Digest

The Bechdelcast celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its journey from a hobby to a network show and its evolution alongside personal growth and industry shifts. The hosts discuss their meeting, the podcast's various "eras," and the transition to remote recording during the pandemic. They share insights on Hollywood trends, the challenges of separating art from artists, and their favorite films covered. The episode also touches on future plans, including a 10-year anniversary tour, and promotes their Patreon community.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Bechdelcast: A Decade of Feminist Film Analysis

The podcast celebrates its 10th anniversary, reflecting on its origins and the progress made in gender issues. It features a Q&A session with its hosts, Caitlin and Jamie, drawing questions from their "Matriarch" community (Patreon supporters). The hosts share how they met over 13 years ago and discuss the podcast's evolving "eras," acknowledging its growth alongside their personal development and the changing times.

00:06:37

From Hobby to Network: The Bechdelcast's Journey

The hosts describe the podcast's early "hobby era" and its transition to being picked up by a network, marking a significant shift in its trajectory. They contrast the niche beginnings of podcasting with its current mainstream status and discuss the impact of the pandemic, which necessitated a move to remote recording but also opened doors for international guests. The podcast's focus has also evolved from primarily comedy to incorporating more research.

00:13:59

Evolving Dynamics and Audience Engagement

The hosts discuss how their roles and perspectives have evolved, moving from an initial dynamic where one host had significantly more movie experience to a more balanced approach. They also touch upon the evolution of their live show format and movie selection, prioritizing engaging films for the audience. The process of finding and selecting podcast guests is explained, clarifying that guests typically choose their own movies to discuss.

00:20:10

Hollywood Trends and Film Discussions

The hosts delve into their favorite and least favorite Hollywood trends of the 2020s, appreciating indie comedies and films addressing class issues while disliking the industry's response to labor issues and the rise of AI. They express equal enjoyment in discussing both critically acclaimed and "horrendous" movies, finding joy in the process regardless of the film's quality. Their discussions have broadened their perspectives on various movie genres.

00:31:32

Navigating Art, Artist, and Personal Preferences

The hosts tackle the complex issue of separating a movie from its creators, acknowledging personal struggles with this concept, especially with nostalgic films made by problematic individuals. They share their favorite movies covered on the podcast and seen for the first time, and express a desire to re-cover early podcast episodes with their current, more nuanced understanding. They also discuss specific movies they would refuse to cover due to personal dislike.

00:48:52

Fan Engagement and Future Plans

Responding to fan questions, the hosts express enthusiasm for covering the movie "Wicked" and discuss the "Shrek" franchise. They play a game of "Merry Fuck Kill" and announce plans for a 10-year anniversary tour later in the year. The episode concludes with host updates on personal projects and a promotion for their Patreon community.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did the hosts of The Bechdelcast meet?

  The hosts, Caitlin and Jamie, met over 13 years ago at a comedy show in Boston. They initially admired each other's comedic talent from afar and later reconnected in Los Angeles before starting the podcast.

• What are some of the different "eras" The Bechdelcast has gone through?

  The podcast has evolved from an early "hobby era" where they lost money, to becoming a network show, adapting to remote recording during the pandemic, and shifting focus from pure comedy to incorporating more research.

• What Hollywood trends of the 2020s do the hosts like and dislike?

  They appreciate the resurgence of indie comedies and films addressing class issues. They dislike the industry's response to labor issues and the increasing use of AI, which they feel has led to a decline in quality.

• How do the hosts approach the idea of separating the artist from the art?

  It's a complex issue for them. While they acknowledge problematic creators, they generally avoid spending money on works by "bad people." They believe in acknowledging issues but don't necessarily advocate for complete dismissal of the art.

• What are some movies the hosts would like to re-cover from earlier in the podcast's run?

  They'd like to revisit films like "The Wizard of Oz," "Clueless," "Mean Girls," "Dirty Dancing," "Thelma & Louise," "American Psycho," and "Titanic," believing they can now discuss them with more insight.

• Are there any specific movies The Bechdelcast would refuse to cover?

  While most films are fair game, they have explicitly stated they would not cover "The Polar Express" or movies about stand-up comedians, finding them personally annoying or skin-crawling.

• What are the hosts' favorite movies they've covered or seen this year?

  Jamie's favorite movie covered and seen this year is "Amadeus." Caitlin enjoyed films like "Sorry Baby," "Twinless," and "Shin Godzilla," and they both loved covering the "Before Trilogy."

• What are the hosts' plans for a 10-year anniversary tour?

  They are planning a 10-year anniversary tour for later in the year. Details are still being finalized, but they promise a more substantial celebration than previous shorter tours.

• How has the podcast industry changed since The Bechdelcast began?

  The hosts note that podcasting was much more niche in its early years compared to its current mainstream status. They also discuss the impact of the pandemic on recording methods and the broader growth within the industry.

• What is the role of the "Matriarch Community" in supporting The Bechdelcast?

  The "Matriarch Community" refers to their Patreon supporters who contribute financially to the show and, in return, receive exclusive benefits such as bonus episodes and access to the back catalog. They are also the source of many questions for the Q&A episodes.

Show Notes