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PODCAST

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast

A weekly podcast brought by the team that brings you cupofteacritiques.com, the site that encourages critical viewing of film so you can decide for yourself if they’re your "cup of tea." Reading the tea leaves of the film industry is challenging. Each week on the podcast, the team peels back the layers on a movie genre or industry trend to offer aspiring filmmakers some clarity and guidance on what is often rough and indecipherable terrain that is the film and television industry. So, grab a deep

tv & film after shows

All Episodes

46:58

The Short Films that Led to Long Careers

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/07/22

For decades, aspiring filmmakers have used short films as tools for learning their craft. Constrained by tiny budgets, small casts, and limited options for shooting locations, they produce complete stories ranging from five to thirty minutes in length. Visually, the films present like rough cuts. But artistically, they reveal the tendencies of these future auteurs. You might have heard of a few of them: George Lucas, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, Jean‑Luc Goddard. In this episode, we explore...

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47:33

Where’s Hollywood’s Sense of Adventure?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/07/15

You may remember movies like The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. These family‑friendly films incited a sense of adventure and stirred the imagination. So, what happened to them? They seem to have disappeared from the movie landscape over the last generation or so. In this episode of the podcast, we take a deep dive into adventure films and explore the demise of this exciting subgenre on the big screen. Be sure to leave us a comment about your latest adventure! Fo...

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44:03

Post‑Apocalypse Now!

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/07/02

Let’s say you’re not a vegan and there is suddenly no meat available because the animals were stricken by a virus and died. We recently saw a screening of director R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres that presents such a scenario and gives us a glimpse of what could happen when we don’t have something we have taken for granted. This got us thinking about how other films have imagined post‑apocalyptic existence and how some of the stories (perhaps many of them) seem quite conceivable. Join us on this week’...

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41:59

Happy Anniversary Jaws!

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/06/25

Did it make you afraid to go into the water? Maybe you remember the frenzy around the blockbuster movie, Jaws. This month is the 50th anniversary of its release, and we are celebrating with personal remembrances and our thoughts on Jaws’ contribution to both movie and mainstream culture. Grab and brew and join us. Don’t worry; you won’t have to go into the water! Leave us a comment with the title of your favorite shark movie. For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen. F...

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35:29

The Joy of Hate Watching!

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/06/17

Ever hear of “hate-watching?” It is the tendency to watch movies and television shows that do not appeal to you. Some go beyond lacking appeal to making you cringe every time you see them. Indeed, occasionally you watch the shows just for the sake of mocking them. Psychologists say that this strong negativism makes us happy and even strengthens bonds among friends and community. In this week’s episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we take a deep dive into “hate-watching” and passionate...

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35:00

Where are all the Action Movie Heroines?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/06/10

Have you seen the new John Wick movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina? Ana de Armas plays the lead and she is a badass in the film! It got us thinking how rare it is to see women presented as the lead in action movies. While they are prevalent in ensemble casts of action productions like Fantastic Four, X-Men, Game of Thrones, and name any Avengers feature you like, women are rarely featured as the focal point in these releases. Also, where we brand productions as “the next Tom Cruise...

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41:42

What Makes a Production a Classic?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/06/03

Consider for a moment your go-to movies or television shows. You know, the ones you stream decades (or perhaps just a year or two) after their release and they still make you laugh, make you cry, or just stir something inside you. Would you consider these works to be “classics” and, if so, why? The answers often spur intense debate because the subject is personal. In this episode, we discuss what makes a classic and expound on it with plenty of cinema that exemplifies it. So, what are y...

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33:52

How throwback films take you waayyy back!

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/05/20

Last fall, COTC reviewed the Peacock series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, starring Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Cheadle. The series is based on a true story about a robbery that occurred at a party after the Muhammad Ali‑Jerry Quarry fight in Atlanta in 1970. Big afros, platform shoes, and even plaid suits abound in this story. Seeing the eight‑part series took Terry and I back to our days as children, and Brandon and Chris began to remin...

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44:38

Where are all the Sports Movies?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/05/15

Remember movies like Little Big League, Any Given Sunday, Mighty Ducks, Major League, and Sandlot? From the 1990s to the early 2000s, the film industry released about four sports movies like these every year. But in recent years, we’re lucky to see two such films in theaters. What happened? Why have sports movies all but disappeared from the big screen? Join us as we discuss several contributing factors. For future updates, subscribe to our podcast wherever you listen, and for email updates o...

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49:39

Sinners and the Mystique of Vampirism

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/05/06

Ryan Coogler’s recent hit movie, Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, has sparked a lot of buzz. What is the appeal of vampires and what adds credibility to a vampire production? In this episode, we dive into the mystique of this century-long cinematic spectacle. After sharing our thoughts on the new blockbuster, we discuss the classic vampire movies, like Dracula and Nosferatu, as well as the contemporary hit shows, such as Buffy and The Vampire Diaries. Send us a note to let us know your fa...

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57:12

When the Industry Goes Reel!

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/04/30

In this episode, we delve into cinema on difficult topics and social issues. Be aware that samples of these works and some aspects of our discussion may be triggering for some listeners. Many movies and TV series mirror real‑life circumstances and experiences. When handled deftly, the works often resonate with us or at minimum inform our perspectives about aspects of life or life encounters that are unfamiliar to us. We hope you find our talk on these issues affirming, comforting, and informa...

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37:48

Who the Heck is Alan Smithee — and Why Should You Care?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/04/22

Have you ever wanted to remove your name from something that turned out badly? Maybe it was a group project, a paper you wrote, or a decision with an undesirable outcome. A little-known pseudonym adopted by the Directors Guild of America has allowed its members to do just that when their films don’t turn out as planned. In this episode, we dive deep into the Alan Smithee moniker, exploring its history and debating its merits. The question at the core of Alan Smithee is ‘should we really disow...

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61:36

Can Film Thrive without Music?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/04/15

Music can certainly exist outside of movies, but do you think movies can thrive without music? Have you ever thought about the crucial role that music plays in film? Or is music so integrated into film today that it is tough to think about the latter without the former? In this show, we take a deep dive into the undeniable value of music in film, beginning with early movie industry strategies to blend the two art forms to the contemporary and varied methods of scoring films. After listening, ...

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41:36

Movie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant...

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/03/31

Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on ...

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28:11

Movie Ratings: Are They Meaningful and Relevant...

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/03/24

Do you consider the rating of a film before deciding if you will go to the theater to see it? While they may be useful now, those seemingly benign letters that make up the ratings carry a lot of historical weight. For much of the 20th century, they were used as a means of defining morality for the movie-going public while suppressing freedom of speech and expression for filmmakers. Based on the Cup of Tea Critiques article, “A Clash of Knuckles,” which can be found in the Crumpets section on ...

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36:56

Public Domain and ... Winnie the Pooh?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/03/17

In 2023, filmmaker Rhys Wake-Waterfield set off a frenzy when he released his film, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, which presents the iconic cuddly bear as something more repulsive than inviting. His transformation of Pooh was enabled by the character’s recent release into the public domain archives. Public domain is a category of creative works that are unprotected by intellectual property law. In some cases, the work was never protected, and in others, the term of protection for said wor...

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53:54

What makes sequels and serials work?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/03/10

Can you distinguish between a sequel and a serial? In this episode of the Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast, we define and explore the two concepts, with examples of familiar films from past and present. We also delve into the question of whether our expectations for a sequel/serial influence our positive or negative evaluation of it. What are some of your favorite sequels and multi-part franchises? Which ones disappointed you? Leave us a review and share your thoughts! Send us a text ...

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44:10

Shot on Film or Shot on Digital?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/03/03

After watching a film, consider for a moment how it looked and just as important, how it made you feel. If you stay past the movie’s credits, you get an indication of just how the filmmakers were able to achieve these effects, because they provide details about the cameras that were used during the shoots. After listening to the podcast, think about which film gauge has produced the most movies that are your cup of tea: 8, 16, 35, 70? Write us a review and share your preference! Reference htt...

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37:00

What is the Goal of a Short Film?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/02/24

Many talented filmmakers lack the resources to produce expansive projects that can gain the attention of influential representatives or studios. So, what’s the best use of the underdog’s modest means? Many go the route of what’s known as a “short film.” Check out our article on this topic on the Cup of Tea Critiques Crumpets page. What short film is your cup of tea? Write us a review and share some of your favorites! What are your thoughts on this week's topic? Footer We hope you enjoy...

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48:21

What Makes a Good (or Bad) Villain?

Cup of Tea Critiques Podcast ·

2025/02/17

Darth Vader. Thanos. Lucy van Pelt! What are the qualifications for a villain in your story? Does it even need to be human? Maybe your villain is something more abstract. What villains are your cups of tea? Write us a review and share some of your faves! What are your thoughts on this week's topic? Footer We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed sharing. Join us again for another deep look with a deep brew! Stay in touch on all things COTC by subscribing on our website at cupoft...

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41 results

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