Special Report: Anna Baumgarten on Disfluency (2021)

01/25/25 • 24 min

Mike welcomes writer/director (and fellow Michigander) Anna Baumgarten for a heartfelt conversation about her award-winning 2021 film Disfluency. This intimate exploration of a young woman's journey to recover from trauma and rediscover her voice captures the raw vulnerability of healing and self-discovery. Anna shares the personal inspirations behind the film, the challenges of portraying mental health and emotional resilience on screen, and the creative choices that brought Disfluency to life.
Visit https://www.disfluencymovie.com/ for more details.
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Episode 726: Red Lights (2012)

We dive into Red Lights (2012), a psychological thriller that blends skepticism, belief, and the enigmatic world of psychic phenomena. Written and directed by Rodrigo Cortés (Buried), the film stars Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy as a pair of investigators determined to expose fraudulent psychics. Their sights are set on Simon Silver (Robert De Niro), a legendary blind performer whose mysterious powers defy explanation—or do they?
Co-hosts Rod Lott and Ryan Luis Rodriguez team up to discuss this layered tale of science versus the supernatural, unraveling its twists and themes. Along the way, they explore why this overlooked gem from James Brummel's Patreon request deserves a closer look. Is Red Lights a misunderstood thriller or a missed opportunity? Tune in and decide for yourself!
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Next Episode

Episode 727: Being There (1979)

Mike White is joined by Maurice Bursztynski and Suzen Tekla Kruglinska to explore Hal Ashby's Being There (1979), a satirical masterpiece based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel. This listener request from Patreon supporter Jordan Nash examines the story of Chance, played brilliantly by Peter Sellers, a sheltered, developmentally delayed man who steps out of isolation after his caretaker's death. Wandering the streets of Washington, D.C., Chance is swept into the elite world of Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) and influential power players, including the President (Jack Warden), thanks to a series of misunderstandings. The trio delves into the film's themes of perception, power, and simplicity, discussing its layered satire, unforgettable performances, and enduring relevance.
Professor Aaron Hunter, author of Authoring Hal Ashby: The Myth of the New Hollywood Auteur, discusses the film's evolution from Kosinski's novel to the screenplays by Robert C. Jones to the final film.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-projection-booth-podcast--5513239/support.