Somebody's Watching

Episode 19: David Lynch ( w/ Bill Ackerman & Courtenay Stallings)

It only felt right to dedicate another episode to David Lynch. In February, I put out an episode documenting a Lynch marathon that I co-organized, but that wasn't enough Lynch in my book, and so I approached two bonafide Lynch experts with the goal of having a more in-depth conversation about the filmmaker. Bill Ackerman is a film writer and the host of the fantastic ⁠Supporting Characters⁠ podcast as well as a special podcast dedicated to Blue Velvet called ⁠From the Neighborhood⁠. He's undoubtedly one of the best film podcasters full stop end of story. Courtenay Stallings is a film historian, the editor of the Twin Peaks themed Blue Rose Magazine and is also the author of Laura's Ghost: Women Speak about Twin Peaks. Her dedication to spotlighting Lynch and her access to Lynch's world is astounding. We discuss Lynch’s persona, his career throughout the years, the importance of Laura Palmer, the life changing powers of Blue Velvet, and a lot more.Show Notes:Bill Ackerman's Podcast Supporting CharactersFrom the Neighboorhood – Blue Velvet PodcastSupporting Characters InstagramCourteney Stallings InstagramLaura’s Ghost: Women Speak About Twin PeaksBlue Rose MagazineDavid Lynch’s Unrealized ProjectsFestival of DisruptionRoom to DreamMark FrostMulholland Drive (2001)Brian De PalmaKimmy RobertsonSabrina SutherlandThe Shrouds (2024)Hotel Room (1993)Lumiere and Company – David LynchVideo WatchdogInland Empire (2006)David Lynch Keeps His Head – David Foster WallaceThe Sixth Sense (1999)The Straight Story (1999)Atom EgoyanDuran Duran: UnstagedAngelo BadalamentiThe Secret Diary of Laura PalmerPeggy ReaveyThe Alphabet (1969)The Grandmother (1970)Six Men Getting Sick (1967)Dino De Laurentiis Dune (1984)David Lynch & Mel BrooksAlejandro JodorowskyWerner HerzogBody Heat (1981)Blood Simple (1984)Crispin GloverBlue Velvet (1986)Wild At Heart (1990)Eraserhead (1977)Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)Cult Movies: v.3Cut! Horror Movies on Horror MoviesLost Highway (1997)The Elephant Man (1980)Twin Peaks Follow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Episode 18: Vinegar Syndrome Weekender

In mid May, film collective Zelluloid 42 and US film label Vinegar Syndrome organized a mini festival called Vinegar Syndrome Weekender showcasing a selection of outrageous, nonsensical, incredibly entertaining B movies and celebrating celluloid film. I went there with my B movie loving friend Jess and this episode is a documentation of our time there. You'll hear our bewildered reactions to the films we saw, a Q&A with Vinegar Syndrome co-founder Joe Rubin and chief archivist Oscar Becher (apologies for the audio, recording it was a spur of the moment decision), and a short interview with Zelluloid 42 programmers Audrey and Tarek.Did we leave the cinema forever changed after this weekend? Maybe so! And we've got Zelluloid 42 and Vinegar Syndrome to thank for it! If you live in Berlin and love transgressive, psychotronic cinema, Zelluloid 42's monthly film series Pleasure Dome at Filmrauschpalast is the place to be!Show Notes: Zelluloid 42Vinegar SyndromeCreepshowTales from the CryptSusan TyrellJim JarmuschTommy WiseauKonstantin StanislavskiActors on ActorsPledge NightDemon WindThe Kids in the HallBattlefield EarthNight Train to TerrorMegalopolisMarathon ManThe OmenThe Ghost DanceDracula SucksPrisoner of ParadiseThe LampAngelStrangers with CandyFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Episode 17: Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli (VIOLATION, HONEY BUNCH)

Madeleine Sims-Fewer & Dusty Mancinelli are a Toronto-based filmmaking duo who premiered their second feature HONEY BUNCH, an unconventional thriller set in a 70s medical clinic, at the Berlinale earlier this year. They're an exciting, genre-defying voice in contemporary cinema and it was great to get them on the podcast. We spoke about what it's like working as a duo, making the anti-revenge film VIOLATION, accessibility in film, and much more. Show Notes:Madeleine & Dusty’s website Slap Happy (2017)Woman in Stall (2018)Chubby (2019)Violation (2020)Honey Bunch (2025)Her Friend Adam (2016)Great dm interview with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas Describe VideoHeavenly Creatures (1994)Don’t Look Now (1973)Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)Possession (1981)Phantom Thread (2017)Babygirl (2024)Brussels International Film FestivalFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Episode 16: Elaine May with Carrie Courogen (Miss May Does Not Exist)

“People would leave me saying, ‘She’s a nice girl. What is this big thing about? She’s a nice girl.’ And the thing is, of course, I wasn’t a nice girl. And when they found this out, they hated me all the more.”—Elaine May, 2006Elaine May is a game-changing director, writer, and actress that not enough people know about. Thankfully, I was able to talk to a May expert, writer Carrie Courogen, who wrote an Elaine May biography called 'Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius.' We spoke about her significance to cinema and comedy, her fascinating career, her elusiveness, and more! Show Notes:Miss May Does Not Exist – Carrie CourogenCarrie Courogen’s WebsiteCarrie Courogen’s InstagramNichols & May -Teenagers in a Car Nichols & May – Examine DoctorsThe Waverly GalleryLenny BruceA New LeafNew HollywoodRoberta FindlayThe Heartbreak Kid (Full Movie on YouTube)Mikey and NickyThe BirdcageIshtarGhostbustersBack to the FutureNeil SimonElaine May’s New Film?Todd SolondzJohn WatersFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com

Episode 15: David Lynch Twitch Marathon (with Jen & Matt)

Recorded a week and a half after David Lynch's death, this episode is a mishmash of interviews with Cinema of the Dam'd programmers Jen Bronson and Matt Cornell and clips of what we showed during our 15 hour twitch marathon. We spoke about our Lynch faves, what he means to us, and where our head was at after watching so much of his work at once (it was pretty divine). Lynch's death hit hard and this won't be the last time I feature him on Somebody's Watching.Show Notes:Cinema of the Dam'dJennifer's Bronson's InstagramCinema of the Dam'd's InstagramThe Squid and the Whale (2005)The Straight Story (1999)Blue Velvet (1986)Blue Velvet edited for televisionTwin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)Mulholland Drive (2001)Lost Highway (1997)Eraserhead (1977)Inland Empire (2006)Hotel Room (1993)Crash (1996)Pink Flamingos (1972)Swingers (1996)John WatersDavid Wants to Fly (2010)Angelo Badalamenti on Laura Palmer's themeFollow Somebody's Watching here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: @somebodyspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @somebodyswatchingpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: somebodywatchingpod@gmail.com