Pop Culture Confidential

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Episode 528: Unpacking and Reviewing Spielberg's Disclosure Day. Guest: Ryan McQuade Jun 13, 2026

Show notes

It's Disclosure Day! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to discuss and review Steven Spielberg's latest film. They dig into how it fits into the director's filmography as well as his biography, exploring where his mastery shines through, where the film falls short, and how it all comes together. Includes spoilers!

527: Entering the 'Backrooms' with Guests Production Designer Danny Vermette and VFX Supervisor Edward J. Douglas Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Backrooms is the record-breaking horror phenomenon of the summer. Christina sat down with brilliant production designer Danny Vermette and VFX supervisor Edward J. Douglas to talk about their work on the film and their collaboration with 20-year-old YouTube creator Kane Parsons , A24's youngest-ever director. We dig into the 30,000-square-foot build that brought Parsons's Backrooms YouTube series to life on the big screen, the themes and anxieties of isolation, (and the horror of fluorescent lighting ;) in the Backrooms , the dreamscape of the "outside world" (inspired by the Windows Bliss wallpaper), influences ranging from Eraserhead to Mr. Robot, Portal, and One Hour Photo, how young content creators are shaping the future of cinema, and whether they'd ever enter the Backrooms themselves :) ... and much more

Video edited by Anton Isiukov

https://www.antonisiukov.com

526: Brittany Allen on Her Powerful Performance as Roxie on 'The Pitt' Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

Actor Brittany Allen (The Boys, Dexter: Original Sin, Jigsaw) joins the show to discuss her Emmy-buzzed performance as Roxie Hamler, a terminal cancer patient on HBO’s The Pitt. We dive into the research behind her role, her collaboration with Noah Wyle and the cast and crew of the medical drama, the emotional weight of the storylines, how the team unwinds after intense days on set, and so much more.

525: Backrooms, Obsession & The YouTube Creators Filling Cinemas! (Guest: Ryan McQuade) Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins Christina to discuss the mega-hits Obsession (directed by 26-year-old Curry Barker) and Backrooms (by 20-year-old Kane Parsons), the rise of YouTube content creators in cinema and more! Plus they talk basketball! :) Don’t miss it

524: Dispatch 10: Final Cannes Report & The Award Winners! Guest, Ryan McQuade May 25, 2026

Show notes

524: Dispatch 10: Final Cannes Report! Guest Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.com

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523: Cannes Dispatch 9. Club Kid, Coward, The Man I Love & Jim Queen. Guest:Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch. May 22, 2026

Show notes

Cannes Film Festival Dispatch 9. Club Kid, Coward, The Man I Love & Jim Queen with guest: Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch.

https://awardswatch.com

Video Anton Isiukov

https://www.antonisiukov.com

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522: A Conversation with Sean Fennessey ('The Big Picture') at Cannes 2026 May 21, 2026

Show notes

Cannes Film Festival 2026 Dispatch nr 8. A Conversation with Sean Fennessey.

Guest: Sean Fennessey

https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-big-picture

https://substack.com/@seanfennessey

Video: Anton Isiukov

http://antonisiukov.com

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521: Cannes Dispatch 7. Cannes Unfiltered! Sales, Palme Buzz, the Palm Dog & Reviews! Guest Wendy Mitchell, Screen International May 20, 2026

Show notes

Guest Wendy Mitchell Contributing Editor for Screen International and ScreenDaily.com

https://www.filmwendy.com/writing

520: Cannes Film Festival Dispatch 6. Reviews Koreeda, Gray & Dupieux (Guest: John Bleasdale May 18, 2026

Show notes

Guest, author and film critic John Bleasdale

https://www.johnbleasdale.com

Video by Anton Isiukov

https://www.antonisiukov.com

518: Cannes Film Festival Dispatch 4. Gustaf Skarsgård & Peter Birro ('The Cannibal') May 17, 2026

Show notes

On a special episode from Cannes 2026, Christina interviews (her husband:), screenwriter Peter Birro, and director Gustaf Skarsgård about their upcoming film. They are at the festival to introduce The Cannibal, a psychological horror film about a screenwriter who goes to the island of Fårö to write a movie about Bergman, but soon encounters a demonic presence. Production starts in 2026. Audio & Video Video by Anton Isiukov

https://www.antonisiukov.com

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