The American Cinematheque Podcast

Comedian, actor, and podcaster Connor Ratliff joins the show this week! The “George Lucas Talk Show” host recently introduced a screening of THE HIDDEN FORTRESS and SPACEBALLS at the Aero Theatre alongside the Watto to his George Lucas, Griffin Newman. But what films make it onto the board of his life? Is this the most letters our producer has ever put on the board? We’re talking Albert Brooks, theme park dark rides, cheerleader murdering moms, Elaine May, voice acting, the upcoming Weezer movie, Sully and the miracle on the Hudson, and so much more.

You can watch (or catch a live show of) The George Lucas Talk Show or find Connor on tour with his one man comedy show, “Connor Ratliff Presents The Acting Class

”To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.comhttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor, comedian, and podcaster Griffin Newman joins us on the podcast this week! He’s selected films for our festival, Friend of the Fest, as part of his podcast “Blank Check with Griffin and David” in the past, but what films make it onto the board today? We’re talking death, therapy, the Houston Astrodome, hallucinatory musicals, “The George Lucas Talk Show,” the Muppets, and so much more.

You can listen to Blank Check wherever you get your podcasts.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Filmmaker and documentarian Lance Oppenheim has two films in theaters - PRIMETIME and YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING! He joins the show to go deep on some of his favorite films and inspirations, from documentaries like WEINER and TITICUT FOLLIES, to head trips like JACOB’S LADDER and VANILLA SKY. What movie did he show Phoebe Bridgers when they were roommates? Which Tom Cruise costume piece did he track down for PRIMETIME? How many movies can he fit on our board? Let’s find out.

PRIMETIME and YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING are in theaters now.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Filmmaker Bassam Tariq’s new film YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER is in theaters nationwide this week! He joins us on the show and we go deep on everything - why every movie is a miracle, shooting action with the second unit DP of DUNE, Mahershala Ali’s confidence on set, and the importance of human experience and connection in the face of AI. And of course, we discuss films like MRS. DOUBTFIRE, STALKER, and HARAKIRI in the same breath. Why would PRINCESS MONONOKE and GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI be a great double feature? Should you watch SIRĀT with the whole family? Why does the pizza in TMNT 2: SECRET OF THE OOZE look so good? Let’s find out.

YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER is in theaters nationwide.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.comhttp://americancinematheque.com.The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg. Additional audio mixing by Nate Flaks.

Actor Willem Dafoe joins us on the show this week! He’s been nominated for four Academy Awards, has appeared in more than 150 feature films, and he’s here to talk about his life at the movies. Dafoe shares stories about tagging along on an older sister’s date to GOLDFINGER at the Viking Theatre in Appleton, Wisconsin and navigating protests of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST in front of the Ziegfeld Theatre in NYC on the same day as taking his son to see OLIVER & COMPANY. We also chat about theatre programming as the artistic director at the Venice Biennale, his roles in LATE FAME and the upcoming GONZO GIRL, and going to the movies with Abel Ferrara.

LATE FAME is streaming now, TENZING is available to watch later this month, and GONZO GIRL is coming soon.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg. Additional audio mixing by Nate Flaks.

Filmmaker Brian Duffield joins the show in advance of his new film WHALEFALL coming to theaters this October! He programs the film festival of his life from blockbusters like JURASSIC PARK to lesser-known standouts like MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK and, staying on theme, THE WHALE GOD. We also talk about why Duffield and Austin Abrams trust whales so much, working with Wētā Workshop to create their creature, and what movie you should show a whale if you get the chance.

WHALEFALL is in theaters on October 16th.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Award winning podcaster, author, and film historian Karina Longworth joins the show this week! She programs the film festival of her life with select movies from the newest season of YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS, “The Bisexuals.” In between discussions about Montgomery Clift and Howard Hawks, Longworth shares stories about discovering Alfred Hitchcock as a kid, spending a year in a film preservation program and, of course, the band Sonic Youth.

“The Bisexuals” is streaming now, wherever you get your podcasts.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor, director, and author Griffin Dunne (AFTER HOURS, PRACTICAL MAGIC, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) joins us on the podcast this week! In between discussions about the great Hal Ashby and the impact of THE GRADUATE on a young actor, Dunne shares stories about working with Martin Scorsese and seeing musicals in New York with Carrie Fisher. We’re talking unexpected run-ins with Dustin Hoffman, saturated colors of the 70s, and smoking doobies before going in the editing room.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.comhttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

PAN’S LABYRINTH celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and actor Doug Jones is joining us on the podcast this week! The frequent Guillermo Del Toro collaborator shares his life at the movies, from watching THE WIZARD OF OZ on a black and white TV, to seeing SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE in theaters over and over again, to the record breaking standing ovation for PAN’S LABYRINTH at Cannes. We take some detours to talk CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS - with a sprinkle of GLITTER. We’re talking about everything from classic monsters to romance and pop divas.

PAN’S LABYRINTH is back in theaters with a 4K restoration this October.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

COYOTE VS ACME is finally hitting theaters this week, and we’ve got director Dave Green joining us on the podcast to talk through his life at the movies! We get looney with some double features of animated classics and legal thrillers, and dive into live action cartoons with TWISTER and JURASSIC PARK. What screening was so wild it made radio contest winners literally climb the walls? What movie would we take Peter Lorre to see? Let’s find out.

COYOTE VS ACME is in theaters August 28th.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor, writer, and director Macon Blair’s new film IDIOTS comes out this month, and he joins us on the podcast this week! We talk about REPO MAN’s impact on his work, the magic of slightly janky stop-motion animation, the chaos of seeing SNAKES ON A PLANE opening day in NYC, and so much more.

IDIOTS is in theaters August 28th.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Academy Award nominated screenwriter Samy Burch has two films coming out this month (LATE FAME, COYOTE VS ACME), and is joining us on the podcast this week! Her life at the movies includes everything from watching A THOUSAND CLOWNS before her wedding to discovering Matt Johnson’s THE DIRTIES. What cheesecake pairs perfectly with a screening of PAPER MOON? Why are movies about competitions so fun? And which Milos Forman film revealed a series of real life lies? Let’s find out.

LATE FAME is in select theaters this week.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun (TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA, I SAW THE TV GLOW, WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR) joins us on the podcast to talk about their life at the movies! We’re talking about everything from accidentally seeing SCREAM as a kid, to pranking the manager at the movie theater where they worked, and finding comfort in David Byrne on the big screen. What makes a perfect double feature and why is FREDDY GOT FINGERED undeniably art? Let’s find out.

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA is in theaters this week.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor and director Natalie Morales (PARKS AND REC, SANTA CLARITA DIET, THE BEAST IN ME, PLAN B, LANGUAGE LESSONS) joins us on the podcast! She shares her life at the movies, from seeing THE MAMBO KINGS as a child in Miami, to seeing ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND twice in a row, and falling in love with the films of Buster Keaton in Los Angeles.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

We’ve got another pilot episode for you this week! In advance of ONE NIGHT ONLY hitting theaters, we’re bringing you our conversation with Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of The Black List - an annual survey of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. THE IMITATION GAME, JUNO, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, and PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN? All Black List scripts. Franklin tells us a little about how he started The Black List while working as an assistant in Hollywood, and tells us a lot about his love of film, and his life going to the movies.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

This week, we’re bringing you one of our first pilot episodes! When we started working on the podcast, friend of the AC and screenwriter Larry Karaszewski (ED WOOD, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT, AMERICAN CRIME STORY) came by to tell us all about his life at the movies. The set and sound design may be different, but the stories are spectacular. We’re talking seedy drive-ins, age-inappropriate films, and Mel Brooks. From THE EXORCIST to DUCK SOUP and so much more, take a listen through Larry’s movie-going life.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

On this episode, we’re joined by actor and podcaster Mike Mitchell (from the Doughboys podcast, THE NAPA BOYS, TWISTED METAL) to create a film festival where you’re gonna have a lot of fun watching anything from SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT to…EYES WIDE SHUT? We’re talking a love of John Candy, secret movie theater hot dogs, real life guys from Boston who sound like the guys in THE DEPARTED, and so much more.

NAPA BOYS is streaming now, and you can listen to Doughboys wherever you get your podcasts.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.comhttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

John Early (MADDIE’S SECRET, SEARCH PARTY) joins us on this episode of the podcast to talk about his directorial debut and the movies that shaped him! From unexpected tragedy surrounding a Christmas watch of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, seeing TEA WITH MUSSOLINI and realizing Cher was a genius, to life changing viewings of MURIEL’S WEDDING and DEATH OF A CHEERLEADER, we’re talking queer cinema, TV movies, camp (a la Susan Sontag), and so much more.

MADDIE’S SECRET is in theaters now.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, and soon the Directors Village in Westwood, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.comhttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

On this episode, we’re joined by Sean Fennessey: writer, host of The Big Picture, and head of content at The Ringer! We’re talking about growing up in the birthplace of Walt Whitman, and everything from hooting and hollering at the JACKASS movies to falling in love with ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST as a teen.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.

Actor, comedian, and movie lover Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE, YOUNG ADULT, I LOVE MY DAD, GOAT) joins us on the podcast! We’re talking about everything from 70s low budget genre films to CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE, from multiplexes in Virginia to the pre-Tarantino days at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles.

To watch this episode, head to ourYouTube.

The American Cinematheque operates the Aero, Egyptian, and Los Feliz 3 Theatres in Los Angeles, with programming nationwide.

The American Cinematheque is a 501c3 non-profit – if you’d like to learn more, donate, or become a member, head tohttp://americancinematheque.com.

The show is executive produced by Grant Moninger alongside producer Victoria Alejandro and video producer Mike Cuenca. Stephanie Cervantes leads marketing with production design by Seth Meisterman, animation and graphics by Jack Rossi and original music by Gelberg.