Closed Set w/ Themistoklis Alexis

Sam Peckinpah & The Ol’ Ultraviolence

Our director for this month is the mercurial Sam Peckinpah (1925-1984), who left an indelible mark on American television and cinema over a 30-year career. Despite his m

Yannis Economides & The Study of Greek Trash

This month, we return to celebrate and examine the work of a personal favourite of mine: Greek-Cypriot director Yannis Economides (b. 1967).  Heralded as one of several

Hal Ashby & The Familiar Trials of his Male Protagonists

This episode takes a stab at covering the life and early work of Hal Ashby (1929-1988), a director who was synonymous with the New Hollywood era of the 70s and helmed a s

Melvin Van Peebles & The Color Barrier in Hollywood

The show is (finally) back to celebrate the life, work, and legacy of Renaissance man Melvin Van Peebles (1932-2021), a well-travelled director, songwriter, actor, playwr

Michelangelo Antonioni & The Emptiness of Modern Life

After a hectic month away, the show is back for a look at the life of Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) and his portraits of existential dread in the mo

Elaine May & The Trouble with Studios

The marvelous Elaine May (b. 1932) has worn many different hats over a lifelong career that began in the Yiddish theatre during childhood, and before she receives an over

Joseph H. Lewis & The Art of B-Movie Noir

Fans of old film noir know and love the director we're covering on today's episode: Joseph H. Lewis (1907-2000). In a prolific career that saw him helm 40 films for ever

Tony Richardson & The British New Wave

Director, producer, screenwriter, film critic. Tony Richardson (1928-1991) held every one of these distinctions over his long and prolific career, but he's best remembere

Alan J. Pakula & The Paranoia Trilogy

After a rest and a surprise visit from the Rona, we're back with a slightly different format for a look at Alan J. Pakula (1928-1998) and his Paranoia Trilogy. This trio

Elia Kazan - Pt. 3

We conclude our series on Elia Kazan (1909-2003) with a look at his later works, his marriages, his infidelities, and some allegations that surfaced long after his passin

Elia Kazan - Pt. 2

In the second instalment of our three-part series on Elia Kazan (1909-2003), we cover his controversial testimony before the House of Un-American Activities Committee dur

Elia Kazan - Pt. 1

The podcast returns with the first of a three-part series covering Elia Kazan (1909-2003), a director, actor, and novelist whose career in film spanned over 30 years. In

Jean-Pierre Melville

We return for a look at the life and work of Jean-Pierre Melville (1917-1973), a beloved French director, screenwriter, and occasional actor who helmed the classics Le Si

Ida Lupino

We return for a look at the life and work of the great Ida Lupino (1918-1995), a prolific and beloved actress, screenwriter, and director. Born to a family of performers,

Robert Benton

This week, we take a look at the work of decorated American screenwriter and director Robert Benton (b. 1932). After working as an art director at Esquire and a writer on

Karel Reisz

This week, we revisit the life and work of the great Czech-British filmmaker Karel Reisz (1926-2002). A seminal figure of England's Free Cinema movement and the British N

George Roy Hill

In this episode, we desperately try to stave off the sophomore jinx with a comprehensive look at the life and work of George Roy Hill (1921-2002), who helmed classics lik

John Cassavetes

We properly kick off the Closed Set podcast with a celebration of the life and work of John Cassavetes (1929-1989), a pioneer of independent American cinema responsible f