Episode 30: The ‘Spotlight’ Special

Michelle or Cate? Brendan or Austin??!! It's finally here! It's our 2023 Oscar predictions special and we are thrilled to have editor-in-chief of AwardsWatch.com Erik Anderson with us again to predict the Oscar winners in a year that could be filled with historic wins and surprising upsets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Mars 20231h 6min

Producer/Screenwriter Lesley Paterson is a powerhouse... yes, she is also a world champion triathlete. Paterson talks to Christina about her 16 year fight to make 'All Quiet on the Western Front', now nominated for 9 Oscars. How she used prize money from her sporting events to fund the book option year after year. Even competing & swimming with a broken arm to keep the dream of the film alive. The Bafta winner talks about her journey as well as the research, writing and developing All Quiet on the Western front, the 1929 German novel by Erich Maria Remarque about the horrors of WWI and the young men lost in the trenches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 Mars 202334min

We did the thing! Executive Editor at AwardsWatch.com Ryan McQuade joins Christina to recap the Baftas 2023. We discuss the winners the shockers, All Quiet on the Western Front taking the night and what it all means as the Oscars approach! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 Feb 202358min

In a new dispatch from the fest Christina talks to some really incredible women on creating and shaping their characters and their films! Filmmaker and juror Angie Wang talks about her film MDMA (2017) inspired by her own history dealing Ecstasy, on underrepresented voices in the industry and more. And actors Nina Hoss (TÁR), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) on creating their characters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Feb 202324min

Director Alison Millar talks to Christina from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival about her brilliant doc 'Lyra'. The film is about the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young reporter Lyra McKee. It's executive produced by Hillary & Chelsea Clinton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15 Feb 202317min

In our first dispatch from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival Christina talks to Oscar nominated artisans and filmmakers ahead of their panels and tributes at the festival! Composer Ryan Lott of the band Son Lux ' 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'  Prosthetics Makeup designer Adrien Morot 'The Whale' Writer, Director, Producer Todd Field 'TÁR' Sound designer Markus Stemler 'All Quiet on the Western Front' Production Designer Florencia Martin 'Babylon' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Feb 202325min

Actor Jeremy Strong (Succession, Armageddon Time) is receiving the prestigious Virtuosos Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2023 later this week. As Christina is visiting the festival we thought we'd revisit our conversation with Jeremy Strong. This conversation was recorded ahead of season 2 of Succession! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Feb 202350min

Our conversation with Craig Mazin continues. This is the full episode including our conversation on episode 3 starring Nick Offerman & Murray Bartlett. We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, HBO)! Last time Mr Mazin was on Pop Culture Confidential we talked about his masterpiece 'Chernobyl'. He's back with the TV adaptation of the beloved game 'The Last of Us' which fans & critics are already calling -the best tv/film adaptation of a game ever! Join us for this fascinating conversation about the process behind creating 'The Last of Us'. 'The Last of Us' is airing now in HBOMax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Feb 202341min