Best Stephen Becker and Chris Vognar Podcasts (2024)

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The Big Screen: Oscar Predictions 4:10

5+ y ago4:10

4:10

Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in years with tight races in many of the major categories. This week, we conclude our Oscars preview series by picking some winners and thinking through how the show will work without a host.

1
The Big Screen: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' 4:08

5+ y ago4:08

4:08

“Bohemian Rhapsody” has earned more than $800 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing rock biopic of all time. And along the way, it’s racked up five Academy Award nominations, including best picture. This week, we continue our Oscars preview series by talking with a rock critic about how the film captures the essence of Queen.…

1
The Big Screen: The Story Behind 'Green Book' 3:55

5+ y ago3:55

3:55

The movie “Green Book” is nominated for five Oscars, including best picture, best actor (Viggo Mortensen) and best supporting actor (Mahershala Ali). This week, we talk about the film and the green book from which the movie gets its name with the curator of the Dallas Civil Rights Museum (who also happens to have once lived in a house listed in the…

1
The Big Screen: 'The Favorite' Vs. History 4:12

5+ y ago4:12

4:12

In “The Favourite,” a pair of attendants in the Court of Queen Anne battle it out for the monarch’s attention. The film is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and this week we continue our Oscars preview series by looking at how it depicts life in 18th Century England. Our guest is Kathleen Wellman, Dedman Family Distinguished Professor of History at …

1
The Big Screen: A Baldwin Expert Breaks Down 'Beale Street' 4:31

5+ y ago4:31

4:31

“If Beale Street Could Talk” earned three Oscar nominations earlier this week. Barry Jenkins was one of the honorees for his adaptation of James Baldwin's novel, and this week, we launch our annual Academy Awards preview series by talking about the story from book to screen with Baldwin expert Kenton Rambsy, assistant professor of African American …

1
The Big Screen: Denton Black Film Festival 4:05

5+ y ago4:05

4:05

Next week, the Denton Black Film Festival will show more than 60 films centered on the lives of African Americans. One of those films is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year: "Imitation of Life," the Douglas Sirk movie that earned two Oscar nominations in 1959. Joining us for a conversation about that film and the rest of the schedule are Lin…

1
The Big Screen: Best of Fests 3:46

5+ y ago3:46

3:46

Over the next four days, 22 North Texas film festivals are coming together to produce one mega festival to rule them all. It’s called Best of Fests, and features films that played at festivals over the last year.

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The Big Screen: Return To The '60s 6:18

5+ y ago6:18

6:18

The 1960s produced “The Graduate,” “Psycho,” “Bonnie and Clyde” and many other classics. This week, we talk with SMU film professor Rick Worland about how these films are often overshadowed by the decade that followed - and about how they continue to influence the films we see today. His new book is called "Searching for New Frontiers: Hollywood Fi…

1
The Big Screen: Top Films of 2018 5:10

5+ y ago5:10

5:10

It's hard to find a consensus No. 1 movie of 2018. The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association (of which The Big Screen is a part) picked "A Star Is Born." The Big Screen went with "You Were Never Really Here" (Chris) and "The Favourite" (Stephen). And everything from "Roma" to "If Beale Street Could Talk" to "Black Panther" has topped other lis…

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The Big Screen: An Insider's Look At 'Roma' 4:07

5+ y ago4:07

4:07

“Roma,” the new film from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón, takes its title from the Mexico City neighborhood in which it is set. It’s a part of town Alfredo Corchado knows well as the Mexico correspondent for The Dallas Morning News. This week he joins us for a conversation about how the film captures a slice of Mexican life.…

1
The Big Screen: 'Man On Fire' 5:46

5+ y ago5:46

5:46

In 2014 a white, Methodist minister set himself on fire as a protest against racism in his home town of Grand Saline, about an hour east of Dallas. This week, we talk with Joel Fendelman, the director of a new documentary about the incident and how it's forced the town to reconcile its past and present. "Man on Fire" begins streaming on PBS.org on …

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The Big Screen: 'Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland' 4:03

5+ y ago4:03

4:03

It’s been three years since a traffic stop in Waller County, Texas, erupted into a physical confrontation between a white officer and black motorist and ended with her death while in custody. This week, we talk about a new documentary that tells the story of Sandra Bland’s death and her family’s search for justice. "Say Her Name: The Life and Death…

1
The Big Screen: Talking 'Boy Erased' And Conversion Therapy 4:08

5+ y ago4:08

4:08

In “Boy Erased,” a young, gay man is forced by his deeply religious parents into what’s known as conversion therapy. Growing up in Oklahoma, Curtis Smith went through years of similar therapy before he was able to accept who he is. And today, he's pastor of Trinity Metropolitan Community Church in Grand Prairie, which serves the LGBT community. Thi…

1
The Big Screen: Texas Vets Talk Vietnam 5:26

5+ y ago5:26

5:26

In a new documentary, seven veterans mostly from Texas detail their experiences in Vietnam - from the draft to boot camp, battle and back home. This week, we talk with the editor of "The Mark of War," who searched through thousands of hours of footage from the war to tell a personal story of people who served. Humanities Texas hosts a free screenin…

1
The Big Screen: Lone Star Film Fesitval 4:28

5+ y ago4:28

4:28

The Lone Star Film Festival begins five days of films Wednesday in Fort Worth. And Gregory Beck is going to be busy. The Fort Worth director has not one but TWO shorts in the fest. His documentary "Buck 'Em" tells the story of a North Texas bullrider making a living on the rodeo circuit. And his narrative film "You're Served" centers on a process s…

1
The Big Screen: '1985' 5:59

6y ago5:59

5:59

In the film “1985,” a young man returns home for the holidays burdened with how he’ll tell his family that he’s dying of AIDS. It’s the latest from Austin resident and former North Texas director Yen Tan, who talks with us about how a story set in the past can inform the present. The film previously played at SXSW and the Dallas International Film …

1
The Big Screen: 'Frankenstein' Gets A Score 4:07

6y ago4:07

4:07

When we watch horror movies, it’s the creepy music that sets us up for the big scares. So it’s notable that one of the original horror movies -- 1931’s “Frankenstein” – doesn’t have any music at all. That changes next week when the Dallas Winds perform a newly conceived score alongside the film. This week we talk about how music works to put us on …

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Big Screen: Modern Cinema Preview 5:07

6y ago5:07

5:07

Oct. 17-21, Moviegoers in Fort Worth will get an early look at some films that will soon be vying for Oscars. This week, we preview Modern Cinema, which runs through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Joining us is Christopher Kelly, the former Fort Worth Star-Telegram movie critic who curated the lineup.…

1
The Big Screen: David Lowery On 'The Old Man And The Gun' 9:16

6y ago9:16

9:16

Robert Redford has said that his new movie, “The Old Man and the Gun,” will be his last. And if that’s true, it means a Dallas director will guide his final performance (which is getting great reviews, BTW). This week, we talk about the experience with the film’s director, David Lowery.

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The Big Screen: A Doc Breaks Down Cruz Vs. O'Rourke 5:37

6y ago5:37

5:37

Ted Cruz and challenger Beto O’Rourke are in the home stretch in their campaign for the U.S. Senate. And while many Texans have their minds made up, a new documentary is taking a nonpartisan look at the race to educate the undecided. This week, we talk with Steve Mims, director of "Run Like the Devil," which screens Oct. 12 as part of Docufest.…

1
The Big Screen: A Local Producer Breaks Big 5:58

6y ago5:58

5:58

In the past few weeks, Dallas Sonnier pulled off an impressive feat by bringing his film "Dragged Across Concrete" to the Venice Film Festival and then turning around a week later and taking "The Standoff at Sparrow Creek" to the Toronto International Film Festival. The producer joins us to talk about sharing those films with the world - and about …

1
The Big Screen: Dance on Film 3:59

6y ago3:59

3:59

From “Singin’ in the Rain” to “Saturday Night Fever,” "Dirty Dancing" and “La La Land,” dance has made its way into countless Hollywood classics. An event this weekend celebrates how these two art forms complement one another, which we talk about with Danielle Georgiou, whose short film and choreography will be featured.…

1
The Big Screen: Frame Of Mind 2018 3:58

6y ago3:58

3:58

Artist Frank Reaugh lived and worked in Dallas through the first half of the 20th Century. And his pictures of longhorn steers roaming the landscape helped to define Texas at the time. This week, we talk about Reaugh’s legacy, the subject of the documentary “Frank Reaugh: Pastel Poet of the Texas Plains.” It airs Thursday night at 10 p.m. on KERA-T…

1
The Big Screen: 'Madeline's Madeline' 5:20

6y ago5:20

5:20

For the last decade, Josephine Decker has made the festival circuit with her short films and documentaries (we first talked with her at SXSW way back in 2009). And now, with her third feature - called “Madeline’s Madeline,” she’s getting the attention of major critics and earning raves in the process. This week, we talk with the Highland Park nativ…

1
The Big Screen: Ethan Hawke Talks 'Blaze' 4:57

6y ago4:57

4:57

Blaze Foley is a name only diehard music lovers are familiar with. But if you’re a fan of Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt or John Prine, you’re a fan of Foley’s. A new movie about the Austin singer-songwriter’s life opens this weekend, and we sat down with its writer, director and native Texan, Ethan Hawke to talk about it.…

1
The Big Screen: 'Hillbilly' 6:22

6y ago6:22

6:22

Appalachia is seen as one of the keys to President Trump’s 2016 victories. And since then, scholars and historians have turned their attention to the often overlooked region. Appalachia and the stereotypes about it are explored in a new documentary called "Hillbilly" playing the Women Texas Film Festival, and this week, we talk with Justina Walford…

1
The Big Screen: 'Never Goin' Back' 6:54

6y ago6:54

6:54

In the “Never Goin’ Back,” a pair of hard-partying teenage girls dream of hitting the beach. Instead, their lives are consumed with keeping their heads above water as they struggle to make rent. The film has made the rounds on the festival circuit, debuting at Sundance before slots at SXSW and the Oak Cliff Film Festival. It's collected some nice r…

1
The Big Screen: 'From Nowhere: The Story Of The Vaughan Brothers' 4:46

6y ago4:46

4:46

Guitar players the world over idolize Stevie Ray Vaughan. But the guitar player he idolized was his big brother, Jimmie. The Oak Cliff natives are the subject of a new documentary called "From Nowhere: The Story of the Vaughan Brothers," and this week we talk with director Kirby Warnock, who covered the duo from their earliest days through their ri…

1
The Big Screen 'Santos Vive' 8:57

6y ago8:57

8:57

Santos Rodriguez was just 12 years old when he was murdered in the backseat of a Dallas Police car. A new documentary called "Santos Vive" marks the 45 anniversary of that day, and this week we talk with its director, Byron Hunter. For more on efforts to memorialize Santos, take a listen to KERA's Stella Chavez's report from earlier this week.…

1
The Big Screen: Asian Film Fest Preview 5:11

6y ago5:11

5:11

Every year, the Asian Film Festival of Dallas shows selections from Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. This year’s festival looks beyond those traditional hotbeds, by including a movie from Kashmir. We preview this year's event, which also includes the repertory favorites "Tokyo Drifter and "Yi Yi."

1
The Big Screen: The Media In The Movies 4:40

6y ago4:40

4:40

“Broadcast News” earned 7 Oscar nominations for its portrayal of the inner-workings of a television newsroom. The movie is part of a local series that looks at how the media is portrayed on screen, and this week we talk about how “Broadcast News” is one of the few that gets it right.

1
The Big Screen: All-Time Texas Movies 5:54

6y ago5:54

5:54

The Houston Chronicle has published a new list of the greatest Texas movies of all time. And if you were expecting, say, “Giant” or “The Last Picture Show” at the top … you’re in for a surprise. This week, we look at the list with one of the critics who put it together.

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The Big Screen: African Film Fest Preview 4:04

6y ago4:04

4:04

The Nigerian film industry – known as Nollywood – is the established hub of the African film world. This weekend, though, North Texas audiences will get a chance to see movies made in Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda and other countries across the continent. This week, we preview the African Film Festival.

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The Big Screen: 'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' 5:24

6y ago5:24

5:24

One of the most important figures in the history of public television is the subject of a new documentary. This week, we talk about the life and times of Fred Rogers and the film "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

1
The Big Screen: Oak Cliff Film Festival 4:14

6y ago4:14

4:14

This week, there are opportunities to see a documentary about a rock ‘n’ roll legend -- and a film from the 1920s accompanied by a live orchestra. They’re playing at the 7th Oak Cliff Film Festival, and we talk about 'em with the team that programmed this year's event

1
The Big Screen: The MPAA's Diversity Czar 4:09

6y ago4:09

4:09

The movie industry is under pressure – both from the public and from within – to become a more-inclusive place. This week, while in town for the recent BookExpo America event in New York City, we grabbed some time with John Gibson, head of the Motion Picture Association of America’s diversity and inclusion initiative, to talk about making movies th…

1
The Big Screen: The Asian Film Power That Calls Plano Home 4:16

6y ago4:16

4:16

One of the country’s major distributors of Asian films is based in Plano. This week, we talk with Doris Pfardrescher, head of Well Go USA Entertainment, about turning a company that began as a dealer of karaoke discs into a major player in the Asian film world.

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The Big Screen: Summer Preview 5:40

6y ago5:40

5:40

If you prefer your hot summers inside the cool air conditioning of a movie theater, there are plenty of good options heading your way. This week, we preview the summer slate - including a slew of North Texas film festivals. And we check in on "Solo," which opens this week.

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The Big Screen: Home Movies And Texas History 5:24

6y ago5:24

5:24

This weekend, North Texas residents will have the opportunity to have their home movies digitized - and contribute to the state’s archives. This week, we talk with the organizer of Spotlight on North Texas about how what's on your old VHS tapes and Super 8 film could help to preserve the area’s history.…

1
The Big Screen: The Return of Bone Thugs N Harmony 3:49

6y ago3:49

3:49

In the mid-1990s, Bone Thugs N Harmony was one of the biggest acts in hip hop, with hits like "The Crossroads" and "1st of tha Month." A new documentary about the group called "Sons of St. Clair" plays the Dallas International Film Festival, and we talk about it with its director.

1
The Big Screen: DIFF Preview 6:36

6+ y ago6:36

6:36

The Dallas International Film Festival begins its eight-day run May 3. We preview this year’s lineup, which includes a documentary about a man who changed the face of public television. Joining us is DIFF artistic director James Faust.

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The Big Screen: 'Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story' 6:15

6+ y ago6:15

6:15

Kevyn Aucoin applied lipstick to Cindy Crawford’s lips, blush to Janet Jackson’s cheeks and mascara to Barbra Streisand’s eyelashes. The go-to makeup artist of the 1990s is the subject of a new documentary playing at the USA Film Festival, and this week we talk about his life and work with Dallas supermodel Chandra North, who sat in his chair on ma…

1
The Big Screen: Thin Line Preview 4:45

6+ y ago4:45

4:45

Denton’s annual Thin Line Fest plays documentaries in an effort to examine the “thin line” between fact and fiction. The festival also features photography and music, and this week we preview the film component with its programmer.

1
The Big Screen: Earth X Film 4:12

6+ y ago4:12

4:12

More than 60 films covering a range of environmental issues will screen in Dallas starting Friday. This week we preview the event with the artistic director of Earth X Film.

1
The Big Screen: Peele, Coogler, DuVernay ... And You? 3:59

6+ y ago3:59

3:59

A filmmaking competition is trying to encourage young, black directors to develop their skills. It's called Gentleman Jack Real to Reel, and it's open to black filmmakers 21 and up. Screenings of the finalists will happen in six cities - including Dallas (date TBA) - and the winner earns $10,000 to further his or her career. All the details on ente…

1
The Big Screen: 'Isle Of Dogs' 5:07

6+ y ago5:07

5:07

Houston native Wes Anderson is known for making quaint, lighthearted films in which the stakes are really never high enough to make the audience sweat. His signature style permeates “Isle of Dogs,” Anderson’s return to stop-motion animation. This week we talk about how Anderson's aesthetic translates to Japan - and about the line between appreciati…

1
The Big Screen: Feminism On Film 4:20

6+ y ago4:20

4:20

As the women’s liberation movement picked up steam in the early 1970s, so too did a wave a feminist filmmakers. This weekend, a selection of those films will play in Richardson, and we talk with its curator, UT-Dallas assistant professor of film and aesthetic studies Shilyh Warren. "Women and the Movies They Make" screens Sunday at the noon at the …

1
The Big Screen: The Media In The Movies 4:42

6+ y ago4:42

4:42

For decades, newsrooms have provided dramatic backgrounds for screenwriters. This week, we talk about a new screening series focusing on how the media is represented in the movies. It's curated by our own Chris Vognar and will screen monthly at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas. Up first is 1952's "Park Row," directed by Samuell Fuller - a newspap…

1
The Big Screen: Bergman At 100 6:26

6+ y ago6:26

6:26

One hundred years ago, one of history’s most influential filmmakers was born not in Hollywood or New York, but Sweden. This week, we talk about the work of Ingmar Bergman, which is the subject of a retrospective showing at the Texas Theatre.

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The Big Screen: And The Winners Will Be ... 5:20

6+ y ago5:20

5:20

Last year’s Academy Awards featured one of the most dramatic moments in the show’s history when best picture was incorrectly awarded to "La La Land" before rightfully being given to "Moonlight." We conclude our Oscars preview with a look at who we think will be taking home trophies on Sunday.

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