The Empathy Machine

S1E10: Children Of The Corn-A-Thon!

This week, we watched Every Single One of the Children of the Corn Sequels, as well as the Original, and we SURVIVED. There's not much to add here. Keep an eye out for Arrow Video's shockingly comprehensive blu-ray release, coming out on October 3rd, which features Dollar Baby "Disciples of the Crow" as a bonus feature. However, regarding the rest of the sequels, don't say we didn't warn you.  Click through the links below to support us if you'd like!  Children of the Corn Blu-Ray: http://amzn.to/2xzLkko [http://amzn.to/2xzLkko]  Stephen King's Night Shift: http://amzn.to/2waxtAQ [http://amzn.to/2waxtAQ]  Children of the Corn 2-7 on DVD: http://amzn.to/2f7z7fk [http://amzn.to/2f7z7fk]  Children of the Corn 3-6 on Blu Ray: http://amzn.to/2xyauQB [http://amzn.to/2xyauQB]  Children of the Corn: Genesis on DVD: http://amzn.to/2xzCwev [http://amzn.to/2xzCwev]

S1E9: Stephen King's Dollar Babies

This week on the Empathy Machine, we discuss a smattering of Stephen King's Dollar Baby shorts and explore what makes for a successful Stephen King adaptation.  What is a Dollar Baby, you ask? Well, since the early-1980s, Stephen King has offered the opportunity for independent and student filmmakers to purchase rights to one of a limited selection of his stories for only one dollar. The filmmaker is only granted festival rights as a result, and only limited ability to display the work online, but this serves as a pretty great opportunity for filmmakers to try their hand at proven source material.  Sometimes the shorts turn out to be quite good, and sometimes they turn out to be quite not so good.  We viewed the following:  The Boogeyman (1982, Jeff Schiro) The Woman in the Room (1983, Frank Darabont) Disciples of the Crow (1983, John Woodward) The Night Waiter (1987, Jack Garrett)**  The Last Rung on the Ladder (1987, Dan Thron & James Cole) The Lawnmower Man (1987, Jim Gonis) Paranoid (2000, Jay Holben) Strawberry Spring (2001, Doveed Linder) Rainy Season (2002, Nick Wauters) Night Surf (2002, Peter Sullivan) Secret Transit Codes of America's Highways (2004, Brian Berkowitz) All That You Love Will Be Carried Away (2004, Scott Albanese) Umney's Last Case (2006, Rodney Altman) **Not actually a Stephen King adaptation We also discuss the book Dollar Deal: The Stephen King Dollar Baby Filmmakers by Shawn Lealos, which can be purchased here: http://amzn.to/2xCUlG6  Special thanks, as always, to our Sound Engineer Drew DeVore!

S1E8: George Romero-In Memoriam

This week, we memorialize George A. Romero by diving deep into his body of work to examine two of his lesser-known films, 1978's Martin and 1981's Knightriders, and go on to discuss the seismic impact he's had on not just the horror genre, but culture as a whole. RIP, George. You will be missed. Thanks again to our Sound Engineer, Drew DeVore!

S1E7: Jaws Part 2

This week on the Empathy Machine Podcast, we return to the ocean to talk more about Jaws and mostly advocate for more violence on screen, and for showing Jaws to children as young as you possibly can.  Special thanks as always to our Fearless Sound Engineer Drew DeVore, and Extra Special Thanks to Jackie DeVore from the Sirens of Scream podcast for helping out with the episode intro this week. Be sure to check out the Sirens of Scream podcast! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sirens-of-scream/id1117124332?mt=2 [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sirens-of-scream/id1117124332?mt=2]  And, in case you missed them last week, below are a few fascinating video essays on the man, the myth, the legend, and his shark named Bruce: Spielberg Reacts to Oscar Nom Announcements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgrxvTdl-Q [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgrxvTdl-Q] Inside Jaws: A Filmumentary by Jamie Benning: https://vimeo.com/68400837 [https://vimeo.com/68400837] How Spielberg Builds Tension: https://vimeo.com/219724293 [https://vimeo.com/219724293] Spielberg and the Horror Inside Blockbusters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqyNE6ok14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqyNE6ok14] The Spielberg Oner (Every Frame A Painting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4X2vDRfRk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4X2vDRfRk]

S1E6: Jaws Part 1

This week, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, we talk about Jaws! Come for a lengthy discussion of the book, stay for the tangential discussions that lead to the film itself, the state of modern big-budget genre filmmaking, and eventually some very focused discussion of the film itself. And be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode, coming later this week! Special thanks to Drew DeVore, our fearless Sound Engineer Links to some Advanced Studies Below: Spielberg Reacts to Oscar Nom Announcements: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgrxvTdl-Q [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgrxvTdl-Q] Inside Jaws: A Filmumentary by Jamie Benning: https://vimeo.com/68400837 [https://vimeo.com/68400837] How Spielberg Builds Tension: https://vimeo.com/219724293 [https://vimeo.com/219724293] Spielberg and the Horror Inside Blockbusters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqyNE6ok14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWqyNE6ok14] The Spielberg Oner (Every Frame A Painting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4X2vDRfRk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4X2vDRfRk]