The Lord of the Rings was an important moment in recent cinema: the scope of its filmmaking and audacity in filming three movies at once, the elevation of the fantasy genre, its pioneering special effects,…
We’re experimenting with a new segment on Media Carnivores. We start with a check-in about our writing and publishing. We talk about what we’re working on, ask for advice, and generally open up about the “behind the…
Hollywood might be marketing to adolescents and teenagers more than ever before, but that doesn’t mean they are making more “teen movies.” Some movies targeted toward teenagers have been classics for decades (American Graffiti and The…
Sometimes when books, TV shows, and movies kill key characters, fans get outraged. And sometimes a great death scene will make a character even more memorable. What’s the difference? Brent and Erik investigate. Your Hosts Brent Hartinger Erik…
Why are so many sequels so much worse than the original? Why do they retread the same group? Brent and Erik visit (revisit?) sequels and look at the “rules” that make the great ones great. Your Hosts…
Between 1997 (when the first Harry Potter book came out) and 2011 (when the last movie was released) Potter-mania swept the globe. How have the books and movies held up when they are no longer in…
It’s the time of year where we gather around the TV and watch our favorite Christmas specials. But why do we do this? And what makes these specials stick with us for decades? Your Hosts Brent…
Paranormal romance has been the “it” genre in publishing for years now. How long can it last? And what comes next? We look at some of the biggest recent genres (paranormal romance, zombies, chicklit) and…