Film Club Fun & Being A Travel Influencer
Our Very First Film Club!
The Film Nuts Podcast has evolved from what it originally was. Initially, it was a way to connect with people during lockdown. Then I added a Discord server to chat with my audience, followed by watch-a-longs every Monday, and last Wednesday we had our first-ever Film Nut Club! Six of us across three time zones met via Discord to chat about John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). As host, I started off our meeting by giving some brief background on the film, then I guided our 90-minute conversation down different paths ranging from what the titular “Thing” could represent, how themes of isolation work so well in the horror genre and our visceral reactions to the film’s impressively disgusting creature effects. It was so much fun to hear everyone’s opinions on the movie, and it was heart-warming to witness attendees expand upon topics each other brought up. A truly collaborative discussion that I can not wait to replicate next month!
If you’re interested in joining our little Film Nut Club, you can do so for free by just visiting The Nut House Discord server! With November’s movies focusing on food and drink, our next meeting will be about Alexander Payne’s Sideways (2004). It’s one of my favorite movies of all time!
I’m Ready for My Close-up
Ugly fuzzy mics are in-style now. Don't ask me why.
I’m a travel influencer now! Or at least I’m helping make content that seems like it. I had the opportunity over the summer to act as talent for a AAA Instagram campaign entitled “August Adventure,” in which I gave travel and destination tips to help and inspire travelers to take advantage of the last days of summer. Not only was this my first-ever paid on-camera gig, but I also had a great time working with the team at ACE Creatives to help bring these videos to life!
Last week, I had the opportunity to work with them again for more AAA content about off-season travel, holiday gift ideas and the legend of the Yeti (yes, that yeti), so stay tuned for those travel tips coming soon! You can also follow me on Instagram for when I repost them.
What I’ve Been Watching
It Comes At Night (2017): One of the most tense movies I have seen in a while! It moves at a borderline ambling pace, but the tension and fear is palpable in this ambiguous and thought-provoking film. Obviously, I don’t want to spoil it, but keep your mind open when you decide to watch this one. It is not what you expect. Whatever that may be. The film is currently streaming on Max.
Zombieland (2009): Having not seen this movie since it was first released, it was cool to revisit just how much fun a zombie movie can be. With it basically being a comedy wearing an undead costume, the film’s main goal is laughs, not scares. The cast has great chemistry, the jokes are solid and Zombieland has one of the best cameos of all time. And this was before everything was about cameos. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
The Craft (1996): For October, Night School Bar is hosting a three-night film course on witches! I have loved the past two courses I’ve taken there, and with my affinity for spooky season, I signed up for another one! The Craft isn’t necessarily by bag, but the discussions we as a class had about socioeconomic disparities, female character dynamics and symbolism were fun and engaging. And to me, conversations about films are a part of the whole appeal of watching movies! It creates connection and understanding with film lovers. The film is currently streaming on Peacock.
Ginger Snaps (2000): A movie that bounces around in tone, but also brilliantly demonstrates the changes our bodies go through during puberty. I know that sounds like an after-school special, but Ginger Snaps tackles a lot of adolescent health issues for a campy werewolf movie. Whether it’s the physical changes or the emotional ones, this film showcases the tragic rollercoaster that sometimes comes with being a teenager. The film is currently streaming on Peacock.
Trick ‘r Treat (2007): What best might be described as an internal anthology film, this interweaving of seemingly unrelated tales into one silly, fun and spooktacular movie is a blast to watch. It’s got werewolves, creepy pumpkin children, vengeful undead bus crash victims and more! Add in some unexpected twists and turns, this just might become an annual watch for you in October!
Sleepy Hollow (1999): Tim Burton is hit-or-miss for some folks, but if you’re really into his general aesthetic, Sleep Hollow is a movie for you. He adds a lot of humor and camp in this adaptation of Washington Irving’s story, including Johnny Depp’s Ichabod Crane being a detective who invents steampunk-inspired crime-solving gear and the Christopher Walken as the Headless Horseman. The film is currently streaming on Paramount+.
Follow me on Letterboxd to keep up!
I’m heading to Washington D.C. this week for the PBS Producers Summit, so we’ll see how much viewing time I’ll be able to get. More on the summit in next week’s edition!
