Impeachment: American Crime Story
We dive in to the recent depiction of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, and how it focuses on the female characters involved. What actually happened to Monica Lewinsky? Why make this show now? And who created the story in this new way? Let’s learn together!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach1
article, on Jeff Toobin https://bit.ly/acsimpeach2
interviews, showrunner Sarah Burgess https://bit.ly/acsimpeach4 https://bit.ly/acsimpeach5
article, making of the series https://bit.ly/acsimpeach11
podcast, Slow Burn season 2 https://bit.ly/acsimpeach6
video, press briefing from Linda Tripp https://bit.ly/acsimpeach7
trailer, Wag the Dog (1997) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach9
article, Monica Lewinsky’s Vanity Fair return https://bit.ly/acsimpeach8
TED Talk, Monica Lewinsky’s “The Price of Shame” https://bit.ly/acsimpeach3
article, WP article on Betty Currie (secretary) https://bit.ly/acsimpeach10
Only Murders in the Building
We lay out the history of true crime stories (MURDER PAMPHLETS?), what became of the podcast true crime boom, and the continuing conversation around the good (or harm?!) amateur investigations are doing. And there’s a comedy series about it! Only Murders in the Building, on Hulu. Let’s learn something new!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Only Murders in the Building (2021) https://bit.ly/omitb1
podcast, Missing Richard Simmons https://bit.ly/omitb17
The Belnord, and the real life apartments for sale https://bit.ly/omitb2
article, the true story inspiring Only Murders https://bit.ly/omitb3
photos, Murder Pamphlets of the 1700’s https://bit.ly/omitb12
book, Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession https://bit.ly/omitb6
book, Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America https://bit.ly/omitb7
article, history of true crime writing https://bit.ly/omitb13
parody podcast, Done Disappeared https://bit.ly/omitb14
parody podcast, A Very Fatal Murder https://bit.ly/omitb15
article, true crime podcasts that changed everything https://bit.ly/omitb16
data, crime stats in the USA https://bit.ly/omitb9
study, effect on attitudes after watching true crime https://bit.ly/omitb10
article, true crime podcasts increase crime reporting https://bit.ly/omitb11
Candyman
Where did this urban legend come from (a serial killer noblewoman of the 1500’s?! Real life murders at the Cabrini Green Projects?!) What is the new film pulling from in the works of other black artists? And who do Taylor and Evan know that helped make the original?! All this and more - let’s get into it!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Candyman (2021) https://bit.ly/candymanfilm1
trailer, Candyman (1992) https://bit.ly/candymanfilm2
profile, sfx artist Bob Keen (our teacher!) https://bit.ly/candymanfilm3
article, serial killer noblewoman Elizabeth Bathory https://bit.ly/candymanfilm4
article, mirror murder in the Chicago Projects https://bit.ly/candymanfilm7
artwork, silhouettes by Kara Walker https://bit.ly/candymanfilm5
artwork, mirrors by Carrie Mae Weems https://bit.ly/candymanfilm6
Shrek (part 2)
What happened with the grumpy lovable ogre? How did he become a facet of meme culture, and does it say anything true about his character?
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
video, Shrek’s childhood obesity campaign https://bit.ly/shrekstasy2
video, Shrek: The Musical https://bit.ly/shrekstasy1
video, first All Star parody https://bit.ly/shrekstasy6
article, All Star memes https://bit.ly/shrekstasy7
comic, Shrek and Shadow the Hedgehog https://bit.ly/shrekstasy5
article, Shrek meme culture https://bit.ly/shrekstasy8
video, Shrek Retold fan creation https://bit.ly/shrekstasy3
event, Shrekfest https://bit.ly/shrekstasy4
UFO
Join us as we dissect the new documentary, the article it’s based on, and the history of airborne phenomena in art and media.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
pilot episode, Showtime UFO Series https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime1
article, original NYT 2017 exposé https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime8
footage, Phoenix Lights from 1997 https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime2
footage, 2004 UFO encounter w/ fighter jet https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime3
national intelligence report, UAP assessment in June 2021 https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime4
footage, verified 2019 pyramid shapes above ship https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime5
footage, lenticular clouds https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime6
article, “UFOs” in classical art https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime7
book, UFO Sighting Desk Reference https://bit.ly/ufoshowtime9
Shrek (part 1)
Get out of our swamp! We uncover the original book, and the history of the film’s production. Come learn about the subliminal insider jabs at Disney employees, how the soundtrack actually speaks to the story, and who fought the war for the best CGI film.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Shrek (2001) https://bit.ly/shrekbook1
video, Shrek bonus feature on production process https://bit.ly/shrekbook2
video, footage of Chris Farley as Shrek https://bit.ly/shrekbook3
video, on the pop music in Shrek https://bit.ly/shrekbook4
The Green Knight
We dive headfirst into the ancient poem of Sir Gawain, and how it became a fresh telling with modern themes. Was King Arthur a real person, and how did his tales change over time? Listen and learn!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, The Green Knight (2021) https://bit.ly/greenknight1
interview, creator David Lowery https://bit.ly/greenknight2
article, the 1136 OG King Arthur text https://bit.ly/greenknight3
full text, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight https://bit.ly/greenknight4
article, the 5 rules of knights https://bit.ly/greenknight5
Zola
The THOTyssey, the 148 tweet thread about a road trip that leads to prostitution and murder - everyone said should be a movie…is now a movie. How did it get adapted, what’s true, and how does the story actually end in real life?The original tweets by A’Ziah King are now in theaters. Buckle up!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Zola (2021) https://bit.ly/zolatweet1
the original 148 tweets from Zola https://bit.ly/zolatweet2
Jess’s story posted on Reddit https://bit.ly/zolatweet3
the original Rolling Stone article https://bit.ly/zolatweet4
interview, w/ Zola in 2021 https://bit.ly/zolatweet5
book, hardcover version of “The Story” https://bit.ly/zolatweet6
Space Jam
How in the world did the classic cartoons get mashed with Michael Jordan, and now LeBron James? Was it always a commercial money-making scheme? And what’s Bugs Bunny been doing all these years? Find out the hidden gems behind the history of this classic cinema story.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy0
trailer, Space Jam (1996) https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy1
video, original Hare Jordan commercial (1992) https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy2
music, final Bugs Bunny rap “Buggin’” (1996) https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy3
video, Spike Lee Mars Blackmon basketball commercial https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy4
video Spike Lee Mars Blackmon baseball “he’s trying” commercial https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy5
article, how Mars Blackmon and Michael Jordan met https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy6
article, Jim Riswold, the originator of Michael and Bugs https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy7
article, Joe Dante’s unmade Looney Tunes film https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy8
video, history of Bugs Bunny https://bit.ly/spacejamlegacy9
Sweet Tooth
Originally touted as “Mad Max meets Bambi”, how did the dark and violent comic series become the warm tale on Netflix? And what does the author think about it? Learn about dystopian and apocalyptic fiction over the ages in this week’s episode.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Sweet Tooth (2021) https://bit.ly/sweetooth1
article, Jeff Lemire interview https://bit.ly/sweetooth3
q&a video, Jeff Lemire https://bit.ly/sweetooth4
novel, Mary Shelley’s The Last Man https://bit.ly/sweetooth5
Fear Street (R.L. Stine and Goosebumps too)
The teenage slasher series written by the bestselling series author of the 90’s has come to the screen. Learn the insider history behind the author’s life, and what makes these books so popular.
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Fear Street film trilogy (Netflix) https://bit.ly/rlstine1
tv episode, failed Fear Street pilot (1998) https://bit.ly/rlstine2
pdf, RL Stine writing program for elementary schools https://bit.ly/rlstine3
interviews, RL Stine https://bit.ly/rlstine4 https://bit.ly/rlstine5
promo video, RL Stine hosts a comedy show at UCB https://bit.ly/rlstine6
video, Funny or Die sketch, banned Goosebumps titles https://bit.ly/rlstine7
Nollywood
We dive in to the second highest-producing film industry in the world, Nigerian cinema. The historical origins, the unique cultural trends, and the big plans for the future - do NOT sleep on this one!
Contact:
Reach out on instagram - @illiteratepod
Extras:
trailer, Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019) https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm1
youtube channel, Nigerian Nollywood Pictures https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm2
article, Nigeria happiness poll data https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm3
full film, Living in Bondage (1992) https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm4
documentary, Making it In Nollywood https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm5
article, Folorunsho Alakija, worth more than Oprah https://bit.ly/nollywoodfilm6
The Fast & the Furious
Based on the written word?! How did this import tuner racing series turn into the epic saga we know and love? Come find out all the influences and secrets to making a changing series stay strong.
Extras:
interview, original article writer Ken Li https://bit.ly/ffurious1
article, the culture of street racing https://bit.ly/ffurious2
trailer, The Fast and The Furious (2001) https://bit.ly/ffurious3
full film, The Fast and The Furious (1955) https://bit.ly/ffurious4
video, every mention of the word “family” in the series https://bit.ly/ffurious5
trailer, Justin Lin film Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) https://bit.ly/ffurious6
article, “Racer X”, origin of the first film https://bit.ly/ffurious10
video, Initial D anime best racing moments https://bit.ly/ffurious11Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
In the Heights
Learn the long road to making the latest Lin-Manuel Miranda musical project, the history of the genre, and what controversy surrounds the film.
Extras:
trailer, In the Heights (2021) http://bit.ly/itheights1
music, Big Pun tribute mix http://bit.ly/itheights6
article, history of the original production http://bit.ly/itheights9
article, Japanese production http://bit.ly/itheights2
article, on the swimming pool scene http://bit.ly/itheights3
video, on Busby Berkeley choreography http://bit.ly/itheights4
video, Fred Astaire’s Royal Wedding ceiling dance http://bit.ly/itheights5
trailer, Hail Caesar! (2016) http://bit.ly/itheights7
article, history of musical films http://bit.ly/itheights8
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Conjuring
The highest grossing horror film franchise of all time, and what do you really know about it? Come learn the literary background, the history of paranormal investigation, and what legal madness ensues from the job.
Extras:
trailer, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) http://bit.ly/conjuring1
article, legal issues with the franchise http://bit.ly/warrenfiles1
full book, Confessions of a Ghost Hunter (1936) http://bit.ly/warrenfiles2
video, Lorraine and Ed background http://bit.ly/warrenfiles3
interview, reporter in Devil Made Me Do It case - Mike Allen http://bit.ly/warrenfiles4
article, facts of Devil Made Me Do It case http://bit.ly/warrenfiles5
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Cruella
We dissect the origins of the literary character Cruella de Vil, the bizarre never-made sequel, and female villainy in stories.
Extras:
trailer, Cruella (2021) http://bit.ly/cruella1
trailer, One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) http://bit.ly/cruella3
video, Tallulah Bankhead (inspiration) laughing http://bit.ly/cruella4
article, connections to The Devil Wears Prada http://bit.ly/cruella5
interview, director Craig Gillespie http://bit.ly/cruella6
review, The Starlight Barking (book sequel http://bit.ly/cruella7
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Woman in the Window
Learn about the thriller tales, and the truth (or lies?) behind the international bestseller.
Extras:
trailer, The Woman in the Window (2021) http://bit.ly/womanwindow1
article, plagiarism comparisons http://bit.ly/womanwindow2
interview, author AJ Finn http://bit.ly/womanwindow3
New Yorker article, “Trail of Deceptions” http://bit.ly/womanwindow4
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Shadow and Bone
What’s all the fuss behind this YA series turned epic Netflix show? Why haven’t we seen many Slavic fantasy stories? And why are the magicians called Greg?
Extras:
trailer, Shadow and Bone (2021) http://bit.ly/shadowbone4
interview, Leigh Bardugo http://bit.ly/shadowbone1
article, history of Eric Heisserer showrunning http://bit.ly/shadowbone2
article, guide to Slavic fantasy http://bit.ly/shadowbone3
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
Mortal Kombat
FINISH HIM! Learn the literary and cinematic origins of this game-turned-movie, the controversies, and why so many people like these characters.
Extras:
red band trailer, Mortal Kombat (2021) http://bit.ly/mkilliterate3
bts footage, Mortal Kombat character creation http://bit.ly/mkilliterate7
full film, The Streetfighter (1974) http://bit.ly/mkilliterate4
film scene, “fatality” from The Streetfighter http://bit.ly/mkilliterate8
video, comparison of 1995 and 2021 films http://bit.ly/mkilliterate9
article, history of Mortal Kombat game creation http://bit.ly/mkilliterate6
trailer, Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) http://bit.ly/mkilliterate2
interview, director Simon McQuoid http://bit.ly/mkilliterate5
short film, Mortal Kombat Rebirth http://bit.ly/mkilliterate1
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod
The Princess Bride
How did this endearing, comforting fantasy tale come to be? Learn why the book is so different in the telling, and the life and journey of William Goldman in turning books into films.
Extras:
trailer, The Princess Bride (1987) http://bit.ly/pbride1
document, the “missing scene” from the book http://bit.ly/pbride2
book, Adventures in the Screen Trade (memoir) http://bit.ly/pbride3
article, making of the film http://bit.ly/pbride4
book, on the life of William Goldman http://bit.ly/pbride5
Contact:
- How to get a free sticker: Send a message to @illiteratepod on instagram
- Want to help the show? Leave a review! www.ratethispodcast.com/illiterate
- Reach out on instagram @illiteratepod