To the White Sea

Today we’re joined by writer, researcher, and podcaster Edward Ongweso Jr. to discuss “the essence of The Dialectic,” as a highly-fictionalized Herbert Marcuse proclaims in Hail, Caesar! Dialectics: what are they, what is their function, and how might their theory and praxis manifest multifariously across the Coens’ body of work? We discuss the history of the term, how the concept of keeping two ideas in tension is expressed within individual characters, and we finally tackle the loop-de-loop structure of Inside Llewyn Davis. This conversation is a deep dive and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Ed’s podcast: This Machine Kills Ed’s substack: The Tech Bubble Coens Covered: Hail, Caesar!, Inside Llewyn Davis, A Serious Man, No Country for Old Men, Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, Fargo Plus: No Direction Home Want to join the study group? Follow us on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It really helps the show. And join the Discord too! **You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me

To the White Sea is back to discuss HONEY DON’T!—the slapjacking new film from Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke—and we’re bringing a new episode format to attempt to wrap our minds around this monumental moment.  We’ve gathered some of our favorite minds of filmmaking and film analysis—Melissa Tuckman, Ben Brewer, and Emilio Diaz—for an unrehearsed panel discussion affectionately dubbed The McDunnough Group. We explore important issues of the day including how this new film differs from a Joel and Ethan collaboration, how a more varied filmmaking approach impacts the experience of the viewer, and whether the film successfully defines its moral universe. Thank you so much to all of the panel guests. Special thanks to Focus Features. Coens Covered: Honey Don’t!, Drive-Away Dolls, The Big Lebowski, The Ladykillers, Burn After Reading Plus: Supervixens, Before Sunset, Punch-Drunk Love, Love Lies Bleeding, Death Proof “In livelier precincts, the swells of Dreamland gather to inspect the complicated weave of another piece of gossamer… Another movie, another portion of balm for the ache of a toiling mankind.” Want to join the study group? Follow TO THE WHITE SEA on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. These all really help out the podcast. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** Visit tothewhitesea.me for all the links – and join the Discord too!

Today we’re excited to be joined by Will Menaker and Hesse Deni—cohosts of Movie Mindset, as well as Chapo Trap House and Seeking Derangements respectively—to split the everlasting light of cinema via a prism of great importance: tensions between the old and the young in the films of the Coen brothers. Jumping off from a thrilling duel between Muldrow and the blind swordsman we unpack the trope of The Old Gunslinger vs. The Kid, and from there fan out across a galaxy of cigar-chomping geezers, stoned Bar Mitzvah boys, goldbricking veterans of forgotten wars, and house partying dybbuks. Thank you to Will and Hesse for this life- and movie-affirming conversation! Thank you also to the great Chris Wade for helping setting this up. Coens Covered: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Miller’s Crossing, The Hudsucker Proxy, A Serious Man, The Big Lebowski, Inside Llewyn Davis Plus: Armageddon, The Heart She Holler Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It really helps the show. *You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea* For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Like a seashell to your ear, we are here. In this extra special episode of To the White Sea we are thrilled and honored to welcome Academy Award-winning sound editor Skip Lievsay, who has worked on more Coen brothers movies than the Coen brothers themselves! This paradox wrapped in an enigma will be unraveled along with so much more. Together we listen closely to scenes of “perfect quiet” when the volume of the soundtrack drops down to almost zero, yet it’s in this zone where a whole galaxy of perception may be unlocked. We explore how these quiet scenes build tension, intimacy, tactility, and subjectivity. We also discuss Skip’s fascinating working relationship with the Coens, as well as Martin Scorsese, Terrence Malick, and Darren Aronofsky. Immense thanks to Skip Lievsay, Kyle Miller, Mitchell Wareham, and Nina Leitenberg for their time and effort. Mega special thanks to Kate Sanford making this connection. Coens Covered: Blood Simple, The Big Lebowski, The Man Who Wasn’t There, No Country for Old Men, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Plus: The New World Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Surprise! We're back with a new episode. We jump off from the idea introduced to us by J. Todd Anderson, by way of Alfred Hitchcock, that filmmaking is about two things (and according to J. Todd only these two things): suspense and surprise. We analyze ways in which films create a “burden of knowledge” in the mind of the audience, and how this can dramatically affect the way scenes play out on a screen and behind our eyes. Sometimes you’re ahead of the characters, and sometimes they’re way, way ahead of you. Check us out in the new episode of Blank Check where we kick off their Coen brothers mini series Pod Country for Old Cast with the first film in the Coens ouvre, Blood Simple! Coens Covered: Raising Arizona, No Country for Old Men, Barton Fink, True Grit, Intolerable Cruelty, The Man Who Wasn’t There Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Hello study group! We will be back soon with more mainline episodes of To the White Sea. To tide you over we bring you a delightful side-quest / amuse-bouche. A couple months ago we went on Hit Factory to discuss A Simple Plan, directed by frequent Coens collaborator Sam Raimi. We enjoyed our discussion with Aaron so much, and thought it Coens-adjacent-enough to put it out as a bonus. Hope you enjoy it too! Thanks to Aaron & Carlee for giving us the go-ahead to release this premium episode, and please consider supporting their amazing show on Patreon, which is all about the films and politics of the 1990s. Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

We're on the road! Ray and Jordan step out of the AMC Lincoln Square 13 and give their immediate impressions of Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke's new film DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS while walking the streets of Manhattan. Spoilers are everywhere so you'll want to see the film before diving into this. Thanks in advance for rocking with the "punk rock" audio quality in this special gonzo episode. Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Emerging from a cloud of goose feathers, TTWS returns! Filmmaker Devyn Waitt joins the study group today to discuss INSTINCT, moments in the Coens films that defy logic but somehow make sense on an intuitive, almost physical level. We touch on whether they could be a connection between survival skills and artistic expression, and speculate on the Coens’ writing process, which seems to be where their most free-wheeling moves find their form. We also discuss a scene from Devyn’s feature Not Waving But Drowning which involved getting a horse on a subway train. Coens Covered: A Serious Man, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Miller’s Crossing (the bear version), Barton Fink Plus: Beethoven’s 2nd (1993) - Beethoven destroys patio scene Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Today on the program we start things off with a reality-shattering two pages, then shoot into outer space with our guest, the brilliant production designer Alex DiGerlando. We explore film sets and designed environments that come out of left field and reshape our understanding of what it is we’re watching. We also dive into Alex’s approach to his own work, which he describes as “part muse, part curation.” Rounding things out we also unveil a new prismatic style: the proverbial “lightning” round. Thanks again to Alex for the awesome, mind-blowing conversation! Coens Covered: Raising Arizona, The Hudsucker Proxy, Inside Llewyn Davis, ⚡️The Ballad of Buster Scruggs ⚡️ Plus: Beasts of the Southern Wild, The Sea of Trees, The OA, Maniac, A Murder at the End of the World Watch: A Murder at the End of the World on Hulu Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

We’re back with a delightful conversation about surprisingly chill hangs. Joining us is brilliant writer, director, and dog lover, Robin Comisar. We discuss moments in the Coens’ films where the story sneaks up on you with unexpectedly tender, guileless, and open-hearted scenes. In these moments of connection, characters often go beyond their “type” or “role”. It's weird, it's satisfying, and it's vibey. Thanks again to Robin for joining us!!! WATCH: Great Choice Robin and Loaf Interviewed by The Dogist Coens Covered: The Man Who Wasn’t There; Hail, Caesar!; Fargo; Barton Fink Plus: Amsterdam, Zodiac, Dave, Beetlejuice 2, The Dick Cavett Show, Magnolia, Devil’s Advocate, Great Choice Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

We're back with our first post-hiatus numbered episode and what a show we've got for you. Today we welcome actor, comedian, podcaster and our good friend Griffin Newman to the study group. Griffin walks us through his process as an actor, and what he calls behavioral acting—the use of secondary actions, latent desires, and bottled-up nervous energy to shape a performance and create a character that feels real. It's all about doing two or more things at once, and being as interesting as a cat. On another important note, last week we told the story of the finding of the lost pages, and this week we actually debut the text of a lost page—PAGE 40—which we hope you enjoy!! Coens covered: Burn After Reading, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski Plus: World War Z, Interview with a Vampire, The Tao of Steve, Jurassic Park 3D Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

We're back everybody! After our extended hiatus we couldn't be more excited to be back with this emergency episode. We have the lost pages folks, and to tell the story of how this all happened, we bring you an interview with legendary picture editor Kate Sanford! Hope you enjoy, and are as excited as we are for TTWS Season 2! Stick around after the interview for DISCORD MAILBAG where we answer all of your questions from the Discord. Infinite thanks to Kate Sanford, and thank you also to everyone in the study group for your questions, your patience, and your continued enthusiasm during the break. We are charged up and ready for the next chapter of our journey together. Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Hi everyone! Today we welcome professor, writer, and poet Melissa Tuckman to the study group. First we read pages 37-38 which are, as with last week’s excerpt, truly horrifying. Take heed. Then we jump into the prism and explore the idea of an intertext, which is simply a work which relates in some way to another work. We look at scenes in Coens’ movies where a character or the film itself quotes or evokes another text. This could be a classic work of literature, a folk song, or a 50s Hollywood biblical epic. It’s the same old Coens, but with different meanings since these texts came along. Hope you enjoy this episode; it goes places. Coens Covered: Meal Ticket; Inside Llewyn Davis; Hail, Caesar! Plus: Slaughterhouse Five, *Cat’s Cradle, Ben Hur, Quo Vadis ERRATA: *In the first act of the show Jordan refers to Breakfast of Champions but is actually talking about Cat’s Cradle. He misintertextimated and regrets the error. Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

Hello! We’re back with a deep dive and wild ride through mind-melting, unforgettable images you’ve never seen before, and we’re joined by our friend, the brilliant and infinitely creative production designer Becca Brooks Morrin! We also read pages 35 and 36 and follow Muldrow as his story gets even more intense and horrifically violent—if we haven’t said it yet, we’ll say it here: this screenplay contains shocking and upsetting images and listener discretion is definitely advised. Feel free to skip ahead! Coens Covered: Blood Simple (Investor Trailer), Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, The Man Who Wasn’t There, True Grit Plus: Apocalypse Now, Strawberry Mansion, Skyfall, What the Bleep Do We Know!? (that’s a show notes joke, folks, don’t watch that movie) For more of Becca’s work visit her website. Want to join the study group? Follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about the show, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

In today’s episode we’re joined by multi-disciplinary artist and writer Liz Ryerson. Liz brings her background in music and game design to discuss scenes from the Coens’ movies in which characters drift through the wide world of their story, and in their wanderings—be they pastoral, tacky, gnarly, or urbane—make discoveries without and within. Outro Music: Liz Ryerson - Village Theme Support Liz on Patreon and Bandcamp! Coens covered: Inside Llewyn Davis; Barton Fink; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; No Country for Old Men Plus: Twin Peaks s3e8, No Direction Home, I’m Not There, Mazes and Monsters, Thief, Deus Ex, Zork, Hitman, Prey, Problem Attic, Half-Life If you want to join the study group please follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about it, and leave a rating/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  ***You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea*** For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord!

Today we’re joined by our friend, the mega-talented and ever-thoughtful Benh Zeitlin, director of Glory at Sea, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and Wendy. We’re thrilled to welcome Benh to the study group as we cross the threshold on pages 31-32, and see Muldrow’s journey plummet into action. From here, we break down act breaks, specifically the crucial transition from Act 1 to Act 2. We discuss the confluence of plot and emotional undercurrents in a story, and how the Coens use structure to build striking and surprising narratives. Thanks again to Benh for joining us on this rollicking river ride. Coens covered: Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, Intolerable Cruelty, A Serious Man. Plus: Commando If you're enjoying the study group follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about it, and leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the Discord too!

This is an emergency podcast. We discuss the deluge of Coen brothers headlines including the premiere of the Drive-Away Dolls trailer, and the Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke feature in Empire Magazine which reveals, amongst many fascinating tidbits, that Ethan and Joel Coen are at work on a new project. We also discuss Ray’s new music video for Bonnie “Prince” Billie and pluck some all important pins out of the pinboard in a follow-up to our interview last week with J. Todd Anderson. Ending song: "Mouse and Me" by Paul Korzan Films covered: Drive-Away Dolls, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Chuck Jones: Extremes and InBetweens - A Life in Animation. If you're enjoying the program follow TTWS on social media, tell your friends about it, and leave a rating and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also support the show directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea For all things TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me – and join the *brand new* Discord!

We’re back with an episode we are beyond excited to share with you. Today we’re joined by legendary storyboard artist and key Coens collaborator J. Todd Anderson. Anderson has drawn storyboards for every Coen brothers film since Raising Arizona, as well as The Tragedy of Macbeth and the upcoming Drive-Away Dolls. He also directed The Naked Man which he co-wrote with Ethan Coen. We get into a wide-ranging conversation about telling stories visually, as well as J. Todd’s philosophy on what makes a film or artwork “simple yet elegant”. There’s so much here, you’re going to want to listen and relisten to this one–we for sure will be!  Thanks so much to J. Todd for sharing his time and knowledge with us. If you want to see his work in amazing detail and learn more about the art of storyboarding check out Big Lebowski: The Official Storyboards. Films covered: Raising Arizona, The Man Who Wasn’t There, The Naked Man, No Country for Old Men, Inside Llewyn Davis If you're enjoying the podcast please follow on social media, tell your friends about the show, and rate and review on iTunes. You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea For MERCH and all else TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me

Today we read pages 27-28 and refract the screenplay's beams through a prism called Guiding Lights. Coens characters who are struggling to find their bearings look to maps, mathematics, icons, and guidebooks. Do they get the guidance they seek or are they led down a primrose path? Coens Covered: Barton Fink, Tuileries (short), World Cinema (short), A Serious Man Plus: Climates, Crumb, Dick Tracy TV Specials If you're enjoying To the White Sea please follow us on social media, post about it and tell your friends, and rate/review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  You can also support the show directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea For merch and all else TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me

In today's episode we read pages 25-26 before beaming through the prism with a new and exciting catchphrase. It's all about sneaky, sneaky sneaks. Sneaking around. Sneaking here and sneaking there. Sneaking everywhere. Coens covered: Burn After Reading; Raising Arizona; Hail, Caesar!; Bridge of Spies Plus (of course): SNEAKERS (1992) If you're enjoying To the White Sea please follow us on social media, tell your friends about the show, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us directly at https://ko-fi.com/tothewhitesea For merch and all else TTWS visit tothewhitesea.me