The Sleepless Cinematic Podcast

Julian, Madeline, and Emilio welcome back writer, performer, and Julian's longtime friend Michaela Brady to discuss the iconic meditation on the creative process that is "Adaptation" (2002), written by Charlie Kaufman, directed by Spike Jonze, and starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper in an Oscar-winning role. As the "View-nanimous" entry in a new episode cycle focusing on Twins and Doppelgangers in film, the group members all re-watch this exceptionally meta movie to discuss its relationship to reality, both in the literary process and its specific characters, as well as how its fusion of sincerity and irony produces an inimitable outcome, and how having a dual performance at the center actualizes the film's messages. And while the main four participants generally praise "Adaptation," they also consider a hot take from friend of the pod Idris Goodwin, for whom the distinct qualities of this film landed a little differently compared to many others.   
Follow Michaela Brady on IG @leatrice_write or @jillnjeff11, and check out her writing and blog at leatrice-author.com.
Follow Idris Goodwin on IG at idrisgoodwin, and learn more about his latest book "King of the Neuro Verse"  as well as his plays, music, published works, and varied artistic endeavors at http://www.idrisgoodwin.com/
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We've spent the last several episodes discussing interesting existing Offbeat Musicals, but what about the ones that we'd love to see get made?  For a bonus episode, Madeline, Emilio, Julian, and all the guests from our most recent episode cycle share their picks for movies they'd love to see adapted and turned into "offbeat" musicals, for film or for the stage, or both. 
We want to thank our guests for this cycle who joined us to talk movies and share their perspectives and picks!
Will Reynolds - see where he is performing next at his website willreynoldsonline.com and on IG @willcreynolds
Lexi Amoriello - check out her website movierecsbylex.com and on IG, Tik Tok, and YouTube @movierecsbylex 
Kelly Autry - follow him on IG: @kelly_a_autry
We have a monthly newsletter!  Subscribe at sleeplesscinematicpod.substack.com
If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow!
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Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com
On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

To wrap up our episode cycle featuring "Off-Beat Musicals", Madeline, Julian and Emilio close in on a prolific songwriter whose career has notably dovetailed with film over the years: Paul Williams.  An unconventional public figure with the gift of gab and an ear for making timeless music, Williams left his mark on the 1970s, penning memorable scores for some truly unique movie musicals.  First, we cover 'Phantom of the Paradise', Brian De Palma's 1974 rock musical featuring Williams in a lead role, the nefarious music producer Swan whose deal with the devil sets the stage for a WILD mix of camp, vengeance, and glam rock swagger.  Then there's 'Bugsy Malone', Alan Parker's 1976 gangster film satire with a cast of nothing but children, yet another wild ride of fun performances and some era-specific songs.  And we wrap up the conversation with a look at 'The Muppet Movie' from 1979, one last off-beat musical featuring puppets with a witty script and several equally clever heartfelt tunes from Williams and collaborater Kenneth Ascher.  It's an earnest look back on the work of one of the more influential songsmiths of his era, with an off-beat musical performance of our own just for kicks!     
We have a monthly newsletter!  Subscribe at sleeplesscinematicpod.substack.com
If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow!
Follow us on YouTube, IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod
Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com
On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Madeline, Julian, and Emilio continue their cycle of Offbeat Musicals with a "Two-Shot" on a pair of turn-of-the-millennium glam-rock extravaganzas: Todd Haynes' "Velvet Goldmine" (1998) and John Cameron Mitchell's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (2001). Marking their fifth - yes, fifth - discussion on a Todd Haynes film, the trio begin by unpacking "Velvet Goldmine" and its refraction of the legacies of 1970s glam-rock icons such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, T. Rex, and Roxy Music. Presented in "Citizen Kane"-like fashion, the film conveys a distinct impression of a well-known popular music era without ever mentioning any of the aforementioned artists by name, and wandering in and out of the realms that often classify a musical. Premiering around the same time off-Broadway was the show that would then be adapted into the second film of focus, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," unambiguously a musical, but one for people who may less typically gravitate to the genre. Drawing from many of the same influences in music, "Hedwig" portrays the unique story of the titular performer, from her fraught upbringing in East Berlin to her stateside music career with backing band the Angry Inch, and the numerous experiences that fan her rock-and-roll flames along the way.
Listen to Dougie's Glam-a-Rama here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOjsoFA6he4_bWfjlCtNFoPf9Xr2cOofn&si=Vth2DPJed7RKNa7x
If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow!
Follow us on YouTube, IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod
Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com
On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

Continuing with the cycle theme of “Offbeat Musicals”, Julian and Madeline draw from the conception of their friendship with a joint suggestion - Leos Carax’s “Annette” (2021). Joining Emilio as a first-time viewer is actor and puppeteer Kelly Autry, a friend of Madeline’s since tweendom. Our two seasoned Sparks fans share their background with the musical duo, who write and compose the music for this film, and try their best to initiate those who are new to the band’s unique musical style. Although many may know “Annette” as “the Adam Driver puppet musical”, the group digs into themes of originality, self-sabotage, and the nature of performance. Their opinions of the film may vary, but the group agrees that “Annette” becomes richer with a discussion among friends, and in the value of “simple stories expressed unconventionally”, in the words of past guest Shaun Seneviratne.
Kelly Autry is an actor, singer, dancer, and puppeteer, who can be seen performing around New York City. Follow him on IG: @kelly_a_autry
If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice. This really helps us find new listeners and grow!
Follow us on YouTube, IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpod
Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com
On Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats