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PODCAST

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film

Join Matt & Mike as they discuss the psychological underpinnings of films from the beginning of film as an art form to the present. Subject matter includes discussion of films addressing psychological issues, whether it be mental illness or a psychological or spiritual exploration with more universal applicability, the techniques used to create an emotional or intellectual reaction when watching a film, and the ultimate psychological impact of a film.

tv & film film history

All Episodes

01:10:46

Episode 18: The Year in Film: 1979 - Top Ten Lists &...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/10/11

Matt & Mike count down their Top Ten Films from 1979, and discuss their Honorable Mentions, as well as films from 1979 they missed that they still want to see.This episode also includes a focused discussion of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, though the featured film for 1979, Ridley Scott's Alien, will be analyzed in a much more detailed fashion in the next episode, coming soon...

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01:27:10

Episode 17: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 10:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/09/27

Mike & Matt complete their discussion about some of the most common situational archetypes and story tropes in dramatic narratives, as well some common story beats.In the course of discussing the Ill-Fated Romance archetype, an in depth discussion of Curry Barker's 2026 smash release "Obsession" ensues, in which Mike and Matt break down how Barker takes a classic wish fulfillment plot line and makes it fresh by infusing it with ill-fated romance story elements.Episode topics are as follows:Good

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02:58:57

Episode 16: The Year in Film: 1975 - Featuring: Jaws

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/09/14

Matt & Mike count down their top 10 films and honorable mentions from the year 1975, with a focused discussion on Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, Jaws.When discussing the film, the duo analyze the many aspects that make Jaws one of the quintessential American films, as well as being one of the greatest films of all time.If you question whether Jaws is more than just the film that spawned the modern blockbuster, listen in to find out why it is gaining increasing attention as an artistic triumph

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02:21:42

Episode 15: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 9:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/08/31

Mike and Matt discuss the various elements that are characteristic to the dramatic form of storytelling, including standard character archetypes and narrative tropes. In particular, Matt & Mike focus on some of the most common thematic situational archetypes that are related to rites of passage storylines, such as Coming of Age, Midlife Crisis, Existential Crisis and Death & Rebirth.Throughout the episode, various aspects of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey will be analyzed, particularly how

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02:21:35

Episode 14: The Year in Film: 1972 - Featuring: The...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/08/17

Mike and Matt begin their exploration of the last 100 years of film, one year at a time.First up is a year very early in their own upbringing, with a focus on a film generally considered to be the most culturally prominent film in American cinema, The Godfather. Universally loved by filmgoers and critics alike, The Godfather is the perfect starting point for this filmic exploration.For each episode in the "Year in Film" series, Mike and Matt will provide a list of their top films of that year,

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01:40:58

Episode 13: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 8:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/08/03

Matt & Mike continue their discussion of various comedy subgenres, including Slapstick, Spoofs, Teen Comedies, Mockumentaries, Satire, and Dark Comedy.For each subgenre, tropes and subversions of those tropes are discussed, citing numerous examples for each category, including the following:Classic Slapstick - Safety Last!, City Lights, The GeneralModern Slapstick - Blazing Saddles, Airplane!, The Naked GunSlapstick Subversion - Life is BeautifulSpoofs - Young Frankenstein, Scary Movie, Don't

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01:29:19

Episode 12: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 8:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/07/19

Matt & Mike discuss the elements of comedy and musical films, including tropes used in those types of narratives as well as subversions of those tropes.Topics include the following for comedy:*Standard elements of a comedy include humorous situations typically established by either exaggerating a situation or character qualities depicted in the narrative.*Some character archetypes in comedies include tricksters, lovable losers, the straight man, the man-child, deadpan eccentrics, fish out of

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01:32:22

Episode 11: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 7:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/07/05

Matt & Mike discuss first person story elements that place the audience into the mindscape of either a protagonist or a group of characters within a narrative.Topics include the following:Indications of a standard first person narrative structure include use of narration and/or point of view shots.However, in many instances, a third person limited perspective that shows only the environment the protagonist sees throughout a story is the format for conveying a specific character's

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01:23:57

Episode 10: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 6:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/06/22

Matt & Mike explore sources of inspiration for films, as well as the various narrative structures through which those storylines are conveyed.Even though plot details may differ between narratives, universal themes are often explored through storylines that long predate the existence of film. Additionally, other sources of inspiration can influence various aspects of a film, including its visual expression of ideas and tone. Examples of sources of inspiration include the following:Oral

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01:56:23

Episode 9: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 5:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/06/07

In this episode, Matt & Mike revisit filmmaking elements addressed in prior episodes of the film school to discuss the following:Techniques used when filming the performance of actors.Editing techniques for dialogue scenes.Establishing character through action.How dialogue styles and rhythms either elevate or ground the execution of a film.Primary takeaways are as follows:Distance, framing and motion of cinematography can be used to balance between establishing geography and highlighting key

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01:52:55

Episode 8: Celluloid Dreams Films School Part 4: The...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/05/29

Matt & Mike return to discuss the elements that "set the stage" for performance, which make up the Mise-en-Scene of the film. Aspects which comprise Mise-en-Scene include the following:1) Locations - whether it be a soundstage or a natural location.2) Costumes - past, present, or future all require authenticity.3) Props - what are the props that either make the film feel lived in or define character.4) Makeup - especially that which fully transforms the actor into the character he or she

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02:04:57

Episode 7: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 3:...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/05/15

Hosts Matt & Mike continue their journey through the process of filmmaking from a psychological perspective, along with special guest, Nick, a podcaster in his own right, who happens to also be Mike's nephew.The reason for Nick's inclusion in this particular episode is his musical background as an experienced drummer, as well as his knowledge of film and film scores.The first portion of the episode concerns the impact on film by the addition of synchronized sound, as well as how sound is mixed

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01:10:40

Episode 6: Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 2: The...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/05/01

Hosts Matt & Mike continue their journey through the process of filmmaking through a psychological perspective.This episode delves into the art of editing, including discussion of the various types of montage, parallel editing, surrealism and the psychological impact of extended continuous shots. Examples illustrating each aspect of editing include discussion of landmark montage set pieces from Battleship Potemkin and Citizen Kane to The Untouchables and Inception; the power of parallel editing

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01:28:30

Episode 5 - Celluloid Dreams Film School Part 1: The...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/04/17

Delves into the art of cinematography, including such topics as the elegance of slow-motion, use of natural light, impact of color versus black & white, and role of framing and different aspect ratios. The conversation covers the evolution of film formats, strategies for utilizing point of view shots, lens choice and lighting, and the contribution of Steadicam on tracking shots.TakeawaysCinematography is a complex aspect of filmmaking that directly affects the psychological impact of a

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02:51:43

Episode 4 - The Conclusion of 30 Film Favorites with...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/04/05

Matt and Mike complete discussion of their 30 Film Favorites.The final lists are as follows:Matt's 30 Favorites:2001: A Space OdysseyAlienApocalypse NowBlade RunnerChinatownThe Dark KnightThe Empire Strikes BackThe French ConnectionThe GodfatherGoodfellasGoldfingerHeatInceptionJawsKing Kong (1933)L.A. ConfidentialLawrence of ArabiaLOTR: The Fellowship of the RingThe Nightmare Before ChristmasPsychoRaiders of the Lost ArkRoad to PerditionRobocopThe Right StuffScarfaceSevenThe Shawshank RedemptionStar

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01:41:16

Episode 3 - Favorites Films of Intrigue & the...

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/03/27

Matt & Mike resume their discussion of their favorite films, this time focusing on stories touching upon the criminal underworld or the world of intrigue. The list of films this time out is as follows:ChinatownLA ConfidentialThe French ConnectionDie Hard GoldfingerMarathon ManHeatManhunterGoodfellasScarface Road to PerditionThe Shawshank RedemptionRequiem for a DreamSPOILER ALERT: Again, all elements of a film are fair game for discussion, so if you haven't seen all of these films and you don't

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01:00:33

Episode 2 - More of Matt & Mike's Favorites

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/03/14

For their second episode, Matt & Mike continue with their filmic "Rorschach Test" in describing the films that have meaning to them and the personal reasons why. Once they reach the end of this short series of episodes, the hope is that the audience will understand the psychological prism through which Mike & Matt view movies as they break down the elements of individual films in future episodes.In particular, Matt shares his family connection to "The Right Stuff" due to his father's

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01:34:53

An Introduction to Matt & Mike

Celluloid Dreams: The Psychology of Film ·

2026/03/01

In this first episode, Matt & Mike provide their bios to familiarize the listening audience with their backgrounds in order to convey the perspective through which they analyze films. They also begin the process of listing their top 30 favorite films, to share why those films are important to them, and reveal why listeners should follow along as Matt & Mike explore the psychological elements that drive the narratives of the greatest films of all time.

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