Claim OwnershipThe SchmearCast
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Conversations with the best filmmakers and actors in the business
120 Episodes
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YEESH! Is this the darkest episode of 'Industry' yet?The Titans—Schmear, Sena, and Jesse—parse Industry S4 E4, "1000 Yoots, One Marilyn."The trio dive into such topics as Muck's big moment, Rishi's plight, Hayley's heel turn, Dyker's quagmire, and Whitney's soul (or lack thereof). They wrap up by analyzing the worst drug sesh ever (44:20)—though the music was on point—before doing "Stock Up" and "Stock Down." (59:55)Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena Adjei, Jesse AaronsonProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Guten Tag aus Österreich!Schmear, Sena, and Jesse—the Titans of Industry—take a trip to Austria to break down Industry S4 E3, "Habseligkeiten."Things get weird and steamy there for Yas and Henry Muck with some new friends. The trio breaks down the awkward visit, that key scene with Kiernan Shipka's Hayley, and what it all amounts to. Care to discuss some Weimar-era landscape painting?They also discuss what's happening over at SternTao™ and assess Harper Stern's (Myha'la) less than agreeable behavior. Wrapping up with "Stock Up" and "Stock Down" (43:01).Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena Adjei, Jesse AaronsonProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
"Shine your shoes, boys."Schmear, Sena, and Jesse—The Titans of Industry—return to break down Industry S4 E2 "The Commander and the Grey Lady."They dive into Henry Muck's (Kit Harington) dark night of the soul, discussing ghostly Christmas themes and bold formal choices, and break down why this daring hour-long episode feels like a movie. Take a shot for each time they say "Barry Lyndon," and you'll be on the floor by episode's end. Then it's "Stock Up" and "Stock Down" before deciding where this hour ranks in terms of iconic Industry christmas episodes (36:37). Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena Adjei, Jesse AaronsonProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
For the run of our favorite series, Industry, the NO NOTES podcast is now "The Official Unofficial Industry Podcast."Schmear, Sena Adjei, and Jesse Aaronson, aka "The Titans of Industry," are back covering the brilliant HBO financial drama from Creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down. For Episode 1, "The PayPal of Bukkake," they unpack new characters played by the likes of Max Minghella and Kiernan Shipka, break down the newly introduced company Tender and check in on fan favorites like Harper Stern and Eric Tao. The Titans wrap up with some stock-up, stock-down as they look forward to Episode 2 (37:21).Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena Adjei, Jesse AaronsonProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
The 100th episode, and a GREAT one too. Schmear and Sena count down their Top 10 favorite movies of 2025 before being joined by the director of 'No Other Choice,' Park Chan Wook and the film's star, Lee Byung Hun. Intro (00:00)Top 10 Countdown (8:07)Honorable Mentions (39:39)'No Other Choice' Director Park Chan Wook (44:50)'No Other Choice' Star Lee Byung Hun (49:46)-Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena AdjeiGuests: Park Chan Wook, Lee Byung HunProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Charlie Polinger, director of the brilliant new adolescent psychological thriller 'The Plague,' joins the show. This debut is a blistering, anxiety-inducing look at hazing rituals between tweenage boys at a water polo camp in 2003. Polinger discusses his NO NOTES perfect movie, how both The Shining and Full Metal Jacket served as influences, talks his castmembers including Joel Edgerton and Kayo Martin, and much more. Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena AdjeiGuest: Charlie PolingerProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Abel Ferrara, director of such jaw-dropping classics as 'King of New York' and 'Bad Lieutenant,' sits down to discuss his brilliant, stormy career and his thoughts on filmmaking.We dive into his reaction to watching 'The Shining' for the first time, his friendship and collaborations with Willem Dafoe, how he wrangles such talented performers, and even his new role opposite Timothée Chalamet in 'Marty Supreme.' Abel’s new memoir, 'Scene,' is available now from Simon & Schuster. Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena AdjeiGuest: Abel FerraraProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Kleber Mendonça Filho, director of the new Neon film The Secret Agent, sits down and shares his NO NOTES perfect movie, working with star Wagner Moura, and the films that influenced The Secret Agent, before revisiting some of his most iconic Letterboxd reviews. Hosts: Gabriel Frieberg, Sena AdjeiGuests: Kleber Mendonça FilhoProducers: Pavlo Melnyk, Gabriel FriebergMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
A spoiler-free sprint through fall’s biggest and best TV shows and movies. Schmear is back—joined by Jesse Aronson—and the two put seven minutes on the clock for a speed-round tour through the season’s standout titles.-TASK (7:36)-The Lowdown (14:18)-The Chair Company (20:51)-Nobody Wants This (27:10)-Pluribus (33:20)-One Battle After Another (41:20)-Bugonia (47:27)They close out with what they’re most excited to watch before year’s end (53:25)SchmearCast is back.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Jesse AaronsonProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
'Jaws' turns 50 and is back on IMAX screens this weekend!To celebrate, Schmear and Sena Adjei are joined by legendary documentarian Laurent Bouzereau for a deep dive into both 'Jaws' and his new documentary, 'Jaws @ 50' (4:22).They discuss Steven Spielberg’s PTSD while making the original film, whether Laurent sees any modern equivalents to Spielberg, his favorite scene in 'Jaws,' and much more.After that, the conversation turns to Brian Raftery—author, podcaster, and creator of the new Ringer podcast series 'Mission Accomplished,' which explores the movies of the George W. Bush era (30:27).It’s a scintillating talk about films like 'Michael Clayton,' 'Zodiac,' and 'Anchorman'; where big-budget comedies went; whether superhero movies ruined everything; and what Brian set out to uncover with his latest series.Two great conversations, two brilliant guests. Dive in.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Laurent Bouzereau, Sena Adjei, Brian RafteryProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Alex Russell, writer and director of the new psychological drama thriller 'Lurker,' joins the pod!First up, resident FX expert Teddy Kim stops by to vivisect Noah Hawley's 'Alien: Earth' (3:45). Teddy and Schmear discuss what's working and what's not through the first 3 episodes, assess the performances, and talk about how Episode 3, "Metamorphosis," was a step in the right direction for the series.After that, Alex Russell helps unpack what a "lurker" means to him as he talks about his brilliant new film and the performances of his leads Theodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe, what he thinks about parasocialism, and his time working on 'Dave' and 'The Bear' (32:25).Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Teddy Kim, Alex RussellProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Weapons writer and director Zach Cregger, as well as the film’s production designer Tom Hammock, join The SchmearCast!Before that, Schmear is joined by horror expert Rachel Lydia Barker to review Weapons. They start by discussing Zach Cregger’s earlier work, Barbarian, before diving into what works and what doesn’t in the new film, assessing the performances, and getting into spoiler territory about its meaning.After that, Zach Cregger shares on-set wisdom, his feelings about The Shining and Magnolia, working on the upcoming Resident Evil movie, and more.Lastly, Tom Hammock discusses his influences in building out the world of Weapons, names the movie he considers to have the most inspiring production design, and shares anecdotes from working on films like X and Pearl.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Rachel Lydia Barker, Sena Adjei, Zach Cregger, Tom HammockProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Ari Aster's latest film, 'Eddington,' is pissing A LOT of people off.But on this episode, Schmear is joined by Karsten Runquist to discuss why they think this Joaquin Phoenix / Pedro Pascal neo-western is so brilliant. They talk about Ari Aster's career up to this point (14:52) and the brutal reception of 'Eddington' at Cannes (20:37) before diving into the movie's themes, what works, what doesn't, and delving into Austin Butler and Emma Stone's performances (37:10). They wrap up by sharing some other ''Eddington'-adjacent recommendations (45:12) before Karsten shares 3 overlooked movies from the year so far (47:12).Then, Alison Sivitz (Bald Ann Dowd) returns to the show to talk about Lena Dunham's new rom-com series 'Too Much,' starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe (49:05). She and Schmear assess why they loved the series and why everyone should be watching it.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Karsten Runquist, Alison SivitzProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
It’s a bird, it’s a plane—it’s a...divisive new 'Superman' movie?Schmear is joined by Sean Byrne (Modern Mythos) and Brock Engi (Movie Talk with Brock) to break down James Gunn’s much-anticipated 'Superman,' starring David Corenswet as the Big Blue Boy Scout. They share headline thoughts and discuss the meaning of the Superman character before debating what works and what doesn’t in the new film and the tricky tightrope Gunn walks in rebooting the DCU. They wrap up by discussing what's in DC's pipeline and assess how Marvel’s 'Fantastic Four ' might stack up in just a couple of weeks.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Brock Engi, Sean ByrneProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Seems like no one’s talking about Season 4 of 'The Bear.'Schmear is joined by Jesse Aaronson and Lauren Brodauf to unpack why that might be, while also sharing their big-picture thoughts on the season. Then they dive into a full episode-by-episode breakdown, including the Ayo Edebiri-led 'Worms' (33:17) and the big wedding moment in 'Bears,' (52:11) featuring a standout scene from Jeremy Allen White and Bob Odenkirk.After digging through the season, the trio looks ahead and asks, where does the show go from here? (1:16:36)Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Jesse Aaronson, Lauren BrodaufProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Brad Pitt stars in ''F1'—loud, shiny, and fast—but is it a good movie? Schmear and writer/critic—and Formula One expert—Iana Murray rev up to debate Joseph Kosinski’s (Top Gun: Maverick) latest film. They discuss the impact and attraction of the sport before diving into the film, arguing about Brad Pitt’s star wattage, discussing supporting performances from Kerry Condon, Damson Idris, and Javier Bardem, and questioning whether the racing was portrayed in an exciting enough way.They wrap up by giving some other racing recs if you leave 'F1' with the need for speed.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuest: Iana MurrayProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
The rage virus returns!Danny Boyle and Alex Garland re-team for ’28 Years Later,’ and Schmear hosts Marta Djordjevic (Rewind & Revive) in an in-depth conversation covering everything you need to know about the film. They first discuss zombie films (7:10) and their significance, then talk through the careers of Boyle and Garland (10:24) before analyzing both ’28 Days’ and ’28 Weeks Later’ (14:34) and their impact on the genre. They then dive into ’28 Years Later’ in its entirety (23:00), discussing the plot, filmmaking, performances, and why it’s such a surprising, fresh blockbuster that subverts expectations. Wrapping up, they discuss its reception, box office, and if they are looking forward to its sequel, “The Bone Temple” (58:55).Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Marta DjordjevicProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Schmear is rejoined by Alison Sivitz—aka Bald Ann Dowd—to dive into one of the most divisive movies of the year: 'Materialists,' the new Celine Song rom-com (or is it?) starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans.They discuss the rom-com genre (3:38), break down what works and what doesn’t (9:48), and discuss the film’s strange and extreme reception (45:57). Schmear wraps by asking Sivi about the masterpiece movies she's been watching since she was last on the show for White Lotus coverage (56:04).Then, Schmear is joined by Jason Keller, creator and showrunner of the hit Apple TV+ comedy 'Stick,' starring Owen Wilson—and screenwriter of 'Ford v Ferrari.' (1:00:55) Schmear asks about working with Owen Wilson, how Keller promotes cast chemistry on set, and his thoughts on golf overall. They finish with a lightning round of rapid-fire questions (1:16:39), including what makes a good dad movie—and Jason’s favorite sports movie of all time.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Alison Sivitz, Jason KellerProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
Schmear is joined by Ezgi Eren, creator of the excellent 11am Saturday questionnaire, for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of moviegoing in 2025. They trace the origins of her newsletter and unpack some of the best responses she’s received—favorite snacks, ideal showtimes—before diving into the electric energy currently powering theatrical culture.Together, they break down what’s working for theaters (and what’s not), compare moviegoing in LA and New York versus the rest of the country, unpack the bizarre Minecraft release, and analyze how Gen Z is reshaping their relationship to movies—both online and in theaters—through platforms like Letterboxd and Film Twitter.Then, Ezgi flips the script and has Schmear fill out her own questionnaire—prompting some unpredictable answers to questions like “What movie world would you want to live in?” and “Which movie do you wish you saw on the big screen?” Schmear closes by turning the tables again, asking Ezgi for a few spicy movie hot takes of her own.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Ezgi ErenProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
New Wes Anderson! Jesse Armstrong’s first project since Succession! And Gen Z’s answer to Girls?Schmear, Sena Adjei, and Jesse Aaronson dig into all of that. Up first, they discuss Wes Anderson’s latest, 'The Phoenician Scheme. ' (2:04) They start off talking about how and why Wes is such a lightning rod before diving into their favorite moments in the film and judging the performances of Benicio Del Toro and Michael Cera, among others.After that, they dive into the new HBO film 'Mountainhead,' (25:30) a dark satirization of tech billionaires. They debate why the film is working for some but bumping for others, which performance stood out most, and what Jesse Armstrong should skewer next.Lastly, the trio assesses 'Adults' (47:16), the new FX comedy series in the vein of generational comedies like 'Broad City' and 'Friends,' about 20-somethings living on top of each other in NYC. They discuss why it feels so fresh, the amazing cast chemistry, and where they want the show to go in its hopeful second season.Host: Gabriel FriebergGuests: Sena Adjei, Jesse AaronsonProducer: Pavlo MelnykMusic: Justin FriedmanWATCH ON YOUTUBEYouTubeFOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIALetterboxdInstagramTikTok
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