Cinema Shock

THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982) | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

"Another world, another time, in the age of wonder. A thousand years ago, this land was green and good - until the Crystal cracked."
After the completion of THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, Jim Henson focused on a project that had been in the works for years — its earliest seeds were planted well before even The Muppet Show had begun production — an ambitious fantasy film made in collaboration with renowned illustrator Brian Froud.
That film, THE DARK CRYSTAL, would be Jim's most ambitious project to date. It's a film that pushed the limits of what puppetry was capable of, essentially creating an entirely new artform that would change the landscape of movie special effects for years to come.
But it was also a great artistic and financial risk for Henson. When it was released, audiences didn't quite know what to think of it, but the film has become to be considered a bonafide classic in the decades since. In this episode, we'll detail the years long process to bring THE DARK CRYSTAL to the screen.
D&D LIVE FOR CHARITY, Hosted by Mr. Todd A. DavisComedians, Drag Performers, and Pro Wrestlers play Dungeons & Dragons in front of a LIVE audience to benefit The Julie Valentine Center!🎟Purchase Tickets🎟
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net
 

THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER (1981) | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

"There'll be mystery and catastrophe!But it's all in fun, you paid the money - wait and see!Hey! A movie! Starring everybody! And me!"
After the success of THE MUPPET MOVIE, Jim Henson had hoped to get funding for a fantasy film that had become a sort of dream project of his. But that film — which would not feature the beloved and recognizable Muppets — would be a sizeable risk, so his producer convinced him to strike while the iron was hot and make a sequel to THE MUPPET MOVIE before embarking on his ambitious fantasy project.This time around, Jim Henson himself would be in the director's chair, creating a new adventure for the Muppet gang that would be a send-up of classic Hollywood films.
In this episode of Jim Henson: Heart Felt, we'll detail the full story of how THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER was made, from its early script woes, through its envelope-pushing puppetry innovations, and its eventual release and reception, where it was met with high expecations.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979) | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

“Life's like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing. Keep pretending.”
With The Muppet Show, Jim Henson had reached the goal that he’d set for himself many years before: He’d managed to get his beloved Muppets their own weekly television series.
Not only that, but it was an enormous success, quickly becoming one of the most watched television shows in the entire world. The Muppets were as big as they’d ever been. The next step seemed logical:
The Muppets were going to Hollywood.
Getting them there wouldn’t be as straight-forward as you might think. After all, what Jim was proposing to do — bringing the Muppets out of their highly-controlled sutdio environment and into the real world — was unprecedented, and there was a question as to whether it’d work at all.
In the latest episode of Jim Henson: Heart Felt, we’re telling the complete story of just how Henson pulled it off, and how he created one of the most beloved films of the 1970s, one that still resonated with audiences nearly half a century later.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | Lucy Lawson | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

TWIN PEAKS: FIRE SHOCK WITH ME | Free Preview of CinemaShock+

Happy TWIN PEAKS Day everyone! 
To celebrate the day that FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper first entered the town of Twin Peaks, we wanted to offer our listeners a Free Preview of the first members-only episode of our Twin Peaks watch-along podcast FIRE SHOCK WITH ME!
We did a deep dive into the creation of the TWIN PEAKS pilot episode as part of our series David Lynch: Absurd Encounters a while back (you can listen to that episode here). On that episode, we teased a bonus series where we'd watch and discuss Twin Peaks in its entirety, and FIRE SHOCK WITH ME is the follow-through on that promise!
The entire first season of FIRE SHOCK WITH ME is available exclusively to members of CinemaShock+ with our looks at TWIN PEAKS: Season 2 and TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN coming later this year.
For now, enjoy the entire first episode of FIRE SHOCK WITH ME for free for a limited time, and head to cinemashock.net/plus to become a member of CinemaShock+ so that you can enjoy the rest of this series, as well as a host of other members-only benefits, including extended episodes, video content, and merch discounts!

How They Made THE MUPPET SHOW | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

By the mid-1970s, Jim Henson and the Muppets were as big as they'd ever been. They'd helped turn Sesame Street into a household name and continued to be a hot commodity on the variety show circuit.
But Jim had yet to do the one thing he'd been trying to accomplish since the early 1960s: Create a prime time television show starring the Muppets, and one that wasn't solely aimed at a preschool audience.
He made several attempts along the way, filming several pilots with varying degrees of sucess, and even had a stint alongside the Not Ready For Prime Time Players on the first season of Saturday Night Live, but it would take a while before he was able to convince anyone to give The Muppets a shot at their own show.
That all changed in 1976, with a little help from Julie Andrews (yep, that Julie Andrews) and a British Lord. With the debut of The Muppet Show, Jim and his gang of puppeteers would become one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons on the planet.
This is the story of how they got there.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | lolodrummer | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

From the Arthouse to SESAME STREET | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

“As children, we all live in a world of imagination, of fantasy, and for some of us that world of make-believe continues into adulthood.”
Despite spending years fighting against the notion that puppets were nothing more than “children’s entertainment,” Jim Henson found his greatest success thus far working on a television show aimed at toddlers: the groundbreaking educational series SESAME STREET.
But before he got there, Jim went on a years long detour into the world of experimental filmmaking, work that would ultimatley influence many of the inserts that he’d film for SESAME STREET.
In this episode, we’ll discuss Henson’s work on short films such as TIME PIECE and experimental television programs like YOUTH ‘68 and THE CUBE — not to mention his brief flirtation with opening a psychedlic nightclub and his time spent onstage in Las Vegas — before taking a deep dive into his involvement with SESAME STREET, a program that would change television, and the Muppets, forever.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Justin V. | lolodrummer | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | qoheleth | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

The Birth of The Muppets | Jim Henson: Heart Felt

It’s time to start a brand new series here on Cinema Shock! For the next few weeks, we’ll be telling the story of Jim Henson.
To truly tell the story of Henson’s life and career, we have to go all the way back to the beginning: In this inaugural episode, we’ll explore Jim’s early years, through the creation of his first TV show, SAM & FRIENDS (where Kermit the Frog made his first appearance), his groundbreaking commercial work, and the years spent working on THE JIMMY DEAN SHOW.
Join us for Jim Henson, Episode 1: "The Birth of The Muppets."
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Justin V. | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)

"I'm afraid to close my eyes, I'm afraid to open them."
1999 was a landmark year for film, and several films released that year have had a lasting impact, greatly influencing everything that followed. And with the possible exception of THE MATRIX, few films have had changed their respective genres as much as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.
Created by a handful of film students for practically no money, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT has become the stuff of legend. It’s a film that popularized the found footage genre, essentially created viral marketing, and changed the horror genre forever.
The story of how it got made is nearly as interesting as the film itself, filled with wild swings, unconventional shooting methods, lucky breaks, and tough decisions. It was lightning in a bottle, landing at just the right time in history to become a cultural sensation, ultimately turning it into the most profitable independent film of all time.
In this episode, we delve deep into the making of the film, coming at it from every angle, to provide you with the full story of how this legendary film came to be.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Justin V. | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

THE BOONDOCK SAINTS (1999)

"We're sorta like 7-Eleven. We're not always doing business, but we're always open."
For Gary’s pick for a movie from 1999, he went with an infamous film that’s thre true definition of a “cult film.” When THE BOONDOCK SAINTS was (barely) released in theaters, it had practically no impact at all, but months later, when the movie hit home video, it became a bonafide word-of-mouth sensation, especially among younger audiences who viewed its attempt at a Tarantino-esque crime film as the epitome of edgy cool.
While praise for the film has waned in the quarter century since, it still has a devoted fanbase, one that’s helped the film produce one sequel (so far, with more reportedly on the way).
In this episode, we’ll tell the story of how THE BOONDOCK SAINTS was made. In a fascinating story — one with a narrative adored by the trade papers while it was all going down — THE BOONDOCK SAINTS was written and directed by a bartender-turned-filmmaker who’d never written a screenplay in his life, only to become Hollywood’s golden child seemingly overnight. Troy Duffy, however, soon found that his fall from Hollywood’s graces could come as quickly as his rise.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
Up Next: THE BOONDOCK SAINTS.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | Benjamin Yates | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Justin V. | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson
Release Date: August 6, 1999
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

THE IRON GIANT (1999)

We’ve decided to wrap up 2024 with a look at a few films that are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. 1999 has become known as one of the best movie years of all time. While we’ve already touched on some of the biggest films of that year (THE MATRIX, FIGHT CLUB), there are a handful of films from that year that may not fit into one of our long form series, and we wanted to make sure they got their due.
So for this (short) series, each of our hosts have picked out a film from 1999 that they’d like to discuss, starting with Todd’s pick, THE IRON GIANT.
Brad Bird’s debut film has gone on to become a beloved animation classic, but its story didn’t start that way: When it debuted in 1999, the film — thanks to a practically non-existent marketing campaign from Warner Bros — came and went from theaters with most audiences totally unaware of its existence.
But in the quarter century since, it has not only managed to find an audience, but it’s gained a reputation as one of the greatest animated films of all time. In this episode, we trace its origins (which involves, we kid you not, the death of Sylvia Plath and a Pete Townshend album), all the way through its development, release, and eventual rediscovery.
We will also, as always, discuss our own thoughts and feelings on the film, its legacy, and the important lessons it has to teach us.
Want to support the show?Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus.
Up Next: THE BOONDOCK SAINTS.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS:
Andrew C. | Andy Lancaster | Benjamin Yates | Curt M. | Elton Novara | Justin V. | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net