Switchblade Sisters

This week we are so lucky to have the director of the new film Unlovable, Suzi Yoonessi. Her movie follows Joy, played by Charlene deGuzman, a recovering sex and love addict who finds solace in making music with the gruff brother (John Hawkes) of her sponsor (Melissa Leo). The movie that Suzi has decided to discuss is 2006's Korean monster masterpiece, The Host. While maybe not immediately recognizable as an influence, Suzi explains that director Bong Joon-ho's focus on character and relationships has had a great effect on her work. She and April go over the process of pitching a movie that's never been made before, and the kind of work that goes into those types of meetings. Suzi also elaborates on working with John Hawkes and Melissa Leo. She even explains how it was difficult to cast John Hawkes because he doesn't have an email address. And lastly, Suzi and April compare how both The Host and Unloveable take real elements from the lives of the filmmakers in order to create a truly believable and engrossing

We've got a great episode this week with the director of the new film Lez Bomb, Jenna Laurenzo. While her film is a romantic comedy about a woman attempting to come out to her family on Thanksgiving, the film that Jenna chose to discuss is nothing like that at all! The movie Jenna picked is 2005's The Skeleton Key. While many have probably forgotten about this movie, we certainly haven't. Jenna and April discuss some of the more "delicate" issues that are brought up in the film - e.g. the opening lynching scene. Plus they touch upon the genius of Gena Rowlands and John Hurt. Jenna dives deep on the process of making her debut feature. She elaborates on how she was able to secure actors like Bruce Dern, Kevin Pollak, and Cloris Leachman for a film she shot in her own parents house. And she explains the lessons she learned from working with the Farrelly brothers. Check out the trailer for Lez Bomb which will be in select theaters on November 9th. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Skeleton Key With Ap

If you listen to this episode you don't have to go to film school. Our guest this week is Daisy von Scherler Mayer. You may know her best for her "debut tour de force" Party Girl. She is a prolific television director who has worked on everything from Mad Men to Orange Is The New Black. The movie she has chosen to talk about this week is one of her favorite films, Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. Daisy takes April through exactly how this film has influenced her life, and even names specific scenes she has stolen from the movie (a practice she heartily encourages for film students). Daisy does a wonderful job of explaining how she speaks to actors and creates a supportive environment for them. This episode is also particularly enlightening as Daisy and April really get into the creative process and the emotional rollercoaster it can be. She also discusses the genius of Bob Fosse and how he was able to create a "perfect film." This episode is required listening for anyone who wants to be filmmaker. Take notes during

This week we are very lucky to have award winning writer and director Nijla Mu'min on the program. In 2014, she was selected for the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Intensive and her debut feature, Jinn, won the Special Jury Recognition Award for screenwriting at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Jinn tells the story of a high school senior whose mother becomes taken by the beliefs and practices of Islam, which sets up a series of trials for the girl as she tries to navigate her own belief systems. The central character uses dance as a type of release. So it's fitting that the film Nijla has chosen to discuss is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. April and she explore the different ways that Nijla's film and Aronofsky's film use dance as a form of expression for the protagonists. Nijla also describes how she relates to Natalie Portman's character Nina Sayers in her pursuit of perfection. Plus, Nijla elaborates on her desire to honor her community in the representation of Islam in her film Jinn. Check out the trailer

This week we have the director of the new drama Sadie, Seattle's own Megan Griffiths. The genre film that she has chosen to discuss is Terry Gilliam's weirdo time travel movie 12 Monkeys. Megan and April really get into the ins and outs of working in independent cinema; from the casting to achieving control on set. Megan discusses how she and Terry Gilliam have the similarity of not working within the Hollywood system; Gilliam living in London while Megan lives in Seattle. She elaborates on her new movie Sadie and shooting in a trailer park with Melanie Lynskey. April and she also cover shooting nudity and the need for the actors to be completely comfortable. This is a great conversation that proves you don't have to work within the confines of Hollywood in order to be a successful filmmaker. Check out the trailer for Sadie which is in theaters now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch 12 Monkeys With April Wolfe with Megan Griffiths. You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @Switchbla

This week we are very lucky to have the prolific documentary producer Erikka Yancy on the program. The movie she chose to discuss is the beloved 1996 film Matilda. Erikka discusses her documentary career and what is like having to do research for films with such dark subject matter. She goes on to talk about having to go through footage from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and how it's still important to offer some hope in even the most depressing of films. She also elaborates on her love for the movie Matilda and how it is rooted in the fact that the parents are so mean to the main character. April and her cover the directing career of Danny Devito and the history behind his production company Jersey Films. Plus, Erikka talks about the character of Lavender, and how having the representation of a black character is so vital to her enjoyment of the film. If you love this movie, you will love this conversation. You can watch Erikka's film Homegrown: The Counter-Terror Dilemma on HBO. And if you haven't seen it yet

You are looking LIVE on Switchblade Sisters at Fantastic Fest. Recorded at The Highball theater at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. April welcomes one of the filmmakers from the festival, Amanda Kramer, to discuss the Rainer Werner Fassbinder masterpiece, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Amanda's film Ladyworld screened right before the recording of this episode. The day also marks her birthday! April and Amanda note that both of the films in this discussion share a similar theme of hysterical women trapped in a confined space. Amanda talks about her love of melodramatic performances and pushing her actresses to reach beyond realism. She also coins a term for her type of filmmaking: "Tamponnui." Plus, she discusses the fact that she never uses a camera, rarely bathes, and would happily be crowned "The Female Fassbinder." Check out the trailer here for Ladyworld. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant With April Wolfe with Amanda Kramer You can let us know what

This week we are so lucky to have actor, writer, and director Jess Weixler on the program. Most people know her from her breakout role in the 2007 film, Teeth. But she has a new movie out called Chained for Life. In it she stars opposite Adam Pearson, who some may remember from Under The Skin. And the movie she chose to discuss is Tod Browning's infamous 1932 film, Freaks. Jess reflects on her own experiences working and living with people with disabilities. She touches upon the experience of acting with Adam and other actors with facial differences. April and she also crack open whether or not Freaks is an offensives film. And they try to tackle the fine line between exploitation and celebration. This is a truly enthralling conversation that is entertaining, funny, and very heartfelt. If you are attending Fantastic Fest this year in Austin, go check out Jess' movie Chained For Life. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Freaks With April Wolfe with Jess Weixler You can let us know what you think of Swi

This week we've got the fantastic director of the new film Nancy, Christina Choe. She's on the program to talk about the vampire classic, Let the Right One In. This episode is really gripping because throughout the show Christina slowly realizes the similarities between her film and Tomas Alfredson's: the snowy backdrop, the vampiric characters, the bleak eeriness. Christina elaborates on the the amount of flexibility required to direct a feature. She discusses the importance of casting great actors and how she got Steve Buscemi and Andrea Riseborough to be in her film. Plus, she talks about the difficulties of shooting in the snow. Nancy is streaming now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Let the Right One In. With April Wolfe with Christina Choe. You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got fellow Maximum Funster, podcast host of Reading Glasses, actor, writer, and director, Brea Grant. She has chosen, maybe, one of the most fun and fascinating movies we've discussed on the show, 1982's cult classic, Basket Case. The story follows a young man named Duayne, who keeps his formerly conjoined, mutant brother Belial in a picnic basket. Duayne and Belial move to New York in order to seek out and murder the doctors who surgically separated them. A truly lovely tale that April and Brea fully dissect. They go in depth on what makes this gritty, New York classic just so memorable; the commitment of the actors, the gore, and the execution of the ridiculous concept. Brea also details the life of a working actress. She explains the struggle of acting in a movie that never gets released, returning clothes for an audition to the store, and always carrying around a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This is a truly fun episode that touches upon the honorable practice of making art for the sak

This week we're so lucky to have the director of the critically acclaimed new movie Night Comes On, Jordana Spiro. She is maybe best known for her acting roles in shows like 'My Boys,' 'The Mob Doctor,' and 'Ozark.' But after receiving her Masters degree in film from Columbia, she began directing shorts and her most recent debut feature. She's on the show to talk about another "Night" movie, Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter. She finds many parallels between this film and her own. And she even shares a similar career path to the director, actor Charles Laughton. April and her discuss the film's completely unique but assured visual style, along with the incredible performances of Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Shelley Winters. Plus, they cover the reason that this is the only film Charles Laughton ever directed. Night Comes On is streaming now And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Night of the Hunter With April Wolfe with Jordana Spiro You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sister

This week, we could not be more excited to have the director of the new film Like Father, Lauren Miller Rogen! Like Father stars Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer as an estranged daughter/father who accidentally end up taking a honeymoon cruise together after Bell's character is left jilted at the altar. The movie that Lauren chose to talk about this week is M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. Lauren discusses the effect this film had on her when she was in film school and how it recently resurfaced in her life with the release of the trailer for its sequel, Glass. She elaborates on the process of shooting a movie on a cruise ship - from clothing choices to working with the parrot donning captain. Plus she discusses what it was like directing Kelsey Grammer and allowing him the opportunity to play a character that he does not normally get to play. You can see Like Father on Netflix now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Unbreakable With April Wolfe with Lauren Miller Rogen You can let us know what you thin

This week we are elated to have the director of the new film The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Desiree Akhavan. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a young gay teenager in the early '90's forced to attend a conversion therapy camp. Desiree's choice of film to discuss this week is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Desiree shares her special connection to the film and how it reminds her of her father. She is also critical of the movie, in particular the scene where Frankenstein's monster "ravages" Madeline Kahn. April and her explore how certain jokes have not aged well. Desiree discusses directing her current film; working with Chloë Grace Moretz, not making Christianity the butt of a joke, and trying to make her version of a "John Hughes film." She also bemoans the fact that American studios are totally unwilling to take any creative risks and how she had to move to London to get her TV show made. You can see The Miseducation of Cameron Post in theaters now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Young Fr

This week we've got one of the director's of the new film Summer of 84, Anouk Whissell. Anouk is a member of the Montreal film collective known as RKSS, along with François Simard and Yoann Whissell. You may know them best for their previous effort, 2015's uber-violent Turbo Kid. Anouk is on the program to discuss Ti West's The Innkeepers. April and her praise the beauty of the "slow horror" genre and how it puts the audience ill at ease. Anouk describes her love for practical effects and the realness of the image on screen. She details the breakdown of directing duties between her and her RKSS fellows. And she goes through the freedom and challenges of making an independent horror film. Plus, she elaborates on her love for American horror and how that has influenced all of her work. You can see Summer of 84 in theaters now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Innkeepers on Amazon. With April Wolfe and Anouk Whissell. You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twi

This week we're very lucky to have the director of A24's new film Never Goin' Back, Augustine Frizzell. She's on the show to talk with April Wolfe about the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. April and her discuss the friendship on screen between Jeff Bridge's character 'The Dude' and John Goodman's 'Walter', and how that relationship is the emotional center of the film. Augustine relates this to the friendship she crafted in her film, and how writing for those characters was walking a fine line between pathetic and endearing. They also compare these two films in terms of capturing the essence of a city; Los Angeles for The Big Lebowski and Dallas for Never Goin' Back. Plus, Augustine has a pretty fascinating story of how she came to filmmaking after being a broke, single Mom at the age of eighteen. And she explains how those life experiences helped shape her debut film. You can see Never Goin' Back in theaters now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Big Lebowski With April Wolfe with Augustine Frizze

This week we're joined by friend of the podcast, writer and director Sarah Adina Smith. You may know her from her feature film Buster's Mal Heart starring Rami Malek. But she's also directed episodes of 'Wrecked', 'Room 104', and 'Legion'. Sarah was actually the very first guest on our pilot episode of the podcast, so it's so good to have her back to discuss Damián Szifron's Wild Tales. The film is made up of six short films of comical revenge. Sarah and April dive in to what makes this movie "clean" and "perfect" - as they call it. Sarah reveals that she shares some similar obsessive qualities with director Szifron. She also talks about how a location is just another form of casting. This episode is a really fun discussion about following your instincts when creating art. You can watch Buster's Mal Heart on Netflix now. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Wild Tales With April Wolfe with Sarah Adina Smith, You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email

This week we're joined by writer and director Vera Miao. You may know her best from her acting roles on 'Eastsiders', 'NCIS', and 'State of Affairs'. But since then she's switched her focus to writing and directing. Her most recent work was as creator and showrunner of the 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' horror anthology series, of which she wrote every episode and directed the two installments 'Ma' and 'Singularity.' She's on Switchblade Sisters this week to talk about the Wachowskis' classic, The Matrix. Vera reveals what she finds most inspiring about the film; from the non-linear story to the diverse casting. She discusses why she loves genre films and how they are the perfect vehicle for promoting a message in a film. Plus, she talks about the things she would never say to an actor when directing. This is a truly fascinating conversation that goes in depth on philosophy, art, and the process of putting together a visual story. You can watch Vera's episodes of 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' on go90 now. And

We are joined by the wonderful comedian, writer, and actor Kate Berlant. She's on the show to talk about the underappreciated Jonathan Glazer film, Birth. April and Kate dive right into this truly unique movie about a woman who's dead husband may have come back as a 10 year old boy. They make the case for this being Nicole Kidman's best performance as the role is so perfectly catered to her. They discuss the inspired vision of Jonathan Glazer and how he was the only one who could make this film. The two talk about Kate's role in Sorry to Bother You and her short film series 555. Kate elaborates on what goes into writing comedy and the kinds of white people she makes fun of. Plus, she explains why she feels compelled to make silly faces as a form of protest. You can watch 555 on Vimeo now. Check out Kate in Sorry to Bother You And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Birth With April Wolfe with Kate Berlant, You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at

We've got a full house this week as the writers for Netflix's 'Lost In Space' are in the studio. We've got Vivian Lee, Kari Drake and Katherine Collins on to discuss Steven Spielberg's classic, Jurassic Park. The three of them touch upon what it's like having to write a sci-fi/action show for the whole family, and how they use Jurassic Park as inspiration. They elaborate on what it's like writing for a big budget action-adventure with a ton of special effects. They give us an inside look into the writers room for 'Lost in Space' and how the group comes up with solutions and ideas. Plus, they discuss what makes Jurassic Park a more intimate film than people realize. And don't worry - the sexy Robot is thoroughly discussed. You can watch Season 1 of Lost in Space on Netflix now. If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Jurassic Park With April Wolfe with Vivian Lee, Kari Drake, and Katherine Collins You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesi

This week we've got the multi-talented actor, writer, producer Cleopatra Coleman. You may know her best from her role as Erica on the beloved 'The Last Man on Earth' with Will Forte. But she's on the show this week to talk about Alfonso Cuarón's masterpiece, Children of Men. Cleopatra discusses the direct influence this film had on her new movie, the apocalyptic thriller that she wrote and produced, Hover. They discuss what the future looks like in both of these films and how the advertising and technology affect the lives of the characters. Cleopatra opens up about writing her first feature and the relationship she had with the film's director. She also reveals that she actually auditioned for a role in Children of Men. Plus, April discusses what went into the famous one take finale shot of the film and how it all went wrong. You can watch Hover in select theaters now. It will be available on VOD on July 3. If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Children of Men With April Wolfe with Cleopatra Coleman You can l