The 1930's Fresh Air Award

Episode #44 - Welcome to the fifth Fresh Air Award! Four cinephiles continue a Fourwind Films tradition of awarding a film that pushed cinema forward the most as an artform during a particular decade. To be nominated, a motion picture has to have advanced cinema in some way and made a lasting impression on how movies are made. This episode delves into the decade that saw the first full decade with sound becoming mainstream in film and the introduction the Technicolor three color process, 1930-1939.

To start the episode, our host, Justin Joseph Hall goes through a quick history lesson on what was happening in cinema business and technology in the decade.

The four cinephiles who select the nominees in this panel are cinephiles Elizabeth Chatelain, Justin Joseph Hall, John Robert Hammerer and Kevin Hinman. Any moving images that came out in the appropriate decade is eligible for nomination. Nominations spanned documentaries, shorts, animated films, and feature films. They featured cinema with thoughtful use of sound design, the first feature animation, films with the Technicolor three color process, the template for romantic comedies, and maybe the most famous film of all-time.

Here is the link to all the nominations: 1930’s Fresh Air Award Nominees - Letterboxd list

There were several overlaps, but here are the main nominations made by each panelist:


John Robert Hammerer nominees

Duck Soup (1933 )

Freaks (1932)

Porky in Wackyland (1938)

Rules of the Game (1939)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)




Kevin Hinman nominees

M (1931)

Flowers and Trees (1932)

King Kong (1933)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)



To find the 1930’s Fresh Air Award winner click on this link!

We hope you enjoy this episode! Share with us your own lists, comments, arguments, and films that we left out via social media @fourwindfilms. We’re on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening, Season 8 to come shortly!

Thank you to our cinephiles who did joined this out of their passion. To hear more from them, visit links below:

Credits for podcast:

Production Company - Fourwind Films

Fresh Air Award Contributors for 1900s Decade - Elizabeth Chatelain, Tracey Goessel, Justin Joseph Hall, & Kevin Hinman

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Editor - Billie Jo Laitinen

Sound Mixer - Hans Bilger

The theme song of Season 6 is New Tires by Silent Partner.

Additional Music - The Beat Goes On by Backyard Wrestling & As the Stars Turn by Pandelion.

Contagion Films

Episode #23 - Welcome to a totally COVID kind of Feature & a short. Fourwind Films has decided to dedicate a podcast to talking about the best of the contagion films seen by our accountant Laura Davi, and your host, Justin Joseph Hall who has been called a movie encyclopedia. We redirect our documenting of our small film events to bring you our second film list episode!

The definition of an epidemic an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. We are doing this episode because our lives have been stagnant and we’re looking for ways to cope.  Films are a quick way for humans to process other people’s minds.  So what will this list do for you?  If you watch these films, you may help understand the conditions of contagions in society through the medium of film.  These are the films we think are the best at communicating what life might be like during the time of a contagion.


First we discuss the BEST SHORT and FEATURE FILMS since STAY AT HOME ORDERS March 22nd in New York 

Tusalava

This animation film appears all over YouTube.  A great few minutes to take a step back and reflect.


The Shawshank Redemption

Frank Darabont watched Goodfellas (1990) every Sunday while shooting this film and drew inspiration from it, on using voice-over narration and showing the passage of time. 


Place Beyond the Pines

Compelling two part story about family and mystery with hunky lead actors, Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling.


Portrait of a Lady on Fire

We loved this film so much we actually watched another film from Céline Sciamma’s earlier work as she’s been making films over the past two decades.  The real similarities I noted in her style is her use of music.  The absence of a score until the music is so utterly embedded in the moment or feeling of the film.  The silence let’s the music drive emotion more when it is present and Céline has mastered this art in Portrait of a Lady on Fire.  Also, best title ever.


BEST CONTAGION FILMS - Movies that teach us about possible scenarios of human spread contagion

Fast Spreading Contagion Films list


Philadelphia

TriStar the studio actually felt there was a need for this film, not so much about the disease, but to have Jonathan Demme have a homosexual main character was essential in the director and studio’s eyes.


Dallas Buyers Club

This is one of those “based on a true story” that isn’t quite accurate but is more of a conglomeration to express the mood of the times.  Based off of the man Ron Woodroof, but the film budget was incredibly low and they shot the film on twenty-five shoot days.


High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell

Everyone knows the crack epidemic.  Wordlwide 585,000 people died as a result of drug use in 2017.  COVID-19 is 232,180 at the moment.  This story is visceral, not only is my favorite film by Episode 21 guest, Jon Alpert who was a producer and cinematographer on the film.   Jon and the team with Downtown Community Television captured Christian Bale’s character Dicky Eklund.  It’s only an hour and packs an unbelieveable wallop


Thriller

The death count of zombies is unknown and presumed to be zero.  But this metaphor for disease and/or stupidity is a favorite in the film genres.  This film is my short, very closely followed by One Cut of the Dead that Thomas introduced me to in our 2010’s Fresh Air Award Episode.  Director of Blue’s Brother’s SNL spinoffs, John Landis spent half-a-million dollars in the 1980’s making this 13 minute film.


Requiem for a Dream

Based on a book written by Hubert Selby, Jr. in 1978.  Greeks, Egyptians, Sumarians, Chinese, Americans, Germans all have encountered this seemingly endless contagion in our society.  Darren Aronovsfy makes this disease live through music and compression of time.  He orchestrates everything you may notice in drug use, especially heroin use.

These are our top Contagion films, please write us at info@fourwindfilms.com or shout out to us on social media for the films we overlooked @fourwindfilms

Host, Justin Joseph Hall

Host, Justin Joseph Hall

Credits for podcast:

Produced by Fourwind Films

Host: Justin Joseph Hall

Contributor: Laura Davi

Brian Trahan - Sound Mixer

Theme song of Season 4 is Loopster by Kevin MacLeod.

Piper Werle: Veronica, The Last Unicorn

Episode #19 - Piper Werle is a writer and producer who loves the genre of fantasy in films. Her script’s dialogue always tickles your ribs and catches you off-guard. She uses the themes of fantasy and integrates them with accessible progressive ideas.

Piper’s short she contributed was her first film she had written and produced for the silver screen after many years writing for the stage. The short is called Veronica after the lead character’s name. It’s about the descendants of the mythical Greek Sirens. Piper uses practical effects and movie magic to bring the audience into the fantasy realm. The story is about dating a topic nearly anyone can relate to.

The Last Unicorn, the feature Piper brought, has a star studded cast including Mia Farrow, Angela Lansbury, Jeff Bridges, & Alan Arkin. It follows the story of a unicorn alone in the world who travels through the forest and to different kingdoms. It is also a fantastical story and has lots of hints at being created in the 1980’s. The animation style really has beautiful depictions of nature and its script includes funny names and silly quotes throughout the entirety of the movie.

Piper’s laugh is contagious so enjoy! Check out more of her work in our upcoming short Prologue, which she also wrote and worked as the Production Designer.

Piper Werle - Writer/Producer

Piper Werle - Writer/Producer

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Sound Mix & Additional Music - Brian Trahan

Theme song of Season 4 is Johnny's Tune In Waltz by Salitros’ Ridin’ Rainbow.

Mack Williams: Freddie Gibbs - "Michael Jackson's Return to Gary, IN," What About Bob?

Episode #12 - Georgia native Mack Williams makes everyone laugh for hours with his stories and film choices. Mack is a graceful director and animator who makes working feel like play. His versatility in the commercial world as well as on creative content is always a notch above the rest. He works on a creative level with a fine knowledge for quality post-production on lower budgets. On top of that, Mack makes an incredible drinking partner. Even if you disagree with his tastes, you can’t help but want to listen to what he has to say. He graces us with his knowledge of animation workflow as well as stories of creating various cartoons for Cartoon Network, Pitchfork, and Showtime.

Mack chooses a short animated documentary that he directed called “Michael Jackson’s Return to Gary, IN.” It’s based off a true story told by Freddie Gibbs for the series FRAMES. For the feature he presents “What About Bob?” Mack discusses Richard Dreyfuss’ role in the film and why he makes it great. For more info on Mack, check out the Facebook page for his company Pig Apple. Additional music credits to Sun Nectar. Theme music by Salitros’ Riding Rainbow.

Credits:

Host - Justin Joseph Hall

Location & Production Company - Fourwind Films

Mack Williams Director/Animator & Simon

Mack Williams Director/Animator & Simon

Steve Girard: Lisa Bass' Unreleased Short, Asphalt Watches

Director, Animator, and Actor, Steve Girard presented.  One was an unreleased film by Lisa Bass that Steve played a minor part in.  Steve brought director Lisa to the event and we discussed her film.  Afterwards we watched a Canadian road trip animation feature called Asphalt Watches.  We had burgers and drank beer and whiskey.

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