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PODCAST

Verbal Diorama

Are you interested in how movies are made? Do you wonder how a film went from conception to completion? If so, Verbal Diorama, hosted by Em, is the award-winning(!) podcast for you! Movies are tough to make, and Verbal Diorama is here to celebrate the coming together of teams of extraordinary cast and crew, bringing us movies that inspire us, delight us, make us laugh, make us cry and frighten us. This podcast discovers the stories behind the scenes, and proves how amazing it is that movies

tv & film film history

All Episodes

45:50

Turning Red

Verbal Diorama ·

2025/01/09

There's Nobody Like U, Turning Red.Turning Red is a ground-breaking animated film, rightfully kicking off Animation Season 2025 in style, with magical puberty front and centre, that addresses the universal struggles of adolescence through the story of Mei Lee, a 13-year-old girl caught between her familial obligations and her burgeoning independence.Domee Shi's feature-length directorial debut represents a significant milestone as Pixar's first solo female director and first female director of

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46:41

(From the Archive) The Transfomers: The Movie (1986)

Verbal Diorama ·

2025/01/02

Happy New Year and Ba weep granah weep nini bong to you all! Transformers started out as a toy line, and became a comic and a TV series, and it was making huge profits for parent company Hasbro, but what do you do when you want to introduce a whole new toy line and get rid of the old ones? Why, you make a feature length animation to kill off the ones you don't want anymore. It'll be easy, right?Well, turns out Hasbro ignored the advice of seasoned writer Ron Friedman, who insisted killing Optimus

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42:50

Elf

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/12/23

Before we learn how all about the history and legacy of a modern Christmas classic, let's recite the "Code of the Elves," shall we? Number one; "Treat every day like Christmas." Number two; "There's room for everyone on the nice list." Number three; "The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear."Just for those listeners on Santa's nice list, the enduring appeal of Elf lies in its ability to resonate with audiences of all ages, and the importance of believing in the magic

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40:29

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/12/19

Looks like you've found yourself on Santa's Naughty List!How the Grinch Stole Christmas isn't just a beloved holiday classic; it’s a deep dive into the complexities of acceptance, compassion, and the true spirit of Christmas, that also contains a Mean One!From Dr. Seuss's iconic original story to its 1966 animated version and the 2000 live-action adaptation featuring Jim Carrey, the Grinch's transformation from a cynical hermit to a figure of redemption mirrors our own struggles with loneliness and

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37:39

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/12/12

Perennial Christmas classic Lethal Weapon redefined the buddy cop genre with its festive setting, unique characters and the undisputed chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Shane Black's screenplay combined humour and action and made it a benchmark for future action films, and Richard Donner's direction brought a skilled touch to the film's pacing and storytelling. Unlike other buddy cop or action movies of the 80s, it also explores deep themes of depression, grief, and trauma, particularly

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57:24

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/12/05

Before I begin, I notice that ChancellorJarnathanis not present...?I'm back from an extended break, deciding to do an episode on Dungeons & Dragons, and its fifty-year history and legacy as the most popular TTRPG in the world. Easing myself back into podcasting slowly, then, because it's safe to say nothing has impacted geek culture like Dungeons & Dragons, since its debut in 1974. It evolved from its early iterations to mainstream popularity, especially with the rise of its fifth edition

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52:58

(From the Archive) Your Name. (君の名は。)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/11/28

How can I write about Your Name? Is it possible to convey the jaw dropping beauty and breath-taking majesty of Your Name with words? I'm not really sure it is, but I take a stab at it in Episode 77 anyway, because Your Name is truly something magical and resplendent to witness. A simple boy meets girl love story, with an added element of celestial forces; Your Name takes a simple story and elevates it to a visual treat as well as an emotional powerhouse.Put simply, if you don't believe in true love

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01:01:33

(From the Archive) A League of Their Own (1992)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/11/21

In 1943, Philip K. Wrigley (of chewing gum fame!) founded the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in order to maintain sport and public morale during World War II, at a time when many eligible young men, including professional sportsmen, were drafted to fight overseas.Whilst A League of Their Own is a mostly fictional account of the players and founders behind the AAGPBL, it still tells a story of the real-life resilience, spirit and tenacity of the young women involved, many of

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49:37

(From the Archive) Josie and the Pussycats

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/11/14

Hello, I'm Em. And yes, I'm a podcast host.No, I said cappuccino.I'm here to talk to you about something very important. And no, it's not about me or my podcast. I'm here to talk about subliminal messages in rock and roll music. Or as it's simply known in some cultures, 'rock music'.You see, for years the government has been wisely coercing teenagers to buy products they normally wouldn't want, just to get their money.Fact! Kids don't have bills to pay. Fact! They don't pay taxes. But! They do

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46:34

(From the Archive) Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/11/07

From a great well-known cast of faces, such as William Sadler, Jada Pinkett, Billy Zane, Dick Miller and Thomas Haden Church to some genuinely spooky great practical effects and world building, Demon Knight really delivers in a way most low-budget horror movies don't.Not to mention, it's probably the only horror movie where a black woman is the final girl, andshe saves the world!I never thought I'd say that Billy Zane was the best part of anything.... he chews the scenery like never before or again

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52:31

Halloween (1978)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/10/31

Halloween has a complex and multifaceted legacy, intertwining themes of fear, adolescence, and societal commentary. The exploration of the concept of the 'Final Girl,' epitomized by Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Laurie’s character represents resilience and survival, challenging traditional gender roles often depicted in horror films, and her casting was just a simple publicity stunt really. Her mother was the original scream queen, Janet Leigh, and Psycho's DNA is woven throughout this

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44:21

Friday the 13th (1980)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/10/24

There's a curse at Camp Crystal Lake. It's going to be a Long Night at Camp Blood. Except that didn't turn out to be the title of this movie.The original Friday the 13th cleverly subverts horror tropes by making the killer a middle-aged mother, capitalizing on the fears associated with the number 13, as well as the success of Halloween in 1978.Betsy Palmer's portrayal of Pamela Voorhees, who only shows up in the final moments, makes her one of horror's most subversive, and yet misremembered

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42:34

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/10/17

40 years ago, slashers took a terrifying turn, when Wes Craven suggested that we could not only be haunted by our nightmares, but also die from the creatures within them.Craven's creation of Freddy Krueger stemmed from a haunting childhood memory that inspired the character - called Fred Krueger in this movie only - and the true unexplained deaths of Cambodian immigrants who randomly died in their sleep. While cinema was becoming saturated with cheap, clichéd knock-offs after Halloween and Friday

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49:31

Child's Play (1988)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/10/10

Horror icon Chucky was originally created by UCLA student Don Mancini, evolving from a script originally titled 'Batteries Not Included' which then became 'Blood Buddy', where the character was named Buddy.Potential lawsuit with Hasbro aside, Buddy would eventually become Chucky; the movie was eventually renamed Child's Play, and would become a ground-breaking horror film that successfully combined dark comedy with genuine suspense. The animatronics used for Chucky were state-of-the-art for the

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41:40

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/10/03

Bill & Ted creators Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson, along with stars Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves, always assumed Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey would be the last time anyone would see Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan together on the big screen ever again.Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey hadn't done the business of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and so all four men went their own ways in Hollywood, each carving their own successful careers.It wasn't until a random red carpet

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49:51

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/09/26

Verbal Diorama: It’s hip, it’s now, it’s wow and how?!After the huge success of both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, Sam Raimi wanted to finish his Spider-Man trilogy with a bang.Originally planning to have Sandman and the Vulture, along with a non-New Goblin Harry Osborn against Peter Parker's newly adored Spider-Man, plans would evolve somewhat as time passed, with Avi Arad instead wanting fan favourite anti-hero Venom to be a secondary antagonist alongside Sandman.Sam Raimi wasn't keen on Venom, he

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52:16

Batman Forever

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/09/19

Batman Forever, for all its neon grandiose spectacle, was purely created as the anthesis to Batman Returns. While retrospectively, Batman Returns is seen as one of the best Batman movies, the backlash around the movie's dark, violent and sexual nature led to parents revolting, and Warner Bros scrambling to make Batman family-friendly again.Enter Joel Schumacher, a guy with a strong movie making record, who was more than happy to follow Warner Bros family-friendly mantra, with his own

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51:52

Jurassic Park III

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/09/12

After Steven Spielberg took the reins for both Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic World, it was time for some fresh meat for Jurassic Park III, which was the first to not be directed by Spielberg and not be based on a Michael Crichton novel.Jurassic Park III would start to have problems early, though. The original script was thrown out five weeks before filming was due to start, with the project already having spent $18 million. New writers Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor were quickly hired

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48:35

Snowpiercer (설국열차) (2013)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/08/31

Bong Joon-ho’s dedication to making Snowpiercer, and making it his way, is as always a true testament to his greatness as a director, and a visionary director at that. You don’t start something in 2005 and take seven years to develop it if you don’t have that passion for the project. In many ways the scale and scope of Snowpiercer led Bong to want to make smaller films - his next film would be Okja for Netflix, and then he’d make Parasite - undoubtedly his most important, acclaimed and successful

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54:19

Prey (2022)

Verbal Diorama ·

2024/08/22

Hollywood cinema has often featured Native American men in Westerns as brutal, hypermasculine barbarian warriors, and Native American women as hyper-sexualised or a quiet subservient. They'd also often be portrayed by white actors in brownface.How remarkable that a Predator prequel aimed to set this injustice right?Despite not being of Native American descent, director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison knew that they needed to make this movie as authentic as possible to the 1700s in the

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