The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood

Latest Episodes:

NATO Head on the Return to Theaters Apr 14, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny is joined by John Fithian, president and CEO of the National Association of Theater Owners, to talk about post-pandemic moviegoing, the evolution of theatrical dining, the excitement of CinemaCon, and the potential of theaters as sites for esports and gaming events—both as spectators and as participants. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!

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Lloyd Kaufman and a Half-Century of Troma Apr 07, 2022

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On this week’s episode, Sonny is very pleased—and a little star struck!—to be joined by Lloyd Kaufman, the mind behind Troma Entertainment, to discuss his latest film, #ShakespearesShitstorm, as well as his 50 years in the business as one of the few truly independent indie filmmakers. Kaufman is probably best known for directing The Toxic Avenger, its sequels, and Tromeo and Juliet, as well as producing Class of Nuke ’Em High. But his company, Troma, has been a hot spring of talent for decades, serving as early homes for James Gunn (The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad), Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park), and Eli Roth (Hostel, Knock Knock).

Warning: This episode contains slightly saltier language than usual, but what else would you expect from a mind whose greatest film prominently involves gym rats running over a kid on a bike for fun?

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The Nic Cage Book Every Fan Needs to Own Mar 31, 2022

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On this week’s episode, Sonny talks to Keith Phipps about his new book, Age of Cage: Four Decades of Hollywood Through One Singular Career. Looking at the trends of Hollywood through the lens of Nic Cage’s various personae—as an oddball actor catching the tail end of the 70s auteur wave; transitioning to a “normal guy”; hitting action star peaks in the 1990s; and settling into a series of more-interesting-than-they’re-given-credit-for turns on VOD—the book is a useful glimpse at the changing tastes in Hollywood. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to check out Keith and Scott Tobias’s Substack, The Reveal. And share this with a friend!

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No One's Seen the Best Picture Frontrunners. Does It Matter? Mar 24, 2022

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This week, Sonny talks to the Los Angeles Times’s Ryan Faughnder about a new poll showing that Coda and The Power of the Dog, the frontrunners for the Best Picture Oscar at this weekend’s Academy Awards, have been seen by just four and six percent of entertainment consumers, respectively. Then they discuss the walkout at Disney over the Mouse House CEO’s failure to speak up more vocally against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, as well as charges of hypocrisy that ethnic cleansing in China didn’t spark similar protests. And, finally, they talk about Amazon’s purchase of MGM and what that means for James Bond and Prime Video. If you enjoy the episode, share it with a friend!

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Why the 'Head of Story' at One of Hollywood's Biggest Agencies Writes His Own Mar 17, 2022

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On this week’s episode, Sonny talks to Adam Novak, head of story at one of the biggest agencies in Hollywood, WME. Adam is also the author of the novel Rat Park, out this week, as well as three other novels. Adam discusses his three-plus decades in the industry as a script reader for stars like Bruce Willis and directors like John McTiernan. What’s the role of a good reader in Hollywood? How do they help serve their clients and the world of entertainment writ large? And then Sonny and Adam discuss Adam’s novels and the intricate universe he’s woven around the fictional Omniscence agency.

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A Crucial Film to Understand Ukraine's Struggle Mar 10, 2022

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Sonny is joined this week by Andrea Chalupa, the screenwriter of Mr. Jones, the true story of Gareth Jones’s efforts to bring the horrifying reality of the Stalin-made famine in Ukraine that killed between 3.3 and 3.9 million people. They talk about getting that film written and financed, the response to it, and how best to push back against Russian disinformation via the arts.

Mr. Jones is streaming now on Hulu and is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand why Ukraine is fighting tooth and nail against reabsorption into the nascent Russian empire. After you watch Mr. Jones, make sure to sign up for the online panel this Friday with director Agnieszka Holland, star James Norton, and the folks at the Kyiv Independent; proceeds go to support both the Independent and Ukrainian nonprofit Proliska.

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Would You Pay More to see 'The Batman'? Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, CNN media reporter Frank Pallotta returns to the show to talk about studios boycotting Russia, why AMC is charging you a little more too see The Batman (but not a little less to see Dog), and Disney’s decision to put Turning Red directly on Disney+. Plus: Oscars talk!

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The Art of Editing Feb 24, 2022

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On this week’s episode, Sonny talks to George Folsey Jr about his career as an editor. From the blaxploitation classics Black Caesar and Hammer to the great comedies of the 1970s and 1980s like Animal House and The Blues Brothers to assists on classics like Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger and cult classics like Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body, Folsey has had a hand in a number of the movies you love.

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Can a Lawsuit Against WB Slow the Streaming Tide? Feb 17, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Sonny is joined by Deadline’s Dominic Patten to talk about Village Roadshow’s lawsuit against Warner Bros. for killing the profitability of the Matrix franchise, the newly filed wrongful death suit against Alec Baldwin, and the Super Bowl’s big (but maybe not surprisingly big?) ratings. You can see Dominic’s archive here and follow him on Twitter here. And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to share it with a friend!

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How to Get Your Script on The Black List Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

On this week’s episode of The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood, Sonny Bunch is joined by John Zaozirny of literary management company Bellevue Productions. You can see John’s bona fide’s here, but his clients have written scripts set up with virtually every major studio. Bellevue has had 42 screenplays make the last seven Black Lists—an important compilation of un-produced screenplays voted on by people in the filmmaking business—and he details some of his strategies for securing those spots on this show. Sonny and John also talked about the decline of the spec script market, the difference between agents and managers, and a host of other topics. If you enjoyed the show, make sure to share it with a friend!

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