Switchblade Sisters (MaximumFun.org)

This week we have the star of Insidious: The Last Key, the wonderful and vibrant Lin Shaye. She speaks with April about the seminal horror film, The Shining. Lin discusses how it was actually Jack Nicholson who discovered her and cast her in the film that brought her to LA. She also talks about convincing the Farrelly brothers to cast her as the disgusting landlady in King Pin, working with James Wan on Insidious, and how she really is game to play any type of character. April also details the intense production of The Shining, the extreme techniques used to get the desired performance from Shelley Duvall, and the effort that went into the set design. This is a fantastic episode for all those interested in the art of acting.

Check out Lin Shaye in Insidious: The Last Key in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Shining.

With April Wolfe and Lin Shaye

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A tender, hilarious, thoughtful, and illuminating conversation with transgender actress Zoey Luna. She’s on the show to talk about Kristen Stewart’s recent nautical sci-fi film, Underwater. Zoey compares her own struggles in dealing with her mother, her abuser, and having to suppress her emotions to move forward, with the struggle of Kristen Stewart’s character in the film. Zoey also discusses how she made herself cry on the set of the upcoming The Craft remake (it was by watching a scene from The Fox and the Hound). And she reveals why she doesn’t like other people doing her hair. Zoey is a star. You will know that as soon as you hear her. Also, she says she’s a star in the episode.

You can watch Pose now to catch some of Zoey’s work.

If you haven’t seen Underwater…it’s really good!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Claire Denis’ High Life

With April Wolfe and Zoey Luna

Jennifer Kent is probably best known for directing her 2014 film, The Babadook. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014 to critical and audience acclaim, and has won over 50 international and domestic awards, including the Australian Director's Guild award for Best Director, the Australian Academy Award (AACTA) for Best Direction, Best Screenplay and Best Film, and the New York Critics Circle Awards for Best First Feature. This year now sees the release of her second feature, The Nightingale, a brutal colonial revenge tale about a woman who loses everything and joins up with an aboriginal tracker to find and inflict punishment on the men who wronged her.

The movie that Jennifer has chosen to discuss is the 1961 classic, The Innocents. Jennifer elaborates on the aspects of the film that she used as direct influence for her own films. She talks about taking the young actor Noah Wiseman to the zoo in order to prepare him for the truly horrifying scenes in The Babadook. Plus, she divulges how the misconceptions about her film The Nightingale have really hurt her personally. She tells a story about how one journalist at the Venice Film festival even called her a "whore" for directing the film. And finally, if you listen all the way through the episode, you get to hear Jennifer's impeccable impression of a Tasamanian devil.

You can see The Nightingale in select theaters now.

And if you haven't seen The Innocents yet, go watch it!

With April Wolfe and Jennifer Kent.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are elated to have the director of the new film The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Desiree Akhavan. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as a young gay teenager in the early '90's forced to attend a conversion therapy camp. Desiree's choice of film to discuss this week is Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. Desiree shares her special connection to the film and how it reminds her of her father. She is also critical of the movie, in particular the scene where Frankenstein's monster "ravages" Madeline Kahn. April and her explore how certain jokes have not aged well. Desiree discusses directing her current film; working with Chloë Grace Moretz, not making Christianity the butt of a joke, and trying to make her version of a "John Hughes film." She also bemoans the fact that American studios are totally unwilling to take any creative risks and how she had to move to London to get her TV show made.

You can see The Miseducation of Cameron Post in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Young Frankenstein

With April Wolfe with Desiree Akhavan

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This episode specializes in creepy haunted houses with potentially crazy women living inside them. And who better to have on the show than director and actor, Bridey Elliott. She's on to discuss her new film Clara's Ghost. Her film features Bridey's own mother, Paula Niedert Elliott, playing Clara, an isolated woman who begins seeing a ghost around the house. And appropriately, the film Bridey chose to discuss today is Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte starring Bette Davis. Davis' character Charlotte also believes she's seeing ghosts in her family's plantation home. These movies work well together thematically as they both touch upon paranoia, disbelief of women, and a real confusion on who is actually going crazy. Bridey talks about making her new film with her entire family, including her mother who had never acted before. She even shares a story about how she was able to shoot a scene with a naked woman walking around her childhood neighborhood. April and she also discuss the history of Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, all the behind the scenes drama, and how this is a feminist film.

Check out Clara's Ghost in theaters and streaming.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

With April Wolfe with Bridey Elliott.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by a very special guest; writer, producer, and educator Tananarive Due. For those who don’t know, Tananarive recently produced the groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. She’s also an award-winning author of several books. And she teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. This week she joins April to discuss Jordan Peele’s Us. Tananarive begins the discussion by revealing her connections to Peele, which includes several interviews with the filmmaker and writing the introduction on the Black Horror aesthetic for the annotated screenplay of Get Out. As the discussion continues, she and April thoughtfully dissect several aspects of the film. Tananarive compares her isolation of being a Black woman in a white environment to Jordan Peele’s isolation that inspired both Get Out and Us. She also examines the personalities of predators, and how they are so similar to us. And she talks about the political statement made when a director casts a dark-skinned Black woman in the leading role of a Hollywood film.

You can watch Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror streaming now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Us – c’mon, you gotta.

With April Wolfe and Tananarive Due.

Things get steamy as April talks to actress and director Sophia Takal about the somewhat problematic Brian De Palma erotic thriller, Body Double. The two discuss how the film influenced Sophia's own work and her debut film, Always Shine. Sophia recalls her time as an actress, and the objectification that came with the audition process. They also analyze the violence against women's bodies in the film and the sexuality of Melanie Griffith's character, Holly Body. Despite its issues, April and Sophia also marvel at the craftsmanship of Brian De Palma, and how this film can be used as a template for how NOT to treat female characters.

Sophia Takal's Always Shine is available on Amazon now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Body Double.

With April Wolfe and Sophia Takal

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

3 Days of the Condor

Adrienne Barbeau was born in Sacramento, California, and caught the showbiz bug while entertaining troops on Army bases in Southeast Asia as part of the San Jose Civic Light Opera. She moved to New York City in the 1960s and made her Broadway debut co-starring in Fiddler on the Roof with Bette Midler. She went on to star in more than 25 musicals and plays, originating the role of Rizzo in the Broadway production of Grease, for which she was nominated for a Tony. From 1972 to 1978, Adrienne starred in the sitcom Maude as Carol, the daughter of Bea Arthur’s character. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for that role. She also made appearances in numerous TV shows, movies of the week and game shows. In 1980 Adrienne starred in her first theatrical film, John Carpenter’s The Fog, as radio deejay Stevie Wayne. That film established her as a genre film star. She went on to star in sci fi and horror classics such as Escape from New York, Wes Craven’s Swamp Thing, and the Steven King adaptation Creep Show. She’s also starred in comedies like Canonball Run and Back to School and Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. She’s never stopped working and we’re thrilled to have her on the show with guest host Katie Walsh.

Adrienne chose to talk about 3 Days of the Condor, based on the 1974 novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady. Sidney Pollack directed the 1975 film, which was written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. and David Rayfiel.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch 3 Days of the Condor. For those of you with library cards, you can stream it for free on Kanopy.

With Katie Walsh and Adrienne Barbeau.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Our first remote recording, and it’s a spectacular one. We’re joined by director Tayarisha Poe to discuss Rian Johnson’s Brick. Tayarisha takes April step by step through the process of getting her first feature film financed and produced, Selah And The Spades. She discusses going through the Sundance Labs and taking joy from her mentors ripping her project apart. She also talks about creating a unique world in her own film, with its own original language and look, on the smallest possible budget.

You can watch Selah And The Spades on Amazon Prime on April 17th

If you haven’t seen Brick…it’s good!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge

With April Wolfe and Tayarisha Poe

Resistance to this episode is futile. This week, April talks to writer, director, and actress Marianna Palka (Good Dick, Bitch, GLOW) about the undersung Star Trek film Star Trek Generations. Marianna covers what makes this particular Star Trek film so beautiful and how it has inspired her to be a better person. She also talks about her filmmaking process and how there is no reason to be unkind and frustrated on a film set. April and Marianna also dive into the work that Marianna has done to promote awareness for Huntington's disease, a disorder that runs in her family. This is a truly fascinating episode that, of course, goes boldly where no woman has gone before.

Marianna Palka's Bitch is available on Google Play. And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Star Trek Generations. With April Wolfe and Marianna Palka You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A fascinating episode with Crystal Moselle, the director of one of the most interesting documentaries of the last decade, The Wolfpack. She’s on to discuss a film that has very little in common with her own work, at least stylistically, but one that she loves nonetheless; Jonathan Glazer’s Sexy Beast. She starts the conversation off by revealing that the protagonist of the film, the sunbaked retired gangster Gal, is her dream man. Crystal also talks about how she learned to trust her instincts after randomly approaching the subjects of The Wolfpack, the Angulo Brothers, on the streets of New York. She opens up about tackling every new creative challenge that comes her way. And lastly, Crystal discusses her newest project, HBO’s ‘Betty’ about a crew of skateboard girls in New York.

You can watch Betty on HBO now.

If you haven’t seen Sexy Beast…oooooh man it’s good!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break

With April Wolfe and Crystal Moselle

This week we are very lucky to have the prolific documentary producer Erikka Yancy on the program. The movie she chose to discuss is the beloved 1996 film Matilda. Erikka discusses her documentary career and what is like having to do research for films with such dark subject matter. She goes on to talk about having to go through footage from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and how it's still important to offer some hope in even the most depressing of films. She also elaborates on her love for the movie Matilda and how it is rooted in the fact that the parents are so mean to the main character. April and her cover the directing career of Danny Devito and the history behind his production company Jersey Films. Plus, Erikka talks about the character of Lavender, and how having the representation of a black character is so vital to her enjoyment of the film. If you love this movie, you will love this conversation.

You can watch Erikka's film Homegrown: The Counter-Terror Dilemma on HBO.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Matilda

With April Wolfe with Erikka Yancy

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Identical twins Sylvia and Jen Soska, known as The Soska Sisters, are an unstoppable force. You may know them best from their films Dead Hooker in a Trunk and American Mary. You may also know them as the hosts of the Blumhouse game show, 'Hellevator.' Or even as the writers for the most recent installment of the Black Widow comics. They are on the program this week for a very special Max Fun Drive episode talking about David Cronenberg's masterpiece, Dead Ringers. The sisters are avid Cronenberg devotees and, not to mention, this film centers around identical twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle. The pairing of guest and movie is truly a match made in heaven. The sisters also discuss what went into making their body modification horror, American Mary, and why agents and managers warn actors about working with them.

And in celebration of the Max Fun Drive, we have an additional segment this week. April talks to writer and filmmaker Michele Meek about her new book, Independent Female Filmmakers: A Chronicle Through Interviews, Profiles, and Manifestos. They discuss the travesty that not one film made by a woman is on the AFI Top 100 Films list. And how movies actually influence society's concept of consent.

This episode has a little bit of everything. And it's all in celebration of our annual Max Fun Drive. If you would like to support this show, please become a monthly member at:

maximumfun.org/donate

You should check out American Mary by The Soska Sisters.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Dead Ringers.

ALSO, go and buy Michele's book - Independent Female Filmmakers: A Chronicle Through Interviews, Profiles, and Manifestos

With April Wolfe, The Soska Sisters, and Michele Meek.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by multi-talented writer, actor, and director Ashley Nicole Black. She can most recently be seen as a regular on A Black Lady Sketch Show. And prior to that she was a writer and correspondent on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. The movie she has chosen to discuss also has its origin in the comedy world - Jordan Peele's Get Out. Ashley discusses how efficiently this film works at getting information out quickly, and how those same lessons can be applied to writing sketches. She reveals the origin of her character "The Most Annoying Woman in the World" and how it is based on the worst aspects of her personality. And she elaborates on writing jokes for black and white audiences.

You can watch A Black Lady Sketch Show on HBO.

And if you haven't seen Get Out - what's wrong with you?

With April Wolfe and Ashley Nicole Black.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

You are looking LIVE on Switchblade Sisters at Fantastic Fest. Recorded at The Highball theater at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. April welcomes one of the filmmakers from the festival, Amanda Kramer, to discuss the Rainer Werner Fassbinder masterpiece, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Amanda's film Ladyworld screened right before the recording of this episode. The day also marks her birthday! April and Amanda note that both of the films in this discussion share a similar theme of hysterical women trapped in a confined space. Amanda talks about her love of melodramatic performances and pushing her actresses to reach beyond realism. She also coins a term for her type of filmmaking: "Tamponnui." Plus, she discusses the fact that she never uses a camera, rarely bathes, and would happily be crowned "The Female Fassbinder."

Check out the trailer here for Ladyworld.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant

With April Wolfe with Amanda Kramer

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we have an emerging artist who has created a truly unique and original debut film. We have writer, director, and actor Grace Glowicki, whose debut feature Tito can now be seen on Amazon Prime. She’s calling into the show from Canada to discuss John Carpenter’s The Fog. Grace and April dissect the creativity and ingenuity that went into the creation of Carpenter’s film. And Grace relays the struggles that she had with Tito. Grace reveals that the movie was really shaped in post and that the original monsters were removed from the film entirely. She goes on to discuss other innovative solutions that occurred on set, like making a barf machine out of a beer bong. And she also speaks to fighting the urge to be a “total dictator” when it comes to creative control, and how it’s best to only be “partially a dictator.”

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Tito on Amazon Prime now.

If you haven’t seen The Fog – it’s fun!

With April Wolfe and Grace Glowicki.

Today we are so lucky to have the amazingly talented showrunner for the Facebook Watch show Sacred Lies, Raelle Tucker. Raelle is also a playwright and has written for such TV shows as Supernatural, Jessica Jones, and True Blood. The movie she has chosen to discuss today is Kill Bill (both 1 and 2). Raelle and April have a long conversation about loving this film (and other films of its ilk) despite the problematic elements that went on behind the scenes. Raelle also talks about working with the wonderful Juliette Lewis. And she details how she gets her projects off the ground.

You can watch Sacred Lies right this very minute!

And if you haven’t seen Kill Bill…what are you doing?

With April Wolfe and Raelle Tucker.

In this season of Thanksgiving, we give thanks for our wonderful guest this week. We've got the writer and producer of the new film Cam, Isa Mazzei. We're so excited about having her on the show that we dropped the episode a day early! She's on the program to talk about the much under appreciated Jennifer's Body. Isa is a former camgirl herself and discusses the expertise she brought in creating her film. She also discusses her role on set and how she needed to direct some scenes to maintain the female gaze. She and April also discuss Jennifer's Body and how it subverts the expectations of a teen comedy. They elaborate on the role of director Karyn Kusama and screenwriter Diablo Cody and the results of having an all female creative team. This a great episode and one that should be recommended to your in-laws over Thanksgiving dinner.

Check out Cam, now streaming on Netflix.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Jennifer's Body on HBO Go.

With April Wolfe with Isa Mazzei.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are joined by the wonderful director Emily Hagins (Coin Heist, Scare Package) to discuss the classic Robert Rodriguez film, The Faculty. Emily reveals that this particular film was a huge inspiration for her as it was shot in her hometown of Austin, Texas. She talks about the similarities between writing comedy and horror and how the two genres mix well together. And she and April discuss the way writing dialogue for teenage characters has changed in recent years.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Coin Heist on Netflix now.

If you haven’t seen The Faculty yet, it’s great!

With April Wolfe and Emily Hagins.

This week we are joined by the wonderful Jo Firestone. She’s a comedian, whose writing can be seen on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. You can see her in front of the camera as Sarah Connor, the doomsday prepping band teacher on Joe Pera Talks with You. Or you can hear her on Maximum Fun’s own Dr. Gameshow. But on this episode, she is here to talk about the magnificent Mars Attacks! She and April discuss the important things, like Lisa Marie’s “Sexy Alien” character, and how Jo used to want to work at Hooters. Plus, Jo talks about how a lack of funds on a project can foster a more creative environment. And, she explains the strange experience of running into The Backstreet Boys while they were dressed as chickens on The Tonight Show.

You can watch Rate The Cookie on Adult Swim now.

Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Mars Attacks! – move it!

With April Wolfe and Jo Firestone.

This week we've got the amazing creator of Syfy's 'The Magicians' - Sera Gamble. She's on to talk about the film that introduced the world to the mind of Charlie Kaufman - Being John Malkovich. Sera elaborates on her deep personal connection to the film. And admits it may have something to do with John Malkovich being her very first celebrity crush. She also takes April through the process of writing, and how often times the best way to write is by not knowing where you're going. They celebrate the performances of Cameron Diaz, John Cusack, and Catherine Keener - and also Cameron Diaz's phenomenal wig! They dissect the writing of Charlie Kaufman and how he came to create one of the most unique screenplays of all time. Sera connects the lessons she's learned from this film to her own work, and how she takes great pleasure in making the audience squirm.

The Magicians is on Syfy now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Being John Malkovich

With April Wolfe and Sera Gamble.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the incredibly talented writer Mary Laws. You may know Mary from writing the screenplay for Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon or from her work on the show Succession. But most recently Mary has created and executive produced the new Hulu anthology series Monsterland. In this episode, Mary joins guest host Katie Walsh to discuss Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. She and Katie do not stray away from the controversy surrounding Polanski, and both of them try to tackle and reconcile with the fact that they both find this movie hugely inspirational. Mary reveals how this very film motivated her to move away from the normal three-act structure. She also elaborates on why she loves working in the horror genre and how it allows for more creative freedom. Plus, Mary also covers her stint as a writer on HBO’s Succession and the differences between writing for theater and film.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Monsterland on Hulu now.

If you haven’t seen Repulsion yet – it’s very good.

And if you want to listen to our Rosemary’s Baby episode, click HERE.

With Katie Walsh and Mary Laws.

This week we're very lucky to have the director of A24's new film Never Goin' Back, Augustine Frizzell. She's on the show to talk with April Wolfe about the Coen Brothers' The Big Lebowski. April and her discuss the friendship on screen between Jeff Bridge's character 'The Dude' and John Goodman's 'Walter', and how that relationship is the emotional center of the film. Augustine relates this to the friendship she crafted in her film, and how writing for those characters was walking a fine line between pathetic and endearing. They also compare these two films in terms of capturing the essence of a city; Los Angeles for The Big Lebowski and Dallas for Never Goin' Back. Plus, Augustine has a pretty fascinating story of how she came to filmmaking after being a broke, single Mom at the age of eighteen. And she explains how those life experiences helped shape her debut film.

You can see Never Goin' Back in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Big Lebowski

With April Wolfe with Augustine Frizzell

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

It’s the perfect week to call upon the collected power of a coven. This is why we are delighted to have as a guest, the director of The Craft: Legacy, Zoe Lister-Jones. She’s on the show to talk about a new classic, Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook. Zoe discusses making her first “genre” film and grounding the film in emotional truth. She even reveals that she drew inspiration for the script from being raised by her single mother and having to interact with the men that her mother brought home. Zoe also talks about her terror of “Men’s Rights Activists” and how that influenced The Craft: Legacy. She elaborates on how her experience as an actor has helped her directing career and admits that, as an actor, we “can be difficult.” Plus, Zoe hammers home the importance of earning the trust of every person working on set or else, as she states, “you’re fucked.”

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch The Craft: Legacy on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen The Babadook – c’mon!

With April Wolfe and Zoe Lister-Jones.

Heather Buckley is a grand maester of film and horror. The first feature she produced, Jenn Wexler’s The Ranger, for Glass Eye Pix and Hood River Entertainment, premiered at SXSW and played numerous festivals on an international run before it was released in NYC and LA. Heather’s work as a film analyst and journalist spans over a decade, with bylines in Vulture, Dread Central, and Fangoria. Her background in SFX work includes: Circus of the Dead, Dead Still, and We Are Still Here. She is currently a Blu-Ray special features producer, creating documentaries for Kino Lorber, Lionsgate/Vestron, Arrow Films and Shout Factory releases, including John Carpenter's The Thing, Barton Fink, The Long Riders, Saw 10th Anniversary Reissue, and Army of Darkness.

The movie that Heather chose this week is a real doozy - Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Heather talks about how she believes it's one of the most important films ever made. She discusses how this film forces the audience to root for violence. She elaborates on the fact that this movie has no moral center, and how it's the audience's job to gauge morality. And she and April also discuss the controversy this film sparked upon release and why the movie was initially difficult to get a hold of.

You can see Heather's work all over the place. Plus, you can watch The Ranger on Shudder.

And if you haven't seen Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer yet, be careful.

With April Wolfe and Heather Buckley.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the amazing author and producer Mallory O’Meara. Some may know her as one of the hosts of the Maximum Fun podcast Reading Glasses. But she is here today to talk about 2020’s sea shanty bonanza, Blow the Man Down. She and April get into the nitty-gritty of the creative process and discuss why some projects take longer to correctly finish. Mallory also talks about what brought her to writing her book The Lady from the Black Lagoon about Milicent Patrick, “the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood’s classic movie monsters.” Mallory also hammers home that women are not just joining the cultural conversation after #MeToo, but have always been there, contributing to history.

Listen to Reading Glasses and check out Mallory’s book The Lady from the Black Lagoon

Please check out storyblocks.com/SWITCHBLADE

Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Blow the Man Down – it’s great!

With April Wolfe and Mallory O’Meara.

We are joined by the multi-hyphenate, uber-talented writer, actor, director, producer Sujata Day. You may know her best from her role as Sarah on Insecure. But she also recently wrote, directed, and starred in her debut feature Definition Please, about a former spelling bee champion who must reconcile with her family and her past. She joins Katie Walsh to discuss Brian De Palma’s severely underrated Sisters. Katie and Sujata gush over the “bonkers” quality of the film. But Sujata goes further and points to De Palma’s use of split-screens and imaginative filmmaking techniques that directly inspired her work. Sujata also discusses scrappy filmmaking (she shot her film in two weeks), utilizing Indian music, and having complete creative control over low-budget projects.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Sisters – it’s great!

With Katie Walsh and Sujata Day.

We recorded this episode back in February and have been anxiously waiting to release it since. On this week’s episode, we had the good fortune to talk with one of the greatest directors of the 21st century, Kelly Reichardt. She is on to discuss the obscure 1967 French film, Pillaged. She also discusses her newest film, First Cow. Kelly takes April through the adaptation process and explains how she made First Cow a unique story from the novel. She also chats about making westerns and utilizing the tropes of the genre. Kelly is a true master of cinema, but she’s also genuinely hilarious. This is one of our most entertaining episodes and one you should not miss.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch First Cow on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen Pillaged, you can watch this crappy version on YouTube.

With April Wolfe and Kelly Reichardt

This is a truly fascinating and unique episode of Switchblade Sisters. The phenomenal Austrian director Jessica Hausner joins April to talk about M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit. But unlike any previous episode of Switchblade Sisters, Jessica had never seen The Visit and had to turn it off halfway through because she was too frightened! Nonetheless, this is a deeply insightful conversation that covers her personal philosophy of precise filmmaking, working with child actors, and her new sci-fi film starring Emily Beecham and Ben Whishaw called Little Joe, which won Best Actress for Beecham at the Cannes Film Festival and was in competition for the Palme d’Or.

Little Joe is in theaters and streaming on December 6.

And if you haven’t seen The Visit…you should!

With April Wolfe and Jessica Hausner.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

This is a special episode because one of our guests is an actual baby. The other guest is her mother; actor, writer, and director Alice Lowe. You may recognize Alice from her acting work in any number of things; Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers (which she co-wrote), Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Hot Fuzz, The IT Crowd, and many others. But she’s also a director, and wrote, directed, and starred in 2016’s Prevenge. She’s on the show today, calling in from London, to talk about the undersung 1984 fantasy, The Company of Wolves. She and April discuss making independent films and not limiting your imagination just because you’re doing things differently. They chat about the writer Angela Carter and utilizing dream logic. Plus, Alice hammers home the importance of not eliminating the tragic elements from fairy tales.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Alice most recently in Dark Encounter on Prime.

Or check out her feature Prevenge on Shudder.

If you haven’t seen The Company of Wolves, you simply must.

With April Wolfe and Alice Lowe.

A Maximum Fun crossover extravaganza! ‘The JV Club’ host Janet Varney joins host Katie Walsh to discuss the forgotten 1985 fantasy epic, Ladyhawke. Janet and Katie obsess over the score and insane romanticism of the film. Plus, Janet talks about the use of sincerity in her own work and navigating social media interactions.

If you haven’t seen Ladyhawke…good luck!

With Katie Walsh and Janet Varney.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week’s episode is truly one of our most powerful…and, of course, the film being discussed is Jackass: The Movie. April is joined by cinematographer and director Kirsten Johnson, recording from her closet in New York City. Kirsten has so many poignant and beautiful observations about pain, the body, life, and death. And she somehow connects it all back to Jackass and her latest film Dick Johnson Is Dead. In her latest film, Kirsten explores mortality and the impending death of her ailing father by staging him in a series of comical fake death scenes. Throughout the course of the episode, discussing this film allows April to open up about the recent passing of her own grandfather who raised her. This episode is funny, touching, heartening, life-affirming, and incredibly gripping. Share it with a loved one.

You can watch Dick Johnson Is Dead on Netflix now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Jackass: The Movie – c’mon, you gotta.

With April Wolfe and Kirsten Johnson.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off

We have the wonderful director of the new neo-noir Stray Dolls on the program, Sonejuhi Sinha. She’s calling in from New York to talk about a very Los Angeles movie – Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive. Sonejuhi talks all about subverting the typical noir leading man with a female protagonist of color. She discusses creating a “mysterious city” for her film to take place in, much like the movie Drive. Plus, she elaborates on her obsession with motels. And she reveals why she sets a timer to write for 90 minutes.

You can watch Stray Dolls on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen Drive…get on it!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Alice Winocour’s Disorder

With April Wolfe and Sonejuhi Sinha

We have another fantastic director calling in, all the way from Australia. This week we’ve got Babyteeth director Shannon Murphy on to discuss Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers. Shannon talks about the use of music in Korine’s film and how she used music when directing Killing Eve. She discusses motivating her actors to take interesting risks in their performances. She also chats about casting Ben Mendelsohn against type. And she reveals how she obsessively stalked a band until they gave her the rights to their song.

You can watch Babyteeth on VOD June 19th.

If you haven’t seen Spring Breakers…check it out!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here

With April Wolfe and Shannon Murphy

This week we are joined by the phenomenal writer and director Zeina Durra. She’s on the program to discuss Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger. Zeina elaborates on how this film influenced her latest movie Luxor. She goes on to discuss the production of her most recent movie, shooting in Egypt, and how cigarette breaks almost sabotaged her production schedule. Zeina also chats about her research in making the film, interviewing nurses on the Jordanian/ Syrian border and hearing the horrific, literal “Sophie’s Choice” situations that women face in the region. Lastly, she talks about showing The Passenger to her children and how Disney has destroyed their movie palettes.

Luxor is available on Digital and On Demand December 4th.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen The Passenger – you should!

With April Wolfe and Zeina Durra.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

On this week's episode we have the legendary horror actress Barbara Crampton. You may know her from a number of classic horror/thrillers; Re-Animator, Body Double, From Beyond, and many others. She sits down with April to discuss last year's best french, veterinary school, cannibal film, Raw. Barbara regales April with stories from her prolific acting career, working with Brian De Palma, and eschewing the 'Scream Queen' title. She dives deep on what it takes to motivate her as an actor. Plus, they cover Barbara's thoughts on the use of sex and nudity in horror films.

Check out Barbara Crampton's work in From Beyond, Re-Animator, and most recently Beyond The Gates.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Raw.

With April Wolfe and Barbara Crampton

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

It is the return of one of our all-time favorite guests; writer, actor, director, and ‘Reading Glasses’ host, Brea Grant. She’s on the show this week to talk about 2002’s May, a movie described by April Wolfe as a spiritual prequel to Brea’s latest film, 12 Hour Shift. Brea discusses expediting the exposition in her film, Lucky, and how she pitched it by describing one specific scene; a wife wakes up to find a murderer in her house. She wakes her husband who says, “Of course he’s here, that’s the man that tries to kill us everyday.”

May and 12 Hour Shift also happen to share the same lead actress, Angela Bettis. Brea describes what a dream she was to work with, and how she even helped the crew wrap the set on the final night of shooting. Brea talks about the expressiveness of the human face, and how one DP on the set of Heroes showed her how much her face takes up the screen, changing her acting forever. And lastly, Brea describes how David Arquette brought a donkey to set to raise spirits, and it did just that!

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch 12 Hour Shift on October 2nd.

If you haven’t seen May yet – it’s great!

With April Wolfe and Brea Grant.

This week we have on the phenomenal writer of this year's The Post, Liz Hannah, to talk about Jonathan Demme's classic The Silence of the Lambs. Liz delves into her process and how she became a first time screenwriter with her script for The Post. She discusses the amazing talent of Meryl Streep, the story of Washington Post owner Kay Graham, and what it was like collaborating with Steven Spielberg. Plus, April and her dissect everything that makes The Silence of the Lambsa masterpiece. They discuss Anthony Hopkins performance (he only blinks once in the movie), the amazing craftsmanship of director Jonathan Demme, and the groundbreaking character of Clarice Starling played by Jodie Foster.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Silence of the Lambs on HBO Go.

Also, you can still see The Post in theaters.

With April Wolfe and Liz Hannah

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky to be joined by the phenomenal director of the new film She’s Missing, Alexandra McGuinness. She’s on the program to talk about the aptly chosen movie, Otto Preminger’s Bunny Lake Is Missing. Alexandra discusses the significance of making films in foreign places. She elaborates on unintentionally making her work personal. And she chats about her love of collaborating with inexperienced actors – especially child actors who correct Josh Hartnett when he doesn’t remember a line.

You can watch She’s Missing on streaming now.

And if you haven’t seen Bunny Lake Is Missing…do it now!

With April Wolfe and Alexandra McGuinness.

Ladies and gentlemen, Katie Walsh is back in the booth. She’s joined by the wonderful writer, actor, and host Clarke Wolfe to talk about Scream. This is a truly in depth analysis of the film by two bonafide “Scream heads.” Plus, Katie and Clarke examine how prescient this film was with its criticism of incels, the feminization of young men, and the prediction of Columbine. Scream has layers!

If you haven’t seen Scream…run don’t walk to see it.

With Katie Walsh and Clarke Wolfe.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the wonderful director, Rachel Lee Goldenberg, to discuss the “perfect film,” Thelma & Louise. Her movie choice is actually a direct inspiration for her latest movie, HBO Max’s Unpregnant. That film stars Haley Lu Richardson as a teenage girl who needs to get across state lines to get an abortion, and the only person she can turn to for help is her weird ex-best friend. In this episode, Rachel elaborates on the joy of working with Haley Lu, and how she would sometimes get so deep into character that she would get lost. Rachel explains her storyboarding process by quoting the great Werner Herzog: “Storyboards are for cowards.” Plus, Rachel describes her time making films for the Roger Corman-Esque studio ‘The Asylum,’ and how it honed her ability to come up with big ideas on a small budget.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Unpregnant on HBO Max now.

If you haven’t seen Thelma & Louise yet – it’s great!

With April Wolfe and Rachel Lee Goldenberg.

We have traveled through the mirror and everything is backwards and evil! April has become the guest on her own show! That’s right, Katie Walsh is taking over the reigns as host and speaking to our “intrepid leader” about John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness. April discusses writing and working on her new film Black Christmas. Plus, you can hear her examine the relationship between cosmic horror, religion, and misogyny!

Black Christmas is in theaters in wide release on December Friday the 13th.

And if you haven’t seen Prince of Darkness…get on it!

With April Wolfe and Katie Walsh.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a great episode this week with our first pair of sisters - Lizzie and Wendy Molyneux. The 'Bob's Burgers' writers/producers are on to discuss the Danny Boyle film, 28 Days Later. They elaborate on what goes into a storyline for Bob's Burgers, staying true to the format of the show, and seeing Tina Belcher in real life. Plus they explore what makes 28 Days Later such a classic; Cillian Murphy's performance, the introduction of the "fast" zombie, and the humanity behind the film. The sisters also make a case for adopting children during a zombie outbreak. This is a must listen episode for people interested in the process of writing comedic television.

Bob's Burgers is on Fox now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch 28 Days Later

With April Wolfe and Lizzie Molyneux & Wendy Molyneux.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Recorded LIVE at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, this show has a little bit of everything - special guests, witchcraft, and a stuffed animal version of Black Phillip. Mattie Do, Laos's first, and only, female film director, is our special guest. And she's on the show to talk about 2015's The Witch. She details her own personal connection to magic and witchcraft, and how this film influenced the look and feel of her own horror-folk film, The Long Walk. She and April are also joined by Tigers Are Not Afraid director Issa López to help decide which member of the audience gets to sell their soul to the devil.

You can see Mattie's film The Long Walk on the film festival circuit.

You can see Issa's film Tigers Are Not Afraid on Shudder.

And if you haven't seen The Witch, you simply must!

With April Wolfe, Mattie Do, and Issa López .

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We have royalty on this week's episode. We are graced by the presence of Kiwi Smith, writer of 10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, She's the Man, The House Bunny, and so many more. She's on the show to talk about a VERY different film from her own work - Bob Rafelson's 1987 neo-noir, Black Widow. Kiwi gushes over the obsessive relationship between Debra Winger and Theresa Russell's characters. She discusses having to change the ending of Legally Blonde several times. And she talks about how she physically mailed pages to her writing partner during the writing of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Watch Kiwi's show, Trinkets, streaming on Netflix now.

And if you haven't seen Black Widow, you simply must!

With April Wolfe and Kiwi Smith.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We've got a huge episode this week. Actress, writer, director Heather Graham sits down with April to talk about the salacious Fatal Attraction. The two of them discuss relating to Glenn Close's character, even though she is technically the villain. Heather elaborates on her experience directing her debut feature, Half Magic. She discusses getting the movie made, the inspiration behind it, and how she decided to include a "vagina empowerment" class in the film. She also dives into her acting career; being directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and David Lynch, working with a ton of men who have been accused of sexual harassment, and finding her desire to direct. Plus, Drea Clark stops by to talk with April about the MaxFunDrive.

You can see Half Magic on all digital platforms.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Fatal Attraction

With April Wolfe and Heather Graham

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got fellow Maximum Funster, podcast host of Reading Glasses, actor, writer, and director, Brea Grant. She has chosen, maybe, one of the most fun and fascinating movies we've discussed on the show, 1982's cult classic, Basket Case. The story follows a young man named Duayne, who keeps his formerly conjoined, mutant brother Belial in a picnic basket. Duayne and Belial move to New York in order to seek out and murder the doctors who surgically separated them. A truly lovely tale that April and Brea fully dissect. They go in depth on what makes this gritty, New York classic just so memorable; the commitment of the actors, the gore, and the execution of the ridiculous concept. Brea also details the life of a working actress. She explains the struggle of acting in a movie that never gets released, returning clothes for an audition to the store, and always carrying around a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This is a truly fun episode that touches upon the honorable practice of making art for the sake of making it.

Dead Night stars Brea Grant and former Switchblade Sisters guest Barbara Crampton. It is streaming now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch on Basket Case

With April Wolfe with Brea Grant

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

If you listen to this episode you don't have to go to film school. Our guest this week is Daisy von Scherler Mayer. You may know her best for her "debut tour de force" Party Girl. She is a prolific television director who has worked on everything from Mad Men to Orange Is The New Black. The movie she has chosen to talk about this week is one of her favorite films, Bob Fosse's All That Jazz. Daisy takes April through exactly how this film has influenced her life, and even names specific scenes she has stolen from the movie (a practice she heartily encourages for film students). Daisy does a wonderful job of explaining how she speaks to actors and creates a supportive environment for them. This episode is also particularly enlightening as Daisy and April really get into the creative process and the emotional rollercoaster it can be. She also discusses the genius of Bob Fosse and how he was able to create a "perfect film." This episode is required listening for anyone who wants to be filmmaker. Take notes during this one.

Check out the trailer for Party Girl.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch All That Jazz.

With April Wolfe with Daisy von Scherler Mayer.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Mitzi Peirone was born and raised in Turin, Italy. After high school Peirone left Italy to study theater in New York City at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She ended up writing and directing a short film called “Chaosmos,” and directing another short called “Versperlings” while she geared up for a feature. The screenplay for Braid rapidly became her main focus, and in 2016 Peirone partnered up with entrepreneur Joseph Lubin to create a new business model to finance her film, which became the first one ever to be fully financed through a cryptocurrency equity crowdsale. The sale raised 1.7 million dollars in two weeks. The film premiered at Tribeca in 2018 and won Best Picture at the Lausanne Underground Film Festival. Braid, which tells the story of two women who decide to rob their wealthy psychotic friend - but must participate in the friend’s perverse game of make believe, received worldwide distribution via Blue Fox Entertainment. Mitzi then signed with ICM, and her next directorial effort is a sci-fi thriller set in a tech-apocalypse, starring Bella Thorne.

The movie Mitzi chose to discuss this week is a real mind bender - 2001's cult classic, Donnie Darko. Part of the reason that Mitzi loves this film is that, much like her own movie Braid, it can be hard to tell what is real and what is imagined. She discusses her unusual fundraising technique for the movie which involved a cryptocurrency equity crowdsale. Mitzi also emphasizes the need for filmmakers not to concern themselves with whether the audience will completely understand their vision. Plus, she talks at length about her belief that there is no difference between reality and dreams - a conversation that makes April's brain explode.

You can see Braid streaming now.

And if you haven't seen Donnie Darko yet, go watch it!

With April Wolfe and Mitzi Peirone.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week is a fantastical episode of Switchblade Sisters where April sits down with director Issa Lopez to discuss the influential Guillermo Del Toro film, Pan's Labyrinth. Issa opens up about her lonesome adolescence, the death of her mother, and how these events influenced her work. She tells April about the emotional process of working with children on her most recent film, the fantasy-horror Tigers Are Not Afraid. And she also discusses the culture of witchcraft and magic in Mexico and how that pervades many Mexican artist's work.

Keep an eye out for Issa López's most recent film Tigers Are Not Afraid.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Pan's Labyrinth.

With April Wolfe and Issa Lopez

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we have the director of the new drama Sadie, Seattle's own Megan Griffiths. The genre film that she has chosen to discuss is Terry Gilliam's weirdo time travel movie 12 Monkeys. Megan and April really get into the ins and outs of working in independent cinema; from the casting to achieving control on set. Megan discusses how she and Terry Gilliam have the similarity of not working within the Hollywood system; Gilliam living in London while Megan lives in Seattle. She elaborates on her new movie Sadie and shooting in a trailer park with Melanie Lynskey. April and she also cover shooting nudity and the need for the actors to be completely comfortable. This is a great conversation that proves you don't have to work within the confines of Hollywood in order to be a successful filmmaker.

Check out the trailer for Sadie which is in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch 12 Monkeys

With April Wolfe with Megan Griffiths.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week, the wonderful Katie Walsh returns to chat with director Emma Tammi. Emma is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles, whose most recent documentary films include Election Day and Fair Chair. She made her narrative feature directorial debut with the Western horror movie The Wind, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, and was released in April by IFC Midnight.

The movie that Emma has chosen to discuss shares a number of similarities to her own lonely-haunted-woman film - Alfred Hitchcock's sole Best Picture winner, Rebecca. She and Katie discuss all of the masterful aspects of the movie - the mood, the set, the acting, the lighting. Emma shares how many of these attributes inspired her decisions on The Wind. Plus, Katie reveals some hilariously volatile memos between producer David O. Selznick and Alfred Hitchcock. And Emma talks about her all-time favorite Hitchcock films, and what makes him such a genius.

You can stream The Wind now.

And if you haven't seen Rebecca yet, run - DON'T WALK! - to see it.

With Katie Walsh and Emma Tammi.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Allison Anders is an award-winning screenwriter, film and television director who was born in Kentucky and raised in LA. She attended film school at UCLA, where she co-directed the 1987 feature film Border Radio. Her first solo feature film, starring Fairuza Balk and Ione Skye, Gas Food Lodging premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992, and earned her Independent Spirit Award Nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay. She went on to write and direct the feature films Mi vida loca, Grace of My Heart, and Sugar Town, as well as Things Behind the Sun, for which she won a Peabody award. She’s directed episodes of Sex and the City, Orange Is the New Black, Southland, Riverdale, Murder in the First and recently Sorry for Your Loss.

The movie that Allison has chosen to discuss is a deep cut, but a good one. It's the moody, horror, thriller Night Tide. Allison discusses her early fascination with the film and how it keeps re-emerging in her life. She elaborates on the beginning of her career, and how it really spawned from deeply stalking Wim Wenders. Allison talks at length about the move from independent features to directing television. And she has an amazing story of helping Harry Dean Stanton cultivate his character on Paris, Texas with a poem she wrote after having a catatonic episode.

If you haven't seen any of Allison's films, Gas Food Lodging is a great place to start.

And go watch Night Tide too, while you're at it.

With Katie Walsh and Allison Anders.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This episode begins with a very important announcement from our host April Wolfe about the future of Switchblade Sisters. But as far as guests go, this week we are joined by the phenomenal writer and director Nora Unkel. Her latest feature, A Nightmare Wakes, explores the personal turmoil of writer Mary Shelley. This is so appropriate because the movie she chose to discuss this week is James Whale’s classic, Bride of Frankenstein. Nora begins the conversation by elaborating on how Whale’s movie directly inspired her latest film. She also talks about having to ignore what is currently popular in modern cinema in order to pursue the projects she’s most excited about. And lastly, she and April dissect the gay undertones of the film, from director James Whale’s influence to the “archetypical Queen” Dr. Pretorius.

You can see A Nightmare Wakes on Shudder.

Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Bride of Frankenstein – it’s fun!

With April Wolfe and Nora Unkel.

What a FANTABULOUS episode this is! We have the magnificent Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey, on to talk all about Mad Max: Fury Road. Cathy discusses what it’s like making her own standalone film in a “sequalized environment.” She elaborates on the function of using practical effects and stunts. And she discusses working with Margot Robbie and further developing Harley Quinn’s character.

You can watch Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn in theaters on February 7th.

And if you haven’t seen Mad Max: Fury Road…what?

With April Wolfe and Cathy Yan.

Julia Hart was a school teacher for eight years before she quit to make a go of screenwriting. Her debut screenplay, The Keeping Room, landed on the 2012 Black List and was made into a feature directed by Daniel Barber (Harry Brown) and starring Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld and Sam Worthington. Julia's directorial debut, Miss Stevens, is based on Julia’s experience as a teacher. It starred Lily Rabe, Timothee Chalamet, Lili Reinhart, and Rob Huebel.

In 2018, Julia’s second feature, Fast Color, debuted at SXSW. It tells the story of a family of women afflicted/blessed with a mysterious power and stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lorraine Toussaint, and David Straithairn. Most recently, Julia directed and co-wrote (with Jordan Horowitz) Star Girlfor Disney, starring Grace Vanderwall and based on the best-selling book by Jerry Spinelli.

Although Julia only recently saw One False Move, she was shocked at how thematically similar her film Fast Color compares to it. She and April discuss the use of violence in cinema, and how a filmmaker can make it have an emotional impact on the audience. Julia also reveals how she rewrites her scripts once the films have been cast in order to tailor the role to the actor. And she and April also adulate the performance and career of the late, great Bill Paxton.

You should check out Fast Color in theaters on April 19.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch One False Move.

With April Wolfe and Julia Hart.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Much like Queen Latifah's character, Cleo, April is also about to SET IT OFF...with this interview! Director Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned, Insecure, Dear White People, Queen Sugar) is on this week's episode to discuss the 1996 bank heist classic. Tina goes in depth on her history with the film and how much Queen Latifah's character meant to her growing up. She also discusses her directing techniques for getting through emotional scenes, growing up in the south, and why her cinematographer refused a helicopter shot on her debut feature Mississippi Damned.

Check out Tina Mabry's TV work on Queen Sugar, Insecure, and Dear White People. Also check out her feature Mississippi Damned

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Set It Off.

With April Wolfe and Tina Mabry

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the wonderful writer, director, producer, and actor Gillian Wallace Horvat. She sits down with host Katie Walsh to discuss Gus Van Sant’s classic, To Die For. Rarely has a movie chosen by a guest better fit with their own work than with this film and Gillian’s latest, I Blame Society. Gillian begins the discussion by drawing parallels between the two movies, both about psychotic women who do not let anyone get in the way of their desires. Gillian elaborates on how gatekeepers and the invisible barriers to the film industry inspired her film. She also talks about her friendship with To Die For screenwriter Buck Henry and how they became lunch buddies. And lastly, Gillian reveals a conspiracy theory about To Die For that involves witchcraft.

You can see I Blame Society on VOD February 12th

Please call in to leave your message for the finale episode: 818-962-0286

Also, please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen To Die For – move it!

With Katie Walsh and Gillian Wallace Horvat.

We have the magnificent director Maggie Levin (Blumhouse’s Into the Dark: My Valentine, Miss 2059) on the show to discuss Joel Schumacher’s vampire-classic, The Lost Boys. Maggie and April chat about making genre films on a shoestring budget. Maggie takes us through the laborious and often entertaining process of the “name clearance phase” of filmmaking. And she emphasizes the necessity of talented actors to make a quality film.

You can watch Into the Dark: My Valentine on Hulu now.

And if you haven’t seen The Lost Boys…get to it!

With April Wolfe and Maggie Levin.

We are joined by a truly thoughtful and talented writer, Olivia Dufault. You may know her work from writing on the shows Legion and Preacher. But she also has a new movie out called The True Adventures of Wolfboy, about a young “Wolfboy” who is on the lam in search of his estranged mother. Olivia is on the show this week to talk about a similarly fantastical film, The City of Lost Children. She and April dive deep into the human elements of the movie, as well as the freedom that comes with working in genre cinema. Olivia also talks about the relationship between writing the script and actually realizing the crazy things the writer wrote. And she reveals the importance of strange-looking actors and reclaiming the word “freak.”

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch The True Adventures of Wolfboy on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen The City of Lost Children – it’s wonderful!

With Olivia Dufault and Olivia Dufault.

We are joined this week by the director of the 2018 horror, The Ranger, Jenn Wexler. You may remember previous guest Heather Buckley, who was a producer on the film, discussing Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Well, Jenn has chosen an equally challenging film, Abel Ferrara’s Ms .45. She and April discuss what it means to portray sexual violence on the screen, and the effect it has on the viewer. They also chat about making low budget indie films and the importance of creating your own film community.

You can watch The Ranger on Shudder now.

And if you haven’t seen Ms .45…it’s fantastic.

If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchblade

With April Wolfe and Jenn Wexler.

In a spectacular new episode, director Martha Coolidge (Real Genius, Valley Girl, Rambling Rose) joins April to discuss Howard Hawks' The Big Sleep. The two of them dissect the film: the amazing script by Leigh Brackett and William Faulkner, the electric chemistry between Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and the masterful directing of Howard Hawks. Plus Martha relays some truly remarkable stories from her celebrated career, including the time the producers on one of her movies secretly cast a prostitute in her film. She also talks about discovering Nicolas Cage for Valley Girl, her work as the DGA president, and screening a film for Princess Diana. This episode is a wild one.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Big Sleep

With April Wolfe and Martha Coolidge

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Our debut episode drops this Thursday!

Make sure to subscribe where ever you listen to podcasts.

On the upcoming premiere episode, April Wolfe (lead film critic at LA Weekly) sits down with the writer and producer of The Big Sick, Emily Gordon. The genre film Emily chooses to discuss is the 2015, horror-western, Bone Tomahawk. Emily highlights the things she loves about the film; the crazy violence, the heartbreaking monologues, the beautiful cinematography. Plus, she also discusses what challenges and joys she encountered in the making ofThe Big Sick.

That's just a taste of what's to come. Some other upcoming guests include Karyn Kusama (Jennifer's Body, The Invitation) Heather Matarazzo (Welcome to the Dollhouse, The Princess Diaries) and Issa Lopez (Tigers Are Not Afraid).

The first episode of Switchblade Sisters arrives this Thursday, November 9th.

You can check us out on @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week director Ramaa Mosley (The Brass Teapot, Tatterdemalion) stops by to discuss George Miller's The Witches of Eastwick. If you're looking for an in depth discussion on making independent feature films, this is a must listen for you. Ramaa opens up about the difficulties and rewards of creating your own movie - from fighting for what you need, to learning how to push back against producers interference, to working with actors. Plus, she discusses the influence that The Witches of Eastwick has had on her as an artist. April and Ramaa praise Jack Nicholson's performance as the devilish Daryl Van Horne, the masterful directing of George Miller, and the powerful women (Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer) that drive the film.

Ramaa's latest film is Tatterdemalion

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Witches of Eastwick

With April Wolfe and Ramaa Mosley

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky because – A). We have Claire Kiechel, writer for Watchmen and The OA, on the show this week. And B). She’s discussing Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, which is technically a Christmas movie! She and April elaborate on all the things that make this film magical – the production design, the world building, the performances. Plus, we get a peek inside the writer’s room of Watchmen and hear Claire dissect the motivations of characters like Dr. Manhattan and Angela Abar.

The entire first season of Watchmen is available on HBO now.

And if you haven’t seen Brazil…why?

With April Wolfe and Claire Kiechel.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got director Jen McGowan (Rust Creek, Kelly & Cal) on the program to discuss Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin. Jen takes April deep into the world of filmmaking as she discusses the concept of "process dictating product." They examine the differences between making films in Europe and the US. They break down the genius of Jonathan Glazer and the exact steps he took to complete this film. Jen explains what it's like pitching as a director for hire. Plus, she and April dissect Scarlett Johansson's risky performance and how she's both sexy and scary at the same time.

You can see Rust Creek in limited theaters and VOD on January 4th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Under the Skin on Netflix.

With April Wolfe and Jen McGowan.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are joined by the fabulous actor Celeste O’Connor to dissect Boots Riley’s new classic, Sorry to Bother You. Celeste and April discuss the risks that Tessa Thompson took by doing this particular movie, and how Celeste felt they were taking a similar risk in accepting the role of Nyla in Freaky. Celeste also covers larger topics like expanding beyond stereotypical Black representation in film, and how they are so tired of being offered “slave roles.” Celeste elaborates on this point and has a lot to say about telling stories about Black people that don’t just cover their own personal trauma. Plus, Celeste talks about their time making Freaky, hitting (and hurting) another actor in the head with a prop frying pan, and the joy of working with Vince Vaughn.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Freaky in select theaters now.

If you haven’t seen Sorry to Bother You – you should!

With April Wolfe and Celeste O’Connor.

Please you promo code: Switchblade at kittypooclub.com for 20% off.

This week we’ve been graced by a legend. An actor who can be seen in such films as Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Near Dark, and Titanic – the one and only Jenette Goldstein. She’s on the show to talk about Panos Cosmatos’ heavy metal, psycho-horror, Mandy. Jenette speaks about her career as a character actor and working with James Cameron. She also discusses digging deep for emotional scenes and reveals the secret to crying on camera.

If you haven’t seen Mandy…buckle up.

And if you’re interested in Jenette Bras, head on over to jenettebras.com.

If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchblade

With April Wolfe and Jenette Goldstein.

Just in time for record freezing temperatures, this week April talks to Pitch Perfect 3 director Trish Sie about Bong Joon-ho's frozen feature, Snowpiercer. They discuss the amazing performance of Tilda Swinton as the authoritative Mason, the commanding directorial style of Bong Joon-ho, and the train car on the Snowpiercer they'd most like to spend time in. Trish also talks about getting her start directing the famous OK GO "treadmill video" for the song 'Here It Goes Again' and what it's like taking over an existing franchise with Pitch Perfect 3. She also shares some fascinating tidbits about the eating habits of polar bears.

Trish Sie's Pitch Perfect 3 is in theaters now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Snowpiercer.

With April Wolfe and Trish Sie

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are joined by a truly magnetic and unique voice in filmmaking, director/writer/actor Isabel Sandoval. She calls in from New York to discuss the film noir classic, Double Indemnity. Isabel has so much to cover on the craft of filmmaking. She discusses the power of the human face as a tool for storytelling, and why it so often leaves dialogue superfluous. She and April dissect Isabel’s latest film, Lingua Franca, and why all of her film’s center around women. Isabel also reveals her feelings on the current state of Filipino cinema, and why she wants to stay away from her films being labeled “poverty porn.” And lastly, Isabel shares her ultimate goal for her career; for her films to be considered their own film genre.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

You can watch Lingua Franca on Netflix now.

If you haven’t seen Double Indemnity yet – it’s great!

With April Wolfe and Isabel Sandoval.

On today's episode, we're talking about the movie for which the masses have been clamoring. That's right, we've got comedian Emily Heller on to talk about The Mask. Emily is a stand-up comedian, but also an actor and Emmy nominated writer. She's written for 'Crowded', 'People of Earth', and most recently 'Barry.' On this episode, she gives April an inside look of what it is like to be in a writer's room. She discusses how she got started as a TV writer, what she did to get hired, and what kind of pilot's people are looking to read. She and April also dive right into the mixed messages of The Mask and how the movie is basically one giant meme. This is a hilarious episode and one not to be missed. Some would say it's "SMOKIN'!" (Sorry).

Check out Emily's new stand-up album, Pasta, which is out November 19th.

Also check out Emily's podcast on Maximum Fun, Baby Geniuses.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Mask on HBO Go.

With April Wolfe with Emily Heller.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week's episode was recorded LIVE at Resident in downtown LA, as a part of The Voyager Institute's lecture series. So you may hear some noises in the background that you're not normally accustomed to - audience members laughing, drinks being made, and people having the best night of their lives! We have on the program the co-creator of Lifetime's 'UnREAL', Sarah Gertrude Shapiro. She's on to talk about the beloved, 90's, goth-inspiring masterpiece, The Craft. April and Sarah discuss their love for the campiness of the film and the perfect casting of Fairuza Balk as the evil teenage witch, Nancy. Sarah also elaborates on what it is like running a TV show. She dives into the challenges of directing an episode while also needing to be in the writing room. Plus, she details her journey from working on 'The Bachelor', to ending up in advertising in Portland, to creating her own TV show.

UnREAL is on Lifetime now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Craft

With April Wolfe and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We have the legendary director Catherine Hardwicke on the show this week. In light of her upcoming Quibi show Don’t Look Deeper, she has decided to discuss the “near future” film Gattaca. Catherine talks about her start in the film industry as a production designer and how that influenced her directing career. She elaborates on the techniques she used with Twilight and Thirteen to get the actors comfortable with one another. Plus, she reveals the minor regrets she has with a few of her films.

You can watch Don’t Look Deeper on Quibi this summer.

If you haven’t seen Gattaca…it’s quite good

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Kristina Buozyte’s Vanishing Waves

With April Wolfe and Catherine Hardwicke

This week director Tamra Davis (Billy Madison, Half Baked, CB4) sits down with April to discuss Paul Feig's The Heat. Tamra takes April through what it's like directing comedies, how she worked with actors Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, and collaborating with comedy writers during a shoot. She also discusses the wonderful experience of directing the uber famous Britney Spears during the filming of Crossroads. April and her dissect Melissa McCarthy's performance in The Heat and her ongoing work with director Paul Feig. Tamra also details what it's like directing action scenes and the collaborative process of making a movie. Plus Inkoo Kang stops by to discuss why people should donate to the MaxFunDrive and Switchblade Sisters.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Heat

With April Wolfe and Tamra Davis

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Amy Seimetz started out writing, directing, and acting in short films and made her feature debut in a pair of films, Black Dragon Canyon and the indie cult hit Wristcutters: A Love Story. She appeared in films such as Gabi on the Roof in July, Tiny Furniture, You're Next, and The Myth of the American Sleepover before directing her own feature debut, Sun Don't Shine in 2012. Amy went on to co-create and executive produce the critically acclaimed Starz series The Girlfriend Experience. In 2018, Amy directed two episodes of the acclaimed FX series Atlanta and subsequently signed a first look television production development deal with the network. But yes, she continued acting throughout that time as well, and you’ve seen her in Upstream Color, Alien: Covenant, The Killing, Stranger Things, Wild Nights with Emily, and Pet Sematary.

But the movie that Amy chose to discuss has nothing to do with any of that! She's chosen The Peanut Butter Solution, a Canadian children's movie from the eighties that most people thought they dreamed up. April and Amy dissect the crazy plot and how something this unconventional could be made for children. Amy discusses working on her debut Sun Don't Shine, collaborating with Hiro Murai and Donald Glover on Atlanta, and being directed by Madeleine Olnek on Wild Nights with Emily. Plus, they ponder the lessons on creative freedom that can be learned from children's films and how it's sometimes best to not think logically.

You can check out Pet Sematary and Wild Nights with Emily in theaters now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Peanut Butter Solution.

With April Wolfe and Amy Seimetz.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Kansas is a born-and-raised-in-Hollywood writer and director. She wrote her first feature when she was only 15, and then went on to direct it for release at 17. The film, titled, B.C. Butcher, is a “pre-historic slasher” starring Kato Kaelin. B.C. Butcher was distributed by Troma Entertainment, and Kansas was inducted into the Troma Institute for Gifted Youth. Since then, she has directed 25 music videos for artists including Collapsing Scenery, Boyd Rice, Iggy Pop, and the Death Valley Girls. Aside from directing, Kansas also acts. She’s appeared in more than 30 projects, including the upcoming directorial debut of Glenn Danzig, and also Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. She also starred in a short film series called 'Curious Females', which premiered on Refinery29 in 2017.

The movie that Kansas has chosen to discuss on this week's episode is the 1968 freak-out fest by The Monkees called, Head. It's evident immediately that Kansas has a deep love for The Monkees and this film. She points out that The Monkees were very self aware in the film, as they comment on being "wind-up dolls" meant to distract people from the Vietnam war. She describes how her favorite films have a frenetic editing style, like Head, and also incorporate elements of "artistic non-fiction." Kansas covers some of her craziest experiences working on her own movies, like getting Kato Kaelin to appear in her film B.C. Butcher for free when she was only seventeen. Or like the time she called up Iggy Pop and asked if he'd be in a music video - and he said yes. If there's anything you should take away from this interview, it's that it never hurts to ask.

You can see B.C. Butcher streaming online.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Head.

With April Wolfe and Kansas Bowling.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Shaun of the Dead

Naomi Ekperigin is a stand-up comedian, writer, actress, and podcaster (gotta be a multi-hyphenate these days!). She was born and raised in Harlem, New York, and studied Film and English at Wesleyan University, where she and guest host Katie Walsh made student films together, and she also started her comedy career, doing improv. After college, she toured with the National Theater for the Deaf, and started stand-up in New York in 2007. She has a half-hour stand up special on Comedy Central, and she’s also appeared on HBO’s Two Dope Queens, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and she has written for Broad City, Difficult People, Great News, and Mrs. Fletcher. You can find Naomi doing stand up around town in LA and New York, and she co-hosts the monthly standup show Couples Therapy in LA at the Virgil, the first Saturday of every month, with her fiance Andy Beckerman, and Couples Therapy is also a podcast, where she and Andy talk about relationships and play sets from their live show.

Naomi chose the 2004 ZomCom Shaun of the Dead, written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, and directed by Wright. She and Katie delve into what makes this “a perfect film”, analyzing the film’s use of visual jokes, pacing, and character development. Katie asks Naomi what the parallels are between the writing and humor on Shaun of the Dead and Broad City.

Plus, Ekperigin has given a lot of thought to how she would handle herself in a zombie apocalypse, and shares her thoughts on what weapons she’d carry, as well as the best clothing for survival.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Shaun of the Dead

With Katie Walsh and Naomi Ekperigin.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A truly monumental episode. The Essie Davis calls in all the way from Tasmania. You know her from The Babadook, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and her latest The True History of the Kelly Gang. She is a treasure, and she’s on the show today to discuss the 1988 creep fest, The Vanishing. Essie divulges her innermost beliefs on the craft of acting and being able to know the thoughts of a character. She reveals that while working on The True History of the Kelly Gang, she and her co-stars were directed to form a punk band and actually play a show (the band’s name is Fleshlight, if you were wondering). But she also talks about the importance of studying and learning how to be a better actor. This is such a phenomenal and enlightening episode.

You can watch The True History of the Kelly Gang on VOD or if you live in LA you can catch it at the Mission Tiki Drive-In.

If you haven’t seen The Vanishing…it’s spooky!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Bette Gordon’s Variety

With April Wolfe and Essie Davis

This is truly a momentous occasion. This episode marks the return of the inimitable Issa López. This time she’s on the show to talk about Ridley Scott’s classic, Blade Runner. Issa has so many fantastic anecdotes from her many years of working in Mexico’s film industry. She talks about the nightmare of someone else directing her own script. She reveals how she was fired from writing a screenplay for a movie she was directing. And she talks about collaborating with her old pal Guillermo del Toro. One of our favorite guests of all time, and she does not disappoint.

You can watch Tigers Are Not Afraid on Shudder now.

If you haven’t seen Blade Runner…it’s great!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Strange Days

With April Wolfe and Issa López

This week we're joined by friend of the podcast, writer and director Sarah Adina Smith. You may know her from her feature film Buster's Mal Heart starring Rami Malek. But she's also directed episodes of 'Wrecked', 'Room 104', and 'Legion'. Sarah was actually the very first guest on our pilot episode of the podcast, so it's so good to have her back to discuss Damián Szifron's Wild Tales. The film is made up of six short films of comical revenge. Sarah and April dive in to what makes this movie "clean" and "perfect" - as they call it. Sarah reveals that she shares some similar obsessive qualities with director Szifron. She also talks about how a location is just another form of casting. This episode is a really fun discussion about following your instincts when creating art.

You can watch Buster's Mal Heart on Netflix now.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Wild Tales

With April Wolfe with Sarah Adina Smith,

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Just in time for Halloween, we have the amazingly talented Alice Waddington (director Paradise Hills) on the program to talk about Logan's Run. She discusses creating specific fantasy worlds, being inspired by Logan's Run, and the pleasures of working with Awkwafina. We also get Vulture associate editor, Jordan Crucchiola, on the line to talk about what horror films we should check out this Halloween.

Paradise Hills is in theaters and streaming on November 1st.

And if you haven't seen Logan's Run, you simply must!

With April Wolfe, Alice Waddington, and Jordan Crucchiola.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

"We don't hate you - there's no need for hate now. Or love." Dr. Kibner (Invasion of the Body Snatchers)

Don't be a pod! On this week's episode April welcomes director Leigh Janiak (Honeymoon, Scream: The TV Series) to discuss 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The two touch upon how Leigh's film, Honeymoon, and Invasion both contemplate the question, "What would you do if the people closest to you were suddenly not themselves?" They discuss the incredible sound design of the film and how it creates a very creepy atmosphere. Leigh elaborates on working on the Scream: TV Series and how she learned to improvise on set. They both agree that Donald Sutherland may not be the typical leading man, but that frock of permed hair is really working for him. Plus, they dive into the famous ending of the film and what it really means to be a human being.

You can watch Leigh's film Honeymoon on Hulu

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

With April Wolfe and Leigh Janiak

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we've got the wonderful director Meera Menon (Farah Goes Bang, Equity, GLOW, Halt and Catch Fire) to discuss Gareth Edwards' Monsters. Meera touches upon how well the film works despite the small budget and how that inspires her to create a monster movie someday. She discusses what it's like to direct using visual effects on The Magicians, and how a lot of it is guess work. Meera also speaks to the difficulties and delights of working with non-actors, the moral obligation of the director, and approaching filmmaking like a journalist.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Monsters.

Also check out Meera's latest film Equity.

With April Wolfe and Meera Menon

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Madeleine Olnek is a New York City based playwright and filmmaker. She began her career with award-winning and widely screened comedy shorts. ​Countertransference ​(2009) and Hold Up ​(2006) were official selections of Sundance, while ​Make Room For Phyllis ​(2007) premiered at Sarasota. Olnek was also awarded best female short film director at Sundance in 2009 by LA’s Women In Film organization. Her debut feature, ​Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, told the story of three lesbian space aliens who come to Earth, and one of them falls in love with an earthling. It ​premiered at Sundance 2011 and is now translated into eleven languages. Her second feature, ​The Foxy Merkins,​ is a kind of buddy-comedy homage about two lesbian prostitutes. She is one of the authors of The Practical Handbook for The Actor (with a foreword by David Mamet), a widely used acting textbook. And now she’s back with her third feature, Wild Nights with Emily, a perhaps more truthful yet comic telling of the life of Emily Dickinson, starring Molly Shannon as the eponymous poet. Madeleine was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for the completion of the film, so it is a BIG DEAL.

The movie that Madeleine has chosen to discuss is one that she calls a "masterpiece." That would be David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Madeleine likens the film to The Bible in that there are many interpretations that are applicable across generations. She discusses how she is personally connected to the film and how she felt that it truly mirrored her own life. Madeleine even dons David Lynch "our great poet of filmmaking" and explains why this film (and Inland Empire) are his greatest poems. She also discusses why she cast Molly Shannon in her newest film, Wild Nights with Emily. And how most literary adaptations do not properly portray the true words and feelings of a piece of literature. She ends the conversation with explaining why artists have the moral obligation to put humor in their work, and how making a straight drama is not a creative choice.

You can check out Wild Night with Emily in theaters now.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Mulholland Drive.

With April Wolfe and Madeleine Olnek.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

What a great way to start off the New Year. Writer Megan Amram (The Good Place, Parks and Rec) joins April to discuss the monumental classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Megan and April explore the idea of objectifying the human body in an interesting and meaningful way. Plus Megan talks about the moral approach in her scripts for the way character’s make decisions. And it should be noted that this entire interview was conducted with Megan shrouded in her own The Texas Chainsaw Massacre blanket.

You can watch NBC’s The Good Place on Thursday nights.

And if you haven’t seen The Texas Chainsaw Massacre…what are you doing?!

With April Wolfe and Megan Amram.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This could be described as a “best buds” episode because our host and guests go way back! Katie Walsh returns to the hosting chair to speak with her old pals, Danielle Krudy and Bridget Savage Cole, who just happen to be the directors of the new Amazon film, Blow the Man Down. They are on the program this week to talk about the folk-horror classic, 1973’s The Wicker Man. Both Krudy and Savage Cole have a cinematography background, and they discuss how having technical expertise can be both a blessing and a curse on set. They go in depth on creating the unique setting of the old fishing town in their film. And they proclaim the joy of working with the one-and-only Margo Martindale. If you’re starting to get those “social isolation blues,” this episode is so much fun that it can help clear that all up.

You can watch Blow the Man Down on Amazon Prime on March 20th!

And if you haven’t seen The Wicker Man…get to it, man!

If you’re interested in getting 20% off your Beta Brand purchases go to www.betabrand.com/switchblade

With Katie Walsh, Danielle Krudy, and Bridget Savage Cole.

Writer and director Tara Miele joins host Katie Walsh this week to discuss 1990’s massive hit, Ghost. Tara explains the connection between this film and her latest movie, Wander Darkly, and how both explore the space between life and death. She goes on to tell the story about the horrific car accident she and her husband were in that inspired her movie. Tara talks about the casting of Diego Luna and how she was influenced by his reaction to the Mexico City earthquake. She also elaborates on the importance of casting people of color in lead roles. And, at the end of the interview, Katie, Tara, and possibly the listener, gain an appreciation for the earnestness of Ghost and films of its ilk.

You can watch Wander Darkly on VOD now.

Please consider financially supporting our show by becoming a Maximum Fun member at Maximumfun.org/join

If you haven’t seen Ghost – c’mon, you gotta.

With Katie Walsh and Tara Miele.

On the debut episode of Switchblade Sisters, April talks with the writer and producer of The Big Sick, Emily Gordon. Things get gruesome quickly as the two of them discuss the 2015 horror-western, Bone Tomahawk. April and Emily examine what makes the movie so good; the insane violence, the heartbreaking monologues, the beautiful cinematography. Plus, Emily talks about the making of The Big Sick and how she uses her psychology background in her writing.

You can buy or rent The Big Sick today.

And if you haven't yet, go watch Bone Tomahawk .

With April Wolfe and Emily Gordon.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

April is joined by the magnificent filmmaker and artist Jennifer Reeder to discuss Todd Haynes’ 1995 classic, Safe. Jennifer discusses the making of her new film Knives and Skin and the necessity of shooting it at home in Chicago. She articulates the toxic way that motherhood is portrayed in films and how she tries to correct that in her own movie. Plus, she and April gush over the masterful filmmaking executed in Safe.

Knives and Skin is in theaters and streaming on December 6.

And if you haven’t seen Safe…get on it!

With April Wolfe and Jennifer Reeder.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O’Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Caroline Williams is a screenwriter originally from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2008 she created the ABC series Miss Guided starring Judy Greer and Chris Parnell, about a high school guidance counselor who must relive her unpopular high school days when another old classmate joins the faculty and staff. From there, Caroline went on to write for The Office, Modern Family, Up All Night, BoJack Horseman and others including, most recently, Arrested Development and Maniac for Netflix. In addition to television, Ms. Williams has written on studio features and directed short films, and she’s currently setting up her feature directorial debut. She is also married to fellow filmmaker Drew Goddard, Oscar nominated writer of The Martian and director of Cabin in the Woods and Bad Times at the El Royale.

The movie that Caroline chose to discuss can be found in the video store under "dreamy" - that would be Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock. She and April explore the makings of a good mystery and how sometimes things are better left unexplained. Caroline elaborates on the importance of writing structure - by both knowing when to follow it and when to stray. And she also talks about the joy of being able to direct something she has written.

You can see Caroline's work all over the place.

And if you haven't seen Picnic at Hanging Rock, you simply must!

With April Wolfe and Caroline Williams.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

This week we are very lucky to have award winning writer and director Nijla Mu'min on the program. In 2014, she was selected for the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Intensive and her debut feature, Jinn, won the Special Jury Recognition Award for screenwriting at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Jinn tells the story of a high school senior whose mother becomes taken by the beliefs and practices of Islam, which sets up a series of trials for the girl as she tries to navigate her own belief systems. The central character uses dance as a type of release. So it's fitting that the film Nijla has chosen to discuss is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan. April and she explore the different ways that Nijla's film and Aronofsky's film use dance as a form of expression for the protagonists. Nijla also describes how she relates to Natalie Portman's character Nina Sayers in her pursuit of perfection. Plus, Nijla elaborates on her desire to honor her community in the representation of Islam in her film Jinn.

Check out the trailer for Jinn. The film will be in select theaters on November 15th and streaming on November 16th.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Black Swan.

With April Wolfe with Nijla Mu'min.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Melanie Kirschbaum started her LA career working for Jeff and Jackie Filgo, and then Vali Chandrasekaran on Modern Family, while Alexandra Decas was with Jonathan Groff on Black-ish. The two met when their bosses were working on a pilot together, and they decided to join forces when they found themselves standing outside of their offices at Disney, bemoaning their crappy Tinder matches. They wondered, presumably aloud, "If Elizabeth Smart has it all figured out — a husband, a career, great hair — what’s our excuse?" So they wrote a one-act play entitled "Smart" to get to the bottom of it, as well as a comedic one-act about 9/11 called "Center of the Universe." After that, they joined the Netflix/Dreamworks show The Boss Baby: Back in Business as staff writers, but then hit some network gold when they were staffed on the critically acclaimed hit show Grown-ish, a spinoff of Black-ish that follows Zoey Johnson as she navigates college life. Grown-ishwas just renewed for season 3 and can be seen on Freeform.

The movie that Alex and Mel have chosen to discuss is an important film for Minnesotans everywhere - 1999's Drop Dead Gorgeous. The two of them and April marvel at the fact that this movie is so inappropriate by today's standards - but still so funny! The two writers open up about how their writing process used to be incredibly unorthodox. One of them is outed as a frequent "office cryer." And, of course, the conversation covers something April is very passionate about - the eyebrow styles of the 1990s.

You can see Grown-ish on Freeform.

And if you haven't seen Drop Dead Gorgeous yet, go watch it!

With April Wolfe, Melanie Kirschbaum and Alexandra Decas.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

To quote the Tribeca Film Festival, director Nia DaCosta is “a name you’re gonna need to get familiar with.” Nia DaCosta was born and raised in New York City and attended NYU’s Tisch. She started her film career paying her dues in production, on the documentary series, Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life, while also writing and directing shorts. In 2015, she took an early draft of her script for a film called Little Woods to the Sundance Directors Lab. There, she hooked up with Tessa Thompson, who read the part of a woman named Ollie, who’s caught in a poverty trap in rural North Dakota and must decide whether she’ll re-enter a life of crime to help her pregnant sister. Tessa Thompson continued with the project, and Nia then cast Lily James to play her sister. The film premiered in 2018 at the Tribeca Film Festival. Shortly after that, it was announced that Nia would be directing the “spiritual sequel” to Candyman off a script penned by Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, which will be released by MGM.

The movie Nia has chosen to discuss is 1979's Alien. To quote Nia, "it's a perfect film." She and April discuss the revolutionary character of Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, and how the world had never seen someone like her before. Nia talks about working and collaborating with Tessa Thompson on her character in Little Woods. She elaborates on directing the upcoming Candymanand what she learned from Jordan Peele. Plus, Nia tells April how Tessa Thompson is excellent at acting with her hands, or as Nia calls it - "hacting."

You should check out Little Woods in theaters on April 19.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Alien.

With April Wolfe and Nia DaCosta.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

We are so lucky to have on the program this week, cinematographer and director Skye Borgman. Her most recent documentary, Abducted in Plain Sight, follows the story of a young girl in a tight-knit LDS community, who is abducted twice by her neighbor and parent's best friend. It's an intense and serious film, which makes Skye's chosen genre movie all the more interesting. She has decided to discuss 2015's Polish, horror, mermaid musical, The Lure. She and April pinpoint how this film is able to deftly deliver harsh truths about female sexualization within the framework of a mythic fairytale. The two also marvel at the director Agnieszka Smoczynska, and what she was able to do in terms of pushing the limits of the mermaid's fin designs. Skye also touches upon working with the Broberg family on her doc, and how she was able to get them to discuss incredibly difficult subjects like pedophilia and child abuse.

You can see Abducted in Plain Sight on Netflix.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch The Lure.

With April Wolfe and Skye Borgman.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

Today we have the multi-talented Jenna Kanell (Terrifier) on the program. She’s a writer, director, actor, and stunt performer. And she’s on the show today to talk about 2014’s It Follows. Jenna discusses the infusion of social commentary into the horror genre. She talks about the difficulty and isolation that can go along with the acting process. And she elaborates on performing her own stunts and how that can help her feel more “in her own body” for a role.

If you haven’t seen It Follows…you should! It’s good!

With April Wolfe and Jenna Kanell.

We've got a truly fascinating conversation on this week's episode with 'Dirty John' showrunner Alexandra Cunningham. Her new show is based upon the wildly popular LA Times true crime podcast of the same name. It deals with deception, seduction, and intrigue. These are all themes found in the film that Alexandra chose to discuss, the 1945 technicolor noir classic Leave Her to Heaven. As 'Dirty John' deals with the mind of a manipulative conman, Alexandra has become somewhat of an expert on the mindset of villains. And she has some enlightening words on Gene Tierney's coldhearted Ellen in Leave Her to Heaven. Alex comes from a playwriting background and explains how she learned to show rather than to tell. April and she dissect the famous drowning scene in the film. And Alex has a fascinating story about working for a suicide hotline, and reveals how sometimes the scariest things happen in the light of day.

Check out Dirty John on Bravo.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Leave Her to Heaven.

With April Wolfe with Alexandra Cunningham.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

What a fascinating episode we have in store for you this week. We are so lucky to be joined by writer/director, Emma Forrest. Emma has lived a life. She started out as very young journalist in London, when at the age of 15, she wrote a lauded story on Madonna for The Sunday Times, which prompted her to leave school at 16 to become a full-time writer for the Times. In 1998, she moved into writing fiction with the publication of her novel Namedropper. From there Emma began writing screenplays, selling one to Plan B, another to Miramax, and subsequently being named by Variety as one of the "Top Ten Screenwriters to Watch in 2009." Emma, however, has taken her screenwriting into her own hands and in 2018 debuted her first feature, Untogether, at the TriBeca Film Festival. Untogether stars Jemima and Lola Kirke, Ben Mendelsohn, Jamie Dornan, and Billy Crystal, and tells the story of two sisters in the middle of their own artistic and life crises — one a recovering addict, and the other in a withering relationship she doesn’t understand but can’t let go of.

In addition to discussing her newest film, Emma has chosen to talk about Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now. Emma describes how she feels so connected to this film - having seen it at an inappropriately young age and also being burdened by the feelings of premonitions. She and April admire all the incredibly unique aspects of the film - the writing, editing, cinematography, and even the performances of the leads Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Emma even notes the similarities between Don't Look Now and her own film, Untogether, in how both movies take place in cities that seem to know the fates of the protagonists before the characters do. Emma also opens up about the difficulties of working on her newest release, in particular having to direct her ex-husband Ben Mendelsohn while they were going through a divorce, and how that emotion on set powered many of the performances in the film.

You can see Untogether in select theaters and streaming on February 8th.

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Don't Look Now.

With April Wolfe and Emma Forrest.

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters on Twitter or Facebook.

Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org.

Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

A fun and adventurous episode with the delightful writer and actor Hannah Bos. She’s on the show to discuss the pivotal 1980’s comedy, Adventures in Babysitting. Hannah and April both declare their love for Elisabeth Shue while dissecting the outdated humor of the film. Hannah also talks about her new movie Driveways, co-written with Paul Thureen. She elaborates on the process of getting the film made, working with director Andrew Ahn, and the generosity of the late great Brian Dennehy.

You can watch Driveways on VOD now.

If you haven’t seen Adventures in Babysitting…it’s great!

AND, if you want to check out April’s Staff Pick – watch Debra Granik’s Winter’s Bone

With April Wolfe and Hannah Bos

This week April is joined by the phenomenal writer, director, and actor Amber Benson (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) to talk about the cult classic Night of the Comet. The two discuss the wonderful Kelli Maroney as the gun toting cheerleader, Samantha, how the film does a great job of combining horror and comedy, and how it is actually a realistic representation of being a teenager. Amber also dives into how she learned to be a filmmaker directing her first film Chance. She discusses her time on Buffy, her groundbreaking role as Tara, and the joy that comes from working on something important. She also elaborates on the need for female roles to be written with more complexity and for those characters to not be "perfect."

If you haven't seen it yet, go watch Night of the Comet.

With April Wolfe and Amber Benson

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.

"Now, in Russia, they got it mapped out so that everyone pulls for everyone else... that's the theory, anyway. But what I know about is Texas, an' down here... you're on your own."

This week April talks to writer/director Julie Hébert (American Crime, The Good Wife, ER) about the phenomenal feature debut of the Coen Brothers, Blood Simple. April and Julie delve into the genius of the directing duo and how they pulled off making such a complete movie on their first try. Julie talks about her directing style and how she likes to let the actors make most of the decisions in creating a character. She discusses working closely with Felicity Huffman. Plus, Julie tells April how she feels bad for actors auditioning, because she can actually smell the sweat of fear coming from the audition waiting room.

Check out Julie Hébert's work in American Crime, The Good Wife, and ER.

And if you haven't seen it yet, go watch Blood Simple.

With April Wolfe and Julie Hébert

You can let us know what you think of Switchblade Sisters at @SwitchbladePod on Twitter. Or email us at switchbladesisters@maximumfun.org Produced by Casey O'Brien and Laura Swisher for MaximumFun.org.