DESIGNERS ON FILM

Sam Potts talks about his comfort movie, Miracle starring Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson. Based on real life events, Miracle tells the story of the American hockey team and the 1980 Olympics Miracle on Ice. Russell plays Coach Herb Brooks, who leads the underdog American hockey team on a challenging journey and through rigorous training and a series of wins, they eventually face the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team. We also discuss the Cold War backdrop looming over the characters and events in the movie, teamwork on and off the ice, and how teamwork and accountability are a part of the design world.-Sam Potts has over two decades of graphic design experience across print and digital media. He brings humanity and personality to a project using voice, elegance, and intelligence to solve visual communication problems, taking the long view while also attending to the details. From his first job editing college textbooks to his wide-ranging career as a graphic/ux designer, the thread that runs through everything is a search for meaningful expression, whether the task at hand is a book jacket, a digital experience, or a hardware store for superheroes that's also a writing center for kids. Sam was the original UX/UI designer (first designer on the Games team) for The New York Times Crossword app. He created signage, packaging, posters, books, branding, and websites for the original Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. and 826NYC. And designed the book and jacket for all three of John Hodgman's humorous books of complete world knowledge. You may have also seen his complete branding of the Independent Film Channel's flagship theater in New York for their IFC Center. When he's not working as a designer, Sam plays left wing for the Geri-Hat-Tricks in his local beer league.https://sampottsinc.com/‍ ‍https://sampottsinc.com/present_tense/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzsbfltdFM-Miracle (2004)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349825/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0_Dm2xlEM‍ ‍-The 1984 USA vs USSR Miracle on Icehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR56GJ05IMs&t=5224s‍ ‍https://www.si.com/olympics/2014/10/28/reminder-what-we-can-be-1980-us-olympic-hockey-team-si-60‍ ‍-Other movies and shows discussed:American Flyers (1985)Breaking Away (1979)Hoosiers (1986)Of Miracles and Men (2015) Quicksilver (1986)Red Army (2014) -Art, books, design, shops discussed:Breaking Away poster, affiliate linkhttps://amzn.to/4a3H9x2Frenchtown Bookshophttps://www.frenchtownbookshop.com/

Brand expert, author, internationally recognized designer, and TEDx speaker Kevin Finn joins the show to talk about Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, Brion James, and Joanna Cassidy. Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is brought back to an elite unit that hunts and retires rogue Replicants, bioengineered beings virtually identical to humans but often used for slave labor. We also discuss the movies Alien and Aliens, as well as Blade Runner 2049 and Barry Lyndon.-Kevin Finn is a brand expert, author, internationally recognized branding designer and TEDx speaker. Having begun his career in Dublin, he later moved to Sydney, where he became Joint-Creative Director of Saatchi Design, part of the Saatchi & Saatchi global network. From 2003-2018 he wrote, edited, and published the independent design journal, Open Manifesto, which included interviews, essays, and conversations with some of the most influential designers and global thinkers, including: Michael Bierut, Milton Glaser, Jessica Walsh, Edward de Bono, Noam Chomsky, ex-CIA operative Larry J. Kolb, and Neil Harbisson, a real-life cyborg, among many others. During a time when weblogs and Tumblrs had overtaken the design landscape Open Manifesto's print publication was a refreshing approach. In 2022, Open Manifesto, An Anthology was published by Formist. In 2007, Finn founded his independent design practice, TheSumOf, in remote Australia before moving to Brisbane in 2010, where he now lives and works. His award-winning book Brand Principles: How to be a 21st Century Brand was published in 2022. He is also founder and creator of DESIGNerd, the trivia app where the most influential designers test your knowledge and share theirs. Finn acknowledges Australia's First Peoples as the original knowledge holders of the Country, paying respect to Elders, both past and present. https://thesumof.com.au/ https://designerd.global/ https://www.instagram.com/just.kevin.finn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-finn-3aa8a33/ -Blade Runner (1982)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/ https://collider.com/blade-runner-tears-in-rain-monologue/ https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_US/inspiration/hong-kong/welcome-ridleyville-hong-kong-inspired-blade-runner.html -Other movies and shows discussed:Alien (1979)Alien: Earth (2025-)Aliens (1986)Barry Lyndon (1975)Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The 2013 movie Her, written and directed by Spike Jonze, stars Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, and Rooney Mara. We see Phoenix as Theodore living an isolated life, occasionally recalling his marriage to Catherine played by Mara. The movie explores loneliness, love, and divorce, as well as technology. When Theodore acquires a new, advanced operating system that is able to relate to him and communicate with him, the Samantha artificial intelligence changes his life. Weber Wong joins the show to talk about the 2013 movie, and we also discuss FLORA, a professional creative tool with all the best text, image, and video AI models on one infinite canvas. Weber started building FLORA to help him make his own art projects at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program, a graduate program focused on using technology to make art. -Weber Wong is the Founder and CEO of FLORA, a professional creative tool with all the best text, image and video AI models on one infinite canvas, which you can connect these together to concept rapidly and build scalable generative media workflows to accelerate your creative workflows. FLORA's aim is to build a creative operating system for the creative team of the future. Since FLORA launched their product, it has been used by hundreds of world-class creative teams (such as Pentagram, Publicis, Denstu, Lionsgate) to accelerate their creative workflows for branding, marketing, and VFX. Weber started building FLORA to help him make his own art projects at NYU ITP, a graduate program focused on using technology to make art. Weber has also been an investor at Menlo Ventures before his forays into creative technology.https://flora.ai/https://weberwong.cargo.site/https://x.com/weberwongwonghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/weberwong/-Her (2013)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709https://www.facebook.com/herthemovie-Other movies and shows discussed:Blade Runner (1982)

Greetings, Programs! Designer, writer, curator, and historian Tim Lapetino, who's the Creative Director at Atari, shares insights about Tron: Ares, which tells the story of two tech giants battling for digital dominance. We also talk about video games, the fantastic Nine Inch Nails music, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel comics, Alien, and artificial intelligence.-Tim Lapetino is an award-winning designer and author who has helped brands tell their stories through design and writing. Tim enjoys working with geeky brands and their passionate fans, telling stories and inspiring generations of collectors, creators, programmers, tastemakers, and artists. His best-selling book, Art of Atari, has been published in four languages, and his writing appears in publications worldwide. https://www.timlapetino.com/https://www.instagram.com/timlapetino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlapetino/-Tron: Ares (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6604188/-Other movies and shows discussed:Alien (1979)Alien: Earth (2025)Batman Beyond (1999-2001)The Mandalorian (2019-)Oblivion (2013)Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)Tron (1982)Tron: Legacy (2010)Tron: Uprising (2012)

Greetings, Programs! Meet designer, writer, curator, and historian Tim Lapetino, who's the Creative Director at Atari. Armed with a passion for digital and visual culture, Tim shares insights about 1982's Tron, its production, sequels, and video games. We also discuss WarGames, classic sci-fi, artificial intelligence, and The Big Lebowski. This episode was originally released for our 1st Season in July 2024 and during this recording, Tim was working on a Visual History of Tron book, in mid-pitch mode.-Tim Lapetino is an award-winning designer and author who has helped brands tell their stories through design and writing. Tim enjoys working with geeky brands and their passionate fans, telling stories and inspiring generations of collectors, creators, programmers, tastemakers, and artists. His best-selling book, Art of Atari, has been published in four languages, and his writing appears in publications worldwide. https://www.timlapetino.com/ https://www.instagram.com/timlapetino/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/timlapetino/ -Tron (1982)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084827/ https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/09/movies/disney-tron.html -Other movies and shows discussed:The Big Lebowski (1998)The Black Hole (1979)The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)Photo Tronology (2011)The Shining (1980)Time After Time (1979)Time Bandits (1981)Tron: Ares (2025)Tron: Legacy (2010)Tron: Uprising (2012-2013)WarGames (1983)

Designing a rave requires planning and patience, it also requires a vision. Get the proper space, the best DJs, and electronic dance music (EDM) that gets people dancing all night and into the early morning, until the last record spins. It's all captured in the movie Groove (2000) which Michael Sinanan fell in love with after the first viewing, not only because EDM has the beats that keep his design process going, but the movie also inspired him to become a DJ himself. Michael talks about what makes the movie so iconic, and touches on the current club and dance culture, from musical tastes, to ticketing and admission, to people being distracted by their phones.-Designer Michael Sinanan loves searching for the big idea, creating visuals and visual worlds that fascinate people, pulling them into a unique experience full of wondrous layers and textures. Based in Toronto, he's the creative director running Brainmetal Design and his 20 years of experience shape impactful visual communications that connect meaningfully with target audiences, aligning with marketing and business objectives. He's insatiably curious about AI and like technology itself, Michael is constantly evolving but always puts clarity and strong visual impact first. Whether building a brand, telling a story, navigating change, or spinning as a DJ, Michael moves with purpose, asks the right questions, and pursues excellence.https://www.brainmetaldesign.com/https://www.instagram.com/brainmetaldesign/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sinanan-3336a86/-Groove (2000)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212974/-Other movies and shows discussed:Clerks (1994)Friday (1995)Go (1999)House Party (1990) Last Days of Disco (1998)Night at the Roxbury (1998)Singles (1992)Swingers (1996)

Omar Diaz and Manny Colon, who work together as handfellas, bring iconic movie moments to life with custom-made puppets, cardboard props, creature designs, and special effects magic. Their puppet-powered parodies include The Matrix, Pulp Fiction, Jaws, and just in time for the holidays, Die Hard. The team brings unapologetic comedy, vintage puppet vibes, and handcrafted absurdity right to your eyeballs, through painstaking craft and an insatiable curiosity.https://www.instagram.com/handfellas/https://www.youtube.com/@HandFellashttps://www.patreon.com/handfellas/-Die Hard (1988)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Lasts_Forever_(Thorp_novel) -Die Hard by handfellashttps://www.instagram.com/p/DSeWijfDrgA/https://www.instagram.com/p/DSjZ1ufjtT3/https://www.instagram.com/p/DSoOnJqjsoS/https://www.instagram.com/p/DSoiz4ujsFs/-James Cameron named Die Hard his favorite action movie during Stephen Colbert's "Questionert."https://youtu.be/7x3Gp2yXuxw&t=354‍ ‍-Other movies and shows discussed:The Dark KnightThe Fifth ElementGoodfellasIndependence DayJawsJurassic ParkLast Action HeroPsychoPulp FictionStaying AliveThe TerminatorTop GunThe Wizard of Oz

What's the best book-to-film adaptation, and could it be Die Hard? Sean McCaul, of Citizen By Design, calls the Bruce Willis action flick his favorite movie. And Sean is in great company, James Cameron has called Die Hard HIS favorite action movie. We also discuss Frank Lloyd Wright, terrorism, Moonlighting and Blind Date, plus 1994's The Crow. For good measure, we get into Batman and Robin and how the comic book detectives connect to Die Hard with a Vengeance, as well as Se7en. Plus, because villains are fun, we touch on Wicked and Cruella. This episode was originally released for Season 1, in July 2024.-Sean McCaul, of Citizen By Design, is a brand-focused creative who helps people bring ideas to life, crafting brands that make businesses stand out.https://citizenbydesign.com/ https://www.instagram.com/citizenbydesign/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/citizenbydesign/ -Die Hard (1988)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Lasts_Forever_(Thorp_novel) -James Cameron named Die Hard his favorite action movie during Stephen Colbert's "Questionert."https://youtu.be/7x3Gp2yXuxw&t=354‍ ‍-Other movies and shows discussed:Avengers: EndgameBatman and Robin Blind DateThe CrowCruellaDeath Becomes HerDie Hard with a Vengeance First BloodPredatorPulp FictionSe7enWicked

This episode is dedicated to Michele Singer Reiner and Rob Reiner, and was originally released for our 1st Season in February 2025. The Princess Bride, based on William Goldmans book with a screenplay by William Goldman, is directed by Rob Reiner. "Romance, comedy, suspense, pirates, mystery, and a quest all blended into a single, action-packed movie? Inconceivable!" No, Vizzini, it exists, and it's The Princess Bride.-Mónica Malavé is a marketing and branding strategist, and CEO of Elevate It Now. Originally from Puerto Rico, she has a passion for design, marketing, and all things creative and is a big believer in "people helping people." Her specialties include branding, social media management, technical and creative marketing, and innovative marketing strategies. She's an Adobe Express Ambassador and also a Marketing Mentor with the American Marketing Association, DC Chapter. A big fan of movies, including but not limited to 2015's Cinderella, Michael Keaton movies like Mr. Mom, Johnny Dangerously, and Batman, she suggested we discuss The Princess Bride, a true gem of a movie.https://www.elevateitnow.com/about-us/‍ ‍https://www.instagram.com/elevateitnow/‍ ‍https://www.threads.net/@elevateitnow‍ ‍-The Princess Bride (1987)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/‍ ‍https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/characters/nm0001597/ https://youtu.be/XCHKYNFH9Lk?si=zcmBVNdsKLMUXTib‍ ‍https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film‍ ‍https://ew.com/movies/2019/09/18/princess-bride-remake-jamie-lee-curtis-cary-elwes/ https://www.npr.org/2025/12/15/nx-s1-5644924/rob-reiner-dead-movies-when-harry-met-sally-stand-by-me-princess-bride‍ ‍https://deadline.com/gallery/the-princess-bride-cast-rob-reiner-tribute/ https://parade.com/news/video-of-rob-reiner-and-father-carl-reiner-recreating-the-princess-bride-goes-viral

Dr. George Ellis, who in addition to being a urologist, is a producer making films, getting them into festivals where he's won plenty of awards. We talk about filmmaking as equal parts design thinking and social experimentation, and why as a producer it's important to have a methodical approach. We discuss his new film Mortal Sin, why theaters matter, and we touch on the Warner Brothers and Netflix deal.-George Ellis, MD is an award-winning filmmaker who has won multiple awards through his production company Coronado Beach Productions at several film festivals. Most recently, George's film Starstruck was selected to be shown at the Central Florida FIlm Festival. George also recently won awards at the Tampa Bay Underground film festival and won the award for best Indie Short Film at the New York Movie Awards for his film The Eden Trials. George's surf documentary, Apres Surf also received an honorable mention at the Jollywood Film Festival. George is currently working on his next film, Mortal Sin and was also a co-producer on the award-winning short film Parallel Lives, which came out in 2024. George is an American Physician and Urologic Surgeon, and has been published numerous times in the scientific literature and now dedicates his medical skills to the under-insured as a volunteer. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15501484/ https://coronadobeachproductions.com/ https://youtu.be/FH36AiDPNnE?si=WcfuL48wb-plUw7s -United Artistshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Artists‍ ‍https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-5/united-artists-created -Other movies and shows discussed:The Eden TrialsStarstruckTed Lasso

"It came for the thrill of the hunt. It picked the wrong man to hunt." Predator (1987) features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and was directed by John McTiernan (who also directed 1988's Die Hard). One by one, the predator hunts and massacres soldiers, and eventually kills a rescue team led by Schwarzenegger's Dutch. Today's guest was so fascinated by the movie that watching it wasn't enough, he had to bring it into the real world, as a playable table-top game. Jesse Shoffstall is a graphic designer who received his design degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. When he's not doing design work, playing games, or re-watching 1987's Predator, you'll find Jesse sitting quietly, listening to death metal through his AirPods.-Jesse Shoffstall is a graphic designer who's been dedicated to creating honest work that inspires others to fully embrace their unique interests, desires, and obsessions in the same way that his own passions have inspired him. In addition to being a designer at Social Design House in South Carolina, Jesse is a collector of hobbies, a proud generalist, and accomplished photographer, and he has a sense of humor and loves fantasy table-top games, stories, and movies. He received his design degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. When he's not doing design work, playing games, or re-watching 1987's Predator, you'll find Jesse sitting quietly listening to death metal through his AirPods.https://www.instagram.com/jesse.shoffstall/ https://www.jesseshoffstall.com/work/ptom‍ ‍https://www.socialdesignhouse.com/‍ ‍-Predator (1987)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093773/‍ ‍-Alien, the stage playhttps://youtu.be/dd8WsQTDdOk -Alien, Flight of the Nostromo gamehttps://amzn.to/4rGqGGZ -ET, Light Years from Home gamehttps://amzn.to/448E8cL -The Thing Infection at Outpost 31 gamehttps://amzn.to/4oDY8LF‍ ‍-Universal Monsters game https://amzn.to/44er4m5 -Other movies and shows discussed:Alien (1979)Alien: Earth (2025-)Alien: Romulus (2024)Aliens (1986)Alien v Predator (2004)Alien v Predator: Requiem (2007)Jurassic Park (1993)The Predator (2018)Predator: Badlands (2025)Predators (2010)-URLs for products sold on Amazon are affiliate links

What am I thankful for this holiday season? Dan Trachtenberg's Prey from 2022. Diane Faye Zerr, who has never been a Predator fan, talks about how much she enjoyed 2022's Prey, savoring every minute of Naru in action, "She doesn't have assault rifles, she doesn't have grenades," says Diane. We also talk about the next movie in the saga, the recently released Predator: Badlands, starring Elle Fanning. Plus, dogs in movies, rights of passage for heroes, sequels as pure money makers, 1979's Alien, the erstwhile smoking sections in theaters, and Alien: Earth. This episode was recorded in October 2024, released last year for Season 1.-Diane is a graphic designer specializing in lettering and illustration. Her hand-drawn designs have been seen in Inked magazine and Tattoos for Women magazine, and various websites dedicated to outstanding stationery designs. Get 50% off of everything in her Etsy shop until Monday Dec. 1st, 2025.https://fayeandco.etsy.com-Prey (2022)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11866324 https://amzn.to/4rgVLRn (affiliate link)https://www.emmys.com/shows/prey -Predator DVD 4-movie collectionhttps://amzn.to/3M2S1Tr (affiliate link)-Other movies and shows discussed:Alien (1979)Alien: Earth (2025)Predator (1987)Predator: Badlands (2025)

The 2025 Predator: Badlands movie takes the Predator and Yautja mythology into a new, unforeseen realm. Dek, who's ridiculed, persecuted, and then banished from his family, winds up on a strange planet where he befriends a synthetic organism played by Elle Fanning, known as Thia. She has a punk look with a new wave, futuristic charm. Thia and Dek team up to battle monsters and the greedy, evil Weyland-Yutani Corporation, with Elle playing a second synthetic organism known as Tessa. Susie Glass, makeup designer on Badlands, talks about the concepts behind the characters, early mornings on set, the importance of teamwork, and why caring for the actors is of the utmost importance.-Susie Glass is a New Zealand-born hair and makeup designer based in Auckland who's become known for her versatility and leadership with a portfolio that includes feature films, streaming series, and high-end television. With over 30 years of experience, she's dedicated herself to high-quality storytelling and strong craft skills, meeting a variety of demands across a range of genres and screens. As makeup designer on Predator: Badlands, Susie and her team brought a variety of characters to life, from rough ideas to proof of concept to production, including but not limited to synths Thia and Tessa, portrayed by Elle Fanning. Susie is a three-time New Zealand Film and Television Award winner, and her art, craft, and design reflect a dedication to collaboration and storytelling, and most importantly, an understanding of the unique demands of screen work at the highest levels. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322007/https://www.instagram.com/susiesparkle67/-Predator: Badlands (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31227572/-Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36463894/-Prey (2022)https://www.emmys.com/shows/prey-Other movies and shows discussed:Alien: EarthA Rainy Day in New York (2019)

In the 2016 documentary The Happy Film, designer Stefan Sagmeister started the film's creative process with one set of expectations and ultimately became a co-director who took multiple risks, and suffered a tremendous loss. During the filmmaking, co-director Hillman Curtis passed away. Stefan's movie about happiness not only forces us to look at his life but also our own lives with a fresh perspective, and it teaches us the importance of coping with harsh, tragic, and unforeseen realities.-Stefan Sagmeister is an Austrian designer living and working in New York. He received his MFA from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, and as a Fulbright Scholar he earned his MFA in communication design from The Pratt Institute. In 2025 he received an honorary degree from Pratt, the Doctor of Fine Arts, for being a creative and innovative leader in the field. He's also been honored by the AIGA, received a National Design Award from the the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and exhibited his solo and collaborative designs internationally. Early in his career, Stefan brought new life to music packaging with his memorable, interactive designs for albums by the Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and David Byrne, among others, winning two Grammy Awards. His work is in multiple permanent collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, and he is the author of "Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far" a blend of visual whimsy, serious plan, and sound advice. https://sagmeister.com/‍ ‍https://www.grammy.com/artists/stefan-sagmeister/9972‍ ‍https://www.moma.org/artists/30682-stefan-sagmeister‍ ‍-The Happy Film (2016)rent/buy @ Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3WIdnb6‍ ‍https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5134870/‍ ‍-Sagmeister's "Now Is Better"https://amzn.to/4hP4J49‍ ‍-Sagmeister's "Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far"https://amzn.to/49UmPzD‍ ‍-Other movies and shows discussed:Comedian (2002)

Movies and guests coming soon! Stefan Sagmeister who talks about his documentary The Happy Film (2006), plus plenty of other awesome guests COMING SOON!Get ready for upcoming episodes. WATCH NOW!The Happy Film (2016) with Stefan Sagmeister-https://sagmeister.com/rent or purchase The Happy Film @ Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3WIdnb6Amelie (2002) with Zipeng Zhu-https://www.instagram.com/zzdesign/rent or purchase Amelie @ Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3LrsvY0Then, our next episodes, listed alphabetically.Blade Runner (1982) with Kevin Finn-https://thesumof.com.au/Arrival (2006) with Debbie Millman-https://designmattersmedia.com/Her (2013) with Weber Wong-https://weberwong.cargo.site/Moon (2009) with Andy Pratt-https://andyprattdesign.com/Tron (1982) with Tim LapetinoTron: Ares (2025) with Tim Lapetino-https://www.instagram.com/timlapetino/

In a previous episode, illustrator and graphic designer Daisy Koenig talked about what makes David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) so appealing, and explained why the movie is always on a constant rotation in the back of her mind. In this bonus episode, she talks about other Cronenberg movies that have left a mark.-Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Charleston, SC. She just finished painting her first mural for the software engineering company Modus21 and continues to illustrate for a variety of clients.https://daisykoenig.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisykoe/https://www.instagram.com/daisykoenigart/-The Fly (1986) with Daisy Koenig [full episode]https://open.spotify.com/episode/6YBTXs0kpX7wGfIxQbHRnl?si=gxVVTLj7Qc-tRtXlLeeS4ghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designers-on-film/id1758203056?i=1000734355230https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3fbee5b6-f988-436f-889e-0d740fd8969d/episodes/705466c1-ea73-425f-aabc-a2d4a75069b9/designers-on-film-the-fly-1986-with-daisy-koenig-The Fly (1986)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906901/awards/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Langelaanhttps://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8971-mutation-as-metaphor-body-horror-s-visceral-transformationshttps://collider.com/the-fly-david-cronenberg-production-history-explained/https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/23/the-fly-mel-brooks-david-cronenberg/https://www.slashfilm.com/887903/david-cronenberg-and-mel-brooks-had-very-different-visions-for-the-fly-2/-Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical listChallengers (2024)Crash (1996)Crimes of the Future (2022)Dead Ringers (1988)The Fly II (1989)Multiplicity (1996)Saltburn (2023)Scanners (1981)Videodrome (1983)

David Cronenberg's The Fly (1986) stars Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, a brilliant scientist who creates a teleportation process using telepods. Geena Davis, who was Goldblum's real-life partner during the filming, plays the ambitious journalist Veronica who falls in love with Brundle. Coming in at approximately an hour and 36 minutes, Cronenberg's remake of the 1958 movie (which was based on a 1957 short story) packs a lot in, getting right to the mad scientist's lab then plenty of body horror, experiments with flesh, and a bizarre transformation. Brundle, who teleports himself during a drunken pity party, did so with a fly on board. Since the computer doesn't know what to do with these two separate entities, it fuses them, resulting in Brundlefly, and utter tragedy. Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, talks about what makes Cronenberg's The Fly so memorable and why unhappy endings are the best kind.-Daisy Koenig, a graduate of Winthrop University's design program, is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Charleston, SC. She just finished painting her first mural for the software engineering company Modus21 and continues to illustrate for a variety of clients.https://daisykoenig.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/daisykoe/https://www.instagram.com/daisykoenigart/-The Fly (1986)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/https://people.com/movies/geena-davis-says-short-marriage-jeff-goldblum-was-magical-exclusive/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000343/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0486228/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Langelaan-Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical listAlien (1979)Beetlejuice (1988)The Brood (1979)Call Me by Your Name (2017)Cosmopolis (2012)Dead Ringers (1988)eXistenZ (1999)The Fly (1958)Frankenstein (2025)The Fury (1978)Hereditary (2018)Hostel (2005)The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)Saw (2004)Scanners (1981)Spider (2002)Videodrome (1983)Wicked (2024)

Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance stay at The Overlook Hotel, caring for the estate during its off-season period. Jack has been outlining a new writing project and believes that five months of peace is just what's needed, but all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Fortunately, Danny has been mentored by Dick Hallorann, who provides cautionary advice and special instructions such as, "Stay out of Room 237," guidance that helps Danny stay one step ahead of dangers that lie within The Overlook, helping Danny evade the horrors that his father Jack will unleash. Designer, brand strategist, and writer Chris Cureton talks about what makes Stanley Kubrick's The Shining a perfect horror movie, and why writing in and of itself can sometimes be a scary endeavor.-Designer, brand strategist, and writer Chris Cureton helps executive teams move from confusion to clarity. His forthcoming book, The Five Laws of Brand Design, is a field guide for aligning product, marketing, and sales around one powerful, unified strategy. With nearly 20 years of experience, he's assisted leadership teams by helping them cut through complexity, clarifying their unique value, and confidently going to market. He loves helping CEOs, CMOs, CROs, and COOs build one clear strategy, creating actionable steps for teams.https://chriscureton.com https://chriscureton.com/the-five-laws-of-brand-design-book https://www.instagram.com/chriscureton -The Shining (1980)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/ https://www.afi.com/news/afi-movie-club-the-shining/https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-shining/https://youtu.be/U8wxjIecmD4?si=mhwfxDBqNZuoXRy6&t=292 https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/saul-bass-the-shining -Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical listThe Book of Boba Fett (2021)Black Panther (2018)The Exorcist (1973)Get Out (2017)Hostel (2005)The Mandalorian (2019-)Poltergeist (1982)Room 237 (2012)John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)Tron (1982)US (2019)

For Zac Lim Eubank, there's only one movie that delivers exceptional sound design, calculated editing, and non-stop tension, and it's Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure. Random acts of violence seem to follow a mysterious, wandering man who appears ghost-like but is very grounded in reality.-Zac Lim Eubank is Chief Creative Officer at Hyper Rabbit Media, an award-winning video production, interactive, and livestreaming studio. He heads up the creative development and technical direction for Hyper with his wife and CEO Malika Lim Eubank and their full service production company is experienced with livestreaming, virtual production, motion control, scripted or unscripted productions, events coverage, original content creation, and audience engagement and gamification. Zac has over 10 years of creative leadership with video production and community strategy for such clients as Microsoft, Amazon, Nintendo, Twitch, AMC Networks, Mapquest, and more. His prior work includes showrunning Legendary Digital's Geek and Sundry Twitch channel, working with several of Hollywood's top talent. https://www.hyperrpg.com/https://www.instagram.com/hyperrpg/https://www.instagram.com/zaceubank/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-lim-eubank-b62568129/-Cure (1997)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123948/ https://letterboxd.com/director/kiyoshi-kurosawa/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/movies/kiyoshi-kurosawa-primer.html https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/03/movies/film-in-review-cure.html-Allegory of the Cavehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave-Collectivismhttps://sites.psu.edu/global/2018/11/04/4908/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170118-how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways-Franz Mesmer, mesmerismhttps://exhibits.stanford.edu/super-e/feature/franz-anton-mesmer-1734-1815 -Violence in Filmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_film https://www.imdb.com/list/ls076483352/ -Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical listChime (2024)Dead Ringers (1988)Heat (1995)Pulse (2001)SE7EN (1995)Smile (2022)

Catalina Z. Olvera recalls seeing Weapons in a jam-packed theater, and observing the movie's villain Aunt Gladys for the first time. We also talk about the difference between seeing a horror movie late at night on a small screen in the darkness of your den, or watching it on the big screen with friends and family, as well as strangers, surrounding you. Plus, we reflect on the way design factors into the investigative work Archer does through observations, drawing with a pen and ruler, and ultimately the diagrammatic reveal.-Catalina Z. Olvera is a Charlotte-based designer and illustrator who combines strategy, storytelling, and artful design to create work that feels intentional and full of character. She studied Visual Communication Design at Winthrop University and now works at Yellow Duck Marketing, shaping brand systems and crafting custom illustrations. Her experience spans nonprofit initiatives, sustainable beer branding like Renew Brew, and local signage in East Charlotte. A dedicated thrifter, film fan, traveler, and collector of oddities, she has been fascinated by horror since age eight. The 2004 horror film Saw remains a guilty pleasure because nothing says “form and function” quite like a well-designed trap. She is always on the lookout for the unusual, the weird, and the wonderfully unexpected.https://www.yellowduckmarketing.com/about-yellow-duck-marketing/catalina-olvera/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designers-on-film/id1758203056?i=1000671582112 -Weapons (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26581740/ https://newuniversity.org/2025/08/23/a-convoluted-review-of-zach-creggers-weapons/ https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/weapons-zach-cregger-interview-1235398084/ -The Woodford Slasherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Joubert_(serial_killer) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-woodford-slasher/id1618014949?i=1000598177430 https://www.aetv.com/articles/serial-killer-myths -Other movies and shows discussed, alphabetical listBarbarian (2022)The Conjuring (2013)Dead Silence (2007)Hereditary (2018)Prisoners (2013)Saw (2004)Sinners (2025)Smile (2022)Stranger Things (2016-2025)