Special Report: Mad Dog Time (1996)

Mike speaks with director Paige Bethmann and editor Stephanie Khoury about their powerful 2025 documentary Remaining Native. Bethmann and Khoury discuss the challenges of telling a deeply personal story within a broader political context, the importance of Indigenous voices in environmental activism, and the responsibility of documentary filmmakers in preserving cultural truth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

7 Apr 31min

The Projection Booth wraps up another month of Patreon picks with what might be the most obscure film ever discussed on the show—Casablanca (1942), that little-known wartime romance directed by Michael Curtiz. Big thanks to Brian Tessitore for this hidden gem.Mike is joined by Bill Ackerman and Federico Bertolini to unpack the fog, flashbacks, and unforgettable lines of this cinematic unicorn. Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, the brooding American expat running a nightclub in Vichy-controlled Morocco, where refugees gather in hopes of escaping the tightening grip of the Nazi regime. Things get complicated when Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) strolls in—out of all the gin joints, etc.--alongside her resistance-leader husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henried).We're thrilled to be joined by two heavy-hitting guests: film historian Noah Isenberg, author of We'll Always Have Casablanca, and biographer Alan K. Rode, author of Michael Curtiz, A Life in Film which sheds light on the director’s layered legacy. Together, we explore the myth, the making, and the magic of one of Hollywood’s most enduring classics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

2 Apr 3h 16min

Mike talks with director Stefan MacDonald-Labelle about Head Like a Hole (2024), a microbudget psychological horror film about a man hired to monitor a mysterious hole in a basement wall. They discuss the film’s existential themes, low-budget ingenuity, and the challenges of blurring reality and delusion.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

1 Apr 38min

Director Alex Braverman joins Mike to discuss his 2023 documentary Thank You Very Much, a fascinating deep dive into the life and legend of Andy Kaufman. From his genre-defying comedy to his infamous persona-blurring antics, Kaufman remains one of entertainment’s most enigmatic figures. Braverman unpacks the personal connections, archival discoveries, and creative choices that shaped the film—and reveals how this unconventional tribute to an unconventional man came together.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

31 Mars 27min

Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Joshua Bailey about his feature documentary debut, Stolen Kingdom (2025). The film delves into three decades of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, culminating in the heist of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. Bailey's documentary offers an unprecedented look into the park's underground community, featuring firsthand accounts from key figures and exploring the subculture of renegade explorers and collectors.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

28 Mars 29min

Co-hosts Ryan Luis Rodriguez and John Walker join Mike to discuss the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber's blend of comedy and caper, its place in '90s comedy, and its surprising longevity. We discuss how the film launched the Farrelly Brothers into mainstream success and cemented Jim Carrey's status as a box office powerhouse.Screenwriter Bennett Yellin joins the conversation to talk about the film’s development, working with the Farrellys, and crafting the dynamic between Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

26 Mars 2h 32min

Mike White engages in a captivating conversation with director Jeremy Workman and artist Michael Townsend about the 2024 documentary Secret Mall Apartment. The film chronicles the audacious endeavor of eight Rhode Island artists who, from 2003 to 2007, covertly built and inhabited a 750-square-foot apartment within the Providence Place Mall. This hidden residence, complete with furnishings and utilities, served as both a living space and a commentary on urban development and gentrification.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

24 Mars 15min

The Projection Booth’s Patreon Picks series charges ahead with Blood and Diamonds (1977), a gritty crime saga from Fernando Di Leo. Claudio Cassinelli stars as Guido Mauri, a man fresh out of prison and ready to settle old scores in a world where loyalty is a fleeting illusion. As Guido cuts a ruthless path through former allies, betrayal and bloodshed go hand in hand.Host Mike White is joined by crime fiction aficionado Jedidiah Ayres and podcast favorite Ryan Luis Rodriguez to dissect this pulpy revenge tale, discussing Di Leo’s signature style, the film’s place in the Eurocrime pantheon, and why Blood and Diamonds deserves a closer look.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.Become a supporter of The Projection Booth at http://www.patreon.com/projectionbooth

19 Mars 58min