Wrap-up and Outro