What pushes you to see what you see? I have to imagine the answer is different for everybody, so I thought I’d convene the braintrust to shed some light on the decision-making process.

On the occasion of this second episode, I must question the wisdom of gathering for breakfast for these discussions. This time out at least, we were a little more groggy and as much as my guests never need an excuse to talk film as tape rolls, I know they couldn’t have been thrilled at leaving the house so early on a Sunday to do so. I thank them deeply for enabling my habit.

As a sidenote – any locals who are interested in sitting down for one of these talks let me know. Part of what I like about them is that they allow me to rotate more people in and out. It’s another chance for me to bring back familiar voices and work in some new ones.

To recap the concept of this offshoot – expect to see these episodes turning up once a month. My intention is for them to be a bit more raw (there are almost no cuts in this conversation), a bit shorter, with no rules, and less of a pecking order on who sits down at the table.

For this second episode, I was joined by longtime friends of this podcast, Sasha James of SashaJames.com and Bob Turnbull of Eternal Sunshine. Yesterday morning, we gathered to discuss just how it is we decide to see what we see, and the intricacies of a seemingly simple decision.

Enjoy!

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13 Replies to “In Between Days vol. 2”

  2. This was an interesting conversation on a topic that I think about a lot. I don’t follow a single list but end up using a lot of different sources like Roger Ebert’s Great Movies, the 1001 book, and a few other books and sites to catch up on older films. For newer ones, the podcasts and blogs are a major source, along with a few professional critics that I trust. I agree that it can be random in terms of what I choose, which is why I started doing marathons to stay focused. I’ve also had that experience of staring at my DVDs that Ryan described, and it can be strangely frustrating. Good stuff.

  3. A habbit I have had for years is that I would often look at IMDB’s “Coming Soon” list for the next YEAR and see what films catch my interest. Through this method, I’m often able to plan movies I want to see months before they are released.

    Also, there are many films, which I now consider my favourites, which I became interested in based on their posters (i.e. Donnie Darko, Brick).

    As for older films, I have probably one of the largest “too see” lists known to man (well, probably not the largest, but it’s big). I don’t often do blind DVD purchases, so many films have gone unwatched for ages. However, both the Bell Lightbox and Netflix have helped in this regard.

    Finally, I don’t currently have a huge DVD backlog problem, though are still a few unopened discs on my shelf (mostly discs I got for Christmas).

    1. Interesting. I’ve often got an eye at what’s coming a few months down the line, but aside from a few of the very big ones (by my favorite directors and such) I don’t plan that far ahead.

  4. Totally agree on too much choice.

    I was flipping through Netflix categories over the weekend and Emma says to me: “why don’t you actually watch one of these rather than just flipping through them all the time.” To Which I respond, “because there’s too many to decide. I just like to see what’s available and say, ‘wow, I want to see that too’.”

    1. I hear ya. It’s like all of the classics that are clogging up my PVR from TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar. They’re there…they’re right there…but just try deciding on one.

      Oh, and having so many already recorded doesn’t stop me from surfing through the next seven days and recording another half dozen or so.

  5. Dang, forgot to mention TCM – got a bunch from there sitting on the PVR as well. I’ll knock one off every once in awhile, but they keep building up…

    If you like “genre” stuff, seek out the DVD Delirium books – 3 volumes of “weird cinema” ideas. Granted, not all their reviews meshed with my opinions, but I also found some nifty titles through them.

    1. When we get to genre stuff – and when I was going through the anime suggestions – I get wary. Fans of niche films tend to get fanatical and faun over stuff that doesn’t transcend. So, in those instances I’d likely be sticking with the “Introduction To” lists, rather than the expanded volumes.

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