Palavr is home to a wide assortment of podcasts. Programs covering film, television, music and politics are all to be found on this wonderful site. It’s a tight-knit community filled with the aggressive passion of fans of every walk of life. These average Joes have come together to let their voices be heard and entertain the masses.
Large William and the Sam U. Rai are two of these average Joes. Both have a wife and kid at home, as well as full-time jobs. Once a week, they get together (via Skype) and cover two films on their podcast, “The Gentlemen’s Guide to Midnite Cinema”. They cover a wide range of trash, bringing it class since 1977 (or 2008, if you want to be technical). I had the honor to interview them and ask them about the joys of podcasting and why exactly they do it.
1} When did you decide on creating the show?
Sammy and I had been frequent listeners to Cinema Diabolica and had been calling into their show almost weekly. They really were an early show that integrated their listeners into the mix. Sammy and I were active on their message board and I’d seen that we had a real kinship. We were both into 80’s action films, Charles Bronson and samurai films (amongst a myriad of things). I had been itching to do my own show for a while. I felt like there were a few major voids in podcast genre film coverage (Kung Fu, Spaghetti Westerns, Asian films, Polizia, Giallo, 80’s Action, etc.) and wanted to remedy that. I had a friend in mind, but felt that Sammy would be a good fit as we complimented each other well and filled in each other’s cinematic gaps.
2} How do you decide on what films to feature on the program?
Picking the films is hard, but easy. What I mean is, there is a galaxy of films from which to choose. It usually comes down to us wanting to spread the word on films we feel deserve the love. For example, Kim Ji-Woon’s “A Bittersweet Life”, Ruggero Deodato’s trash masterpiece “Raiders of Atlantis” and Motown’s blaxploitation Kung-Fu 80’s classic “The Last Dragon” were early choices of mine. Sammy had chosen The Boz’s amazing late cycle action film “Stone Cold”, one of the best Spaghetti Westerns most don’t mention in “The Great Silence” and the fun of Henry Silva hunting alligators in the sewers of New York City with “Alligator”.
3} What got you into midnight movies?
Simply put, my father. I have wonderful memories of him literally bringing a stack of VHS tapes home from the local Mom and Pop store and we’d spend the weekend watching these amazing films. Everything from “Return of the Living Dead” to “Enter the Dragon”, “Slumber Party Massacre” to “Lone Wolf McQuade”. I cherished those late nights; struggling to stay up late with my Dad to finish films like “In the Company of Wolves”.
4} What is your favorite midnight movie?
Tough question! “The Holy Mountain”, I guess. No one combines the cerebral with exploitation, horrific with the stunning like Jodorowsky. The man is a mad genius, a fucking lunatic poet! Love all of the ideas he explores in his films.
5} What is your favorite genre of midnight movie(s)?
Polizia/Euro-Crime. For those unfamiliar, think of “Dirty Harry” or “Death Wish” Italian style with more sleaze, better mustaches, tighter polyester and gorgeous European women. Need I say more? I love the genre so much, that anyone who reads this and is unfamiliar with the genre, but wants a primer, can e-mail me at our show’s e-mail (midnitecinema@gmail.com)
6} Was the show an instant success or did it take awhile to find an audience?
We were very blessed to have two of the biggest genre podcasts backing us from the get go. Outside the Cinema and Cinema Diabolica were essential in our hiring the ground running and to iron out early kinks technically or otherwise for us. We love those guys mucho and owe them a ton!
7} Each show generally runs between two and three hours. Outside of the breaks, do you record in one sitting?
Oh yeah, always! Up until recently, it was the 6 a.m. power hour. You’d hear us fumble in first gear until that caffeine kicked in at the end of the first review. *laughs*
8} As well as reviewing two movies, you also discuss recently watched films and answer listener feedback. Ever consider adding another segment?
As we’re already pushing the three hour mark, I’d say no. However, if we were single guys with no kids, I’m sure the bloat would continue. ;)
9} How do you juggle real life and doing the show?
One word: passion. If we didn’t love film and our community, there is no way we’d be doing it still. When you have a passion for something, you find a way to get it done. The fact that we both work close to sixty hours a week, have young kids and wives, on top of everything else- lest we forget, that we live different countries too (Sammy in America, Will in Canada), it’s just a labor of love, as trite as that sounds. Spreading the good word on great films is a joy!
10} Any words of inspiration for those planning on creating a podcast of their own?
Know that it’s a grind at first. You have to put in the time to learn the craft and stay consistent. I can’t tell you how many shows I gave up on as they would go weeks without a new episode. People learn to lean on podcasts to make their commute or their job go by quicker. When you let them down time and time again, you lose them as listeners. I always liken it to Brett Favre or Lou Gehrig’s iron man streaks. If you miss a week, that could be all it takes for someone else to take your spot. Even if it’s a thirty minute show, put something out every week. Expand your cinematic horizons and avoid schtick. Be yourself, not wacky FM radio drive time DJ.
I would like to thank Will and Sammy for taking time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions. It was a delight conversing with them and it’s a pleasure to listen to them every week. I appreciate the feedback they give to their listeners, such as myself, and involving them into the group. Keep up the good work, gentlemen!
Find this podcast and many others at: http://www.palavr.com
Official GGTMC site: http://ggtmc.libsyn.com