#87 - First Christmas with Keith Kopp & Luke Allen | The Journey to the Big Screen

#91 - Twilight Review… Pray for Dan & Dale

The Review Series is back… and it’s sparkling in the sunlight ☀️🧛 Yes, somehow, some way, we’ve entered the world of Twilight — and we’re starting exactly where it all began: Twilight (2008). This one’s been a long time coming, with Rach campaigning harder than a vampire chasing a fresh paper cut to get it on the schedule. Her wish has finally been granted… but at what cost? Because here’s the twist: Dan and Dale are notorious Twilight sceptics. That’s right — two reluctant mortals stepping into a franchise beloved by millions. Will they be converted? Will they survive the angst, the baseball scene, and the… unique line deliveries? Or will this turn into a full-blown cinematic bloodbath? Whether you’re Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team “I’ve never actually seen this,” there’s something here for you. Also — a quick apology for the slightly late release… but come on, England beating Mexico had to take priority. No regrets. FULL SPOILERS FOR TWILIGHT IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned. If you have any things you want to discuss about this film or Twilight in general, email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through our socials @third_reel_pod https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Preamble 00:12:20 - Review 01:42:55 - Closing Thoughts & Scores ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

#90 - The Best & Worst Cinema Experiences (Popcorn, Chaos & Pure Magic)

This week, the popcorn’s a little quieter… but the stories? Absolute chaos. With Dan off on a mysterious “working trip” (we’re choosing to believe he’s method acting somewhere), it’s just Dale and Rach back behind the mic for a two-hander episode. And instead of forcing each other to watch something questionable again, they’ve turned their attention to something far more unpredictable… the cinema experience itself. Because let’s be honest — sometimes the film is only half the story. In this episode, Dale and Rach each bring their 3 best and 3 worst cinema experiences, and the results are exactly what you’d expect: a rollercoaster of magical movie moments, awkward encounters, technical disasters, and the kind of audience behaviour that should probably be studied by scientists. We’re talking: * The kind of screenings that remind you why cinema is unbeatable * The films that were massively elevated (or completely ruined) by the crowd * Unexpected moments of pure movie magic * And the absolute trenches… noisy eaters, phone zombies, and “is this seat taken?” warriors It’s not about the best or worst films — it’s about everything around them. The atmosphere, the people, the chaos, the vibes. The stuff you can’t stream, pause, or escape from. So whether you’re a cinema purist, a back-row bandit, or someone who still hasn’t forgiven that one person who checked their phone at full brightness… this episode will feel painfully familiar. Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

#89 - A–Z of Films: Letter D (Part 2) – The Final Duel Decider

This week, we deliver the second dose of D — another 16-disc showdown packed with daring picks, dazzling classics, dark horses, and a few decisions that may genuinely derail our credibility. It’s double the debate, double the doubt, and definitely a descent into chaos as we attempt to determine which film deserves a duel with the reigning champion. Expect disagreements. Expect defensiveness. Expect declarations that will age disastrously. Because when the stakes are this high and the D list is this deep, every decision feels dangerous. Will a deserving darling rise? Will an underdog deliver? Or will we completely detonate the bracket with one dodgy decision? One thing’s for certain: by the end of this episode, the final duel will be decided. Are there any films you think we missed in our list of D films? Any ones you want to see included in future letters? We want to know! Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Preamble 00:07:11 - Round of 16 01:16:33 - Quarters 01:25:41 - Semis 01:27:46 - Final 01:29:49 - Ultimate Final ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

#88 - The Letter D Broke Us (A–Z of Films Returns, Part 1)

The A–Z of Films is BACK… and the letter D has kicked the door off its hinges and made itself very comfortable 🎬 After A, B and C served up a surprisingly chaotic mix of predictable winners, shocking exits, and moments that made us question whether we’ve ever actually seen a film before… we’ve arrived at D. And honestly? This might be the most stacked, most stressful, most “how on earth do you choose between THESE?” letter yet. We’re talking wall-to-wall heavy hitters. Iconic classics. Cult favourites. Certified bangers. The kind of films that don’t just sit on your watchlist… they glare at you from across the room, demanding respect. Narrowing this down to 32 films felt less like a fun podcast segment and more like a brutal, no-holds-barred elimination chamber. Cuts were made. Feelings were hurt. Some choices will absolutely come back to haunt us. Of course, every tournament has its “obvious” contenders… the films you assume will cruise through without breaking a sweat. But if the first three letters have taught us anything, it’s this: NOTHING is safe. Not reputations, not fan favourites, not even our own picks. One rogue argument, one chaotic vote, and suddenly a titan is on the ropes. Welcome to Part 1 of our Letter D showdown — 16 films enter the bracket this week, battling it out in head-to-head clashes fuelled by passion, nostalgia, and increasingly questionable reasoning. Only ONE will emerge victorious and earn the right to face next week’s winner in the ultimate D finale. Are there any films you think we missed in our list of D films? Any ones you want to see included in future letters? We want to know! Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Preamble 00:08:56 - Round of 16 01:01:00 - Quarters 01:05:57 - Semis 01:11:42 - Final? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

#87 - First Christmas with Keith Kopp & Luke Allen | The Journey to the Big Screen

This week on The Third Reel, we’re joined by director Keith Kopp and producer Luke Allen to talk about their ambitious upcoming feature First Christmas — and the very real journey of actually getting a film made. We dig into how Keith and Luke found their way into the industry, how their paths crossed, and how that collaboration has snowballed into their biggest project yet. First Christmas is already shaping up to be a stacked production, with a cast including Mark Addy, Eleanor Tomlinson, Russell Tovey, Dean-Charles Chapman, Samuel Anderson, Ian McNeice, Yasmin Al-Khudhairi and Alex Horne — which, frankly, is the kind of lineup that makes you double-check you’re still an indie film. But before the cameras roll, there’s the small matter of… money. We talk candidly about the final financing hurdles, what it’s like pitching a film in today’s industry, and their recent trip to Cannes — where dreams are pitched, deals are made, and sleep is optional. With principal photography planned for later this year and a target release of late 2027, this is a rare, behind-the-scenes snapshot of a film in motion — not after the fact, but right in the thick of it. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to get a feature film off the ground (beyond shouting “action”), this one’s for you. Want to follow the journey of First Christmas? Check out Luke’s production company at www.askseekknock.co.uk Follow along at linktr.ee/firstchristmasmovie Or find them on socials @firstchristmasfilm Who do you want to see us interview next? We want to know! Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Preamble 00:17:00 - Previous Work 00:26:15 - How They Met 00:35:50 - First Christmas 00:54:40 - Cannes Debrief ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.